This is probably the subspecies occurring in the High Plains. Resident in the Trans-Pecos region. Midland Co. Rare to locally uncommon in migration and in winter to Brazos and Burleson Cos. and on the Coast. Status and distribution as for the species, except that it is not found west of the Pecos river. Locally common resident in the western half of the Trans-Pecos where it is expanding.
Numbers increase greatly in winter.
Resident in the northern half of the state, south through the South Plains, the northern part of the Edwards Plateau and east to about Harrison Co. in forested eastern Texas. In winter, south to the coast. Resident in the southern half of the state, from Newton Co. in the east to Brazos and Travis Cos. in the central area and west through the Trans-Pecos. M. a. artemisiae Grinnell. Migrant and winter resident in the western half of the state, east to about Dallas and Kerr Cos. and to the Rio Grande.