FOR THE PEOPLE FOR EDVCATION FOR SCIENCE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF COLORADO A HISTORY OF THE BIRDS OF COLORADO WILLIAM LUTLEY SCLATER M,A.(Oxoii.), M.B.O.U., Hon. M.A.O.U. (^Lately Director of the Colorado College Museuni) WITH SEVENTEEN PLATES AND A MAP WITHERBY & CO. 326 HIGH HOLBOEN LONDON 1912 PRINTED BY WITHBBBY & CO., AT THEIR PRINTING PRESS IN MIDDLE ROW PLACE, LONDON. TO THE MBMOllY OF GENERAL WILLIAM JACKSON PALMEE, OF GliEN EYRIE, NEAR COLORADO SPRINGS, TO WHOSE MANY KINDNESSES I OWE THE POSSIBILITY OF PREPARING THIS WORK. CONTENTS. PAGE List of Illustrations ..... ix Introduction ...... xi A History of the Birds of Colorado . 1 Bibliography ...... . 533 Gazetteer ...... . 553 Index ....... . 563 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of General William Jackson Palmer Frontispiece PLATE. PAGE 1. Nesting Colony of Great Blue Heron . „ /Young Great Blue Heron . ■ I Young Night-Herons 3. Ptarmigan in September and March . 4. Nesting Site of Western Redtail 5. Adult and Young of Rocky-Mountain Screech Owl 6. Nest of Western Horned Owl 7. Young Red-shafted Flickers 8. Nest of Broad-tailed Humming-bird . 9. Arkansas Kingbird and Nest 10. Horned Lark in the Snow 11. Magpies from the Nest 12. White-headed Jay . . . I . 13. Nest of YeUow-headed Blackbird 14. Nest of House-Finch and Arkansas Goldfinch 15. Black-headed Grosbeak on the Nest . 16. Nest of American Dipper . Contour Map of Colorado 82 }-88 148 174 204 210 240 254 262 280 284 290 304 332 400 476 552 INTRODUCTION. T3ERHAPS some apology is necessary for the appear- ance of a new American Bird-book. Mine must be that the only complete work on Colorado Birds is that of Cooke, which, though brought up-to-date by successive supplements, is now out of print and very difficult to obtain. Moreover, Cooke gives no descriptions or keys, so that it is not of much use to the tyro who wishes to identify the birds which he has observed or obtained. The present volume is founded on the very complete collection of Colorado birds formed during the last thirty -five years by Mr. Charles E. Aiken, of Colorado Springs. Tliis collection was recently acquired by General William J. Palmer, and presented by him to the Museum of Colorado College. As was well known to all General Palmer's intimate friends, he was a great lover of Nature, and specially of the wild birds of his adopted State, and it was in accordance with his often expressed desire that I undertook the preparation of this work, and made use of the Aiken collection for the purpose. Before arrangements could be made for its publication his death occurred. The complete volume has, therefore, been dedicated to him ; and, as a personal memorial, the necessary expenses involved in publication have been defrayed by his sister- in-law, Mrs. WiUiam Lutley Sclater and his brother-in-law, Mr. Chase Mellen, of New York. A 2 xii Birds of Colorado Physical Features of Colorado. The State of Colorado lies near the centre of the United States, about two-thirds of the distance from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. It is quadrilateral in shape, measur- ing about 276 miles from north to south, and about 375 from east to west. It has an area of about 103,900 square miles. In general terms, the eastern third of the State consists of open, bare, dry plains, where the country is flat or rolling, and where there is hardly any timber except along the river bottoms. The elevation of these plains (the prairies) rises from about 3,500 feet at the Kansas border to 6,000 feet at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. West of the 105th meridian, and rising with extra- ordinary abruptness from the plains to the east, the Rocky Mountains occupy roughly the middle third of the State. In a very general way the system forms two parallel ranges running north and south, joined by subsidiary east and west connections ; between these are the great mountain parks, open wide valleys rather bare of trees, and situated at elevations of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. The chief of these are North and South Parks, drained by the North and South Platte rivers, which meet out in the plains of Nebraska and join the Missouri near Omaha ; Middle Park, drained by the Grand River, the principal affluent of the Colorado River of the west, draining into the Gulf of CaHfomia ; and the San Luis VaUey, draining into the Rio Grande on the south. The western third of the State consists, to a large extent, of a series of descending plateaus through which the rivers, all tributaries of the Colorado, have cut canons Introduction xiii of varying depth, while there are several ranges, such as the Elk and the Gunnison mountains, rising above the plateaus. Colorado has the highest average elevation of all the States of the Union — 6,800 feet — while there are a number of peaks of between 14,000 and 14,500 feet. Colorado lies within the arid region ; the rainfall east of the mountains seldom amounts to 20 inches, and is often less ; in the mountains it often exceeds 30. The bulk of the rainfall is in the summer months, and the winter is generally dry. Analysis of the Bikd Fauna. The number of Colorado birds included in the present work is 392. Of these 225 may be considered regular breeders within the State. I have divided these into three catagories, viz. : (a) Those resident throughout the year, 67 in number ; (b) The strict migrants which, so far as we know, never winter within the limits of the State, 118 in number ; (c) Those birds which breed within the State and in winter are undoubtedly less numerous, so that they may be considered partly migrant and partly resident, 40 in number. The non-breeding birds number 167. Of these the largest category by far are the Casual or rare species, which have only been recorded on very few occasions ; these number 106. The other two groups, which are not always easy to separate satisfactorily, are the winter residents, numbering 28, and the birds which pass through the State on the Spring and Fall migration ; these are 33 in number. The following lists show the birds in these various categories. (a) Resident through the year — 67, or about 17 per cent. : — xiv Birds of Colorado Histrionicus Mstrionicus, Colinus virginianus, Calli- pepla squamata, Lophortyx calif orniciis (introduced), Dendragapus obscurus, Bonasa u. umbelloides, Lagopus leucurus, Tympanuchus americanus, Pedioccetes p. cam- pestris, Centrocercus urophasianus, Meleagris g. merriami, Archibuteo ferrugineus, Aquila chrysaetos, Haliceetus leucocephalus, Aluco pratincola ?, Asio wilsonianiis, Cryptoglaux acadicus, Otus a. maxwelUce, Oius a. aikeni Otus flammeola, Bubo v. pallescens, Speotyto c. hypogcea, Glaucidium gnoma, Geococcyx calif or nianus, Dry abates V. monticola, Dryobates p. homorus, Dryobates s. bairdi, Picoides a. dorsalis, Colaptes c. collaris, Otocoris a. leucoloema, Pica p. hudsonia, Cyanocitta cristata, Cyano- citta s. diademata, Aphelocoma woodhousei, Grades c. capitalis, Corvus c. sin/uatus, Corvus cryptoleucus, Corvus b. hesperis, Nucifraga Columbiana, Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, Hesperiphona v. moniana, Pinicola e. montana, Carpodacus cassini, Carpodacus m. frontalis, Loxia c. minor, L. c. strichlandi ?, Leucosticte australis, Spinus pinus, Passer domesticus (introduced), J unco aikeni ?, Junco caniceps, Pipilo f. mesoleucus , Bomby- cilla cedrorum, Cinclus m. unicolor, Catherpes m. conspersus, Thryomanes b. bairdi, Telmatodytes p. plesius, Certhia f. montana, Sitta c. nelsoni, Siita canadensis, Sitta pygmcea, Bceolophus griseus, Pen- thestes a. septentrionalis, Penthestes gambeli, Psaltriparu^ plumbeus, Begulus s. olivaceus, Myiadestes townsendi. (b) Summer residents migrating south in winter — 118, or about 30 per cent. : — Colymbus n. californicus, Podilymbus podiceps, Larus delawarensis , Sterna forsteri, Hydrochelidon n. surinam- ensis, Querquedula discors, Q. cyanoptera. Spatula clypeata, Aix sponsa, Erismatura jamaicensis, Plegadis guaraurui, Ixobrychus exilis, Ardea herodias, Egretta Introduction xv candidissima ?, Grus americana, Porzana Carolina, Steganopus tricolor, Recurvirosira americana, Himantopus mexicanus, Philohela minor, Cataptrophorus s. inornatus, Bartramia longicauda, Actitis macularia, Numenius americanus, Oxyechus vocijerus, Podasocys montana, Columba fasciata, Cathartes a. septentrionalis, Pandion h. carolinensis, Coccyzus americanus, Coccyzus a. occi- dentalis, Sphyrapicus v. nuchalis, Sphyrapicus tJiyroideus, Melanerpes erythrocephalus, Phalcenoptilus nuttalli, Chordeiles v. henryi, Cypseloides n. borealis, Aeronautes melanoleucus , Architrochilus alexandri, Selasphorus platycercus, Selasphorus rufus, Tyrannus tyrannus, Tyrannus verticalis, Tyrannus cassini, Myiarchus cinerascens, Sayornis saya, Nuttallornis borealis, Myiochanes richardsoni, Empidonax difficilis, E. trailli, E. hammondi, E. wrighti, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, Moloihrus ater, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Icterus spurius, I. galbula, I. bullocki, Quiscalus q. ceneus, Astragalinus psaltria, A. p.. arizonoe, Pocecetes g. confinis, Passeri- culus s. alaudinus, Coturniculus s. bimaculatus, Chondestes g. strigatus, Zonotrichia leucophrys, Spizella p. arizonce, S. pallida ?, S. breweri, Amphispiza b. deserticola, A. nevadensis ?, Peuccea cassini ?, Melospiza lincolni, Pipilo montanus, Oreospiza chlorura, Zamelodia ludo- viciana, Z. melanocephala, Guiraca c. lazula, Passerina amcena, Spiza americana, Calamospiza melanocorys, Pyranga ludoviciana, Progne subis, Petrochelidon lunifrons, Hirundo erythrogastra, Iridoprocne bicolor, TacTiycineta t. lepida, Riparia riparia, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Vireosylva olivacea, Vireosylva g. swainsoni, Lanivireo s. plumbeus, Vireo belli, Vermivora virgineoe, Vermivora celata ?, Dendroica cestiva, D. auduboni, D. gracice, D. nigrescens ?, Oporornis tolmiei, Geothlypis t. occi- denialis, Icteria v. longicauda, Wilsonia p. pileolata, xvi Birds of Colorado SetopJiaga ruticilla, Anthus rubescens, Oreoscoptes montanus, Mimus p. leucopterus, Dumetella carolinensis, Toxostoma rufum., T. benderei, Troglodytes cb. parkmani, Regulus calendula Polioptila c. ohscura, Hylocichla f. salicicola, H. u. swainsoni ?, H. g. auduhoni, Sialia sialis, Sialia m. hairdi. (c) Birds which breed within the State and occasionally wdnter, though usually going further south — 40, or about 10 per cent. : — Mergus americanus, Anas platyrhynchos, Chaulelasmus streperus, Mareca americana, Nettion carolinensis, Dafila acuta, Marila americana, M. vallisneria, Clangula islandica, Branta canadensis, Botaurus lentiginosus, Nycticorax n. ncevius, Eallvs virginianus, Fulica ameri- cana, Gallinago delicata, Zenaidura carolinensis, Circus hudsonius, Accipiter velox, A. cooperi, Buteo h. calurus, B. b. krideri, B. swainsoni, Falco mexicanus, F. p. anxitum, F. columbarius, F. c. richardsoni, F. sparverius, F. s. phalcena, Ceryle alcyon, Asyndesm-us lewisi, Sturnella. neglecta, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Astragalinus tristis, A. t. pallidus, Calcarius ornatus, Melospiza m, montana, Lanius I. excubitorides, Salpinctes dbsoletus, Planesticus m. propinquus, Sialia currucoides. (d) Birds not known to breed witliin the State, but found more or less commonly in winter — 28, or about 7 per cent. : — Gavia arctica, Mergus serrator, Lophodytes curAillatus, Marila afjinis, Clangula c. americana, Chareonettn albeola, Harelda hyemalis, Astur atricapillus ?, Archibuteo L sancti-johannis, Asio flammea, Nyctea nyctea, Agelaius p. fortis, Euphagus carolinus, Leucosticte tephrocotis, L. t. liitoralis, L. atrata, Acanthis linaria, Plectrophanes nivalis, Calcarius I. alascensis, Rhyncophanes mccowni, Zonotrichia I. gambeli, Spizella m. ochracea, Junco Introduction xvii hyemalis, Junco o. shufeldti, J. mearnsi, Pipilo m. arcticus, Bomhycilla garrula, JMnius borealis. (e) Birds not known to breed in the State, but more or less regular transients through in spring and autumn — 33, or about 8 per cent. : — JEchmophorus occidentalis, Gavia immer, Larus argPMtatus, L. Philadelphia, Xema sahini, Pelecanus erythrorhynchus, Marila mania, Oidemia deglandi, Chen hypoboreus, Olor columbianus, Grus canadensis, Lohipes, lobatus, Macrorhamphiis g. scolopaceus, Micropalama himantopus, Pisobia. maculata, P. fuscicollis, P. bairdi, P. minutilla, Ereyieiites pusillus, Calidris leucophcea, Limosa fedoa, Totanus melanoleucAis, T. flavipes, Numenius hudsonicus, Squatarola squaiarola, Charndrius dominicus, Empidonax minimus, Centronyx bairdi, Vermivora peregrina, Dendroica coronata ?, D. town- sendi {?), Seiurus n. notabilis, Hylocichla guttata. (f) Birds not known to breed in the State which have only been taken on from one to half-a-dozen occasions — casuals and wanderers — 106, or about 27 per cent. : — Colymbus holboelli, C. auritus, Gavia adamsi, Ster- corarius parasiticus, Rissa tridactyla, Larus occidentalis, L. californicus, L. atricilla, L. franklini, Sterna paradis a, S. hirundo, Phalacrocorax auritus, P. v. mexicanus, Pelecanus occidentalis, Anas fulvigula macidosa, Marila collaris, Somateria dresseri, Oidemia americana, 0. perspicillata, Chen h. nivalis, Chen rossi, Anser m. gambeli, Branta c. hutchinsi, Branta c. minima, Branta b. glaujcogastra, Olor buccinator, Ajaja ajaja, Guara alba, G. rubra, Plegadis autumnalis, Mycteria americana, Herodias egretta, Dichromanassa rufescens, Butorides rufescens, Nyctinassa violacea, Grus americana, Creciscus jamaicensis, Gallinula galeata, Pelidna a. sahhalina, Ereunetes mauri, JEgialitis semipalmata, xviii Birds of Colorado Arenaria i. morinella, Lophortyx gambeli, Pedioccetes p. columhianus, Melopelia asiatica, Elanoides forficatus, Ictinia mississippiensis, Astur a. striatulus, Buteo b. harlani, Strix varia (breeding ?), 8. occidentalis, Crypto- glaux f. richardsoni, Conuropsis carolinensis (extinct), Coccyzus eryihropthalmus, Dryohates villosus, Phlceotomvs p. abieticola, Centurus carolinus, Colaptes a. luteus Antrostomus vociferans, Phalcenoptilus n. nitidus, Chordeiles a. texensis, Stellula calliope, Myiarchus I. oUvascens, Sayornis phcebe, Myiochanes virens, Empidonax t. alnorum, E. griseus, Otocoris a. euthymia, Agelaius tricolor, Carpodacus purpureus, Loxia leucoptera, Acanthis I. rostrata, Astragalinus p. mexicanus, Ammo- dramus lecontei, Zonotrichia querula, Z. coronata, Z. albicollis, Spizella pusilla arenacea, Junco dorsalis, Aimo- philav. scottii, Melospiza melodia, M. georgiana, Passerella i. schisfacea, Pipilo aberti, Cardinalis cardinalis, Passerina cyanea, Pyranga erythromelas, Pyranga r. cooperi, Lanivireo s. cassini, Vireo vicinior, Mniotilta varia, Protonotaria citrea, Vermivora chrysoptera, Compso- thlypis a. usnece, Dendroica ccerulescens, D. magnolia, D. cerulea, D. striata, D. virens, D. palmarum, Seiurus aurocapillus, Oporornis agilis, Wilsonia pusilla, W. canadensis, Nannus hiemalis, Cistothorus stellaris, Hylociclila mustelina, Saxicola cenanthe. The vertical distribution of the Colorado birds has occupied the attention of many observers ; Mr. F. M. Drew published in the Auk in 18S5 a complete list of Colorado birds, as then known, with their vertical dis- tribution both in the breeding season and at other times. I have confined myself to an analysis of the vertical distribution during the breeding season, as the data for more detailed study are still very imperfect. In addition to this, storms and accidents of various kinds may often Introduction xix drive birds doAvn below or up above their normal vertical habitat, so that it appears to me to be rash to base any generalisations except on the position of birds during the breeding season, when they are more or less necessarily confined to the neighbourhood of the nesting site. In the following analysis the birds, 225 in number, have been divided into those breeding at three different levels : — (1) The plains, up to, but not including, the foothills. This corresponds more or less to the Upper Sonoran zone. (2) The foothills and mountain parks from about 6,000 to 8,000 feet, corresponding to the Transition zone of Pifions and Cedars. (3) The mountains from about 8,000 feet to timber-Hne at 11,500 feet, corresponding to the Hudsonian and Canadian zones. There are only three birds which breed regularly above timber-line. These are Leucosticte aus- tralis, Anihus rvbescens and Lagopus leucurus. (a) Birds breeding on the plains and up to about 6,000 feet — 35 in number, or about 15 per cent. : — Podilymbus podiceps, Sterna forsteri, Hydrochelidon n. surinamensis, Dafila aciifa, Marila americana, M^ vallisneria, Ixobrychus exilis, PMlohela minor, Bartramia longicauda, Colinus virginianus {Lophortyx calif or nianus), Tympanuchus americanus, Buteo b. krideri ?, Aluco pratincola ?, Dryobates bairdi, Cyanocitta cristata, Corvus cryptoleucus, Icterus spurius, I. galbula, Quiscalus q. ceneus, Coturniculus s. bimaculatus, Spizella pallida,. Amphispiza b. deserticola, Peucoea cassini, Zamelodia ludoviciana, Guiraca a. lazula, Spiza americana, Riparia riparia ?, Stelgidopteryx serripennis, Vireo oUvacea, Vireo belli, Icteria v. longicauda, Toxostoma bendirei, Thryo- manes b. bairdi, Sialia sialis. XX Birds of Colorado (b) Birds breeding on the plains, and in the foothills and parks as well, up to about 8,000 feet — 80 in number, or about 36 per cent. : — Colymhus n. californicus, Larus delawarensis, Anas platyrynchos, Chaulelasmus streperus, Mareca americana, Nettion carolinensis, Querquedula discors, Q. cyanoptera, Spatula clypeata, Aix sponsa ?, Erismatura jamaicensis, Branta canadensis, Plegadis guarauna, Botaurus lenti- ginosus, Ardea herodias, Egretta candidissima, Nycticorax n. ncevius, Rallus virginianus, Porzana Carolina, Steganopiis tricolor, Recurvirostra americana, Himaniopus americanus, Helodromas s. cinnamomeus, Podasocys montana, Numenius americanus, Bonasa u. umbelloides ?, Pedioccetes p. campestris, Centrocercus urophasianus, Meleagris g. merriami, Circus hudsonius, Accipiter velox, A. cooperi, Falco p. anatum ?, F. columbarius, Asio flammea ?, Otus a. maxwelUoe, 0. a. aikeni, Speotyto c. hypogma, Coccyzus americanus, C. a. occidentalis, Melanerpes erythrocephalus , Phalmnoptilus nuttalU, Tyrannus tyrannus, T. verticalis, T. cassini, Myiarchus cinerascens, Sayornis saya, Empidonax trailli, Corvus b. hesperis, DolicJionyx oryzivorus, Molothrus ater, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, Agelaius phceniceus, Sternella neglecta, Icterus hullocki, Astra galinus tristis, A. t. pallidus, A. psaltria, A. p. arizonce, Pooecetes g. strigatus, Spizella hreweri, Amphispiza nevadensis ?, Melospiza m. montana, Pipilo montanus, P. f. mesoleucus ?, Zamelodia. melanocephala, Passerina amcena, Calamospiza melanocorys, Progne sid)is, Petrochelidon lunifrons, Bomby cilia cedrorum ?, Lanius excubitoroides, Oroscoptes montanus, Mimus p. leucopterus, Dumetella carolinensis, Toxostoma rufum, Catherpes m. conspersus, Telm^L- todytes p. plesius, PoUoptila c. obscura, Hylocichla f. salicicola. Introduction xxi (c) The following birds appear to breed throughout the plains and up into the mountains from 3,000 to 11,500 feet and upwards. They are 33 in number, or about 14 per cent. : — Fulica americana, Cataptrophorus s. inornatus, Actitis macularia, Oxyechus vociferus, Callipepla squamata, Zenaidura carolinensis, Cathartes a. septentrionalis, Buteo b. calurus, Buteo swainsoni, Archibuteo ferru- gineus, Haliceetus leucocephalus, Falco mexicanus ?, Falco sparverius, F. s. phalcena, Asio wilsonianus, Bubo v. pallescens, Ceryle alcyon, Colaptes c. collaris, Chordeiles V. henryi, Selasphorus platycercus, Myiochanes richardsoni, Otocoris a. leucolcema, Pica p. hudsonia, Euphagus cyanocephalus, Spinus pinus, Passer domesticus, Hirundo erythrogastra, Iridoprocne bicolor, Dendroica cestiva, Salpinctes obsoletus. Troglodytes ce. parkmani, Planesticus m. propinquus, Sialia currucoides. (d) The following 14 birds are practically confined to the foothills and " parks " region, between 6,000 and 8,000 feet, during the breeding season. They represent about 6 per cent, of the total number of breeding birds : — Pandion h. carolinensis ?, Geococcyx californianus, Architrochilus alexandri, Aphelocoma woodhousei, Car- podacus m. frontalis, Loxia c. minor, Junco aikeni ?, Vermivora virginioe, V. celata ?, Geothlypis t. occidentalis, Setophaga ruticilla, Boeolophus i. griseus, Psaltriparus plumbeus, Sialia m. bairdi. (e) List of birds breeding through the mountains, between 6,000 and 11,500 feet, but not in the plains — 24 in number, about 10 per cent. : — Grus mexicana, Columba fasciata, Aquila chrysaetos, Otus flammeola, Glaucidium gnoma, Dryobates v. monti- cola, D. p. homorus, Asyndesmus lewisi, Selasphorus xxii Birds of Colorado rufus, Corvus c. sinuatus, Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus, Passericulus s. alavdinus, Spizella p. arizonce, Piranga ludoviciana, Vireo g. swainsoni, Lanivireo s. plumheus, Dendroica aiiduboni, D. nigrescens ?, Oporornis tolmiei, Wilsonia p. pileolata, Cinclus m. unicolor, Sitta c. nelsoni, Penthestes a. septentrionalis, Myadestes town- ^endi. (f) Birds chiefly confined during tlie breeding season to the mountains, between 8,000 and 11,500 feet — 39 in number, or 17 per cent. : — Mergus americanus ?, Clangula islandica, Histrionicus histrionicus, Gallinago delicata, Dendragapus obscurus, Lagopus leucurus (up to 13,500 feet), Falco c. richardsoni, Cryptoglaux acadicus, Picoides a. dorsalis, Sphyrapicus V. nuchalis, 8. thyroideus, Cypseloides borealis, Aero- Tiautes melanoleucus, Nuttallornis borealis, Empidonax difficilis, E. hammondi, E. wrighti, Cyanocitta s. diademata, Cractes c. capiialis, Nucifraga Columbiana, Hesperiphona v. montana, Pinicola e. montana, Car- podacus cassini, Leucosticte australis, Zonotrichia leucophys, Junco caniceps, Melospiza lincolni, Oreospiza chlorura, Tachycineta i. lepida, Dendroica gracioe, Anthus rubescens (to 13,000 feet), Certhia f. montana, Sitta canadensis, S. pygmcea, Penthestes gambeli, Regulus s. olivaceus, R. calendula, Hylocichla u. sivainsoni, H. g. auduboni. Acknowledgments. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Charles E. Aiken of Colorado Springs, for constant help and advice during the prepara- tion of this work. As has already been stated, the descrip- tions are all based on the large collection of Colorado birds made by him, and now the property of Colorado College ; but apart from this, I have been able through his kindness Introduction xxiii to embody much information derived both from his notes and from w hat he has told me from his own experiences. Mr. Edward R. Warren has also helped me in many cases with specimens and information, and has kindly allowed me to make use of several MSS. lists of birds drawn up by him, especially those made in various places in Gunnison county. To Judge Junius Henderson and to the authorities of the State University of Colorado, I am indebted for the use of the invaluable notes kept during many years of collecting by the late Mr. Dennis Gale, of Gold Hill, Boulder co. All the information we have in regard to the breeding of a large number of species of Colorado birds is to be found in these note-books, which have been most carefully arranged, indexed and typewritten by Mr. Henderson, and which are now the property of the State University. Messrs. R. B. Rockwell, L. J. Hersey, F. M. Dille and H. G. Smith, all of Denver ; Mr. C. S. Thompson, of Glen- wood Springs ; and Messrs. W. VV. Cooke, H. C. Oberholser and C. W. Richmond, of Washington, have all helped me in various ways with information or advice, and to all these gentlemen my heartiest thanks are hereby tendered. For the photographs illustrating principally the nests and eggs of Colorado birds I have to thank again Messrs. E. R. Warren, R. B. Rockwell and L. J. Hersey, as well as Mr. H. W. Nash, of Pueblo. In each case an acknow- ledgment of the source of the photograph reproduced is given. xxiv Birds of Colorado Explanations. The nomenclature and classification used are almost without exception that of the recently pubhshed third edition of the A.O.U. Checkhst. It was not, therefore, thought necessary to give original references to descrip- tions of species and genera. Measurements are all stated in inches and decimals of an inch. A hst of the local references to Colorado ornithological writings is given with every species, under the author's name and date of his publication. For the complete reference the Biblio- graphy on pages 533 — 51 should be consulted. A History of The Birds of Colorado KEY OF THE ORDERS. This Key is adapted from that in Ridg way's " Manual of North American Birds," and must be used with caution as it is impossible to construct a perfect key to the orders of birds on external characters alone ; in cases of doubt, reference should always be made to the diagnoses of the orders themselves. A. Hind and front toes connected by a web. Steganopodes, p. 26. B. Hind toe, if present, never so connected. a. Cutting-edges of the bill rnore or less fringed or dentate ; toes completely webbed. Anseres, p. 30. b. Cutting-edges of the bill not fringed or dentate. a^ Legs inserted far behind the middle of the body, so that when standing the position is more or less erect ; toes webbed or lobed. Pygopodes, p. 3. b^ Legs inserted near the middle of the body, so that when standing the position is more or less horizontal. a^ Anterior toes very fully webbed and tarsus shorter than tail. Longipennes, p. 12. b" Anterior toes not, or not fully, webbed, a^ Lower portion of the thighs naked. a* Hind toe long and inserted nearly at a level with the others ; claws never excessively lengthened ; loreal or orbital regions, or both, naked. Heriodiones, p. 73. B Birds of Colorado b* Hind toe, when present, generally inserted above the level of the others ; loreal and orbital regions fully feathered. a* If wing is over fifteen inches, hind toe elevated above the others, if under ten inches, hind toe on a level with the others. Paludicolss p. 89. b* ^Ving never over fifteen inches ; hind toe when present short and elevated. Limicolae, p. 99. ' Lower thighs feathered. a* A soft fleshy cere at the base of the upper mandible, a^ Bill strongly hooked and pointed, a® Three toes in front, one behind. a' Feathers of the face forming a facial di^k ; eyes large and forwardly directed. Striges, p. 194. b' Feathers of the face not forming a facial disk ; eyes moderate and laterally directed. Accipitres, p. 161. b® Two toes in front, two behind ; cere sometimes feathered. Psittaci, p. 215. b^ Bill more or less straight, not strongly hooked. Columbse, p. 156. b* Xo cere at base of upper mandible. a* Hind toe small and elevated. Gallinas, p. 137. b^ Hind toe well developed and on a level with the others. a^ Wing long of ten primaries ; tail of ten rectrices ; bill very short with a very wide gape, or very long and slender, far exceeding the head. Machrochires, p. 241. b® Wing not very long ; tail usually of twelve rectrices ; gape and bill moderate and normal, a' Toes two in front and two behind ; tail- feathers stLS and pointed; Pici, p. 222. b' Toes two in front and two behind, or three in front and one behind, if the latter, the middle and outer ones connected for half their length ; tail-feathers not stiff and pointed. Coccyges, p. 216. c' Toes three in front and one behind ; middle and outer toes not united. Passeres, p. 257. Pygopodes — Golymbidse 3 ORDER PYGOPODES. This order contains diving birds, and includes the Grebes, Loons and Auks. The chief feature which they have in common is the completely posterior position of the legs, so that when resting on the ground the axis of the body is more or less vertical and the whole of the tarsus is often applied to the ground, while the tail lends additional support. Other external features are — nostrils never tubular or aborted ; wings short and rounded, never reaching the end of the tail, which is always short and sometimes absent ; tarsus compressed ; toes either webbed or lobate. IVEY OF THE FAMILIES AND GeNERA. A. No obvious tail-feathers (Colymbidce). a. Bill more or less slender and acute. a^ Bill longer than the head ; tarsus, cukaen and niiddle toe about equal. ^chmophonis, p. 4. b^ Bill equal to or shorter than the head ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw. Colymbus, p. 5. b. Bill short, deep and strongly compressed, crossed by a black band. Podilymbus, p. 8. B. A tail of 18 to 20 short, stiS feathers {Gaviidce). Gavia, p. 10. Family COLYMBIDCE. Bill rather variable ; wing with twelve primaries, outer ones rather narrow and falcate ; tail practically absent, no obvious rectrices ; tarsus extremely compressed, toes flattened and expanded into continuous lobes con- nected with each other at the base by an interdigital web ; hind toe slightly elevated, lobe free from the other toes ; claws flat and nail-like ; head usually with crests or ruSs in the breeding season ; plumage thick and compact. b2 Birds of Colorado Genus ^CHMOPHORUS. Bill long, slender and pointed, clearly exceeding the head ; cuknen straight ; neck long ; tarsus, culmen and middle toe with claw all approximately equal, no very conspicuous crest or rufi. One species only in western United States. Western Grebe, ^chmophorus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checkhst no I — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 146 ; KeUogg 90, p. 90 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155, 191 ; Felger 09, p. 86. Description. — Adult — Top of the head, which is slightly crested, and a line down the back of the neck black, becoming dusky brown on the back, with concealed white bases to the primaries and some white on the secondaries ; below from the bill, pxire white, with a satiny gloss ; iris orange-red to pink with a white ring, biU olivaceous, feet dusky, yellowish about the toes and inside of tarsus. Length 26 ; wing 8-25 ; tail 2-0 ; tarsus 2-9 ; bill 2-8. The female is smaller — wing 7 '5. In winter the head and neck are dusky brown hke the back. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba and Saskatchewan south to central ^Mexico, wintering in the southern part of the range. In Colorado the Western Grebe is of rare occurrence during the fall migration. It was first reported by Breninger from near Fort Collins (Morrison) and subsequently from Estes Park by Pierce (Kellogg), but the first undoubted record is that of H. G. Smith who saw three examples in a Denver taxidermist's shop, which had been shot in October, 1888, on lakes in the immediate neighbourhood. Two were subsequently obtained on Sheldon's Lake near Fort Collins on October 29th, 1898, and one of these individuals is now mounted in the Museum at that place. Felger recently reports another example taken November 9th, 1902, at Citizen's Lake, a few miles south-west of Denver ; th© skin is preserved in his collection. Habits. — The Western Grebe haunts rush-covered lakes where it rides the water lightly and easily. It is an expert diver, either sinking quietly out of sight or rising up and taking a header. Though difficult to flush from the water, it flies well and strongly. The nest is a raft- like structure of taU stems, grass and water-plants, Western Grebe 5 sometimes floating, sometimes built up from the shallow bottom ; the eggs, four to five, are dull bluish-white and measure 231 x 1*52. Genus COLYMBUS. Bill moderate, rather stout, hardly compresfsed, about equal to or less than the head, culm en usually slightly decurved at tip ; middle toe and claw exceeding the culmen and the tarsus ; neck moderately long ; head with a crest, or ruff or both. A large cosmopolitan genus with four species in the United States. KJEY OF THE Species. a. Larger, with a longer bill, culmen over 2*0 ; tliroat white, part of neck rufous. C. holbcElli, p. 5. b. Smaller with shorter bill, culmen under 1-5. a^ Throat and neck black or dusky. C. n. califomicus, p. C. b^ Throat dusky ; neck rufous. C. auritus, p. 6. c^ Throat and neck dirty white. C. auritus, heims et juv, p. 6. HolboeH's Grebe. Colymhus holhoelli. A.O.U. CheckUst no 2 — Colorado Records — Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 146 ; Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155. Description. — Adult — Crown (which bears a very short crest and inconspicuous ruffs) and nape greenish-black, a Une dovrn the neck and upper-parts black, with brown on the wings ; sides of the head and tliroat silvery ash ; neck, except along the dorsal line, rufous ; lower-parts silvery white, somewhat dappled ; iris carmine, bill black, yellowish on the lower mandible. Length 19"0; wing 7'60 ; culmen 2-10; tarsus 2-50. Young birds, and adults in winter, have the rufous of the neck replaced by ashy-brown or grey, the sides of the head and throat pm-e white, and the bill chiefly yellow. Distribution — Breeding from eastern Asia and Greenland, south to the northern row of states from Washington to Minnesota ; in winter south to South Carolina and Monterey Bay in California. The status of this bird in Colorado is rather indefinite. It is noted by Drew and Morrison as occurring in the south-western part of the State, but without any definite statement. On the other hand it has been obtained by Bond on lakes near Cheyenne in autumn. This is actually in Wyoming but only a few miles from the State border. It will probably be found to be a rare fall-migrant in the north-eastern part of the State. 6 Birds of Colorado Homed Grebe. Colymhus auritus. A.O.U. Checklist no 3 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 49, 155 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 101. Description — Adult — Crown, sides of the face and chin, together with ruff, glossy black ; a yellowish stripe deepening to chestnut at the end, runs from the base of the bill through the ej^e and ends in a crest at the side of the nape ; rest of the upper-surface, including the back of the neck, dusky black ; the secondaries white ; neck and sides rich rufous ; rest of under-parts siUcy white ; iris carmine with a v/hite ring, bill dusky, tipped with yellow, feet dusky and yellow. Length 15-0; wing 5*5; culmen "90; tarsus 1*65. Adults in winter, and young birds, have very slight indications of the crests and ruff ; the crown, back of the neck and back are dusky black ; the lower-parts white, tinged with grey on the neck and pale dusky on the sides. Distribution. — Throughout the northern hemisphere. In America, breeding chiefly north of the United States boundary, from Alaska to New Brunswick ; south in winter throughout the greater part of the States. This is another Grebe whose status as a Colorado bii'd is rather doubtfuL Captain Thorne states that according to his journal he killed a specimen near Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, October 8th, 1887, but he does not appear to have preserved it. ]Mr. E. L. Berthoud informed Cooke that he had seen two Horned Grebes which had been killed on some lakes north-east of Golden ; and Hersey (09) saw two near Barr May 5th, 1906. It will probably be found to be a rare autumn migrant, Uke the two previous species. American Eared Grebe. Colymhus nigricollis calif ornicus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 4 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 74, p. 243 ; 75, p. 489 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Goss 84, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p.l46 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 138 ; 90, p. 141 ; Osburn 90, p. 68; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 49, 191 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 08, p. 20; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 156 ; 10, p. 188 ; Henderson 09, p. 224. Description. — Adult — Crown, which is crested, neck all round, back, chin and throat, black ; auricular tufts golden to tawny, well developed and conspicuous ; primaries brown ; secondaries mostly white ; below from the breast silky white, the sides tawny-rufous and a little mottled with black ; iris carmine, bill black, feet dark ohvaceous to blackish. Length 12; wing 5*0; culmen 1"0; tarsus 1-70. American Eared Grebe 7 The adults in winter lack the crest and auricular tufts ; the chin, throat and sides of the nape are white and the flanks slaty, without rufous. Young birds are very similar, but the upper-parts are rather lighter and duller. Distribution. — Western North America, from Great Slave Lake south to Guatemala, and from the Mississippi Valley to the Pacific. A conunon summer-resident in Colorado, where suitable conditions exist, arriving from the south at the end of April or beginning of May, and breeding from the plains to about 8,000 feet, chiefly in alkali lakes. The following are breeding records : Loveland (W. G. Smith), Barr, May to early July (Rockwell), Grand Lake 8,300 feet (Warren), iliddle Park (Carter apiid Cooke), Twin Lakes ? 9,300 feet (Scott), San Luis Lakes 7,500 feet (Henshaw), Plateau Valley, Mesa Co., 6,500 feet (Rockwell). It passes through the mountains on migration, and has been seen as high as 9,000 feet near. Crested Butte in spring, by Warren, and at Breckenridge by Carter. It is also met with along the foothills — El Paso CO. (Aiken coU.), and Denver (Henshaw), on the plains as far east as Limon (Aiken), and on the western slope near Coventry on migration (Warren 09). Habits. — All Grebes resemble one another to a great extent in their habits ; they are found almost exclu- sively on shallow lakes and ponds, the margins of which are thickly gvovm. ^\dth reeds and rushes. They swim very low in the water and dive with great facility, having the power of sinking quietly down into the depths when alarmed, and moving under water with great rapidity by means of their lobed flipper-like feet. They feed chiefly on small aquatic insects and Crustacea and perhaps small fish, and are accused of devouring trout ova and fry. On land they are very awkward, generally shufihng along on their beUies vdth the help of their wings, like a seal. They fly well, as is shewn by their very con- siderable migrating powers. Henshaw, who first noticed this bird in Colorado, found them nesting in considerable numbers at the San Luis Lakes near Fort Garland. The nests are generally 8 Birds of Colorado floating in about eighteen inches of water, and placed in a thick reed-bed ; they are built up of broken reeds and other debris and fastened round the gro^\dng reeds, but the whole structure is hardly high enough to keep the eggs dry. These, according to Henshaw, were three in number, though Smith (90) found four to be more usual. They are white in colour and sometimes roughened ■uith a chalky deposit, but generally stamed and soiled ; they measure 1-75 x r25. When the bird leaves the nest it invariably, if time allows, covers up the eggs with grass or other vegetable matter, in order to conceal them ; and as they both leave and return to their nests by diving quietly, Henshaw believed that the eggs were partially, at any rate, hatched by the heat of the decaying vegetable matter with which he found them covered, but it is now generally agreed that this is done only for concealment. Henshaw was at San Luis Lakes on June 23rd, and Aiken found fresh eggs at the same place in July, while Dille gives June 19th as an average date for fresh eggs. Rockwell has recently published an illustrated account of its nesting habits at Barr, near Denver. Genus PODILYMBUS. Bill very short, deep and strongly compressed ; no crest or ruff, but the frontal feathers rather stif? and bristle-like ; tarsus about three- fourths the length of the middle toe and claw, and nearly twice the culmen. Only one species found tliroughout most of America. Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymlms podiceps. A.O.U. Checklist no 6 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 234; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 138 ; Osburn 90, p. 68 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 50, 191 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 224 ; Rockwell 10, p. 188 Pied-billed Grebe 9 Description. — Adult — Crown and back of the neck greyish-black, becoming a paler grey on the sides of the head and front of the neck ; a black oval patch on the chin and throat ; rest of the upper-parts and wings dark fuscous-brown ; a little white on the inner webs of the secondaries ; below silvery white, but obsciu-ed on the sides and across the breast by dusky and buffy mottlings ; iris brown and white, bill yellowish, bluish-white in life, encircled by a broad black band, legs blackish. Length 13"0 ; wing 5-5 ; culmen '90 ; tarsus 1*75. In winter the bill is dull yellowish and has no black band ; the throat- patch is absent and there are more or less distinct pale edges to the feathers of the ujjper-parts. Young birds are like the adults in winter, but the throat and sides of the head have indistinct brownish streaks. Distribution. — Nearly the whole of America, from Saskatchewan to Patagonia, breeding throughout most of its range ; wintering from about New Jersey and the southern United States southwards. This Grebe does not appear to be a common bird in Colorado ; generally it is a summer resident but is more abundant on migration. The first breeding record is that of W. G. Smith who found several nests at Loveland, but it probably also breeds at San Luis Lakes as there is a specimen in the Aiken collection from that place, taken on July 1st. It reaches Loveland in spring in the latter half of April, and was seen by Carter on migration at Breckenridge (Cooke). Warren informs me he has noticed it on a small lake near Crested Butte at 9,000 feet in October. It is included by Henderson in the Boulder co. list, and is a common breeder at Barr in May and June (Hersey & Rockwell), the letter of whom has recently published some notes and photographs of its nesting habits. I have not heard of it in the south- west or western part of the State, though it probably occurs there. Habits. — This, the most familiar of the Grebes in the East, is often known as the Water- witch, Hell-diver or Divedapper ; it does not materially differ from the other Grebes in its habits, nor has anything special been noticed about its occurrence in Colorado. Nests found by Smith in a lake close to Loveland contained six eggs as a rule and were, when first laid, a pale pea-green colour, but soon became stained by the wet weeds with which they were covered. A clutch of six eggs taken by I. C. Hall at Storm's Lake near Greeley on May 25th, 1902, and presented by him to the Colorado College 10 Birds of Colorado Museum, were slightly incubated and show the charac- teristic staining over the pale green. They are oval in shape, rather pointed at one end, and average about 1-75 X 1-20. Family GAVIID.E. The characters of the family are the same as those of the only genus. Genus GAVIA. Bill stout, strong and compressed, about as long as the head ; no crests or ruff ; tail short, of 18 to 20 stiff feathers ; legs feathered to the upper tarsal joint ; tarsus strongly compressed ; four toes, the three anterior completely webbed ; the hallux very short with a small semicircular lateral lobe, and connected with the others by a basal web, plumage dusky above, white below. Five species from the northern portions of both hemispheres. Kby of the Species. A. Back spotted with white. a. Head and neck black. a^ Bill mostly black, white spots on the scapulars about square. G. immer, p. 10. b^ Bill mostly yellow, white spots on the scapulars longer than broad. G. adamsi, p. 11. b. Head and back of the neck grey. G. arctica, p. 11. B. Back without spots. a. Back with paler grey margins, no spots on wing-coverts. a^ Bill mostly yellow. G. adamsi, hiems, p. 11. b^ BiU mostly black. G. immer, hiems, p. 10. b. A few spots on the wing-coverts. G. arctica, hiems, p. 11. Loon. Gavia immer. A.O.U. Checklist no 7 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 50, 191 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 224. Description. — Adult — Head and neck glossy greenish-black ; throat in front with two patches of white, and black streaks ; entire upper- parts black, spotted with white, except the upper tail-coverts and the primaries ; undor-parts white, the sides of the breast striped with black ; iris red, bill and feet black. Length 34 ; wing 14-05 ; culmen 3-0 ; tarsus 3-5. Yellow-billed Loon 11 Adults in winter and young birds are brownish-black above and white below ; the iris is brown and the bill is bluish-white, dusky along the culmen. The female is rather smaller than the male and the young bird has a markedly shorter bill. Distribution. — Widely spread over the northern portion of both hemispheres, the Loon in America breeds from along the northern border of the United States northwards to Alaska, and Greenland, and winters throughout the States to the Gulfs of Mexico and Cali- fornia. In Colorado it is a rare migrant and is not yet known to winter or to breed, though it has been taken at Sweetwater Lake, Garfield CO. in July (Cooke). There is an example from Barr Lake near Denver, killed in April by S. Wood, in the Denver IVIuseiim of Natiu-al History, and another from near Boulder, collected by L. Bragg, now in the Musevun of the University of Colorado, while Allien tells me a good many specimens have reached him from time to time in spring. Yellow-billed Loon. Gavia adamsi. A.Q.U- Checklist no 8 — Colorado Record — Cooke 97, p. 155. Description. — Resembling G, inimer, but slightly larger, and head a longer yellowish-horn bill, which is dusky only at the base ; the with and neck are steel blue rather than green, and the white spots on the upper-parts are rather larger, those on the scapulars being longer than broad instead of square. Length about 36-0 ; wing 15-0 ; culmen 3'50 — 3 15 ; tarsus 3 -50. Distribution. — North-east Asia, Arctic America, from Behring Straits to Hudson Bay and north-west Europe, but hardly known in the United States. A young male Loon obtained by W. G. Smith near Loveland, May 25th, 1885, and now in the collection of Mr. M. Hardy, Brewer, Me., has been identified with this rare Arctic form. This constitutes the only Colorado record. Black-throated Loon. Gavia arctica. A.O.U. CheckUst no 9 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, p. 192 ; Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Crown and nape grey ; rest of the upper-parts, including the throat and fore-neck glossy black, the sides of the neck, back and wings streaked, barred and spotted with white ; a band of white streaks on the throat ; rest of the under-parts white, with a band of blackish at the base of the under tail-coverts ; iria red, bill and feet blackish. Length 27'0 ; wing 12-5 ; culmen 2*50 ; tarsus 2 '90. 12 Birds of Colorado Adults in winter and voung birds are dosky black above, the feathers of the back margined with greyish, gi\Tng a scaly appearance ; below white ; the neck slightly speckled with dusky ; iris brown, bill bluish- grey, feet dusky greenish. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern parts of both hemispheres, in America only far north from Hudson Bay to Alaska ; in winter south, casually but rarely to the northern borders of the United States. The Black -throated Loon is a rare winter visitor to Colorado. Three examples were killed on Prospect Lake, close to Colorado Springs, in November, 1S9S, and another near the same place in the fall of 1SS2 (Aiken) ; an example in winter-dress obtained on Monument Creek, also close to Colorado Springs, November 5th, 1091, in the Aiken colleotion, is now preserved in the Colorado CoUege Museum. Henderson considers his former record of this species too doubtful to be retained. ORDER loxgipexnt:s. The members of this order, which includes the Gidls, Terns.. Skimmers and Skuas, are chiefly marine forms, and are therefore not weU represented in Colorado. They are all birds of medium size, with moderate- sized bUls and simple, not tubular, nostrils ; the wings are long and consist of eleven primaries, the outer (twelfth) minute and hardly noticeable ; rectrices twelve in number, feet with the three front toes webbed, generally completely ; a small hind toe, not connected with the others, and jointed at a higher level, generally present. KzT OF THE FAirrLizs A>rD Gexeka. A. Bill with a horny cere overhanging and partially concealing the nostrils (Stercorariida). Stercorarius, p. 13. B. Bill without cere (LaridcE). a. Bill stout, hardly as long as the head ; upper mandible longer than the lower, with the tip hooked down over it. a^ Tail square. a* Hind toe very small or absent, without claw. Rissa, p. 14. b* Hind toe present and clawed, though small. Lams, p. 15. Parasitic Jaeger 13 b^ Tail distinctly forked. Xema, p. 21. b. Bill long, straight and rather slender ; both mandibles equal. a^ Tail short and nearly square ; webs between the toes omarginato. Hydrochelidon, p. 24. b^ Tail very distinctly forked ; outer feathers elongated and pointed ; toes fully wobbed. Sterna, p. 22. Family STERCORARIID^. Characters of the only genus. Genus STERCORARIUS. Bill stout and gull-like with a terminal hook covering the tip of the lower mandible, the basal two-thirds covered by a horny cere which overlaps the nostrils, so that the opening is much reduced ; wings long and strong, outer prunary the longest ; tail with the two centre feathers nxuch jiroduced ; anterior toes fully webbed, hallux small and stmupy. Three species on the coasts of the United States. Parasitic Jaeger. Stercorarius parasiticus. A.O.U. Checklist no 37 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Drew So, p. IS ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Henderson 03, pp. 234, 109 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — In the sooty form or dark phase the plumage is dark brown throughout, darkest on the mantle, wings and tail; neck with aciuninate rigid feathere streaked with golden straw ; outer jirimaries with white shafts. The light phase has the upper-parts slaty, becoming blackish on the cro\\ni, wings and tail, the throat and under-parts white ; bill brownisli-horn, darkest in front of the cere ; legs black. Length about IS'O ; wing 12*0 ; tail 4-5 ; to end of central feathers SD ; cuhnen 1*3 ; tarsus 1-85. Distribution. — The Parasitic Jaeger has a circumpolar range in both hemispheres, breeding in America in Alaska, the Barren Grounds and Greenland, and wandering in the winter to South Africa, New Zealand and portions of South America, chiefly along the coast. It is only occasionally found inland. This bird is a rare fall and winter straggler in Colorado. There was an example in Mi's. Maxwell's Museum, taken near Boulder, in December, sometime before 1874 ; H. G. Smith examined a young male in the dark phase, shot on Sloans Lake near Denver in the fall of 1889, and Lowe obtained a third example, now in his collection, on the Arkansas River below Pueblo in the fall of 1894. 14 Birds of Colorado Habits. — The Parasitic Jaeger, or as it is often called, Richardson's Skua, is remarkable for presenting, irre- spective of age or sex, two very distinct phases of plumage — a light and a dark. Birds of both phases pair wdth one another indiscriminately, where they meet, and the young are sometimes intermediate. This bird is parasitic in its mode of life ; it seldom catches fishes for itself, but is constantly chasing smaller Gulls and Terns, and compelling them to disgorge their prey. So active is the Skua that it usually manages to catch the fish as it drops from the bill of the Gull, before it reaches the surface of the water. It is a purely marme form, but seldom seen inland, though it nests in the far north, on moorlands and swamps, using a slight depression in the ground scantUy lined with grasses. The eggs, usually two in number, are olive-brov.Ti, marked heavily with chocolate. Family LARID^. Bill without cere, middle tail-feathers never elongated. Genus RISSA. In most respects resembling Lams, but the hind toe rudimentary or absent, very rarely with a claw ; tail square ; tarsus short, less than the middle toe without claw ; toes fully webbed. Two species only of circumpolar range. Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla. A.O.U. Checklist no 40 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Henderson 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Head, neck, tail and under-parts pure white, back and wings pearl-grey ; outer web of the first primarj' and the last three inches of the tip of both first and second primaries black ; the third to fifth black subterminally with an increasing white tip ; hind toe very small — a minute knob without claw ; bill yellowish, feet black. Length 17; wing 12 ; tail 4-5 ; cuknen 1-40; tarsus 1-3. Kittiwake 1 5 In winter the top of the head and back of the neck are washed with pearl-grey, and there is a dark spot above the eye. Young birds have a dusky spot in front and behind the eye ; a broad bar across the neck behind ; the lesser and median coverts, bastard quills, inner secondaries and a terminal bar on the tail black ; the four outer primaries black, except for the inner half of the inner webs, the 5th and 6th black only at their ends, with a white speck at the tip ; bill black and feet yellowish. Distribution. — The northern parts of the northern hemisphere. In America breeding on the Atlantic coasts from the Magdalen Islands northwards to Hudson Bay and Greenland ; in winter south along the Atlantic coast and to the Great Lakes. An example of this species, said to have been taken in Boulder co. in December, and preserved in Mrs. Maxwell's collection, is the only ione recorded from Colorado. Genus LARUS. Bill stout and hooked, the upper mandible slightly longer than the lower and bent down over its tip ; bill shorter than the head and without cere ; wings moderately long ; tail square or nearly so ; front toes fully webbed, hind toe quite small but usually perfect, and provided with a claw. A large genus spread all over the world, except the central Pacific ; about eighteen species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Larger, wing over 16 ; bill yellow with a red spot near the tip of the lower mandible. a. Mantle dark slate ; two or three outer primaries tipped with white. L. occidentalis, p. 16. b. Mantle pale pearly-grey ; outer primaries with a subapical white spot as well as a white tip. L. argentatus, p. 16. B. Medium, wing 14 — 16 ; bill yellow with a transverse black band. a. Tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw ; a red spot on the lower mandible. L. califomicus, p. 17. b. Tarsus ob\aously longer than the middle toe and claw ; no red spot on the lower mandible. L. delawarensis, p. 17. C. Smaller, wing under 13-5 ; hooded, i.e. head and neck black, in summer. a. Bill and feet reddish (in summer). a^ Larger, wing over 12 ; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw. L. atricilla, p. 18. b^ Smaller, wing under 12, tarsus about equal to the middle toe and claw. L. franklini, p. 19. b. Bill black, feet reddish. L. Philadelphia, p. 20. 16 Birds of Colorado Western Gull. Larus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 49 — Colorado Record — Cooke 97, p. 50. Description. — Adult — Mantle dark slatj' ; primaries, including the inner webs of the first, second and usually the third, black tipped with white ; rest of the pliunage white ; eyeUd vermilion ; bill clirome -yellow with a vermiMon spot at the angle ; feet flesh-coloured. Length 24 ; wing 16-5 ; culmen 2-30 ; tarsus 2-75. In winter adults have the top of the head and back of the neck streaked with dusky. Young birds are brownish-slaty above, varied with buS and whitish ; quills and tail-feathers dull black, usually tipped with white ; under-parts brownish -grey, speckled with whitish ; biU black. Distribution. — The Pacific coast, breeding from British Coltunbia to Lower California, occasionally wandering inland. Its inclusion in the Colorada a\Tfauna rests on the statement of Professor Wm. Osburn, who informed Cooke he took an example at Loveland, September 30th, 1889. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 51— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, p. 50 ; Felger 09, p. 277. Description. — Closely resembHng the Western Gull, but with a less robust bill and hghter, paler blue mantle ; the outer primary is black, becoming slaty towards the base, and has a white tip and subapical white spot on both inner and outer webs, as a rule ; the other quills are usually without the subapical spot, but have the white tip : iris silvery to pale yellow, bill bright yellow with a vermilion spot on the mandible, legs flesh-colour. Length 24; wing 17'18 ; culmen 2-40; tarsus 2-75. In winter the head and neck are streaked with dusky and the bill is duller. Young birds are mottled with dusky above and below ; the wing and tail-feathers are dusky blackish, narrowly edged at the tips with white ; iris brown, bill dusky blackish, flesh-coloured towards the base. Disribution. — The Northern Hemisphere generally ; in America breeding from Minnesota, the Great Lakes and Maine, north to Labrador, Hudson Bay and perhaps Alaska ; in winter south to Cuba and on the Pacific coast to Lower California. The Herring-Gull is only a straggler in Colorado ; a young bird shot on a lake near Denver, November 17th, 1883, is said by H. G. Smith to be preserved in the collection of A. W. Anthony ; Breninger informed Cooke that he had observed it near Fort Collins. There is a young California Gull 17 mounted male in the Colorado Mxiseum of Natural History at Denver, taken at Valagoe Lake near Greeley, while Felger states that it is not uncommon at Barr, where it is found associating with the Ringbills. California Gull. Larus calif ornicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 53 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 50, 192 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult — Mantle slaty -grey, rather pale and deHcate ; rest of tho pliunage white ; primaries black, tipped with white, and white and slaty -grey at tho bases ; the outer one with a large subapical white spot across both webs and the shaft ; the second with a much smaller subapical spot divided into two by the black shaft ; tips of the secondaries white ; iris brown, eyelids yellow or red, bill chrome- yellow with a bright vermilion patch at the angle of the lower man- dible, followed by a transverse bar of black across both, feet bluish- green, yellow on the webs. Length 20 ; wing 15*5 ; tail 5-75 ; culmen 1-80; tarsus 2-25. In winter the head and neck are streaked with dusky and the bill is dull. Young birds are mottled with dusky, bufiy and grey ; the wings and tail are blackish and the bill dusky with a black tip. Distribution. — Western North America from Alaska to Mexico, breeding chiefly in the interior, especially on Great Salt Lake in Utah ; wintering chiefly on the coast. The California Gull is an occasional or transient visitor to Colorado : but has seldom been observed or obtained. Professor Wm. Osburn proctu-ed one specimen at Loveland, May 7th, 1890, and there are two examples in the Carter collection now in the Denver Museiun of Natm-al History — one taken in Middle Park, April 28th, 1884, the other at Denver, October 26th, 1878. According to Warren, C. H. Smith saw one at Coventry in 1905. This completes the list of definite records. Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 54 — Colorado Records — Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Woodbury 87, p. 116 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 51, 192 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult — Mantle pearly to pale slaty-grey, gradually whitening on the secondaries ; head all round, under-parts and tail white ; first primary black, with a white subapical spot divided by the dark shaft, and with the basal haK of the inner web white ; second to sixth primaries black with increasing pale basal portions and white 18 Birds of Colorado tips, a small subapical white spot generally on the inner web of the second ; iris straw -yellow with red on the eyelid, bill greenish -yellow with a yellow tip and a subapical black band, feet greenish-yellow. Length 18-0; wing 14-25; tail 5-25; culmen 1-5; tarsus 2-0. In winter the head and neck are spotted with dusky. Young birds are mottled with dusky above and below, especially on the wing-coverts ; the primaries are black and there is no subapical spot on the first ; the tail has a broad subterminal black band ; bill yellow on basal, black on terminal half. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the interior of America, from Colorado and Newfoimdland northwards to Hudson Bay and the Barren Grounds. In winter, on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts south to Cuba and Mexico. This is the only Gull which can be called at all common in Colorado. It is fairly abundant on migration in spring and autumn, and has been found breeding on the San Luis Lakes by Cooke. Migration records are — Fort Lyon, March 23rd (Cooke), near Colorado Springs, March 31st to May 1st (Aiken coll.), Barr Lake in smnmer and winter, but not known to breed (Hersey & Rockwell), near Orchard may be seen in March (Warren), Loveland, March 9 — 20th (Cooke), all in the plains and foothills ; Twin Lake (Aiken coll.), South and Middle Parks in spring (Carter), in the mountains ; and on the western slopes — Grand River, near Grand Junction, June (Rockwell), Norwood near Coventry, April, 1906 (Warren). Habits. — This Gull is found about lakes and rivers, and has a singular habit of catching grasshoppers and other insects in the air, noticed by both Allen and Goss. Cooke found it breeding quite commonly at San Luis Lakes (7,500 feet) June 18th, 1898, but gives no further details. The nest, as with other Gulls, is placed on the ground, usually on islands in lakes and ponds, and is made chiefly of grasses ; the eggs, 2 to 3 in number, are whitish to clay-coloured, rather evenly spotted with chocolate ; they measure 2-30 x r65. Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla. A.O.U. Checklist no 58 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 51. Description. — Adult in simamer — Head all round slaty-black, mantle bluidh-groy, rest of the plumage, except the primary quills, wliite, a Franklin's Gull 19 faint rosy tinge on the breast fading after death ; three outer primaries black, the fourth and fifth black toward the end, all but the first usually with a small apical spot ; iris blackish, eyelids and bill carmine, feet dusky red. Length 16-50 ; wing 13-0 ; tail 5*0 ; tarsus 2-0 ; culmen 1'75. In winter there is no hood, and the head is white with a little blackish, and the breast has no rosy tinge ; bill and feet dusky. Young birds are mottled with greyish and brown above, the tail has a broad sub- terminal band of blackish -brown, and the quills are the same colour ; upper tail -coverts white. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Texas, and on the Pacific coast of Mexico ; in winter to the West Indies and northern South America as far as the Amazona and Peru ; rare inland. This Gull has been reported from Fort Lyon by Captain Thorns (Morrison), while H. G. Smith identified an example killed at Sloans Lake, in the western suburbs of Denver, in December, 1889. These are the only recorded occurrences in Colorado. Franklin's Gull. Larus franklini. A.O.U. CheckUst no 59 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 19, 51 ; Felger 09, p. 278 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 110. Description. — Adult — Head all round slaty-black with a white, ring round and chiefly behind the eye; mantle slaty -grey, nearly greyish- blue ; rest of the plumage, except the quills, white tinged with rosy- pink on the breast ; first primary chiefly white on the inner and tip of the outer web, dusky slate on the outer web, and with a rounded black spot on the inner web about 1 -25 inches from the tip ; the next four slaty, paling to white at the tiji and crossed by a subterminal band of black ; eyeUds orange, bill red with a darker subterminal band; legs dusky red. Length 13-5; wing 11-25; tail 4-0; culmen 1-25 ; tarsus 1-70. In winter the hood is absent, the head is white with a few dusky feathers and the breast has no rosy tinge. Young birds have the top and sides of the head and back greyish -brown, the quills dusky tipped with white, and the tail with a subterminal band of dusky ; forehead, eye-spot and under-parts white. Distribution. — Breeding in the interior of North America from Iowa northwards to Manitoba and the interior of the Dominion ; south on migration from the Mississippi Valley to Utah, wintering in Mexico and Central America and as far south as Peru. Though quite a common bird on migration, both in Kansas and Utah, Franklin's Gull is hardly known from Colorado. In fact the c 2 20 Birds of Colorado only record is that of W. G. Smith who took it at Loveland, on May 6th, while Anthony examined one in Denver, stated to have been killed near by. Felgor reports that IVIiss Patten noticed this GuU, May 8th,1905, near Yuma, and Hersey (09) saw one at Barr, October 17th, 1907. Habits. — This beautiful Gull, called by the farmers on the plains of eastern Kansas the "Prairie Pigeon" or " Prairie Dove," is frequently found far from water on arable lands in the spring, foUowdng the plough and picking up worms and insects, while in the autumn it destroys immense numbers of grasshoppers. In Utah, Mr. Bailey tells us that Brigham Young used to offer up prayers that they should be sent to destroy the locusts and destructive insects. It seems strange that it should have been so seldom noticed in Colorado. The nest is placed on the ground, on islands among lakes and rivers or often in marshes and sloughs, and is made chiefly of rushes and grasses. They breed in large communities. The eggs, usually three, vary a good deal, but are generally olive-green to drab, splashed with bold markings of sepia. They measure about 2-1 X 1-44. Bonaparte's Gull. Larus Philadelphia. A.O.U. Checklist no 60— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 232; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 94, p.l82 ; 97, pp. 51, 155, 193 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48. Description. — Adult in summer — Head all round slaty-black ; a white ring round the eye broken in front ; mantle pearl-grey, rest of plumage white, washed with rosy below ; outer primary white with the outer web and tip black, the next five white, tipped with black ; iris dark brown ; eyelids red, bill black, legs red. Length 13 ; wing 10-0 ; tail 3'6 ; culmen 1*0; tarsus 1-25. In winter the head is white tinged with grey behind, and there is a dusky spot on the ear -coverts and in front of the eye ; the bill is lighter coloured at the base of the lower mandible and the feet flesh. Young birds in the first winter are like the winter birds but have a patch of dusky on the wing-coverts and black on the outer Sabine's GuU 21 and inner web along the shaft of the three or four outer primaries, and a black subterminal bar across the tail with a narrow terminal band of white. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba northwards to Hudson Bay and Alaska ; on migration both along the coasts and in the interior of the United States and the coasts of western Mexico. In Colorado Bonaparte's Gull is an occasional visitor on migration, chiefly in the fall. It has been taken about half a dozen times on the plains at the eastern bases of the mountains from Pueblo to Fort Collins in October and November, and by Carter on the spring migration in Middle Park. The records are : Pueblo, November 15th, H. W. Nash (Cooke), near Colorado Springs (Aiken coU.), near Denver on three occasions in October and November (H. G. Smith), Barr Lake, one killed but not preserved, fall of 1907 (Hersey), and Fort Collins (Cooke). Genus XEMA. Resembling the smaller forms of Larus, with hooded head in summer and with a slender bill, but the tail distinctly forked though not for more than the length of the tarsus. One species only. Sabine's Gull. Xemasabini. A.O.U. Checklist no 62— Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 176 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 61, 155, 193 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 07 p. 198 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Adult — Head all round deep slaty, bordered by a narrow ring of velvety black ; lower part of neck, tail, under-parts, inner primaries, most of secondaries and greater coverts white ; mantle and the inner secondaries slaty-blue ; outer primaries black, with the half of the inner web away from the shaft and tips white ; eyelids orange, bill black on the basal, yellow on the apical half, feet black. Length 13 ; wing 10'75; tail to fork 3*75, to longest feather 5-0; culmen 1-0 ; tarsus 1-25. In winter the head and neck are white with a little dusky on the ear-coverts and back of the head. Young birds are like the winter birds, but the back of the head and neck as well as the mantle is slaty, most of the feathers edged and tipped with whitish ; the outer primaries are more black and the white tips are small or wanting ; the tail has a subterminal bar of black, becoming narrower towards the outer feathers, and is less forked ; the bill and legs are flesh-coloured and dusky, and the dimensions are smaller — wing 10-25. 22 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Breeding far north in north-east Asia, and Arctic America from Alaska to Greenland, irregularly south in winter through the United States to the Bermudas. Sabine's Gull occasionallystrays to Colorado during the fall migration. There are about half a dozen well authenticated records both from the plains and the mountains. W. G. Smith obtained a male at Love- land, October 12th, 1889, and H. G. Smith about the same time saw one in the flesh in Denver, killed October 1st ; Carter obtained a specimen from an Alpine lake above 10,000 feet near Breckenridge, September 26th, 1886, and Aiken another at Manitou Park, Teller co., about 8,000 feet, October 12th, 1897 (Cooke). James Cowie shot one out of a flock of six on a lake near Boulder, September 15th, 1907, which is now in the Museum of the University of Colorado (Henderson). There is a young female in the Colorado College Museum, collected by J.G . Frey at Salida, September 26th, 1908 ; and another in the Museum at Denver, taken by Hersey, October 31st, 1896, at Barr, where it is also not infrequent on migration in March. Genus STERNA. Bill long, pointed and compressed, both mandibles of equal length ; wings very long and pointed, the outer primary the longest ; tail strongly forked, always for more than the length of the tarsus, the outer feathers elongated, attenuated and pointed, sometimes to a considerable extent ; tarsus short, less than the middle toe and claw ; toes fuUy webbed. A large genus of world-wide distribution on the seas and inland waters ; about ten species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Outer web of the outer tail-feather white, inner grey. S. forsteri, p. 22. B. Outer web of the outer tail-feather grey, inner white. a. Dark band on the inner web along the shaft of the primaries broader, occupying about half the web. S. hirundo, p. 24. b. Dark band on the inner web narrower, about a quarter the width of the web. S. paradisaea, p. 24. Forster's Tern. Sterna forsteri. A.O.U. Checklist no 69 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 188 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 51, 193 ; Felger 02, p. 294 ; 09, p. 278 ; Dille 03, p. 74. Description. — Adult in sunxmer — Top of the head black ; upper-parts pearl-grey ; below white ; rump white, tail becoming a httle dusky Forster's Tern 23 on the outer feathers, very long and narrow, white on the outer, dusky- grey on the inner, web ; bill orange-red, dusky at the tip, legs orange - red. Length 15-0 (to end of tail) ; wing 9-5 ; tail to fork 2-5, to longest feather 6-0 to 8-0; culmen 1-5; tarsus -85. In winter the black cap is lost, but the nape is always slightly varie- gated with dusky and there is a black band on either side through the eye- and ear-coverts ; bill and feet duller coloured. Young birds are mottled on the head and back with brownish, the prirnaries are less silvery and the tail brownish and deeply emarginate, but less so than in the adult. Bill srnaller and weaker and brownish-black. Distribution.- — Breeding locally from Texas north through the middle states and Utah to Manitoba and the Fur countries and along the coast to Cobb's Island, Virginia, and in CaUfornia ; south in winter as far as Guatemala and BraziL Forster's Tern was reported as a breeding bird in Colorado as long ago as 1873 by Ridgway, though no definite evidence of the fact was given. In more recent years it has been observed to arrive at Loveland about May 5th from the south, and Felger has found it breeding at Barr Lake near Denver on May 19th, where Hersey informs me there is a colony of about fifty birds in summer. It may be considered a regular resident in summer in parts of north-east Colorado. Habits. — All the Terns have much the same habits. They are all birds of swift and easy flight, coursing through the air like Swallows, generally in the neigh- bourhood of, or over, water. They can often be seen with their heads and bills pointed downwards toward the water, watching for a fish or insect. Suddenly they plunge down but seldom become quite submerged ; turning sharply on the surface, they rise again with the morsel in their beaks. They nest in large communities, generally on a slight elevation in grassy swamps or marshes. The nest is made up of weeds or grasses and the eggs, usually three, are very variable — from whitish or buffy to olive-brown, heavily marked with chocolate. They measure 1"80 x 1*30. They are roving birds having a harsh, grating cry, to which they give vent especially when they are disturbed on their nests. 24 Birds of Colorado Common Tern. Sterna hirundo. A.O.U. Checklist no 70— Colorado Record— Cooke 09, p. 314. Description. — Resembling the Arctic Tern in the arrangement of the coloration of the tail-feathers, but with a longer tarsus averaging longer than the middle toe without claw, and with the dark bands on the inner web of the outer primary much more distinct and wide, averaging -25 to '30 instead of -12 to -15 ; bill red, usually with dusky tip, feet vermilion. Dimensions about the same. Distribution. — A common species found over the greater part of tho world north and south ; breeding chiefly in arctic circumpolar regions. One example, taken May 14th, 1908, at New Windsor by Geo. Osterhout, was sent to Cooke for identification. This is the only Colorado record. Arctic Tern. Sterna paradiscm. A.O.U. Checklist no 71— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, p. 51. Description. — Closely resembling Forster's Tern but smaller, though with a longer wing and with the outer web of the outer tail-feather grey or dark and the inner web white, instead of the reverse ; under- parts slightly paler than the mantle but hardly white ; bill red without dusky tip, feet vermilion. Length 14 — 17, varying with length of tail; wing 10-0; tail 2*5, to longest feather 6-5 to 8-5; culmen 1-20; tarsus '65. Distribution. — Breeding in the circiunpolar regions of the Old and New Worlds ; in America from Alaska and Labrador south to Massachusetts. In winter ranging widely throughout the world's coasts to South Africa and South America, as well as in many parts of the United States. The Arctic Tern is a rare straggler in Colorado. An example killed at Marston's Lake near Denver in the spring of 1887 was identified as this species by Ridgway (H. G. Smith) ; while a second, an adult male, was taken by W. G. Smith at Loveland, July 9th, 1889 (Cooke). Genus HYDROCHELIDON. Closely allied to Sterna but with a very short tail, less than half the wing and very slightly forked ; with feeble legs, the webs much indented so that the toes appear to be only half webbed ; lower-parts of the body always black, or very dark grey in the breeding season. Four species, only one in North America. Black Tern 25 Black Tern. Hydrochdidon nigra surinamensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 77 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 Coues 74, p. 708 ; Drew 83, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 147 ; Cooke 97, p. 52 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Warren 08, p. 20. Description." — Adult in summer — Head and nape all round and imder- parts to the vent jet black ; under tail-coverts white ; above from tho nape silvery grey, a little duskier on the primaries ; iris brown, bill black, feet reddish -brown. Length 8-5 ; wing 8-30 ; tail 3-40 ; culmen 1 "0 ; tarsus '65. In winter the black of the head and under -parts is replaced by white, but the hind half of the crown is dusky grey and there is a dusky bar from the ear-coverts to the eye ; above as in the summer, but many of the feathers edged with whitish. Young birds resemble the winter adults but have a good deal of brown about the scapulars and a marked black crescent in front of the eye. Distribution. — Breeding from the middle states from Kansas and Illinois north to Hudson Bay and Alaska ; south in winter as far as Chili and Brazil. Along the Atlantic coast on migration only. The Black Tern is a not very uncommon summer resident in Colorado, breeding in communities where suitable conditions occur, chiefly in the eastern plains portion of the State. It is probably still more common on migration. Coues saw a large colony on the Arkansas River near Fort Lyon on June 10th, 1864,, which were probably breeding, and there are eggs in the Colorado College Museum presented by I. C. Hall, and taken by liina on Storms Lake near Greeley, May 26th, 1902. There are a few birds on Barr Lake and several single nesta have been taken by Hersey and Rockwell. Other references are El Paso CO. (Aiken), Boulder co. plains (Henderson), and Bear Lake near Steamboat Springs in Routt co., where Warren saw a dozen or fifteen flying about, June 1st ; this is the only definite record from the western slope. Habits. — The Black Tern is usually seen in flocks of larger or smaller size, flying over or near water, either a river, lake or marsh. " The flight is buoyant in the extreme," says Coues, " and wayward, desultory and uncertain ; perhaps no bird of this country has so great an expanse of wing for its weight, certainly none fly more lightly. In hovering along on the look-out for insects, they hold the bill pointing straight down like other Terns. In the spring I have observed them plunging 26 Birds of Colorado into the water for food, probably small fry, but in the fall they seem to feed chiefly on winged insects," and specially on dragon- flies. They breed, as already remarked, in large companies ; their nests consist merely of a heap of decaying rushes and other vegetable matter, piled up in the shallow water of a lake or marsh. The eggs, 2 to 4, are pale brownish or greenish-olive, thickly blotched and spotted with very dark chocolate ; they are rather pointed at one end and measure TSO x TO. Hall's eggs were fresh and taken somewhat early — on May 26th — the more more usual nesting-time is June. ORDER STEGANOPODES. This order contains a number of swimming and diving birds, such as the Cormorants, Darters, Gannets and PeUcans ; they can be recognized at a glance by a very obvious external character ; the feet are totipalmate, that is, all the toes, including the first or hallux, which is turned forwards more or less parallel to the other toes, are fully webbed. I^Y OF THE Families and Genera. a. Bill shorter than the middle toe, compressed ; gular sac smaU, hardly distensible (Phalacrocoracidcc). Phalacrocorax, p. 26. b. Bill much longer than the middle toe, flattened and depressed ; gular sac large and greatly distensible (PelecanidcB). Pelecanus, p. 28. Family PHALACROCORACIDiE. Characters of the Genus. Genus PHALACROCORAX. Bill subcyhndrical and slightly compressed, the upper mandible strongly hooked at the tip ; nostril rudimentary ; wings short and rounded ; tail of twelve or fovirteen feathers rather short and stiff ; tarsus short and compressed ; all the toes well webbed. Double-crested Cormorant 27 A large and cosmopolitan genus of about forty species, five in the United States. Key of the Species. a _. Larger, wing over 11 -0 ; no white gorget. P. auritus, p. 27. b. Smaller, wing under 11 -0. a white gorget along the edge of the gular sac in the breeding pkunage. P. V. mexicanus, p. 28. Double-crested Cormorant. PJialacrocorax auritus. A.O.U. Checklist no 120— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 234 (P. dilophua) ; H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; 96, p. 48 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 52, 156 ; Felger 09, p. 279. Description. — Adult — Plumage gloSsy greenish black, the feathers of the scapulars and wings slaty with black borders ; a few long curly feathers above and behind the eye form a double crest ; tail of twelve feathers ; iris green, eyelids blue, bill yellow, darker along the culmen ; gular sac orange and convex in shape posteriorly, feet dull black. Length about 32; wing 12-0; tail 6*0; cuknen 2-10; tarsus 2-20. The crests are lost in the winter and the eyelids are not so blue ; young birds are dark brown, paling on the throat and breast to almost white. Distribution. — The greater part of North America on the coast and in the interior ; breeding from the Bay of Fundy and North Dakota northwards ; south in winter to the Gulf coast. In Colorado this Cormorant can only be regarded as a straggler in the fall migration ; there are about foxn* definite records, all from the neighboiu-hood of Denver in the fall between 1885 and 1891, given by H. G. Smith, and others by Felger. Aiken informs me that he has examined a few examples killed near Colorado Springs. Habits. — Cormorants are generally found about the sea coast, and this species is the only one which is widely distributed in the interior parts of North America. They are expert fishers and swim and dive with great ease ; they seize their prey in their powerful bills under water, and on returning to the surface they toss the fish in the air and swallow it head first. When not fishing, much of their time is spent sitting and sunning themselves on rocks or posts on the beach. They nest in com- munities on the rocks or in the cliffs beside the sea, and 28 Birds of Colorado on trees in the interior, laying pale bluish eggs of oval shape, often covered with a chalky investment. They have been reported to breed in Utah and Wyoming, but not hitherto in Colorado. Mexican Cormorant. Phalacrocorax vigua mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 121— Colorado Record— Felger 01, p. 189. Description. — Resembling P. auritus but smaller — wing 10"0 to 10'5 — and with a white gorget bordering the gular sac behind and almost reaching the eye ; the white nuptial plumes form a packet on either side of the head, and others are scattered on the neck and beUy. Length about 28 ; wing 10"0 ; tail 6'0 ; tarsus and cuknen about 2'0. In winter the gorget and nuptial plumes are absent. Young birds are greyish-brown, paler and whiter below. Distribution. — The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the West Indies, north along the Mississippi Valley to Kansas and Illinois. A. H. Felger reports that an adult male of this species was taken at Smith's Lake, fourteen miles north of Denver, October 15th, 1899 ; it was identified by himself and by H. G. Smith. This is the only Colorado record. Family PELECANID^E. Characters of the only genus. Genus PELECANUS- BiU long and flattened, the culmen forming a rounded ridge and ending at the tip in a downward curved hook ; nostrils small and rudimentary ; a very large gular pouch of naked skin depending from between the two somewhat flexible rami of the lower jaw and reaching posteriorly some way down the neck ; wing long, tail short, slightly wedge-shaped, of twenty-two to twenty -four feathers. Eleven species are generally recognized ; three of these occur in the United States. American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. A.O.U. Checklist no 125 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 188 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 52, 193 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Henderson 09, p. 225 ; Felger 09, p. 279. American White Pelican 29 Description. — Adult — Plumage white throughout, except for the primaries, their coverts, and some of the secorxdaries, which are black ; some elongated feathers on the occiput, breast and lesser wing -coverts straw -yellow ; tail with twenty -four feathers ; iris pearl-white, bill, which bears a horny excrescence on the culmen, orange-red with the ridge of the culmen whitish ; bare skin about the eye, gular pouch and feet orange. Length 60'0 ; wing 24-0 ; tail 6'0 ; culmen 12-0; tarsus 4-5. After the breeding season the excrescence is lost, and the crest is replaced by a dusky spot. In winter the occiput is white and the bill, pouch and feet are yellow not orange. Young birds are like the winter adults, but have a little grey on the top of the head and on the lesser coverts. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the western interior of North America, from Oregon and Utah north to Hudson Bay ; in winter south to the Gulf of California and Mexican coasts as far as Guatemala. The Pelican was formerly not uncommon on migration, while a few are said to have bred in Colorado. Of late years, no doubt owing to increase of population, it has been less often seen, nor have I met with any undoubted account of its nesting within the State. It arrives from the south at the end of April, and has been noticed by W. G. Smith at Loveland on the 23rd of that month. On May 22nd, 1898, nine out of a flock of eighteen were killed on Prospect Lake on the confines of Colorado Springs, and a flock of forty was seen near Denver in the spring of the same year. It is an irregular summer resident at Barr but not known to breed (Hersey & Rockwell). In the fall migration it appears to pass through the mountains, and has been observed by Carter at an elevation of 13,000 feet, and there is an example in his collection killed near Breckenridge, August 10th, 1892. It is also recorded from San Luis Valley in October, and from Grand Junction on the western slope, where Mr. Sullivan saw a flock of eight, September 4th, 1904. Habits. — White Pelicans are found on the sea coasts and in the interior, chiefly along the larger rivers and in marshes where there is a plentiful supply of fish, on which they feed almost exclusively ; they fly well with the neck bent and the head close to the shoulders, and often ascend to a great height in the air and there perform wonderful aerial evolutions ; they also swim well and strongly, but are said not to be able to dive. They pursue their prey in considerable numbers in a 30 Birds of Colorado long line, driving the fishes before them into the shallow water and catching them when floundering. They fill the elastic pouches beneath their long bills with great quantities of fishes, which they devour at leisure or carry oflf and disgorge to feed their young. They breed in great communities, generally on islands in lakes. The nest is on the ground, sometimes a simple depression in the sand, sometimes put together with a few sticks and weeds. The eggs, usually two, are oval, white and chalky, and measure 3" 50 x 2-30. Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 126— Colorado Record— Smith 10, p. 133. Description. — Adult — Top of the head and a spot on the upper-breast straw-yeUow, a white Hne on either side of the breast ; hind-head and neck brown, rest of the body silvery grey except the primaries, which are black ; under-parts brown streaked with white. Length 50 "0 ; wing 19"5 ; tarsus 2"65 ; bill 11 "0. After the breeding season the bird's head and neck are white tinged with straw-yellow ; young birds are similar but duller. Distribution.— The Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America breeding north to South Carolina ; accidental in other parts of the United States. According to H. G. Smith a single example of this species, now preserved in the State Museum at Denver, was killed on Wood's Lake, Thomasville, Colorado, by IVIr. P. J. Engelbrecht in June, 1908. This is the only record for the State. ORDER ANSERES. This order includes the Ducks, Geese and Swans, and forms a well-marked and clearly circumscribed group of birds. Externally they can be distinguished by their characteristically shaped bill, which is generally broad, flattened and depressed, and is covered by a soft membrane except at the tip of the upper mandible, where there is a hard nail ; furthermore both mandibles have, just inside their cutting -edges, a series of horny The Mergansers 31 lamellae of varying development ; the number of tail- feathers varies from fourteen to twenty-four ; the legs are short and the anterior toes fully webbed ; the hind toe is small and jointed above the level of the others ; the eggs are numerous, white, pale greenish or creamy, and unspotted ; the young are covered with down when hatched, and able to run or swim at once. AU the North American genera are included in a single family — Anatidce. This, for convenience, can be divided into five subfamilies, as follows : — liEY OF THE Subfamilies. A. Tarsus as long as the middle toe without claw ; with reticulate scales all round. a. Neck very long, as long as the body ; lores naked in the adults. Cygninje, p. 71. b. Neck moderate, no naked patch on the lores. Anserinse, p. 65. B. Tarsus shorter than the middle toe without claw, scuteUate in front. a. Hind toe not lobed. Anatinae, p. 35. b. Hind toe lobed. a^ Bill flattened and depressed. Fuligulinse, p. 49. b^ BiU cylindrical and compressed. Merginae, p. 31. Subfamily MERGIN-^. The Mergansers have a narrow, almost cylindrical, bill, with the lamellae only present in the upper man- dible and developed into prominent tooth-like serrations ; tarsi compressed, scutellate anteriorly ; hind toe lobate ; head usually crested ; sexes unlike. IvEY OF THE GeNERA AND SpECIES. A. Bill chiefly red, about as long as the head ; crest low and only in the occipital region (Mergus). a. Nostrils near the middle of the bill, breast all white in S M. americanus, p. 32. b. Nostrils nearer the base of the bill ; breast with a patch of reddish-brown in and is made of grass, leaves and weeds, loosely put together and lined with feathers or down. The eggs, 6 to 10 in number, are bufEy or whitish, usually with a green tinge. They measure 2-30 x 1"60. Dille gives the second week in May as the average time for fresh eggs near Denver. 38 Birds of Colorado Mottled Duck. Anas fulvigula maculosa. A.O.U. Checklist no 134a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, pp. 177, 188 {Ana3 obsciira) ; Morrison 89, p. 148 : Cooke 97, pp. 53, 156, 194 ; Felger 09, p. 280 ; 10, p. 451. Description. — Resembling a dark-coloured female Mallard ; head and neck buiTy, finely streaked with dusky ; chin and throat Isabella - coloiu- unmarked ; under -parts mottled about equally with dusky and light brown ; feathers of the breast and back with brown centres and margins ; speculum greenish purple framed in black, the feathers narrowly tipped with white ; iris dark brown, bill greenish with a black spot at the base of the lower edge of the upper mandible ; legs reddish- orange. Wing 10-0; tarsus 1-75; culmen 2-25. The sexes are alike, except that the female has no black spot on the mandible. Distribution. — Breeding in Texas and probably north to Kansas and Colorado. A Duck identified formerly as the Dusky or Black Duck of the Atlantic coast, has been recorded on several occasions from Colorado. It was first noticed by Ridgway on the authority of Aiken. Thome took it at Fort Lyon (Morrison) and Osbum on the Big Thompson near Loveland, March 15th, 1889. Cooke in his second supplement (p. 194) considered that these Ducks should be referred to the present subspecies. In the Natural History Museum at Denver there is a Duck taken November 6th, 1907, near Loveland, by Mr. Blaney ; it is mounted, and the bill has been coloured so that it is impossible to make out the spot on the mandible, but the throat is clearly plain and unstreaked, and I have httle doubt that it should be referred to this subspecies, which may therefore be considered a straggler to Colorado. Felger (09) gives several additional records from the neighbourhood of Denver, and in a recently published note (10) considers that Cooke is in error, and that these Colorado Ducks should be referred to A. rvbripes. I have myself carefully examined the example mounted in Denver, and am inclined to support Cooke in his determination. Genus CHAULELASMUS. Closely resembling Anas, with a tail of sixteen feathers, but wing speculiun white, and in the male the greater coverts black, the middle coverts chestnut. One nearly cosmopolitan species. Gad wall. Chaulelasmus streperus. A.O.U. Checklist no 135— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 159 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Henshaw 75, p. 474 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Gadwall 39 Tresz 82, p. 245; Beckham 85, p. 144; W. G. Smith 87, p. 169; Morrison 88, p. 140; 89, p. 148; Kellogg 90, p. 86; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 53, 156, 194 ; 06, p. 27; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Male— General colour including the head, which bears a low crest, neck, upper -back, scapulars and sides brown, speckled and undulated with greyish -white ; lower back plain brown, becoming black on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; belly white with sharply defined velvety black on the abdomen and lower tail-coverts ; wing with a patch of chestnut, velvety black, and white ; iris reddish -brown, bill black, legs dull orange. Length 20-0 ; wing 11-0 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen 1-75 ; tarsus 1-7. The female is smaller — wing 10-0, and brown throughout except on the lower breast and abdomen> which are white and everywhere speckled or variegated with buffy -brown ; the patches of chestnut, black and white on the wing are rather smaller. The young male is lilce the female. Distribution. — One of the most widely spread of Ducks, found through- out EuroiDe, Asia and North America, and wintering south in Africa and southern Asia. In America its breeding range extends from Hudson Bay and southern British Columbia, south to southern Colorado and most of California. In winter it resorts chiefly to the southern states and the lower Mississippi Valley, and to Jlexico as far as Mexico City. In Colorado the Gadwall is a fairly common summer resident and quite common on migration, but has been noticed only, so far as I can ascertain, at Barr in winter. It arrives from the south early and has been noted at Fort Lyon on March 1st and at Love land from March 1st to 12th ; it is not so common apparently on the western slope and was only once seen by Sullivan — on the Gunnison River, March 28th (Rockwell), while at Coventry it has been seen in April (Warren). Breeding records are — Ba?r Lake (Hersey & Rockwell), Estes Park (Kellogg), Middle Park, Carter (Cooke), South Park (Tresz), San Luis Lakes (Aiken & Henshaw), La Plata co. (Morrison), and Calhan El Paso CO. June (Aiken). Habits, — The Gadwall resembles the Mallard in habits ; it is essentially a fresh-water Duck, preferring secluded marshy ponds and reedy streams to large open pieces of water. It feeds largely on vegetable matter, water- weeds, grass, roots and often grain, as well as on insects^ tadpoles, etc., and it is as well - flavoured as the Mallard. 