567. SLATE-COLORED JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis hyemalis._

Range.--North America east of the Plains, breeding in the northern tier
of states and northward; winters in southern United States.

This species is slaty gray on the head, neck, breast, flanks, back,
wings and central tail feathers; the rest of the underparts are white,
sharply defined against the gray. They migrate through the United States
in large flocks, usually accompanied by White-throated or Fox Sparrows.
They breed very abundantly in the northern parts of their range,
frequently in the immediate vicinity of houses but generally on the
edges of clearings, etc., placing their nests on the ground and
generally partially concealed by rocks, stumps, sods or logs; the nests
are made of grasses, lined with hair, and the four or five eggs are
white or greenish white, variously speckled with reddish brown either
over the entire surface or in a wreath about the large end. Size .80 x
.55.

567a. OREGON JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis oreganus._

Range.--Pacific coast from California to Alaska, breeding north of the
United States.

This sub-species is entirely unlike the preceding, having a black head,
neck, throat, breast, wings and tail, and brown back; the remainder of
the underparts are white, washed with pinkish brown on the sides. The
habits and nesting habits of this western Junco are the same as those of
the eastern, the birds building in similar localities and making the
nests of the same material. There appears to be little, if any,
difference between the eggs of the two varieties.

567b. SHUFELDT'S JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis counectens._

Range.--Pacific coast breeding from Oregon to British Columbia and
wintering south to the Mexican boundary.

Said to be slightly larger and duller colored than the Oregon Junco;
eggs the same.

567c. THURBER'S JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis thurberi._

Range.--The Sierra Nevadas from Oregon to southern California.

Similar to _oreganus_ but paler and back more pinkish; eggs will not
differ.

567d. POINT PINOS JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis pinosus._

Range.--A very locally confined variety breeding in pine woods of
southwestern California, about Monterey and Santa Cruz.

Similar to _thurberi_ with the head and neck slaty instead of black.

[Illustration 351: Slate-Colored Junco.]
[Illustration: White.]
[Illustration: 567a--567g--567c.]
[Illustration: right hend margin.]

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567e. CAROLINA JUNCO. _Junco hyemalis caro