News, Notes, Comments

MANY FIELD BIOLOGIST INTERNS are needed ing on location),and housingprovided. For further to operate constanteffort mist-nettingand band- informationand application materials, interested ing(MAPS) stations in ,Oregon, Cali- persons should contact fornia,, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland,Virginia, and NorthCarolina. Internships Eric Feuss, begin21 April, 23 April or I May and end 8 Au- The Institute for Populations gust, dependingon location.Applicants should P.O. Box 1346 havesubstantial birding experience; internships in- Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 cludean intensive,two-week training course in the (415-663-1436; FAX 415-663-9482, above-mentionedmonitoring techniques. Appli- e:mail IBPSTAFF(•COMPUSERVE.COM) cants with good field vehicles are especially needed.A per diemreimbursement, ranging from Please pass thisannouncement on to anyonewho approximately$438 to $617 per month(depend- might be interestedin such a position.

Books

A Guideto the Identificationand NaturalHistory Jamaicaor somesuch place. Sparrows as a group, of the Sparrows of the United States and . however,present two majorproblems: many species J. Rising.1996. Academic Press, New York. 365 pp., are hardto observe,and mostare dulland primarily including27 colorplates. $39.95 U.S. (hardcover), brown,making identification a pain, compared to their $19.95 U.S. (paperback). more brightlycolored and visible relatives.

