Western Bird Guide

STELLER JAY

478. Cyanocitta stelleri. 13 inches

Range.– From Alaska south to central California. Nests are quite bulky; three to six greenish eggs, spotted with shades of brown (1.25 × .90).

WOODHOUSE JAY

480. Aphelocoma woodhousei. 12 inches

These birds are abundant in the Great Basin between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas, breeding in scrubby trees or bushes at low elevations and usually near some stream. They have the crown and forehead bluish, and the under parts are gray, streaked with a darker shade on the breast. Their food consists of acorns and a variety of insects.

Nest.– This is usually of small sticks, loosely arranged, with smaller twigs and roots for a lining. Four to six eggs, of a pale green, faintly spotted with shades of brown (1.20 × .90).

CALIFORNIA JAY

481. Aphelocoma californica. 12 inches

These are the most common of the Jays on the Pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington. They are more tame or fearless than most of the family, and frequent the trees about houses, and are given the bad name of robbing the nests of other birds of their eggs and young. In color these are just the reverse of the previous one, being brownish below, and gray above.

ARIZONA JAY

482. Aphelocoma sieberi arizonæ. 13 inches

A common bird in Arizona and south into Mexico. The upper parts are a bluish gray, shading into a brownish gray on the head; under parts are a pale gray. They are a very sociable bird during the breeding season, and often several pairs will nest in the same clump of trees, usually placing their nests at low elevations.

Nest.– Is made similar to the preceding, but the four eggs are more of a bluish color, without markings (1.20 × .85).

ROCKY MOUNTAIN JAY

484a. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. 12 inches

This is almost the counterpart of the Canada Jay of the east, with the exception of having more white on the head, and only a small space on the back of the neck. He is the same “old coon” as the eastern bird about camps, and is rightfully called “Camp Robber.” Their nesting habits are the same as above, but their eggs are drab, spotted and blotched with brown, of varying shades (1.15 × .80).

OREGON JAY

485. Perisoreus obscurus. 11 inches

Like the last in every way, but with a blacker head, forehead white.

AMERICAN RAVEN

486. Corvus corax sinuatus. 24 inches

This is a large edition of the Crow, and is found west of the Rockies from British Columbia southward. Their plumage is a bluish black, with lengthened and stiffened feathers on the neck. Their general habits are much the same as the Crow. Their food consists principally of carrion, fish, and eggs and young of smaller birds. They nest on the high cliffs in almost inaccessible places, building large nests of sticks, in which they deposit four eggs of a pale greenish white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and drab (1.95 × 1.25).

WHITE-NECKED RAVEN

487. Corvus cryptoleucus. 21 inches

A smaller bird than the above, and has the base of the neck feathers white. It is a more southern variety, and is found in Arizona and on the Mexican borders. They build at low elevations, making their nests of sticks and twigs. Four pale blue eggs, spotted with dark brown (1.75 × 1.20).

NORTHWESTERN CROW

489. Corvus caurinus. 17 inches

This is one of the smaller Crows, found only on the coasts of Oregon to Alaska, where it feeds almost wholly upon fish.

CLARKE NUTCRACKER,

491. Nucifraga columbiana. 12 inches

Found in the mountains of western North America, from Mexico to Alaska. In habits they much resemble the Crow or some of the Jays. Their food consisting largely of seeds from the pine cones, insects of many varieties, larvæ and berries. They seem to prefer the tops of the higher mountain ranges, coming down into the valleys for their supply of food. Their nesting sites are well up in the mountains, where they build their nests in the coniferous trees, of twigs, weeds, strips of bark and plant fibers, making a deep cup-shaped nest in which they lay from three to five greenish gray eggs, spotted over the whole surface with brown and lavender (1.30 × .90).

PINON JAY

492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. 11 inches

To be found in the pine regions of the Rockies and west, and from British Columbia to southern California. They are very sociable birds, keeping in colonies, and always have much to talk about among themselves; after the breeding season they may be seen in large flocks. Three to five bluish gray eggs, are spotted with different shades of brown (1.20 × .85).