40 Birds of Colorado The nesting-habits are similar to those of the Mallard, though they have been known to breed in trees. The eggs, 8 to 12 in number, are creamy- white and average 2-20 X 1-50. Natural hybrids among Ducks are not uncommon ; W. G. Smith (87) shot, near Loveland, a fine male, the characters of which were equally divided between a Gadwall and a Baldpate. Genus MARECA. Resembling Anas but with a shorter bill, not as long as the head ; tail pointed, of foiuteen feathers, not as long as the wing ; speculum green, top of the head white or whitish. Two species in the United States. Baldpate. Mareca americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 137 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; 06, p. 28 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; 10, p. 29 ; Felger 09, p. 280. Discription. — Male — Crown pure white, sides of the face, cheeks and neck also white or buffy, spotted with duskj- ; chin brown ; a patch from the eye to the naj>e glossy green ; fore-neck, chest and sides of the body cinnamon, sorae of the feathers finely barred with dusky ; lower-breast and abdomen white, abruptly black on the lower tail- coverts ; rest of the upper-parts various shades of brown, some of the feathers, especially the scapulars, finely barred with buffy ; speculum green, bordered by black with a white patch above it ; iris brown, bill greyish-blue with a black tip, feet very similar. Length 20*0 ; wing 10-5; tail 4-75; culmen 1*50; tarsus 1-40. Younger males have the whole head and neck white or buffy and speckled with dusky. Females have the head like the young male ; the colour generally is brown mottled with dusky and the belly white ; on the wing the pattern is the same as in the male, but the white is much restricted and the green of the speculum often faint. Distribution. — Breeding in north -central North America, within a line drawn from Hudson Bay to Lake Michigan, thence west to Nevada and north-west to the Pacific ; south in winter over the southern states and Mexico as far as Costa Rica and the West Indies. In Colorado the Baldpate like the Gadwall is most common on migration, while a certain number remain to breed, and others appear to winter. Green-winged Teal 41 The only definite account of its nesting is that of Coues, who found it with young birds and several other species of Duck on a small lake on the southern edge of North Park, probably about 8,000 feet, shortly after the nesting -season ; there is an adult male in the Ailcen collection taken at Falcon on May 3rd, and Horsey and Rockwell include it as a summer resident at Barr. It was seen on the San Luis Lakes in June by Warren. On migration it was noticed by W. G. Smith at Loveland, March 10th to 13th, and seen by Carter in Middle Park (Cooke), while Sullivan reports it as plentiful in the fall but scarce in the spring at Grand Junction (Rockwell). Felger states that it is not uncommon in winter at Barr. Habits. — Like the Mallard and GadwaU this is a shoal- water Duck, preferring the edges of lagoons and grassy lakes to large pieces of water, and feeding chiefly on vegetable matter, so that it is generally good eating. Goss states that they rob Canvas-back and other deep-water Ducks of the vallesneria grass which grows in deep water, and which they cannot procure for them- selves as they do not dive. The eggs, 6 to 12 in number, are pale buff to nearly white, and measure 2-05 x 1*45. Genus NETTION. Very small duclcs — wing under S-^with a slightly crested head and a narrow parallel-sided blackish bill, a green speculum and grey, buffy-tipped wing -coverts without blue. Two species in the United States. Green- winged Teal. Nettion carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 139— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 475 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 148; KeUogg 90, p. 90; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194; 06 p. 30; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Rockwell 08, p. 157; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Adult Male — Head and neck all round chestnut, blackening on the chin ; a patch from round the eye to the nape glossy green, ending in a nape crest of chestnut and black ; general colour above and along the sides, grey brown and white in narrow undu- lations ; breast pale cinnamon, with rounded black spots, paling to nearly pure unspotted white on the abdomen ; imder tail-coverta 42 Birds of Colorado black centrally, pale buffj' laterally ; speculum bright green, bordered in front by buffy, below by black and behind with a little white ; a white patch on the sides of the breast ; iris brown, bill black, feet dusky. Length 14-0; wing 7'5 ; tail 2-75; culmen 1-5; tarsus 1*20. The female has no crest and the speculum is less perfect ; the head and neck are streaked with dark and tawny -brown, the throat and lower-parts are white and the back, sides and breast dusky, scolloped and mottled with bufT. Distribution. — Breeding from New Brunswick along the northern tier of states to Oregon, northwards to the Barren Grounds of Alaska, and south along the mountains to New Mexico ; in winter south to the south-western United States, Mexico to Mexico City and the West Indies. The Green-winged Teal is one of the commonest of the migrating Ducks in Colorado, and is also a resident. It is one of the earliest to arrive, reaching Fort Lyon February 20th to March 3rd, Loveland February 21st, and SaUda March 27th (Frey). It is common on the Arkansas near Pueblo in April and September (Beckham), and has been observed as high as Breckenridge on migration by Carter, and at Crested Butte by Warren. On the western slope it is the commonest Duck at Coventry on migration only (Warren) and also in Mesa co. (Rockwell). It has been found nesting at San Luis Lakes by Henshaw and is stated to be a common summer resident in Estes Park by Kellogg, and at Barr by Hersey and Rockwell, where it is also not uncommon in winter. Habits. — "This handsome little duck," writes Goss, " is usually found in small flocks along the edges of shallow, grassy waters, feeding largely on seeds, aquatic plants and insects ; they fatten very fast in the rice- fields, and are very fond of acorns. In exposed situations they feed largely at night, resting by day on bare spots surrounded and hidden by reeds. They are perhaps the best-tasting of our ducks." Henshaw found this species nesting at San Luis Lakes, on June 24th ; the nest was placed under a sage bush thirty feet from the water ; it consisted of a hollow in the sand, lined Avith grasses, and down plucked from the parent-birds' breast. The eggs were pale yellow and measured 1-80 x 1'30. The usual complement is 9 to 12, but as many as eighteen have been found. Blue-winged Teal 43 Genus QUERQUEDULA. Size very small — wing less than 8 ; no sign of a crest ; bill broader than in Nettion ; specukun glossy green, wing-coverts sky blue. Two species in the United States. Blue-winged Teal. Querquedula discors. A.O.U. Checklist no 140 — Colorado Records — Baird 58, p. 780 ; Henshaw 75, p. 477 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; W. G. Smith 87, p. 169 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 149 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194; 06, p. 32; Henderson 03, p. 234; 09, p. 225; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 157 ; Felger 09, p. 280. Description. — Male — Crown, base of the bill and chin, dark brown ; a crescent-shaped white mark across the face in front of the eye ; rest of the head and neck ashy -grey with a mauve gloss ; upper -parts dusky brown, scalloped and streaked with buff y- brown ; below vinaceous, heavily spotted throughout with black ; under tail-coverts black ; a white spot on either side at the base of the tail ; wing with a green metallic speculum, bordered in front by white ; the whole basal portion of the wing light blue ; iris brown, bill black, legs dingy yellow. Length 16; wing 7 0; tail 3-0; culnaen 1-5; tarsus 1-20. The female is mainly speckled above, and grey, mottled with dusky, below, but has the characteristic blue, white and green on the wings. The young bird has the abdomen white, and green on the wing absent. Distribution. — The breeding range of this duck is mainly north of a line drawn from Nova Scotia to New Mexico and thence to Oregon and northwards to Saskatchewan, while on migration and in winter it covers a vast extent of country from Virginia and California to Brazil and Chili. In Colorado the Blue-wing is quite common on migration tliroughout the state in spring and autumn. Hersey and Rockwell state that it is far the most common breeding Duck at Barr, arriving late and leaving early. Henshaw writes that he found it equally abundant with the Green-wing at San Luis Lakes and believed that it bred there ; Aiken who visited San Luis Lakes the following year, confirms this. It was taken by Lieut. Bryan on the South Platte in July many years ago (Baird), and Cowie informed Henderson that it breeds on the plains of Boulder co. Mr. Aiken tells me he found a nest, but without eggs, on June 4th, on the Big Sandy Creek near Ramah, about forty miles east of Colorado Springs on the plains, and there is a specimen in the Aiken collection taken on May 3rd at Falcon in El Paso eo. which might have been breeding or preparing to breed. All other observers only seem to have noticed this duck on migration. It arrives from the south rather late. Smith notes it at Loveland from March 25th 44 Birds of Colorado to April loth, and Frey at Salida, March 27th. It returns early in the fall. Goss states that it is very susceptible to cold. It has been noticed on the Arkansas near Pueblo in May and September (Beckham), near Monon, May 6th (Warren 06), and in Boulder co. (Henderson) ; in the mountains at Crested Butte (Warren), and at Breckenridge (Carter) on migration ; on the western slopes in La Plata co. in spring (Morrison), in San Juan in the fall (Drew), at Coventry on migration (Warren 09), and in Mesa co., spring and fall (Rockwell). Habits. — The Blue- wing inliabits sloughs, shallow pools and reedy margins of ponds. It feeds chiefly on vegetable matter, roots, weeds and seeds ; it is specially fond of rice, and its flesh is greatly esteemed. It is generally silent and flies in small, rather densely massed flocks, it also crowds together when it alights to feed, so forming an easy mark for the pot-hunter. The nest is placed on the ground among rushes bordering a pool or marsh, and is made up of grasses and lined with down. The eggs, 6 to 12 in number, are buffy to creamy- white, and measure 1*85 x 1"30. Felger has taken fresh eggs at Barr on June 26th. Cinnamon Teal. Querquedula cyanoptera. A.O.U. Checklist no 141— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 477 ; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Allen & Brewster 81, p. 198 ; Tresz 82, p. 245 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; W. G. Smith 89, p. 77 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; 06 p. 34 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Warren 09, p. 13. Description. — Male — Head, neck, breast and sides, rufous -brown, ' darkening on the crown and chin and middle of the abdomen ; under tail-coverts dark brown ; back brown, varied with rufous bars and edges ; wings like the Blue-wing, blue at base, then white, then a green speculum ; iris orange, bill black, feet orange, dusky on the joints and webs. Length 16-50 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 3-50 ; cuknen 1-70 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is Uke the female Blue-wing, but is darker and more spotted on the breast and neck, only the upper-throat and chin being unspotted. A young male is like the female, but the markings below are more longitudinal and streak-like. Distribution. — The Cinnamon is remarkable in having two distinct brooding ranges, north and south of the equator in America. The Cinnamon Teal 45 northern area extends from British Cokimbia to western Kansas and south to northern Mexico, the southern area from central Peru to the Straits of Magellan and the Fall-iland Islands. The winter range of the northern birds extends but Uttle further south to southern Mexico, that of the southern birds north, perhaps to Columbia. In Colorado the Cinnamon Teal is a fairly comnion summer resident from the plains to quite high in the mountains. A considerable number also pass through the State to their breeding-grounds further north. They arrive rather late for Ducks, about the middle of April — Colorado Springs April 9th, Loveland April 13th, Lay AjDril 20th (Cooke), and return late in September. They have been noticed breeding on the southern divide of North Park (Coues), at San Luis Lakes (Henshaw), in the mountains of La Plata co. (Morrison), on the mountain lakes near Coventry (Warren), and in the plains near Loveland (W. G. Smith), and at Barr, where it is common but less so than the Blue-wing (Hersey & Rockwell). Habits. — The haunts and habits of the Cinnamon are very similar to those of the Blue-wing. W. G. Smith gives a good account of the nesting -habits ; according to him a dry spot is usually chosen about a hundred yards from the water, shaded by a bunch of grass ; here a deep hole is made, lined with grass, and down from the breast. The eggs, nine or ten in number, are creamy -white and measure 2-0 x 1*35. The female, while laying, covers over the eggs with down, on leaving the nest, so that it is very difficult to locate them, A clutch of eleven eggs of this species was taken by I. C. Hall on June 1st, near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado College Museum. In this case the nest is stated to have been placed in a slough in over six inches of water and to have been made of rushes. Genus SPATULA. Resembhng Anas in most respects but with a large spoon-shaped bill exceeding the head or tarsus in length, and much wider towards the tip than at the base ; bill laminae numerous and projecting ; tail short and pointed of fourteen feathers. One species only in the United States. 46 Birds of Colorado Shoveller. Spatula clypeata. A.O.U. Checklist no 142— Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 478 ; Coues 77, p. 51 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 148 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 54, 194 ; OG, p. 36 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 225 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158. Description. — Male — Head and neck black, slightly glossed with green on the sides of the face and bearing a shght nape crest ; lower- neck, breast, sonxe of the scapulars and the outer tail-feathers white ; Jiower breast and abdomen rufous ; under tail-coverts black ; wing with the lesser coverts hght blue and the speculum green with a white bar above ; the scapulars white, light blue and black ; iris orange, bill black, legs orange. Length 20; wing 10; tail 3-5; culmen 2-7; tarsus 1-7. The female is spotted and streaked with dusky, but has the wiAg as in the male though duller. Young birds are Uke the female. Tli9 shape of the bill will always distinguish this species in any plumage. Distribution. — The northern hemisphere, south to north Africa, soutliern Asia and AustraUa. In America breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay south to California and Texas, but not in eastern Canada or the eastern United States ; south in winter from the CaroUnas and the Gulf states to Colimi^bia and through the West Indies. In Colorado the Shoveller is mainly a migrant though a certain number stay to breed, chiefly in the mountains. Cooke states it is a common resident especially on the western slope, but I have found only a few notices of its breeding — near the south divide of the North Park (Coues), and at San Luis Lakes where Aiken and Henshaw both observed it. At Barr it nests, but less commonly than some of the other Ducks (Rockwell & Hersey). It reaches Loveland from the south IMarch 10th to 20th, and has also been observed on migration in Baca co. (Warren), El Paso co. (Aiken), at Breckenridge (Carter), in Boulder co. (Henderson), and at Orchard (Warren). On the western slope it is rare at Coventry in April (Warren), and not often seen in the Plateau Valley of Mesa co. on migration (Rockwell). Habits. — The favourite resort of the Shoveller is a weedy, shallow pool or marsh where it dabbles on the muddy bottom, with its broad bill and head immersed, in search of weeds, insects, snails and Crustacea, which form its food. It is generally in pairs or quite small parties ; it is strong on the wing but has a feeble voice. Its nest is placed on the ground near water or some- Pintail 47 times on a hummock in a marsh ; it is made of grass and down. The eggs, eight to ten or more, are greenish or buflfy and measure 2* 14 x 1'50. Genus DAFILA. Bill shorter than, the head, exceeding the tarsus and also the middle toe and claw, nearly parallel-sided and with a small nail ; neck rather long ; tail of sixteen feathers, graduated for at least one-third of its total length ; in the adult male when fully developed, nearly as long as the wing, the two central feathers produced and pointed. One species only in North America. Pintail. Dafila acuta. A.O.U. Checklist no 143— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Morrison 89, p. 164; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 194; 06, p. 37 ; Henderson 02, p. 234 ; 09, p. 25 ; Rockwell 08, p. 155 ; Warren 09, p. 13 ; 10, p. 29. Description. — Male — Head and upper part of the neck and a Une along the nape forming a crest, brown ; back and a patch on the flanks brown, finely undulated with white ; central tail-feathers elongated, pointed and black ; below, including the fore-neck and a narrow Une on either side of the nape crest, white ; belly a little speckled with dusky ; under tail-coverts black ; wing chiefly grey brown with a green speculum narrowly bordered above by chestnut and below by white, and on the sides by black ; iris brown, bill black, a little greyish on the edge, legs greyish-blue. Length about 26 ; wing ll'O ; tail 8-0 ; cuhnen 2-2; tarsus 1-60. The female is brown above, speckled on the head, mottled on the back with buffy and white ; below paler, almost white on the breast ; sides like the back ; wing with a faint speculum of greenish between two narrow bars of white ; tail about 4-5, shorter than that of the male ; wing 9 '75. Young birds resemble the females. Distribution. — The Pintail is another widely-spread Duck with a circumpolar range ; it breeds in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. In America the breeding range is north of a Une running rouglilj from Lake IVIichigan to the Pacific, and west from Lake Michigan to Hudson Bay. They winter to the south as far as Panama and the West Indies. In Colorado the Pintail is a common migrant. It is one of the earUest birds in spring, and has been noticed at Loveland the first week in February and at Grand Junction on February 27th (Rockwell). Except for the Blue-winged Teal, Hersey and RockweU found it the most abundant nesting Duck at Barr, while a few birds stay there aU the winter. Warren saw a female with four one-third grown young near 48 Birds of Colorado Medano Ranch on July 2nd, so that it probably breeds in the San Luis Valley. On migration it has been noticed by Carter in ]\Iiddle Park and by Smith at Coventrj' (Warren), while there are examples in the Colorado College Museum from El Paso co. and from Barr Lake, near Denver, both obtained in March. Habits. — This is a typical fresh-water Duck, haunting wet prairies, mud flats and small pools in preference to large sheets of open water, and obtaining a good deal of its food by dibbhng on the bottom with its head down and its tail and legs sticking up in the air ; it seldom, if ever, dives. The eggs, of a buffy or greenish colour, are 7 to 10 in number as a rule, and are laid in a nest made of grasses and hned with down, placed on the ground, usually under the shelter of a bush. They nest early — early May in south Dakota. I have no dates for Colorado. Genus AIX. Head crested ; bill shorter than the head, hardly equal to the tarsus, narrow and moie or less parallel-sided, with a large terminal and downwardly curved nail, lamelbe few, small and not conspicuous, tail of sixteen feathers broad and rounded at the tips. One North American species. Wood-Duck, Aix sponsa. A.O.U. Checklist no 144 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. Ifi5 ; H. G. Smith 95, p. 48 ; Cooke 97, pp. 55, 156, 194 ; 06, p. 40 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 07, p. 198 ; 09, p. 226. Description. — Male — Head and crest brilhant purple and green with white stripes ; throat white ; chest rich chestnut with rows of white triangles ; sides grey with black and white bars and crescents ; shoulders crossed by Vjlack and white bars ; rest of the upper-parts black, with rich irridescent colours ; iris red, bill pinkish-white, darker at the base, culmen, tip and lower mandible black, feet orange. Length 19-5 wing 9-25 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 1-35 ; tarsus 1-45. The female has the head dull grey glossed with green ; the crest, crown, sides of the head and the tliroat white ; the chest brown and the belly white ; the back richly glossed with greyish -brown ; wing 8*60 ; iris brown, bill pltmibeous, black on the culmen, legs yellowish. Wood-Duck 49 Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from Nova Scotia and southern British Columbia, to Cuba, Florida, south Texas and southern California ; wintering in the southern portion of its breeding range. In Colorado the Wood -Duck is distinctly a rare bird, though probably a summer resident when it does occur ; but the nest has not yet been taken in the State. It is occasionally found on the lakes round Denver, and one taken at Littleton on the South Platte May 1st, 1892, is stated by Cooke to be in the collection of Mr. E. J. Oslar ; Hersey reports he took a pair two miles west of Barr Lake in the fall of 1889. It has also been noticed by Aiken in El Paso co. ; by Rowland, Cowie and Werley in Boulder CO. (Henderson) and by W. G. Smith at Loveland (Cooke). Morrison states that it is common near Fort Lewis on the La Plata River, and occurs up to an elevation of 9,500 feet; and though he beUeved it bred, he did not find the nest. Habits. — The Wood- or Summer-Duck — the most briUiantly coloured of all the American species — is found about small lakes, weedy ponds and shady streams? in close proximity to scattered woods, and is only seen on large bodies of water during migration. It is not shy, and often comes to farms and associates with the barn-yard Ducks. Its flight is swift and graceful, and its food consists of insects, seeds and leaves ; it is specially fond of acorns. The nest is placed in a hollow tree, sometimes in the hole of a Woodpecker, sometimes in a natural cavity. It is often quite high up and far from water. The eggs, 6 to 14 in number, are ivory-white and measure 2-0 x 1*50. If the nest is very high up, the parents carry the young birds down to the water in their beaks. Subfamily FULIGULIN^E. The Sea-Ducks have the flattened bill of the River- Ducks, but are distinguished by the hind toe being lobate, i.e. bearing a large membranous lobe ; the legs are rather shorter and placed far back, so that though E 50 Birds of Colorado more awkward on land, they swim and dive with greater facility. The sexes are, as a rule, unlike. Key of thk Genera. a. Tail more than half the wing, the feathers stiS and their bases hardly hidden by the short coverts. Erismatura, p. 64. b. Tail normaL a^ Feathering on the lores or forehead not reaching beyond the posterior border of the nostrils. a* Graduation of the tail less than the length of the bill from the nostril. Marilla, p. 50. b* Graduation of the tail more than the length of the bill from the nostril. a' Anterior edge of the nostril in front of the middle of the culmea. Clangula, p. 56. b* Anterior edge of the nostril behind the middle of the culmen. a* Upper mandible widest behind the nostril, and not elevated or swollen at the base, a* Feathers ending in a straight line across the forehead. Harelda, p. 59. b^ Feathers ending in an acute-pointed triangle on the forehead, a^ Upper mandible constricted to a small nail-like tip. Charitonetta, p. 58. b' Upper mandible rounded at the tip. Histrionicus, p. 60. b* Upper mandible widest at anterior edge of nostril, and elevated or swollen at the base. Oidemia, p. 62. b^ Feathering on the lores or forehead extending forward >> well beyond the posterior border of the nostril. Somateria, p. 61. Genus Marila Bill of ordinary shape without any special swellings or gibbosities, about as long as the head, rLsing high at the forehead ; nail distinct, about one-third the width of the end of the bill and decurved ; tail short and rounded, graduated less than the length of the bill from the nostrils, of 14 to 16 feathers ; tarsus less than two-fifths length of the middle toe and claw ; head not crested ; speculum white or grey. A large cosmopolitan genus with five North American species. Redhead 51 Key of the Species. A. Head and neck brown. a. Bill not longer than the head with a concave culmen. M. americana, p. 51. b. Bill longer than the head ; culmen almost straight, not concave. M. vallisneria, p. 52. B. Head and neck black with a greenish or purplish gloss. a. Speculum white. a^ Larger, wing about 9*0 ; head with a greenish gloss. M. marila, p. 54. b^ Smaller, wing about 8-0 ; head with a purplish glosa. M. affinis, p. 54. b. Speculum grey or silvery ; male with a chestnut collar. M. collaris, p. 55. Redhead. Marila americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 146 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 195 ; 06, p. 41 ; Henderson 03, p. 234, 09, p. 226 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Felger 09, p. 281 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 112. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round rufous-chestnut, on the nape and neck with a coppery -red gloss ; fore-neck, breast, fore- part of the back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts and tail black, becoming white on the middle of the abdomen ; rest of the back, wings and sides of the body silvery, finely undulated with dusky ; longer wing-feathers and speculum silvery, not undulated, iris orange, bill dull blue with the terminal fifth black, feet dull greyish-blue. Length 20-0; wing 9-25; tail 2-75; culmen 1-85; tarsus 1-50. The female is smaller — wing 8-70 — and has the head and neck dull reddish-brown becoming paler on the cheeks and chin, the upper-parts are brownish with the feathers paler-edged ; breast and sides greyish brown, margined with ochraceous, becoming white on the centre of the abdomen. The Redhead closely resembles the Canvas-back ; it can be distin- guished in any plumage by its short bill, less than the middle toe without claw, its concave cvilmen and high forehead, and its nostril well in the basal half of the bill. Distribution.^ — -Breeding along the northern United States and southern border of the Dominion, from Michigan to the Pacific, and in Utah, Nevada and California ; wintering chiefly along the south Atlantic and GuK Coasts and Mississippi Valley south to Mexico City. In Colorado the Redhead is a conamon migrant throughout the State, and one of the earliest to arrive in spring. Felger states that a few e2 52 Birds of Colorado also winter at Barr. It has been seen at Loveland from February 2nd to March 6th ; on the western slope it reaches Grand Junction from February 27th to March 6th, and returns between September 28th and October 22nd, according to Sullivan (Rockwell). It has also been noted from Fort Lyon (Cooke), El Paso eo. (Aiken collection) and Boulder (Henderson), while Warren informs me he saw two in the fall of 1902, on Decker's Lake, near Crested Butte, at about 9,000 feet. This is the only mountain record I have met with. Hersey and Rockwell report that this Duck nests in some numbers at Barr, though it is far more common on migration. A clutch of seven eggs, believed to be this species, was taken by I. C. Hall at Greeley on June 14th, 1903, and were presented by the collector to the Colorado College Museum. Habits. — The Redhead is usually found in considerable flocks on open water, often associating with Canvas- backs and other species ; it is a diving duck and obtains most of its food — aquatic grasses, mollusca, small Crustacea and insects — in this way, though sometimes it dibbles as well in the shallows. It is, as a rule, very good-eating, rivalling to the taste of some the Canvas-back, for which it is often substituted. Its nest is placed on the ground near the water, or some- times among reeds over water like a Coot's. Hall describes the nest he took at Greeley as being placed in a clump of rushes over open water, eight inches deep, and as being made of dry flags and lined with down. The eggs, in this case seven, but often ten in number, are dull white with a greenish tinge and average 2-40 X 1-70. Canvas-back. Marila vallisneria. A.O.U. Checklist no 147 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 55, 195 ; 00, p. 43 ; Felger 02, p. 294 ; 05, p. 421; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 226 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158. Description. — Male — Resembling generally the Redhead but dis- tinguished by the colour of the head and neck which is darker and browner and by the blackish chin and crowTX ; the markings of the back are more silvery ; this colour prevails over the wavy, dusky lines which are much narrower and more broken up ; finally the bill is longer Canvas-back 53 at least equal to the middle toe without claw ; it is straighter, and the forehead does not rise up high behind it, while the nostrils reach the middle of the bill ; iris red, bill blackish throughout, feet greyish-blue. Length 22-0; wing 92-5; tail 27-5; cuknen 2-4; tarsus 1-7. The female resembles the female Redhead, but can be distinguished by the back being barred with fine wavy white lines and by the longer and blackish bill. Distribution. — Breeding from Oregon and Minnesota northwards to Great Slave Lake and Alaska ; in winter eastwards to the Atlantic Coast from Delaware south through the southern and western states and Mexico to the City of Mexico. In Colorado the Canvas-back is somewhat less abundant than the Redhead, but it has been met with on migration over the greater part of the State, especially on the eastern side of the mountains. It arrives from the south early, only a little later than the Redhead. Loveland, February 10th to March 12th, are dates given by Cooke, and it has been noticed in El Paso co. (Aiken), at Orchard, March 26th (Warren), at Fort Lyon (Cooke), and in Boulder co. (Henderson) on the eastern plains ; at Breckenridge (Carter), in the mountains and at Grand Junction, February 20th, by Sullivan (Rockwell). Felger reports that he found it nesting at Barr Lake on June 6th and July 4th, 1900, and this is confirmed by Hersey and Rockwell. Aiken saw a small flock of five on a lake near Limon, May 19th, 1899, which may have contemplated nesting, or were possible late migrants. Cooke behoved that a few birds wintered on the plains of northern Colorado, and Felger confirms this. Habits. — The great reputation of the Canvas-back is due to the fact that in its winter home on Chesapeake Bay it feeds ahnost entirely on the roots and bulbs of the so-called wild celery ( Vallisneria) which grows very abundantly in that estuary ; elsewhere it is no better than any other Duck ; in fact the flavour of all Ducks is entirely dependent on what they have been feeding on. The Canvas-back is generally found in large flocks on considerable sheets of water, and is a strong flyer and a wonderful diver ; when wounded it often escapes in this manner. Owing doubtless to constant persecution, it is exceedingly shy and wary. It resembles the Redhead in its nesting-habits, building very often in shallow water among thick rushes and 54 Birds of Colorado lining its often bulky nest with down. The eggs are said to be rather more greenish in shade than those of the Redhead, and to measure 2' 50 x 1"75. Scaup Duck. Mania marila. A.O.U Checklist ao 148 — Colorado Records — Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 55, 195 ; 06, p. 44; Henderson 03, pp. 107, 110; 09, p. 226; Warren 09, p. 13; Felger 09, p. 281. Description. — Closely resembling M. affinis — the next species — but larger, the head glossed with green instead of purple, and the flanks nearly white with but faint traces of the wavy bars. The female can be distinguished from that of M. affinia by its larger size. Length 19-75; wing 9-0 ; tail 2-80; culmen 2-0 ; tarsus 1-55. Wing of female 8-50. Distribution. — The northern parts of the Old and New Worlds, south in winter ; in America breeding from Minnesota and south-east British Columbia north to Alaska ; in winter chiefly on the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Delaware, in the Mississippi VaUey, and west- wards to southern California. The Scaup is rather a rare duck in Colorado. It has been reported from Boulder co. (Henderson) Barr (Hersey), Longmont (Felger), Breckenridge (Carter), Coventry in April (Warren), and La Plata in fall (Morrison) on migration, while Drew came across it in December in San Juan co., at 9,000 feet, so that perhaps it spends the winter in the southern part of the State. Lesser Scaup Duck. Marila affinis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 149 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; MorrLson 88 p. 140 ; 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 56, 195 ; 06, p. 46 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 225. Description. — Male — Head, neck, front half of the breast, and back black ; the sides of the head glossed with purple ; lower-back, rump, upper and under tail-coverts, tail and primaries, dusky brown or blackish ; middle of the back, scapulars, and some of the upper coverts white with narrow wavy bars of dusky ; below white, slightly mottled with dusky on the lower abdomen and sides ; wing with a white patch on the secondaries forming a speculum ; iris yellow, bill dull bluish with nail black, legs slaty. Length 16-5 ; wing 8-0 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen 1 -7 ; tarsus 1 -2. The female is chiefly dark brown with a conspicuous white patch at the base of the bill, a white chin,speculvu]i and abdomen. The male after the breeding season moults to a plvunage like the female but darker. Ring-necked Duck 55 Distribution. — Breeding from Michigan and central British Columbia northwards to Alaska ; wintering south of this to Panama and the West Indies, and specially on the Atlantic from Delaware to Florida. In Colorado the Lesser Scaup seems to be more abundant than the larger form ; it winters at Barr Lake and perhaps elsewhere on the north-eastern plains, while Drew met with it occasionally in winter in San Juan co. It is, however, most abundant and widespread as a transient on migration, arriving fairly early in spring — Loveland March 8 — 19th ; it is also reported from La Plata co. (Morrison), Fort Lyon (Thorne), Salida April 17th (Frey), El Paso co. (Aiken), Longmont October (Henderson), and Breckenridge (Carter). A mounted female in the Aiken collection, taken as late as May 3rd at Falcon, not far from Colorado Springs, was probably a late migrant. Habits. — This Duck, also frequently known as the Black-head or Blue-bill, takes its most usual name from the sand-banks called scaups or scalps, on which it feeds when on the sea coast in winter. In Colorado it is chiefly known as a transient, when it alights on lakes or reservoirs to rest during its northward and southward journeys. It is a great diver and feeds chiefly on mollusca which it procures in this way, though it is also fond of grain and wild rice. Ring-necked Duck. Mania collaris. A.O.U. Checklist no 150— Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Morrison 89, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, pp. 56 ; 06, p. 48 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 226 ; Warren 09, p. 13 ; 10, p. 79 ; Felger 09, p. 281. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, except the white chin, black glossed with purple ; a ring of dark chestnut round the lower-neck ; fore-breast and upper-parts black, glossed with greenish and purplish ; below white, finely mottled on the sides and lower abdomen with dusky ; under tail-coverts black ; wings with a silvery speculum ; iris yellow, bill black, u^ith the base and a subterminal band bluish-grey, legs slaty. Length 17-75 ; wing 8-0 ; tail 2-5 ; cuhnen 1 -9 ; tarsus 1 -25. The female has the head and neck umber -brown with whitish cheeks and chin, a white eye-ring and no collar ; rest of the plumage dusky brown, becoming white on the lower-breast and abdomen ; speculum grey as in the male. Distribution. — Breeding from Wisconsin and Manitoba to Athabasca Lake and west of the Rockies from Oregon to British Columbia ; in 56 Birds of Colorado winter south over most of the United States and Mexico to Cuba and Guatemala. This is one of the rarer ducks in Colorado and has only been reported a few times. It ia probably only a migrant. There is an example in the Colorado Museum of Natural History at Denver, taken on a lake near Denver, November 10th, 1898, by B. Hayward. Genus CLANGULA. Bill shorter than the head, about as long as the tarsus, very high at the base, narrowed towards the tip ; nostrils well in front of the middle of the bill ; head pufiy-looking and crested ; tail about half the length of the wing, pointed and 16-feathered ; males with a green head with a white patch ; females plain brown. Two species only. Key of the Species. A. Head glossed with greenish ; cheek spot oval or rounded. C. c. americana, ^ Z o o ■ o Great Blue Heron 83 Distribution. — From Alaska and Labrador south through the West Indies an,d Central America to Venezuela ; a summer resident only, north of the middle states ; south of this, a resident. The Great Blue Heron is found throughout Colorado on migration and breeds in suitable localities, chiefly in the north-eastern part of the State, but also in the mountain parks up to about 8,000 feet. It arrives from the south about the second week of April. Frey saw one at Salida as early as March 30th. It has been observed nesting on the Cache la Poudre Creek near Fort Collins (Cooke), at Windsor (Hall), on Crow Creek, north-west of Greeley (Markman), on the St. Vrain near Lyons, in Boulder co. (Henderson), near Barr (Rockwell & Hersey), in Middle Park by Carter, and in Wet Mountain Valley at about 8,000 feet, by Baker (Cooke). In Mesa co. on the western slope it appears to be common up to 9,000 feet, but has not been found breeding ; while Aiken observed it on one occasion as late as November 27th near Divide in Teller co., at about 9,000 feet. Habits. — This large Heron, often mis-called the " Blue Crane," is chiefly met with along the larger rivers and lakes ; here it can often be seen standing motionles? in the shallows, in a somewhat stilted attitude, watching intently for small fishes or frogs, which it quickly snaps up. The flight though powerful is rather heavy and leisurely, the neck crooked and the head drawn back between the shoulders and the legs stretched out behind. They are solitary birds, except during the breeding season, when they generally nest in commu- nities, called heronries. The nest is usually placed in high trees, but sometimes in bushes or on the ground or among the rocks. In Colorado the higher cotton-woods along the rivers and creeks are usually chosen. A set of four eggs of this Heron was presented to the Colorado College Museum by I. C. Hall. They were taken from a heronry of about 200 nests in high cotton- wood trees near Windsor on the Cache la Poudre River. The nests were thirty feet up, and were made of small twigs put solidly together. The eggs were taken May g2 84 Birds of Colorado 11th, and incubation was somewhat advanced. They are oval in shape, pale greenish-blue in colour and measure 2*60 x 1'80 Heronries are occasionally entirely broken up by a severe hailstorm. Such a disaster occurred to a colony near Lyons in Boulder co., in July 1907 ; the ground under the trees was covered with dead birds. Genus HERODIAS. Closely resembling Ardea, but smaller, wing 16 — 17 ; plmnage white throughout, with a train of decomposed scapulars developed in the breeding season ; no occipital crest. One species only in North America. American Egret. Herodias egretta. A.O.U. Checklist no 196 — Colorado Records— Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Cooke 97, p. 197. Description. — Adult — Plumage entirely white ; a train of long, decom- posed plumes from the scapulars extending ten to twelve inches beyond the tail when fully developed ; no lengthened feathers on the head and neck ; iris and bill yellow, legs black. Length 39-5 ; wing 14-75 ; tail 6-25 ; culmen 4-5 ; tarsus 6-5. The female is slightly smaller — wing 14. After the breeding season the long plumes are lost. Young birds have a black bill and no long plumes. Distribution. — The southern United States and the Pacific slope from Oregon south to Patagonia and the West Indies ; a straggler north as far as Nova Scotia and Manitoba. The only notice of this species in Colorado is that of Aiken, who states : " On May 12th, 1900, Mr. A. Gruber and Mr. F. Cikanck, taxidermists in my employ, reported seeing a single bird in a tall cotton - wood tree five miles south of Colorado Springs. As they are familiar with this species as well as with the more common Snowy Heron, there appears no reason to doubt their identification." Hersey informs me he has one in his collection, taken at Barr in June, 1905. Genus EGRETTA. ResembUng Herodias, but smaller, wing 9-5 — 11-5 ; plumage white with an occipital crest, and the dorsal train of decomposed feathers slightly recurved at the tips. Only one North American species. Snowy Egret 85 Snowy Egret. Egretta candidissima . A.O.U. Checklist no 197 — Colorado Records — Hersey 76, p. 430 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 61, 157, 198 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Phimage white throughout, with decomposed plumes on the occiput, lower-neck and scapulars, the latter recurved when perfect ; iris bare, space on face and toes yellow, bill, legs and claws black. Length 24 -0 ; wing 11-0; tail 4 -0 ; culmen 3 '5 ; tarsus 4 -0. The adults after the breeding season lack the decomposed plumes. Distribution.— From Long Island and Oregon south tlirough the West Indies and Central America to the Argentine ; breeding throughout its range, but only a simimer resident in the middle states. In Colorado the Snowy Egret is a somewhat scarce sumnjer bird. It was first noticed by J. C. Hersey, who reported the capture of a sohtary specimen in a small lake thirty miles north-west of Denver, May 4th, 1876. It is less uncommon than usually supposed, but has not yet been found breeding. L. T. Hersey and Rockwell noticed it at Barr or several occasions in April, May and June, but failed to find the nest. It is chiefly met with along the eastern base of the mountains, but has been taken as high as Twin Lakes and Lead- ville, and was also on the western slopes at Glenwood (Carter). Other recorded locaHties are, near Denver (H. G. Smith), Loveland, Fort Collins and Pueblo (Cooke), Colorado Springs (Aiken), SaUda, spring and fall (Frey), Ivremmling and Coventry (Warren), while there is an example in the Aiken collection taken at Howbert in South Park, May 1st, 1904, at about 8,600 feet. Cary notes it from White River P.O. and La Veta. Habits. — In the south, where they were formerly found in great numbers, the Snowy Egrets were social birds, roosting and breeding in large assemblies, generally in bushes over the water, and scattering during the day to obtain their food — small fishes, frogs or aquatic insects. In Colorado, however, they are never very abundant, and only an occasional wanderer is to be found in the neighbourhood of lakes and rivers. This and the Snowy Egret are the birds which have suffered chiefly at the hands of the plume-hunters, owing to the demand for " aigrettes," which are made 86 Birds of Colorado up from the decomposed plumes developed only in the breeding season. Both birds were formerly to be found in millions in Florida and along the Gulf coast ; now, except in a few specially protected United States bird- reservations, the care of which has been assumed by the National Audubon Society, they are practically ex- terminated. Genus DICHROMANASSA. Egrets of medium size, wing 12 — 14, with very short toes, the middle one barely half the length of the tarsus ; feathers of the head and neck sHghtly elongated and a dorsal train in breeding season : plumage dichromatic with two distinct colour phases independent of age, sex or season. One North American species. Reddish Egret. Dichromanassa rufescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 198— Colorado Records— Cooke 97, pp. 61, 157. Description. — Adult, dark phase — Head and neck rufous-chestnut glossed with vinaceous ; rest of the plmnage dark slaty ; decomposed plumes from the interscapular region reaching beyond the tail ; iris white, bill flesh-coloured, terminal two-thirds black ; legs blue-black. Length 31 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 4-5 ; culmen 4-0 ; tarsus 6-0. In the white phase the plumage is white throughout with a slight speckling of grey on the primaries. Young birds of either phase are similar, but without the decomposed plumes. Distribution. — -Florida, the Gulf states, and Lower California south to Guatemala and the West Indies ; a casual wanderer north to Illinois and Colorado. There is a single example — a young bird of the dark phase — in the Aiken collection, taken in 1875 near Colorado Springs. Another is said by Cooke to have been shot by E. L. Berthoud near Golden in about 1890. These are the only known occurrences in the State. Genus BUTORIDES. Small Herons with wings under 8-0 ; bill moderate, longer than the tartiLS ; tail with twelve feathers ; an occipital crest of lengthened, lanceolate, but not decomposed, feathers ; upper-parts glossy green. A wide-spread genus, found all over the New World, and most of the Old except Europe and Northern Asia. Only one species in North America. Green Heron 87 Green Heron. Butorides virescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 201 — Colorado record— Cooke 09, p. 314. Description. — Crown with a long, soft crest, and lengthened, narrow feathers of the back lustrous green ; wing-quills and tail dusky- greenish with a narrow white edge to the wing ; coverts green with tawny edgings ; neck rich purplish-chestnut with the throat-line variegated dusky and white ; below mostly brownish-ash with white on the belly ; iris and eyelids bright yellow, bill greenish-black, feet dull yellowish-green. Length 12 ; wing 7-0 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen 2.45 ; tarsus 2-05. Distribution. Temperate North America, from Oregon and Ontario south thorough the West Indies and Central America as far as Brazil. Though not uncommon in Kansas, this little Heron has only recently been met with in Colorado. Edward A. Preble of the Biological Siu-vey took one at Loveland, July 23rd, 1895. It has probably been overlooked and should not be really rare. Genus NYCTICORAX. Birds of medium size, wing 12 — 13, with a short neck, stout and somewhat compressed bill ; the culmen, tarsus and middle toe with claw, all being approximately equal ; tail short, of twelve feathers ; tibio-tarsus feathered except for about half an inch ; no elongated or decomposed pkunes except those on the occiput. A cosmopohtan genus with eight or nine species ; only one in North America. Black-crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax ncevius. A.O.U. Checklist no 202— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 87, p. 285 ; 96, p. 65 ; 08, p. 185 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 19, 61, 198 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman, 07, p. 155 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159, 10, p. 113. Description. — Adult — Crown and nape, centre of back and scapulars glossy greenish-black ; rest of the upper-parts pale lavender-grey ; below, including the forehead, sides of the face and neck, white ; two or three long filimentous plumes, generally white, froru the occiput ; iris red, bill black, legs yellow. Length 26-0 ; wing 12-5 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 3-15 ; tarsus 3-20. The female is smaller — wing ll-S ; after the breeding season the occipital plumes are lost. The young birds are greyish-brown with paler edges to some of the feathers, and spotted conspicuously with white ; the crown darker, the under-parts paler, streaked with dusky and bu2y. 88 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — From New Brunswick and Manitoba south through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil and Peru ; breeding through- out its range ; a resident from the southern states southwards. In Colorado the Night Heron is a migrant and a summer resident, and is not uncommon ; it is chiefly met with in the north-east part of the State, along the Platte and its affluents, but also goes up into the mountain parks. It was found breeding at San Luis Lakes by Aiken many years ago, and has been taken in Middle and South Parks by Carter. It is rarer on the western slope where it was seen near Grand Junction, August 22nd, 1904, by Sullivan (Rockwell), while Gilmore met with it at Sweetwater Lake. It reaches Colorado towards the end of April. Smith reports an example taken at Fort Lupton between December 20th and 24th, 1902. It is possible, therefore, that some birds may winter. Additional records are : Fort Collins, breeding (Cooke), Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr Lake (Smith 08, and Hersey & Rockwell) Colorado Springs and Limon (Aiken). Habits. — The Night Heron is a somewhat social bird especially ia the breeding season, when they nest together in large heronries in marshes — sometimes in trees, some- times in bushes, or even on the ground. They are rather silent birds except for a guttural " Qua," whence they get the common name of " Qua-bird." Their food consists of small fishes, frogs and other aquatic animals, and is obtained by wading slowly and with considerable dignity through the shallows, and except when the young require constant attention, is chiefly sought at dusk. The eggs, generally four, are of the usual greenish- blue colour and average 2*0 x 1*50. Rockwell (10) has recently published an interesting series of photographs and notes on the breeding of this bird in the Barr swamps. Genus NYCTANASSA. Resembling Nycticorax in shape, but with a much longer tarsus, easily exceeding the culmen and the middle toe and claw, which are approximately equal ; a dorsal train of partly decomjjosea feathers. Only one species is assigned to this genus. o H < Yellow-crowned Night Heron 89 Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Nyctanassa violacea. A.O.U. Checklist no 203— Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 233 ; Cooke 97, p. 62 ; Warren 09, p. 33. Description. — Adult — Crown and a stripe behind the eye white, tinged with tawny ; rest of the head all round black ; general colour above and below greyish-blue, the feathers of the wings and scapulars with darker centres and paler edges ; an occipital crest of 2 to 3 narrow filamentous plumes, and the scapulars elongated, lanceolate and partly decomposed ; iris yellow, bill and legs black. Length 24 ; wing 12-25 ; tail 4-75 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus 3-8. The female is slightly smaller, wing 11-0 ; a young bird is greyish- brown streaked and spotted with bufTy, below streaked brown and white, crown black, streaked with white or buffy. Distribution. — From South Carolina, southern Illinois and Lower CaUforhia south through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil ; casually further north. In Colorado the Night Heron is a very rare straggler ; there was an adult male in Mrs. Maxwell's collection known to have been kiUed in Colorado, and this constituted the only record until recently, when J. W. Frey obtained a single female out of a bunch of five on the Arkansas River just above Salida, May 1st, 1908. This specimen, reported by Warren, was presented by him to the Colorado College Museum. ORDER PALUDICOL^. This order contains the Cranes and Rails of our fauna, together with several other families which do not here concern us. It is such a varied assortment that it is quite incapable of definition by anatomical characters — still less so by external characters, and a reference must be made to the diagnoses of the two families. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Larger birds ; wing over 15 ; toes short and webbed at the base ; hind toe set well above the others (Gruidce). Grus, p. 90. B. Smaller birds ; wing imder 10 ; toe.=; long, slender, not webbed, but sometimes lobed (Rallidce). a. Toes simple, no lateral marginal lobes. a^ Bill longer ; culmen exceeding middle toe and claw. Rallus, p. 93. 90 Birds of Colorado b^ Bill shorter ; culmen less than the middle toe and claw. a* No frontal shield. a' Larger ; wing over 4 ; nostrils about the middle of the bill. Porzana, p. 95. b' Smaller ; wing under 3 ; nostrils nearer the base of the bUl. Creciscus, p. 96. b^ A frontal shield on the front part of the head. Gallinula, p. 97. b. Toes with a series of lateral marginal lobes ; a frontal shield present. Fulica, p, 97. Family GRUID^E. The Cranes are large birds with long legs and necks ; the bill is long and generally exceeds the length of the head ; part of the face is generally naked and often wattled or papillose ; there are twelve tail-feathers and eleven primaries, and the trachea or windpipe is generally convoluted and packed away in a hollow space formed between the walls of the keel of the sternum ; the legs are long, the tarsi scutellate in front, the toes short and webbed at the base ; the hallux very short and elevated above the other toes. The Cranes are externally not unlike the Storks, with which they were formerly often associated, but they differ very essentially in internal structure. Externally they may be distinguished by the grooving of the bill, in which are situated the nostrils, and by the elevation of the hallux above the toes. Genus GRUS. The characters of the family, to which may be added — plumage white or grey in the adult, rusty in the young ; head more or less bare of feathers and not crested. All the three North American species have been taken in Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Pltunage white, primaries black. G. americana, p. 91. B. Plumage slaty -grey. a. Larger ; wing 21 — 22. G. mexicana, p. 92. b. Smaller; wing 18 — 19. G. canadensis, p. 91. Whooping Crane 91 Whooping Crane. Grus americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 20-1— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Morrison 89, p. ICG ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 62 ; Felger 09, p. 286. Description. — Adult — Plumage pure white, except the primaries, their coverts, and the alula, which are black ; iris yeUow ; bill dusky- greenish ; bare skin of head which runs back to a point on the occiput, and also on to the cheeks below the eyes, carmine ; legs black. Length about 50 ; wing 24 ; tail 9-0 cuhnen 6 ; tarsus 12. A young bird has the head feathered and the plumage varied with rusty-brown. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Iowa to Saskatchewan ; migrat- ing south along the Mississippi Valley to Central Mexico. In Colorado the Whooping Crane was formerly, perhaps, more common. Aiken, thirty- five years ago, noted it as " occasional on migration," but it now seems to be very rare, and I only find two definite records of its occurrence. W. G. Smith observed it at Loveland, April 8th to 16th. There is a moulted specimen in the Museum at Fort Collins, but it is not definitely stated by Cooke where it was obtained. Little Brown Crane. Gi-us canadensis. A.O.U. CheckHst no 205— Colorado Records— Thorne 87, p. 264; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 62, 198. Description. — Resembling in every respect the SandhiU Crane (G. mexicana) but considerably smaller. Length 36 ; wing 19-5 ; tail 7-75 ; cuhnen 4-40 ; tarsus 8-5. Distribution. — Breeding far north, from Alaska to Hudson Bay, migrating south through Colorado to Texas and Mexico. Most of the Colorado references to this species reaUy belong to the SandhiU, as the two birds have often been confused. The Little Brown Crane, however, passes through Colorado on migration. It was taken by Captain Thorne at Fort Lyon ; there is a mounted example in the Museiun at Fort Collins and also one in the collection of Mr. A. T. Allen, taken near Denver (Cooke), while Aiken tells me he had two brought to him, March 27th and 28th, 1900, which had been killed close to Colorado Springs. In the State Historical Society's collection at Denver there is a male, killed at Hooper, Costilla co., March 27th, 1906, by J. L. Wolfe, and a female from Magnolia, Arapahoe co., about fifteen miles east of Denver, taken by H. Todenwarth. The stomach of the former example contained " about half-a-pint of wheat." C. S. Thompson informs me of the capture of an example at Edwards, Eagle CO., April 1st, 1903. This is apparently the first record for the western slope. 92 Birds of Colorado Sandhill Crane. Grus mexicana. A.O.U. Checklist no 206— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 14 (G. canadensis) ; Aiken 72, p. 109 ; Henshaw 75, p, 467 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Nash 83, p. 225 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 62, 198 ; Warren, 04, p. 39 ; 09, p. 13 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159. Description. — Adult — General colour above and below slaty-grey, more or less washed with rusty ; chin, cheeks and throat rather paler, primaries more dusky ; iris crimson, bill blackish, the bare skin of the head, which runs back to form a more or less straight line transversely on the occiput, and hardly extends on to both cheeks, reddish; legs blackLh. Length about 48 ; wing 21 ; tail 10-0 ; culmen 5-25 ; tarsus 9-0. Young birds have the head feathered and a much stronger rusty wash, which however is not lost till after maturity. Distribution.— Southern Canada south to Florida and Central Mexico, not in the eastern states north of Georgia ; wintering along the Gulf and in Mexico ; breeding locally elsewhere. The Sandhill Crane is not a very rare bird in Colorado ; it breeds chiefly in the mountain parks from 7,000 to 9,500 feet, and migrates south in winter. It is stated by Cooke to winter in the Rio Grande Valley, whence it was first taken in the State by Capt. Gunnison in 1853 (Baird) ; but the bulk at any rate of these birds spend a month or so there only, in autvunn and spring, on their way further south and north. It has been observed breeding in the Animas Parks at 7,000 feet by Drew, in Middle Park by Carter, in Routt co. by Cooke, and in Mesa co. by Rockwell, while Warren found it nesting in the north-west corner of Gunnison co., at about 8,000 feet. This is a bird which is soon driven away by closer settlement, and it was no doubt formerly much more abundant. Other records are, Barr Lake (Hersey & Rockwell), Pueblo (Nash), La Plata co. (Morrison), and Wet Mountain Valley (Baker apud Cooke). Habits. — The Sandliill, like other Cranes, prefers an open, treeless country where it can see the approach of enemies from afar. If alarmed it springs up into the air and flies heavily away, giving out its powerful and sonorous cry, which is also often heard when the birds are migrating, far overhead. Cranes are also very remarkable for their dances and antics during the breeding season ; they bow low and Virginia Rail 93 leap, droop their wings, and skip and work themselves into a great state at this time. Warren (04) found a nest on an island in a small lake in north-western Gunnison co., at an elevation of 8,000 feet, on June 5th, 1903 ; the nest was placed on a tussock of grass, and was merely a flat platform about two feet across, chiefly composed of swamp-grass ; on this platform lay two large eggs. These are light greenish- brown in colour, blotched all over with reddish-brown, rather more thickly towards the larger end of the egg, though in shape they are almost elliptical. They average 3-98 X 2-44. Family RALLIDiE. The Rails and Coots, which constitute this family, are marsh or water birds of retiring habits, running through and skulking in grass and reeds. The face is always feathered, the tail is generally very short, and contains ten to fourteen rectrices ; the legs are rather short and the lower portion of the tibia is always bare of feathers ; all the toes are long and slender, and the hind toe is jointed at a higher level than the others. Genus RALLUS. Bill long and slender, the culmen longer than the middle toe and claw ; no frontal shield ; nostrils in a long groove near the base of the bill ; tail short, less than half the length of the wing ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw, A cosmopoHtan genus, containing the Water Rails ; some eight species and subspecies are recognized in North America. Virginia Rail. Rallus virginianus. A.O.U. Checkhst no 212— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 210; Henshaw 75, p. 468 ; Beckham 85, p. 144 ; 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 89, p. 166 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 63, 158, 198 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227. Description. — Above dusky brown, the feathers of the back edged with olive-brown ; sides of the face ashy-grey, darker round the eye ; 94 Birds of Colorado chin white, becoming pale rufous on the breast ; thighs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ashy-black, barred with white ; wing-coverts chestnut, forming a patch ; iris red, bill dusky, paler on the lower mandible, feet yellowish -brown. Length 9-0; wing 4-25; tail 1-6; cuknen 1 '55 ; tarsus 1 -5. The female is slightly smaller — wing 3-90 ; young birds have the plumage much mottled with black, but the chestnut wing-patch is always present. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from Labrador and Vancouver Island, south throughout the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and south to Guatemala and Cuba. In Colorado the Virginia Rail, though seldom seen, appears to be a fairly common stunmer resident in the eastern plains, extending up into the parks to about 8,000 feet. I have not heard of it on the western slopes, though, as it is found in Utah, it probably occurs. It arrives from the south about the second week in April — Loveland, April 9th (H. G. Smith) — and breeds where suitable conditions exist. Apparently a few birds occasionally winter in the State, as an example was brought to Aiken, February 16th, 1899, which was taken at a spring a few miles from Colorado Springs, and this was at the end of one of the coldest spells known for many years. Mr. J. C. Hersey informs me that a few spend the winter at Barr Lake every year, where it also nests quite, commonly. Breeding records are : Loveland and Fort CoUins (Cooke) Boulder cc, plains (Gale), Fountain and San Luis Lakes (Aiken) ; other records are — Pueblo, May 20th and November 3rd (Beckliam), Wet Mountain Valley (Cooke). Habits. — Like all Rails this species is a timid, skulking bird, hiding in the thick reed-beds of swamps and marshes both fresh and salt, and more often heard than seen. It has a kind of grunting note, heard most frequently in the evening or at night when it is more active than in the middle of the day. The Virginia Rail walks with a very deliberate step, with its short tail cocked up, and presents rather a ludicrous appearance. The nest is placed on the ground, usually in wet, boggy places, and is composed of rushes and swamp-grasses woven together ; it is sometimes fixed on a dry tussock, and is generally carefully concealed. A clutch of twelve eggs, taken by I. C. Hall near Greeley, June 1st, 1903, Sora Rail 95 and presented by him to the Colorado College Museum, were slightly incubated. They are pale creamy-white with scattered spots and specks of reddish-browTi. and a very pale lilac, and average r25 x '90. Gale's nest only contained seven eggs — it was taken May 27th, and the eggs were badly incubated. Genus PORZANA. Bill short and compressed, the culmen less than the middle toe and claw, nostrils linear oval, about the middle of the bill ; tail very short as in Rallus ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw ; toes not webbed. An almost cosmopolitan genus, but as now restricted, with only one North American species. Sora. Porzana Carolina. A.O.U. Checklist no 214 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 63, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 227 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; Felger 09, p. 86 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Male — General colour above olive-brown, most of the feathers with black centres and very characteristic, dead-white edges to others ; crown, face in front of eye, chin, and a narrow throat-jDatch black ; rest of the head and breast ashy-grey ; lower-breast white, tinged with rufous towards the under tail-coverts ; sides and under wing-coverts barred black and white ; iris brown, bill greenish, rather orange at the base in the breeding season, legs greenish. Length 0-75 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 1'5 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is slightly smaller — wing 4-0 ; a young bird has no black or ashy on the face or neck ; the chin is white and the throat and breast washed with rufous. Distribution. — Breeding from Newfoundland and British Columbia south over most of the United States ; wintering from South Carolina and the Gulf States to the West Indies and northern Sovith America. The Sora is quite a common siunmer resident in Colorado in suitable localities, breeding from the plains up to about 9,000 feet in the valley of the Blue River (Carter), but chiefly in north-east Colorado. It has been reported from Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr, where is nests plentifully (Hersey & Rockwell), Lay, in Rout co., probably breeding (Warren), Colorado Springs (Aiken) and Salida (Colo. Coll. Mus.), and is probably common elsewhere. Felger found, on September 2nd, 1903, 96 Birds of Colorado a dead bird of this species near the torrainal moraine of the Arapahoe glacier in Boulder co., at an elevation of about 12,500 feet. This was probably an accidental occurrence. Habits. — This little Rail is very abundant in the swamps of the Atlantic states, where large numbers are killed by gunners for the restaurants, and it is known as the " Ortolan." In their habits they are not very different from the Virginia Rail, though more often found in meadow-lands and on cultivated ground. A set of seven eggs taken at Greeley on June 1st, 1903, by I. C. Hall and presented by him to the Colorado College Museum, are quite distinct from those of the Virginia Rail. They are drab with a few large blotches and round spots of purplish and reddish-brown ; in shape they are rather more pointed and they average 1*25 X '91. Gale notes that fresh eggs are found about May 15th, at 5,500 feet, and about July 5th, at 10,000 feet. A nest with fourteen eggs, collected by Bragg north-east of Boulder, Juno 7th, 1904, is in the University of Colorado Museum. Genus CRECISCUS. Hardly differing from Porzatia, except that the bill is more slender and acute, and that the nostrils are nearer the base of the bill than the tip. Two closely allied species are recognized in the last supplement of the A.O.U. Checklist, from eastern and western North America respectively. Black Rail. Creciscus jamaicen&is. A.O.U. Checklist no 216— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, p. 158. Description. — Adult — Above blackish, nape and shoulders dark reddish-brown, back and wings spotted with white ; below slaty-grey, darker and cross-barred with white on the abdomen and under wing- coverts ; iris red, bill black, feet greenish. Length 5 ; wing 2-95 ; tail 1 -35 ; culmen -53 ; tarsus -89. Young birds are paler below, especially on the throat, and the crown is brownish rather than blackish. Florida Gallinule 97 Distribution. — The eastern United States from Massachusetts and Kansas southwards to Jamaica and Cuba, but always a rare bird. The claim of the Black Rail to be included in the Colorado list rests on the statement of Mr. David Bruce of Brockport, N.Y., that he once shot a specimen in May at a pond near Denver. Like all Rails, it is a skulking bird, and is probably not nearly so rare as is generally supposed. It is known to breed in Kansas. Genus GALLINULA. Bill short, stout and rather compressed, running dii'ectly back into a frontal shield on the fore-part of the head ; nostrils elongated ovals near the middle of the bill ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw ; toes with a narrow lateral membrane, but not webbed or lobed. A widely distributed genus in the Old and New Worlds, with one North American species ; occurring but seldom in Colorado. Florida Gallinule. Gallinula galeata. A.O.U. Checklist no 219 — Colorado Records — Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 63, 158. Description. — Head, neck and under-parts greyish-black ; darkest on the head, whitening on the abdomen ; back brownish-olive ; wings and tail dusky ; outer web of outer primary, a few stripes on the flanks and under tail-coverts, white ; iris red or brown, bill and frontal shield red, the former tipped with yellow ; legs greenish with a red ring round the tibia. Length 14-0 ; wing 6-8 ; tail 3-0; tarsus 2-2 ; cuknen MO, with frontal shield 1-75. The young have no red on the bill or legs, the frontal shield is undeveloped, and the under-parts are more extensively white. Distribution. — From Ontario, Minnesota and California south through the West Indies and Central America to the Argentine. The Florida Gallinule is hardly known in Colorado ; it can only be considered a rare straggler. Allen and Brewster saw one in the flesh in Colorado Springs on May 9th, and E. L. Berthoud informed Cooke he had seen one on Lathrop Lake, near Golden, in 1883. Genus FULICA. Resembling Gallinula generally as regards bill, frontal shield and wing, but the toes long and provided with a scalloped lateral membranous lobe on either side, corresponding to the individual phalanges. A cosmopolitan genus with one North American species. H 98 Birds of Colorado American Coot. Fulica americana. A.O.U Checklist no 221 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Henshaw 75, p. 469 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 63, 199 ; Keyser 02, p. 145 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234, 09, p. 227 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Marknaan 07, p. 155 ; Richards 08, p. 38 ; Rockwell 08, p. 158 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 114. Description. — Advdt — Dark ashy-grey above, paler below, darkening on the head and neck to blackish ; edge of the alula, outer edge of the outer web of the outer primary, tips of the secondaries and outer under- tail-coverts white ; central under tail-coverts black ; iris carmine, bill white or fleshy with a spot of reddish-black near the tip and at the base of the frontal shield, legs yeUowish-green. Length 14-0 ; wing 7-6 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen with frontal shield 1-70 ; tarsus 2-0. In winter the aljdomen is whitish owing to white tips to the feathers ; young birds are duUer and paler ; they have the bill dingy and no frontal shield. Distribution. — From New Brunswick and British Columbia south- wards through the West Indies and Central America to northern South America. The American Coot or Mud-hen, as it is more familiarly termed, is a common summer resident in Colorado, breeding plentifully chiefly in the north-eastern plains region and in the mountain parks, but also at very considerable elevations, up to 10,000 feet at least. There is a nestling in the Aiken collection obtained by Aiken at California Gulch near Leadville, between 10,000 and 11,000 feet. It does not seem to be so abundant on the western slopes, where it is noted as not common both near Coventry (Warren) and in Mesa co. (Rockwell). It arrives from the south about the second haK of March. I am told by Hersoy that a certain number spend the winter at Barr Lake, while this is confirmed by Richards, who saw a Mud-hen at Littleton on Christmas Day, 1907. Other breeding records are Loveland (Gale), Greeley (Hall), Middle and South Parka (Carter), Buena Vista (Keyser), and San Luis Lake (Henshaw). Habits. — Coots somewhat resemble Gallinules ia their habits, but they are more social in their ways, and fonder of open water. They like to swim about in small com- panies, nodding their heads in a characteristic fashion as they go, and are easily identified by their shiny-whity beaks. They rise from the water with considerable American Coot 99 difficulty, but when fairly in the air fly quite steadily and strongly, though they always prefer to avoid danger by hiding in the reeds. They are not very good divers. The American Coot nests in colonies among growing reeds in shallow or sometimes in deeper water. The nests which are only a few feet apart, are massive structures of interlaced weeds and rushes, generally floating and anchored among the growing reeds, and high enough out of the water to keep the eggs dry. The eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are pale drab fairly uniformly spotted and dotted with dark bro"wai. A clutch of eight taken by I. C. Hall, May 26th, 1902, near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado College Museum, are rather rough and pointed, and measure 1*95 X 1*3. Gale found fresh eggs between June 5th and 20th about Loveland, while Henshaw states that by June 22nd they had hardly finished laying at San Luis Lakes. ORDER LEMICOL^. The birds included in this order are chiefly shore and marsh haunting forms, such as Snipes, Sandpipers, Plovers and their allies. The members of the order are characterized by a bill which is usually slender, and has a groove on each side with the nostril-opening near its base ; the wings are generally long and there are always eleven primaries ; the legs, too, are generally long and have the lower part of the tibio-tarsus naked ; the toes are usually short and are three or four in number ; the hind toe, if present, is jointed well up above the others ; the anterior toes are fully webbed or not webbed, but most frequently partially webbed. The young birds when hatched, are clothed with down, and able to run about almost at once. H 2 100 Birds of Colorado Key of the Families and Geneea. A. Toes with a marginal web like a Coot {Phaleropodidce). a. Marginal web scalloped at each joint. Lobipes, p. 101. b. Marginal web even and continuous, not scalloped. Steganopus, p. 102. B. Toes without a marginal web. a. Tarsus with reticulate scales before and behind. a^ Bill long, far longer than the head ; without a dertnun {RecurvirosiridcE). a^ Bill flattened and up-curved. Recurvirostra, p. 104. b* Bill acute, slender and straight. Himantopus, p. 106. b^ Bill as long as, or less than, the head, ending in a hard convex swelling — the dertrum {Glmradriidce). a^ A small hind-too present. Squatarola, p. 130. b^ No hind toe. a' Upper-parts spotted, below black in summer. Charadrius, p. 131. b' Above plain coloured, below white. a* With black bands or patches on the fore-neck, a^ Tail less than half the wing, nearly even. iEgialitis, p. 134. b^ Tail at least half the wing, strongly graduated. Oxyechus, p. 132. b* Without black bands or patches. Podosacys, p. 135. b. Tarsus with transverse scutes in front and behind (Scolopacidcs). a^ Hind toe present. a- Ear-opening below the eye. a' Three outer primaries attenuated. Philohela, p. 107. b^ Three outer primaries normal. a* Sixteen tail-feathers, plumage streaky. Gallinago, p. 109. b* Tweh'e tail-feathers, plumage mottled. Macrorhamphus, p. 111. b^ Ear-opening behind the eye in the normal position. a^ Toes cleft to the base, without webs, a* Bill about equal to the tarsus. Pisobia, p. 113. b^ Bill distinctly longer than the tarsus. Pelidna, p. 116. b' Toes always webbed to a greater or less extent, a* Cuhnon distinctly shorter than the tarsus, a* Tail long, about half the wing, graduated. Bartramia, p. 125. b^ Tail short, loss than half the wing, even. Totanus, p. 120. American Coot 101 b* Culmen approximately equal to the tarsus. a^ Tail unbarred. a^ Larger ; wing over 5-0, bill longer than the head. Micropalama, p. 112. b^ Smaller ; wing under 4-0, bill hardly as long as the head. Ereunetes, p. 117. b* Tail barred with dusky and white — on the outer feathers, at any rate. a'' Larger ; wing over 7. a' A white patch on the wing and at the base of the tail. Catoptrophorus, p. 123. b^ No white patches on wing and tail. Limosa, p. 119. b* Smaller ; wing under 6. zP Axillaries and under wing-coverts banded white and dusky ; lower breast plain white. Helodromas, p. 122. b^ Axillaries and under wing-eoverts plain white, abdomen spotted. Actitis, p. 126. b^ Three toes only, without webs. Calidris, p. 118. c. Tarsus with transverse scutes in front and reticulated at the sides and behind. a^. Bill long and slender and down-curved. Numenius, p. 128. b^. Bill short, conical and straight (Aphrizidce). Arenaria, p. 136. Family PHALEROPODIDiE. The Phalaropes are a small family of birds, resembling the Sandpipers in general form and structure, except that their anterior toes are bordered by a well-developed marginal web, sometimes cut into lobes, as in the Coots and Grebes. The females are larger and more brightly coloured than the males and, as is generally the case under these circumstances, the latter perform the duties of incubation. Genus LOBIPES. Bill long and slender, though shorter than in Steganopus, tapering, acute and pointed, the culmen shghtly exceeding or equal to the tarsus and middle toe and claw ; tail short and rounded ; legs comparatively short, and only a short portion of the tibio-tarsus bare ; toes margined with a membrane scalloped at each joint ; the middle and inner toe united basally to the second joint, the middle and outer to the first joint. 102 Birds of Colorado Northern Phalarope. Lobipes Idbatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 223— Colorado Records — Drew 81, p. 249 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 63, 199 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 13 ; Henderson 09, p. 227 ; Felgor 09, p. 287. Description. — Female in summer — Above dark slaty, becoming dusky on the wings and tail ; back and scapulars with a few streaks of tawny ; a white wing-bar ; a large rusty patch on either side of the neck nearly meeting below ; under-parts chiefly white ; the sides of the breast and flanks marked with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill and feet black. Length 7-5 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen, -85 ; tarsus -75. The male is smaller and duller. In winter there is no rusty or tawny ; the upper-parts are grey or ashy, variegated with white edges ; below throughout, including the forehead and a stripe above the eye, white ; a dusky stripe below the eye to the ear-coverts. Young birds are dusky above and often show buffy edges to the scapulars. Distribution. — Circumpolar, breeding far north in both hemispheres, wintering in north Africa and south Asia in the Old World. In America breeding from Alaska to Hudson Bay and Greenland, south in winter as far as Guatemala. In Colorado this species is only known as a migrant, passing through the State in May and returning in October. It crosses the mountains as well as the plains, and has been reported from Howardsville, 9,500 feet. May 22nd (Drew), Middle Park, May 26th, and Breckenridge (Carter), Coventry and near Steamboat Springs, June 1st (Warren), in the mountainous half of the State ; in the plains from Colorado Springs, May 14th and 29th (Aiken coll.), Loveland, May 1st to 9th (Cooke), Barr Lake, May, September (Felger) and Boulder co. (Henderson). Habits. — The Phalaropes are all more abundant along the coast than inland. They swim lightly and easily, picking among the floating debris for their food. The male undertakes the chief duties of incubation, and as is generally the case, this habit is correlated with smaller size and duller markings. ■ Genus STEGANOPUS. Bill long and slender, sUghtly flattened and depressed, the culmen about equal to the tarsus, both clearly exceeding the middle toe and claw ; tail short and doubly emarginate ; toes with an even, unscalloped marginal web, united basally only, not beyond the first joint in the case of the middle and inner ones. Wilson's Phalarope 103 Wilson's Phalarope. Steganopus tricolor. A.O.U. Checklist no 224 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Morrison. 89, p. 167 ; Cook© 97, pp. 19, 63, 199 ; Henderson 08, p. 107 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; 10, p. 29 ; Hersey & RockweU 09, p. 114. Description. — Female in summer — Crown ashy -grey, becoming white on a narrow stripe along the neck ; a black band from the eye along the sides of the neck, becoming chestnut posteriorly and continued as scattered patches on to the scapulars ; rest of the upper-parts slaty- grey, dusky brown on the wings ; upper tail-coverts white ; below white, the lower part of the neck and sides of the chest washed with rufous ; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 9-5 ; wing 5-1 ; tail 2-0; ciihnen 1*3 ; tarsus 1-2. The male is rather smaller — wing 4-8 — and less brightly marked. In winter there is no black or rusty ; the vipper -parts are piu-e ashy-grey edged with whitish ; below, the upper tail-coverts, Hne over the eye and forehead, whit 3 ; breast and sides washed with dusky. Young birds are dusky brown above, the f-^athers edged with bufiy-rufous ; below white, the breast and lower-neck washed with rufous. Distribution. — Breeding from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, south to Utah and Illinois ; south in %vinter as far as Patagonia. Wilson's Phalarope is a fairly common migrant in Colorado, while a certain proportion of the birds stop through the summer and breed in the north-oast of the State along the lower Platte Valley, and perhaps at San Luis Lakes, whence there is a young bird of the year, taken July 10th, in the Aiken collection. Warren recently found it common at Medano Ranch in June. In other parts of the State it is chiefly known as a migrant. It reaches Loveland about the last week of April. Breeding records are Fort Collins (Cooke), Loveland (Gale) ; Barr Lake (Hersey & Rockwell) ; on migration, Middlo and South Parks (Carter), Salida, May 4th (Frey), Glenwood Spring (Cooke), and Coventry (Warren). Habits. — ^This Phalarope is almost always found near water, where they either swim about in a very buoyant manner or run in shallows and moist grass, picking up small mollusca and insects which form their food. Gale found three nests on Jvtne 19th, near Loveland ; they consisted merely of a little depression in the ground near a lake, lined with a few grasses and contained four 104 Birds of Colorado eggs. He believed that a second brood was usual, and that the first eggs were laid about May 20th. On another occasion he watched a large number of these birds on a lake near Boulder. Some of the birds had paired and kept near the shore where they were busy feeding, but the larger number were swimming about in the centre of the lake. These he subsequently watched performing a series of aerial evolutions under the leadership of one bird — up, around and zigzagging to and fro across the lake. He believed that these birds were preparing to go further north. The eggs, usually four in number, are rather pyriform in shape ; they are greenish or olive-bro^vn, rather thickly spotted and blotched with sepia or blackish-broA\Ti, and measure I'lO x 80. Family RECURVIROSTRID^. This small family comprises the Avocets and Stilts, characterized by their long legs and bills, which latter are either straight or up-turned ; tarsus without scutes, covered wdth reticulate scales ; toes three or four, semi- palmate or nearly fully webbed. Genus RECURVIROSTRA. Bill long and pointed, much longer than the head, both mandibles flattened and up-curvod towards the tips ; legs long, the tarsus about twice the length of the middle too and covered with reticulated scales all round ; hind toe small but clawed, front toes about half -webbed. A cosmopolitan genus of four species, only one of which is North American. American Avocet. Recurvirostra americana. A.O.U. Checklist no 225— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Coues 74, p. 4G0 ; Henshaw 75, p. 448 ; Drew 81, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Goss 91, p. 152 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 64, 199 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Markman hi, p. 156 ; Warren 09, p. 14. American Avocet 105 Description. — In summer — Head and neck all round pale cinnamon ; paling to w hite on the front of the face and below behind the breast ; lower-back and upper tail-coverts white ; tail pearly-white ; wings chiefly black with two longitudinal bands of white formed by the edges of some of the coverts, secondaries and outer scapulars ; iris pink or brown, bill black, legs dull blue. Length 17-0 ; wing 9-0. ; tail 3-0 ; culmen 3-7 ; tarsus 3-7 ; but dimensions varying considerably. In winter the head and neck are pearly-grey. Young birds are like the summer adults, but have tawny edgings to the black feathers and a more or less straight bill. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Alberta and Manitoba to south- western Texas ; in winter south as far as Guatemala, Cuba and Jamaica. In Colorado the Avocet is common on migration, and is also an abundant suromer resident in suitable localities, breeding along the shores of the alkali lakes, in the South Platte valley of the north-east plains, and in the mountain parks up to about 8,000 feet. It nests abundantly at San Luis Lakes, where it was noticed by Aiken, Goss and Cooke, and also along the Arkansas near Fort Lyon (Coues) and in South Park (Carter), while Gale and W. G. Smith took nests near Loveland, and Rockwell and Hersey at Barr. Other records are : Arkansas River (Aiken) and Coventry (Warren), where, as seems always the case on the western slope, it is not at all common. It is noted from Fort Lyon as early as March 28th, and from Loveland, April 9th, and in the fall at Salida by Frey, September 26th. Habits. — The favourite resort of this Avocet are the alkaline lakes which are so abundant throughout the dry western districts of North America. Here it wades along in the shallow water, probing with its curiously shaped bill in the soft mud. It also swims with perfect ease and considerable grace, often alighting on the water from above. Where they have not been much molested they are not shy, and fill the air with their harsh cries when their breeding-places are being invaded. The nests are placed near the shores of the lakes, and consist of a slight depression lined with a few grasses or weeds. The eggs, generally four in number, are somewhat pjTiform in shape, and olive-drab heavily blotched with purplish-brown in colour. They measure about r90 X 1*30, but vary considerably not only in 106 Birds of Colorado dimensions but in colour and shape. Dille gives June 12th as an average date for fresh eggs ; Henshaw at San Luis Lakes found by June 21st most of the eggs already hatched, but Goss took a clutch of four at the same place as late as July 5th. Genus HIMANTOPUS. Bill very long, slender and pointed, about twice as long as the middle toe and claw ; tail short ; legs very long, stretching far beyond the wings and tail ; tarsus about three times the length of the middle toe and claw, covered with a fine netv.ork of hexagonal scales ; hind toe absent, front toes moderate, basally webbed. An almost cosmopolitan genus with about seven species ; only one is found in Xorth America. Black-necked Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 226 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 450 ; Drew 81, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, p. 64 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 287 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult female — Above, including the crown, sides of the face round the eye, back of the neck, centre of the back and mngs, glossy black ; below, including the front of the face, a spot above and behind the eye, riunp and upper tail-coverts white ; tail pearly-grey ; iris red, bill black, legs red drying yellow. Length 14-0 ; wing 8-5 ; tail 2-4 ; cuknen 2-3 ; tarsus 3-9. The male is rather larger — wing 9-25 ; culmen 2-70. Young birds have the upper-parts ashy-brown, the feathers margined with bufiy or whitish, and the tail with dusky markings. Distribution. — Breeding chieflj' from Minnesota and Oregon to Florida and Texas, south in winter as far as Peru and the West Indies. The Stilt is api^arently a rare bird in Colorado, except in the south. It was first found nesting in the State by Henshaw at the San Luis Lakes many years ago, and the only other definite notices of its occur- rence are those of Rockwell, who quotes Miss Eggleston to the effect that it is an irregular and rather rare migi'ant at Grand Junction, and of Hersey and Rockwell who once saw it at Barr. Neither Gale, Carter nor G. W. Smith mentions it, nor does it ajipear to reach Wyoming. Henderson's Boulder record seems a doubtful one, but there is an example in the State Historical Society's Collection at Denver, shot near Fort Logan in April, 1899 (Felger). Black-necked Stilt 107 Habits. — Henshaw found the Stilt associating with the Avocet and closely resembling it in nearly every respect, except that it does not swim readily, though other observers state that it occasionally does take to deep water ; as its toes are not webbed and its legs very long, this is as one would expect. Notwithstanding its long legs it is a graceful bird, and flies well and strongly, with head partially drawn back and its legs extended behind. As already stated Henshaw found a single nest at the San Luis Lakes, June 21st ; it resembled in every way that of the Avocet, and was merely a depression in the ground lined with grasses ; it contained four eggs resembling those of the Avocet but smaller ; they measured 1"74: x rSO. Family SCOLOPACID^. This is the most extensive family of the order and contains the Snipes and Sandpipers. The bill is long, nearly always exceeding the head, and is generally covered with soft, sensitive skin throughout, and never ends in the hard swelling or dertrum so characteristic of the Charadriidce ; it is straight or slightly up- or down-curved ; nostrils exposed, generally near the base of the nasal groove, which extends for half or three-quarters the length of the bill ; tail of twelve feathers (except Gallinago) ; tarsus always scutellate in front and, with the exception of Numenius, behind as well ; four toes present except in Calidris', webbing variable. Genus PHILOHELA. Bill long, straight and slender, covered with a soft and sensitive skin and slightly swoUen at the tip ; culmen about twice the length of the tarsus ; wings short and rounded, the tliree outer primaries attenuate and falcate and abruptly shorter than the foiirth ; tail short 108 Birds of Colorado and rounded of twelve feathers ; legs short ; tibio-tarsus feathered aknost to the joint, the tarsus scuteUated in front and behind ; hind toe present, front toes without web ; eye very large and placed far back, the ear-opening below and slightly in front of it. This genus contains only one species, and is distinguished from that containing the Old World Woodcocks by the attenuation of the three outer primaries. American Woodcock. Philohela minor. A.O.U. Checklist no 228— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 283 ; 96, p. 65 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 64, 158 ; Fisher 01, p. 447 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227. Description. — Adult — Above mottled black, dusky brown and bufiy ; hinder-part of crown black with narrow transverse bars of buff ; primaries plain dusky ; below pale-rufous ; iris dark brown, bill light brown, paler at the base, legs reddish-brown. Length 10-5 ; wing 5-25; tail 2-25 ; culmen 2-5 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is larger — wing 5-50, culmen 2'75. Distribution. — -Southern Canada and the eastern United States from the Atlantic to Manitoba and eastern Texas, breeding throughout its range ; wintering chiefly on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In Colorado the Woodcock is only known from the Platte Valley and from Denver along the foothills northwards, where it may be regarded as a scarce summer resident. It was first reported by H. G. Smith who saw an example in a gun-store in Denver, which was killed near the town about August 12th, 1885. Four or five additional specimens have been noticed from Denver or Boulder co., while Cooke reports that H. Horner observed a pair with three young ones, only about a week old, one of which was taken July 3rd, 1897, near Timmath ; so there can be httle doubt that, occasionally at any rate, it nests in Colorado. Habits. — The Woodcock is a crepuscular bird, feeding chiefly at dusk and in the night, and keeping concealed during the day in thickets and rank grass. It inhabits marshy or moist country, and lives almost exclusively on worms which it draws out of the mud with its long and sensitive bill. It has an enormous appetite — o, Woodcock weighing six ounces is said to consume at least its own weight in earth-werms in twenty-four hours. Owing to its Wilson's Snipe 109 excellent flavour, it commands a high price as a game- bird, and has in consequence been nearly exterminated through the greater part of its range. The nest, a loose structure of grass and old leaves, is placed on the ground in a higher part of the swamp, out of reach of the rising water. The eggs, usually four in number, are buffy, mottled and spotted with reddish- broAvn, and measure about 1*60 x 1"16. They lay very early in the south, but judging from our only record, June 10th would be about the date in Colorado. Genus GALLINAGO. Resembling Pliiloliela in most respects, but the ear-opening little further back below the middle of the eye and without attenuated primaries ; tail short, rounded, of sixteen feathers in the American species ; markings on the head longitudinal rather than transverse. A nearly cosmopohtan genus with some twenty species ; only one in North America. Wilson's Snipe. Gallinago delicata. A.O.XJ Checklist no 230 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 209 {G. wilsoni) ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 18 ; Thome 83, p. 46 ; R.V.R.S. 86, p. 5 ; Beckham 87, p. 121 ; Morrison 86, p. 107 ; 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 64, 158, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Dille 09, p. 86. Description. — Male — Above chiefly black, mottled and variegated with buffy and white ; crown black with a median buffy stripe ; primaries and their coverts dusky, the outer one white-edged ; below, the breast speckled dusky and white, the abdomen pirre white, the flanks and under wing-coverts barred black and white ; tail-feathers sixteen in number, the outer ones barred with black ; iris brown, bill brown, paler at the base, greenish-grey in the flesh ; legs like the bill. Length 9-25 ; wing 4-SO ; tail 2-10 ; cubnen 2-25 ; tarsus 1-25. The female is slightly larger — wing 5-25, culmen 2-5. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Newfoundland to the most south in winter as far as the West Indies and northern South America, northerly row of the States and a little further south in the mountains ; though often wintering further north, even in Colorado and Wyoming. The Snipe is far from uncommon in Colorado ; it is perhaps most common on migration when it is found aU over the State ; it is also 110 Birds of Colorado frequently to be met with during the winter where there are springs which remain unfrozen, both in the plains and the mountains up to 9,500 feet, at which elevation " R.V.R.S." saw two on the edge of the ice along the Animas River near Silverton, January 2nd, 1886. It is perhaps loss conmaon in summer, but has been found breeding in the mountain parks up to about 9,500 feet. Dille has recently stated that it nests in the plains about ten miles north-east of Boulder, and Hersey and Rockwell found one nest, Jime 20th, 1908, at Barr. The following are other breeding records : Middle Park at 9,000 feet, Sprague (Cooke), Twin Lakes (Scott), San Luis Lakes (Aiken), and San Juan CO. (Drew). In winter it has been reported from Boulder, just outside the city limits, by Henderson ; near Colorado Springs, where fairly common, by Aiken ; SaUda in January (Frey), Fort Lyon (Thorne), Sweetwater Lake by Gilmore and Routt co. by Bonnet (Cooke), and Plateau Valley (RockweU). Habits. — The Snipe is an unsocial bird, and is nearly always found solitary or perhaps -udth only one companion. It prefers open, moist ground where it can probe in the mud with its long and soft, sensitive bill for worms, which form the greater part of its food. When flushed it rises very suddenly, with a startled cry of " Scaipe," and flashes off with zigzag turns and twasts. It is therefore a difficult bird to kill on the wing, and for the young gunner it is a moment of great satis- faction when he brings down his first Snipe. Snipe are somewhat nocturnal in their habits, though not to such an extent as the Woodcock ; still they feed and migrate chiefly at night or during thick weather. During the breeding season and occasionally in the fall as well, the Snipe rises high in the air and then darts down again with great velocity, at the same time making a curious vibrating rushing sound. The noise is usually known as " drumming" or "bleating." The explanation is rather doubtful, but it appears to be caused by the rapid vibration of the webs of the outer taU-feathers as they are dra\\'n through the air. Long-billed Dowitclier 111 The nest is a mere depression in the grass, generally on or under a sheltering tuft ; it is lined with a few leaves. The eggs, 3 to 4 in number, are somewhat pyriform in shape, and are olive to brownish with bold markings of dark umber and sharp, scratchy lines of black. They measure 1*55 x 1*15. Scott's nest was found in June near Twin Lakes. There is no more definite information on the nesting -date for Colorado. Genus MACRORHAMPHUS. Bill and position of ear -opening Snipe-like, otherwise resembling a Sandpiper ; wings rather long and pointed ; tail of twelve feathers doubly emarginate ; legs long, tarsus exceeding middle toe and claw ; tibia naked for about an inch above the joint ; toes webbed basally, most fully betv/een the middle and outer toe ; tail-feathers barred. The genus contains only one species, forming two subspecies. The western race, which is found in Colorado, is rather larger, has a longer bill, and is rather more highly coloured. Long-billed Dowitcher. MacrorJiamphus griseus scolopaceus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 232 — Colorado Records — Henshav/ 75, p. 453 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 65 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description.