Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924090193305 WN A | The State Agricultural College THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN No. 37 TECHNICAL SERIES No. 2 Birds of Colorado BY W. W. COOKE APPROVED BY THE STATION COUNCIL ALSTON ELLIS, President FORT COLLINS, COLORADO MARCH, 1897 DENVER THE Agricultural Experiment Station OANITH FORT COLLINS, COLORADO 6st CG a C6X THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE gem pire | S47 HON. JOHN J. RYAN...........-. Fort Collins..............0..0 000+) 1897 HON. E. H. SNYDER............. Highlands... .-. 1897 HON. J. E. DuBOIS................Fort Collins.... --. 1899 HON. A. 8. BENSON ....... be ssesee Loveland .. .»- 1899 HON. JAMES L. CHATFIELD ....Gypsum ..........-.. 1901 HON. A. LINDSLEY KELLOGG ..Rocky Ford........ eeeee ee L901 HON. B. F. ROCKAFELLOW...... Canon City .... ee cece cece cee tees 1908 MRS. ELIZA F. ROUTT ........... DOM VOY 2... scee ee rece ener eee ce eeee 1908 GOVERNOR ALVA ADAMB, } ex-officio PRESIDENT ALSTON ELLIS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN CHARGE A. L, KELLOGG, Chairman. JOHN. J. RYAN. J. E, DuBo!Is, ALSTON ELLIS. A. 8. BENSON. STATION COUNCIL ALSTON ELLIS, A. M., Ph. D., LL. D............-. President and Director : WELLS W. COOKE, B.S., A. M.........+.--+ . Agriculturist C. 8. CRANDALL, M.8B.........-6-e cece eee eee _Héxdiculturiet and Botanist WILLIAM P. HEADDEN, A. M., PH. D........ 0 eee cece cece ee ener Chemist L. G. CARPENTER, M.8..... .. Meteorologist and Irrigation Engineer Cc. P, GILLETTE, M.8...... .... Entomologist DANIEL W. WORKING, B.&8....... .. Secretary LATHROP M. TAYLOR, B.S., Stenographer ASSISTANTS FRANK L. WATROUS .... 0... cece cee eee cee eee teen eeee Agriculturist JACOB H. COWEN, B.S. .... 2... cece cece eee cece en eee .. Horticulturist CHARLES RYAN ...... 6... cece cece eee een ee eter eens Chemist EMMA A. GILLETTE ..... 2.2.2... ccc cece cene cece en ee cece sees Entomologist ROBERT E. TRIMBLE, B.8....... Meteorologist and Irrigation Engineer SUB-STATIONS PHILO K. BLINN, B.8.. Aisin ¥ aves ave nepal . Buperintendent Arkansas Valley Bcation, "Rocky Ford, Oalexadc J. E, PAYNE, M.8. mines opaayoec es .+++.... Superintendent Rain-Belt Bintion, ‘Cheyanne Wells, ‘Colorado THE BIRDS OF COLORADO. BY W. W. COOKE. The following paper is designed to set forth our present knowledge of the distribution and migration of Colorado birds. There is also included a bibliography of the subject and an historical review of the progress of ornithological investigation in this State. The total number of species and varieties of birds known to occur in Colorado is 360, of which 228 are known to breed. This is a larger number of species than has been taken in any state east of the Mississippi and is exceeded by only one state of the Union, that is by Nebraska with nearly four hundred species. The reason for this great variety of bird life is found in the geographical position of the State and the physical charac- teristics of its surface. i From the Atlantic Ocean to western Iowa but slight changes occur in the avi-fauna. But with the decreased rain- fall and the increase in altitude from there westward, a great number of new forms appear. The greatest change is at the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, which is the natural dividing line between the eastern and middle provinces of the United States. But while many of the western forms extend as stragglers eastward into Kansas and Nebraska and especially into the Black Hills of South Dakota and northwestern Ne- braska, a large number of eastern forms do not pass west of the semi-arid region of twenty inches of annual rainfall and are not found in Colorado. It is due to this fact that Nebraska ex- ceeds Colorado in the number of species taken in the State. All of the eastern. species reach Nebraska and nearly all the western forms extend into northwestern Nebraska. This is strikingly shown in the case of the Warblers. Nebraska has more than twenty Warblers that do not occur in Colorado, while Colorado has less than five that are not found in Nebraska. The avi-fauna of Colorado is reinforced by species that belong more properly to the regions on all sides of it. The basis may be considered as the species that range over the whole of the United States and those that are most abundant 4 BIRDS OF COLORADO. in the middle west. As additions to these, there come to the State from the east such distinctively eastern species as the Bobolink, Phoebe, Blue Bird, and Baltimore Oriole; from the west the Dwarf Hermit Thrush, Grace’s Warbler, Golden- crowned Sparrow, and the Black Swift; from the north Holbcell’s Grebe, Arctic Tern, Harlequin Duck, and Barrow’s Golden-eye; while something over twenty truly southern species have been taken as stragglers in southern Colorado. Of accidental visitants we have our share. Three varieties of Surf Ducks have wandered to Colorado; a specimen of the English Saxzicola enanthe was taken near Boulder, a Bendire’s Thrasher at Colorado Springs, an Olivaceous Flycatcher at Fort Lyon, a White-winged Dove in Jefferson County, a White Ibis at Denver, a Roseate Spoonbill at Silverton, and most wonder- ful of all, a Scarlet Ibis near Pueblo. The broken character of the surface of Colorado offers in- ducements for birds of all kinds. The eastern third of the State is a vast plain, rising from an altitude of 3,500 feet at its eastern edge to nearly 6,000 feet where it joins the foothills of the Rockies. This whole region is treeless, except a narrow fringe along the streams. Innumerable throngs of birds sweep across it during migration, especially water fowl and waders, but its attractions are too few to induce many to remain through the summer. The center of the State is