BOBOLINK – Family Icteridæ

494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 7 inches

This bird is found over most of North America from the southern parts of Canada south, and has been gradually extending westward as far as California. During mating season it is hard to find any other bird so completely filled with music as are these birds. They are also quite sociable birds, and several pairs of them may be found nesting in the same piece of meadow land, and filling the air with their sweet, wild music. They place their nest in a shallow hollow on the ground; it is lined with grass and frequently so covered as to be almost arched over to conceal the eggs. Four or five eggs of a grayish white, thickly blotched and spotted with brown of different shades and lilac, generally covered with ground color on the larger end (.84 × .62).

COWBIRD

495. Molothrus ater. 7½ inches

It is to be found throughout the United States and the southern portion of Canada. They are the only birds which we have that neither make a nest of their own nor care for their young. They will deposit a single egg (sometimes two) in the nest of some other bird, usually of a smaller variety.

BRONZED COWBIRD

496a. Tangavius æneus. 7 inches

The same as above, being more of a bronze color, found in Arizona and Mexico.

RED-EYED COWBIRD

496. Tangavius æneus involucratus. 8½ inches

Habits as above. Plumage is glossy black, with brassy reflections. They are abundant in southern Texas, and in Mexico (not illustrated).

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD

497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. 10 inches

A large and handsome bird, with bright yellow head and breast; body black, with a white patch on the wing. They are a western bird, being found from the central United States to California. They breed abundantly in suitable marshes throughout their range. Their nests are made of strips of rushes, interwoven and fastened to the upright rushes only a few inches above the water. The four to six grayish white eggs are spotted with shades of brown and gray (1.00 × .70).

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD

498. Agelaius phœniceus. 9 inches

An eastern bird, found as far west as the eastern part of the Rockies. Very common in many parts of the east, where it builds much the same as does the previous, laying four or five eggs, bluish white, spotted, blotched and scratched with shades of brown (1.00 × .70).

SONORA RED-WING BLACKBIRD

498a. Agelaius phœniceus sonoriensis. 9 inches

Similar, but with more of a buff in place of the white on the wing. In southern California and Arizona (not illustrated).

BICOLORED RED-WING

499. Agelaius gubernator californicus. 8½ inches

The male of this species do not have the light margins to the red on the shoulders, as do the others. They are found on the Pacific coast from Washington to southern California. Eggs and nests the same.

TRICOLORED RED-WING

500. Agelaius tricolor. 9 inches

This species is a much deeper red on the shoulders, and the buff color on the preceding is white on this bird. They are restricted to a small range, the Pacific coast of California and Oregon, and are not nearly as common as the eastern variety. Their nesting habits are the same, and the eggs are indistinguishable.

WESTERN MEADOWLARK

501.1. Sturnella neglecta. 9 inches

This variety is somewhat paler than the eastern bird. In habits it is the same. The nests and eggs cannot be separated from the eastern. There seems to be one great distinguishing quality between the two, and that is in their song or notes. The first one that I had the pleasure of hearing was in Oregon, and my first thought was of our eastern Bobolink, but on seeing the bird in flight, I at once knew that it was a new song, sung by our eastern Meadowlark in appearance. They feed on insect life, beetles, etc. They lay from four to seven eggs, spotted with shades of brown (1.10 × .80).

SCOTT ORIOLE

504. Icterus parisorum. 8 inches

This is not a common species in any part of its range, from southern California to Texas, and in Mexico. It is a handsomely marked bird, with its clear black and yellow. They build a hanging nest, usually suspended from the under sides of the leaves of the yucca palm, or from small branches of low trees. Three to four bluish white eggs, specked and blotched with brown about the larger end (.95 × .65).

SENNETT ORIOLE

505. Icterus cucullatus sennetti. 7½ inches

This is a deeper yellow; the face, throat, back, wings and tail being black, the wings with two white bars. Found in Texas and south into Mexico. Nests are made of hanging moss (not illustrated).