When I was a graduatestudent, another birder once Thesetwo problemswould be reducedwith a good askedme what I was studyingfor my dissertation. fieldguide to the sparrowsand theirallies. This must "Sparrows,"was my answer. The birder looked at be the goldenage for sparrow-lovers,because no me quizzicallyfor a moment,then responded, "Well, less than three bookscovering the identificationof I guesssomebody has to studythem." sparrows, finches and their relatives have been publishedin the pastfew years,including those by Thefact that we weresurrounded by the colorful and Clements et al. (1993) covering finches and exoticavifauna of southwesternArizona probably goldfinches,Byers et al. (1995) on sparrowsand helpedfuel my companion'sconfusion. Why study buntingsof the World,and Rising's1996 subjectof sparrowswhen such fantastic as trogons, thisreview. Rising covers many of the samespecies orioles and hummingbirdsare around? In fact, as Byerset al. (1995), but with a greateremphasis sparrowsform an excellentgroup to study, especially on NorthAmerican species. All threebooks have fine for banders. They provide several logistical sets of color plates illustratingthe species in detail. advantages--they usually remain close to the The mainquestion I soughtto answerin reviewing ground,where they can be caughtin mistnets, they Rising's book was, "Is this book valuable for eat seedsthat help lurethem into traps, and they banders?" nestin locationswhere their young can be banded. Foran ecologist,there are otherplusses--wintering The organizationof Rising'sbook is straightforward. sparrowseat food(seeds) that can be quantifiedmore A beginningset of chaptersintroduces the formatfor easilythan other kinds of foods(what do swiftseat, the book, and answers the question, "What are anyway?);many sparrows show one styleof social sparrows?" A set of line drawings covers the organizationinthe breeding season (territoriality) and topography of a "typical" sparrow, defining another in the winter (flocking);and since some morphologicalfeatures of a standingor flyingbird. species in the southern U.S. are permanent The "What are sparrows?"chapter includes an residents, researchers do not need to consider what introduction to the conservation and taxonomic is happeningto theirwintering in Guatemala, relationshipsof the group,among other topics. Oct. - Dec. 1997 NorthAmerican Bird Bander Page173 Rising also discusses the use of Rising includesall species documentednorth of the designationsto help identificationof sparrowswith Mexican-U.S. border. In addition to the regularly marked geographicvariation. occurringspecies, there are shortaccounts for Black- faced Grassquit (Tiaris bicolor), Yellow-faced The remainder of the book consists of species Grassquit(T. olivacea), Worthen'sSparrow (Spizella accountsand plates.Each genusis introducedbriefly, worthera), and a slew of Alaskan specialties of the with the relationshipbetween the and other genus Ernberiza. sparrowssummarized. Species accountsfollow, with sections on identification (including a plumage The most successful part of the book is its plates, descriptionfor distinctiveage classes), voice (mostly which show plumagevariation in much greater detail songs), habits (behavioralnotes), habitat, breeding than standard field guides. In some cases there is information, range, history, geographic variation, an abundanceof information--13Song Sparrows are measurements, and references. The references listed shown on one plate, while 21 Dark-eyed Juncos in each accountare notcomprehensive; instead, they (Junco hyernalis) cover two others. Even are mainly the works that proved most useful in morphologically"plain" species (those withoutmany compilingthe account. subspecies) get extensive coverage. There are five figures each for Botteri's and Cassin's sparrows Each speciesaccount is illustratedby a line drawing (Aimophilabotteri and A. cassiniOtogether on one by David Beadle(who also did the plates),and usually plate,with each speciesshown in bothfresh and worn includes both a range map showing breeding and plumage. An importantpart of the coverage of each wintering ranges, and an abundance map from the speciesis the provisionof goodillustrations of juvenal Breeding Bird Survey. The abundance maps were plumages, which can be particularlyconfusing for taken (withpermission) from Price et al. (1995). Many birds in the hand. accountscontain line drawings of spreadtail patterns, showinggeographic, sex or age class differences.A Even with all these portraits, some significant unique feature in the accounts is a number of charts variation is not illustrated. The melanistic race that summarize important information--e.g., nigrescens of the Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza distinguishingmarks of Chipping,Clay-colored and georgiana)is not pictured,although it is mentioned Brewer's sparrows (Spizella passedna, S. pal/ida, briefly in the text. The rufous phase of Cassin's and S. brewerIT;measurements of subspeciesof both Sparrowis not mentionedat all. Admittedly,the rufous juncos, Savannah (Passerculus sandwichensis), Cassin's is quite rare, but is has shown up in distant Song(Melospiza rnelodia), Bell's and Sage sparrows locales, such as the Farallon Islands. (Arnphispizabelli and A. nevadensis,see below);field marksfor winter longspur identification. The drawings Mostof the platesare quite successful,capturing both of tail patterns and the charts might be especially the morphologyand the "feel"of real, live sparrows. helpful to banders. I particularly liked plate 24, comparing winter- plumaged longspurs in flight, since I rarely see Species limits generally follow the latest American longspurs any other way. The Vesper Sparrows Ornithologists'Union check list, but Risingwas able (Pooecetesgrarnineus) are appropriatelypudgy, and to anticipate changes made in the last few the Black-throatedSparrow (Arnphispizabilineata) supplements. Thus, Nelson's Sharp-tailed and is much better than the inkblot in the National Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed sparrows (Arnrnodrarnus Geographic Society field guide (Scott 1987). I felt nelsoniand A. caudacutus,respectively) are given that the towhee plateswere the least successful.The separate accounts, as are Eastern and Spotted Californiaand Canyon towhees (Pipilo crissalisand towhees(Pipilo erythrophthalrnus and P. rnaculatus). P. fuscus) seem too garish for the subtle beauty of Risingalso anticipatedsome moves not yet taken these birds. (Perhaps "subtlebeauty" is a bit strong, by the A.O.U. Bell's and Sage sparrows have but I did my dissertationon Canyon Towhees, so I separate accounts,and Risingsplit the really like them.) The summerplumage Green-tailed (Passerellailiaca) into three species. On the other Towhee (P. ch/orurus)seems flat-faced,as if it ran hand, Brewer'sSparrow (Spizella brewer 0 was not intoa windowwith its head turnedto the side. Shapes split, although information is provided for the and colorsare betteron mostother species.Most of "Timberline"Sparrow ( S. "taverneri'3. the flying birds are portrayedwith their tails spread and pointed downwards. This helps to show off the