occupied by the Continental Divide. Range on range attaining a height of over 14,000 feet offers favorable conditions for even boreal species. The great mountain parks lie in this section, and at an altitude of 8,000 feet mark the limit of height reached by the great bulk of the ‘species. The western third of Colorado presents a wilderness of rolling hills from 5,000 to 8,000 feet in altitude, covered with a few trees and a very scanty vegetation. Bird life is present in small numbers but great variety and partakes largely of west- ern characteristics. The temperature of Colorado is much below that of cor- responding latitudes in the Mississippi Valley. On the plains the average for the year is not far from 52° F., with extremes more marked and changes more sudden than in moister cli- mates. At 7,000 feet among the mountains the average tem- perature is five degrees lower, and at 9,000 feet only a little colder. Timber line is about 11,500 feet in Colorado and with an average temperatttre of two degrees below freezing is yet the home of some birds for the entire year, while during the short summer many species find here congenial nesting sites. BIRDS OF COLORADO. 5 The rainfall on the plains is about fourteen inches per year, increasing to twenty inches at 8,000 feet in northern Colo- rado, but in the southern scarcely reaching that amount until nearly to timber line. This scarcity of rain has a direct influ- ence on the vegetation and through that on the distribution of the birds. With the exception of a few species of sparrows, almost all the bird life of the State is confined to the vicinity of water or high enough on the mountains to reach timber. The records given in this bulletin are based first of all on the printed matter that has appeared dealing with the birds of Colorado. This mass of material has been supplemented by much manuscript matter, and by the personal observations of the author during a four years’ residence in the State. There is no State in the Union that offers a more difficult field for thorough work, and a recapitulation of our present knowledge only serves to bring out more clearly the many points on which further information is needed. The only claim for completeness made by the present list is that it is complete so far as work done up to this time is con- cerned. Experience in this State as well as in others teaches that additions will be made for many years to come. These will not be confined to any one part of the State nor to any par- ticular class of birds. In addition to accidental visitants, it may be confidently expected that several more eastern species will be found to follow up the Arkansas and the Platte Rivers, and a still greater number of western species up the valley of the Grand into western Colorado. Though much ornithological work has been done in Colo- rado, many parts of the State have never yet been visited by an ornithologist. The region along the eastern base of the foothills at the juncture of mountain and plain has been quite thoroughly studied. Fully four-fifths of all the records of Colo- rado pertain to this narrow strip, thirty miles wide and one hundred and fifty miles in length. As this constitutes less than one-twentieth of the area of the State, it can be seen how little attention has been paid to much of Colorado. In this strip, Beckham, Nash and Lowe have worked at Pueblo; Aiken at Pueblo, Cafion City and Colorado Springs; Allen at Colorado Springs; Henshaw, Anthony and H. G. Smith at Denver; Trippe at Idaho Springs; Gale at Gold Hill; W. G. Smith and Osburn at Loveland; Breninger at Fort Collins, and Dille at Greeley. In most cases this work has been continuous through the year, and has resulted in a pretty thoroygh knowledge of the main features of the ornithology of this"fegion. About a dozen other ornithologists have given us results of short visits to various places ip this belt. 6 BIRDS OF COLORADO. Eastward lie the great plains, stretching 150 miles from Pueblo to the Kansas line and crossing the whole breadth of Colorado. Here is an extent of country four times as large as the State of Massachusetts, and in this whole region but two ornithologists have ever worked. Capt. P. M. Thorne was at Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas, and Mr. H. G. Hoskins at Bur- lington and vicinity, in Kit Carson County. There are four- teen counties in eastern Colorado that have not a single printed bird record to their credit. The great parks of Colorado have received but little more attention. Coues crossed North Park; Stevenson, Middle Park, and Allen, South Park, and took hurried glimpses at the bird life. San Luis Park has fared somewhat better, thanks to the labors of Henshaw and Aiken. Stone spent several months between South Park and San Luis Park, in the vicinity of Hancock. Insouthwestern Colorado, Drew in San Juan County, and Morrison in La Plata County, have given us valuable notes on the birds of the higher portions of the region. The whole of northwestern Colorado remains unexplored. What a field for the ornithologist! As large as the whole of New England outside of Maine, and containing the whole valley of the Grand River and its tributaries, it will reward the zealous seeker with many Pacific forms not now known to Colorado. No other part of the State will probably show so large a return as the tegion around Grand Junction. Other specially favorable 1lo- calities for new developments are the lower waters of the tribu- taries of the San Juan River in southwestern Colorado, the region around Trinidad in south central Colorado, the Arkan- sas River near the Kansas line, and especially the Cimarron River of southeastern Colorado and the Platte River near Jules- burg in northeastern Colorado. For increased knowledge of distribution with regard to altitude, and for range during the breeding season, so little is known compared with what remains to be discovered that any part of the mountain region of Colorado offers an inviting field to the ornithologist. In addition to the mass of published data accessible to all, the present writer has received valuable assistance from many manuscript notes, and he wishes here to express his thanks to the correspondents who have put so much time, labor and care into their preparation. Much information on special points has been obtained in answer to direct inquiries and also the follow- ing lists have been received: A. W. Anthony. List of 226 species known by him to have been taken*in Colorado. W. H. Bergtold. Notes on 20 species seen by him in Routt County and near Denver. BIRDS OF COLORADO. 