ARIZONA HOODED ORIOLE

505a. Icterus cucullatus nelsoni. 7½ inches

This is very much like the last, but lighter, and is found common in Arizona, New Mexico and southern California. Its favorite nesting place seems to be a bunch of Spanish moss, looping up the ends and weaving it closely together, and forming a pocket inside, which they line with dried grasses and yucca fibers.

BULLOCK ORIOLE

508. Icterus bullocki. 7½ inches

This is a western representative of our eastern bird, the Baltimore Oriole, and their ranges overlap each other on the eastern slope of the Rockies. They build a hanging nest, and in the southern part of their range use the Spanish moss and mistletoe for the foundation of the nest, lining the opening with grasses, hair and small fiber. Three or four white eggs, spotted and streaked with shades of brown (.94 × .62). These birds are of great benefit to the small fruit growers in eating the many injurious insects.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD

509. Euphagus carolinus. 9 inches

This is a bird of the east, but is found on the eastern slope of the Rockies, and straying into southern California to the Gulf of Mexico. Breeds along the northern borders of the United States, northwest to Alaska. The female is very much lighter than the male, and of a brownish drab color. They build large substantial nests of moss, twigs and grass, lined with finer material of the same, and placed in low bushes or trees only a few feet from the ground. Three to five eggs, pale bluish green, blotched and spotted with brown (.96 × .71).

BREWER BLACKBIRD

510. Euphagus cyanocephalus. 10 inches

Found throughout western North America, breeding from Alaska to southern California. They differ from the preceding in having a purplish reflection on the head and upper parts, and greenish black body. They nest abundantly throughout their range, either in bushes or trees at low elevations, or upon the ground; the nests are made of sticks, roots and grasses, lined with finer grass. Three to five eggs are laid, which are very variable in marking, a dull white, spotted and blotched all over thickly with brown of different shades (1.00 × .75).

WESTERN EVENING GROSBEAK

514a. Hesperiphona vespertina montana. 8 inches

Western North America, and breeding from British Columbia to central California. They build in the evergreen trees upon the mountain side or along some stream in the willows; they are always frail structures made up of a few loosely put together twigs and roots. Three or four pale greenish eggs, spotted sparingly with brown, are the usual complement (.90 × .65).

CALIFORNIA PINE GROSBEAK

515b. Pinicola enucleator californica. 8 inches

These are one of the most unsuspicious birds that we have, and can be approached to within a few feet. The male is a bright red above and an ashy gray below, having much less of the red than his eastern relative. The female is a dull ashy gray, with a yellowish brown on the top of head and rump. They like the cooler places in which to live, and are found about the snow lines on the mountain, where they feed largely upon the seeds of the coniferous trees, in which they place their nests, making them of fine twigs and rootlets, and lining with grass and moss. They lay three or four eggs, light greenish blue, with splashes of brown and fainter markings of lilac (1.00 × .70).

CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH

517a. Carpodacus purpureus californicus. 6 inches

This is found from British Columbia to southern California. It breeds well up in the mountains, usually in evergreens. Three or four eggs of a greenish blue, spotted with brown (.85 × .65).

CASSIN PURPLE FINCH

518. Carpodacus cassini. 6 inches

It is found west of the Rockies, breeding from British Columbia south to New Mexico, well up in the mountain regions, as far as the timber line extends. The back, wings and tail of this are darker than the preceding species; the purple color being more of a rosy tint. Their nests are made of twigs and rootlets, loosely put together, and almost flat; they lay three or four eggs not to be recognized from the last.

HOUSE FINCH

519. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. 6 inches

This is one of the most familiar birds on the Pacific coast. With his bright colors, and the more quiet colors of his mate, and the habit they have of keeping close to civilization, building their nests in the vines about the porches of the houses, both in the country and even in the cities, they are great favorites with every one. Their clear and pleasant song is kept up continually during the day, and where two or three pairs are nesting nearby, there is no lack for bird music. Their nests are made of fine rootlets and grass placed in almost any bush, tree or vine, if near some dwelling.