- — Female in sununer— Above, except the rmnp and lower- back, speckled and mottled with black, brown and buff ; a dusky stripe from the eye to the bill ; rump white, upper tail-coverts barred with black ; tail barred black and white ; below bright cttmamon, speckled on the throat, barred along the sides and on the under tail- coverts with dusky ; iris hazel, bill and feet greenish-dusky. Length 11-0 ; wing 5-8 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen 2-8 ; tarsus 1-55. In winter there is no cinnamon and the bird is grey-brown above, the feathers edged paler, below grey on the neck and breast, paling to white on the abdomen, a white sviperciliary line to the bill and spot below the eye. The male is similar but smaller ; wing 5-70 ; culmen 2-45. Distribution. — Breeding fi'om Alaska to British Cokunbia, south and south-east in winter to Florida and Central Mexico. In Colorado the Dowitcher is only known as a migrant, and has been reported only from the plains portion of the State east of the Rocky 112 Birds of Colorado Mountains. It arrives from the south about the beginning of ^lay, and has been noticed at Fort Lyon, ^lay 2nd, by Thorne, near Colorado Springs (Allen & Brewster), near Denver, where common in May (Henshaw), at Barr, where it is common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell), and at Loveland, where it was seen by Smith, April 29th. A female in winter plumage, taken October 4th at Barr Lake by Warren, is preserved in the Colorado College Museum. Henshaw's record of an example taken by himself at Denver, July 24th, 1873, is obviously a mistake, as on that date, by his own account, he was far away in New Mexico, near Fort Wingate. Habits. — The Dowitcher (i.e. Deutsche! or German Snipe) is found about marshes and lagoons. It is usually met with in small flocks, but in other respects is not unlike the Snipe, except that it has slightly webbed toes and swims well. Genus MICROPALAMA. Bill long and slender, slightly widened at the tip ; ear-opening normal, behind the eye ; wings long and pointed ; taU doubly emarginate; toes distinctly webbed basally ; reseixxbUixg Macrorhamphus generally, but distinguished by its plain, unbarred tail, and the position of the ear-opening. Only one species is known. Stilt Sandpiper. 3Iicropalama himantopus. A.O.U. Checklist no 233— Colorado Records— Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Osbvu-n 93, p. 212 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke, 97, pp. 19, 65, 199 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 227 ; Hersey & RockweU 09, p. 115. Description. — Female in siommer — Above mottled black, dusky, tawny and white ; the primaries and most of the coverts plain dusky ; the upper tail-coverts white, spotted with dusky ; tail ashy-grey, edged and centred with white ; ear-coverts chestnut ; below white, streaked anteriorly, barred posteriorly, with dusky and tawny ; iris brown, bill and feet dusky greenish. Length 8-5 ; wing 5-4 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen 1-65 ; tarsus 1'70. In winter the adults are ashy-grey above without black or tawny, but with white edges to the feathers ; under-parts and a line over the eye white, slightly suffused with dusky and finely streaked with darker on the throat and breast. The male is slightly smaller — wing 5-0; bill 1-5. Pectoral Sandpiper 113 Distribution. — A rare bird, breeding far north and only known, to do so along the shores of the Arctic Ocean and in the Mackenzie Province ; south in winter through the United States chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, to the West Indies and South America as far as Peru and Brazil. The Stilt-Sandpiper is a rare migrant in Colorado, and has been chiefly met with on the plains east of the range. It appears to arrive late from the south ; the earUest date is May 14th, when Aiken took a female near Colorado Springs. The other records are : Fort Lyon, May 22nd, Loveland, May 20th, Middle and South Parks and Brecken- ridge (Carter), near Denver in the fall (Smith), Botilder co., record rather doubtful (Henderson), Barr, common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell). Genus PISOBIA. Bin moderately long and slender, about equal to the tarsus ; wings long and pointed ; outer prunary usually the longest ; tertials also lengthened and pointed ; tail rather long and doubly emarginate ; the two central tail-feathers usually projecting ; tibia bare towards the joint ; tarsus with transverse scutes before and behind ; hind toe present, front toes long, slender and cleft to the base. A large genus of highly migratory birds, breeding chiefly far north in both hemispheres, and wintering in the temperate and tropical zones. All the four regular North American species pass through Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Rump and upper tail-coverts black, at any rate centrally. a. Larger ; wing 5-4 ; breast dark ashy, and heavily streaked with dusky. P. maculata, p. 113. b. Medium ; wing 4-8 ; breast lightly stiSused with ashy, streaking faint. P. bairdi, p. 115. c. Smaller ; wing 3-3 ; chest spots heavier. P. minutilla, p. 115. B. Rump dusky, upper tail-coverts white. P. fuscicollis, p. 114. Pectoral Sandpiper. Pisohia maculata. A.O.U. Checklist no 239 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, p. 65 ; RockweU 08, p. 159 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult in summer — Above black, the feathers edged with pale ochraceous-bufi ; rump and upper tafl-coverts black, lightly tipped with buffy ; middle tail-feathers longest, pointed and margined 114 Birds of Colorado with buffy ; outer tail-feathers brownish-grey, narrowly edged with white ; under-parts white, neck and breast washed with ashy and heavily streaked with black and buffy ; iris brown, bill greemsh- brown, feet yellowish. Length 9-0 ; wing 5-40 ; tail 2-40 ; tarsus 1-0 ; culmen l-l. In winter the ochraceous-buff of the upper-parts is replaced by rufous, and the breast is heavily washed with bufEy ; the female is slightly smaller — wing 5-10. Distribution. — Breeding in northern Siberia and Alaska, south in winter through the United States, chiefly along the Mississippi Valley, to Chili and Patagonia ; occasional in Europe. The Pectoral Sandpiper is only a migrant in Colorado in spring and autumn. It is stated by Cooke to be common, but if so it seems to have escaped the notice of most observers. Morrison observes that he took five examples in La Plata co., and that it was found as high as 13,000 feet ; it is common on migration at Barr (Horsey & Kockwell) ; Miss Eggleston classes it as an irregular naigrant at Grand Junction (Rockwell). These are the only definite notices of the species. It is not represented in the Aiken collection, nor do Carter or H. G. Smith seem to have come across it. White-nimped Sandpiper. Pisobia fuscicollis. A.O.U. Checklist no 240. — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 65, 158 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228. Description. — Male in summer — Above ashy-brown with conspicuous dusky centres and rufous edges to most of the feathers ; wings and tail dark brown ; the lateral tail-feathers rather paler ; the upper tail- coverts white ; below white, the lower-nock, breast and sides faintly washed with dusky and spotted and streaked with the same ; iris dark brown, bill and feet dusky, the former rather reddish at the base of the lower mandible. Length about 6-0; wing 4-C ; tail 1-9; culmen -85 ; tarsus -90. The female is similar. Distribution. — Breeding in Arctic America chiefly north of Hudson Bay, westward to the Mackenzie River ; south in winter through the United States east of the Rocky Mountains as far as Patagonia and the Falkland Isles ; occasionally in Europe. Like the previous species this Sandpiper pa&ses through Colorado on migration, and is far from common. It has only been met with in the plains east of the mountains, and is reported from Fort Lyon by Thome and from Boulder co. by Henderson, while there is a pair in the Aiken collection, killed May 17th, 1878, by Aiken on Horse Creek, about forty miles east of Colorado Springs, on the plains. Baird's Sandpiper 115 Baird's Sandpiper. Pisohia bairdi. A.O.U. Checklist no 241— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Trippe 74, p. 485 ; Henshaw 75, p. 455 ; Drew 85, p. 18, Morrison 89, p. 167 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 65, 200 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159. Description. — Female in spring — Above mottled black, dark ashy, pale tawny and whitish ; the rump and central upper tail-coverts dusky, the lateral ones white ; tail-coverts very long, extending to within -5 of tip of the tail ; central tail-feathers dusky, projecting slightly, lateral ones lighter, narrowly edged with white ; below white, except for a broad band across the lower-neck and chest which is washed with pale ashy and finely spotted with brown; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 7*0; wing 4*8; tail 1*9; cuhnen I'O ; tarsus "85. In autumn both young and adults aro rather more ashy, and there is a shade of huffy in the chest wash. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to Northern Alaska ; south in winter through the Middle States to Patagonia and Chili. Like the other Sandpipers of the genus, this bird is only a transient in Colorado, though it is far more common than the other two species already mentioned. On the spring migration it is chiefly niet with on the plains, but in the fall at the end of August and beginning of September, it resorts to considerable elevations in the mountains, to feed on grasshoppers and other insects, which are more abundant higher up in late siunmer. Morrison beUeved that this Sandpiper nested in Colorado, but he was probably mistaken, though they are absent in the north for a very short time. There are examples in the Aiken collection from Limon, dated May 24th, and from Fountain Valley below Colorado Springs, dated July 29th ; this leaves only a few days over two months for the journey to the Barren Grounds and back and the duties of incubation , Spring records are : Lovoland, March 29th, April 19th (Cooke), Horse Creek, May 17th (Aiken coll.), Grand Junction, in the fall as well (Rockwell) ; autumn are : Mt. Evans, 13,000 to 14,000 feet, end of August (Trippe), Tennessee Gulch, Lake co., 10,000 feet, August 20th (Aiken coll.). Palmer Lake (Allen), Piedra Lake, September 12th (Henshaw). Least Sandpiper. Pisohia minutilla. A.O.U. CheckUst no 242 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 65, 200 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 289. Description. — Adult — Very similar in coloration and markings to P. bairdi, but very much smaller, and the spots on the chest generally 116 Birds of Colorado rather larger and perhaps a little darker ; more richly coloured on the back. Length 5-10; wing 3-3; tail 1-5; culmen '65; tarsus -70. Distribution.— Breeding from Quebec to south Yukon northwards, south on migration through the greater part of the United States, to winter along the Gulf coast and in South America to Peru. In Colorado a fairly common transient visitor in spring and autumn, arri\ing from the south in the second half of April, passing chiefly through the plains and the mountain parks up to about 7,000 feet. The following are records : Monon, May 2nd (Warren), Fort Lyon and Loveland, April 19th (Cooke), Colorado Springs and Lincoln co. (Aiken coll.), Barr (Horsey & Rockwell) in the plains ; Salida, April 28th (Colo. Coll. Mus.), South and IVIiddle Parks (Carter) in the parks ; Grand Junction, common in spring and fall (Rockwell) on the western slopes. Felger notes it as not uncommon through the summer at Barr, but has no evidence of its breeding. Habits. — All the Sandpipers have very similar habits ; they are mostly seen in small flocks running along patches of sand or mud by the sides of rivers or lakes ; they are nervous and active, and when flushed fly off quickly with a little shrill " Peep, peep " of alarm. Genus PELIDNA. Bill rather long and slender, slightly decurved, much longer than the tarsus, which slightly exceeds the middle toe and claw ; in other respects Uke Pisobia ; plumage with a white wing-bar and a black patch on the abdomen in the breeding season. Only one circumpolar species ; European and American birds are sufficiently distinct to form two subspecies. Red-backed Sandpiper. Pelidna alpina sahlialina. A.O.U. Checklist no 243a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; 79, p. 233 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66. Description. — Adult in summer — Above rufous with dusky centres and white tips to moat of the feathers ; wings and tail dusky ashy, the former with a white wing-bar and white edges to some of the secondaries ; below white, a black patch covering most of the abdomen ; fore-neck and chest streaked with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill and feet black. Length 8-25 ; wing 4-75 ; tail 2-0 ; culmon 1-6 ; tarsus 1-05. In winter the birds are plain ashy-grey above, generally with darker shaft-streaks ; bolow white with tlio foro-neck and chest suffused with Semipalmated Sandpiper 117 ashy aud streaked. Young birds are very similar to the summer adults, but have the belly spotted with black, not with a continuous black patch. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska and Siberia, migrating chiefly along the coasts to winter in south California, the Gulf and South Atlantic States. A very rare migrant in Colorado, only twice recorded. There was an adult in winter dress in the Maxwell collection supposedly from Colorado, and W. G. Smith obtained two examples at Loveland, April 28th and May 9th. Genus EREUNETES. Bill about as long as the tarsus, rather stout for the family ; toes bagally webbed and broadly margined ; in other respects like Pisohia. Two North American species closely allied to one another, comprise this genus. Both are recorded from Colorado. a. Bill longer. E. mauri, p. 118. b. Bill shorter. E. pusillus, p. 117. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Ereunetes fusillus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 246 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 454 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66. Description. — Adult in siunmer — Above, including the upper tail- coverts ashy-brown with dusky centres and some tawny edges ; central tail-feathers and primaries plain dusky ; below white with a few small dusky streaks on the lower-neck and chest ; iris dark brown, bill and legs greenish-black. Length 5-5; wing 3-65; tail 1-5; culmen -80; tarsus -75. In winter the upper-parts are nearly plain ashy-grey, and the spots on the breast faint or obsolete ; young birds have a slight wash of buffy but no spots on the breast, and a good deal of white edging on the scapulars. It can be distinguished at once from P- minutilla, which it closely resembles in plumage by its basally- webbed toes. Distribution. — Breeding from Labrador and Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south through the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, to winter in the Gulf States, West Indies and eastern South America. This Uttle Sandpiper is not unconmion on migration in eastern Colorado, chiefly on the plains but ranging up as high as the naountain parks ; it has been noticed by Carter in South and Middle Parks. It reaches Colorado about the end of April or beginning of May, and has 118 Birds of Colorado been seen at Fort Lyon, May Ist (Thome), near Pueblo, May 17th (Beckham), in El Paso co., ]\Iay 1st (Allen & Brewster), at Horse Creek, May 17th (Aiken coll.), and at Loveland, May 6th (W. G. Smith). I have not heard of any fall records though it doubtless returns south through the State. Western Sandpiper. Ereunetes mauri. A.O.U. Checklist no 247.— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, p. 66 {E. occidentalis). Description. — Closely resembKng E. pusillue but with a much longer bill, averaging -88 in the male and 1-05 in the female, against -72 and -84 respectively. Distribution, — Breeding chiefly in western Arctic America ; south on migration mostly in the west but also on the Atlantic coast, in winter to Central and South America. In Colorado this Sandpiper is of rare occurrence on migration. Cooke gives only three records : Loveland, May 12th and July 4th (Osburn), and near Pueblo in the fall (Lowe). Genus CALIDRIS. Bill moderate, about equal to the tarsus ; resembling Pisobia in other respects, but with no hind toe ; anterior toes cleft to the base, without webs. The genus contains only the SanderHng, a cosmopolitan species. Sanderling. Calidris leucophcea. A.O.U. Checklist no 248— Colorado Records— Cooke 94, p. 183 ; {Calidris arenaria) ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 66, 158 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 115. Description. — Adult in summer — Above mottled black, white and tawny-rufous ; wings with the primaries dusky, paler on the inner web, and with white shafts, secondaries also with a good deal of white ; rump and upper tail-coverts dusky centrally, white on the sides ; below white, the throat and breast sometimes slightly spotted with dusky and tawny ; iris, bill and legs black. Length 7-5 ; wing 4-8 ; tail 2-0 ; cuknen -95 ; tarsus -95. Adults in winter have no tawny ; upper-parts ashy-grey, generally with dvisky shaft-stripes and lighter edges ; under-parts pure white. In any plumage the absence of tho hind toe at once distinguishes this from other Sandpipers. Distribution. — Breeding far north ; eggs have been taken on the Arctic Coast near Franklin Bay, in Mackenzie and in Greenland ; on migration Marbled Godwit 119 south along the coasts or across the continents to winter in South America, South Africa, South Asia and Australia, besides occun-ing as a wanderer in most of the islands of the three great oceans. In America it chiefly winters along the coast from Vii-ginia and California to ChiU and Patagonia. In Colorado the Sanderling is a rare transient visitor in spring and autumn. It was first noticed from Colorado by Cooke, who reported an example in the Museum at Fort Collins, killed in the neighbourhood. Other instances are Horse Creek, May (Aiken coU.), Sloan's Lake, Denver, May (H. G. Smith), Barr, May 31st and in the fall (Hersey & Rockwell), Loveland, September 24th and 30th and May 12th, Pueblo, October 1st (Cooke). Genus LIMOSA. Rather largo birds — wing 7 to 9 ; with a long bill slightly up- curved, the culmen slightly exceeding the tarsus ; wing long and pointed ; tail short and even ; legs long, tarsus far exceeding the middle toe, scutellate in front and behind ; toes short, rather flattened, basally webbed, especially between the inner and outer ones. An almost cosmopolitan genus with two common North American species. The Black-tailed Hudsonian Godwit has not been met with in Colorado, though known from Kansas. Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa. A.O.U. CheckUst no 249 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 457 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 66, 200 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult Male— General colour cinnamon, lieavily barred and mottled with dusky above, the rump, tail-coverts and tail plainly barred rufous and dusky ; below finely barred with dusky on the chest and sides, streaked on the throat, and white on the chin ; primaries chiefly dusky, shaft of the outer one white ; lining of the wings and axillarios chestnut ; iris dark brown, bill black on its terminal, reddish- brcwn on its basal, half ; legs ashy-black. Length 17-5 ; wing 9-0 ; tail 3-3 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus 2-8. The female is rather larger — wing 9-5, culmen 4-5. There is no seasonal change, and the young birds are slightly paler and have the breast and sides unmarked. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in the upper Missouri Valley from Iowa to southern British Columbia, and migrating south in winter to Guatemala. The Marbled Godwit is a rare bird in Colorado, and has not yet been found breeding ; it is probably only a migrant. 120 Birds of Colorado It passes through Colorado at the end of April, and has been noticed at Loveland, April 20th and May 1st, by W. G. Smith. It also ranges into the mountains, since Carter observ'ed it at Breckenridge. The only other definite records are : San Luis Lakes, where a single example was taken by Aiken, October 1st, 1874 (Henshaw), and Barr, where it has been noticed at various dates in May and July by Hersey and Rockwell. Genus TOTANUS. Bill long and slender and straight or nearly so, longer than the head, but the cuhnen shorter than the tarsus ; the lateral grooves on the bill only extending for half its length ; tail short, nearly even and barred ; legs long, tibia nearly half their length ; tarsus, which far exceeds the middle toe and claw, scutellated before and behind ; hind toe present ; web between the middle and outer toe fairly well developed, between middle and inner toe almost obsolete. This genus, as restricted, contains four or five species breeding in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. The two North American species commonly met with both occur in Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Larger ; wing 7 to 8. T. melanoleucus, p. 120. B. Smaller ; wing 6 to 7. T. flavipes, p. 121. Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus melanoleucus. A.O.U. Checklist no 254 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Tresz 81, p. 244; Drew 85, p. 18; Morrison 89, p. 168; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 66, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Felger 09, p. 289. Description. — Adult in sumnjer — Above ashy-grey and dusky black, mottled with white, rather more streakily marked on the head ; vipper tail-ooverts white, sometimes with a few narrow bars of dusky, tail ashy to white barred with dusky ; primaries plain dusky black, the shaft of the outer one white ; below white streaked about the fore-neck and breast, barred on the sides and flanks with dusky ; iris and bill brown, legs chrome-yellow. Length 13 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 2-75 ; culmen 2-20 ; tarsus 2-60. The sexes are alike. In winter the birds are dark ashy-grey without black above and more white below, with fine ashy-grey streaks on the throat and upper-breast only. Distribution. — Breeding apparently from Anticosti to British Columbia and south in the Missoiu-i Valley to Iowa, but breeding records are very Yellow-legs 121 scarce ; south on migration, throughout the United States to winter along the Gulf Coast and south California, and thence to the Argentine and Chili. The Greater Yellow-legs is a fairly common migrant throughout the State both in spring and autumn, in the plains and mountain parks ; it has been noticed by Rockwell as high as 10,000 feet on the Grand Mesa. It reaches Loveland the first week in April from the south, and Rockwell saw one as early as March 28th, at Orchard. It has not yet been found nesting in the State, but there is no reason why it should not do so, and Felger has noticed it at Barr every month from March to October. Additional records are Boulder co. (Henderson), Palmer Lake, August 5th, and South Park (Allen), Middle Park (Carter), Wet Mountain Valley (Baker) and Fort Lyon, Thome (Cooke). Habits. — The Yellow-legs is in no way different from other Sandpipers in its habits ; it is found in small flocks or pairs, as a rule, along the shores of lakes or in marshy- ground where it wades along the shallows in search of snails, worms, minnows and other aquatic animals which form its food. WTien disturbed it rises with a loud whistling cry, often wheeling round and circling back again to the same spot. The nest is usually placed on the ground near a marsh and constructed chiefly of grasses. The eggs, four in number, are greyish -white, spotted or blotched with dark brown, and measure about r75 x TSl. Yellow-legs. Totanus flavipes. A.O.U. Checklist no 255— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 66, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 159 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Closely resembling T. melanoleucus in plumage but very decidedly smaller in all dimensions. Length 9-25 ; wing 6-50 ; tail 2-4 ; cuhnen 1'4 ; tarsus 2-1. Distribution. — Breeding far north on Hudson Bay and the Barren Grounds ; south on migration, most abundantly through the eastern United States, and wintering from the Gulf States to Patagonia. Occasionally in Europe. The Yellow-legs is only known as a migrant in Colorado ; in its movements and dates it follows closely the Greater Yellow-legs, in the 122 Birds of Colorado company of which it is frequently found. It comes back early from the north — in fact it was taken on July 23rci by Thome at Fort Lyon, and may possibly have been breeding there. Other records are : Pueblo, May 8th (Beckham), El Paso co.. May 7th (Aiken coll)., Barr Lake where very common, and observed through May, June and July, but not known to breeed (Hersey & Rockwell) ; Loveland, April 15th (W. G. Smith), while Carter noticed it in Middle and South Parks, and Rockwell on the Grand Mesa, at 10,000 feet, in the mountains. Genus HELODROMAS. Bill moderate, slightly exceeding the head ; tarsus short, slightly exceeding the middle toe and claw, approximately equal to the culmen ; resembling Totanus in most respects, but the sternum with only one notch instead of two posteriorly, and lajang its eggs in trees in the deserted nests of other birds. This genus contains one Old World and one New World species, the latter separated into an eastern and western race. The western one is characterized by its larger size and greyer wings. Western Solitary Sandpiper. Helodromas solitarius cinnamormus. A.O.U. Checklist no 256a— Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 152, 159; Henshaw 75, p. 459; Tresz 81, p. 244; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 228 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Above dark olive-brown, streaked on the head, speckled elsewhere with white ; primaries and edge of the wing rather darker, almost black ; central tail-feathers and their coverts like the back with a few white spots at the edges ; lateral tail-feathers and their coverts white, barred with black ; below white, the throat and breast streaked, the sides and under wing-coverts closely barred wuth dusky ; iris brown, bill and legs dusky-greenish. Length 8-5 ; wing 5-15 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen 1-3 ; tarsus 1-25. The sexes are alike ; there is but little seasonal change, but the tone is more aahy and there is less white speckling above in winter. Young birds have distinct cinnamon spots above instead of white. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding in northern Alberta and probably south to Colorado and Utah, wintering in California and probable south to Peru. Western Solitary Sandpiper 123 In C!olorado this Sandpiper is a fairly comnaon transient visitor, while some birds stay through the summer and probably breed, though eggs have not been taken in the State. ||,,; It reaches Colorado about the last week in April, and is most common in the plains though noticed as high as Breckenridge by Carter, and at Pennsylvania Lake at 8,500 feet, August 27th, by Felger (Henderson). Summer and possibly breeding records are : Grand Junction, June 22nd , (Rockwell), near Ivremmling, July 13th (Cary), Pueblo, July 27th (Henshaw), South Park, Juty, and Palmer Lake, Augus (Allen) ; while on migration it has been taken at Salida, April 25th (Colo. Coll. Mus.), El Paso CO., May 1st (Allen & Brewster), Barr Lake in the fall (Hersey & Rockwell), and Loveland, April 20th (W. G. Smith). Habits. — The solitary Sandpiper is fond of quiet ponds among the mountains surrounded by forest, and is then rather solitary in its habits, but during migration it is often seen in flocks. It wades with graceful move- ments along the shallows in search of mollusca, insects and worms, for which it probes with its bill. It is some- what silent, differing in this respect from the Yellow-legs or Tatlers. It has only quite recently been discovered (" Ibis," 05, p. 158) that they make use of the nests of other birds in which to lay their eggs. Evan Tompson, a collector employed by Walter Raine, took three clutches in June, 1903 and 1904, in northern Alberta ; they were found in the nest of an American Robin, a Bronzed Grackle, and a Cedar Bird respectively. In each case the clutch was four, and the eggs, which averaged r36 x '98, were pale greenish-white, spotted and blotched with shades of brown and purple. In this matter the Solitary Sand- piper follows the Green Sandpiper of Europe. Further search will probably result in the discovery of eggs in Colorado. Genus CATOPTROPHORUS. Large birds — wing 8 to 9 — with the general characteristics of Toianus ; bill longer than the head, cuknen about equal to the tarsus ; 124 Birds of Colorado lega moderate, but tarsus clearly exceeding middle toe and claw ; webbing between the toes more extensive ; base of the tail and a patch on the wing white. One species confined to America with an eastern and western race, the latter averaging larger and paler. Western Willet. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus. A.O.U. Checklist no 258a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 ; Henshaw 75, p. 457 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 67, 200 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — In summer — Above ashy-grey, streaked with dusky to a varying degree, chiefly along the centres of the feathers ; upper tail-coverts white, some of the longer ones barred with dusky ; primaries dusky, white on the basal half, making a conspicuous white wing-patch ; most of the secondaries white ; below white, fore-neck spotted, breast and sides marked with transverse bars of dusky, often a Uttle pale rufous as well ; iris brown, bill dusky, legs bluish. Length 14-5 ; wing 8-75 ; tail 3-2 ; culmen 2-5 ; tarsus 2-6. In winter the birds are nearly uniform ashy above, and white below, shaded on the fore-neck with greyish. Young birds are darker and more brown above, the feathers edged with ochraceous. Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba and Alberta south to Texas, west of the Mississippi ; in winter further south into Mexico. The Willet is fairly conunon in Colorado on migration, while a certain number of birds are said to remain to breed, both in the plains and mountains up to 12,000 feet (Morrison), though I have not been able to find any definite account of the nest and eggs being taken in the State. It arrives from the south about the first week in May and has been noticed at Monon, April 28th (Warren), Fort Lyon, May 2nd (Thorne), near Colorado Springs, May 1 — 7th (Aiken coll.), Denver, May 10th (Henshaw), Barr, common in spring (Hersey & Rockwell), and Love- land, April 27th, May 5th (W. G. Smith) — in the plains — and at Crested Butte, May (Warren), and Breckenridgo (Carter) — in the mountains. Morrison found it common near Fort Lewis in September, and Aiken procured a bird of the year, August 29th, close to Leadville. Habits. — This large and conspicuous bird is found about marshes and lakes, where it obtains its food among the stones and weeds. It is very restless and noisy, especially when its breeding-places are invaded. Upland Plover 125 Xests, according to Goss who found this bird breeding at Lake Como, Wyo, are placed in tussocks of grass, near the water's edge, and are bulky structures ; the eggs are usually four, somewhat pyriform in shape, buffy to greyish-white in colour, spotted and blotched with bro^\^l and purplish; they average 2*10 x 1*55. They doubtless nest in Colorado, thougli nothing is known of their doing so. Genus BARTRAMIA. Of moderate size — wing G to 7 ; bill short and slender, about equal to the head, but distinctly shorter than the tarsus ; tail long, about half the wing, strongly graduated ; tarsus seutellated, exceeding the middle toe and claw ; outer toe webbed, inner one cleft ; plumage highly variegated, tail barred. One species only ; accidental in Europe. Upland Plover, or Bartramian Sandpiper. Bartramia longicauda. A.O.U. Checklist no 261— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Cooke 97, p. 67 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Cary 09, p. 180 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Above dusky black, variegated with tawny edges to the feathers, especially on the middle of the back and wings ; rump and upper tail-coverts plain dusky, central tail-feathers brown banded with darker, lateral ones tawny-brown with irregular bars of dusky and white tips, primaries jalain dusky barred with white on the inner web ; below soiled white, the fore-neck, breast and sides marked with streaks of dusky, becoming bars posteriorly ; axillaries and under wing-coverts transversely barred with dusky ; iris dark brown, bill yellowish with dusky tips, legs dull yellow. Length 11-0 ; wing 64 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen 1-15 ; tarsus 1-85. There is no seasonal change of plumage, and the young are very similar to the adults. Distribution. — Breeding from Yukon and Ontario south to Utah, Kansas and Virginia ; wintering far south, chiefly in South America on the Argentine plains. Accidental in Eiirope. In Colorado this Sandpiper does not ajjpear to be well known, though it is probably a common siunmer resident on the eastern plains of the State. It does not occxir in the mountains or foothiUs. On the western 126 Birds of Colorado slope Rockwell observed a single bird on a sage-brush flat in the Plateau Valley at about 6,800 feet, in Mesa co., while Gary heard and saw a good many individuals on niigration near Lay and Meeker in August. Messrs. Allen and Brewster noted a good many specimens brought into market in Colorado Springs, April 28th. This is the only dated record for its arrival in the spring. Hersey and Rockwell found a nest with fresh eggs, June 28th, 1907, near Barr, where it is not uncommon. Habits. — The Bartramian Sandpiper, or Upland Plover as it is more frequently kno\vn, although a wader by- structure, prefers the dry upland prairies and cultivated fields. It lives chiefly on grasshoppers and also eats berries, and is consequently very fat and delicate and a much esteemed bird for the table. The nest, according to Goss, is placed on the open prairies in a depression or sheltered by a tuft of grass, and is lightly constructed and difficult to find. The eggs, four in number, are greyish-white to pale buff, spotted all over, chiefly at the larger end, with various shades of brown. They are somewhat pyriform in shape and measure 1*75 x 1'27. Genus ACTITIS. Small Sandpipers, wing under 4-5 ; bill, head, tarsus and middle toe with claw, all about equal ; tail rather long, about haK the length of the wing ; outer toe basally webbed, inner one cleft ; no white on the nmap or central tail-feathers ; spotted below. One Old World and one New World species only. Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia. A.O.U. Checklist no 263— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 164 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 ; Coues & Trippe 74, p. 501 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85 p. 18 ; Tresz 81, p. 245 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 198 ; Beckham 85, p. 18 ; Morrison 88, p. 140 ; 89, p. 168 ; Kellogg 90, p. 86 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116, Description. — Female in summer — Above bronzy-bro%\Ti, lightly streaked on the head, crosa-barred on the back and wings with dusky ; Spotted Sandpiper 127 primaries dusky ; secondaries and their coverts white tipped, both the former with white bars ; lateral tail-feathers with white ; stripe over the eye and under-parts white, the latter with large rounded dusky spots ; axillaries and under wing-coverts white with a brown bar across the latter ; iris dark brown, bill waxy-yellow, black at the tip and along the cubnen, logs oUve-grey, Length G-TH ; wing 4'1 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen -95 ; tarsus -90. The male is sUghtly smaller, and the black spots not so ni^unerous ; in winter the spots are absent and the breast is washed with grey, and the back is less glossy. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Labrador south over the greater portion of the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and south to Brazil. In Colorado the Spotted Sandpiper, with the exception of the Killdeer Plover, is the commonest wader ; it ranges from the plains quite to the timber line, wherever there is a small pool or stream suitable to its wants, and nests everywhere though perhaps most abundantly at the higher elevations. It arrives from the south at the end of April or the first week in May and loaves again in September, though some remain a good deal later into the cold weather. Breeding records are : Boulder CO. 10,000 to 11,000 feet (Gale), Barr (Hersey & Rockwell), Brecken- ridge (Carter), Montgomery (Allen), Salida, arriving May 5th and breeding (Froy), Lily (Warren 08), Mesa co. (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co., up to 13,000 feet (Morrison). Habits. — This Sandpiper is often known as the " Peet- weet " from its note, or the " Teeter " or " Titups " from its way of balancinj^ itself on its legs a,nd elevating and depressing its tail with clockwork regularity ; it is rather solitary in its habits, and more than two are seldom found in one spot. Its flight is also rather striking, the wings appearing to be turned downwards all the time as it skims along the mud flat. The nest is placed on the ground in a slight depression near a lake or stream ; it consists only of a few blades of dry grass, slightly put together. The eggs, nearly always four in number, are rather pointed in shape and creamy or olive-drab in colour, spotted and blotched with brown and purplish ; they average TSO x I'O. Gale found fresh eggs between June 10th and 20th, 128 Birds of Colorado at elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet near Gold Hill ; Warren's nest and eggs were taken June 30th, while Allen's nest at 12,000 feet was found as late as July 24th. Genus NUMENIUS. Bill long, sometimes abnormally so, slender, down-curved and arched, the tip of the upper mandible slightly knobbed and projecting beyond the lower ; legs stout, tarsus covered in front with transverse scutes, elsewhere with reticulate scales ; hind toe well developed, a basal web between the anterior toes best developed between the middle and outer. A cosmopolitan genus of about nine species, three of which are common in North Anaerica, The smallest of these, the Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis), is not yet known from Colorado, but should be looked for as it is quite common on spring migration in Kansas. It is included in the key. Key of the Species. A. Large — wing 10 to 12, bill 4 to 8 ; primaries varied with rufous. N. americanus, p. 128. B. Medium — wdng 9 to 10, bill 3 to 4 ; pi'imaries varied with rufous or whitish. N. hudsonicus, p. 129. C. Small — wing under 9, bill 2 to 2*5 ; primaries without rufous. N. borealis. Long-billed Curlew. Numenius americanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 264 — Colorado Records — Say 23, vol. ii., p. 4 ; Aiken 72, p. 210 (2V. longirostris) ; Henshaw 75, p. 461 ; Morrison 89, p. 168 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 67, 200 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Felger 09, p. 290. Description. — Adult — General colour above pale tawny rufous, mingled with dusky black ; streaky on the head and neck, more barred on the back ; primaries plain dusky on the outside web, barred with rufous on the inside ; below pale tawny with narrow dusky streaks on the fore-neck and chest, becoming nearly white on the throat ; bill black, paler on the lower mandible ; legs dark bluish-gi-ey. Length of a male 20; wing 11-0; tail 3-9; culmen 5-6; tarsus 3-0. The bill of a female taken the same day measures 7-5. There is little seasonal or sexual variation in the plumage, but the intensity of the rufous and the length of the bill varies a good deal with individuals. Coues states tho bill varies from four to eight inches in extreme cases. Hudsonian Curlew 129 Distribution. — Breeding from British Columbia and Alberta south to Arizona and Oklahoma, but chiefly in the prairie states ; wintering in the Gulf States and south to Guatemala. It is rare and only a migrant in the North Atlantic States. In Colorado this Curlew is a fairly common summer resident chiefly on the prairie portion of the State though mounting up into the parks to about 7,500 feet. It arrives from the south about the middle of April ; Salida, April 29th (Frey), Loveland, April 10th to 15th (W. H. Smith). It has been noticed in Baca co. (Warren), near Pueblo (Lowe), Fremont co. (Aiken coll.), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Middle and South Parks, breeding (Carter), and is stated to be abundant near Fort Lewis by Morrison, while Rockwell believes that it is rare in Mesa co., whence he has only one record : Plateau Valley, 6,500 feet, in the spring of 1905 ; Felger states that it is a common summer resident about Barr Lake. Habits. — The Curlew is as often found on the dry upland prairies as in marshy places near water ; its food consists chiefly of worms, small mollusca, and insect larvae, and it probes for these with its long bill where the ground is soft enough. It has a loud whistling note, and if disturbed on its breeding-grounds, its harsh cries of alarm resound. Gale found nests on several occasions near Gold Hill. He gives May 1st to 15th as the date for fresh eggs. The nest is only a flight depression in a dry meadow bottom, and is lined scantily with a few blades of grass. The eggs, usually four in number, are rather ovate and not so pyriform as those of other waders. They are buffy to olive-drab, blotched and spotted with several shades of brown, and average 2*85 x 1*85. Hudsonian Curlew. Numenius hudsonicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 265 — Colorado Records — Beckham 85, p. 143; Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, p. 07 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Resembling N. americanus, but decidedly smaller and with a shorter bill ; top of the head more or less uniform blackish- brown with a median and two lateral stripes of whitish ; general colour 130 Birds of Colorado paler nifous than in N. americanus, but with the inner webs of the primaries marbled with paler. Length 18 ; wing lO-O ; tail 3-75 ; cuhnen 3 '6 ; tarsus 2'7. A mounted example in the Aiken collection taken in the fall does not show the median pale stripe on the crown very clearly ; it is probably a bird of the year. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly far north in the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south on migration to wdnter in the Gulf states and Lower California and through the West Indies and Mexico as far as Brazil and ChUi. The Hudsonian Curlew is a rare migrant in Colorado, hitherto only recorded on one or two occasions from the plains east of the mountains. Beckham first reported an example which he examined, and which was said to have been shot near Pueblo. Thorne, and subsequently Morrison, noticed it near Fort Lyon on April 30th, 1885, and in early May, 1888, respectively. Hersey and Rockwell report it as rare in the fall migration at Barr. There is a single example in the Aiken collection, taken September 23rd, 1900, near Colorado Springs. Family CHARADRIID^. A large family containing the Plovers and their allies, in which the bill never exceeds the length of the head and is generally shorter ; it ends in a characteristic convex, homy terminal portion — the dertrum ; tarsus reticulate without scutes ; toes, except in Squatarola, always three in number ; webbing between the toes variable. (For key of genera, see p. 100.) Genus SQUATAROLA. Resembling in every respect Charadrius, but with a small and distinct hind toe, contrary to the general rule in the family. This genus contains only the Grey or Black-bellied Plover, a bird of wide distribution in both hemispheres. Black-bellied Plover. Squatarola squatarola. A.O.U. Checklist no 270 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; H. G. Smith 86, p. 285 ; 96, p. 65 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 68, 201. Description. — In summer — Above mottled blackish and ashy-white ; upper tail-coverts chiefly white ; tail barred black and \vhite ; primaries dusky with white on the inner webs ; forehead, Une over the eye and American Golden Plover 131 down the sides of the neck, wing linings and under tail-coverts, white ; rest of the lower parts from the chin to the abdomen, including the axillaries, black ; iris brown, bill and legs black. Length 9-75 ; wing 7-25 ; tail 2-5 ; cukaen 1-1 ; tarsus 1'75. A minute hind toe present measuring •!. In winter, and as generally seen in Colorado, the upper-parts are speckled dark brown and white, with a few spots of tawny ; and below white, washed with grey and slightly striped with dusky on the fore- neck and breast ; the axillaries, however, always black ; iris brown, bill black, legs dark bluish. Distribution. — Breeding far north beyond the Arctic circle in both hemispheres, south in winter chiefly along the sea coasts in America as far as Peru and Brazil. This Plover is rather a rare migrant through Colorado, and has generally been noticed in the fall on its way south. H. G. Smith reported two from near Denver, one a young male killed October 22nd, 1888. Cooke shot one near Fort Collins, October 28th, and W. G. Smith noticed it at Loveland. There is an example from Barr in the Museum at Denver, and one from near Colorado Springs in the Aiken collection. All the records hitherto are from the plains east of the mountains. Genus CHARADRIUS. Bill moderate, about as long as the middle toe and claw, tip swollen forming a " dertrum " ; wings long and pointed, the outer primary clearly the longest ; tail short, slightly rounded, less than half the length of the wing ; tarsus and bare part of the tibia with reticulate scaling throughout ; a basal web between the middle and outer toes ; hind toe absent. There are several species of Golden Plovers, but only one commonly occurs in North America. American Golden Plover. Charadrius dominicus. A.O.XJ. Checklist no 272 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 187 {C.pluvialis virginicus) ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, p. 68 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Summer — Above blackish, spangled with golden-yellow and white ; below, including the base of the bill and sides of the face to the eyes, black, bordered above by white ; tail barred brown and grey ; wings dusky, paler at base ; hning of winga and axiUaries ashy- grey ; iris dark brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 10 ; wing 7-0 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus 1'7. K 2 132 Birds of Colorado In -winter and juvena] plumage very similar to the above, but with less yellow ; below whitish, streaked and mottled on the sides of the neck and body and on the breast with dusky, but the axillaries always ashy-grey. