299 
below; pale ochre suffusion across breast and sharply striped along flanks. Like the female 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but stronger in colour and more decided in pattern (compare 
with Plate LX A). 
Distinctions. The black head, large areas of solid tawny buff of breast and around 
base of neck are perfectly distinctive for the male. The female is very much like the female 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, but the colours are much stronger and contrastive, the breast is 
more ochraceous, and the stripings below are sparser, sharper, and confined more closely 
to the flanks. The dark of the head deepens to nearly black instead of only to a dark olive- 
brown. The markings and colours are much too decided to be confused with those of the 
Purple Finch, even if size of the bird were not a sufficient distinction. 
Field Marks. Black head, wings, and tail, both the latter with contrastive patches of 
white, and the uniform buffy ochre of breast and flanks for the male. For the female, 
large size, general striped appearance, and the conspicuous white line over the eye. Almost 
black cheek and crown. Probably it cannot be separated readily from the female Rose- 
breasted Grosbeak in life. 
Nesting. In bushes or trees, in nest of fine twigs, weed stalks, and rootlets. 
Distribution. Western North America. In Canada, the southern parts of the western 
provinces, east to western Saskatchewan. 
The Black-headed Grosbeak is a frequenter of deciduous growth and 
thickets, especially near water. It is a charming songster like the Rose- 
breasted Grosbeak, and resembles it in most of its habits. 
Economic Status. The Black-headed Grosbeak has been accused of 
damaging fruit, and, in California, a very complete investigation was made 
of its food habits. The findings substantiate some of the charges, but 
also prove that from April to September its insect food amounts to practic- 
ally three times the bulk of the vegetable supplies that it takes. These 
insects include many of the worst pests, codling moths, cankerworms, and 
several kinds of scales. As much of the vegetable food consists of weed 
seeds and wild fruits, except in very exceptional cases, it seems that any 
fruit it may take is small pay for the good it does. 
598. Indigo Bunting. indigo-bird. Passerina cyanea. L, 5*59. Rather small, 
about the size of a Chipping or a Clay-coloured Sparrow. Male: brilliant blue all over, 
darkening on head. Female: dingy brown, rather whitish with indistinct stripes below 
and somewhat rusty above. Faint suggestions of blue on outer webs of wing and tail 
feathers. Autumn adults are between these two. Juveniles are softly striped below and 
decidedly washed with rusty above. 
Distinctions. The male Indigo Bunting and the Mountain Bluebird are the only 
all-blue birds to be met with in Canada. The two are too far separated geographically, 
however, often to require special distinction. The Bunting is much smaller, has 
a typical Sparrow bill, and darkens instead of lightens towards the head. The female 
and juvenile are too dissimilar to be confused with the Bluebird, but are like the similarly 
sized Lazuli Bunting. 
Field Marks. Small size and all-blue coloration of male, and the even, unstreaked 
dull or rusty coloration of the female and juvenile. 
Nesting. Generally in the crotch of a bush; nest of grasses, dead leaves, and strips of 
bark, lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and long hairs. 
Distribution. Eastern North America. In Canada, west to southern Manitoba. 
One record for southwestern Saskatchewan. 
The Indigo Bunting commonly frequents brushy, overgrown wastes, 
burnt land, or slashes. It has a pleasing song. 
Economic Status. Our knowledge of the food of the Indigo Bunting 
is not complete. There is little doubt that it has the usual food habits 
of its family; in the east it is credited with doing good work against the 
browntailed moth. 