CROSSBILL

521. Loxia curvirostra minor. 6 inches

Found throughout the greater part of North America, and breeds in suitable locations on the mountain sides among the coniferous trees. On the Pacific coast, breeding from Alaska to southern California. In abundance they vary each year greatly, according to the food supply of cones in the evergreen trees from which they secure their seed supply; their twisted bill quickly opening up the cones and cleaning out the small seeds. Their nests are made of fine roots and grasses, and three or four eggs, greenish white, spotted and lined with shades of brown, are laid (.75 × .55).

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL

522. Loxia leucoptera. 6½ inches

These are of a lighter and more rosy color than the preceding, and also have a large white patch on the wings. The female is marked the same, with grayish and buff in place of the red on the males. Nesting habits and locations are the same as above. The eggs average a little larger and heavier marked (.80 × .55).

ALEUTIAN ROSY FINCH

523. Leucosticte griseonucha. 6½ inches

This is the largest of the family; they are pretty birds, with dark chestnut back and breast, and with the rump, wings and tail with a rosy tint. These are birds of the mountains and high altitudes, above or near the snow line. They are found breeding on the islands of Bering Sea, and in the western part of Alaska. They nest in crevices of the rocks or under ledges, making their nests of grasses and roots. Their four or five eggs are pure white (.97 × .67).

GRAY-CROWNED ROSY FINCH

524. Leucosticte tephrocotis. 6½ inches

This is a lighter colored bird than the above. It is found on the eastern slope of the Rockies and has been found breeding in the Sierra Nevadas, in crevices of the rocks, after the same manner as the above. The eggs cannot be distinguished from the above.

HEPBURN ROSY FINCH

524a. Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. 6½ inches

These have more gray on the back of the head; otherwise the same as preceding in habits and nesting.

BLACK ROSY FINCH

525. Leucosticte atrata. 6½ inches

This species is the same in markings as the Gray-crowned, excepting that the brown is replaced with almost black on the back and breast. The females of this family are much the same as the males, only not as bright in markings, and the young are the same as the females. Found in the northern Rocky Mountains, breeding in the mountains south to Colorado. They are all restless birds, seldom making a long stop in one place, but flitting from one locality to another. After the breeding season, they congregate in large flocks and keep together about the snow line, getting their supply of seed and insect food. Their nesting habits and their eggs are the same as the Gray-crowned.

BROWN-CAPPED ROSY FINCH

526. Leucosticte australis. 6½ inches

These are to be found more southerly in the Rocky Mountains than any of the others, breeding in Colorado, and wintering in New Mexico. Their nesting habits and eggs are the same. Most of this family keep above the timber line during the summer, and only come down into the valleys as the heavy snow comes.

HOARY REDPOLL

527a. Acanthis hornemanni exilipes. 5 inches

These pretty little birds, with their caps of bright crimson and rosy breasts, are birds of the coldest regions, breeding in the Arctic regions, and wintering to the northern parts of the United States.

Nest.– They build very large nests, mostly of small sticks and grass, and lined with fine grass and feathers, which are placed usually within a foot or two of the ground in scrub bushes. Their three to five eggs are a light bluish green, with specks of brown, mostly about the larger end (.65 × .50).

REDPOLL

528. Acanthis linaria. 5 inches

Its range is the northern part of North America, breeding in Alaska, and wintering as far south as southern Oregon, or into California on the western coast, in the mountain regions above the timber line. In Colorado, they have been seen at 10,000 feet, and with the temperature far below zero. Their nesting habits are the same as the above, and eggs are the same.

PALE GOLDFINCH

529a. Astragalinus tristis pallidus. 5 inches

A paler form, found in the Rockies, south to Colorado (not illustrated).

WILLOW GOLDFINCH

529b. Astragalinus t. salicamara. 5 inches

A western form of the eastern bird, rarely reaching the five inches in length, and of a paler color, both the black and the yellow. It is common on the Pacific coast, from Washington to southern California, breeding in willows and low bushes. Nest is made of plant down, very compactly built, usually in a crotch. Four to five eggs, plain bluish white (.60 × .45).

