Western Bird Guide

WESTERN MOCKINGBIRD

Range.– Texas to California and southward, breeding commonly from central California southward. These birds not only have a song of their own which puts them in the opera class, but, as their name implies, they can mimic or mock nearly anything in the bird line for song or bird notes. They are not satisfied with a few notes early in the morning and evening, but will keep their song in full play all day, without hardly seeming to take time to hunt up a few worms or insects, as if eating was not to be considered when he could sing.

They nest usually low down in bushes and thickets, and construct a bulky nest of sticks, roots and grass. Three to five eggs are of a greenish color, spotted and blotched all over in many patterns with shades of brown (.95 × .72).

CATBIRD

Range.– Mostly eastern North America, but extends over the Rockies, occasionally to the Pacific coast. It is a fine songster and almost as much of a mimic as the Mockingbird. Breeding habits are much the same, but eggs are bluish green (.95 × .70).

PALMER THRASHER

Range.– Arizona to Mexico, breeding abundantly in the desert regions of Arizona, where the cactus is mostly to be found. They all seem to belong to the happy family of songsters, and there is no lack of bird music in localities where these birds are in any numbers. Their nests are usually placed in cactus, or on the ground under them, and are made up of twigs, dried grass and moss. Usually four eggs are laid, bluish green, spotted with brown very finely all over (1.00 × .80).

BENDIRE THRASHER

Range.– Arizona and Mexico to southern Colorado. It breeds in Arizona and southern California. General habits are the same as above. While it may not be as common as the above, it is possibly a better singer. Eggs are the same, spots larger (1.00 × .72)

CALIFORNIA THRASHER

Range.– California, from Shasta county to Lower California. The habits and song, as are also the nest and eggs, much like the above (1.12 × .82).

LECONTE THRASHER

Range.– Southern and Lower California to Mexico. This is the lightest in color of any of the family, and has taken on the color of the sand of the low hot deserts in which it lives. Where it is so hot and dry that even the cactus and thornbush are stunted in their growth, where the ground is covered with the small varieties of cacti, with spines like needles. In such a place one cannot imagine that a bird would be as full of song as in a shaded piece of woodland, yet this bird has the same qualifications, and morning and night his voice may be heard, pouring out as rich a song as his brother of the north. Their nest, composed of twigs, weeds and lined with grass, is usually very bulky, and placed in low mesquite trees or cactus. The eggs are lighter in color than above, and with fewer and finer spots of brown (1.10 × .75).

CRISSAL THRASHER

Range.– From Utah and Nevada to southern and Lower California and Texas. This species is somewhat darker, and more rufous on the under tail coverts than the above.

CACTUS WREN

Range.– Southern part of California, to Texas, and north to Nevada and Utah. They are the largest of the Wrens, and look the least like that family of any of them. They are a common bird in the desert lands, where the cactus abounds, but lacks the sweet song of some of the smaller members of the family. Their nests are bulky, ball-shaped structures, made up of sticks, moss, grass, and lined with feathers. There is an opening on the side for an entrance, and it is usually placed in a thorn bush or cactus. Their four to seven eggs are creamy white, dotted thickly with chestnut (.95 × .65).

ROCK WREN

Range.– Western coasts from British America to Mexico. These bird are equally at home on the mountain sides or in the deep canyons, building their nests in the crevices of rocks or stumps, where they lay from five to eight white eggs, with fine spots of brown about the larger end (.72 × .50).

CAÑON WREN

Range.– Rocky Mountain ranges, from Colorado to Mexico, breeding throughout its range. As he is gathering his supply of food among the huge boulders and in the large rocky canyons, where he makes his home, you will, at short intervals, hear his loud joyous song, a song that puts to shame that of his largest relative of the plains. They build their nest of small sticks, leaves, grass and feathers, which is placed in the crevice of some rock, either down near some swiftly running mountain stream or high up in the cliffs above. Their three to five eggs are white, with spots of brown and lilac well covering the under color (.72 × .52).

VIGOR WREN

Range.– Coast regions of California. These are active and restless little birds. Eating and singing, and singing and eating is all this life holds for them. Nesting in bird boxes, holes in trees, in sheds, or almost any locality in which to place their six eggs (.65 × .50).

