Bluebird size. Adults, upper parts olive-brown; lower parts white; throat and breast bright yellow; white line over the eye to bill.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident in the lower canyons a long and near to the stream courses. Nests in June.

There is no mistaking the day the Chat arrives in the canyon for the summer. Regions that had been silent and serene during the long winter and early spring months suddenly burst into a bedlam of sound. He is an excellent imitator, and seems to delight in the variety of call notes at his command. For example, he can give a better than good imitation of the Cardinal, and it is really difficult to tell whether the Bullock's Oriole is present or not, so excellent are the calls. He is seldom seen in the open, preferring dense brush. From the darkness of his shelter he defies you to obtain a view of him, and, just as one thinks that the next second will disclose the tantalizing fellow, his scolding is heard from some new and nearby hiding place.

Typical sparrow size. Little description is needed of this all too familiar feathered pest. Its brownish body and black throat patch is known to every child from the farm to the city.

ZION. Common permanent resident in Springdale at the south entrance, where it overflows into the park at all seasons. Nests in May and June.

Little need be said about this pest of the bird world. Its noisy, bickering voice is all too frequently heard, along with the beautiful songs of the birds of the lower valley. Even at that, it is not as despicable as its kin in the large cities, so perhaps the association with the birds of the Zion region has had some beneficial effect.

Robin size, but plump. Adults, upper parts grayish-brown, with dull white and black streaks; under parts yellow, and with a black crescent on the breast; short tail white edged.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident and uncommon winter visitant in the lower portions of the park, where open meadows are available. Nests in May and June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident in the park around the open meadows. Common on the plateau too the west of the park and in the valley around Tropic.

Those who are familiar with the sweet notes of the Eastern Meadowlark will have little too recognize in the song of its western cousin. Boosters of Utah have said that the Western Meadowlark says in clear, liquid notes that "Utah's a pretty little place!" And when one listens closely to the song, the words do seem to fit in rather nicely. Like its eastern relative, however, our meadowlark likes to sit on fences and posts, where it sings for all the world to hear. Most of its time is spent on the ground, and it is particularly adept at utilizing all ground cover for protection. While a summer resident in Zion, its presence in the park during the winter months is recorded only at infrequent intervals, sometimes several winters passing before a mild season will encourage the bird to drift into the protected canyons. For that reason it cannot he classed as a permanent resident although occasionally seen during all the seasons of the year.

Small robin size. Male, black with red patches on the bend of the wings. Female, brownish, with sharply defined striping on the under parts.

ZION. Fairly common permanent resident in the cattail swamps below the south entrance of the park. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Rare summer visitant in the park, but nests just outside the park near the north boundary.

There is little chance to mistake the Redwing for any other bird, as no other species has the red shoulder patches and uniform black color. The Redwing is a dweller of the marshlands and swamps, where large numbers congregate and raise their families. During migration, these birds collect by the hundreds and drift through the region like a cloud, literally covering whole sections of telephone line and poles, until it looks as though the wires should break under the weight.

Small robin size. Male, black with purplish tints throat black; under parts and cheeks orange; outer tail feathers yellow; wings with conspicuous white patch. Female, similar to the male, but olive-gray above; yellowish on the under parts.

ZION. Common summer resident in the canyons where the cottonwoods are found. Nests in May and June.

This bird closely resembles its eastern cousin—the Baltimore Oriole, and those who have enjoyed the songs and nest building abilities of the "Golden Robin" of the east will have a similar treat in this region with the Bullock's Oriole. The orioles arrive in Zion in early April. and shortly afterward may be seen looking over the region for nesting sites. In early May the nest is started and by the last of the month the young are setting up a continuous plea for food. This is the most brilliantly-hued resident on the valley floor during the summer.

Small robin size. Male, black with purplish tints on the head and greenish reflections on the body; eye pale yellowish-white. Female, head, neck and under parts brownish-gray; rest of upper parts dark brown, glossed with bluish-green.

ZION. Status rather uncertain. At the present time it must be regarded as a winter resident in the lower portions of the park. Records from October to April.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident. Found toward the north end of the park, around the meadows near the rim. Nests near the park in June.

This handsome blackbird, with irridescent colors and slightly drooping wings is a familiar sight to travelers in the mountain valleys, and even around the city parks. It is a sociable bird, banding together with many others of his kind during nesting season, and especially during migration. Sometimes these migratory flocks number into the thousands, and literally cover the telephone lines when they come to rest.

Bluebird size. Male, body black; head brown. Female, uniformly grayish.

ZION. Uncommon summer resident in the lower portions of the park. Lays its eggs in May and June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident in the northern end of the park.

This was once known throughout the West and the Great Plains country as the "buffalo bird," because of its habit of following the buffalo herds. Today, its name of cowbird is equally well deserved, as it is usually seen around the pastures and in the corrals, in general appearance it looks like a small blackbird, but walks with its tail elevated high off the ground. It lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, and thus it is only because of the care given its young by other species that the cowbird is able to exist. Western Gnatcatchers in Zion have been observed working themselves into a frenzy trying to fill the food requiremments of a young cowbird four times the size of the foster parents.

