630 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
(Jensen).] It was noted in the Pecos Valley at Ribera, and below, June 30-July 2, 
1903 (Bailey); but has not been recorded elsewhere in the State east of the Rio 
Grande Valley. It is common at Mesilla Park and breeds north at least to Espanola, 
5,500 feet (Surber), and to Taos, 7,000 feet (Bailey). In western New Mexico it 
breeds at Shiprock (Gilman), Fort Wingate (Henshaw), and Zuni (Woodhouse). 
Doctor Henry says that during the spring and summer of 1853 he saw a few on the 
Rio Mimbres at Fort Webster, 6,300 feet, and believed the species nested there. 
If so it must be very rare, for it has not been noted by any of those who have in late 
years collected extensively in that district. 
It is an early fall migrant, and the last was seen at Ribera August 26, 1903 
(Bailey); at Mesilla September 14, 1913 (Merrill); and at Apache September 15 
(Anthony). 
[In spring, at Silver City a specimen was taken on May 9, 1918 (Kellogg)].— 
W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —In bushes or saplings among briers, usually two or three feet from the 
ground; made largely of dry leaves and grasses, lined with finer grasses. Eggs: 
Usually 4, white, pinkish, or greenish, spotted or blotched over the entire surface, 
or wreathed around the larger end, with browns and shell spots of lavender. 
General Habits. —In 1903, we first found the large handsome Chat, 
with his yellow breast, white head marks, and olive back, in the adobe 
village of La Cuesta on the Pecos and were glad to hear his clownish laugh 
and foolish chatter again. From that time on we found him in the 
tangles of the rich cultivated Pecos bottoms along the line of Mexican 
pueblos to Ribera. 
Wherever thick vegetation of some height is found near Mesilla 
Park, Professor Merrill says, “there this bird is, be it grove, thicket, 
bosque, hedge, or weed patch. He comes up late, about June 1, and 
proclaims his presence from then on until he leaves in the fall, although 
he is very shy of showing himself in the open. From the time he 
lets out his first whistle on arrival, until his wings Jiutt , flutt } flutt y the 
last time, carrying his bobbing tail out of sight on his bush to bush 
migration, he is the very incarnation of crazy antics, silly poses and 
mimic whistle, call, and song. But he can sing a clear, sweet little 
strain all of his own with no hint of mimicry if he will, and then he 
sits up trim and straight, a really beautiful little bird. It is a relief 
to see him thus after hearing his burlesque of the Mockingbird’s 
mimetic ability, and seeing one of his aerial spasms” (MS). He is 
particularly musical, Mr. Ridgway says, on bright moonlight nights. 
Additional Literature—Miller, O. T., Upon the Tree-tops, 88-102, 1897; 
A Bird Lover in the West, 43-51, 231-233, 236-250, 254-258, 1894.— Taverner, 
P. A., Bird-Lore, VIII, 131-133, 1906. 
RED-FACED WARBLER: Cardellma rubrifrons (Giraud) 
Plate 1 
Description .— Male: Length (skins) 4.6-5.3 inches, wing 2.6-2.8, tail 2.2-2.4, 
bill .3, tarsus .6-7. Female: Length (skins) 4.4-5 inches, wing 2.5-2.8. Adult 
male: Face , throat , chesty and sides of nape bnght red ; crown and cheeks glossy black, 
nuchal patch (usually tinged with pink), wing patch, and rump white; rest of upper- 