WESTERN HOUSE WREN

Range.– Pacific coast, from British Columbia southward to Lower California. These happy little songsters are to be met with more about civilization, and seem to prefer the cultivated lands to the wild. They build in bird houses or holes of trees, and no matter how large the tenement may be they will keep busy until it is filled, leaving only space enough for their nest. They lay from five to seven eggs of a pinkish color, with a wreath of brown dots about the larger end (.65 × .52).

WESTERN WINTER WREN

Range.– From Alaska to New Mexico, through North America. This is the smallest of the family, and is also one of the most quiet in song. They are active little fellows, just a bunch of feathers, with a short stub of a tail up over their backs when observed, and getting about the brush heaps and stone walls like little mice. They nest in walls or crevices of rocks, and stumps, building of twigs, leaves, grass and feathers, in which usually six or seven eggs, creamy white, finely specked with brown, are laid (.60 × .48).

ALASKA WREN

Range.– Aleutian Islands and Alaska. This is a somewhat larger variety of the preceding, and is found only in the far north. Its breeding habits are the same, as are also the eggs, which average a little larger (.65 × .51).

ALEUTIAN WREN

Range.– Western Aleutian Islands to Alaska. Very similar to the above, both in song and general habits. They nest in the crevices of rocks or between boulders, making their nests of rootlets and grass, lining it with hair and feathers. Usually six eggs are laid, white with a few specks of brown (.58 × .46).

TULE WREN

Range.– Pacific coast, from British Columbia to southern California. This is a western form of the Long-billed Marsh Wren, found more east of the Rockies. They build a globular-shaped nest of grass and rushes, attached to upright rushes just above the water. Five eggs are laid, of a pale chestnut color, with darker markings (.64 × .45).

ROCKY MOUNTAIN CREEPER

Range.– From Alaska, in the Rocky Mountains, to southern California and Mexico, breeding throughout its range. A quiet, small, brown colored bird of the deep woods, where its lisping note may be heard, if the air is very quiet, and one is looking for bird life. When found, it will generally be climbing up the trunk of some tall tree, searching the crevices of the bark for the small insect life on which it feeds; when near the top, a downward flight to the base of another tree. Always flying down, and climbing up. Their nest is placed in the loose bark, and is made of fiber, moss and grass. They lay from four to seven white eggs, spotted with chestnut (.58 × .48).

SLENDER-BILLED NUTHATCH

Range.– Pacific coast region, from British Columbia to southern California. These are similar to the White-breasted bird of the east. Unlike the above, although these are tree climbers, they are as often found coming down the tree as climbing up. They build in cavities of various kinds of trees, laying five or six white eggs, quite heavily marked with brown and lilac (.80 × .60).

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH

Range.– North America, breeding in the northern part of the United States and northward. Like the former, these are great acrobats, looking into every crevice of the bark in search of their supply of food, caring little whether they are going up or down in their search. After the breeding season these birds are often found in flocks about the coniferous trees, and appear to be very sociable, keeping up a continuous “yank, yank,” among themselves. They have no other song.

Their nest is usually placed in a cavity of some tree at quite an elevation from the ground, being lined with strips of bark and feathers. They lay from four to six white eggs, thickly spotted with shades of brown (.60 × .50).

PYGMY NUTHATCH

Range.– West of the Rockies, from British Columbia to southern California and Mexico, breeding throughout its range. These are the smallest of the family, and their habits and nest and eggs are the same as the preceding. Their eggs being slightly smaller.

PLAIN TITMOUSE

Range.– California and Oregon, west of the Sierra Nevadas. These are quite common throughout their range; they are quite a little bird, with only a few “quit, quit” like notes, and in color they are as quiet as in habits. They build in cavities of trees or old stumps, their nest lined with grasses, hair and feathers. Their five to eight eggs are white, rarely with a few specks of brown (.70 × .50).

BLACK-CRESTED TITMOUSE

Range.– Texas, south into Mexico. Similar to above, but darker and with the crest black and forehead white. Nesting habits same as the above (not illustrated).

BRIDLED TITMOUSE

Range.– Arizona and Texas into Mexico. This plain colored “tit,” with the only markings about the head, black crest and breast, with white above and below the eyes, is common in parts of Arizona, where it builds within a few feet of the ground in cavities of trees. Nest and eggs the same as the Plain Titmouse (.70 × .50).