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly on the Barren Grounds from Hudson Bay to northern Alaska, south in winter to the Argentine Pampas, passing mostlj' down the Atlantic coast and Mississippi Valley. There is very Uttle information about the occurrence of the American Golden Plover in Colorado. Ridgway included it in his list of Colorado birds, and Cooke states that a few pass in the spring and fall over the plains of Colorado below 5,000 feet. Hersey and Rockwell find that it is not uncommon at Barr during migration. There is no Colorado example in the Aiken collection. Genus OXYECHUS. Bill rather slender ; tail long, at least half the length of the wing graduated an inch or more ; pliunage with two black bands across the chest. One American species. Killdeer. Oxyechus vociferus. A.O.U. Checklist no 273— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp 152, 159 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 243 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 15 ; Nash 83, p. 225 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 68, 201 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 228 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Marlonan 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Above brown, with an ohve tinge, a white frontal band running back through the eye, bordered above by black ; a white collar also bordered by black ; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous ; wings dusky with a good deal of white on the secondaries and coverts ; tail dusky, rufous and white ; below white, with two black bands across the chest ; iris brown, eyelids orange-red or scarlet, bill black, legs pale flesh. Length 9-5 ; wing 6-4 ; tail 3-75 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 1-3. The sexes are aUke ; young birds are rather duller above, and the feathers margined with rusty and the black bands are greyish. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from British Columbia and Ontario southwards ; wintering in the Gulf States and southern CaUfornia south to northern South America. Killdeer 133 The Killdeer is perhaps the commonest of all the waders in Colorado ; it is a summer resident, arriving from the south early in March and breeding throughout the State, from the plains to about 10,000 feet, between April and June. It leaves again for the south late in October. Breeding records are : Barr (Hersey & Rockwell), EL Paso co. (Aiken) and Baca co. (Warren), in the plains ; Breckenridge (Carter) and Twin Lakes (Scott), in the mountains ; Mesa co. (Rockwell) and La Plata co. (Morrison), on the western slope. H. G. Smith in- formed Henderson that he saw three just east of Boulder, December 31st, 1904 ; possibly a few individuals winter in the State. Habits. — This little Plover, which gets its common name from its shrill two-syllabled whistle, is commonly found in Colorado, not only near water but in high, dry prairies and mesas. It is not specially gregarious, and is generally met with in pairs, except at migration time. As a rule it is not very shy and is easily approached, while it is bold and most demonstrative in defence of its young. It makes its nest on the ground, very generally near water on the sand, but at other times m meadows or cultivated fields and even in quite dry, high places. The nest, a poor affair of a few twigs is arranged in a depression. The eggs, almost always four in number, are buffy or drab, with spots and heavy blotches of dark purplish or blackish-brown, most numerous at the larger end. In shape they are very pyriform and pointed, and they average TS x 1'05. The nesting time appears to extend over a long period in Colorado. Gale found eggs exceptionally early in April, and gives as an average date, April 20th to May 20th ; an egg in the Colorado College Museum, presented by I. C. Hall, was taken so late as June 24th, near Greeley, and is stated to have been fresh and unincubated. Possibly two broods are raised. Both parents share in the labours of incubation. 134 Birds of Colorado Genus iEGIALITIS. Bill of varying size ; tail never reaching half the length of the wing, hardly graduated ; webbing of toes rather variable ; with only one, or an incomplete, black bar across the chest. A considerable genus of wide distribution ; three species and one subspecies are common in the United States, and two of these, ^. meloda circumcincta (the Belted Piping Plover), and ^. nivosa (the Snowy Plover), should occur in Colorado. The former is a common bird of the Mississippi Valley and has been taken at Cheyenne, and is recorded by Dawson (99) from Julesburg ; it is well known in Nebraska. The latter is common in Utah, and was found nesting by Goss in south-west Kansas. Both are included in the key. Key to the Species. A. Inner and outer toes webbed to the second joint ; bill short, black and orange in colour. JE. semipalmata. B. Web only between the middle and inner toe to the first joint. a. Bill short and stubby, black and orange ; a narrow black collar across the fore-neck, JE. circumcincta. b. Bill slender and black, no collar, merely a patch of dusky on either side of chest. JE. nivosa. Semipalmated Plover, ^gialitis semipalmata. A.O.U. Checklist no 274— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 68, 201. Description. — Adult — Above brownish-grey, below pm-e white ; a black ring round the fore-neck, bordered above by a white half-collar on the back of the neck continuous with the white throat below ; front of the face black, with a white patch across the forehead ; wing chiefly dusky, with white on the secondaries and coverts ; tail mostly white- tipi^ed, out«r-feathors nearly all white ; iris hazel, eyelids bright orange, bill black, orange at base ; legs pale flesh. Length 7'10 ; wing 4-75; tail 2-3; culmen -52; tarsus -95; toes webbed to the second joint. In winter the black on the head and neck is replaced by the brown of the back ; young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts edged with bufly. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly from Labrador to Alaska ; south in winter to the Gulf coast and southern California, and thence to the West Indies, Chile and Patagonia, The Semipalmated Plover is a rare straggler on migration in Colorado. It was obtained at Loveland by H. G, Smith, May 6th, 1890, and at Grand Lake, Middle Park, in the fall by Carter. There is an example Mountain Plover 135 at the Colorado Museum of Natural Historj'- at Denver, taken by Hersey at Barr in the spring, where it is rare. Genus PODASOCYS. Resembling ^Egialitis, but without black bands or patches on the breast ; tail short, less than half the wing, square ; tarsus long, about half as long again as the middle toe and claw ; toes very short, the outer one basally webbed. This genus contains only one species. Mountain Plover. Podasocys montana. A.O.U. Checklist no 281— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Aiken 72, p, 209 ; Coues 74, p. 456 ; Henshaw 75, p. 447 ; Tresz 81, p. 244 ; AUen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 18 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; DiUe 86, p. 29 ; 03, p. 74 ; W. G. Smith 88, p. 187 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 68, 201 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 10, p. 30 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Henderson 09, p. 228 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above pale brown, feathers edged to a varying extent with rusty or yellowish ; a black band across the front of the crown of varying width and piu-ity ; wings dusky, white on the shafts and on the bases of some of the inner quills ; tail dusky, paler on the outer feathers, edged with white ; frontal band and lower-parts white, a black stripe from the eye to the base of the bill and a rather faint grey or tawny band across the chest, but no black ; iris brown, bill black, legs pale brown. Length 8-0 ; wing 5-9 ; tail 24 ; culmen -9 ; tarsus 1 '6. The sexes are alike ; in winter there is no black crown or loreal bands, and the rusty or buff is more evident. Distribution. — Western North America, from Dakota and Texas westwards, hardly north of the United States boundary ; wintering from Texas and northern California to central Mexico. The Mountain Plover, in contradistinction to its name, is a common summer resident on the eastern plains of Colorado, though extending up into the parks to about 8,000 feet. It is fairly abundant in the San Luis Valley (Henshaw), where Warren also saw a female with two haK-grown young on July 19th ; South Park (Tresz) and Middle Park (Coues). It arrives from the south about the middle of April, though noticed as early as March 26th at Fort Lyons and March 18th at Love- land, and retxirns south late in October. It has been reported in addition from Greeley (Dille), from Barr, where it is very common on dry prairie (Hersey & Rockwell), from El Paso, Lincoln and Huerfano cos. (Aiken coll.), from Fort Lyon, eggs June 9 (Thome), and from Baca CO. (Warren). I have not heard of it anywhere on the western slope. 136 Birds of Colorado Habits. — This Plover is chiefly found about the dry, grassy prairies and mesas and also in sage-brush country, and is quite independent of the presence of water. It is a rather solitary bird, though after the breeding season may be met with in small parties of ten or twelve ; it subsists chiefly on insects and especially locusts and grass- hoppers, of which it must destroy enormous numbers. It has a whistle-like note, reminding one of a Curlew according to Dille, and when disturbed or molested in the breeding season, has the power of shamming bemg crippled or wounded, and at the same time shrieks as if in great agony. The nest is a depression in the ground, sometimes lined with a few stray grasses, sometimes without lining ; it is situated on the dry prairie as a rule. The eggs, nearly always lour, are not so pointed as those of most Plovers ; they are olive-drab, spotted and dotted especially at the larger end with shades of brown, but not blotched. They measure 1'45 x riO. Dille gives May 29th as the average date, for fresh eggs in the plains ; it is perhaps a little later in the mountain parks, as Allen noticed newly-hatched young on July 28th in South Park. Family APHRIZID^. This family was first formed by Coues to contain the Surf-birds and Turnstones. They have a stout, rather short, bill, a scutellated tarsus and four toes ; the anterior ones without webs. Genus ARENARIA. Bill moderate, conical and tajDering, culmen about equal to tarsus ; no dertrum or swelling towards the tips of the mandibles ; tail of twelve feathers slightly rounded ; tarsus short, about equal to the middle toe and claw, with a few transverse scutes in front, otherwise reticulated ; hind toe present ; no webs. Ruddy Turnstone 137 Two species are known, one nearly cosmopolitan, the other confined to the coasts of North America. Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres morinella. A.O.U. Checklist no 283a— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 201. Description. — Male in smnmer — Above, including the wings, varie- gated with chestnut, black and a httle white ; upper tail-coverts white ; tail chiefly black, but white at the base and tips of the feathers ; below white with a black patch on either side of the fore-neck, surrounding white patches on the throat and either side of the head and neck ; iris and bill black, feet orange-red. Length 9-0 ; wing 6-0 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen 9- ; tarsus l-O. The female has less chestnut and the black is duller. In winter the upper-parts are brown, the feathers edged with fulvous or grey ; below white with the breast dusky, mottled with whitish. Distribution. — Breeding far north from the Mackenzie River to perhaps Melville Island ; south on migration chiefly along the coasts as far as Patagonia and Chile ; rare inland. The Turn&tone is a rare straggler to Colorado ; H. G. Smith reported one from Sloans Lake near Denver, killed April 26th, 1890, and R. Borcherdt obtained eight out of a flock on Berkeley Lake, also close to Denver, May 18th, 1900. One of these latter specimens is exhibited in the Colorado Museum of Natural History in Denver. Hersey took one out of a bunch of three at Barr, September 9th, 1907. ORDER GALLING. This order contains the game-birds, such as Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys, Brush-Turkeys and Curassows ; they can easily be recognized by their short, arched bills, their strong legs, well adapted to walking, and their rounded, rather feeble wings ; the tarsus is often armed, especially among the males, with a strong, sharp spur ; the hallux is always present, and in all the Colorado species is jointed above the level of the other toes ; the wing has ten primaries, but the number and arrangement of the tail-feathers is subject to considerable variation. The nest is usually placed on the ground, and the young, 138 Birds of Colorado when hatched, are covered with do^vn and able to run and fly almost at once. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Head completely feathered. a. Tarsus bare and not feathered (Odontophoridce). a^ Head without a true crest, tail shorter, about | of wing. Colinus, p. 138 b^ Head with a full, soft crest ; tail longer, about * of wing. Callipepla, p. 141, c^ Head with an upstanding club-^aped crest, distinct from crown -feathers. Lophortyx, p. 142. b. Tarsus always more or less feathered (Tetraonidce). a^ Tarsus feathered for half its length ; with shoulder rufis, Bonasa, p. 147. b^ Tarsus feathered to the bases of the toes at least, but toes not completely feathered. a- Tail long, about equal to the wing, highly graduated and attenuated. Centrocercus, p. 153. * b^ Tail long, about i of wing ; not attenuated, slightly rounded. Dendragapus, p. 145. c^ Tail short, less than | of wing. a^ Tail strongly graduated, middle tail-feathers projecting ; no tufts. Pediocaetes, p. 151. b' Tail moderately graduated, middle -tail-feathers not projecting ; neck tufts present. Tympanuchus, p. 150. c^ Tarsus and toes densely feathered throughout. Lagopus, p. 148. B. Head and neck naked ; tarsus not feathered {Meleagridce). Meleagris, p. 155. Family ODONTOPHORID^. Head fully feathered ; tarsus bare and without a spur ; hind toe jointed above the level of the others ; plumage never metallic. Genus COLINUS. Feathers of the crown lengthened and erectile, but hardly forming a true crest ; tail of twelve feathers about f the length of wing. The genus is confined to North America, and goes as far south as Yucatan. There are two species only in the United States ; the Bob-White 139 tjrpical fonn of one of these only is found in Colorado. It is possible that the Texan subspecies (C. i\ texanus) may reach south-east Colorado. It is distinguished by its slightly smaller size — wing 4-4, by its heavier brown barring below, and its less reddish tone above. Bob-white Colinus virginianus. A.O.U. Checkhst no 289— Colorado Records— Drew 85, p. 14 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 1 ; Cooke 97, pp. G9, 201 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Judd 05, pp. 9-46 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; Rockwell 08, p. 160. Description.- — Male — Above and the fore-neck chiefly rufous-chestnut, variegated and mottled with grey, black and tawny-yellow ; the rump and tail chiefly grey ; the edges of the tertials chiefly tawny ; a strong superciliary line and the throat white, bordered by black ; rest of the under-parts whitish with transverse double crescentic bars of black, and a few stripes of chestnut on the sides ; iris brown, bill dark brown, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs brownish-grey. Length 9-0 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 2-6 ; culmen -55 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the suiaerciUiun and throat buffy-yellow with less black around, and is less distinctly marked generally ; it is a trifle smaller — wing 4-35. Distribution. — Eastern North America from Maine and southern Ontario to northern Florida, westwards to south Dakota and eastern Colorado. The Bob-white did not extend much beyond central Kansas in the middle of last centvuy, but with the spread of settlement it has extended its range westwards over the prairies to the eastern portion of Colorado ; while at the same time it has been introduced by human agency all along the foothills-country from Pueblo to Fort CoUins. It is also to be found in Estes Park and Wet Mountain Valley, at La Junta and near Grand Junction, where it has doubtless been introduced as well. Bob-whites are not uncommon in the south-east corner of the State (Warren), but whether these are the eastern or Texan form is uncertain. It is probably a resident throughout its range. Habits. — The Bob-whites prefer fairly open, cultivated lands, meadows and pastures, with patches of bush and briars where they can take shelter. They are generally to be found in small coveys or parties, which do not range very far from where they were raised. In the spring the coveys break up into pairs. The Bob-white, which is often called the Quail or Partridge in the east, 140 Birds of Colorado derives its name from its call-note. This is usually uttered by the male when perched on a rail-fence or a low limb of a tree. The coveys very often roost in the open on the ground in a soHd circle Avdth heads out and tails in, and like all Gallinaceous birds dust themselves in little pits to get rid of vermin. The food consists of about 80 per cent, of vegetable matter, 15 per cent, of animal matter ; the latter, chiefly eaten in the summer and fed to the young birds, consists mostly of beetles and grass- hoppers ; the former of seeds and weeds. They are there- fore most valuable birds to the farmer, and should be encouraged and protected in every way. They are also a very valuable sporting bird, lying well to a dog and rising when flushed with dash and vigour, besides being exceedingly well- flavoured and wholesome for eating purposes. The nest is placed on the gromid ; it is a simple affair consisting of a saucer-shaped excavation, sheltered by a patch of weeds or grass, and lined with a little grass or small twigs. The number of eggs is large, usually 12 to 15, and as many as forty-two eggs have been found in one nest, though these are probably the production of several hens. They are pyriform and pointed in shape, and white in colour, and average 1*25 x 1"0. Dille gives June 5th as the average date for a clutch of fresh eggs, while Gale states May 20th to June 10 is the usual time. A clutch of fifteen eggs taken by I. C. Hall near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado Museum, were obtained as late as July 24th, and are described as being unincubated. But the Bob-white varies very much in this respect, and eggs have been taken in every month in the year, except December, in various parts of the United States. Scaled Quail 141 Genus CALLIPEPLA. Crown with a full, soft and depressed crest ; tail of fourteen feathers ; about I the length of the wing ; plmnage of the iinder-parts scaly in appearance. Only one species of this genus is recognized, confined to south-west United States and Mexico. Scaled Quail. Callipepla squamata. A.O.U. Checklist no 293 — Colorado Records — Lowe 95, p. 298 ; Anthony 95, p. 388 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 202 ; Bailey 03, p. 112 ; Judd 05, p. 61 ; Warren 06, p. 19 ; 10, p. 30 ; DiUe 09, p. 87. Description. — Adult — Above slaty-blue, washed with tawny on the wings and middle-back ; feathers of the upper-back and breast edged with black, producing a scaly appearance ; crown with a full, soft crest, tipped with white ; inner tertiaries edged with white ; below the throat is pale yellowish-white, the sides are slaty, streaked with white and the abdomen is mottled with brown and white ; iris hazel, bill black, legs brownish. Length 10 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 3-25 ; culmen -5 ; tarsus 1'2. A young bird has the upper-parts marked with black bars and white mesial streaks, while the breast is brownish with white triangular streaks. Distribution. — A resident from southern Colorado, south through western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to the valley of Mexico. The Scaled Quail was first found in Colorado by Lowe, who on June 10th, 1895, killed one in the eastern foothills of the Wet Mountains. Apparently they have always been abundant in the cedar country to the south of the Arkansas River, in Las Arimas and western Baca co., but diu-ing the last ten years they have been spreading north and east. In 1899-1900 they were very common near Rocky Ford (Cooke), and last summer (1908) there were quite a nvmiber round about Colorado Springs, while on June 2nd and 8th of that year a pair were killed near the summit of Pikes Peak — a most remarkable instance of their wandering propensities. They are also spreading eastward into south-western Kansas, and are well known at Monon and Springfield (Warren). Habits. — This bird, also known as the Cotton-top and Blue Quail, and sometimes rather erroneously as the Scaled Partridge, is chiefly found in open and arid country where the yucca, cactus and sage-brush flourish. It is 142 Birds of Colorado often far from water. In the autumn it forms small coveys, probably several families joining together, and thus remains till pairing time. Along the Arkansas Valley they are rather domestic and keep near the farms all the winter, and often nest in the gardens or close by. The food consists of about 30 per cent, insects, chiefly grasshoppers and beetles, and 70 per cent, vegetable matter, principally weed-seeds, but they undoubtedly eat a certain quantity of plant tips and buds as well. The nest is placed on the ground and consists merely of a slight depression lined with a little grass, but gen- erally somewhat concealed by a bush or tuft of grass. The eggs, usually eleven or twelve, are thick-shelled, somewhat lustreless and sub-pyriform or ovate ; they are white to pale buff, very finely marked, as a rule, with pin-points of reddish brown. I have no nesting dates for Colorado, but further south eggs have been taken as early as April, and as late as September. Genus LOPHORTYX. Crown with a crest of several upstanding club-shaped, imbricated black feathers at least an inch long, rather smaller in the female ; tail normally of twelve, sometimes of ten or fourteen, feathers, about 4 the length of the wing. Three species and subspecies of this genus are found in the United States and Mexico. Key of the Species. A. Lower-breast scale-like ; the edges of the feathers black. a. Occiput brown, separated from the whitish forehead by a black band. L. califomicus, S p. 143. b. Occiput and forehead dull brown. L. californicus, ? p. 143. B. Lower-breast bufiy -white, with a black patch on the belly. L. gambeli, J p. 144. C. Lower-breast and belly buffy-white, faintly streaked ; no black patch. L. gambeli, ? p. 144. California Quail 143 California Quail. Lophortyx calif or nicus. A.O.U. Checklist no 294^Colorado Records— Drew 85, p. 14 ; Cooke 97, pp. 69, 202 ; Judd 05, p. 47 ; Rockwell 08, p. 47 ; Cary 09, p. 180. Description — Male — Above slaty-blue with an olive wash on the wings and pale tawny edges to the secondaries and tertiaries ; head with a characteristic club-shai>ed crest of several glossy-black feathers ; forehead whitish, continued as a line over the eye, bounded posteriorly by black ; occiput brown ; . ides of the face and throat black, bordered by white ; sides and back of the neck mottled with black edges and white spots ; breast slaty-blue ; rest of the under-parts tawny-olive, rufous, white and black, the latter chiefly in narrow cross-bands. Length 10-0 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 3-75 ; culmen -5 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the head dull brown above and the throat rather paler and streaked, but no definite markings ; it is also without the rufous on the abdomen ; young in first plumage have white, black- bordered shaft-Unes above, angular white spots on the breast and obscure grey bars on the belly. Distribution. — The lower transition and upper sonoran zones of the Pacific coastlands from Oregon to Monterey co, in California. Intro- duced into Washington and British Columbia and many other parts of the world. The California Quail has been introduced and has increased and thoroughly established itself in many parts of Colorado, especially in the neighbourhood of Denver, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction. About the last-mentioned place they have become so abundant that the farmers are beginning to complain. They have spread up the Gunnison Valley as far as Hotchkiss, and have also been introduced and have spread in Montezuma co. Habits. — Miss Eggleston, quoted by Rockwell, says : " A few years ago these birds were introduced near Grand Junction, and have multiplied rapidly. They make their nests under the piles of pruned branches from the orchards and bring out large broods. One hen has been seen with twenty-three chicks, of two distinct broods. They are very tame, sitting on the fence -posts or trees by the roadside, and caUing noisily to one another. They feed early in the morning, and large numbers of them can be driven from the gardens." The California Quail undoubtedly does eat and damage grapes, though in other respects it does useful 144 Birds of Colorado work in devouring grass-seeds. It roosts in bushes, not on the ground, and is not so good a sporting-bird as the Bob-white. The nest is a depression, hghtly lined with grass, and generally sheltered by brushwood or a rock. The eggs, 12 to 16 in number, are white or buffy, irregularly spotted all over with brown and drab. They average 1-25 X ro. Gambel's Quail. LopJiortyx gambeli. A.O.U. Checklist no 294 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 181 Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202. Description. — Male — Front half of crown and crest black, with a few white lines on the forehead ; posterior half chestnut-brown, a white transverse line across the crown, another running back from the eye, and a third surrounding the black throat ; general colour above ashy- blue, with dark shaft-lines to the feathers round the neck ; breast like the back ; other under-parts bitffy, rich chestnut streaked with white on the flanks, and a black patch in the middle of the belly ; iris brown, bill black. Length 6-5 ; wing 4-75 ; tail 3-75 ; culmon 45 ; tarsus 1-15. The female has the head plain greyish-browTi, a little whiter on the chin, ; the crest is dark brown and not recurved, and the black belly- patch is absent, but the lower-breast and belly are faintly streaked with brown. Distribution. — From Western Texas to southern California north to southern Utah and Colorado, south to Sonera in Mexico. The claim of Gambel's Quail to admission to the Colorado list seems rather doubtful ; Morrison gives it as rare in the south-west part of the State, and Cooke in more detail says that IMorrison shot three, forty miles south-west of Fort Lewis, This would certainly take one well over into New Mexico, so that although it most probably occurs within the State boundary, it does not appear to have been actually taken. Family TETRAONID^. Head fully feathered ; tarsus partially or completely feathered and without a spur ; hind toe jointed above the level of the others ; plumage never metallic. Dusky Grouse 145 Genus DENDRAGAPUS. Large birds without crests or any specially lengthened feathers, but with a bare space on the neck, ordinarily concealed by feathers but capable of inflation into a driom or tympanum ; tail long, even or sUghtly rotmded, about | of the wing, of eighteen to twenty feathers normally ; tarsus feathered to the toes. This genus contains one western species with three local races con- fined to the pine forests of the Rocky Mountains. Dusky Grouse. Dendragapns obscurus. A.O.U. Checklist no 297— Colorado Records— Pike 10, ii., p. 458 (Coues' ed.) ; Say 23, ii., p. 14 ; Allen 72, pp. 159, 164 ; Trippe 74, p. 399 ; Henshaw 75, p. 435 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 189 ; Drew 81, p. 142 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendu-e 92, p. 41 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Biu-nett 96, p. 64 McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 09, p. 228 ; Judd 05, p. 41 ; Oilman 07, p. 153 ; Warren 08, p. 20 RockweU 08, p. 161. Description. — Male — Above mottled, dusky and slaty-blue, most blue on the hind-neck, the wings with a little tawny as well ; tail slaty- black with a terminal band of pale slaty ; below slaty-grey, varied with white on the sides and abdomen ; chin and throat white, spotted with slaty ; iris orange-brown, bill black, feet blue-grey, comb over the eye and neck -drum yellow. Length 20 ; wing 9-5 ; tail 7*5 ; culmen •8 ; tarsus 1 -8 ; weight about three to five pounds. The female is a good deal smaller — length about 17'5, wing 8-5 ; and has more dark-brown and buffy mottling on the back and chest. Young birds are like the female, but have in addition white shaft-marks and tips to many of the feathers, and the two central tail-feathers mottled and barred with dusky and tawny. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region from Montana and Idaho and the Black Hills of Dakota, south to the White Mountains of Arizona and to New Mexico. A resident throughout its range. In Colorado the Dusky Grouse is a resident, found throughout the year in the mountainous portion of the State, chiefly in the pine forests from about 7,000 feet to timber line. It has been noted from Estes Park (Kellogg) to the Wet Mountains (Lowe), and from Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata (Morrison). It was undoubtedly killed by Pike on the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, who alludes to it as the " Pheasant." Habits. — The Dusky Grouse, also knoA\Ti as the Blue or Grey Grouse, and more famiharly as the Fool-hen, 146 Birds of Colorado keeps to the heavy spruce timber most of the year. It is a solitary bird, never forming large flocks, though after the breeding season often seen in coveys or family parties along the mountain meadows. During the winter it remains in the thickest spruces, where it feeds on the pine needles and buds, and where its presence can often be detected by the debris collected underneath. The food consists chiefly of vegetable matter, about 93 per cent, according to Judd ; this is mostly made up of berries, especially those of the Kinnick-kinnick (Arctostaphylos), and of pine needles, buds and flowers ; the animal matter, about 7 per cent., is chiefly grass- hoppers, taken at high elevations in the fall or late sum- mer, when they are to be met with even above timber line. In the spring especially the male makes a curious booming or rumbling sound. It is said to most nearly resemble the sound caused by whirling a rattan cane round and roimd through the air. The production of this sound is connected with the two naked patches on each side of the neck. These are hollow vesicles in connexion with the air sacs, and are inflated to the size of half an orange at this time and are most con- spicuous, while at ordinary times they are concealed by the overlaying feathers. The nest, which has been described by Henshaw and Burnett, is placed on the ground, generally in an open glade, but sheltered or somewhat concealed ; that found by Burnett was placed in a hollow under two old logs, It is a simple structure of dried grass or pine needles ; the eggs, eight or nine in number, are whitish to buffy, with fine spots or dots of chocolate fairly evenly dis- tributed. They average 2"0 x r40. Fresh eggs may be looked for about the middle of June at the higher elevations, earlier at lower elevations, according to Grey Ruffled Grouse 147 Gale. Henshaw's nest, which contained seven eggs about to hatch, was found on the Upper Rio Grande on June 18th. Genus BON AS A. Head with a full, soft crest ; base of the neck with a ruff of black, fan-shaped feathers, concealing a rudimentary drum ; less developed in the female ; tail of normally eighteen feathers, long, nearly equalling the wing, truncate and sHghtly rounded ; tarsus half bare of feathers, covered in front by two or three rows of scutes. One species only, confined to North America, but forming three local races, makes up this genus. Grey Ruffled Grouse, Bonasa umbellus umbelloides. A.O.U. Checklist no 300b— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 181 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 159, 202. Description. — Above variegated brown, black, white and grey, chiefly the latter, spotted with i^aler dark-edged cordate or arrow-headed markings on the back and rump ; tail-feathers grey, vermiculated with black and with a subterminal black band ; below whitish, tinged with tawny, with brown cross-bars on most of the feathers ; fore-neck and throat mingled brown, grey and white ; on each side of the neck covering the shoulders a tuft of broad, soft, spreading, glossy, greenish- black feathers — the ruff or ruffle. Length about 17-0 ; wing 7*25 ; tail 6'50 ; cuknen '70; tarsus 1'65. The female is smaller— wing 6-75 — and has the ruffle less developed or even obsolete. Young birds are somewhat similar, but with more brown and without ruffles. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region of North America from Alaska and Yukon to Utah and Colorado. The Ruffled Grouse is a very rare bird in Colorado, but appears to be a resident at lower elevations in the mountains. An example was shot and others seen about eighteen miles south of Denver in December, 1894 (Cooke) ; Mr. L. D. Gilmore saw five near Sweetwater Lake in Garfield co., January 3rd, 1898, and several more subsequently, while Cooke was fortunate enough to see a family of old and young birds, August 12th, 1899, on the South Fork in Estes Park, which seems to point to their having bred in Colorado. There is no other definite record. Habits. — The Ruffled Grouse is celebrated for its " drumming," a performance carried out by the male l2 148 Birds of Colorado on a specially selected spot — a log or flat rock generally. The sound is caused by the rapid vibration of the wings, and is sometimes kept up for hours and resembles the sound of a kettle-drum. It is only indulged in by the male, and is a love-call to attract the female. Genus LAGOPUS. No crest, ruff or tufts ; only a naked comb over the eye ; tail short, about f of wing, of fourteen rectrices nearly covered up by the coverts ; tarsi and toes densely feathered to the claws ; plumage white in winter. A considerable genus containing three well-marked North American and three well-marked European species, as well as a good many less well-defined species and subspecies, all restricted to the boreal zone. White-tailed Ptarmigan. Lagopus leucurus. A.O.U Checklist no 304— Colorado Records — Baird 58, p. 636 ; Allen 72, p. 1G4 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Batty 74, p. 390 ; Coues & Trippe 74, p. 426 ; Brewer 74, p. 348 ; Henshaw 75, p. 438 ; Coues 76, p. 263 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew, 81, p. 141 ; 84, p. 392 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p.181 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 83 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 70, 202; Warren 00, p. 169; 08, p. 20; Osgood 01, p. 180 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 228 ; Henshaw 05, p. 315 ; Judd 05, p. 47. Description. — In summer — Above, including the head, fore-neck and breast, mottled, barred and spotted with black, white and tawny ; tail, wings, belly and legs white, sometimes yellowish and discoloured, the white of the tail partially hidden by the long coverts ; iris hazel, comb over the eye red, bill black. Length 12-0 ; wing 6-75 ; tail 4 '5 ; bill -37 ; tarsus 1-20. In late summer after the post-nuptial moult, the dark parts are more uniformly grey with finer markings ; in winter pure white throughout. The moults take some little time to complete, so that specimens in every intermediate stage are frequently met with (see Plate 3). Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains at high elevations, chiefly above timber line, from British Colim^bia south to the Cascade range in Oregon and the Taos range in New IMexico. This Ptarmigan is fairly abundant throughout the higher mountain ranges of Colorado, and is a resident there all through the year. It breeds above timber hne from about 11,500 feet to the summits of the mountains, while in winter it stays about timber line though sometimes driven down to lower levels, perhaps 9,000 feet, by heavy storms. It [_E. R. Warren, Phot. THE PTARMIGAN AT CRESTED BUTTE. (1) IN SEPTEMBER (2) IN MARCH. [148 White-tailed Ptarmigan 149 was first taken in Colorado by Dr. Anderson, attached to Captain Marcy's party when marching from Fort Bridgor in Utah to Santa Fe, probably on the Cochetopa Pass, in January, 1858. It has been found nesting near the Chicago Lakes by Trippe and Evan Lewis (Brewer, Trippe and Bendire), near Breckenridge by Carter, near Crested Butte by Warren, in Saguache co. by Anthony (Bendire), and in the San Juan Mountains, San Juan co., by A. D. Wilson (Coues), and appears to be generally distributed. Habits. — ^This bird, generally known in Colorado as the "Mountain Quail," is with the Leucostictes the highest-ranging and most alpine of all the birds in the State. It is, where not molested, very tame and easily approached, and is chiefly met with among the rock- slides and bare, almost vegetation-free country lying above timber line. It is with difficulty flushed, and even where this is accomplished it flies but a short distance, and generally tries to escape by running and squatting among the rocks which it so closely resembles. Its food consists chiefly of leaves, stalks and flowers of alpine plants, and grasses, especially of Caltha leptocephala, the Rocky Mountain marsh -marigold. During the winter it feeds on the buds and needles of pines and willows. Its note is a loud cackle ; and it is somewhat gregarious, keeping in flocks of twenty up to one hundred individuals throughout most of the year, except in the breedmg season. The white plumage begins to change in March, but the summer-dress is seldom complete until the end of May or beginning of June. After the breeding is over the complete post-nuptial moult, common to nearly all birds, takes place, and the white wing- and tail-feathers are replaced ; later on, in October, a special moult of the dusky and grey feathers of the back commences, and the birds gradually assume the pure white winter -dress. The nest is generally near the summit of a ridge, and is merely a depression among the rocks, lined with a 150 Birds of Colorado little dried grass, a few white feathers from the breast of the female and sometimes a few leaves ; the eggs, usually eight in number, are oval and buff, of a light creamy or darker reddish shade ; the markings are few and well defined as a rule, and are of a darker reddish- brown ; in size they average 1*70 x r20. Trippe's nest contaraing eight eggs was taken on June 28th. Evan Lewis's at the same place, of only four eggs in which incubation had commenced, on June 19th ; while Wilson's nest from the San Juan mountains, containing five or six nearly fresh eggs, was not taken till July 15th. The male does not apparently take part in incubation, nor is a second brood raised. Genus TYMPANUCHUS. Head slightly crested ; neck with two long tufts of feathers covering a bare yellow tympanum or wattle capable of distention, like a small half-orange ; tail short, graduated, less than half the wing, of eighteen feathers, rather stiff and truncated ; tarsus feathered in front and at the sides ; toes bare and webbed at the base. This genus contains three species and one additional subspecies, and is practically confined to the United States. The Lesser Prairie Chicken (T. pallidicinctus) should be looked for in south-east Colorado. It occurs in south-west Kansas and Oklahoma. It is smaller — wing less than 8-5 — and paler and more bleached than the common form. Prairie Chicken. Tympanuchus americaniis. A.O.U. CheckUst no 305 — Colorado Records — Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 181 ; Cooke 97, pp. 159, 202 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above variegated with black, brown, tawny and white ; the latter chiefly on the wing, the markings mostly in irregular bands ; below paler, more regularly banded, chiefly white and brown, throat pale yellowish, sometimes speckled with darker ; primaries and tail-feathers nearly plain brown ; tail narrowly ti]iped with white ; a pair of neck-tufts of several long, stiff feathers, dusky and tawny, about 3 -5 in. long ; iris brown, bill dark brown, feet yellowish. Length 18'5 ; wing 9-0 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen -7 ; tarsus 1-85. Columbian Sharp- tailed Grouse 151 The female resembles the male, but is smaller — wing 8-5 — and has quite inconspicuous neck-tufts. Young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts with rather conspicuous white mesial streaks. Distribution. — The Mississippi Valley from Louisiana and Texas north to Manitoba and west to the borders of Colorado, east to Indiana and Kentucky ; migratory over the northern part of its range. Like the Baltimore Oriole, the Cardinal and the Blue Jay, the Prairie Chicken is gradually extending its range westwards with the opening up and settlement of the western prairies and the cultivation of the ground. Though included by Drew and Morrison in their Colorado lists, the first definite recorded instance of its occurrence seems to be that of J. S. Robertson of Barton, just two miles within the Colorado border line in the extreme north-east of the State, who had seen them twice on his farm in 1897 ; later on, in 1900, Otto Derr wrote to Cooke that at Wray the Prairie Hen is a not uncommon breeder. Horsey and Rockwell state that in 1907 a pair nested fourteen miles north- east of Denver, near Barr, and in the following year two pairs raised eighteen young. It may be considered an uncommon resident in the north-eastern part of the State. Genus PEDIOC^TES. Head slightly crested ; a naked jjatch over the eye bearing numerous yellow papillae ; no tufts or ruffs, but a semi-concealed bare patch on the neck forming a rudimentary tympanum ; tail short, less than half the wing, of eighteen feathers strongly graduated, the centra] pair narrow, square-tipped and projecting about an inch beyond the others ; feathering on the tarsus extending about half way down the toes, confined to the front and sides ; tees with a lateral fringe of horny processes. One species only, with two additional local races confined to North America. Key or the Species. A. More rusty and tawny in tone. P. p. campestris, p. 152. B. More buffy and greyish in tone. P. p. columbianus, p. 151. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. PedioccBtes phasianellus columbianus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 308a— Colorado Record— Gary 09, p. 181. Description. — Hardly differing from P. jO. campestris, but with the ground-colour buffy-greyish or pale greyish with little if any rusty tinge. 152 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Western America, from British Columbia to northern California, and east to western Colorado, Cary identifies a Grouse taken by him in August, 1906, near Hahn's Peak in northern Routt co., with this subsj^ecies, and concludes that all the Sharp-tailed Grouse of western and sotithern Colorado should be referred to this form. He noticed the Sharp-tailed Grouse also in San Miguel, Dolores, Montezuma and Archuelta counties up to an eleva- tion of 9,500 feet, and concluded that they were this subspecies. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. Pedioccetes phasianellus campestris. A.O.U. Checklist no 308b— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 152 ; Aiken 72, p. 208 ; Morrison 87, p. 58 ; 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Ridgway 87, p. 192 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 159, 203 ; Gihnan 07, p. 153 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Henderson 09, p. 228. (Some of these may refer to the other subspecies.) Description. — Above tawny, mottled with black, white and reddish markings, rather fine except on the scapulars, the white chiefly on the wing-coverts ; primaries and their coverts plain brown with white spots, chiefly on the outer web ; throat buffy, rest of the under-parts white ; fore-neck and breast with niunerous brown U-shaped spots, extending over the flanks to the lesser extent ; four middle tail-feathers like the back, mottled tawny and rtifous, others chiefly white ; iris brown, bill and feet horny-brown. Length 18 ; wing 8-75 ; tail 3-0, to end of longest tail-feather 4-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus 1-75. The female is smaller — wing about 8>0. A young bird is rather lighter and has white shaft-markings above. Distribution. — The prairie region of middle America from Manitoba to Texas and New Mexico, east to Winconsin, west to Colorado ; pro- bably a resident throughout. In Colorado this bird is by no means common. It was apparently more so in former days, but it is a species which prefers wild country and retreats before settlement, and it is now but seldom met with. It was chiefly an inhabitant of the prairie country east of the mountains, and was abundant formerly about Loveland (Osburn). It is occasion- ally met with in the wilder parts of Routt co. There is an example in the collection at the Capitol in Denver from Wray, presented October 19th, 1903, by B, E. Sisson ; Aiken observed ono near Limon in May, 1899, and Carter found it breeding in Middle Park at 7,500 feet. In south-west Colorado near Fort Lewis both Oilman and Morrison state that it is fairly common among the scrub-oaks on the mesas at about 7,500 feet, but whether it is the present subspecies or P. p. colunibianus, the characteristic form of the Great Basin region, is at Sage-Hen 153 present uncertain. Gary believes the Routt co. bird is referable to the other subspecies. Habits. — The Sharp-tailed Grouse is very generally mis -called the " Prairie Chicken " in the north-west. It is a bird of the prairie in summer, retiring in winter to ravines and wooded lands, and often roosting beneath the snow when the wea,ther is severe. The food consists chiefly of vegetable matter — about 90 per cent. ; it is a great browser, devouring leaves, buds and flowers of various bushes and trees, while in La Plata CO. it chiefly feeds on the acorns of the scrub-oak. In the breedmg season the males give a dancing display before the females. A nest, described by Oilman, was found on May 11th : it was a slight depression in the ground lined with grass and feathers, and hidden and sheltered by a small scrub-oak. The eggs were eleven in number ; these were creamy-buff to pale olive-browii, plain or very finely spotted with reddish-brown. They average 1'7 x 1*24, and are small for the size of the bird. Genus CENTROCERCUS. Head hardly crested ; neck with a large protuberance in front capable of great distention, covered above by long hair-like filamentary plumes and below with scaly, stiff feathers ; tail as long as, or even exceeding the wing, very strongly graduated, composed of 16 to 20 stiff, narrow, acuminate feathers. Only one species ; confined to the dryer parts of western North America. Sage- Hen. Centrocercus urophasianus. A.O.U. Checklist no 309— Colorado Records— Fremont 45, p. 284 ; Baird 58, p. 624 ; Aiken 72, p. 209 ; Henshaw 75, p. 437 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 203 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description. — Male — Above mottled tawny, black and a little white, markings finest on the head, primaries and their coverts plain brown ; below, chin and the lower-breast black ; under tail-coverts black with 154 Birds of Colorado white tips ; breast covered with scaly, stiff, worn feather-bases from which project black, hair-lil-ce filaments ; a patch of downy white feathers on either side of the neck cover the naked tympanum or air sac, which is enomaously inflated under sexual excitement ; flanks and leg feathers mottled like the back. Bill black ; air-sacs yellow. Length 30-0 ; wing 13-0 ; tail 12-0 ; culmen l-o ; tarsus 2-25 ; weight up to 9^1bs. (Morrison). Before the breeding season the breast of the male is black. The female is much smaller than the male — length about 20, wing 11-0 ; the throat and breast are mottled like the back, but with more white, the air-sac is present but quite small, and there are no specially modified feathers. Distribution. — The sage-brvish plains of western North America from south British Columbia and North Dakota, south to south-east California and New Mexico, A resident with a shght vertical migra- tion in some parts. In Colorado the Sage-Hen is a resident chiefly in the drier sage-brush plains of the north and west of the State, but goes up to a certain extent into the mountains and breeds as high as 9,000 feet at Dillon (Carter)* and near Twin Lakes (Henshaw & Scott) ; but it does not seem to occur at all in the eastern plains. The following are localities : Grand, Routt and Gunnison cos. (Warren), Mesa co. (Rockwell), near Cortez (5Iorrison), the lower Trinchera Valley in Costilla co. (Brunner in litt.). Habits. — The Sage-Grouse or Sage-Hen is the largest American game-bird except the Turkey, and is remark- able in many respects. It is almost entirely confined to the sage-brush {Artemesia) areas, and its diet is largely confined to the shoots and leaves of these desert plants, and as a result — ^unless drawn immediately after it is killed — its flesh is far from palatable. The mating season begins early, and the courting habits are very remarkable. The males strut round with the yellow air-sacs enormously distended, so that the whole head and neck are balloon-like in appearance. With tail standing erect they scrape their breasts along the bare ground and finish the performance by expelling the air from the sacs with a chuckling, rumbling • It was probably in this neighbourhood that it was seen by Fremont, June 20th, 1844. Merriam's Turkey 155 sound. This courting act, according to Bond, is continued daily during the pairing and nesting season. The nest is a depression with a Httle grass lining or sometimes nearly bare, and is usually sheltered by a sage bush or clump of grass. The eggs, about eight in number, are olive-buff to greenish-brown, spotted with chocolate-brown ; the colour is superficial and easily removed from a freshly laid egg. The size averages 2*20 x 1*50. They roost on the ground often in the same place, as can be told by their droppings, and in winter they pack into parties of fifty to one hundred birds. Family MELEAGRIDIDiE. Characters of the single genus. Genus MELEAGRIS. Head and. upper-neck naked and earunculate, with an erectile process on the crown ; tarsi naked with scutes in front and behind, that of the male spurred ; tail broad and rounded of 14 — 18 feathers ; plumage lustrous and iridescent. This genus contains two species only, and is confined to North America. The domestic bird is without doubt derived from the Mexican race {M. gallapavo Linn.) and the Colorado bird is more closely allied to it than to the wild Tvu-key of eastern North America (M. g. silvestris). Merriam's Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo merriami. A.O.U. Checklist no 310d— Colorado Records— Pike 10, Vol. ii., pp. 442, 462 (Cones' ed.) ; Ridgway 73, pp. 186, 195 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 182 ; Cooke 97, pp. 71, 203 ; Oilman 07, p. 153 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; Felger 09, p. 191. Description. — Male — Head and neck bare, dull bluish, with an erectile process hanging from above the bill ; chest with a bristly tuft ; feathers of the under-parts metallic bronzy-green and reddish, tijjped with velvet-black ; feathers of the lower -back and rump inetallic tipped with black ; tail, tail-coverts and feathers of the lower-rump tipped with bnffy-whitish ; iris brown, bill dusky, legs dusky red. Length 48 to 50; wing 20-5; tail 16-0; culmen 1-6; tarsus 5-26. The female is sinxilar but duller and smaller. 156 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains region of the United States from Colorado through New Mexico and Arizona to northern Mexico. Turkeys were formerly abundant tliroughout the greater part of Colorado. Pike, in 1806, on his march up the Arkansas Valley to what is now Caiion City, several times alludes to them, and fed his soldiers on those he was able to shoot ; they are still to be met with occasionally in the less -accessible parts of the State. Morrison, in 1888, found them abundant along the Pine River in La Plata co. One was taken on the Buckhorn in Larimer co. in 1861 ; R. Borcherdt killed three out of a flock of twenty- five in the fall of 1868 on Plum Creek, south of Denvef (Felger) ; they doubtless still exist in the south-eastern corner of the State south of the Arkansas River, while Warren states that C. H. Smith, of Coventry, saw one in the San Miguel cailon in January, 1898. There is a mounted male example of a Colorado Turkey in the Colorado Museum of Natural History at Denver. It was killed by Carter near Canon City in January, 1878 ; another specimen, a mounted fenaale in the State Historical Society's collection, was obtained near Durango in the winter of 1895 by A. J. Allen, and both these seem undoubtedly referable to this subspecies ; but it is possible that the Turkeys of the lower Arkansas Valley may be the eastern race {M. g. silvestris), distinguished by their deep rusty tail-tips and the rich-dark chestnut of the lower -rump and tail-coverts. Habits. — Merriam's Turkey seems to be more of a mountain bird than the Turkey of the eastern states. It feeds on insects, berries and plant tops, and is specially fond of acorns. The nest is placed on the ground, generally sheltered somewhat, and is lined with leaves, weeds and grass. The eggs, eight to fourteen, are white, dotted with reddish-brown evenly distributed, and measure 2*75 x 1'90. ORDER COLUMB^. The Pigeons form a well-marked group, having no close well-defined relationships, except with the Old World Sand-Grouse. They are birds of moderate size with short legs, and toes without a trace of a web. The bill is very character- istic, the distal portion being slightly swollen and hard, and the proximal portion, in which the nostrils open, Band-tailed Pigeon 157 covered by a soft skin, forming what is called a cere. There are eleven primaries ; the number of tail-feathers varies from twelve to twenty ; the hind toe, which is always present, is jointed on a level with the other toes. The young, when hatched, are naked and helpless, and are entirely dependent on their parents for some con- siderable time. There are only three Pigeons found in Colorado ; they can be distinguished as follows : — Key of the Species. A. Large — wing 8 to 9 ; a rounded tail and a white collar. Columba fasciata, p. 157. B. Smaller — wing 6 to 7. a. Tail wedge-shaped ; black spots on the scapulars. Zenaidura m. carolinensis, p. 159. b. Tail rounded ; a white patch on the wing. Melopelia asiatica, p. 161. Genus COLUMBA. BiU soraewhat short and stout ; the soft basal portion roui^ded ; no black spots on the scapulars ; tail of twelve feathers about f the length of wing, nearly even, the feathers broad and rounded ; tarsus about half feathered and scutellate. A cosmopolitan genus with a very large number of species ; only two are at all common in the United States. Band-tailed Pigeon. Columba fasciata. A.O.U. Checklist no 312 — Colorado Records — Say 23, ii. p. 10; Henshaw 75, p. 429 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 6 ; KeUogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 65 ; Cooke 97, pp. 72, 160, 203 ; Dille 09, p. 87 ; Henderson 09, p. 228. Description. — Male — Head all round and under-parts lavender-grey, paling to white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts ; a narrow white half-collar on the nape ; back slaty-blue becoming dusky on the wings, and with a patch of iridescent green behind the collar ; tail with a dusky black transverse band, the terminal portion paler than the back ; eye with a red ring, bill yellow, black at the tip ; legs yellow. Length 14-0; wing 8"25 ; tail 4-75; cubnen -7; tarsus 1-0. The female is like the male but rather duller ; the lavender of the head and under-parts is obscured by brown, and the white collar and 158 Birds of Colorado metallic patch are less weU developed or even absent ; the young bird is like the female, but has Ughter edges to the feathers and no collar or metallic patch. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region east to the Pacific, from British Columbia southwards to Guatemala ; a siunmer resident orly north of Arizona and New Mexico. In Colorado the Band-tailed Pigeon is a not uncommon summer resident of rather irregular distribution, chiefly in the mountains from 6,000 to 10,000 feet from Estes Park (Kellogg & Cooke), and the moun- tains about Glenwood (Cooke) southward. Other recorded localities are : A gulch near Geld Hill, Boulder co. (Gale), Mountains above the Platte Valley (Say), Platte Caiion (Smith), South Park, breeding (Carter), Wet Mountain up to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Del Norte (Henshaw), Durango, breeding (Cooke). Habits. — This Pigeon is particularly fond of the acorns of the various kinds of oaks growing in Colorado, and its distribution probably largely depends on the presence of these ; but it also eats berries in the summer before the acorns are ripe, and possibly other seeds as well. It generally goes about in smaller or larger flocks, and has an Owl-like hooting note. Morrison is the only Colorado observer who describes the breeding habits ; he found nests both on the ground as well as in scrub-oak bushes ; they all contained only one glossy white egg, measuring 1'63 x 1*09, The nest is a slight platform of twigs on a flat tree limb, while sometimes the nest of another bird is utihzed. In some cases two eggs are laid. The egg is described by Bendire as a pointed elliptic alovate, and averages 1-55 X 1*10. I have not found any nesting date for Colorado, but in Arizona eggs have been met with every month in the year, and several broods are probably raised. Genus ZENAIDURA. Bill shorter than the head, slender and weak ; a bare space round the eye ; tail long, about equal to the wing, of fourteen very strongly graduated feathers, which are tapered and somewhat obtusely pointed ; tarsus not feathered, scutellate ; black spots on the scapulars. Mourning Dove 159 This genus contains two slightly differing subspecies, spread over North America and the West Indies respectively. Mourning Dove. Zenaidura macrura carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 316— Colorado Records— Baird 58, p. 604; Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 181 ; Aiken 72, p. 208 ; Henshaw 75, p. 431 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Stone 81, p. 45 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 6 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 267 ; 01, p. 276 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 73 , 203 ; Keyser, 02, p. 43 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 234 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14; Gilman07,p. 153 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description. — Male— Above, including the middle tail-feathers, oUve- brown, the wing-feathers dusky with a slaty-blue wash and the inner secondaries and scapulars with black spots ; outer tail-feathers slaty with a median black bar, and tips of the four outer ones white ; head cinnamon-bluish on the occii^ut and nape, and a black spot below the ear-coverts ; sides of the neck irridescent pink ; below lavender-pink, becoming cirmamon posteriorly ; iris dark brown, skin round the eye bhiish, bill black, legs red, drying yellowish. Length 12-25 ; wing 6-1 ; tail 6-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarstis -75. The female is a httle smaller — wing 5-75, and the colour less bright ; a young bird lacks the iridescence and black spots, and has pale edgings to many of the feathers. Distribution. — North America from southern Ontario and British Colmnbia to Panama ; a summer resident north ; a resident through- out the year south of about 36". The Movirning Dove is a very abundant simimer resident throughout Colorado, in the plains and up to about 7,000 feet. At higher altitudes it becomes much more scarce. It was found breeding at Breckenridge at about 9,500 feet by Carter, while Drew states that it occasionally wanders as high as 12,000 feet. It arrives from the south about the middle of April though often seen earlier, and leaves in September. A few birds doubtless winter in the State ; Lowe saw a flock of fortj^ on January 7th, near Beulah, and Gale states that a certain number winter in Boulder co., while at Grand Junction it has been seen as early as February 26th, and as late as November 2nd (Rockwell). Habits. — This Dove, also frequently known as the Carolina Dove and Turtle-Dove, is of very wide distribu- tion and seems readily to adapt itself to its surroundings. It is found everywhere, but is perhaps most abundant 160 Birds of Colorado in the cotton-woods along the river valleys in the plains and foothills. It is a bird of strong flight, and the rapid strokes of its wings make a whizzmg sound. It has a very mournful, cooing note, which soon becomes annoying and tiresome to man, but which appears to gratify its mate. The food consists chiefly of seeds and berries and it doubtless takes a toll of the grain fields. The nesting season begins early, and eggs can be found from the end of May till the beginning of September, and doubtless two or three broods are raised in a season. In the plains the nest is most frequently placed on the ground ; in the mountains, according to Gale, more often in bushes and trees, but the nesting -sites chosen vary very considerably. Two fresh eggs taken by I. C. Hall, and presented to the Colorado College Museum, were found on June 1st near Greeley, in a flat nest of small twigs, placed on a heap of old, dead rushes in a marsh. Gale found nests at the angle where a branch joins a tree-trunk, upon the longitudinal branch of a bunch of undergrowth, upon the crown of an old stump, and upon the ground. The nest is a slight affair of a few twigs and sometimes a Httle dry grass. The eggs, generally two in number, though often only one, are pure glossy-white, generally nearly oval, and measure about 1*1 x "9 Genus MELOPELIA. Bill slender and lengthened, about equal to the tarsus ; a bare space round the eye ; tail shorter than the wing, of twelve broad, rounded feathers ; tarsus naked and scutellate ; no black spots on the scapulars, but a white patch on the wing. Only one North American species found along the southern border of the United States. White-winged Dove 161 White- winged Dove. Melopelia asiatica. A.O.U. Checklist no 319 — Colorado Records — Berthond 77, p. 83 (Jlf. leucoptera) ; Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160, 203. Description. — Male — General colour above, including the middle tail- feathers, olivo-brown ; top of the head and neck dull pinkish, an irridescent patch on the sides of the neck and a stooly-blue sjwt below the ear-coverts ; primaries dusky with a narrow white edging ; wing with a broad white bar from the carpal joint to the longest coverts ; nump and under-parts bluish ; outer tail-feathers slaty-blue, then slaty-black, then squarely tipped with ashy-white ; iris jxu'ple, bill black, legs pinkish-purple. Length 12-0 ; wing 6-5 ; tail 4-5 ; culmen and tarsus -87. The female is similar, but smaller and duller coloured. Distribution.- — The southern United States from Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, south to Costa Rica and the West Indies. The White-winged Dove is only of accidental occurrence in Colorado. It is essentially a bird of the hot and dry lower sonoran and tropical zones. Berthoud reported that he saw a flock of a dozen and killed one or two in July, 1809, in Cub Creek in Jefferson co., at timber Une — a very remarkable record. Cooke states that one was shot by Mr. A. D. Baker in the Wet Mountain Valley in September, 1889. These are the only known instances of its occurrence. ORDER ACCIPITRES. This order contains the Eagles, Hawks, Vultures, American Vultures or Condors, and other diurnal birds of prey. They are characterized as follows : Bill stout, strong and hooked, with a soft-skinned cere at the base within which open the nostrils ; lores generally naked and bristly, never forming a regular rutf or facial disk as in the Owls ; eyes not forwardly directed as in the Owls, but looking out laterally as in other birds ; with a few exceptions, wing with ten primaries, tail with twelve rec trices ; legs generally rather short and stout, with three toes in front and one behind, cleft or only basally webbed, provided with strong curved and sharp pointed claws, adapted for grasping their prey. M 162 Birds of Colorado Key of the Families ajstj Genera. A. Head and neck naked (Cathartidce). Cathartes, p. 163. JB. Head and neck feathered. a. Outer toe not reversible, claws never all the same length (Falconidce). a^ Large ; whig over 17'0. a^ Tarsus feathered to the bases of the toes. Aquila, p. 181. b* Tarsus feathered about half way down. Haliaeetus, p. 183. b^ Smaller ; wing less than 17. a- Nostrils rounded, with a bony tubercle , edge of bill distinctly toothed. Falco, p. 184. b^ Nostrils without a bony tubercle ; edge of bill never toothed, though often festooned, a^ Legs with the tibia always exceeding the tarsus. a* Only the outer two primaries emarginate on the inner web. a^ Tail forked to half its extent ; tarsus reticulate throughout. Elanoides, p. 165. b^ Tail about even ; tarsus with transverse scutes in front. Ictinia, p. 165. b* Three to five of the outer primaries emarginate. a^ Face with an Owl-Uke ruif ; tarsus with scutes anteriorly and posteriorly. Circus, p. 166. b^ Face without ruff. a* Tarsus half feathered, with scutes in front only. Buteo, p. 173. b^ Tarsus feathered to the toes. Archibuteo, p. 178. b' Legs with the tibia and tarsus about equal. a* Tarsus feathered about } ; middle toe very long, without claw exceeding the outer toe with claw. Accipiter, p. 168. b* Tarsus feathered about i ; middle toe shorter, without claw not exceeding the outer toe with claw. Astur, p. 171. b. Outer toe reversible, claws all approximately the same length (Pandionidoe). Pandion, p. 192, Family CATHARTID^. Head and neck naked ; bill hooked, comparatively- weak ; nostrils large, oval and completely pervious owing to the absence of the inter-nasal septum ; toes long, basally webbed ; claws rather weak, slight^ curved and Turkey- Vulture 163 obtuse ; hind toe slightly elevated above the level of the others. Genus CATHARTES. Characters of the family : tarsus long, naked and covered with reticulated scales. Several species of Turkey -Vultures are recognized, but only one occiu-s in the United States. Turkey-Vulture. Cathartes aura septentrionalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 325— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159, 181 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94 ; p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 73 ; Henderson 05, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Adult — Pliunage black throughout, glossy in parts, and some of the feathers edged with dark brown ; wing and tail-feathers ashy below ; iris brown, bill white, head and neck naked but for a few bristles, crimson to pale carmine ; feet flesh-coloured. Length 27 ; wing 20-0 ; tail 10-5 ; culmen with cere 2-0 ; tarsus 2-25. The female resembles the male, but is slightly smaller ; young birds are darker than adults and have the bill and skin of head dark ; nestUngs are covered with white down. Distribution. — From southern New England, Manitoba and British Colimibia southwards to the Slexican border, where it merges with a smaller subspecies found throughout Central America and the West Indies. In Colorado the Turkey-Vulture is a fairly common summer resident, both in the plains and moimtains up to 12,000 feet, at which elevation it was noted by Morrison in La Plata co., and by Lowe in the Wet Mountains. It is specially abundant, according to Rockwell, in the Plateau Valley of Mesa co., where it arrives normally about April 15th, though at a lower elevation at Grand Junction it has been seen as early as March 18th and as lato as September 27th. To the east of the mountains it arrives about the same time. Other locaUties are : Weld CO. (Markman), Boulder co. (Henderson), Barr, not uncommon (Hersey & Rockwell), El Paso and Fremont cos. (Aiken coll.), Baca, Las Animas and Routt cos. (Warren) ; it appears to be generally distributed. Habits. — ^The Turkey-Vulture, more commonly known as the " Buzzard " or " Turkey-Buzzard," is a carrion M 2 164 Birds of Colorado feeder and a scavenger, and in the south is a most valuable aid to sanitation. When a carcass is found, the Buzzards assemble and gorge themselves to repletion ; they retire to a perch close by to roost and digest, and return again and again until the bones are picked quite clean. When in the air they sail and circle high with out- spread wings, on the look-out for a meal. They have no note or cry beyond a hissing, wheezy sound. Buzzards, though not usually gregarious, often use a common roosting -place — Rockwell describes such a roost in a grove of trees on Plateau Creek, where he has seen as many as fifty of these birds assembled at night time. Morrison found them breeding in the La Plata mountains at an elevation of about 12,000 feet. The nest was merely a ledge in the cleft of a broken boulder on the mountain side ; there were two eggs of a dirty-white colour, blotched with reddish -brown, these measured 2"73 x 1"95 and 2*70 x 1"91 respectively. The eggs were much soiled and the whole surroundings of the spot loathsome and evil -smelling. Dennis Gale is the other observer who has found the Buzzard breeding in Colorado. He reports that he saw several nesting in cotton-wood trees on the Little Thompson, with Blue Herons. They were probably making use of the nests of the Herons, though Gale, in his notes, does not dis- tinctly say 80. This was on April 16th. Family FALCONID^. Head and neck never naked (in the New World forms) ; bill generally stout, strong and hooked, with a cere or soft cushion at the base within Avhich the nostrils open ; nostrils never pervious ; wings with ten primaries, tail of twelve rectrices with rare exceptions ; feet strong, toes cleft or only webbed at the extreme base, the Swallow-tailed Kite 165 outer one never shorter than the inner one, and never reversible ; hind toe not elevated above the others. For key of the genera, see p. 162. Genus ELANOIDES. Bill rather weak ; nostrils oval and oblique ; wings long, acute and pointed, tenth (outer) primary about equal to sixth, ninth and tenth longest ; two outer primaries emarginate on the outer web ; tail very long, often nearly equal to wing ; very strongly forked ; the outer feathers about twice the length of the central pair ; tarsus short, half feathered, elsewhere with reticulate scales. This genus contains only one species. Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 327— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, a band across the rump and the whole of the under-parts, including the under wing- and under tail-coverts, white ; back, wings and tail glossy black with greenish lustre ; iris black, bill bluish-black, cere and legs bluish. Length 20'O ; wing 15-7o ; tail 10-5 up to 14-0; cukaen '9; tarsus 1-3. The female is larger — wing 17'0. Young birds have white tips to some of the wing- and tail-feathers, and the head with narrow brown shaft-lines. Distribution. — Chiefly met with in the middle and southern United States, from Minnesota and Virginia south through Texas and Mexico to South America. The Swallow-tailed Kite is a very rare straggler in Colorado, and has been met with only by Aiken. He saw one at Leadville in August, 1871 ; and the same month in 1877, two were brought to him in the flesh ; one of these was killed close to Colorado Springs, and is now in the Colorado College Museum ; the other at Manitou Park in Teller CO., at about 7,700 feet. Genus ICTINIA. Bill moderate, edge of upper mandible slightly lobed ; nostrils circular ; wing long ; eighth primary longest ; the tenth (outer) about equal to the fourth ; two outer primaries emarginate on the inner web ; tail nearly even ; tarsus half feathered with a row of transverse scutes in front. A genus containing two species, confined to temperate and tropical America. 166 Birds of Colorado Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 329— Colorado Record — Cooke 97, pp. 73, 160. Description. — Male — Head, neck, secondaries and under-parts greyish- white, rest of the upper-parts bluish-slate, becoming black on the primaries and tail ; wing-quills with a narrow indistinct stripe of chestnut-rufous on the outer webs and larger spots of the same on the inner ; bases of the feathers of the head, neck and under-parts white, and often showing through ; concealed white spots on the scapulars ; iris lake-red ; bill, cere and claws black ; feet red. Length 14-15 ; wing 11-50; tail 6-60; culmen -90; tarsus 1-35. The female is larger — wing 11-75; it has the head and secondaries darker, and less chestnut -rufous on the primaries. An immature bird has the head streaked black and white, whiter on the throat ; the back, wings and tail with tawny or white edges and the lower-parts whitish, heavily streaked with rusty-rxifous ; iris and feet brownish. Distribution. — The south-eastern United States from southern Illinois and South CaroUna to Texas, Mexico and Guatemala ; not uncommon in southern Kansas. This Kite is a straggler in Colorado. Breninger informed Cooke that an example taken near Trinidad was preserved in Denver, and Aiken reports that he once observed an example near Colorado Springs. Genus CIRCUS. Face rather Owl-like, surrounded by an incomplete ruff ; bill strong, beset by bristles ; the edge of the upper mandible lobed, but hardly toothed ; nostrils oval ; wings long, the outer primary shorter than the fourth, the seventh and eighth the longest ; the outer throe to five primaries emarginate on the inner web ; tail long about f of wing, almost even ; legs long, tarsus clearly exceeding the middle toe and claw, but shorter than the tibia, with scutes before and behind. A widely spread genus found all over the world, with one species only in the United States. Marsh- Hawk. Circus hudsonius. A.O.U. CheckUst no 331— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Tresz 81, p. 188 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Beckham 97, p. 121 ; Morrison 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 73, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 20; 08, p. 20; 09, p. 14 ; Giknan 07, p. 153 ; Rockwell 08, p. 161. Description— Male — Above silvery or bluish-ash, seldom pure, nearly always obscvu-ed by dusky and traces here and there of the juvenal tawny ; upper tail-coverts white, wing-quills chiefly dusky with white bases ; tail banded more or less distinctly with dusky, the terminal one most distinct ; below, the throat and breast shghtly ashy. Marsh-Hawk 167 posteriorly white with a few pale rufous spots ; iris brown, bill horny, cere greenish-yellow, legs yellow. Length 18 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen 2-9 ; tarsus l-O. An adult female is larger — wing 15 ; and is dark umber-brown above, varied with reddish and yellowish-brown ; but the tail-coverts are white, and form a conspicuous mark ; underneath a paler tawny streaked with darker. Young birds resemble the female, and are often darker, but the tail-coverts are always white. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay to about the southern border of the United States ; wintering in the southern United States and further south to Panama and Cuba. The Marsh- Hawk is a very common bird in Colorado, especially on the plains, where it breeds. It is not quite so nvunerous in the mountains, though it nests up to about 8,000 feet, and wanders as high as 14,000 feet. It may be considered a summer visitor, though undoubtedly a few birds winter in the plains. The following are chief records : Boulder co., wintering in the valley, nesting in hills and plains (Gale & Henderson); Breckrenridge, breeding at 8,000 feet (Carter) ; Orchard, March (Warren) ; El Paso co., February and August (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains, up to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Baca co., very common ; Routt co., occasionally (Warren) ; Mesa CO., fairly common, April to November (Rockwell) ; San Juan co., up to 14,000 feet in September (Drew). Habits. — ^The Marsh-Hawk frequents meadows and marshy districts, beating to and fro near the surface of the ground with an easy and graceful flight and search- ing for its prey. This consists largely of small rodents, ground-squirrels and meadow mice, and to a lesser extent of frogs, insects and small birds. Occasionally when hard pressed it will take carrion or dead and wounded birds shot by gunners. The nest is always placed on the ground, usually in or near a marsh, and is sheltered by a tuft of grass or a bush ; it is a simple structure of dry grass and a few sticks, roughly thrown together, though when used for several successive years, a considerable amount of The eggs are usually 4 to 6 in number ; they are greenish- material is accumulated, blue to bluish -white and generally unmarked, though 168 Birds of Colorado sometimes blotched and spotted with buffy or bro\\ii. They average 1*80 x 1*40. The male assists the female in the construction of the nest, the incubation of the eggs and the rearing of the young. According to Gale, fresh eggs should be looked for near Gold Hill from May 25th to June 10th, but the notices of the breeding of the Marsh -Hawk in Colorado are very scanty. Genus ACCIPITER. Bill moderate or rather small, edge of the upper mandible slightly festooned ; nostrils rounded ; wing rather short, the five outer primaries emarginate on the inner web, the sixth and seventh the longest ; tail long, about f of wing, slightly rounded ; legs long, tarsus feathered about ^, rather slender, with scutes in front and behind, often fusing to one long " boot " ; middle toe very long, without claw, clearly exceeding the outer toe with claw. A large, almost cosmopolitan genus of some thirty species ; only two occur in the United States. IVEY OF THE SPECIES. A. Smaller ; wing 6 to 8-5 ; tail even. A. velox, p. 168. B. Larger; wing 9 to 11; tail rounded. A. cooperi, p. 170. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter velox. A.O.U. Checklist no 332— Colorado Kecords— Ridgway 73, p. 186 {Nisus fuscua) ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster S3, p. 197 ; Morrison 87, p. 27 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Warren 06, p. 10 ; 09, p. 14 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; RockweU OS, p. 161 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 116. Description. — Male — Above dark slaty -blue, dusky on the quills, the tail with four cross-bands of dusky and a narrow terminal edging of whitish ; nape-feathers and scapulars with concealed white bases ; below white, the middle parts mottled in irregular cross-bars with pale tawny ; quills strongly banded below with black and white ; tail square ; iris yellow, bill bluish-horn, cere greenish, legs yellow. Length 12-0 ; wing 7-3 ; tail 5-75 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus l-S. The female resembles the male but is larger ; length 13-5 ; wing 8'5. A young bird is dusky brown above with ta%vny edges to most of the feathers, and the white of the head and scapulars often showing through ; below white, with longitudinal stripes of brown and darker brown shaft-marks. Sharp-shinned Hawk 169 Distribution. — The whole of North America, breeding from Alaska and Hudson Bay and Newfoundland south to the southern border of the United States ; wintering from about 40" N. to Guatemala. The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a common bird throughout Colorado from the plains to abo\it 10,000 feet in the mountains, though chiefly breeding in the latter. A fov/ birds are resident throughout the year, but the greater number are migrants from the south. The following are the principal notices of its occurrence : Boulder co., resident in the valley, breeding in the mountains (Gale) ; Breckenridge, breeding (Carter) ; Barr Lake, common on migration (Hersey & Rockwell) ; El Paso co., March and April (Aiken coll.) ; Manitou Park, October (Colorado Coll. Mus.) ; Baca co.. May (Warren) ; Wet Moun- tains, common to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa co., breeding, not known to winter (Rockwell) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — This is one of the most abundant of Hawks throughout the United States, and nothwithstanding its small size is well known for its dash and boldness. It preys almost entirely on other birds, often tackling species as large or larger than itself, such as Mourning Doves, Robins and Grackles ; it has a special predilec- tion for young chickens, and unless checked will clear a poultry-yard in a very short time. It is impossible to regard it as useiul or beneficial, except that it destroys large numbers of young sparrows. Its flight is very swift, and it will dash on its prey in the air, on the ground or even when sheltered in a bush. Morrison found a clutch of three eggs on June 22nd, 1886, near Fort Lewis ; an old Magpie's nest, the roof of which had collapsed, was made use of, a few leaves and feathers having been added to form a fining. It was twelve feet above the ground. The eggs are described as white with a purplish tinge, heavily blotched with brown, in one case so as to form a complete cap to the end of the egg. Bendire states that the usual nest is a bulky one, placed in a fir tree or occasionally on cliffs. The eggs, four or five in number, vary considerably ; they are 170 Birds of Colorado sonaetimes almost unmarked, and sometimes so heavily blotched as to conceal the ground-colour. They average 1-4 X 1*2. Gale gives the usual date for eggs June 10th to July 10th ; the latter at 11,000 feet elevation in Boulder co. Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperi. A.O.U. Checklist no 333 — Colorado Records — Drew, 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster, 83, p. 197 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Bendire 92, p. 192 ; Lowe 94, p. 2G7 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Closely resembling A. velox in plumage, but much larger with the crown a distinctly darker slate than the back, the tail more strongly white-tipped and rounded, not sciuare. Length 16-5 ; wing 9-1; tail 7-2; cuhnen .8; tarsus 2-4. The female is larger — wing 10-0, tail 8»25. The young bird bears a rather close resemblance to the young Goshawk {Astur atricapilhis), but it is smaller and can be at once distinguished by the generic character of the long middle toe. Distribution. — Breeding from the St. Lawrence Valley and British Columbia south to southern Mexico ; a migrant north, a resident south of about 40®. Cooper's Hawk is a fairlj' common bird in Colorado, and generally distributed, breeding from the plains to about 9,000 feet. It is stated to be a resident and probably is so to a certain extent in the south, though I have found no winter records, nor is it included in Gale's list of birds wintering in Boulder co. It is undoubtedly more abundant in the siunmer. The following are locahties : Boulder co., breeding in the mountains (Gale) ; Middle Park, breeding (Carter) ; El Paso co.,AiDril to September (Aiken coll.) ; Salida, May (Frey) ; Wet Mountains, to 8,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa CO., once in March (Rockwell) ; Naturita Canon, April (Warren) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — Cooper's Hawk is generally met wdth about moderately open country and cultivated districts. It is in every respect a larger edition of the Sharp-shinned : equally audacious and rapacious, but in Colorado far less common. Its flight is ordinarily not swift, but when in pursuit of its prey it has a wonderful power of twisting and doubling. It is very destructive to American Goshawk 171 poultry and pigeons, and according to Morrison, preys largely on grouse, hares and various reptiles. Out of 133 stomachs examined by Fisher, 34 contained poultry and game and 52, other birds, while only 11 contained mammals. Cooper's Hawk sometimes makes use of the old nests of other birds or even squirrels, and sometimes builds for itself. Gale found a nest forty feet up in a thick spruce, on May 29th, near Gold Hill. It was a bulky structure of sticks and twigs, with green sprays of balsam-fir intertwined, and contained four fresh eggs ; another nest, found June 28th, consisted merely of a few flakes of spruce bark lying on a natural bunch of matted scrub. The eggs, generally four, are pale bluish -white, sometimes immaculate, sometimes faintly marked with scrawls and spots of brown and fawn. They average 1*90 X 1*50. Gale gives May 30th as an average date for fresh eggs, and states that the female is often very bold and pertinacious in defence of her nest. Genus ASTUR, Resembling Accipiter, but with stouter and shorter legs and toes ; tarsus feathered at least half way down ; middle toe without claw not exceeding outer toe with claw, A large and very wide ranging genus, with only one species in the United States separated into two races. Key of the Species. A. Above slaty-blue, marked with slaty-grey below. A. atricapillus, p. 171. B. Above darker, almost sooty ; below markings darker and heavier. A. a. striatulus, p. 173. American Goshawk. Astur atricapillus. A.O.U. Checklist no 334— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 7 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, 172 Birds of Colorado p. 229 ; Warren 09, p. 14 ; 10, p. 30. (Some of these records may more properly apply to A. a. striatidus.) Description. — ^Male — Above dark slaty-blue, most of the feathers with darker shaft-lines ; crown and ear-coverts almost black ; the eyebrow and nape with white bases showing more or less plainly ; quills dusky ; tail tipped with white and with traces, sometimes more, sometimes less distinct, of the four dusky cross-bars of the young bird ; below, except on the tail-coverts, mottled very finely with white and slaty-grey, most of the feathers with dusky-black lines ; iris reddish-orange, bill dark slate, feet yellow. Length 21-0 ; wing 13-25 ; tail 9-3 ; cuknen 1.1. ; tarsus 3-1. The female is larger ; wing 14.0. The young bird in the plumage most frequently met with in Colorado, is very different. Above dark brown, the feathers of the head, back and wing-coverts largely edged with tawny and with white across the back of the neck forming an indistinct collar ; tail with fine, distinct, darker cross-bands ; below white with a faint tinge of tawny marked with long brown, drop-like spots ; iris yello^v. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern part of North America from the Yukon valley and Labrador, south perhaps to Idaho and northern new England ; south in winter, casually as far as Virginia, Kansas and Xew Mexico. Tha Goshawk is a rather uncommon winter bird in Colorado, ranging from the plains up to about 9,000 feet. It is stated to breed in the mountains between 9,000 and 10,000 feet by Cooke and other authors, but I can find no evidence for this statement except that Carter found it in summer at Breckenridge, and Drew states that it is a rare resident in San Juan co. All other records are winter ones, viz.. Sugar Loaf Bill, Boulder co., February (Henderson) ; Arkins, Larimer co., February and March (Osburn) ; El Paso co., October and December (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains, up to 9,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mosca, January (Warren) ; Montrose co., winter (Warren). Habits. — The Goshawk is very similar to the Cooper and Sharp-shinned Hawks in its habits. It is blood- thirsty and ferocious, and kills more than it needs, for the sake of killmg. It rather prefers a well-w^ooded country, and nests chiefly in the forests north of the prairie country. It preys on poultry, the large game- birds, rabbits and squirrels, and is said by Lowe to attack the Dusky Grouse in Colorado. It breeds early in the southern part of its range, laying from two to Western Goshawk 173 five eggs. These are pale bluish in colour, nearly always unspotted, and average 2*3 x 1"75. Western Goshawk. Astur airicapillus striatulus. A.O.U. Checklist no 334a — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, pp. 74, 204 ; Gilman 98, p. 28. Description. — Resembling A. atricapillus, but darker, almost s-^oty above, while below the markings are also much darker and heavier. A young bird is brownish-black above, this colour predominating over the tawny markings ; stripes on the lower parts broader and deeper black, and the thighs with large, often cordate spots. Distribution. — Replacing A. atricapillus in the west ; breeding from Sitka south along the coast ranges to about latitude 38'' in California, merging to the eastwards in Colorado with the typical form. Most of the Colorado Goshawks are intermediate, though on the whole referable to the eastern form ; a specimen, taken at Sweetwater Lake in Garfield co., February 12th, 1898, by J. T. Meiner, was identified at the United States National Museum as this subspecies ; and it is quite possible that others may be found nearer the western than the eastern bird. Genus BUTEO. Bill moderate, the cutting-edge of the upi^er mandible slightly festooned ; nostril oval, without a central bony tubercle ; wing rather long and pointed, the outer three or four primaries emarginated on the inner web, the sixth to the eighth the longest ; tail rather short from I to I of the wing, even or slightly rounded ; tarsi half feathered, scutellated in front, reticulate on the sides and posteriorly ; melanism very common. The genus contains the Buzzards, as they are generally called in Europe, and embraces numerous species found all over the world, excepting Australia. There are four common species in the United States, two of which commonly occur in Colorado. I have included B. lineatzis elegans in the key, as it is reported by Cooke to have been soen in Colorado by Breninger though it has never been taken. IVEY OF THE SpECIES. A. Four outer primaries emarginated on the inner web. a. Outer webs of primaries not spotted with white, a^ Above dark brown and tawny, without white. a^ Tail in adult rich rufous, with a subterminal band of black. B. b. calurus, p. 174, b^ Tail mottled with greyish, rusty, white and dusky. B. b. harlani, p. 176. 174 Birds of Colorado b"- Above lighter, with a good deal of white, especially on the head and tail-coverts ; tail pale rufous. B. b. krideri, p. 175. b. Outer webs of primaries spotted with white. B. 1. elegans. B. Only the three outer primaries emarginate on the inner web. B. swainsoni, p. 176. Western Red-tail. Buteo horealis calurus. A.O.U. Checklist no 337b — Colorado Records — Baird 54 p. 12 {B. montanus) ; Allen 72, p. 152 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 7 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 20 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162. Description. — Adult female — Above dark smoky-brown tliroughout, with a few inconspicuous traces of tawny to the edges of some of the feathers, but hardly a trace of white ; tail rich rufous, with a sub- terminal band of black and traces of other bands more or less complete, and a narrow whitish tip ; below mingled smoky-brown and tawny, the former chiefly on the throat and belly, the latter chiefly on the breast and thighs ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, cere yellowish, legs yellow. Length 22-5 ; wing 16 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen 1-4 ; tarsus 3-6. The male is smaller — wing 15.25. Other individuals in the light phase are rather paler above, and are more marked with tawny, while below they are chiefly white with a httle tawny on the throat and a few dark shaft-marks across the belly. In this plumage they are hardly separable from the true B. borealis. Intergrades between the dark and light phases are quite common. Young birds are like the adults, but have a little more white and tawny ; the tail like the back with 10 — 12, narrow, dusky black, trans- verse bars and a terminal white tip ; below white with a few spots of smoky brown, and the thigh transversely banded or showing traces of transverse bands of dusky tawny. Distribution. — Western North America from Mackenzie and British Columbia south along the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains to north-west Texas and west to the Pacific. The Western Red-tail is the commonest of the larger Hawks in Colorado ; it is a resident, though much more common in the su:nmer. The migrants arrive in March and breed in May and early June from the plains up to at least 12,000 feet, according to Drew, though I know of no definite record higher than Breckenridge (9,500 feet). The following are recorded localities : Willow Creek, Weld co., breed- ing (Dille 87) ; Estes Park (Kellogg) ; Boulder co., wintering in valley. Krider's Hawk 175 nesting in hills (Gale) ; EI Paso co., March, May, October (Aiken coll.) ; Wet Mountains to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa co., breeding to 9,000 feet (Rockwell) ; San Juan co., breeding (Drew) ; Fort Lewis, breeding (Morrison). Habits. — The Red-tail, often called the Hen-Hawk, suffers a good deal of unjust persecution, on account perhaps of its name, for it is undoubtedly of considerable service to the farmer. Though it may occasionally take a chicken, the great bulk of its prey consists of mice and other small mammals : out of 562 stomachs examined by Fisher, 409 contained traces of these. It also destroys a good many snakes as well as large numbers of grasshoppers, especially in the fall, and the good it does undoubtedly far exceeds the harm. In the plains and lower valleys the Red-tail builds in tall cotton-woods ; at higher elevations, in spruces, on sandstone ridges in the chffs (see Plate 4), or in scrub- oak eight to ten feet up. Morrison, Dille, Rockwell and Gale all give accounts of the nesting habits. Gale found a nest near Gold Hill, May 27th, 1884 ; it was placed in the crotch of an upper Umb of a cotton- wood, about thirty- five feet above the ground, and was a bulky structure, built of twigs and lined with a httle dry grass and a few green sprays of the cotton- wood. It contained three nearly fresh eggs — the usual number. These were greenish chalky-white, varyingly but scantily marked with brown ; they average 1"3 x 1*8. The parents made no effort to defend their nest, but quietly withdrew. Krider's Hawk. Buteo horealis krideri. A.O.U. CheokUst no 337a — Colorado Records — Dille 87, p. 99 ; Cooke 97, p. 74. Description. — Closely resembUng B. b. calurus but lighter-coloured, with a great deal of white on the upjDor side, especially on the upper tail-coverts and head ; tail pale rufous, usually without the black 176 Birds of Colorado eubterminal bar ; below almost entirely white with sometimes a few brown sj^ots across the belly. In a young bird the tail has a whitish wash, and is crossed by the usual 10 to 12 narrow transverse bars. Distribution. — The Great Plains of middle America from Minnesota and Iowa south to Texas. This, a very pale form of the Red-tail, seems to occur on the eastern plains and foothills of Colorado. Cooke gives it as a resident since DiUe found a nest and three eggs, May 24th, in Weld co., west of Greeley. There are two young Red-tails in the Colorado College Museiun, which seem to be referable to this subspecies, one taken by Aiken near Colorado Springs, September 27th, 1902, the other shot by J. F. Baker at Manitou Park, August 29th, 1906. Harlan's Hawk. Buteo borealis harlani. A.O.U. Checklist no 337d— Colorado Records— Ridgway 84, p. 253, 85, p. 165 ; Cooke 97, p. 75. Description. — Resembling B. b. cahnus, but with the tail confusedly and irregularly mottled with grej'ish, rusty, white and dusky, crossed near the end with a subterminal band of black, and tipped with white ; upper-parts sooty to black ; lower -parts varying from sooty to white, but rarely if ever with tawny or ochraceous. Distribution.