Bird banding records #1, v4504
Page 176
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Transcription
Aug. 18 '31 Junco A 409.050 and A 409.054- A 409.059, incl. Actions of old and young birds same as described 8/13 and 8/14. These juncos all trapped in same location as A 409049- A 409.053. It will be noticed that A 409.050 repeated today at same time and in same trap that caught A 409.054-59. Do flocks of young juncos become mixed? Point Pinos Junco, F31007, banded August 15th 1931 at residence of F. Somers Peterson, Golf Tract, San Rafael, Calif. According to Mrs. Susan E. Van Zandt, governess in the Peterson family, who first called my attention to this bird, it was originally snow white--an albino except for the eyes, which were always black. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson corroborate this statement. At present (Aug. 15th--the bird was off the nest about July 10th, in company with another young of normal color) the bird is a very light bluish gray, and in some lights it appears to be almost silvery in color. It is a trifle dark- er on the back than underneath; on the upper part of the breast, on each side, is the very slightest suggestion of brown. The bill is pinkish gray. There are no indications that the bird is moulting, excepting on the crown of the head, where new feathers are appearing. These feathers are as light as those on the rest of the head. The quills of the feathers, on the upper side, seem to be the same color as the feathers; the under side of the same quills is decidedly darker. The two outer tail feathers are pure white. According to Mrs. Van Zandt the bird has not moulted. The plumage does not appear to be dirty, and aside from ordinary light colored dust, it does not appear where dirt could have been acquired. This Junco is now confined by Mrs. Van Z. in a small aviary. According to Mrs. VanZandt, this bird, while the parents were feeding it, was much better nourished, and received more attention than the normal one of the same brood.