Typical bluebird size. Adults, head, wings and tail blue; breast and back chestnut. Female, duller than male.

ZION. Common permanent resident, nesting in the higher reaches of the park in the summer, and drifting into the low canyons in the winter months. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Common summer resident. Nests in June.

CEDAR BREAKS. Common summer resident.

At first glance the Bluebird appears almost hump shouldered, and this distinctive silhouette is a great aid in identifying the bird at a distance. Ordinarily, it does not remain high in the trees, but prefers the lower branches and open forest glades. Its nest is built in deserted woodpecker holes, or in other cavities in the trees. During the winter months it comes into the canyons, but is seldom found in the narrow, deep sectors. Instead, it drifts through the pygmy forest and around the open meadows in the wider portions of the valley. It is very fond of mistletoe, and often makes an entire meal on the fruits of this plant.

Typical bluebird size. Male, bright sky blue above and below; stomach white. Female, upper parts brownish-gray; rump, tail and wings blue; under parts dull.

ZION. Fairly common permanent resident, nesting in the higher portions of the park, and entering the canyons in the winter. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Permanent resident, common during the summer months, but less frequently observed during the winter.

CEDAR BREAKS. Common visitant from late summer to late winter. May be a permanent resident, but records are lacking.

Few birds in the entire West arouse more admiration than the brightly-hued Mountain Bluebird. Sitting quietly in a bush or on a post, its beauty is not so obvious, but when it leisurely takes to the wing its brilliant sky-blue color catches the eye immediately. In hunting insects it often hovers above the ground with rapidly beating wings while it scans the ground, repeating the performance a short distance away, if no prey is found. It is a very quiet bird, seldom giving voice to any calls. After raising its young in early summer, the entire family drifts into the high country meadows and open glades. Several of these birds have been observed on the snow fields at Cedar Breaks during January and February. where they were catching insects. During that time of the year, the insects cover the snow in large numbers, and the bluebirds have an almost inexhaustible supply of food for several days at a time.

Robin size, but slimmer. Adults, gray, with a prominent white eye-ring, white edged tail and a narrow buffy bar showing across the wing when in flight.

ZION. Fairly common permanent resident, nesting in the higher portions of the park and drifting into the canyons during the winter months. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common permanent resident, with sight records throughout the year, but with nesting records lacking.

CEDAR BREAKS. Common permanent resident. Nests in late June and July.

It is a rather odd experience to hear a bird singing in the forests when snow and winter winds are encountered. Yet, around the Cedar Breaks region in the winter of 1941 it was not uncommon to hear the Solitaire singing away, just as though spring flowers were underfoot, instead of several feet of snow. Its nest is found on the ground, usually under a tree or rock overhang. During migration, large numbers flock together and drift through the region.

Small wren size, slender. Adults, bluish-gray above; under parts whitish; tail black with white edging.

ZION. Common summer resident in the lower portions of the park. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident, usually in the lower canyons, but occasionally seen on the rim. Nests in June.

This tiny mite of a bird looks very much like a mockingbird in miniature, but his habit of cocking his tail at a sharp angle is much more wren-like. He is very nervous, and is seldom still for more than a moment. His song, if one can call it that, is rather squeaky. He is usually found among the brush, but one nest in Zion Canyon was in a tree at least ten feet above the ground.

Small wren size. Adults, crown in male bright red, red crown lacking in the female; upper parts olive-gray; wings with two pale bars; under parts dull white; a very conspicuous light eye ring.

ZION. Common permanent resident, nesting in the higher portions of the park and migrating into the canyons in the winter months.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common summer resident in the higher portions of the park around Rainbow Point.

CEDAR BREAKS. Common summer resident. Nests in late June and early July.

In the dense fir and spruce forests of the highlands one often encounters this tiny bird during the summer months, as it industriously forages through the trees, pausing only momentarily now and then to give voice to a series of notes that start out in a scolding fashion and end in a pleasing little melody. Its slightly nervous habits, and plump, short-tailed body are fine aids in ready identification. If angered, the male will fluff up his feathers and erect the scarlet crown patch, and the sight of this red-headed bundle of feathered dynamite will usually send much larger birds on their way in a hurry. During the winter months kinglets migrate into the lower canyons in large numbers, often being found in quantity around the feeding trays, where suet is plentiful.

There is still some doubt as to whether the Eastern or Western Ruby-crowned Kinglet is present in this part of Utah. On the basis of present knowledge, our kinglet is identified as the Western form.

Bluebird size. Adults, gray above; white below; wings black with white bars; tail black with white edgings; some feathers white tipped; a prominent black mask through the eye; head large.

ZION. Fairly common permanent resident in the lower reaches of the park, seldom getting into the deep canyons.

Along the approach road heading into Zion from the southwest one often sees this beautifully marked black, gray and white bird sitting on a telephone line or in the top of some high bush, where his black mask gives him a rather sinister appearance. And this appearance is not misleading, as he not infrequently uses small birds as food. One of his principal floods is the grasshopper, which he consumes in large numbers. One would never suspect this bird of being a songster, but such is the case. During the mating season it renders a really pleasing song, not unlike that of the thrasher, although more deliberate. The shrike is often confused with the mockingbird, but the mockingbird is much slimmer, has a longer tail, large white wing patches, and does not possess the black mask through the eyes.

