382 
PASSERIFORMES 
breast, flanks, a ring about base of neck, streaks in black saddle, and rump are tawnv 
buff, brightening in centre of abdomen to lemon-yellow. Female: striped above with 
brownish black, ochre, and white; white 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 LXXVI B). 
Distinctions. The black head and large areas of solid tawny buff of breast and around 
base ot 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 huffy 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. 
597. Blue Grosbeak, lb gros-bec bleu. Guiraca caeridea. L, 7 00. Heavy 
grosbeak bill and largely deep purplish blue with space in front of eye and chin black. 
Back blackish and some rusty on wings. Juvenile and female mottled brown and blue. 
Distinctions. Size, general blueness, and heavy bill. 
Field Marks. In life the blue is not as evident as might be expected and the bird is 
likely to appear of an ill-defined dusky colour like a female Cowbird. Juvenile Bluebirds 
may sometimes be mistaken for this species. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, normally north to Maryland and southern 
Illinois. We have old and rather uncertain records for southern Nova Scotia. 
598. Indigo Bunting, indigo bird, le bruant indigo. 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 lie 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. 
