FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 349 
Distribution. — Not well defined; has been taken in Nevada, Wyoming, 
Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. 
569. Junco caniceps ( Woodh .). Gray-headed Junco. 
Adults. — Ash gray , except for white on middle of belly, bright rufous 
back , black lores, and white outer tail feathers ; iris dark brown or claret 
color. Young: streaked; ground color of upper parts brown. Male: 
length (skins) 5.62-6.19, wing 3.21-3.41, tail 2.70-2.94, bill .42-.47. Fe¬ 
male : length (skins) 5.54-5.94, wing 2.95-3.30, tail 2.48-2.S1, bill .41-.46. 
Remarks. — The gray sides distinguish this junco from all but the adult 
male hyemalis , which has no reddish brown back patch. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Rocky Mountain region, from the Black Hills 
to the Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico and Texas; west from Col¬ 
orado to Nevada; migrates to northwestern Mexico ; casually to southern 
California. 
570. Junco phseonotus palliatus Ridgw. Arizona Junco. 
Adults. — Top of head and rump ash gray ; back bright brown ; greater 
wing coverts and tertials with outer webs chiefly rusty or rufous ; under parts 
whitish ; outer tail feathers largely white ; iris yellow. Young : streaked. 
Male: length (skins) 5.91-6.53, wing 3.00-3.26, tail 2.72-3.01, bill .44- 
48. Female : length (skins) 5.56-5.Q4, wing 2.91-3.00, tail 2.46-2.82, 
bill .44-.48. 
Remarks. — The Arizona and the red-backed juncos have the under 
parts nearly uniform, but the brown on the wings distinguishes palliatus 
from dorsalis. These two, with caniceps and male hyemalis , are all with¬ 
out pink on the sides. 
Distribution. — Breeds in mountains of southern Arizona and probably 
of northern Mexico. 
570a. J. p. dorsalis (Henry). Red-backed Junco. 
Adults. — Upper parts ashy gray, except for bright rufous back; under 
parts ashy white ; iris brown. Young: streaked; 
back reddish brown. Male : length (skins) 
5.81-6.45, wing 3.22-3.41, tail 2.87-3.03, bill 
.44-.50. Female : length (skins) 5.49-6.12, 
wing 3.00-3.21, tail 2.69-2.92, bill .45-.4S. 
Remarks. — The absence of brown on the wings distinguishes this sub¬ 
species from palliatus. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Transition and Canadian zones in mountains of 
New Mexico and northern Arizona; winters south to western Texas and 
northern Mexico. 
Nest. — In clumps of oaks on hillsides, or, as described by Dr. Mearns, 
on ground in pine woods, concealed by bunch of wire grass, composed of 
loosely put together roots, stems of plants, grasses, and an occasional 
feather. Eggs : 4, greenish white, marked with lilac and reddish brown 
around one end. 
The coloration of most of the juncos is not particularly protective 
except as the color pattern disguises the bird’s form, but the red- 
backed on the pine plateau of San Francisco Mountain, Arizona, 
spends a large part of its time about the fallen pine-tops, where the 
red of its back and the red of the dead pine needles and old bark 
make a protective combination that, added to the gray of the body, 
Fig. 437. 
