76 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-EXPERIMENT STATION 
Western Kingbird or Bee Martin ( Tyrannies verticalis). —Head and back 
grayish; underparts yellow; tail black with outer feathers edged with white; 
a patch of scarlet on crown of head usually concealed by feathers. Usually 
seen in open country or perched on telegraph wires or fences. A summer 
resident. Feeds almost entirely on insects, many of which are injurious; 
when feeding upon bees takes drones rather than workers. 
California Jay ( Aphelocoma calif ornica calif ornica) .—Head and back bright 
blue; breasts and underparts whitish; long tail. Usually seen in orchards, 
thickets, or wooded areas. Permanently resident. Feeds largely on acorns, 
seeds, and fruit but is often destructive to fruit and almond orchards and 
to the eggs and young of song birds and even poultry. The darker blue jay 
with a crest found in the mountains is the Blue-fronted Jay. 
Westren Meadowlark ( Sturnella neglecta). —Above streaked with gray and 
brown; yellow below with black collar on breast; two outer tail feathers 
white; bill about as long as head. Usually seen in open fields on the ground 
but sometimes perched on telegraph poles and fence posts. Permanently 
resident. Feeds on grain, seeds, and insects; as a rule a valuable ally of 
the farmer because of its destruction of insect pests, such as grasshoppers, 
crickets, wireworms, and cutworms. 
Bullock Oriole ( Icterus bullocki). —Top of head, back, and narrow throat 
patch black; white patch on wing; underparts orange yellow in male, lighter 
yellow in female. Usually seen in trees. A summer visitant. The oriole 
eats some fruit but most of the food is made up of injurious insects such as 
black scale and codling moth. 
Bi-colored Blackbird ( Agelaius gubernator californicus). —Male black with red 
patch on wing; female gray, streaked with brown. Usually seen in marshes 
or near tules. Permanently resident. Feeds on grain, weed seeds, and 
insects; sometimes destructive to grain and Egyptian corn. 
Brewer Blackbird ( Euphagus cyanocephalus) .—Male, glossy blue black; white 
eyes; female, brownish; walks instead of hops. Usually seen on ground, on 
lawns, or in fields or orchards, but also perched on pine trees or on telegraph 
wires. Permanently resident. Destroys some grain but usually compensates 
for it by the destruction of grasshoppers, white-grubs, wireworms, cutworms, 
and weed seeds. 
Song Sparrow ( Helospiza mclodia). —Above dark brownish; below whitish con¬ 
spicuously streaked with dark brown; a light streak over eve and a 
light stripe down center of head. Usually seen on ground or in bushes. 
Permanently resident. Feeds almost wholly on weed seeds; a fine singer. 
