_Ptiliogonys townsendi_, AUD. Orn. Biog. V, 1839, 206, pl. ccccxix,
fig. 2. (For other references see Birds N. Am. 321.)—NEWBERRY, P.
R. Rep. VI, Whipple’s Rep. Zoöl., 82. _Culicivora towns._ DE KAY,
N. Y. Zoöl. II, 1844, 110. _Myiadestes towns._ CABANIS, Wieg.
Arch. 1847, I, 208.—SCLATER, P. Z. S. 1857, 5; 1858, 97.—BAIRD,
Birds N. Am. 1858, 321; Rev. 429.—COOPER & SUCKLEY, P. R. Rep.
XII, II, 187.—KENNERLY, P. R. Rep. X, Whipple’s Rep. 25.—LORD, Pr.
R. Art. Inst. WOOLWICH, IV, 116 (Br. Col.).—COOPER, Orn. Cal. 1,
1870, 134.
SP. CHAR. Tail rather deeply forked. Exposed portion of spurious quill
less than one third that of the second; fourth quill longest; second a
little longer than the sixth. Head not crested. General color
bluish-ash, paler beneath; under wing-coverts white. Quills with a
brownish-yellow bar at the base of both webs mostly concealed, but
showing a little below the greater coverts and alulæ; this succeeded
by a bar of dusky, and next to it another of brownish-yellow across
the outer webs of the central quills only. Tertials tipped with white.
Tail-feathers dark brown; the middle ones more like the back; the
lateral with the outer web and tip, the second with the tip only,
white. A white ring round the eye. Length, 8 inches; wing, 4.50; tail,
3.85. (8,234).
HAB. Mountainous regions of Middle and Western United States. (Not
found at Cape St. Lucas nor in Mexico.)
Young birds have a large triangular pale-ochraceous light spot on the
end of each feather (rather paler below), bounded externally by a
narrow border of blackish; the quill and tail feathers as in the
adult.
HABITS. The first specimen of this somewhat remarkable bird was shot
by Captain Brotchie, at Fort George, Astoria, and presented to Mr.
Townsend, and by the latter given to Mr. Audubon. For some time this
remained unique, and the habits of the species unknown. Through the
government explorations, however, we have been made more familiar with
its habits and peculiarities.
[Illustration: _Myiadestes townsendi._]
Dr. Newberry, in his report on the Zoölogy of Lieutenant Williamson’s
explorations, mentions finding this bird very abundant in the Des
Chutes Basin. It did not frequent either dense forests or prairies
destitute of trees, but seemed to select surfaces covered with a
scattered growth of pine and cedar. His party first met with it at the
base of Mount Jefferson, in the cañon of Mpto-ly-as River. In picking
his way with infinite difficulty down this gorge, his attention was
drawn by its new and attractive song. There were several of them in
the pines and cedars growing on the face of the cliff. He describes
its song as clear, full, and melodious, like that of a true _Mimus_.
The next day, as he followed down the river, in the bottom of the
cañon the deep gorge was filled with a chorus of sweet sounds from
thousands of these birds. He describes them as having a habit of
sitting on the branch of a tree projecting over a stream, or hanging
from some projecting crag, and at times flying out in narrow circles,
after insects, precisely in the manner of Flycatchers.
Afterwards, in another cañon, the terraced banks of which were
sparsely set with low trees of the Western cedar, he again found these
birds quite numerous, and had every opportunity both of hearing and of
seeing them, watching them for hours while feeding and singing. They
began their songs with the first dawn of day, and at sunrise the
valley was perfectly vocal with their music. He describes their song
as not greatly varied, but speaks of all their notes as particularly
clear and sweet, and with strains of pure gushing melody that were
both spontaneous and inspiring. At that time, September 30, they were
feeding on the berries of the cedar. They were very shy, and could
only be obtained by stratagem.
Dr. Kennerly, in his Report on the birds observed in the explorations
under the charge of Lieutenant Whipple, speaks of meeting with these
birds in the Rocky Mountains, in the vicinity of the Pueblo of Zuñi,
in New Mexico. Thence, westward, he occasionally met with it, and
usually in the cedar thickets.
Dr. Suckley mentions, in his Report on the Zoölogy of Washington
Territory, obtaining a specimen of this species at Fort Steilacoom,
April 28, 1856. It was very wild and difficult of approach. It was the
only specimen obtained, and he considered it accidental west of the
Cascade Mountains. Dr. Cooper, in the same Report, speaks of obtaining
a specimen near Fort Laramie in October, where it seemed to be not
uncommon.
Dr. Cooper, in his Birds of California, dwells with much emphasis upon
the delightful melody of this species. Having always found them
silent, and with habits like the Flycatchers’, he was quite unprepared
to hear them singing in the Sierra Nevada, and, if he had not obtained
the bird, would not have believed that one of this family was capable
of singing with such power. Their song, he says, can be compared with
nothing uttered by any other bird he has ever heard in the United
States; for, he adds, it excels that of the Mocking-Bird in sweetness,
besides being entirely original.
He met with only a few of this species among some junipers on the
western slope near the summit, in September, 1863. He has always met
with them nearly singly. Dr. Henry found them at Fort Webster, New
Mexico, in large numbers, both in fall and in winter. Their home, Dr.
Cooper thinks, seems to be in the vicinity of the great deserts of the
central regions, or the cedar-covered mountains that intersect them.
Dr. Woodhouse obtained several specimens on the Zuñi Mountains in New
Mexico, and from there westward found it exceedingly abundant. Its
food seemed to be exclusively berries, and chiefly those of the cedar.
Dr. Coues also found these birds rare summer residents in Arizona, and
confirms its possession of rare local powers, producing a rich, sweet,
and finely modulated song.
Mr. Robert Ridgway, in accompanying Mr. King’s party of explorations,
writes that he found this curious bird only occasionally, most
frequently among the pines of the Sierra Nevada, and only once or
twice among the mountains east of that range. In July, 1867, he found
a nest of this bird. It was in a deep ravine on the western slope of
the Sierras, at an altitude of five thousand feet. It was placed in a
cavity of the rocks forming the perpendicular upper bank of a sluice
constructed for mining purposes, through which ran the waters of a
considerable mountain stream. The nest was about a foot above the
water, and was as bulky as that of the _Harporhynchus rufus_, and
similarly constructed, being composed almost entirely of sticks. It
contained four young. When he approached, the female was much excited,
flying before, or running on the ground in the manner of a true
Thrush. Mr. Ridgway makes no mention of its song.
Mr. Lord met with these birds only once, and then at Colville, towards
the end of November. All the leaves had fallen, the ground was deeply
covered with snow, and the cold was intense. His attention was first
attracted by hearing a low sweet song, not unlike that of the Song
Thrush of Europe, which at that season was a most unusual sound. On
looking around he saw about twenty of these birds perched on the top
sprays of some white thorn-bushes. In their mode of darting off and
returning again they reminded him of a Shrike. He shot six, and could
detect no material difference in plumage between males and females. In
the stomachs of those he opened were the remains of small coleopterous
insects and a few haws.