Nests are placed about seven feet high (ranging from 3.5 to 13 feet) in red cedar, exotic conifers, and Lombardy poplar.
American Goldfinch: Spinus tristis tristis (Linnaeus).—This resident is common in woodland edge, scrubby second-growth, old fields, and riparian thickets. Occurrence tends to be local and at low density in the southwestern sector.
Breeding schedule.—Twelve records of breeding span the period June 20 to September 10 ([Fig. 9]); the modal date for laying is August 5.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 4 eggs (4.4, 3-6; 8).
Nests are placed from two to eight feet high in woody or herbaceous vegetation.
Red Crossbill: Loxia curvirostra Linnaeus.—This is an uncommon and irregular winter visitant to Kansas, but it nested once in Shawnee County. L. c. minor (Brehm), on geographic grounds, probably nested here, but five other subspecies have been recorded in the State and any one of these might have undertaken the aberrant breeding.
Breeding record.—Three eggs, set completed March 24, 1917, Shawnee County; successfully fledged (Hyde, 1917:166). The species usually lays 4 eggs and places its nests in conifers.
Rufous-sided Towhee: Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus).—This is an uncommon summer resident in eastern Kansas, in understory of woodland and streamside timber. Specimens taken in the breeding season and actual records of nesting come from east of stations in Cloud, Marion, and Cherokee counties. Temporal occurrence is indicated in [Table 20]; records of P. e. arcticus (Swainson) have been eliminated from the sample as far as has been possible.
Breeding schedule.—Nineteen records of breeding span the period April 21 to August 10 ([Fig. 9]); the modal date for egg-laying is May 5.
Number of eggs.—Clutch-size is 4 eggs (4.0, 3-7; 14).