OREGON CHICKADEE

Range.– Northwest coast, from British Columbia to Oregon. These lively little birds are willing to make friends with almost anyone, and will get so tame that they will take pieces of suet from the hand. Their well known call of “dee, dee, dee” often repeated, is a cheerful sound, but their other note of “phoe-be,” or, as it seems to me they say “great-way,” is rather mournful and suggests that they are tired and have a “great-way” yet to go. They build in old stumps, usually near the ground, lining the cavity with grass, hair and plant down, in which they deposit from five to eight white eggs, spotted with brown (.60 × .45).

MEXICAN CHICKADEE

Range.– Arizona into Mexico. Has more black on the throat. Habits and their nest and eggs are much the same.

MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE

Range.– Western North America, Rocky Mountains west. Habits same as the preceding.

ALASKA CHICKADEE

Range.– Alaska and eastern Siberia. One would naturally think that these little animated bunches of feathers would freeze in the far north where they make their homes. But they are the same sprightly little “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” that we have farther south, and do not seem to mind the severe cold at all. In habits, nest and eggs, these birds are so near alike that it is impossible to identify them.

HUDSONIAN CHICKADEE

Range.– Western half of British America. Habits the same as above.

CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE

Range.– Alaska to Oregon on the Pacific coast, and occasionally to central California. Habits the same as preceding.

CALIFORNIA CHICKADEE

Range.– Middle section of California, near the coast (not illustrated).

BUSH-TIT

Range.– Pacific coast of California, Oregon and Washington. In habits all of these birds are similar to the Chickadees. They are full of life, and in searching for insects are as much at home when upside down on the outer end of a bunch of pine needles as are the Chickadees. For nest building they have no superiors, making long gourd-like structures of fibers, moss, and grass, woven closely together, lined with feathers and wool, suspended from twigs at a low elevation or woven into some thick brush; they have a small opening near the top for the doorway. They lay from four to nine pure white eggs (.54 × .40).

LEAD-COLORED BUSH-TIT

Range.– Oregon, Colorado, to southern California and Texas. The habits are identical with above. Nests are made the same, and from eight to twelve inches long.

LLOYD BUSH-TIT

Range.– Arizona, Texas and New Mexico. Habits the same as above.

VERDIN

Range.– Colorado and southern California to Mexico. This bird is simply nothing more than a Bush-tit with his Sunday clothes on, or not a full suit, but a bright yellow head and neck dress. They are abundant and active little fellows in the thick chaparral brush, where they build a nest more bulky than the “tit” but not as artistic or compact. They are placed in thorn or other bushes within a few feet of the ground, made of twigs and weeds, and lined with fur and feathers. Their eggs, four to six, are white. For amusement, they construct one or two additional nests, in which they remain at night.

WREN-TIT

Range.– From southern California north to Oregon along the coast. These are much like the Chickadee in habits, only much more secluded, frequenting the deep ravines along the mountain sides, where they build their nests of twigs, fibers of vines, grasses and feathers, in bushes near the ground. Four or five greenish blue, unmarked eggs are their complement (.70 × .50).

KENNICOTT WARBLER

Range.– In Alaska casually. Breeds in the extreme northern part of Asia. Their nest and eggs have not been found on this continent as far as we know at present. They build on the ground in a tussock of grass, laying from three to five white eggs finely spotted with chestnut (.70 × .50).

WESTERN GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET

Range.– Alaska to southern California, on the Pacific coast. These little birds are found commonly in company with small flocks of the Chickadee, and like them may be seen hanging on the under side of the outer ends of the coniferous trees in search of their insect food. They nest in the northern part of their range, building large, comfortable-looking structures of needles from the pines, strips of vines and grass, nicely lined with feathers. Four to eight eggs, dull white, spotted with brown and lilac (.55 × .42).

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET

Range.– North America, breeding mostly north of the United States or in the Rocky Mountain regions farther south.

WESTERN GNATCATCHER

Range.– Western United States, breeding in northern Colorado and California. These birds in their actions somewhat resemble the Redstart, with their long tail, and quick flights into the air for insects and back again to the same twig, possibly near where their nest is placed. They build one of the prettiest of nests, very deep and cup-shaped, and on the top of some moss-covered limb at twenty to forty feet from the ground. Making the nest from plant down and moss, completely covered with lichens, so that it resembles a large knot on the limb, much like the nest of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Four or five dull white eggs, spotted with brown (.58 × .45).

