These modestly-colored but attractive birds are common in dry, open country throughout most of North America.   They occur in a number of slightly different color morphs; one of these males of the southwestern race was singing its territorial song at the mouth of the San Diego River, California; others were on the Pawnee Grasslands in northeastern Colorado.

• Canon 1D Mk. II, 1D3, or 1D4; 500 mm f4 IS lens plus 2X converter or 800 mm lens + 1.4X converter, fill-in flash (2005, 2009, 2012)