The Gray Vireo 
being upside down. But the bird clung to the nest, and it was her 
presence alone which saved the eggs! Even when the branch was hauled 
in, she required to be removed by hand. A large experience with this 
bird, unfolding with the years, shows it to be, without exception, the 
most confiding species within our borders. Only a few of the Hummers, 
Calliope, Costa, Anna perhaps, are at all comparable in this respect. 
No. 117 
Gray Vireo 
A. O. U. No. 634. Vireo vicinior Coues. 
Description. — Adult: Upperparts plain mouse-gray, scapulars and lower back 
very slightly glossed with olivaceous; wing and tail nearly uniform grayish dusky, with 
some paler edgings; edge of wing white; outer margins of tertials grayish white; under¬ 
parts dull white, the sides slightly tinged with pale greenish yellow; cheeks like back; 
lores dull grayish white; an inconspicuous whitish eye-ring. Bill (drying) bluish dusky; 
feet and legs leaden black; iris brown. Young birds are much like adults, but slightly 
browner above and purer white below; the edgings of wings and tail tinged with oliva¬ 
ceous. Length 127-139.7 (5.00-5.50); wing 65 (2.56); tail 58 (2.28); bill 9.6 (.38); 
tarsus 19.1 (.75). 
Recognition Marks. —Warbler size; definite gray coloration distinctive (the 
slight olivaceous tinge will escape notice afield); a haunter of chaparral. 
Nesting. — Nest: Semi-pensile; of weathered leaves, grasses, strips of weed- 
bark, etc.; of rather loose construction without special lining; placed at moderate heights 
in bush of chaparral. Eggs: 3, rarely 4; white, finely and sparingly flecked with dark 
brown or blackish. Av. size 17 x 12.5 (.67 x .49). Season: c. May 20; one brood. 
Riverside, Apr. 26, 1889 (F. Stephens); Cajon Pass, June 4, 1886 (F. Stephens). 
General Range. —The Southwestern States and Mexico. Southern California, 
southern Nevada, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and southeastern Colorado south 
to Lower California, Sonora and Durango. 
Distribution in California. —Resident in summer in Upper Sonoran chaparral 
of mountain ranges in southern California—of local distribution: Carnpo (Stephens); 
Cajon Pass (Morcom, Stephens); Riverside (Stephens); San Jacinto and Santa Rosa 
Mountains (Grinnell & Swarth). Also Bodfish, Kern Co., June 16, 1911 (Grinnell). 
Migrations. —Spring arrival: Campo, March 24, 1876 (Stephens); Mecca, March 
26, 1911 i,van Rossem). 
Authorities.—Stephens, Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, vol. iii., 1878, p. 42 (Campo, 
San Diego Co.); Morcom, Bull. Ridgway Orn. Club, no. 2, 1887, p. 51 (Cajon Pass); 
Grinnell and Swarth, Univ. Calif. Pub. Zool., vol. x., 1913, p. 291, pi. 10, fig. 2 (San 
Jacinto Mts.; occurrence, habits, song, nest and eggs, etc.); Grinnell, Condor, vol. xxiv., 
1922, p. 211 (distr. in Calif., song, appearance, etc.). 
