Field Marks. A slate-colorccl bird m ilight showing conspicuously 
three white outer tail feathers. 
5on£ \ simple trill and also a faint whispermg warble. The caH 
note is a metallic chin. tsip. similar to the sound caused by stnkmg twa 
marbles together. . ^„rina 
Although with us all the year the juncos are more m evidence duru.g 
the fall, winter and early spring, they retire to the high elevations to, 
breed. This species is sometimes called the snowbird or black st.ow- 
bird But the true snow bunting or snow flake is a larger bird,_ chiefly- 
white in color which comes to us from the north in flocks during the 
winter With a little encouragement in the way of food the juncos 
tnav be persuaded to stay around the buildings all winter. The prin- 
cipal food of these birds consists of the seeds of weeds and grasses al- 
though in summer a good many insects are eaten, these forming about 
one half of their summer diet. 
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK— (Ha&fa ludoviciana.) 
Male black on head, back, wings and tail; rump, under parts and 
three ouier tail feathers white; also white spots on the wings; breast 
bright rose-red with a line of red extending down the lower part of the 
breast; bill large and thick. 
Female, brownish, sparrow-like in appearance without any red, a 
conspicuous white line over the eye. 
Length about eight inches. 
Arrival. May 4 to i5- ^ , 
Fa^ontc Haunts. Small growth along the banks of streams, on hill- 
side pastures, and edge of woods. 
Field Marks. General color of black and white, with red spot on 
the breast; large and thick bill. 
Song A full, rolling warble resembling somewhat the robins and 
the Baltimore oriole's song, but more joyous and happy than either of 
these The call note is a nasal metallic peek, peek. 
The rose-breasted grosbeak is numbered among our sweetest singers, 
The family life of the grosbeak is a happy and devoted one. The brightly 
colored male helps the soberly dressed female in hatching the eggs. 
43 
