318 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC, 
Distribution . — Breeds in Alpine zone on the mountains of Colorado, 
descending into the lower zones of the valleys, and south to New Mexico 
in winter. 
In his Birds of Colorado Mr. Cooke says that the brown-capped 
leucosticte is never seen below timberline in summer, and nests from 
12,000 feet to the tops of the highest peaks. In August, he says, 
“old and young swarm over the summits of the peaks, picking in¬ 
sects off the snow. By the last of October or early in November 
they descend to timberline and remain there through the winter, 
except as they are driven a little lower by the severest storms. 
At the same time a few come into the lower valleys almost to the 
base of the foothills.” 
They have been reported from Silverton, where they came in 
large flocks and were killed for food. 
GENUS ACANTHIS. 
General Characters. — Bill conical, strongly compressed toward end, 
and usually acute at tip; nasal plumules nearly covering basal half of 
bill except in summer plumage ; wing long, pointed; tail long, deeply 
forked ; tarsus very short, side toes much shorter than the middle. 
KEY TO ADULTS. 
1. Upper parts brownish, rump streaked.linaria,p. 319. 
1. Upper parts whitish, rump not streaked .... exilipes, p. 318. 
527a. Acanthis hornemannii exilipes (Coues). Hoary Red¬ 
poll. 
Adult male in spring. — Bill dusky ; patch on top of head crimson ; chin 
black; under parts almost pure white, except for 
pinkish chest and fine streaking on sides; upper 
parts grayish white streaked with dusky; rump 
white , tinged with pink. Adult male in winter: 
similar, but bill yellowish, with dusky tip; upper 
parts tinged with buffy, dusky streaks narrower. Adult female in spring : 
like male in spring but without pink on rump or chest. Adult female in 
winter: similar, but upper parts more strongly tinged with buff, dusky 
streaks narrower, and bill yellowish, with dusky tip. Male: length (skins) 
4.60-5.40, wing 2.85-3.07, tail 2.13-2.50, bill .27-.34. Female: length 
(skins) 4.59-5.16, wing 2.74-2.94, tail 2.10-2.29, bill .27-34. 
Distribution. — Breeds in northeastern Asia and arctic America ; south 
in winter, regularly to the northern United States. Recorded from Massa¬ 
chusetts, Illinois, Maine, and Michigan. 
Nest. — A rather bulky structure, composed largely of small twigs and 
straws mixed with feathers and lined with feathers; placed in bushes or 
small trees. Eggs: 2 to 5, pale bluish green, speckled, chiefly around 
larger end with reddish brown, sometimes mixed with a few black specks 
or lines. 
The hoary redpoll, Mr. Nelson says, is the most abundant of the 
redpolls in northern Alaska, where it occurs in great numbers. Its 
Fig. 403. 
