756 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
sunning themselves in leafless Rhus bushes along the river. Doctor 
Henry reported their eating mistletoe berries. 
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW: Zonotrichia albicdllis (Gmelin) 
Description. — Male: Length (skins) 6.1-6.6 inches, wing 2.8-3, tail 2.8-3, 
bill .4-.5. Female: Length (skins), 5.9-6.3 inches, wing 2.7-2.9, tail 2.7-2.9, bill 
.4-.5. Adults in summer ; Head striped with black and white, median white stripe 
narrow; broad superciliary, yellow from bill to above eye; back and scapulars rusty 
brown, streaked with black; wings with two white bands and pale yellow edge; 
throat patch white, conspicuous against adjoining gray; median underparts white, 
sides brownish; bill bluish gray below. Immature , and adults in winter: Crown 
stripes brown and buffy instead of white and black; yellow duller; throat patch less 
sharply defined and in some immature specimens practically obsolete, when the 
breast is obscurely streaked. 
Range. —Breeds in Canadian and Hudsonian Zones from northern Mackenzie, 
central Keewatin, and Quebec south to Maine, southern Ontario (in mountains to 
Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania), Minnesota, and central Alberta; 
winters from Missouri, Ohio Valley, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts 
south to Florida, southern Texas (rarely), northeastern Mexico, and California 
(rarely); casual in Montana, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Recorded from 
British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming. 
State Records. —The White-throated Sparrow of the eastern states has been 
recorded by Willett from the Rio Grande Bird Reserve (Elephant Butte), where it 
was noted from November 23 to December 9, 1916. 
General Habits. —Like the other black and white-crowned spar¬ 
rows the White-throat frequents weed patches and brushy thickets. 
When not seen near enough to recognize it by its white throat patch, its 
clearly whistled 7-7, Pea-body , Ped-body readily identifies it, and 
although it may not be in good voice in winter, when if ever, it may be 
found in New Mexico, its notes are distinctive. One of its calls is a 
peculiar “quarrying note,” as of a slipping chisel. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SONG SPARROW: Melospiza melddia fallax (Baird) 
Description. — Male: Length (skins) 5.6-6.5 inches, wing 2.6-2.9, tail 2.5-3, 
bill .4-.5. Female: Length (skins) 5.3-6.3 inches, wing 2.5-2.7, tail 2.5-2.9, bill 
.4-5. Bill moderate, conic, wings short and much rounded, tail long, much rounded, 
with broad feathers, feet moderately stout. Adults: Crown brown narrowly streaked 
with black, having a narrow gray median stripe and bordered by a grayish line over 
eye; upperparts umber-brown with gray margins to feathers giving a strong grayish 
cast; back and scapulars streaked with blackish brown; tail and wings brown, middle 
tail feathers with narrow dusky streak; wings with brown coverts and grayish edg¬ 
ings; underparts white, chest and sides streaked with blackish brown more or less 
confluent on breast. Young: Like adults but duller, ground color of underparts 
whitish. 
Range. —Breeds in Upper Sonoran and Transition Zones of Rocky Mountains 
and eastern Great Basin region, from northeastern Oregon to western Montana south 
to northern New Mexico and Nevada; winters from Montana south to southeastern 
California (sparingly), Arizona, western Texas, Chihuahua, and Sonora. Casual in 
Washington. 
