The Phainopepla 
Cedarbirds are the gypsies of the feathered kind. They rove about 
in companies numbering from a dozen or a score to several hundred, nesting 
for the most part much further north, and wintering irregularly through¬ 
out the State. There seems to be a sharp accession of numbers into 
southern California from the first of February on, and these newcomers 
clean up whatever pepper-berries the thrushes have left. If conditions 
are favorable, the Waxwings may linger well into May. There are spo¬ 
radic records of summer birds, even as far south as the San Jacinto range, 1 
but the only authentic account of the bird’s nesting within the State 
comes from Humboldt County. 
The dilatory habits of Waxwings are well shown in their nesting, 
which they put off until late June or July, for no apparent reason. In 
constructing the nest the birds use anything soft and pliable which hap¬ 
pens to catch the eye. Some specimens are composed entirely of the 
green hanging mosses, while others are a complicated mixture of twigs, 
leaves, rootlets, fibers, grasses, rags, string, paper, and what not. The 
nest may be placed at any moderate height up to fifty feet, and a great 
variety of trees are used, although orchard trees are favorites. The birds 
are half gregarious, even in the nesting season, so that a small orchard may 
contain a dozen nests, while another as good, a little way removed, has 
none. 
The female sits closely upon her eggs, not infrequently remaining 
until forcibly removed. Once off, however, she makes away without 
complaint, and pays no further attention to the incident until the intruder 
has departed. 
No. Ill 
Phainopepla 
A. 0 . U. No. 620. Phainopepla nitens (Swainson). 
Description. —Adult male: Conspicuously crested. General plumage shining 
black, with violet and steely reflections; the inner webs of primaries extensively pure 
white centrally, save on outer edges, thus forming a regularly interrupted (latticed) 
patch, conspicuous in flight. Bill and feet black; iris bright red. Adult female: 
Nearly uniform mouse-gray, deeper (deep mouse-gray) on back, browner (hair- 
brown) on belly; crest chiefly slaty or dusky mesially; wings and tail dusky to blackish; 
the wing-coverts and remiges with much narrow white or grayish margining, the con¬ 
spicuous primary patch of male faintly echoed by pale gray; crissum margined and 
varied by white. Young birds are much like their mothers, and the males take on color 
1 Grinnell-Swarth: Birds and Mammals of San Jacinto, 1913, p. 288. 
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