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Range (United States breeds)

United States; breeds from about latitude 38° southward into Mexico; winters south of our limits. ; winters south of our limits.

Washington, very uncommon S. R., May 1 to Sept. 30. Cambridge, A. V., one instance, May. instance, May.

Nest, of grasses, in bushes or high weedy growths. Eggs, three to four, pale bluish white, 84 x 65. "Unless seen under the most favorable circumstances the adult male does not appear to be blue, but of an ill-defined, dusky color, and does not appear to be blue, but of an ill-defined, dusky color, and may easily be mistaken for a Cow Blackbird (Molothrus ater), unless most carefully watched most carefully watched; besides, they usually sit motionless, in a considerable length of time, and thus easily escape observation. "The Blue Grosbeak frequents much the same localities as those selected by the Indigo Bird and Field Sparrow-viz., the thickets of by the Indigo Bird and Field Sparrow-viz., the thickets of shrubs, briers, and tall weeds lining a stream flowing across a meadow or bordering a field, or the similar growth which has sprung up in an old clearing. The usual note is a strong, harsh ptchick, and the song of the male is a very beautiful though rather feeble warble, somewhat like that of the Purple Finch, but bearing a slight resemblance also to that of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak" (Ridgway). 598. Passerina cyanea (Linn.). INDIGO BUNTING; INDIGO-BIRD. Ad. s .-Rich blue, deeper on the head, brighter on the back; lores blackish; 8.-Rich blue, deeper on the head, brighter on the back; lores blackish; wings and tail black, margined with blue. Ad. 9. -- Upper parts uniform grayish brown without streaks ; wings and tail fuscous, sometimes lightly margined with bluish; wingcoverts margined with grayish brown; under parts whitish, washed with grayish brown and indistinctly streaked with darker; belly whiter. Im. - Resembles the, but is darker. Ad. & in winter.-Resembles the, but has more or less blue in the plumage. L., 5-59; W., 2.58; T., 211; B., 41.

FINCHES, SPARROWS, ETC.