The Bird Book Part 106

Range.--Pacific coast of northern California, Oregon and Was.h.i.+ngton.

These diminutive little birds build nests that are marvels of architecture, making long purse-like structures, suspended from twigs usually at low elevations from the ground. The nests are made of moss, lichens, fibres, ferns and gra.s.ses and lined with feathers or wool; the opening is on one side near the top, and a typical nest averages 12 inches in length, by 4.5 inches in diameter at the bottom and 3 at the top. Their eggs number from four to nine and are pure white; size .54 .40. The birds are very active and have the same habits as the Chickadees, being seen often suspended, head downward, from the ends of twigs, in their search for insects.

[Ill.u.s.tration 439: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 438

743a. CALIFORNIA BUSH-t.i.t. _Psaltriparus minimus californicus._

Range.--California with the exception of the northern part.

This sub-species, which is like the last but with a lighter brown head, has the same habits, nests in the same manner and its eggs are not distinguishable from those of the others.

743b. GRINDA'S BUSH-t.i.t. _Psaltriparus minimus grindae._

Range.--Southern Lower California.

The nesting habits of this variety, which is very similar to the last, do not vary in any respect; eggs indistinguishable.

744. LEAD-COLORED BUSH-t.i.t. _Psaltriparus plumbeus._

Range.--Rocky Mountain region from Wyoming south to Arizona.

This species suspends its semi-pensile nests in bushes or trees, and some times from the mistletoe, which grows on numerous trees in southern Arizona. The nests are composed like those of the Cal. Bush-t.i.t and range from 6 to 10 inches in length. The eggs are white, five or six in number and measure .55 .42.

745. LLOYD'S BUSH-t.i.t. _Psaltriparus melanotis lloydi._

Range.--Northern Mexico north into western Texas and New Mexico.

This species is similar to the lead-colored Bush-t.i.t but has the ear coverts glossy black. Like the others, it builds a long pensile nest of similar material and suspended from the extremities of limbs near the ground The five to seven eggs are pure white. Size .58 .42.

[Ill.u.s.tration 440: E. L. Bickford. BUSH-t.i.t AND NEST.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: deco.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]

Page 439

746. VERDIN. _Auriparus flaviceps flaviceps_.

Range.--Mexican border of the United States, north to Colorado and Nevada.

This Bush-t.i.t has a bright yellow head and throat, the upper parts being gray and the belly, white. They are abundant in chaparral brush, locally throughout their range. Their large globular nests are situated in bushes at low elevations from the ground, and are made of twigs and weeds, softly lined with fur and feathers. Their three to six eggs are pale greenish blue, specked and dotted with reddish brown. Size .58 .44. Data.--Brownsville, Texas, May 8, 1894. Large nest of sticks and thorns, lined with hair and feathers, and located in a bush in brush thicket, 8 feet from the ground.

746a. CAPE VERDIN. _Auriparus flaviceps lamprocephalus._

Range.--Lower California.

This new sub-species is said to have shorter wings and tail, and also to be brighter yellow on the head. Its habits and eggs will not differ from those of the common Verdin or Yellow-headed Bush-t.i.t.

WARBLERS, KINGLETS and GNATCATCHERS. Family SYLVIIDae

747. KENNICOTT'S WILLOW WARBLER. _Acanthopneuste borealis._

Range.--Asia, casually found in Alaska.

This species breeds in the extreme northern parts of Asia, and I believe its eggs have never been found on this continent. They build their nests of moss and gra.s.ses, on the ground in open woods, concealing them under tufts of gra.s.s or tussocks of earth. The three to five eggs are white, spotted with pale reddish brown. Size .70 .50.

748. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. _Regulus satrapa satrapa._

Range.--North America, breeding from northern United States northward, and south in the Rockies to Mexico, and in the Alleghanies to the Carolinas; winters throughout the United States.

This rugged little fellow appears to be perfectly content in our northern states even during the most severe winters and leaves us early in the spring for his breeding grounds farther north. They are usually found in company with Chickadees and, like them, may be seen hanging to twigs in all sorts of positions as they search for their meagre fare.

Their nests are large, round structures of green moss, bark strips and fine rootlets, very thickly lined with soft feathers; these are placed in forks or partially suspended among the branches of spruce trees, usually high above the ground. During June they lay from five to ten eggs of a dull whitish or grayish color, spotted heavily with pale brown and lilac. Size .55 .42.

[Ill.u.s.tration 441: Greenish blue.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Verdin.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: right hand margin.]

Page 440

748a. WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. _Regulas satrapa olivaceus._

Range.--Pacific coast from southern California to Alaska.

This variety is said to be brighter colored than the last; its habits and eggs are the same in all particulars.

749. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. _Regulus calendula calendula._

Range.--North America, breeding from the northern border of the United States northward, and farther south in mountain ranges; winters in southern United States.

This little bird is of the size of the Golden-crowned Kinglet (4.25 inches long) and has a partially concealed patch of red on the crown, not bordered by black and yellow as is the last species. Their nests are similar in construction to those of the last species and are situated in coniferous trees at any alt.i.tude from the ground. Their four to nine eggs are creamy white, finely specked with reddish brown. Size .56 .44.

[Ill.u.s.tration 442: Golden-crowned Kinglets.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: White.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: C. A. Smith. NEST AND EGGS OF BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: left hand margin.]