Carpodacus purpureus, var. californicus, Baird.
THE CALIFORNIA PURPLE FINCH.
Carpodacus californicus, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 413, pl. lxxii, f. 23.—Cooper & Suckley, 196.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 154.
Sp. Char. Similar to purpureus. Third quill longest; first shorter than the fourth. Purple of head and rump much darker than in C. purpureus; the head with a broad supra-orbital lateral band of lighter purple. Length 6.20; wing, 3.20; tail, 2.60.
Hab. Pacific Province of United States.
The female of the western type differs from that of the eastern in being more olivaceous above, and in having the streaks below rather larger, and not so well defined. There appears to be a difference in the marking of the wings. In eastern C. purpureus there is usually a well-marked whitish band across the ends of the middle coverts, while the greater coverts, though margined externally by paler, have a still lighter bar across the posterior extremity, which is not seen in the western bird.
Habits. The Californian Purple Pinch is found throughout the Pacific coast, from the Straits of Fuca to California, as far south as Monterey. Dr. Cooper states that this species is rather a northern bird, being common at the Columbia River, and even farther north, while in California it has not been found south of Monterey on the coast, and Fort Tejon in the Sierra Nevada. In summer they frequent the mountain forests, especially those in part composed of Coniferæ. In winter they descend to the valleys, where they are found associating with the more common and familiar C. frontalis. He met with them in May on the summits of the coast range toward Santa Cruz, but they were not very numerous. They then had nests, though he did not succeed in finding them.
The song of the California Linnet is quite loud and varied, often resembling that of other birds, especially Vireos and Dendroicæ, for which Dr. Cooper has often mistaken it. Their food consists of seeds, berries, and the buds of trees. Their nest and eggs are unknown, but probably resemble those of C. purpureus.
Carpodacus frontalis, Sclater.
HOUSE LINNET; CRIMSON-FRONTED FINCH; BURION.