PLUMBEOUS GNATCATCHER

Range.– Southern California, Texas into Mexico. Breeds like the above quite commonly in southern Texas; eggs a little smaller.

BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER

Range.– Southern and Lower California, on the Pacific coast.

TOWNSEND SOLITAIRE

Range.– From British Columbia to southern California, through the western United States. They nest at high altitudes among the mountain tops, placing their nest upon the ground, among the rocks along the mountain streams. They build a large, loosely constructed nest of roots and twigs, lined with pine needles and moss, in which they lay their four or five white eggs, spotted with shades of brown more about the larger end (.96 × .70).

WILLOW THRUSH

Range.– Western United States from British Columbia to southern California. It breeds and is quite abundant in the foothills and canyons of the mountain ranges. It is a western form of the common eastern “Veery,” and its breeding habits are the same, nesting in an old stump on or near the ground, making the nest of grasses and leaves, usually quite bulky. They lay four unspotted bluish green eggs (.90 × .65). Their song is peculiar and not as attractive as others of the Thrush family.

GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH

Range.– From British Columbia northward, and winters south to Mexico. Their nests are placed on or near the ground in a stump or tussock, usually in very moist places, and are composed largely of leaves and mosses. Their three or four eggs are a bluish green, spotted and blotched with reddish brown (.88 × .64).

RUSSET-BACKED THRUSH

Range.– From Alaska to Central America, breeding in the northern part, in Oregon and Alaska. Their nests are made and placed usually the same as the above, the eggs being of the same size, but of a lighter color. The Thrushes feed on small insect life and many of the small fruits and berries.

OLIVED-BACKED THRUSH

Range.– North America, breeding on the western coast in Alaska, Oregon, California and Colorado. Their nesting habits, eggs and song are the same as the Russet-backed (not illustrated).

ALASKA HERMIT THRUSH

Range.– Alaska to Mexico, breeding in its extreme northern range. These birds are noted for their sweet and musical song, which may be heard from the swamps and thickets in which they make their home. They nest either on or near the ground, building it of shreds of vines, leaves and grasses. Four bluish green eggs, unmarked, are usually laid (.85 × .65).

AUDUBON HERMIT THRUSH

Range.– Rocky Mountain region, from British Columbia to Arizona. Tail is much lighter than above, and bird larger. Their habits in home life are the same, this bird having the stronger and sweeter voice of the two (not illustrated).

WESTERN ROBIN

Range.– West of the Rockies, from British Columbia to Mexico. This is not the familiar bird that is found in the east, but is very secluded, and its song is seldom heard. Nest is made of leaves, grass and twigs, plastered with mud. Four greenish blue eggs (1.15 × .80).

VARIED THRUSH

Range.– Pacific coast, from Alaska to Mexico, breeding in Oregon, Washington and California. They breed quite abundantly in the northern ranges in California and north to Alaska. Their nest is placed in small trees and bushes, usually near the ground, and is made of twigs, weeds and grass, lined with moss. Their eggs, usually four in number, are greenish blue, sharply spotted with few spots of dark brown (1.12 × .80). They have a pleasing song, which is rarely heard in their southern range.

WHEATEAR

Range.– Alaska and accidental in Colorado, breeding in Asia. They nest in crevices of cliffs or in stone walls, building a rude nest of sticks and weeds, lined with hair and feathers. Their four or five eggs are a pale greenish blue (.90 × .60).

WESTERN BLUEBIRD

Range.– British Columbia to Lower California, along the Pacific coast. These familiar birds build in cavities in trees, or in bird houses, and make themselves at home near dwellings, especially if in the vicinity of orchards of any kind. The note of the western bird has the same familiar warble as their eastern relative. They live on small insects and caterpillars, and some of the small berries. Their four eggs are a pale bluish white (.80 × .60).

CHESTNUT-BACKED BLUEBIRD

Range.– Rocky Mountains from Colorado to Texas (not illustrated).

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD

Range.– Rocky Mountain regions from Canada to Mexico. Their habits are just the same, eggs averaging slightly larger.