_Emberiza (Plectrophanes) picta_, SW. F. B. Am. II, 1831, 250, pl. 49
(spring).—NUTT. Man. II, 589. _Plectrophanes pictus_, AUD. Syn.
1839, 99.—IB. Birds Am. III, 1841, 52, pl. cliii (Richardson’s
specimen).—BAIRD, Birds N. Am. 1858, 434.—DALL & BANNISTER, Tr. Ch.
A. S. I, 1869, 283 (Alaska). _Emberiza picta_, AUD. Orn. Biog. V,
1839, 91, pl. cccc. _Centrophanes pictus_, CAB. Mus. Hein. 1851,
127. _Plectrophanes smithi_, AUD. Birds Am. VII, 1844, 337, pl.
cccclxxxvii (winter).
SP. CHAR. _Male._ Spring. Top and sides of head black. A line from
bill over the eye, lores, lower and posterior border of the black
cheeks, ears (encircled by black), and a small patch in the nape,
white. Entire under parts, and extending round neck to nape (where it
bounds abruptly the black of head), buff or light cinnamon-yellow; the
under tail-covert paler; the inside of wings, white. Feathers of upper
surfaces black, edged with yellowish-gray; shoulders or lesser coverts
and the greater black; middle white, forming a conspicuous patch.
Quills edged externally with white, this involving the whole outer web
of outermost primary. Whole of outer and most of second tail-feather
white. Bill dusky; lower mandible and legs yellowish. Length, 5.50;
wing, 3.50; tail, 2.75; bill, .45.
_Female._ The markings of male faintly indicated, but the black and
buff wanting. Head above brown, streaked centrally with paler. A
narrow dark line on each side the throat, and brownish streaks across
the jugulum, and along sides of body. Traces visible of the white
marks of the head. Bill and feet as in the male.
HAB. Prairies of Illinois and Missouri Plains, in winter; in summer
north to the Arctic Ocean.
This species is quite similar in form to _P. lapponicus_, although
with slenderer bill, and perhaps longer hind claw. While the colors of
adult males are very different, the females have a decided
resemblance; they may, however, be distinguished in all stages by the
black or dusky legs of _lapponicus_ and the yellow of _pictus_, and
perhaps by the more dusky upper mandible of the latter.
HABITS. This species was first obtained by Sir John Richardson’s
party, and described by Swainson in the _Fauna Boreali-Americana_. It
was observed associating with the Lapland Buntings on the banks of the
Saskatchewan, but no information was obtained in regard to its
breeding-habits. No specimens in the mature plumage are known to have
been obtained in the United States, but birds in the immature plumage
are not unfrequent, in early spring, throughout Illinois. Mr. Audubon,
in company with Mr. Harris and Mr. Bell, obtained specimens of these
birds near Edwardsville, and described them as a new species. Mr. Bell
states, in regard to these birds, that he found them very abundant on
the low prairie near a lake, a few miles from Edwardsville. They were
generally in large flocks, and when once on the ground they began to
separate. They ran very nimbly, in a manner resembling that of the
Grass Finch, and when they arose, which they rarely did unless they
were nearly approached, they uttered a sharp click, repeated several
times in quick succession, and moved with an easy undulating motion
for a short distance and then alighted very suddenly, seeming to fall
perpendicularly several feet to the ground. They preferred the spots
where the grass was shortest. When in the air they flew in circles, to
and fro, for a few minutes, and then alighted, keeping up a constant
chirping or call, somewhat like that of the Red-Poll.
These birds were observed in large numbers at Fort Anderson, and on
the Lower Anderson River, by Mr. MacFarlane, and a large number of
their nests obtained. These were all on the ground, and usually in
open spaces, but also in the vicinity of trees. The usual number of
eggs found in a nest appears to have been four. The nests, for the
most part, were constructed of fine dry grasses, carefully arranged,
and lined with down, feathers, or finer materials similar to those of
the outer portions. In a few there were no feathers; in others,
feathers in different proportions; and in a few the down and feathers
composed the chief portion of the nest, with only a few leaves as a
base to the nest. They were sometimes sunk in excavations made by the
birds, or placed in a tussock of grass, and, in one instance, placed
in the midst of a bed of Labrador tea.
They were also obtained at Fort Yukon, at the mouth of Porcupine
River, by Strachan Jones. They were much more abundant in the
Mackenzie River district.
Specimens of this bird, in the fall plumage, were obtained from Fort
Simpson, where Mr. B. R. Ross states that it appears on its way north
in May. They resort to the fields around the fort in search of grain.
Although these birds keep entirely apart from the _P. nivalis_, Mr.
Ross has frequently observed several _P. lapponicus_ associating with
them.
When their nests are approached, the female quietly slips off, while
the male bird may be seen hopping or flying from tree to tree in the
neighborhood of the nest, and will at times do all he can to induce
intruders to withdraw from the neighborhood.
The eggs, five in number, have a light clay-colored ground, are marked
with obscure blotches of lavender and darker lines, dots, and blotches
of dark purplish-brown. They measure .80 by .65 of an inch.
Plectrophanes ornatus, TOWNS.