_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.