588 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
Additional Literature.—Grinnell, J., Auk, XXXVII, 84-88, 1920 (notes). 
Weydemeyer, Winton, Condor, XXV, 117-118, 1923 (song and nest).— Whittle, 
C. L., Auk, XL, 224-240, 1923; XLI, 327-333, 1924 (group habit). 
PIPITS, etc.: Family Motacillidae 
Suggesting a Sparrow in coloration and terrestrial habits, the 
American Pipit, which is the New Mexico representative of the family, 
differs in having a very slender, acute bill, notched at the tip. It 
has nine primaries, and feet long and slender, with the hind claw always 
lengthened and straightened. 
AMERICAN PIPIT: Anthus spinoletta rubescens (Tunstall) 
Description. — Length: 6-7 inches, wing 3.2-3.5, tail 2.6-2.8, tarsus .8-.9. 
Adults in spring and summer: Upperparls usually grayish, tinged with olive or brown, 
indistinctly streaked, tail blackish, outside feather largely white , next tipped with 
white; wing blackish brown with two buffy \ying bars and light edgings; line over 
eye, and underparts huffy (fading in summer), chest, sides, and flanks, streaked with 
dusky. Adults in winter: Upperparts browner or more olivaceous, under parts paler, 
more heavily streaked. Young in juvenal plumage: Similar to winter adults but 
scapulars and back darker, back distinctly spotted with dusky; line over eye indis¬ 
tinct or obsolete, streaks on chest usually heavier, those on sides and flanks indis¬ 
tinct or obsolete. 
Range. —Breeds in Arctic Zone from northeastern Siberia, northern Alaska, 
northern Mackenzie, central Keewatin, and Newfoundland; on high mountains south 
to New Mexico, Colorado, and California; and from the Aleutians to Prince William 
Sound; winters from California (Vancouver Island, British Columbia ?), Arizona, 
New Mexico, east to Ohio and Delaware Valleys, south to Gulf coast and Guatemala. 
State Records. —From far northern Alaska, the breeding range of the American 
Pipit extends- south, until it finds the southern limit on the mountains of north- 
central New Mexico. Here the species is confined during the breeding season to the 
tops of the highest peaks, and in 1903 was found both on Pecos Baldy and Truchas 
Peak from a little below timberline to near the top of the highest ridge, at 13,250 
feet (Bailey). [In July, 1919, it was abundant over all the higher peaks of the Pecos 
region and was observed in great numbers on July 12,17, and 18, on Tierra Amarilla, 
the three Truchas Peaks, and Pecos Baldy, feeding young. On June 15, 1924, it 
was rather common on all peaks of the Wheeler group, at and above timberline. 
Three nests were found, one with five partly incubated eggs, one nest only well 
started, and another about completed (Ligon).l In 1904, it was common on Wheeler 
Peak from timberline at 12,000 feet to the top of the peaks, at about 13,600 feet 
(aneroid, Bailey). On Culebra Peak it was found August 20, 1904, from 12,700 
to 13,300 feet and had probably nested on the mountain (aneroid, Gaut). 
In the fall, it was seen September 4, 1906, on Santa Clara Mountain at 11,000 
feet (Bailey); and September 14, 1902, on the highest peak of the White Mountains 
at nearly 12,000 feet. On September 19, 1905, the first was seen in the foothills of 
the mountains at about 7,000 feet near Burley (Hollister); and on September 27, 
1904, a flock was found in the open country near Lake Burford, 7,500 feet (Bailey), 
[At Stateline, between St. Michaels, Arizona, and Gallup, New Mexico, 12 were seen 
September 29, 1918 (Skinner).] Through October the species is scattered cpiite 
widely over the State at about 7,000-8,000 feet or even lower, as at Albuquerque 
October 9, 1900 (Barker). Near Koehler Junction, about 6,000 feet, it was common 
after October 6, 1913 (Kalmbach); and by the first week in November it descends 
