NORTHWESTERN SAVANNA SPARROW.
Emberiza sandwichensis, Gm. I, 1788, 875. Emberiza arctica, Latham, Ind. Orn. I, 1790, 414. Fringilla arctica, Vigors, Zoöl. of Blossom, 1839, 20 (perhaps one of the smaller species).—“Brandt, Icon. Ross. 2, 6.” Euspiza arctica, Bp. Conspectus, 1850, 469. Zonotrichia arctica, Finsch, 1872. Emberiza chrysops, Pallas, Zoög. Rosso-As. II, 1811, 45, tab. xlviii, fig. 1 (Unalaska). Sandwich Bunting, Lath. Syn. II, 1783, 202. Unalaska Bunting, Pennant, Arctic Zoöl. II, 363, 320, No. 229.(not of p. 364, No. 233). Passerculus sandwichensis, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 444.—Dall & Bannister, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 284.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 180. Passerculus savanna, Dall & Bannister, Tr. Ch. Ac. I, 1869, 283.
Sp. Char. Almost exactly like P. savanna, but half an inch longer, with much larger bill. Length, 6.12 inches; wing, 3.00; tail, 2.55. Bill above, .50; below, .36; gape, .56; depth, .27.
Hab. Northwestern coast from the Columbia River to Russian America.
Specimens of this race from Sitka are absolutely undistinguishable from eastern P. savanna except in size; the colors and proportion of bill being the same. A young bird (from Kodiak) differs from that of savanna in larger size, and a bright reddish-fulvous tinge to upper parts, and a deep yellowish-fulvous tinge on jugulum and along the sides.
Habits. This variety is the northwest-coast form of the common Savanna Sparrow, and is found during the summer from Oregon to Alaska. Dr. Suckley states that he found this species an abundant spring visitor at Fort Steilacoom. Dr. Cooper, in his Zoology of Washington Territory, states it to be only a passenger through that section, migrating northward, at the end of April, in pairs, and not returning until the end of September. They come back in flocks, and frequent the shores and prairies along the sea-coast. Their plumage seems to be the same at all seasons. Nothing is known of their note. They are supposed to spend their winters in Southern Oregon and California, though their actual presence has not been detected in either State. They do not remain during the summer near the Columbia, but pass to the north, or to the interior plains east of the Cascade Range. Dr. Cooper states that their habits closely resemble those of P. anthinus.
Mr. Dall states that two specimens of this species were taken at Sitka by Mr. Bischoff.
Passerculus savanna, var. anthinus, Bonap.
CALIFORNIA SHORE SPARROW.
Passerculus anthinus, Bonap. Comptes Rendus, XXVII, Dec. 1853, 919, Russian America.[115]—Ib. Notes Ornith. Delattre, 1854, 19.—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, p. 445.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 183.