FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC.: SHUFELDT JUNCO 737 
man); one at Santa Fe, March 25,1892 (Coale). One was collected, October 26,1906, 
in the Mogollon Mountains on Willow Creek at 8,500 feet (Bailey), and one, Novem¬ 
ber, 3 at Albuquerque (Birtwell). Thus the records show this form to be an occa¬ 
sional visitor to New Mexico, principally in the northern part, from October 26 to 
March 25, and at altitudes from 5,000 to 8,500 feet.—W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. —In all species, usually on the ground, well hidden; rather bulky, made 
largely of dried grass stems and rootlets, lined with softer materials. Eggs: Generally 
4 or 5; white, greenish, or buffy, speckled with reddish brown. 
Food. —The total food of all the species and subspecies of juncos examined shows 
animal matter 22 per cent, and vegetable matter 78 per cent; but in summer when 
the birds are mainly in the mountains the insect food amounts to about one-half. Of 
this injurious insects amount to 25 per cent, and neutral insects 16 per cent. The 
summer vegetable food is composed of seeds and wild berries. During the rest of the 
year when the birds are in the lower country the animal food is only 9 per cent, the 
vegetable 91 per cent. The vegetable food is mainly weed seed, including pigeon 
grass, crab grass, ragweed, amaranth, lambs’ quarters, wild sunflower, and Russian 
thistle. This extensive destruction of weed seeds makes the juncos stay on agricul¬ 
tural land of great benefit. 
General Habits. —The juncos of whatever species, except in the 
nesting season, are found in flocks, frequently in weed patches or brushy 
thickets, their gray or blackish backs and white outer tail feathers naming 
them as they fly. The Slate-colored is familiarly known as the Snow¬ 
bird or Black Snowbird in distinction from the white Snowflake which 
comes from the Arctic regions to the northern States, for it appears in 
the lowlands with cold weather. When coming about houses the juncos 
are easily tamed, gladly accepting crumbs from the door when snow 
covers the weed patches; and their quiet friendly ways and cheerful 
twitter make them good winter neighbors. 
It is interesting to hear that a Slate-colored Junco banded in Minne¬ 
sota has been taken in New Jersey. 
SHUFELDT JUNCO: Junco oreganus shufeldti Coale 
Plate 79 
Description .— Male: Length (skins) 5.5-6.2 inches, wing 3-3.2, tail 2.6-2.8, 
bill .4-5. Female: Length (skins) 5.4-5.0 inches, wing 2.8-3.1, tail 2.3-2.7, bill .4. 
Adult male: Head , neck and chest , blackish slate (crescentic), back dull brown , rump 
dark slate, and tail darker with two outer pairs of feathers pure white; median 
underparts white, sides pinkish brown; bill and legs light. Adult female: Colors 
more subdued, with more rufous washing on sides. 
Comparisons.— Of the eight Juncos found in New Mexico only two, the White¬ 
winged and Slate-colored, have the back and chest the same color. Of the remaining 
six, in which the back and chest are different in color, three have pinkish sides—the 
Shufeldt, Montana, and Pink-sided—and three have gray sides—the Arizona, Red- 
backed, and Gray-headed. Of the pink-sided ones, the Shufeldt is the only one with 
blackish foreparts, the Montana and Pink-sided having gray foreparts. Of these, 
the Montana is slate-color anteriorly, the Pink-sided ash-gray on throat and chest. 
Of the three gray-sided ones, the Arizona is the only one with yellow eyes and black 
bill, and of the two brown-eyed ones, the chest and sides of the Gray-headed are 
darker than in the Red-backed. 
