192 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVI 1 
of the general conditions to be found there in summertime, and his list of species 
shows what may be expected should anyone make a thorough study. 
Before giving the general list of birds noted, the following two lists will 
show in general what the typical species of the zones are. 
SOME UPPER SONORAN SPECIES; LAND BIRDS ONLY 
Roadrunner 
Burrowing Owl 
Dusky Poor-will 
California Thrasher 
Pliainopepla 
California Shrike 
Yellow-hilled Magpie 
Long-tailed Chat 
Bullock Oriole 
Bi-colored Redwing 
Western Meadowlark 
Willow Goldfinch 
Green-hacked Goldfinch 
California Linnet 
Black-chinned Sparrow 
Bell Sparrow 
California Brown Towhee 
SOME TRANSITION SPECIES; LAND BIRDS ONLY 
Mountain Quail 
Band-tailed Pigeon 
Pacific Horned Owl 
California Pigmy Owl 
Cabanis Woodpecker 
Olive-sided Flycatcher 
Monterey Plermit Thrush 
American Dipper 
Western Bluebird 
Cassin Vireo 
Coast Jay 
Tawny Creeper 
Audubon Warbler 
Black-throated Gray Warbler 
Western Tanager 
Pine Siskin 
Point Pinos Junco 
Gymnogyps cal ifornianus. California Condor. On May 27 Carriger saw a single 
bird sail majestically over our camp on Big Creek and disappear into the high moun- 
tains to the east. Mr. Gamboa, a cattle rancher, stated that a few years ago the birds 
were fairly common in the summer and usually left in the winter. In 1910 he counted 
fifteen around a dead cow. Usually in evidence during each month of the year and cer- 
tainly nest in the county. Mr. Gamboa said that the ranchers do not persecute the birds 
when seen about a dead cow as they know that they are purely scavengers. 
Cathartes aura septentrionalis. Turkey Vulture. Buzzards were commonly seen 
over the entire territory covered and were especially numerous in the oak-covered val- 
ley northwest of Jolon. According to the Indians and older Spaniards who still live in 
the mountains these birds nest commonly each year in the hills near the coast and not 
on the eastern side of the range. We found them fairly tame and one photo which we 
took shows a group of seven resting in a dead tree. 
Falco mexicanus. Prairie Falcon. One bird was noted on May 16 near Jolon. This 
bird was swiftly flying through the oak trees and evidently hunting. Noted also on 
Santa Lucia peak. A bird was seen on May 27 to sail into a flock of sea gulls flying near 
the beach and strike one of them to the sand. After performing the trick the bird flew 
away, evidently not caring to eat his prey. Perhaps he was only practicing. 
Falco sparverius sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk This hawk was not so 
common as would be expected, only a few being seen. They were all in the Jolon valley 
and kept away from the pine and redwood zone of the coast ranges. For several days 
we noted their absence and kept on the lookout for them, expecting that perhaps they 
were absent in the Transition zone; but on May 19 while climbing Santa Lucia Peak 
we saw a few birds. 
Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Noted on Santa Lucia Peak and along the 
seacoast in the vicinity of Big Creek. Not a very common bird. 
Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. One bird seen in the vicinity of Jolon. 
Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tailed Hawk. Noted throughout the region 
but in very sparing numbers. Pairs were nesting along the eastern foothills of the 
coast range in the pines and larger oaks. In the wooded parts of the western slopes a 
few were seen flying, and perched on tall stumps. This bird gets its usual food in the 
open country, and it must be difficult for it to get a good meal in the forested region 
unless it eats grasshoppers. 