Page 174 North American Bird Bander Vol. 22 No. 4 tail pattern, but is distractingfor species that don't but what is a "double-roundedtail" (page 176)? Why normallyfly that way. No flight pattern is given for the hesitation in saying that Saltmarsh Seaside the SongSparrow, which does drag its tail downward Sparrows"apparently sometimes respond to pishing." in flight. In the Eastern Towbee, juvenal plumage is said to be held for "rathera longtime." Compared to what? The text is less successfulthan the plates,and could have undergonea more careful edit. Sections are Finally, in the introductory chapter, the History missing from some accounts--there are no body sectionsof the speciesaccounts are describedby masses given for Brewer'sSparrow, Black-chinned the following:"The empasis [sic] in this section is Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis), and Yellow-eyed 'now and then,' since the available information is Junco (Juncophaeonotus), even thoughthe source variable, the reader will find these reports in only cited by Rising for most of his body mass data some of the accounts." I am still not sure what this contains masses for all these species. Eleven means; however, most of the Historysections contain species accounts lack any references, and the informationon whofirst collected and describecJthe References sections of many other accounts omit species,its status at thattime, and currentpopulation many significantpapers. (In fairness, Rising does trends. Combined, these sets of information could mention at the start that these sections were not be called"then and now."The latter part of the quote intendedto be comprehensive.)There are scattered is also puzzling,as the Historysection is includedin misspellings(e.g. "empasis,"page 4; "femalesalong all the species accountsexcept for the accidental incubate," instead of alone, page 28; and Junco grassquitsand Emberizabuntings. phaeonotus is misspelled "phaenotus"throughout. In the account of Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilia, Perhapsinevitably, the maps are notas accurateand page 94), the AmericanTree Sparrow (S. arborea) current as they might have been. Bachman's is said to have a "darkupper mandible and a yellow Sparrows(Aimophila aestivalis) have not bred in mandible." The introductory paragraph for White- Indianaor Illinoisfor at least 25 years. They also do throatedSparrow (Zonotrichiaalbicollis, page 205) not breed commonly where shown in Kentucky, ends by sayingthey have a "...brownor rustybrown." Virginiaor Missouri.Swamp Sparrows do not breed Brown what? in central or southern Indiana, or in southern Illinois. In Arizona,Cassin's Sparrows sometimes breed well The treatment of subspecies names is inconsistent north and west of the range indicated,although this sometimeseven in the same account.English names speciesis particularlyerratic. Chilton (1997) points for subspecies are sometimes capitalized, outsome additionalproblems in the Canadianportion sometimes not, sometimes not even given. For of some range maps. example,in the (Passerella [iliaca] iliaca) account, English names are usually Two sets of maps are particularlyconfusing. The capitalized, but in the (P. [•] same range map is givenfor both Nelson'sSharp- unalaschcensis)account, they are not. In the Seaside tailedand SaltmarshSharp-tailed sparrows, without Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) account, no indicatingwhich species is found where. The map Englishnames are given for any subspeciesexcept for bothjunco speciesshows the breedingrange for Dusky and Cape Sable, which are capitalized.The Dark-eyed Junco in one color, Yellow-eyedJunco in SavannahSparrow account on pages 140-141 gives another,and "zonesof intergradation"in a third.The all possible permutations of capitalization and zonesof intergradationare far beyondthe rangelimit treatments in the span of five paragraphs. of Yellow-eyed Junco. I assume that the intergradationmust be among various Dark-eyed The writing is sometimes unnecessarilyvague, or Junco subspecies, not between the two species. terms poorlydefined. What does Risingmean when Chilton(1997) assumedthe oppositein his review he says that Canyon Towhees "breedclosely" (page (andpointed out that such interspecific zones would 40)? The same presumablyas "incubatesclosely," clearly be in error). which is used several times. I assume that both terms mean that females do not flush unless the nest is So, would I buy this book to help with my banding? almost stepped on, but it would have been nice to Yes, in spite of the problemswith its text and maps. have this defined. I can visualize a "rounded tail," The plate illustrationsof juvenal plumages,the line drawingsof tail patterns, and the charts alone are