ARKANSAS GOLDFINCH

530. Astragalinus psaltria. 5 inches

Found from Colorado to Mexico in the Rockies (not illustrated).

GREEN-BACKED GOLDFINCH

530a. Astragalinus p. hesperophilus. 5 inches

In southwestern United States from Central California to Mexico.

LAWRENCE GOLDFINCH

531. Astragalinus lawrencei. 4½ inches

This bird differs from the others of this family in being mostly gray in place of the yellow, having the head and throat black. They are found quite commonly on the Pacific coast of California, and south to Mexico. Their nests are nicely made, cup-like structures of plant down, in which they deposit four white eggs.

PINE SISKIN

533. Spinus pinus. 5 inches

These are a more northern bird, breeding mostly to the Canadian zone, and in the Rockies and higher mountains to the west. They feed largely upon weed seeds and seeds from the different coniferous trees, the latter of which they most often frequent, building their nests in these trees of twigs and rootlets loosely put together and placed on the crotch of a horizontal limb; usually four eggs, of a greenish white color, spotted finely with reddish brown (.65 × .45). They have a habit, while feeding, of clinging to the under side of a branch or cone, similar to the Chickadee, and, if disturbed when on some favorite tree, will make a short flight and circle back to the same tree.

SNOW BUNTING OR SNOWFLAKE

534. Plectrophenax nivalis. 7 inches

To be found in the whole of the northern hemisphere, breeding within the Arctic Circle and wintering south to the central portions of the United States. They are one of the birds that change their dress completely from winter to summer, in color. In winter they are a clear black and white, while in summer the black is changed for a coat of chestnut or brownish. They are to be found in the winters, on the hillsides and in fields where the weeds are showing through, feeding upon the small seeds, and at this time they are as restless and uncertain as the snowflake itself, from which it is called. They nest on the ground, making it of dried grasses and lining with finer grass and feathers; the four or five eggs are a dull white, spotted and splashed with shades of brown, mostly on the larger end (.90 × .65).

McKAY SNOW BUNTING

535. Plectrophenax hyperboreus. 7 inches

This species is still more white than the preceding, having only a few specks of black on the tips of the primaries, and the central tail feather. They build, in crevices of the rocks on the ground, a nest of grass, lined with moss and feathers.

ALASKAN LONGSPUR

536a. Calcarius lapponicus alascensis. 6½ inches

Their breeding grounds are in the northern part of Alaska in summer, and in winter coming as far south as Oregon and Colorado, when they may be frequently found in with flocks of Snow Buntings, and, like the Snowflakes, they breed on the ground in a depression in the moss or under some boulder, making their nest of grass and lining it with feathers. Their four to six eggs are grayish, nearly covered with spots and blotches of shades of dark brown (.80 × .60).

WESTERN VESPER SPARROW

540a. Poœcetes gramineus confinis. 6 inches

The chestnut shoulders and outer white tail-feather will distinguish this from any others of the sparrows, and the sides are more of a gray color than the eastern variety. Its habit of singing later in the evening gave it the name of “Vesper.” Found on the Pacific coast, from British Columbia to Mexico. Nest is made of grass, placed in a depression on the ground. Four dull white eggs, blotched with brown (.80 × .60).

WESTERN SAVANNAH SPARROW

542b. Passerculus s. alaudinus. 5½ inches

This is a slightly paler form of the preceding, and is very common in the fields and meadows, from northern Alaska to Mexico. They are birds but very little seen, keeping in the grass the greater part of the time. Their nests are hollows in the ground lined with fine grass and concealed by tufts of grass. They usually deposit four eggs, grayish white, blotched heavily with brown (.75 × .55).

BRYANT SPARROW

542c. Passerculus s. bryanti. 5½ inches

Found on the salt marshes of California to Lower California. It is a darker and brighter bird than the preceding (not illustrated).

BELDING SPARROW

543. Passerculus beldingi. 5½ inches

Found on the marshes of southern and Lower California. Is darker and more streaked below. Nesting habits the same; eggs darker.