748 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
Comparisons. —Typical summer specimens of the Brewer differ from the Clay- 
colored Sparrow in being more narrowly, uniformly and continuously streaked above , 
especially on the head, which lacks the median crown stripe, and the plain gray 
hind-neck. The cheek patches are also less strongly contrasted. (See p. 747.) 
Range. —Breeds mainly in arid Transition Zone from southern British Columbia, 
west-central Alberta, eastern Montana, and northwestern Nebraska south to New 
Mexico, Arizona, and eastern California; winters from 
California, southern Arizona, and Texas south through 
Lower California and western border of Mexican table¬ 
lands to Jalisco. 
State Records. —When Doctor Coues visited New 
Mexico in 1864 lie found the Brewer Sparrow breeding 
near Fort Wingate; forty years later specimens were 
collected at Wingate and Gallup, June 19-July 6, 1905, 
and it was declared to be “the most common breeding 
bird in the Puerco valley” (Hollister). [At Lake 
Burford, May 23-June 19, 1918, it was found to be one of the most common breed 
ing birds, and a number of nests were found—one on June 4 with three eggs, and 
one, June 17, with three newly hatched young (Wetmorc). It is locally abundant 
in northern Santa Fe County. North and west of the Santa Fe Indian School for 
about 3 miles it nests in large numbers in sagebrush and low junipers (Jensen, 1922).] 
A specimen was taken at Santa Fe, July 17,1874 (Henshaw). It is a common breed¬ 
ing bird of the San Luis Valley, Colorado, and is rather common in the sagebrush 
of the northwestern quarter of New Mexico (Ligon). 
It was common July 28—October 24, <1913, along the foothills and Red River, 
Colfax County (Kalmbach). Both young and old were common, July 31, 1904, at 
Tres Piedras, 8,000 feet (Gaut), and the species becomes common in August, east 
to Las Vegas (Bailey), Fort Sumner, and to the Sacramento and White Mountains. 
By September 4, 1908, it had reached the southern part of the State at Deming. 
It was common on the mesas and grassy flats from Laguna to the base of the Bear 
Spring Mountains during the latter part of September, 1905 (Hollister). It remains 
common through September, but most leave soon after the last of this month. 
Several belated individuals were seen at Cactus Flat as late as November 6, 1906 
(Bailey). 
Merrill has recorded them from Mesilla Park as seen commonly from August to 
May, or June 1, so some remain in the State during the winter. A specimen was 
taken at El Paso, Texas, close to the New Mexico line, February 6, 1892 (Mearns). 
In the spring, along the border, it was common through March and to April 18, 
1892 (Mearns). It was noted at Rinconada, April 18,1904 (Surber), and it remained 
at Silver City until May 10, 1906 (Bailey); [a specimen was taken there, May 13, 
1917 (Kellogg),] and May 12, 1884 (Marsh). Three were seen near Santa Rosa, 
May 15, 1910 (Lantz and Piper), and one at Mesilla Park, May 1, 1904 (Metcalfe).— 
W. W. Cooke. 
Nest. In sagebrush, low junipers, and sometimes vineyards; made compactly 
of shredded sage bark or light dead twigs, fine grass stems, and leaves, lined with 
rootlets, long horsehairs, or sometimes cow hair, weed seed, and rabbit fur. Eggs: 
Usually 3 or 4, greenish with a wreath of reddish brown spots around the larger end. 
Food. In the summer months upward of 90 per cent of its food consists of 
injurious insects and weed seeds (July 28-October 24, 1913, in Colfax County, 24 
per cent grasshoppers (Kalmbach), and it is one of the most effective enemies of 
the alfalfa weevil. It also eats equally injurious plant lice and caterpillars. 
Fig. 129. Brewer Sparrow 