Oct. - Dec. 1997 North American Bird Bander Page 175 worth the price. This book will help with many LITERATURE CITED identificationproblems. For example,a few years ago there was a debate in the bandingliterature about Byers, C., J. Curson,and U. Olsson. 1995. the differencesbetween juvenal and first-yearwinter Sparrowsand buntings:a guide to the plumage of White-throated Sparrows. These sparrowsand buntingsof plumages are illustrated clearly on Plate 19 and the World. Houghton Mifflin Co., (illustrations44c and 44d), which would have cleared Boston, MA. up the confusionthat started the series of letters. I Chilton,G. 1997. Review of Rising,J. D. ^ guide would confirm the text's natural history information to the identificationand natural historyof and range descriptionsbefore using them. This will the sparrows of the United States and be possibleto do by consultingthe relevant"Birds of Canada. Auk 114:309-310. North America" accounts when the latter have all Clements, P., ^. Harris and J. Davis. 1993. Finches been published.In the field, this book will be quite and sparrows:an identificationguide. usefulto the sparrow-loversout there. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ. Price, J., S. Droege, and ^. Price. 1995. The summer atlas of North American birds. Academic Press, NY. Scott, S. L. (Ed.). 1987. Field guide to the birdsof North America. Second ed. Natl. Geogr. Soc., Washington,DC.

John B. Dunning, Jr. Recent Literature

BANDING HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHIES In memoriam Nathaniel R. Whitney, Jr., 1923- 1997. L. M. Baylor.1997. S. Dak. Bird Notes 49:57- Ben B. Coffey, Jr. elected Fellow in the American 59. 1941 Red Dale Dr., Rapid City, S.D. 57702 (Bi- Ornithologists' Union. J. A. Ferguson.1992. Mi- ography of prominentSouth Dakota physicianand grant 63:25-38. 5340 CanewoodAve., Memphis,TN amateur ornithologist,best known as the author of 38134 (Biographiesto 1991 of the late Ben Coffey two books on South Dakota birds, co-author of a book and his widow, Lula, both prominentcontributors to on birds of the Black Hills, and for his research on ornithologyin Tennessee, surroundingstates and the White-wingedrace of the Dark-eyedJunco. His parts of LatinAmerica through their work with band- research included banding, and he served on the ing,sound recordings, Christmas bird counts, breed- boardof the InlandBird BandingAssociation.) MKM ing birdsurveys and trainingothers in birdidentifica- tion.Their best known banding project was their major BANDING EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES contributionto a co-operativeeffort to locate the win- tering grounds of Chimney Swifts. Five of the 13 Misuse of data from mist-net captures to assess bands recovered in the Amazon basin of Peru in 1943 relative abundance in bird populations. J. V. that documented the first known winter location were Remsen, Jr. and D. A. Good. 1996. Auk 113:381- theirs.A majorheron banding project provided con- 398. Mus. Nat. Sci., 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State siderabledata on postbreeding dispersal northwards Univ., Baton Rouge, LA 70803 (The authors used and subsequentwintering locations farther south, as modelsto show that by changingparameters such well as incidentlydocumenting Mexican wintering as proportionaluse of verticalheight categories, fre- groundsof Anhingasbreeding in the southeastern quency of bird strikes with respect to home range U.S.A.) MKM size and overlap, numberof flights,mean flightdis- tance, and capture rates can produce different rela- Articles and tapes by Ben B. Coffey, Jr. and Ben tive abundances for species with identical realized and Lula Coffey. M. G. Waldron. 1992. Migrant abundances. These results preclude quantitative 63:33-38. 1626 Yorkshire Dr., Memphis, TN 38119 comparisonsof relativeabundance for differentspe- (Listsof publication1931-1987 and tapes 1986-1992, cies or species in different . These results some undated.) MKM are applicable not only to mist-net use, but also to Page 176 North American Bird Bander Vol. 22 No. 4