7 G. F. Breninger. List of 257 species known by him to have been taken in Larimer County. R. A. Campbell. List of 40 species noted near Boulder. E. B. Darnell. Notes on 68 species found in Routt County. H.G. Hoskins. Notes on 58 species seen near Burlington, and dates of migration for four years. Mortimer Jesurn, M. D. List, with annotations, of 161 species taken on the Platte River 150 miles north of Cheyenne. W. P. Lowe. List of 188 species found at Pueblo and in the Wet Mountains, distinguishing the breeders. Chas. F. Morrison. List of 332 species known to occur in Colorado, of which 152 are marked as breeding in the State. Wm. Osburn. Annotated list of 254 species identified by himself and Wm. G. Smith in the vicinity of Loveland. Capt. P. M. Thorne. Annotated list of 160 species shot by him during five years residence at Fort Lyon. Especially valuable, because nearly all the specimens have been identified by Mr. Brewster and are now in the Field Museum in Chicago. One of the hardest things to determine in making out a state list, is what shall constitute a valid record and entitle the bird to a place in the list. The present writer has endeavored to take a middle course between including everything that seemed to have a fair claim for admission and excluding every- thing to whose record attached any suspicion. With all species at all doubtful the full record has been given, so that future students may judge for themselves whether the species is en- titled to entry. This course has been taken owing to the small amount of work that has as yet been done on Colorado ornith- ology. Some readers will undoubtedly believe that the records of some of the species here given need confirmation and should have been omitted. On the other hand the author can say that he has in his possession the records of forty-two species that have been ascribed to Colorado. Many of these, in fact the larger part of them, he believes to occur in the State, yet they have been excluded from this list, pending further infor- mation. 8 BIRDS OF COLORADO. CLASSIFICATION OF COLORADO BIRDS. 1. Residents; species found in the State at all times of the year regardless of the season. Merganser americanus. Lophodytes cucullatus. Anas boschas. Dafila acuta. Clangula islandica. Histrionicus histrionicus. Colinus virginianus. Callipepla californica. Callipepla gambeli. Dendragapus obscurus. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. Lagopus leucurus. Pediocztes phasianellus cam- pestris. Centrocercus urophasianus. Meleagris gallopavo. Meleagris gallopavo mexicana. Circus hudsonius. Accipiter velox. Accipiter cooperi. Accipiter atricapillus. Buteo borealis kriderii. Buteo borealis calurus. Buteo swainsoni. Archibuteo ferrugineus. Aquila chrysaétos. Halizetus leucocephalus. Falco mexicanus. Falco peregrinus anatum. Falco sparverius. Strix pratincola. Asio wilsonianus. | Asio accipitrinus. » Syrnium occidentale. Nyctala acadica. Megascops asio. Megascops asio maxwellize. Megascops asio aikeni. Megascops flammeola. Bubo virginianus subarcticus. Speotyto cunicularia hypogeea. Glaucidium gnoma. Conurus carolinensis (formerly) Geococcyx californianus. Ceryle alcyon. Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Dryobates pubescens homorus. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. Picoides americanus dorsalis. Ceophlceus pileatus. Melanerpes torquatus. Colaptes cafer. Otocoris alpestris arenicola. Pica piea hudsonica. Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha. Aphelocoma woodhousei. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. Corvus corax sinuatus. Corvus cryptoleucus. Corvus americanus. Nucifraga columbiana. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. Pinicola enucleator. Carpodacus cassini. Carpodacus mexicanus front- alis. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Leucosticte australis. Spinus tristis. Spinus pinus. BIRDS OF COLORADO. 9 Passer domesticus. Calcarius ornatus. Rhynchophanes mccownii. Junco caniceps. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. Ampelis cedrorum. Cinclus mexicanus. Catherpes mexicanus consper- sus. Troglodytes hiemalis. Certhia familiaris montana. 2. Winter visitants; Sitta carolinensis. Sitta calolinensis aculeata. Sitta canadensis. Sitta pygmea. Parus inornatus griseus. Parus atricapillus septentrion- alis. Parus gambeli. Psaltriparus plumbeus. Myadestes townsendii. species that have been taken com- monly in the State during the winter, but are not included in the foregoing list. Urinator imber. Merganser serrator. Aythya americana. Aythya vallisneria. Aythya affinis. Charitonetta albeola. Chen hyperborea. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-jo- hannis. Otocoris alpestris leucoleema. Coccothraustes vespertinus montanus. Acanthis linaria. Plectrophenax nivalis. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Leucosticte tephrocotis littor- alis. Calcarius lapponicus. Zonotrichia leucophrys inter- media. Spizella monticola ochracea. Junco aikeni. Junco hyemalis connectens. Junco mearnsi. Junco annectens. Pipilo maculatus arcticus. Ampelis garrulus. Lanius borealis. 3- Species that breed in the State and regularly winter further south, but a few occur irregularly in south- ern Colorado in winter and in mild winters may oc- cur throughout the State. Podilymbus podiceps. Larus delawarensis. Anas carolinensis. Branta canadensis. Grus mexicana. Gallinago delicata. Falco columbarius. Agelaius phceniceus. Sturnella magna neglecta. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Zonotrichia leucophrys. Melospiza fasciata montana. Cistothorus palustris paludi- cola. Merula migratoria. Merula migratoria propinqua. Sialia mexicana bairdi. Sialia arctica. ge) BIRDS OF COLORADO. 4. Species that have been taken in Colorado in winter, either as rare or accidental visitors. Stercorarius parasiticus. Rissa tridactyla. Larus argentatus anus. Larus atricilla. Xema sabinii. Aythya marila nearctica. Harelda hyemalis. Oidemia americana. Oidemia deglandi. Oidemia perspicillata. Branta canadensis hutchinsii. smithsoni- Accipiter atricapillus striatu- lus. Buteo borealis harlani. Nyctea nyctea. Colaptes auratus. Scolecophagus carolinus. Loxia leucoptera. Leucosticte atrata. Zonotrichia coronata. Junco hyemalis. Melospiza fasciata. Cardinalis cardinalis. 5. Summer residents; species that have been known to breed in the state. A. Species that breed on the plains and in the mount-.... ains or mountain parks. Colymbus nigricollis californi- cus. Larus delawarensis. Hydrochelidon nigra surina- mensis. Anas boschas. Anas strepera. Anas americana. Anas carolinensis. Anas discors. Anas cyanoptera. Spatula clypeata. Aix sponsa. Erismatura jamaicensis. Botaurus lentiginosus. Ardea herodias. Grus mexicana. Porzana carolina. Fulica americana. Recurvirostra ainericana. Himantopus mexicanus. Totanus solitarius. Symphemia semipalmata inor- nata. Actitis macularia. AXgialitis vocifera. AEgialitis montana. Centrocercus urophasianus. Meleagris gallopavo mexicana. Zenaidura macroura. Cathartes aura. Circus hudsonius. Accipiter velox. Accipiter cooperi. Buteo borealis calurus. Buteo swainsoni. Archibuteo ferrugineus. Falco mexicanus. Falco peregrinus anatum. Falco columbarius. Falco richardsonii. Falco sparverius. Asio wilsonianus. Asio accipitrinus. Bubo virginianus subarcticus. Speotyto cunicularia hy pogeea. Coccyzus americanus occiden- talis. Ceryle alcyon. Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Dryobates pubescensh___ orus. Ceophlceus pileatus. BIRDS OF COLORADO. II Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Colaptes cafer. Phalzenoptilus nuttalli. Chordeiles virginianus henryi. Tyrannus tyrannus. Tyrannus verticalis. Tyrannus vociferans. Myiarchus cinerascens. Sayornis saya. Empidonax difficilis. Empidonax traillii. Otocoris alpestris arenicola. Pica pica hudsonica. Corvus cryptoleucus. Corvus americanus. Molothrus ater. Xanthocephalus xanthocepha- lus. Agelaius phceniceus. Sturnella magna neglecta. Icterus bullocki. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus. Carpodacus mexicanus front- alis. Spinus tristis. Spinus psaltria. Spinus psaltria arizonz. Chondestes grammacus strigat- us. Pooceetes gramineus confinis. Spizella socialis arizone. Spizella pallida. Spizella breweri. Melospiza fasciata montana. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx. Oreospiza chlorura. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. Zamelodia melanocephala. Passerina amoena. Progne subis. Petrochelidon lunifrons. Chelidon erythrogastra. Clivicola riparia. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Ampelis cedrorum. Lanius ludovicianus excubit- orides. Vireo gilvus. Dendroica zstiva. Icteria virens longicauda. Setophaga ruticilla. Oroscoptes montanus. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. Troglodytes cedon aztecus. Cistothorus palustris paludi- cola. Merula migratoria propinqua. Sialia arctica. B. Species that breed on the plains, but only to the foot- hills of the mountains. Podilymbus podiceps. Sterna forsteri. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. Dafila acuta. Nycticorax nycticorax neevius. Rallus virginianus. Steganopus tricolor. Bartramia longicauda. Numenius longirostris. Colinus virginianus. Pedioceetes phasianellus cam- pestris. Callipepla californica. Meleagris gallopavo. Buteo borealis kriderii. Strix pratincola. Megascops asio. Conurus carolinensis. (formerly) Icterus galbula. Quiscalus quiscula zeneus. Passer domesticus. Calcarius ornatus. Rhynchophanes mccownii. Spizella socialis. 12 BIRDS OF COLORADO. Ammodramus savannarum per- pallidus. Spiza americana. Calamospiza melanocorys. Vireo olivaceus. Dendroica striata. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis, Mimus polyglottos. Harporhynchus rufus. Sitta carolinensis. Merula migratoria. Sialia sialis. C. Species that breed in the mountains or mountain parks and not on the plains. Merganser americanus. Lophodytes cucullatus. Clangula islandica. Histrionicus histrionicus. Branta canadensis. Gallinago delicata. Dendragapus obscurus. Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. Lagopus leucurus. Accipiter atricapillus. Pandion halizetus carolinensis. Nyctala acadica. Megascops flammeola. Glaucidium gnoma. Picoides americanus dorsalis. Aéronautes melanoleucus. Contopus borealis. Empidonax wrightii. Cyanocitta stelleri macrolopha. Perisoreus canadensis capitalis. Nucifraga columbiana. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. Pinicola enucleator. Carpodacus cassini. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Leucosticte australis. Zonotrichia leucophrys. Junco caniceps. Melospiza lincolnii. Passerella iliaca schistacea. Piranga ludoviciana. Helminthophila virginiz. Helminthophila celata. Helminthophila celata lutes- cens. Dendroica auduboni. Dendroica townsendi. Geothlypis macgillivrayi. Sylvania pusilla. Anthus pensilvanicus. Cinclus mexicanus. Troglodytes hiemalis. Certhia familiaris montana. Sitta canadensis. Sitta pygmeea. Parus gambeli. Regulus satrapa. Regulus calendula, Myadestes townsendii. Turdus fuscescens salicicola. Turdus ustulatus swainsonii. Turdus aonalaschke auduboni. Sialia mexicana bairdi. D. Species that breed principally in the mountains, and but sparingly on the plains. Aquila chrysa€tos. Halizetus leucocephalus. Megascops asio maxwellic. Megascops asio aikeni. Sphyrapicus varius nuchalis. Sphyrapicus thyroideus. Melanerpes torquatus. Selasphorus platycercus. BIRDS OF COLORADO. 13 Contopus richardsonii. Aphelocoma woodhousei. Corvus corax sinuatus. Spinus pinus. Ammodramus alaudinus. Tachycineta bicolor. Tachycineta thalassina. sandwichensis Vireo solitarius plumbeus. Salpinctes obsoletus. Catherpes mexicanus consper- sus. Sitta carolinensis aculeata. Parus atricapillus septentrion- alis. E. Species that breed regularly only in southern Colo- vado. Callipepla gambeli. Columba fasciata. Syrnium occidentale. Geococcyx californianus. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. Cypseloides niger borealis. Trochilus alexandri. Selasphorus rufus. Amphispiza bilineata. Amphispiza belli nevadensis. Pipilo aberti. Guiraca cerulea eurhyncha. Compsothlypis americana. Dendroica zstiva sonorana. Dendroica graciz. Dendroica nigrescens. Thryothorus bewickii leuco- gaster. Parus inornatus griseus. Psaltriparus plumbeus. Polioptila czerulea. 6. Species taken in the State during the summer, but not known to breed. Ajaja ajaja. Plegadis guarauna. Ardea candidissima. Philohela minor. Callipepla squamata. Melopelia leucoptera. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Melanerpes carolinus. Phalenoptilus nuttalli nitidus. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Icterus spurius. Junco phzonotus dorsalis. Passerina cyanea. Mniotilta varia. Seiurus aurocapillus. 7. Migrants; species that have been taken in the State during the spring or fall, but are not known to breed or winter in Colorado. A&chmophorus occidentalis. Colymbus holbcellii. Colymbus auritus. Larus occidentalis. Larus californicus. Larus franklinii. Larus philadelphia. Sterna paradiszea. Phalacrocorax dilophus. Anas obscura. 14 BIRDS OF COLORADO. Aythya collaris. Clangula clangula americana. Chen hyperborea nivalis. Anser albifrons gambeli. Olor columbianus. Olor buccinator. Guara rubra. ' Grus americana. Grus canadensis. Gallinula galeata. Phalaropus lobatus. Macrorhampus scolopaceus. Micropalama himantopus. Tringa maculata. Tringa fuscicollis. Tringa bairdii. Tringa minutilla. Tringa alpina pacifica. Ereunetes pusillus. Ereunetes occidentalis. Calidris arenaria. Limosa fedoa. Totanus melanoleucus. Totanus flavipes. Numenius hudsonicus. Squatarola squatarola. Charadrius dominicus. AXgialitis semipalmata. Arenaria interpres. Myiarchus lawrencei olivas- cens. Sayornis phoebe. Empidonax minimus. Carpodacus purpureus. Ammodramus bairdii. Zonotrichia querula. Zonotrichia albicollis. Piranga rubra cooperi. Helminthophila peregrina. Dendroica czerulescens. Dendroica coronata. Dendroica maculosa. Dendroica rara. Seiurus noveboracensis bilis. Sylvania pusilla pileolata. Harporhynchus bendirei. Turdus aonalaschke. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Saxicola cenanthe. nota- 8. Stragglers or doubtful species, including those of which but one instance is known. Z&chmophorus occidentalis. Colymbus holbeellii. Colymbus auritus. Rissa tridactyla. Larus occidentalis. Larus californicus. Larus atricilla. Anas obscura. Chen hyperborea nivalis, Branta bernicla. Ajaja ajaja. Guara alba. Guara rubra. Tantalus loculator. Ardetta exilis. Ardea rufescens. Nycticorax violaceus. Gallinula galeata. Callipepla squamata. Melopelia leucoptera. Elanoides forficatus. Ictinia mississippiensis. Accipiter atricapillus striatu- lus. Buteo lineatus elegans. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Sphyrapicus varius. Milvulus forficatus. Myiarchus lawrencei cens. olivas- BIRDS OF COLORADO. 15 Sayornis phoebe. Icterus spurius. Scolecophagus carolinus. Carpodacus purpureus. Zonotrichia querula. Zonotrichia coronata. Zonotrichia albicollis. Melospiza fasciata. Cardinalis cardinalis. Piranga rubra cooperi. Vireo solitarius cassinii. Dendroica cerulescens. Dendroica rara. Seiurus aurocapillus. Icteria virens. Sylvania pusilla pileolata. Harporhynchus bendirei. Turdus aonalaschke pallasii. Saxicola cenanthe. g. Regular visitants from the east or southeast. Colaptes auratus. Tyrannus tyrannus.* Quiscalus quiscula ceneus. * Spizella socialis.* Spiza americana.* Helminthophila celata.* Compsothlypis americana.* *Breeding. Dendroica coronata. Galeoscoptes carolinensis. * Harporhynchus rufus.* Sitta carolinensis. * Polioptila czerulea.* Merula migratoria. * Sialia sialis.* 1o. Rare or irregular visitants from the east or southeast. Xema sabinii. Anas obscura. Branta bernicla. Ajaja ajaja. Philohela minor. Elanoides forficatus. Ictinia mississippiensis. Coccyzus erythrophthalmus. Sphyrapicus varius. Melanerpes carolinus. Phalenoptilus nuttalli nitidus. Milvulus forficatus. Sayornis pheebe. Dolichonyx oryzivorus. Icterus spurius. Icterus galbula. Scolecophagus carolinus. Carpodacus purpureus. Zonotrichia querula. Zonotrichia albicollis. Melospiza fasciata. Cardinalis cardinalis. Passerina cyanea. Vireo olivaceus. Mniotilta varia. Helminthophila peregrina. Dendroica cerulescens. Dendroica maculosa. Dendroica rara. Dendroica striata. Seiurus aurocapillus. Icteria virens. Saxicola cenanthe. u. Regular visitants from the west or southwest. Anas cyanoptra. Grus canadensis. Columba fasciata. Glaucidium gnoma. Geococcyx californianus. Dryobates scalaris bairdi. 