Sparrow size. Adults, upper parts dark gray; under parts grayish, tinged with olive; throat, eye ring and two wing bars white.

ZION. Common summer resident from the canyon bottoms to the rim country. Nests in May, June and early July.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common summer resident in the lower portions of the park. Nests in June.

In early April the clear, insistent call of this bird can be heard coming from almost any part of the brush and broad-leaf tree region below 7,500 feet. His sharp "Jimmy," usually followed in a few seconds by a commanding "Come here," is an excellent aid in identifying him from all other resident vireos. During the fall and spring his far western cousin—the Cassin's Vireo also migrates through the region, and may be confused with the Plumbeaus, but during the summer there is little chance for a mistake. The nest is a work of art, usually found about six to ten feet above the ground near the end of a branch. It is made of compactly-woven, light colored grasses and lined with fine bits of leaves and the cotton from the poplar trees.

Wren size. Adults, upper parts olive-gray; under parts white, tinged with yellow on the flanks; white streak through the eye; wings unmarked.

ZION. Common summer resident throughout the broad-leaf tree belt. Nests in May and June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident, usually in the lower portions of the park. Nests in June.

Of all the vireo songs, that of the Warbling Vireo is the most carefree. Drifting through the trees, he sings and talks as he goes, pouring forth a jumble of notes that somehow manage to combine to form a pleasing song. Nor is this song given only a few times during the day. During the nesting season it is repeated in an almost endless fashion, hundreds of times each day. Like the Plumbeous Vireo, he nests only a few feet above the ground, and his nest is almost identical to that of his darker cousin.

Wren size. Male, upper parts gray; under parts dull white; throat, chest, upper and lower tail coverts yellow. Female, similar to the male, but duller.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident around 5,000 feet. No nests have been found, but young were observed in late June.

BRYCE CANYON. Uncommon summer resident around the rim and in the canyons below the rim.

During the early spring this species may be seen migrating through the region along the various stream courses, where it literally fills the cottonwoods and willows. The male is an excellent singer, and can be heard almost any hour of the day during the migration period and the nesting season, as he works through the trees in search of food. During the summer the bird becomes more retiring, and is usually found in the low, dense bushes, where he flits about silently, and is thus seldom noticed. The heavy groves of oak in the Zion and Bryce regions are likely spots to find this warbler.

Wren size. Adults, apparently all yellow, but a close view will disclose a greenish tinge to the back and fine reddish streaks on the lemon-yellow breast.

ZION. Common summer resident throughout the canyons along the stream courses. Nests in June.

This is one of the most difficult of all the warblers in the park to see well. Usually it ranges high through the tops of the trees, while his beautiful, high-pitched song seems to come from no place in particular. He is usually quiet in movement, traveling slowly through the trees as he searches for worms, and seldom exhibiting the nervousness so characteristic of the other warblers of the region. In many parts of the country it is called the "Wild Canary," a term also applied to the Goldfinch.

Large wren size. Male, upper parts blue-gray; under parts white, with a black breast patch; throat, crown, rump and a patch on each flank yellow; wings and tail with white markings.

ZION. Uncommon summer resident in the higher portions of the park, but abundant during the spring and fall migrations throughout tine region. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common summer resident along the forested rim and in the protected canyons below the rim. Nests in late June and early July.

CEDAR BREAKS. Fairly common summer resident in the forests back of the rim. Nests in July.

This is the familiar "five spot," so called because of the five spots of yellow that show in flight, with the rump patch standing out most prominently of all. He is an expert at catching insects, and has the flycatchers' habit of darting out from a perch to capture a passing gnat, and then returning to his vantage point. He pays very little attention to an observer, and, if one stands motionless, he will often come within a few feet. Its short, sharp call note is easy to learn, and serves as an excellent means of identification in the field.

Wren size. Male, grayish above; whitish below; head, throat and chest black, striped with white on the head. Female, much like the male, but duller.

ZION. Common summer resident on the bushy slopes and through the pinon pine-juniper forest. Nests in June.

BRYCE CANYON. Common summer resident in the lower portions of the park, although occasionally reaching the rim. Nests in June.

In contrast to the nervous, ever-moving Audubon's Warbler, tine Black-throated Gray seems very quiet and unassuming. Slowly he moves through the trees of the "pygmy forest," thoroughly examining each tree in turn, hesitating every now and then to drawl out his wheezy little song. At first glimpse, one may mistake him for the familiar chickadee, but the sharp black and white stripes on the head are quite distinct from the black cap and chin with the white line through the eye that identifies the chickadee.

Wren size. Male, upper parts gray; under parts white, streaked with black; throat and line over the eye, bright yellow; two white wing bars; Female, like the male, but much duller.

ZION. Fairly common summer resident in the higher portions of the park. Nests in May and June.

BRYCE CANYON. Fairly common summer resident over the plateau. Nests in late June and early July.

CEDAR BREAKS. Uncommon summer visitant along the forested rim.

There are few warblers that will come down and feed upon the ground, most of them preferring to stay in the bushes or trees. However, this demure little warbler is seen near or on the ground almost as much as in the trees. It is quiet in its hahits, but has a rather pretty song. It is the only warbler in the region that at a distance appears uniformly grayish in color, with a bright yellow throat.