The Condor/Volume 1/Number 2/Description of a New California Song Sparrow
Description of a New California Song Sparrow.
BY RICHARD C. MCGREGOR
EXAMINATION of a small series of Melospiza from Battle Creek shows that there exist in the northern Sacramento valley two races of the Song Sparrow. Four examples sent Mr. Robert Ridgway were thus commented upon by him: "Three of those from Battle Creek are typical M. f. heermanni, by far the most northern specimens I have seen of that form, and proving, I think, that this is the resident form of the Sacramento basin, as I had already suspected. It is this form which breeds at Stockton. The fourth Battle Creek specimen is probably best referred to M. f. guttata although it is really an intermediate between that form and M. f. montana or possibly heermanni, much nearer, however, to guttata."
Since taking this specimen above called "intermediate", I have secured three song sparrows of similar plumage at Battle Creek and on reaching home I find in my collection two sparrows of a dark plumage, one from Enterprise, Butte Co., and the other from St. Helena, Napa Co. These six skins are easily distinguished from either heermanni or guttata and form the types of an undescribed race to which I give the name:
Melospiza fasciata ingersolli, subsp. nov. Tehama Song Sparrow.
Subsp. char. Most closely related to guttata but darker and without rusty wash: spotting of lower parts tending more to streaks than to spots as in guttata; wing slightly longer. Entire upper parts, sides of head and flanks are darker and less grayish than in heermanni.
Type. No. 2222, ♂ ad. Coll. R. C. McG., Battle Creek, California, Oct. 19, 1898. Wing, 2.82; tail, 2.74; tarsus, .88; exposed culmen, .44.
Geog. Dist. Northern Sacramento valley, south in winter to San Francisco Bay.
Without a Nomenclature of Colors it is impossible for me to describe the absolute colors of the three forms; typical specimens of the new race are in no way to be confused with heermanni. From guttata it is distinguished by the much darker and browner dorsum, with centers of feathers almost black; crown stripe obsolete; entire plumage lacking the rusty or reddish brown which is characteristic of guttata.
Beside the Battle Creek skins four others seem worthy of mention.
No. 1564. Enterprise, Cal., Oct. 15, 1896. This bird is easily referable to ingersolli though not so dark on the back as are the types.
No. 1346. Saint Helena, Cal., Dec. 2, . This is intermediate between guttata and the new form.
No. 1345. Saint Helena, Cal., Dec. 22, . Very dark; markings of back almost obsolete; referable to ingersolli.
No. 1563. Sebastopol, Sonoma Co., Cal., Dee. 2, . This skin is typical guttata.
Specimens from Beaverton, Or., have been used as representing M. f. guttata.
I take pleasure in naming this race for my friend, Mr. Albert M. Ingersoll of San Diego, California.
| Wing. | Tail. | Tarsus. | Exposed Culmen. | |
| M. f. guttata Beaverton, 5 skins |
2.58-2.78 (2.69) | 2.60-2.70 (2.67) | .84-.86 (.85) | .44-.47 (.45) |
| M. f. heermanni Battle Cr'k, 4 skins |
2.64-2.75 (2.71) | 2.66-2.78 (2.73) | .73-.80 (.77) | .40-.44 (.42) |
| M. f. ingersolli 4 skins |
2.61-2.82 (2.72) | 2.45-2.76 (2.65) | .82-.88 (.85) | .44-.46 (.45) |