16 BIRDS OF COLORADO. Cypseloides niger borealis. Dendroica gracie. Trochilus alexandri. Dendroica nigrescens. Selasphorus rufus. Dendroica townsendi. Myiarchus cinerascens. Catherpes mexicanus consper- Amphispiza bilineata. sus. : Amphispiza belli nevadensis. Parus inornatus griseus. Pipilo fuscus mesoleucus. Psaltriparus plumbeus. Guiraca ceerulea eurhyncha. Nore. All of these species have been found breeding in Colorado ex- cept Grus canadensis. 12. Rare or irregular visitants from the west or southwest. Plegadis guarauna. Myiarchus lawrencei olivas- Callipepla squamata. cens. ; Callipepla gambeli.* Junco phzeonotus dorsalis. Melopelia leucoptera. Pipilo aberti.* Accipiter atricapillus striatu- Piranga rubra cooperi. lus. Vireo solitarius cassinii. Zonotrichia coronata. Turdus aonalaschkee. *Breeding. SUMMARY. Total species in Colotade snninonasecesss sce s Ss 360 I, Residents 222.22. .25-2 22052 ssteeseseuseesse 87 2. Regular winter visitants from the north-_------- 24 3. Regular breeders that sometimes occur in winter-- 17 4. Rare or accidental winter visitants-------------- 22 & Summer residents. eens 228 A. Breeding on plains and in mountains_____-_ IOI B. Breeding on plains, but not in mountains__ 34 C. Breeding in mountains, but not on plains__ 53 D. Breeding principally in mountains, spar- ingly on plains_.._-_--------------------- 20 E. Breeding regularly only in southern Colo- Pade so Sree ees ee SE ha es ase 20 6. Summer visitants, not known to breed_--------_-- 15 Team IRT Ss & 2.) Ceara etre ne Aree eee earners eee coe 58 8. Dtragglers —-2- nase a ene sans aes ee eats 48 g. Regular visitants from east and southeast-____--- 14 10. Rare visitants from east and southeast-_._..____~ 33 11. Regular visitants from west and southwest______~ 20 12. Rare visitants from west and southwest-_-_------ 12 BIRDS OF COLORADO. 17 DATES OF MIGRATION. The notes on migration given in the following table are designed to show the different time at which the same species of birds arrive at different places and altitudes in Colorado as compared with the time of their arrival in the same latitude farther east and at a lower altitude. St. Louis, Mo., is thirty miles farther north than Fort Lyon, Colo., and one hundred and twenty miles south of Loveland, Colo. Hence, according to latitude, the birds should arrive in St. Louis about the same time as at Fort Lyon. But it is found that in fact they reach St. Louis on the average about twelve days before they appear at Fort Lyon. ‘The dates of arrival seem to indicate an aver- age difference of six days between Fort Lyon and Loveland. The distance between these two places is one hundred and fifty miles, or an average movement for the birds of twenty-five miles per day. This agrees quite closely with the average of twenty-eight miles per day that was found to be the usual speed of migration in the Mississippi valley. The birds arrive at Idaho Springs about twenty-five days later than at Loveland, the result of the nearly three thousand feet more of altitude at the former place. The records that follow for St. Louis, Mo., were taken by Mr. O. Widmann during the spring of 1884, and published on pages 33-37 of ‘‘ Bird Migration in oe te Valley.” The records for Fort Lyon were made by Capt. P. M. Thorne, U. S. A., and those at Loveland by Mr. Wm. G. Smith. | These records were made for the Division of Ornithology and Mam- malogy of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, and the present writer is indebted to the chief of the division, Dr. C. Hart Merriam, ‘for copies of these records. The notes from Idaho Springs are those taken by Mr. T. M. Trippe, and pub- lished by Dr. Coues in ‘‘ Birds of the Northwest.” It is understood, of course, that when dates are given for western varieties that do not occur at St. Louis, it is meant that the western variety was noted in Colorado and its eastern rep- resentative at St. Louis. Thus, merula migratoria propingua was seen at Fort Lyon, while merula migratoria was the bird seen at St. Louis. All the dates given are those on which the first individu- als of the species were seen. 2 18 DATES OF ARRIVAL. BIRDS OF COLORADO. St. Lours,| Fr. Lyon, LOVELAND, IDAHO Mo COLo. COLo. BERING: a ™ eo COoLo., 1884. 1883-1886. 1887-1890. 1873. Dafila acuta Jan. 30 -. | Mch. 14-Apr.1 | Jan. 27-Feb. 10 Aythya americana ___...__.-..._-.. | .--------- Feb. 22-Mch. 1 | Feb. 2-Mch. 6_. Anas carolinensis. Feb. 18 _. | Feb. 20-Mch. 3 | Feb. 21 ____-_ Anas strepera__ Sialia arctica__ Aythya vallisneria Larus delawarensis _ Spatula clypeata Aythya affinis_. Anas americana. Merula migratori: ZEgialitis vocifera Charitonetta albeola Chen hyperborea _ Falco sparverius _ Anas cyanoptera. Anas discors _____ Fulica americana Totanus melanoleucus__ Falco peregrinus anatum. Tringa bairdii _______.__-. Sialia mexicana bairdi Sayornis saya____.___. Oroscoptes montanus.____ Pipilo maculatus megalonyx. Zonotrichia leucophrys_____ Erismatura jamaicensis 4igialitis montana___...._.-...- Speotyto cunicularia hypogzea_ Grus americana__________-__-. Pandion haliaétus carolinensis_ Rallus virginianus._____________-_- Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides_ Zenaidura macroura______.__.----- Xanthocephalus oo nlaeg ina . Recurvirostra americana _ Numenius longirostris__ Anthus pensilvanicus_ Totanus flavipes ___ Podilymbus podicep: Poocetes gramineus confinis_ Cathartes aura_.___--_-__-._-._- Scolecophagus cyanocephalus._ Dendroica auduboni. Tringa minutilla___ Totanus solitarius _ Ammodramus savannarum perpal- jidus Ardea herodias __ Pelecanus erythrorhynchus Chelidon erythrogaster____... Progne subis___.__.