Bluebird size. Male, upper parts, wings and tail black; under parts and wing bars yellow; head and neck bright red. Female, upper parts olive-green; under parts yellowish; yellowish-white wing bars.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident in the higher portions of the park, arriving in April. Nests in June and July.

CEDAR BREAKS. Uncommon summer resident. Nests in July.

While the Western Tanager is usually found in the ponderosa pine forests or above, one has been known to nest in Zion Canyon in the Narrows far below its normal habitat. This bird is one of the happiest combinations ever produced by Nature. Not only is it a model bird in habits, and its brilliant coloration a thing of beauty, but its song rivals that of the robin, and sounds very much like it, it is without doubt the most beautiful bird of the entire region.

A Young Rocky Mountain Grosbeak. National Park Service Photo.

Large bluebird size. Male under parts a rich cinnamon brown, changing to yellow on the belly; upper parts mainly black; wings black with two white bars. Female, mostly brown, with streaks of buff; under parts rusty brown, changing to yellowish; two white wing bars; a prominent yellowish line over the eye. Both birds have heavy, powerful bills.

ZION. Common summer resident from the valleys to the plateau. Nests in May and June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident throughout the park. Nests in late June.

CEDAR BREAKS. Fairly common late summer visitant.

This is sometimes called the "butter bird," because of his love of butter or other fats. He loves to sit and pull pieces of fat from a piece of bacon rind nailed to a tree, and will often become tame enough to fly down and take butter from one's hand. He is a fine singer, his song being very much like a robin's, but with a softer quality. During mating season his tone becomes fervent, and he throws his whole being into the effort, coaxing, cajoling, fluffing up his feathers, and in general making himself conspicuous.

Bluebird size. Male, deep blue, almost blackish in appearance; two brown wing-bars; female. brownish, with tinges of blue; two buffy wing-bars; Both birds have short, heavy bills.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident along the stream courses in the lower canyons.

The Blue Grosbeak is a lover of the heavily wooded stream courses, and seldom gets in or around cities, thus is seldom seen, unless one gets out into the less thickly populated areas. It is a good singer, his song reminding one of the familiar warble of the House Finch. This bird might be confused with the Bluebirds or the Lazuli Bunting, but both the Chestnut-backed Bluebird and the Lazuli Bunting have chestnut on the breast, while the Mountain Bluebird is a light blue.

Wren size. Male, upper parts rich azure blue; breast chestnut, rest of upper parts white; white bar on the wing. Female, upper parts grayish brown; under parts dull white; two buffy wing bars.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident in the lower canyons along the stream courses. Nests in May, June and July.

One has only to hear the song of the Lazuli to know that it is a relative of the finches, as its song has that peculiar quality so characteristic of that family. During the mating and nesting season it can be heard throughout the valley on the floor of Zion Canyon, but it is somewhat difficult to locate the singer, as his blues seem to blend into the greens of the foliage. This bird may be mistaken by the beginner for the Chestnut-backed Bluebird, but its much smaller size, white wing-bars, and choice of habitat are excellent means of identification. While it is often seen among the trees, it nests in the low bushes and shrubs.

Sparrow size. Male, upper parts dull pinkish brown, prominently streaked with darker brown; rump patch pink; square patch on the top of head crimson; under parts pale pink, merging into white on the stomach. Female, upper parts olive-gray, streaked with black; lower parts whitish, streaked with dark.

ZION. Rare winter visitant; probably nests in the higher portions of the park in the summer, but records are lacking. Records from February and April.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident in the higher portions of the park. Nests have not been found, but young have been seen in early August.

CEDAR BREAKS. Common permanent resident. Nests in July.

This is the purple finch of the high mountains, and is seldom seen in the lower elevations, except during the winter. It is often confused with the House Finch, but its square red crown patch, and its lack of streaking on the under parts are excellent aids in distinguishing it from its city-loving cousin. It nests from the higher portions of the fir belt on up to timberline, and is as apt to stay in the same region during the cold winter days as to move down into the lowlands. Anyone who has ever heard a finch sing will quickly recognize the cheerful little warbling, rolling song of the Cassin's Purple Finch, as it pours out from the tops of tall spruces and alpine firs.

Female Common House Finch. National Park Service Photo.

Sparrow size. Male, crown, nape, throat, breast and rump red; stomach whitish, sharply streaked with brown. Female, upper parts grayish-brown; under parts white, broadly streaked with dusky.

ZION. Fairly common permanent resident in the lower portions of the park, several drifting onto the plateau in the summer. Nests in June.

In the eastern states the robin is the bird familiar to everyone, but in the western states the House Finch is best known. It is especially abundant around the cities and ranches, although it also drifts into the canyons and low mountain elevations to nest. It is a cheerful fellow, and has a wide assortment of sprightly notes. In the drier portions of the southwest, he may be found wherever there is a water hole, and the sight of one of these birds in the driest part of the desert is an excellent indication that water is near.