374 
FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC. 
Distribution. — Breeds in Upper and Lower Sonoran zones from eastern 
Texas to southern California; north to northern Colorado and central 
valleys of California to about 40°; migrates to southern Mexico and south 
to Costa Rica. 
West. — A compact, cup-shaped structure, composed largely of dried 
grasses and plant fibers, placed in bushes and tall weeds. Eggs : 3 or 4, 
plain pale greenish blue or bluish white. 
Food. — Insects, seeds, buds, and berries. 
The blue grosbeak is less arboreal than its relatives, being found 
mainly in brush, often along streams in foothill canyons. Its song, 
Mr. Henshaw says, while suggesting the songs of other grosbeaks and 
possessing much sweetness, ‘ ‘ lacks the full rich mellowness of tone 
and variety of modulation” of its relatives. 
GENUS CYANOSPIZA.. 
General Characters. — Bill small, under mandible conspicu¬ 
ously deeper than upper; wing pointed; tarsus about equal to 
middle toe with claw; side claws not reaching to base of mid¬ 
dle claw. 
KEY TO ADULT MALES. 
1. Under parts partly or wholly red. 
2. Back yellowish green. ciris, p. 376. 
2'. Back purplish red. versicolor, p. 375. 
1'. Under parts not red. 
2. Upper parts light blue.amcena, p. 375. 
2'. Upper parts dark purplish or greenish blue . . . cyanea, p. 374. 
598. Cyanospiza cyanea (Linn.). Indigo Bunting. 
Adult male. — Head, throat, and sometimes median under parts purplish 
blue ; rest of body cerulean blue changing to bluish green in some lights; 
lores, wings, and tail black or dusky, tinged with blue. Adult female: 
upper parts olive brown ; wings and tail faintly tinged with blue ; under 
parts dull whitish washed with huffy, faintly streaked on chest. Imma¬ 
ture males: variously intermediate in coloration between fully adult males 
and females. Young: similar to adult female, but browner, obsoletely 
streaked. Male : length (skins) 4.59-5.21, wing 2.58-2.81, tail 1.91-2.13, 
bill .40-.44. Female: length (skins) 4.46-5.23, wing 2.47-2.62, tail 1.86- 
1.92, bill .39-.43. 
Distribution. — Breeds chiefly in Upper Sonoran and Transition zones of 
the northeastern United States, but extends west to Colorado, and from 
southern Canada to the Gulf ; migrates to Central America. 
Nest. — In low bushes, made of leaves, plant fibers, and grasses, lined 
with grass stems and horsehair. Eggs: usually 4, white, with faint bluish 
tinge. 
Food. — Largely insects and seeds. 
The indigo bunting, the eastern representative of the genus, has 
been found in Colorado and western Texas, but comes west regu¬ 
larly only as far as eastern Kansas. In habits it is the counterpart 
of the lazuli bunting. 
Fig. 465. 