___- Petrochelidon lunifrons __________- Jan. 30 __ Mch. 11-_. Jan. 30 _. Mch. gI2. Mch, 27-Apr. 1 Mch, 21-29____- Mch. 25-Apr. 13 Mch. 25-Apr. 13 Mch. 10-25.___. Mch. 26-Apr. 6 Mch. 29 Mch. 1-Apr. 15 Mch. 26 Apr. 29-May 12 Apr. 28-May 7 Apr. 15 miei Apr. Apr. 4 Mch. 27-Apr. 5 Mch. 27-Apr. 18 Mch. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. Apr. --- May Io BIRDS OF COLORADO. DATES OF ARRIVAL— Continued. 19 ST. Louis. Fr. Lyon, LOVELAND, IDAHO SPRINGS, Mo., COLo., COLo., ozo 1884. 1883-1886. 1887-1890. 1873 ‘ Nycticorax nycticorax nzvius_____ Apr. 25._.._--- ZEgialitis meloda circumcincta Apr. 25-May 5 atsee ad: Dendroica coronata_____________.-. Apr. 24-25._... ---Apr. 25 Turdus aonalaschke auduboni Apr. 25-May 7 | ---May 25 Myadestes townsendii.._........-. | ---------- | Apr. 22-23.._-. | Apr. 25_-...--- - Resident Spizella pallida.___..._- Tachycineta thalassina _ Stelgidopteryx serripenni: Limosa fedoa__-_..-.--.--- Tringa alpina pacifica.__ Macrorhampus scolopaceus_ Melospiza fasciata montana Steganopus tricolor _____ Salpinctes obsoletus____ ne Cistothorus palustris paludicola.__ Colymbus nigricollis californicus._ Spizella socialis arizonz_ Phalaropus lobatus.____ Helminthophaga celata Melospiza lincolnii.__.__....._-.-. Symphemia semipalmata inornata Clivicola riparia_____..-----.------. Tachycineta bicolor. Sterna forsteri ____.- Oreospiza chlorura. Larus franklinii ____ Ereuntes pusillus_ Dendroica estiva___ Passerina amcena -_..... care signs Chondestes grammacus strigatus Tyrannus verticalis __ Contopus richardsonii Tyrannus tyrannus_____ Turdus ustulatus swainson: Setophaga ruticilla___ Dendroica nigrescens_ Icterus bullocki_____ Geothlypis trichas o Ereuntes occidentalis________._ Calamospiza melanocorys..__ Troglodytes aédon aztecus__ Piranga ludoviciana __ Harporhynchus rufus. Geothlypis macgillivrayi Vireo solitarius plumbeus _ Galeoscoptes carolinensis Contopus borealis Vireo gilvus.___ Vireo olivaceus Dendroica striata.___ Empidonax minimus. Mimus polyglottos__ Sylvania pusilla... _____ Aéronautes melanoleucus. Botaurus lentiginosus___ Zamelodia melanocephala_ Helminthophaga peregrina. Micropalama himantopus Mch. 22. May 10-15___ Apr. 21-May 10 10 --May 10 20 BIRDS OF COLORADO. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF COLORADO ORNITHOLOGY. The following list of publications, concerning the birds of Colorado, is believed to be practically complete with the follow- ing exceptions: No record has been made of the reviews or notices that have appeared of these publications. Some twenty- three articles have been omitted as being but incidental refer- ences and having no valuable bearing on the subject matter in hand. One important particular should be noted in regard to the following pages. While referring to the book or article by its title as a whole, the explanatory notes have reference to only that part of the work that deals with Colorado birds as such explicitly. All implied references have been neglected. Even such a broad and comprehensive statement as “found in the entire Rocky Mountain region” has not been deemed sufficient to warrant considering it a Colorado reference. No reference whatever is made to all that part of the publications that deals with other matters. The names of the authors are arranged alphabetically and the articles under each author in chronological order. AIKEN, C. E. and Hotpen, C. H. Jr. Notes on the Birds of Wyoming and Colorado Territories. By C. H. Holden, Jr. with additional memoranda by C. E. Aiken. Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. XV. 1872, pp. 193-270. The paper is edited by T. M. Brewer who states that Mr. Holden’s notes are based on birds and eggs found ‘‘in the northern part of Colorado and south- ern part of Wyoming Territories.” As no record is given of the precise localities where each species was obtained, Mr. Holden’s notes cannot be quoted with any certainty as referring to Colorado. The records of Mr. Aiken were taken near Fountain, El Paso County, between November 1, 1871 and May 1872, and formed an important contribu- tion to the knowledge of Colorado birds. The paper treats of 142 species, fully annotated, of which 59 are for the first time accredited to Colorado. AIKEN, C. E. A Glimpse at Colorado andits Birds. Am. Nat. VII. 1873, p. 13. Field notes on 21 species of birds seen in October in El] Paso County. AIKEN, C. E. A New Species of Sparrow. Am. Nat. VIT. 1873, p. 236. Description of Centronyx ochrocephalus since ascertained to be a syno- nym of A. daivdii. Taken in El Paso County, Colorado. BIRDS OF COLORADO. ar AIKEN, C. E. The Nidification of the Blue Crow and of the Gray-headed Snowbird. Am. Sportsman, V. 1875, p. 370. Contains the first published description of the nest and eggs of the Blue Crow ( Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus ) also the first description of the nest and eggs of the Gray-headed Snowbird (/unco caniceps ). AIKEN, C. E. Notes on the Ornithology [of Colorado] observed by Mr. C. E. Aiken, Assistant. Ann. Rept Chief of Engineers, 1875, part II. Appendix LL, p. 1070. A short sketch of the birds observed by him ina trip from Pueblo to Pagosa Springs and return by way of the San Luis Valley. These notes, in a much fuller form, are included in H. W. Henshaw’s report on the Birds of the ‘Geographical Explorations and Surveys west of the one hundredth meridian. ALLEN, J. A. Notes of an Ornithological Reconnoissance of portions of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Au. Mus. Comp. Zool. IIT. 1872, pp. 113-183. A notable paper for the student of the historical side of Colorado Ornith- ology, as it contains the first real ‘‘local list’? ever published of Colorado birds. All that had been written previous to this time on the birds of Colorado treats of less than twenty-five species, while this paper mentions more than three times that number. It is not meant that no ornithologists previous to this time had visited Colorado, but that their observations had not at this time been published. Mr. Allen’s paper contains in addition to notes on birds from other states, a list of birds observed in Colorado, July-August, 1871 (81 species); in South Park, Colorado, July, 1871 (54 species); on Mount Lincoln, Colorado, July, 1871 (36 species). Of these 84 species are for the first time accredited to Colorado. ALLEN, J. A. and BREWSTER, Wo. List of Birds Observed in the Vicinity of Colorado Springs, Colorado, during March, April and May, 1882. &. MN. O.C. VIIT. 1883, pp. 157 and 189. Notes on the arrival, abundance and breeding of 134 species. Also tech- nical notes by Mr. Brewster on the specific characters of 14 species. The first and only records for Colorado of Bendire’s Thrasher and the Florida Gallinule are given here. Mr. Brewster here gives the original description of Helmintho- phila celata lutescens, but without including Colorado in its geographical range, where however it has been taken by subsequent observers. ALLEN, J. A. On the Avi-Fauna of Pinal County, with Re- marks on some Birds of Pima and Gila Counties, Arizona. By W. E. D. Scott, with annotations by J. A. Allen. Az&, V. 1888, p. 7160. States that TJroglodytes aedon aztecus is the form found in Colorado. ALLEN, J. A. The North American Species of the Genus Colaptes considered with Special Reference to the Re- lationships of C. auratus and C. cafer. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IV. No. 1, 1892, artecle If. p. 27. Considers that true auratus, true cafer and also the mixed forms are found in Colorado. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. ‘The Code of Nomen- clature and Check List of North American Birds, adopted by the American Ornithologists’ Union, being the Report 22 BIRDS OF COLORADO. of the Committee of the Union on Classification and No- menclature. New York: American Ornithologists’ Union, 1886. Contains specific Colorado references to 35 species. AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ Union. Check List of North American Birds, prepared by a Committee of the American Ornithologists’ Union. Second and Revised Edition. New York: American Ornithologists’ Union, 1895. Contains specific Colorado references to 53 species. AnrHony, A. W. Winter Plumage of Lewcosticte australs. Auk, IV. 1887, p. 257. Description of the plumage of male, female and young, based on speci~ mens taken at Gold Hill, Colorado. Antuony, A. W. The Scaled Partridge (Callpepla squamata) in Colorado. Auk, XII. 1895, p. 388. A freshly killed bird seen in a taxidermist shop during the winter of 1892-3; said to have been killed on the Platte River near Denver. BairD, S. F., Cassin, J. and Lawrence, G. N. Reports of Explorations and Surveys to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Made under the direction of the Secretary of War in 1853-6, according to Acts of Con- gress of March 3, 1853, May 31, 1854, and August 5, 1854. Vol. IX. Birds: by Spencer F. Baird, Assistant Secretary Smithsonian Institution, with the co-operation of John Cassin and George N. Lawrence. Capt. Gunnison’s party and that of Lieut. Warren brought back skins and records of about twenty species of birds that have nothing but an historical value in this connection. They are included in the above volume with the records of the other surveying parties. BairD, S. F. Pacific Railroad Reports as above, Vol. X. Route near the 38th and 39th parallels explored by Cap- tain J. W. Gunnison, and near the 41st parallel, explored by Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith. Zoological Report No. 2. Report of Birds Collected on the Survey. By S. F. Baird. Contains munch the same notes from: Gunnison’s party that had already been printed in Vol. IX. Unimportant records of 15 species. Bairp, S. F. Geological Survey of California. J. D. Whit- ney, State Geologist. Ornithology, Vol. 1. Land Birds. Edited by S. F. Baird from the manuscript and notes of J. G. Cooper. Published by authority of the legislature, 1870, pp. XI., 591. The only reference to Colorado ornithology is the appearance here under the name of Leucosticte campestris of a specimen of Leucosticte tephrocotis sent from Denver to the Smithsonian, January, 1862, by Dr. C. Wernigk. This is the first record for this species from Colorado. BIRDS OF COLORADO. 23 BairD, S. F., BREWER, T. M. and Ripeway, R. A History of North American Birds. Land Birds, Vol. I.-[III.]. Boston, Little, Brown and Company, 1874. 3 vols. Contains specific Colorado references on 54 species, nothing of which is new material. BATCHELDER, C. F. Description of the First Plumage of Clarke’s Crow. Auk, Vol. 7. 1884, p. 76. Specimens obtained in Chaffee County, Colorado. BATCHELDER, C. F. An Undescribed Subspecies of Dryobates pubescens. Auk, VT. 1880, p. 253. Describes D. p. orewcus (=homorus) with type from Loveland, Colorado. Batty, J. H. The U. S. Geological Survey. Forest and Stream, I. August 28, 1873, p. 35. Brief notes of a trip from Denver to Buffalo Peaks. Mentions seven spe. cies of common birds and in addition says: ‘'I have also taken the nest, eggs and young of the Regulus calendula (ruby-crowned wren), which have never been taken before.”’ Batty, J. H. The White-tailed Ptarmigan—ZLagopus leucu- rus. Forest and Stream, I. January 29, 1874, p. 390. Seen in winter in the foothills of South Park, Colorado. BreckHAM, C. W. The Black-headed Grosbeak (Zame/loaza melanocephala). O. and O. VIII. 1883, p. 63. Notes on the nest and eggs. A male seen incubating near Pueblo, Colo- rado. BreckHamM, C. W. Notes on Some of the Birds of Pueblo, Colorado.