^ — The Gulf States and lower Mississippi Valley, casually north to Kansas, Iowa and Pennsylvania. A Hawk obtained by Aiken in El Paso co. some time before 1875, was referred by Ridgway to this subspecies. I have not been able to trace this specimen in the Aiken collection. Swainson's Hawk. Buteo swainsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 342— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 11 ; 58, p. 19 ; Henshaw 75, p. 421 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 88, p. 116 ; 89, p. 7 ; Fisher 93, p. 72 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 229 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162. Description. — Male in normal phase — Above dusky-brown with often paler but never tawny edges to the feathers ; upper tail-coverts banded with white ; tail slaty or brown, with a narrow bar of black ; wings with the three outer primaries only , narrowed or cut out on tho inner web ; below throat and belly white, contrasted with a reddish-brown chest-band ; tho im.der-parts sometimes washed and mottled with chestnut to varying extent ; iris brown, bill black, cere and logs greenish- yellow. Length 18 ; wing 14.5 ; tail 7-5 ; culmen 1-2 ; tarsus 2-6. Swainson's Hawk 177 The female is larger — wing 16, and has the pectoral-patch dark sooty - brown instead of rufous-brown. In the complete dark or melanistic phase the under-parts are dusky brown throughout with the under tail-coverts spotted or barred with rufous and white ; between this and the normal phase every gradation exists. Young birds are dark, almost black above, varied with tawny or yellowish-white edgings to the feathers, especially on the head ; below pale tawny, spotted with dusky to a varying extent, sometimes only a few spots on the breast, sometimes almost completely covered with spots. A species with very puzzling changes of plumage, but easily recognized in any stage by the cutting out of the three outer primaries only. Distribution. — Western North America from Alaska and Manitoba south to Arkansas, and west to the Pacific ; further south through central and South America as far as the Argentine ; north of about 40" a summer migrant, south of 40*^ a resident. In Colorado, Swainson's Hawk is an abundant resident, perhaps more abundant in summer than in winter, and more frequently met with on the eastern plains than in the mountains, though it is reported to breed up to 10,000 feet in the Wet Mountains by Lowe, at Breckenridge (Carter) and at Crested Butte (Warren). Other localities are : Weld co., breeding (Dille) ; near Limon, breed- ing (Aiken) ; El Paso co., March, June (Aiken coll.) ; Fort Lyon (Thome apiid Fisher) ; Mesa co., common in summer, resident, but not known in winter (Rockwell) ; La Plata co., breeding (Morrison). Habits. — Swainson's Hawk is chiefly a bird of the open prairie or sage-brush country, and is seldom found in heavy timber or in the mountains strictly speaking. It is reputed to be a gentle and unsuspicious bird, and most inoffensive for a Hawk, frequently sharing a nesting- tree with a King-Bird or Oriole. Its food consists almost entirely of small rodents, mice and gophers, while in the autumn it preys largely on grasshoppers and locusts, hopping after them across the fields in a rather ludicrous manner. It is occasionally found in large flocks. Aiken saw about a dozen birds, March 11th, 1901, in a tree in one of the chief streets of Colorado Springs. Those he secured were all in the melanistic phase, and he was told that there was a large flock of at least five hundred in the Fountain Valley, just below the town. A similar 178 Birds of Colorado instance was noticed by A. S. Bennett at Lay in Routt CO., July 10th, 1889 (Fisher). In this case they were engaged in feeding on locusts. The nest, accordhig to Gale, is generally placed in a cotton -wood tree, about twenty- five to fifty feet above the ground. It is made of twigs and lined with a little grass or strips of pine bark. The eggs, usually three according to Gale, two according to Bendire, are faintly greenish, and are as a rule very lightly spotted and marked with reddish-brown. They average 2-25 x 1'7. The old nest is generally occupied year after year. Gale found fresh eggs from May 15th to 30th. Dille gives June 5th. Genus ARCHIBUTEO. Very similar to Buteo, but with the tarsus feathered to the base of the toes ; usually four outer primaries emarginate on the inner web ; melanism very common. A small section of the Buzzards, with representatives in the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds ; two species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. BiU smaller and weaker, chord of the cuhnen and cere about 1-2 ; belly with a patch of black in the normal phase. A. 1. sancti-johannis, p. 178. B. Bill stouter and stronger, chord of the cubnen and cere about 1-6. thighs rufous with black cross-bands in normal phase. A. ferrugineus, p. 179. American Rough-legged Hawk. Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. A.O.U. Checklist no 347a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Henshaw 75, p. 425 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 8 ; Nash 96, p. 15 ; Cooke 97, p. 75. Description. — Pltunago very variable — in the normal light phase, mingled white, dusky brown and black above, white prevailing on the head, the upper tail-coverts and the inner webs of tho primaries above the notch ; tail chiefly white, with two or three transverse black bands and a white tip ; below mottled white and dusky, sometimes with a Ferruginous Rough-leg 179 tawny wash, often the black massed across the abdomen. Young birds are very similar, but have the basal half of the tail white, the terminal portion dusky brown with a white ti^J, while below the brown is chiefly massed across the belly. In the melanistic phase both young and old are entirely deep black, except for the white forehead, the white on the inner webs of the quills above the notch, and some broken bands on the tail. The two phases are connected by every gradation of intermediate states. Iris brown or yellow, bill bluish-horn, cere and legs yellow, claws black. Length (of a male) 21 ; wing 17'5 ; culmen 1>2 ; tarsus 2 7. The female is larger — wing 18-0. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern North America, from Alaska and Yukon to the lower St. Lawrence Valley ; south in winter over the greater part of the United States as far south as Virginia and southern CaHfornia, In Colorado the Rough-legged Hawlv is not uncomon on the eastern plains, and perhaps in the foothills from November to March, but it has been but little noticed, and definite records are wanting. I have not heard of it on the western slopes. There are several examples in the Aiken collection from El Paso co., one an adult male taken January 15th ; and Henshaw also states that he saw several near Colorado Springs in November. Warren informs me that Mr. Hersey shot one near Orchard as late as March 26th. Habits. — The Rough-legged Hawk is a peaceful and unoffending bird, which preys chiefly on meadow mice or voles of the Arvicoline group in its winter range, and on lemmings in the far north. As the voles are highly destructive to crops and to fruit trees, especially in winter, this Hawk is undoubtedly a most valuable aid to the farmer, and should be most rigidly protected. It is somwehat crepuscular in its habits, and obtains its prey either by watching from a fixed point or beating to and fro, like the Harrier or Marsh-Hawk, over the meadows with slow and noiseless flight. Ferruginous Rough-leg. Archibuteo ferrugineus. A.O.U. Checklist no 348— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Henshaw 75, p. 425 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 85, p. 44 ; 87, p. 97 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 89, p. 8 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 92, p. 259 ; Lowe 97, p. 69 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; n2 180 Birds of Colorado Markman 07, p. 156 ; Richards 08, p. 38 ; Henderson 09, p. 229 ; Warren 10, p. 30. Description. — Normal phase — Above dusky-brown, the feathers fedged with tawny-rufous and a little white, more pronounced toward the neck and head ; tail white at the base and tip, rest ashy tinged at the edge with tawny ; below white, legs and thighs rich chestnut barred with dusky, a few cross-Unes of dusky on the belly and shaft- lines on the breast ; iris yellow to brown, bill bluish-horn, greenish- yellow at the base, below and on the cere ; legs yellow. Length (of a female), 24-5 ; wing 18-5 ; tail 9'75 ; cuhnen 1-6 ; tarsus 3-6. A male is much smaller — wing lO-S. A young bird has less tawny and more white above, and traces of dusky bands on the tail ; below pure white including the legs, with a few brown spots and streaks here and there. Dark or raelanistic phase — sooty-black above and below, except for the under side of the tail-feathers and the bases of the wing- quiUs above the notch on the inner web, where it is white ; inter- mediate forms varied with tawny to a greater or less extent are frequently met with. Distribution. — Western North America from Saskatchewan to Mexico, and from the Dakotas and Texas to the Pacific ; chiefly on the plains and prairies. A resident at laast as far north as Colorado. The Ferruginous Rough-leg, perhaps more commonly known as the Squirrel-Hawk, is a fairly common resident-bird in eastern Colorado on the plains and up into the parks, breeding 'joth in the plains and as high as Breckenridgo (Carter), but wintering chiefly in the plains. It does not seem to be common on the western slope, though Warren tells me he saw it in the fall near Crested Butto. Rockwell gives no definite information of its occurrence in Mesa co. The following are recorded localities : Estes Park, common (Kellogg), near Boulder (Henderson), Weld co., breeding (Dille), Littleton, near Denver, on • Christmas Day (Richards), El Paso co., January and June (Aiken coll.), Limon, breeding (Aiken), near Medano Ranch, July (Warren). Habits. — This large and powerful Hawk is chiefly a bird of the open plains and prairies, where it gets its living by preying on ground-squirrels or gophers, other small mammals and reptiles ; it never seems to kill birds or poultry — perhaps its flight is too sluggish. It builds a very large nest in the branches of a cotton-wood or willow in Colorado, but in localities where trees are scarce it nests on the ground, usually on rocky hillsides Golden Eagle 181 or on a ledge in the precipitous banks of streams. Dille has taken several nests near Greeley. They are built up of stout sticks, and lined with tufts of grass with the roots still on. The eggs are usually three or four in number and very handsome, being dull-creamy to pale greenish-white, spotted and blotched to a varying extent with hlacs and browns. They average about 2-40 X 1-95. Genus AQUILA. Birds of a large size and robust form — wing 24 to 26 ; bill and claws very powerful, the claw of the hind toe the largest, exceeding the outer toe (without claw). In most structural characters resembling Archi- biiieo, with a fully feathered tarsus. Occiput and nape with lanceolate and acute feathers. There is only one species of the genus in the Americas — the Golden Eagle — while in the Old World there are several others. Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos. A.O.U. Checkhst no 349— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 159 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Morrison 88, p. 139 ; 89, p. 8 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendu-e 92, p. 263 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, pp. 75, 204 ; Plenderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Oberholser 06, p. 20 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 10 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Male — Above and below dark sepia-brown, often a little lighter about the wing-coverts ; the feathers at the base of the neck elongated and pointed, and a tawny-fulvous shade ; iris brown, bill and claws bluish-horn, cere and feet greenish-j'ellow. Length 32 ; wing 24.5; tail 13 ; cubnen 1-9 ; tarsus 3-7. The female is larger — wing 25>5, tail 14. A young bird somewhat resenables the adult, but has the basal half of the tail white, the long neok-feathers hardly differentiated, and a good deal of concealed white on the scapulars, breast and primaries. Distribution. — The northern portions of the Old and New Worlds, in the latter from Alaska to Labrador south of the Barren Grounds, extending southward in western America nearly to Mexico City, and in the east along the AUeghanies to South CaroUna, chiefly in the mountains. In Colorado the Golden Eagle is a far from uncommon resident — chiefly in the mountains, where it breeds from the foothills up to about 182 Birds of Colorado 12,000 feet. It is also found in the mountains in the winter up to about 11,000 feet, and sometimes wanders out on to the plains during this season. Warren informs me that he has seen it near Orchard, where it was said to breed, and also on Irwins Ranch in Las Animas co., where he noticed an old eyrie. Breeding records are : Specimen Mount above Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co. (Gale), Wet Mountains, up to 11,000 feet (Lowe), near Grand Junction (Rockwell), La Plata co. (Morrison). It is not at all uncommon near Colorado Springs in winter, and there are several old eyries still close by, though now deserted. Habits. — Essentially a bird of the mountains, the Golden Eagle is perhaps more abundant in Colorado than in any other state in the Union. It quickly dis- appears before civilization, however, and has been destroyed in many parts of the country by poison. It is somewhat wary and shy, and is usually met with in pairs, which are believed to mate for life. It has a harsh and rather shrill scream, and is fierce and untamable though easily kept in captivity. The Golden Eagle preys chiefly on hares, ground- squirrels and the various grouse. In Colorado it is said to kill a great many lambs of the mountain sheep, and to descend to the plains in winter to pursue the young antelope. It occasionally carries ofiP a lamb or a young calf, while it will freely eat carrion if pressed by hunger. In California the Golden Eagle generally builds its nest in trees, bub in Colorado it always fixes its eyrie in a crevice or on a ledge in a vertical ch£E. The nest is built up of sticks and added to year after year, so that it often becomes very bulky ; Gale measured one six feet in diameter and nine feet high ; the lining is scanty, of a few smaller twigs or tufts of grass, but a fresh spray of evergreen, either spruce or balsam -fir, is almost invariably found in the nest. The eggs, two or three in number, are ovate and dirty white in ground-colour. The markings vary greatly : sometimes they are wholly Bald Eagle 183 absent, sometimes the egg is thickly blotched with various shades of brown ; in size they average 2*95 x 2*3. The Golden Eagle is a very early breeder. Gale states that they begin to repair their nests towards the end of February, and fresh eggs are found from March 10th to April 10th. Dille gives March 1st as an average date. Incubation lasts about thirty days, and the male takes no part. Even it robbed, no second brood is raised. In Gale's notes there is a curious notice of finding two fresh eggs on September 3rd, 1893. If the entry is correct, it must have been a quite abnormal occurrence. Genus HALI^EETUS. Large birds, wings 22 — 24, resembling Aquila, but the tarsus only feathered about half way down ; a few scutes on the lower half in front, and n,o web between the middle and outer toes. About eight species of these Fishing Eagles are known, but there is only one species in the United States. Bald Eagle. Haliceetus leucocephalus. A.O.U. Checklist no 352— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 181 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Cooke, 97, pp. 76, 204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229 ; Rockwell 08, p. 162 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Male — Head and neck all round, tail-coverts and tail white ; rest of the pliunage dark brown of varying intensity ; iris, bill and feet yellow. Length 32 ; wing 22 ; tail 11>5 ; culmen 3 ; tarsus 3-4. The female is larger — wing 24, tail 12.75. Young birds in the first year are nearly uniform black, but the feathers of the under-parts have white bases which often show. In the second year they are brownish, and there is a good deal of white both above and below ; the tail is blackish, blotched with white ; iris brown, bill black, feet yellow. The pure, white head and tail are only acquired in the third year. Distribution. — The whole of North America north of the Mexican border including Lower California, the Aleutian and Commander Isles and Kamchatka. The Bald Eagle is not generally so common in Colorado as the Golden, though Sullivan found the former more abundant about Grand Junction in the siunmer (Rockwell). It breeds more commonly in the mountains 184 Birds of Colorado up to about 10,000 foot, but also in the plains as well, while in winter it is chiefly met with on the plains. The following are the chief locaUties noticed : Estes Park, rare (Kellogg), Breckenridge, breeding to 10,000 feet (Carter), Manitou, September (Beckham), near Fort Lyon, breeding (Thorns apttd Cooke), near Coventry in winter (Warren). It is not represented in the Aiken collection, but there is a mounted specimen in the State Historical collection at Denver, taken by L. Morse, at Orchard, in Morgan co., on December 24th, 1904, and a fine pair in immature di'ess, killed near Denver by T. Dines and R. Borcherdt, are mounted in the Colorado Museum of Natural History. Habits. — The Bald or White-headed Eagle is the National Bird of the United States, to which dignity- it was elevated June 20th, 1782. In its young dress it is sometimes called the Bird of Washington. It is essentially a fish-eater, and is therefore more at home on the sea-coast and along the banks of the larger rivers than in a dry country Hke Colorado. It also preys on water-fowl and mammals, and has been known to carry off in its talons a lamb of the same weight as itself, a distance of five miles. Its voice is a loud, harsh scream, and its flight is powerful. Little has been noticed about its nesting habits m Colorado. Captain Thorne found a nest near Fort Lyon, June 12th, contaming two young birds, while Carter found it breeding near Breckenridge. As a rule it builds in trees, though sometimes on ledges in caiion walls. The nest is added to year after year and is a massive structure of sticks, like that of the Golden Eagle. The eggs, usually two in number, are white, though often nest-stained ; they are ovate in shape and average 2*8 x 2"1. Genus FALCO. Bill rather strong, with a prominent, tooth-like projection on the cutting-edge of the upper mandible ; nostrils circular, with a central bony tubercle ; wing long and pointed, the ninth and eighth primaries Prairie-Falcon 185 the longest ; the outer only, or the outer two, emarginate on the inner web ; feet rather short, tarsus feathered or bare, without regular scutes. This genus contains the Falcons and Kestrels, and is found all over the world. Key of the Species. A. Larger ; wing over 1 1 ; only the outer primary emarginate. a. Clay-brown above ; below with dusky, Unear spots. F. mexicanus, p. 185. b. Slaty-blue above ; below transversely banded with dusky. F. p. anatum, ad., p. 187. e. Blackish, edged with tawny above ; below streaked with dusky. F. p. anatum, juv., p. 187. B. Smaller, wing under 10 ; the two outer primaries emarginate. a. Tarsus scarcely as long as the middle toe without claw ; without vertical black stripes on the face. a^ Tail with traces at least of four black transverse bands, including the broader subterminal one ; no white spots on the outer webs of the primaries. F. columbarius, p. 188. b^ Tail with traces of five black transverse bands ; outer web of primaries spotted with white. F. c. richardsoni, p. 189. b. Tarsus very clearly exceeding the middle toe without claw ; face with two vertical black stripes, ai Smaller and more highly coloured. F. sparverius, p. 190. b^ Larger and paler coloured. F. s. phalcena, p. 192. Prairie-Falcon. Falco mexicanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 355 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 410 {F. lanarius polyagrus) ; Coues 77, p. 26 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Dille 87, p. 97 ; Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 ; Hender- son 03, p. 235, 09, p. 229 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Richards 09, p. 164. Description. — Male — Above pale clay -brown, tinged with rusty and indistinctly barred with pale bufiy anteriorly, and pale bluish-grey posteriorly ; a white nuchal collar and dark patches on the side of the face ; primaries ashy-brown, with paler tips and whitish bars on the inner webs only, the outer one only with the inner web cut out ; below white, marked most heavily on the flanks, less so on the belly, with dusky, linear spots ; throat unmarked ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, yellow at the base ; cere and feet yellow. Length 17-0 ; wing 12 ; tail 7'25 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 2-1. The female is larger — wing 13'5, tail 8-2 — and has a more uniform appearance above without the lighter bars. Young birds have more 186 Birds of Colorado fulvous above, aud are more heavily spotted below, while the white of the under-parts is distinctly tinged \v'ith ochraceous. Distribution.^ — Western North America from southern British Columbia and western Manitoba, south to central Texas, and thence west to the Pacific. The Prairie-Falcon is a moderately common bird in Colorado, chiefly perhaps on the eastern plains, but found also in the mountains, occasion- ally even up to timber line where Kellogg observed one above Estes Park. Cooke classes it as a resident, but the greater number of the birds doubtless go south in winter, and I have not been able to find any winter dates for Colorado. The following are the chief records : Pawnee Buttes in Weld co., breeding (Dille), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Deer Creek, near Littleton, nesting (Richards), El Paso co. (Aiken coll.). Twin Lakes, rare (Scott), Wet Mountains up to 10,000 feet (Lowe), near Fort Lewis, rare (Oilman). Habits. — The Prairie -Falcon or American Lanner is a noble bird, chiefly met with on the open plains, where it may be seen perched on a high cotton-wood or a telegraph pole, on the look-out for its prey. This con- sists of jack-rabbits, prairie-dogs and other mammals, as well as birds of moderate size, such as the Mourning Dove and Blackbird. It is strong, bold and tenacious of life, and its flight is easy and very rapid. Dille found a nest on the top of a chimney of sandstone in some buttes in the north of Weld county, on May 25th ; it was an immense pile of rubbish, with skeletons and dead animals scattered round, and contained only one egg. Gale took four eggs of this species from an old eagle's nest on April 24th, in a cliff on the Little Thompson River, the situation was about fifty feet from the bottom, and thirty feet from the top of the cliff ; he also found another nest in a similar position on the St. Vrain. The eggs are oval and rather light-coloured for Falcon's eggs. The ground-colouring is creamy-white, rather heavily blotched with various reds and browns. In size they average 2*2 x 1'6, and the clutch numbers three to five. Duck-Hawk 187 Duck- Hawk. Falco peregrinus anatum. A.O.U. Checklist no 356a — Colorado Records — Allen. 72, pp. 152, 158 ; Drew 85, p, 17; Morrison 89, p. 65; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 76, 160 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 229. Description.— Female — Above slaty-blue, varying from dark to light ; most of the feathers with paler edges ; the dark slate extends below the eye, forming a moustache patch ; primaries marked on the inner web with pale reddish or tawny bands ; tail barred dusky and silvery grey, and tipped with whitish ; below pale tawny-rufous, posteriorly from the breast closely and regularly barred with dusky ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, base and cere yellowish, feet yellow. Length 18 ; wing 13*7 ; tail 7 ; culmen 1"1. ; tarsus 2'2. The male is smaller — wing 12-5, tail 6-5. A young bird is blackish above and has most of the feathers edged with tawny-rufous, darker than the adult, and streaked, not barred, with dusky. Distribution. — The greater part of the New World, from Alaska and Labrador south to ChiU and the Argentine. In Colorado the Duck-Hawk can hardly be called common, though it is not infrequently met with in suitable localities. It is placed by Cooke among the residents, but I have not found any definite winter record for it, and it is certainly chiefly met with during the summer months. It is not recorded from the western or southern districts of the State, though there is no reason why it should not be found there. The following are localities : Loveland, arriving March 29th (W. G. Smith), Estes Park, rare (Kellogg), Boulder co. (Gale & Henderson), Fairplay (Allen), Garden of the Gods, near Manitou breeding (Aiken), St. Charles Canon, near Pueblo, breeding (Lowe apud Cooke). Habits. — ^The Duck-Hawk is hardly to be distinguished from the Peregrine Falcon of the Old World, which was formerly esteemed the noblest of its kind. Its flight is marvellously rapid, and it can overtake swift- flying ducks with the greatest ease. It prefers timbered lands along streams and cliffs and rocky places, where it builds its nest. It preys almost exclusively on other birds, especially watei-fowl, but Blackbirds and Doves are sometimes taken, while destructive inroads are often made on poultry and domestic ducks. In fact, it is one of the few birds of prey in whose favour little can be said. 188 Birds of Colorado But few details have been noted about its nesting-habits in Colorado, except that it makes use of crevices and ledges in high cliflfs and cailon walls. Some notes by Gale, quoted by Bendire and Cooke for this species, refer, according to Gale's notebook, to the Mexican Falcon, and not to this species. The eggs are deposited about the middle or end of April on a bare ledge, with little or no nest. They are three or four in number, and are generally short, rounded and ovate. They vary consider- ably in colour and markings, the ground-colour, when visible, being creamy-white, sometimes blotched and streaked, sometimes entirely overlaid, with reddish and sepia browns. In size they average 2'1 x 1*6. Pigeon- Hawk. Falco columharius. A.O.U. Checklist no. 357 — Colorado Records — Ridg-nay 73, p. 186 ; Drew, 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 65 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Fisher 93, p. 109 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Adult Male — Above bluish-slate, most of the feathers with a black shaft-line ; quills dusky, with white spots along the inner webs only ; tail like the back, with four transverse black bands more or less completely developed, the terminal one mvich broader than the others and tipped with white ; below white, washed with tawny jX)steriorly, the throat plain, the rest longitudinally streaked with sepia-brown ; sides of the face bluish and streaked ; iris brown, bill bluish-black, base and cere yellowish, legs yellow. Length ll-S ; wing 7-7 ; tail 4-5 ; cubnen "55 ; tarsus 1'4. The female is dusky brown above, and the tail is like the back, but crossed by four narrow, sometimes nearly obsolete, whitish bands the uppermost often concealed by the coverts ; below as in the male, but often more fulvous and the streaking heavier ; wing 8*5. Young birds resemble the female, and this is the plumage most generally met with, as adult males are not often seen. Distribution. — The whole of North America, breeding chiefly north of the United States, but south of the boimdary along the higher elevations of the Cascades, Rockies and AUeghanies ; south in winter to the West Indies and northern South America. In Colorado the Pigeon-Hawk is by no means a common bird, and is chiefly met with on migration, though a few birds remain to breed in the Richardson's Pigeon-Hawk 189 mountains and a few perhaps stay out the winter. Rockwell saw an example on Plateau creek in Mesa co. at about 6,000 feet, December 23rd, 1901. Other notices are : Estes Park, not uncommon (Kellogg), Denver (McGregor), El Paso co.. May (Aiken coll.), Wet Mountains to 8,500 feet (Lowe) ; Fort Lewis, breeding (Morrison). Habits. — The Pigeon-Hawk is a bold little bird, and represents the Merlin of Europe. It preys chiefly on other birds, often successfully attacking those larger than itself, such as Mourning Doves, Flickers and Grackles. In the summer it catches large numbers of insects, especially dragon-flies and grasshoppers, Cooke stated that it breeds from the plains to about 9,000 feet, but the only account of its nesting in Colorado, which I have met with, is that of Morrison, who took a set of five eggs, June 3rd, 1887, near Fort Lewis. The nest was in a clump of alders about eight feet up, and was composed of small twigs loosely put together, and lined with dry grass and a few feathers. Bendire states that the nest is sometimes an open one in a spruce or other tree, sometimes placed in a hollow limb, and at other times on ledges of cliffs or bluffs. The eggs, generally four in number, are creamy- white, blotched or sometimes wholly suffused with reddish-brown, and measure I'G x 1'25. Richardson's Pigeon- Hawk. Falco columbarius richardsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 357b — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 186 Coues 74, p. 347 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 Morrison 89, p. 65 ; Goss 91, p. 286 ; Lowe 94, p. 267 ; Cooke 97, p. 76 Henderson 09, p. 229 ; Horsey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — ResembUng F. columbarius, but lighter in colour, and the tail with five almost white bands alternating with five black bands, the broader terminal black one tipped with white ; the primaries distinctly spotted on the outer webs. Dimensions the same. The female and young male are quite different from the corresponding stages in the type species. Above earthy-brown, each feather with a 190 Birds of Colorado dark shaft-line and a tawny to whitish edging ; tail with five dark and five narrower white bands, the terminal band of black tipped with white ; below white, faintly washed with ochraceous and streaked with brown, except on the throat. Distribution. — Western North America from southern British Colum- bia and the Saskatchewan south to the Mexican border, east to the Jlississippi, west to the Pacific. In Colorado this subspecies appears to be a resident, having been met with in both winter and summer, though no authenticated instance of its nesting is known. It probably nests in the mountains and winters in the plains, but it is quite a rare bird and doubtless has been frequently confused with the Pigeon-Hawk. The only definite local records are : Silver Lake, Boulder co, 10,000 feet, September (Henderson), Berthoud's Pass (Ridgway), Barr Lake (Horsey & Rockwell), El Paso co., January, November (Aiken coll.), Wet Mountains at 8,000 feet (Lowe). Habits. — So far as is known, this little Falcon in no way differs from the Pigeon-Hawk in its habits. American Sparrow- Hawk. Falco sparverius. A.O.U. Checkhst no 360— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 12 ; 58, p. 13 ; Allen 72, pp. 152, 159 ; Henshaw 75, p. 413 ; Scott 79, p. 96 Tresz 81, p. 187 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83 p. 197; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; 87, p. 124; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 65 Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 309 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 04, p. 276; Cooke 97, pp. 18,76,204 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 Markman 07, p. 156 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — Male — Centre of the crown, back, scapulars and tail- feathers, except the outermost, rich rufous, the back with a few trans- verse bars of black ; a ring round the crown and the wing, except the primaries, slaty-blue, the latter with black spots ; nape pale rufous, with a black central patch and three others paired on either side of the face ; primaries black, with white indentations on the inner web ; tail with a broad, black terminal band tipped with white, outer pair of tail- feathers chiefly white, barred with black ; below white, washed with tawny on the chest and with a few small dusky spots chiefly on the flanks ; iris brown, bill bluish-horn, cere and legs yellow. Length 10'5 ; wing 7-4 ; tail 5-0 ; culmen -6 ; tarsus 1-45. The female has the whole back, tail and wings transversely barred with rufous and dusky ; the indentations on the primaries are tinged with tawny, and the lower parts white, streaked with pale sopia-brown American Sparrow-Ha.wk 191 on the fore-neck and breast only ; wing 7*75. A young male is like the adult male, but is rather darker rufous, has hardly any black spots on the wings, and has a tawny tip to the tail instead of white ; below the spots are larger and more conspicuous, though hardly more numerous. A young female is slightly darker rufous above, and has the bars blacker and the crown-patch with black shaft-marks. Distribution. — From Alaska, Hudson Bay, and Newfoundland southwards, east of the Rocky Mountains to northern South America ; replaced west of the Rockies by F. s.phalmna, if really distinguishable. In Colorado the Sparrow-Hawk is perhaps the commonest of all the raptorial birds, breeding in the plains and mountains up to about 10,000 feet. It is chiefly a summer migrant, arriving towards the end of March ; near Colorado Springs, March 26th (Aiken), Loveland, March 21st (W. G. Smith), and leaving again late in October. A few winter in the south of the State and even as far north as Boulder (Henderson) and Barr (Hersey) ; Lowe (01) saw two on January 14th, near Beulah. The following are breeding records : Boulder co. (Gale), Twin Lakes (Scott), Garden of the Gods, near Manitou (Allen), Wet Mountains to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Salida (Frey). Habits. — ^The Sparrow-Hawk spends most of his time on a fence-post or telegraph pole, watching for his prey, which consists almost exclusively of grass- hoppers and beetles ; occasionally small birds and mice are taken, but 215 out of 320 stomachs examined by Fisher contained only insects. Sometimes he hovers over a field or meadow ; then darts suddenly down and seizing the victim, retires to a convenient perch to devour it. Like so many other insect-eating birds, the Sparrow- Hawk goes high up above timber line in late summer, to feast on the grasshoppers there. In most cases the Sparrow-Hawk utilizes the old holes of Flickers and other Woodpeckers for its eggs. Some- times it uses a natural hole in a stub or tree ; sometimes the crevices and cracks in rocks, as in the Garden of the Gods. Gale found it breeding on the bottom of an old Flicker-hole — it was flat and hard, and there was no nest 192 Birds of Colorado beyond a few weed stems ; he found the eggs, four to six in number, arranged in two rows with a space between, and believed the bird rests on the soUd floor and covered the two rows underneath her wings. The same site is frequently used, year after year. One brood seems usual, though if robbed, a second or third set of eggs may be deposited. Both birds incubate. Gale found fresh eggs from May 12th to June lOtb, while Dille gives May 1st as an average date. A set of five eggs, taken by I. C. Hall, May 20th, 1902, at Greeley, and pre- sented by him to the Colorado College Museum, are whitish ovals, suffused and thickly dotted and blotched with dark rufous. They average 1*38 x 1*15, but there is much variation in shape and markings. Desert Sparrow- Hawk. Falco sfarverius phcdaena. A.O.U. Checklist no 360a— Colorado Records— Cooke 97, p. 205 {F. s. deserticoliis) ; Rockwell 08, p. 163 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Some of the records under F. sparverius may refer to this subspecies. Description. — Very close to F. sparverius but larger, and with a relatively longer tail and paler rufous coloration. In the female the streaks are more numerous and more yellow below ; the bars on the upper-surface are narrower, and those of the tail often incomplete. Distribution. — This subsj>ecies, which seems to be hardly distinguish- able from the typical form, is found throughout western North America, from British Columbia to Guatemala and east to the Rocky Mountains. Cooke found that some of the Sparrow-Hawks in the Carter collection obtained in the Middle and South Parks, were more nearly allied to this subspecies, and probably all the birds taken on the westerr slope should be so referred, if the distinction between the two forms can be maintained. I have examined a male taken near Yampa in Routt co., and a female from Sulphur Springs, both in the Warren collection, and cannot certainly distinguish them from those taken in El Paso co. Family PANDIONID^. Feathers without after-shafts ; outer toe reversible. Genus PANDION. Bill strongly hooked, but without any tooth or notch on the edge of the upper mandible ; nostrils oval and oblique ; wings very long and American Osprey 193 pointed, the eighth and ninth primaries the longest ; tail short, less than half the wing ; feet large and strong ; tarsus very little feathered ; toes free to the base, covered with rough, granular, reticulate scales. The genus contains only one almost cosmopolitan species, which has recently been divided into a number of local races, ore of which is found throughout North America. American Osprey. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 364— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 186 ; Scott 79, p. 96 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 77, 160, 205 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 117. Description. — Male — Above dark brown, blackish on the quills ; tail with darker cross-bars and tipped with white ; the inner webs of all but the central feathers barred with white and dark, but these disappear- ing with age ; head, neck, and under-parts white ; the centre of the crown and a postocular patch dark-brown ; breast slightly spotted with brown ; iris yellow, cere, bill and claws bluish-black, legs greyish-blue. Length 22-0 ; wing 19-0 ; tail 7-5 ; culmen 1-5 ; tarsus 2-3. The female is larger — wing about 20-5, and the chest is more heavily spotted with brown. Young birds are darker than the adults, and are mottled with white or buffy edges to the feathers above, and the tail is more regularly barred. Distribution. — The whole of the United States north to Labrador, Hudson Bay and Alaska, south to northern South America ; a summer visitor only, north of the middle states. The Osprey is a not uncommon bird in suitable locahties in Colorado, but naturally in a dry and somewhat arid country it is not numerous. It is a simamer visitor, arriving from the south early in April — Loveland, April 8th (W. G. Smith) — and nesting in the mountains up to about 9,000 feet. The following localities have been noticed — Barr, not uncommon during migration (Hersey & Rockwell), Twin Lakes, nesting (Scott), Blue River, nesting up to 8,500 feet (Carter), Salida, April (Frey), Sweetwater Lake, common in spring and summer (Gilman apud Cooke), Grand River, near Grand Junction, occasional (Rockwell), La Plata co. (Morrison). Habits. — The Osprey, generally known as the Fish- Hawk, is a gentle bird and never molests other species. It even allows Grackles and other birds to build in the interstices of its nest. Its food consists entirely of fishes, which it captures for itself, hovering above the water and descending at an angle with great velocity on its o 194 Birds of Colorado victim, and often plunging under the surface. The structure of its feet, the reversible inner toe, the gianular, rough soles, the claws of equal length, all strongly curved, are all adapted to the capture of fishes. It is frequently robbed by the larger and stronger Bald Eagle of its hardly-earned prey. The nest is generally placed in a tree and is used year after year, so that it becomes a very bulky structure. It is built up of sticks with various kinds of rubbish added to it. The eggs, usually three in number, are very hand- some, varying very much in shape and markings. The ground-colour is creamy-white and this is marked with various shades of brown, sometimes so heavily as to conceal the gromid-colour. They average 2'45 x 2'0. Morrison found fresh eggs at the end of April, while Scott thought eggs were laid about June 13th, as the female was constantly on the nest after this. These are the only two dates I have found for Colorado. ORDER STRIGES. This order, containing the nocturnal birds of prey or Owls, is easily distinguished by the following external characters. Head very broad from side to side, and the feathers arranged to form a ruff or facial disk, radiating outwards from the eyes on either side ; bill with a basal, soft-skinned cere, at the edge of which open the nostrils ; the base of the bill concealed to a great extent by the feathers of the facial disk ; edge of the bill never lobed or hooked ; eyes forwardly directed, and very large ; ear-opening often very large, and provided with an operculum or movable flap, those of either side often quite asymmet- xica and sometimes causing asymmetry in the skull American Osprey 195 itself ; tarsus and toes feathered, or at any rate covered with bristles ; hind toe jointed on the same level as the others. Key of the Families and Genera.* A. Claw of the middle toe serrate on the inside edge, middle and inner toes approximately equal (Aluconidce). Aluco, p. 196. B. Claw of the middle toe not serrate ; middle toe alv.'ays exceeding inner toe (Strigidce), a. Ear-tufts jiresent and generally conspicuous. a^ Large ; wing over 14 ; tail nearly concealed below by the lengthened under tail-coverts. Bubo, p. 208; b^ Medium; wing 10 to 12; tail-coverts not abnormally long ; toes feathered to the claws. Asio, p. 197. c^ Small ; \^"ing under 8 ; toes bristly or naked. Otus, p. 204. b. Ear-tufts absent. a^ Larger ; wing over 12. a^ Bill concealed by frontal feathers ; plumage chiefly white Nyctea, p. 210. b* BiU yellow, not concealed ; plumage not white. Strix, p. 200. b^ Meditun ; wing 6 to 8. a^ Tarsus hardly exceeding the middle toe without claw ; toes densely feathered. Cryptoglaux, p. 202. b^ Tarsus about twice the length of the middle toe without claw ; toes bristly, not feathered. Speotyto, p. 211. c^ Small ; wing under 4 ; nostrils well within the swoUen cere ; toes bristly. Glaucidium, p. 213. Family ALUCONID^. This family, containing the Barn-Owls, is distinguished externally from the other Owls by having the claw of the middle toe pectinate or serrated along its inner side, and the middle and inner toes about equal in length. Anatomically the sternum is entire — not notched posteriorly and the clavicles or furculum are anchylosed to the sternum. • The names of the families of most of the genera have been changed in accordance with the new A.O.U. Checklist. o2 196 Birds of Colorado Genus ALU CO. Bill lengthened, rather compressed ; facial disk well developed and rather triangular in shape ; no ear-tufts or plumicorns ; wings long and pointed, reaching beyond the tail when folded ; tail short and nearly even ; tarsus long, about twice the middle toe without claw, closely feathered above, but becoming rather bristly below. A cosmopohtan genus with one North American species, closely related to the European stock form. American Bam-Owl. Alucopratincola. A.O.U. Checkhst no 365— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; 08, p. 185 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 160, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Gibnan 07, p. 154 ; Betts 10, p. 218 ; Bergtold 10, p. 207. Description. — Female — Above tawny-yellow, very finely mottled and marbled with ashy and white, with traces of dark bars on the tail ; facial rufl whitish, stained with claret-brown, bordered with rusty- brown, especially in front of the eye ; below white to tawny-white, dotted with brown spots ; plumage very variable ; iris brown, bill pearly-white, feet dirty yellow. Length 17 ; wing 13-5 ; tail 5-5 ; culmen I-l ; tarsus 3-4. The male is smaller — wing 12-75. Young birds after losing their nestUng-down are like the adults. Distribution. — The middle and southern United States, from about New England, Colorado and Oregon south to Mexico. Very closely allied species or geographical races are found throughout the rest of America and all over the Old World. In Colorado the Barn -Owl is a rare bird. It has chiefly been met with in the south of the State, and is probably a resident, though not known to breed. It was first recorded by H. G. Smith from an example taken in the Town Hall of South Denver. Subsequent notices are : Denver, a second time (H. G. Smith), Boulder co. (Betts), Kit Carson co. (Bergtold), Pueblo, three occasions. Wet Mountain Valley and Rocky Ford (Cooke), Holly (H. G. Smith), Fort Lewis and Mancos (Oilman). Habits. — ^The Barn-Owl is one of the most beneficial of the rapacious birds ; it feeds ahnost entirely on the smaller rodents, such as field-mice and gophers, which from their great numbers and destructive habits are a curse to the agriculturist. Like other Owls, this species swallows its prey whole, and afterwards rejects the skin and bones and indigestible parts in the form of pellets. An examination of these reveals its utility. American Long-eared Owl 197 The Barn-Owl is the most distinctively nocturnal of its tribe, and spends the day in a hollow tree, a dark nook or crevice, or often in barns or outhouses. It never hoots, but sometimes utters a harsh scream or makes a loud snoring noise. The nest is placed in cavities of trees, holes in banks and among rocks, or often, when these are available, in towers, buildings or barns. The eggs are often laid on an accumulation of debris, and little or no regular nest is made. They are usually four to seven in number, ovate, dead white, and measure 1-65 X 1-25. Family STRIGID^. This family, containing all the other Owls, has no serration on the claw of the middle toe, which is always longer than the inner one ; the sternum is always notched once or twice on each side behind, and is never joined to the furculum, which is often defective or rudimentary. Genus ASIO. Bill rather weak ; cere somewhat inflated with the nostrils at the edge ; facial disk circular and well develoiJed ; ear-tufts present ; wings long ; tail about haK the length of the wing ; legs feathered to the claws ; ear-openings very large, asymmetrical and provided with a movable operculum for their whole length. An almost cosmopoUtan genus with about twelve species ; only two in the United States. A. Ear-tufts long, over an inch. A. wilsonianus, p. 197. B. Ear-tufts small and inconspicuous, under an inch. A. flammeus, p. 199. American Long-eared Owl. Asio wilsonianus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 366— Colorado Records— Baird 54, p. 12 ; 58, p. 53 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Dille 86, p. 15 ; 03, p. 74 ; Morrison 87, p. 107 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 66 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 10, p. 31 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Adult — Above finely mottled dusky-brown and white with a little tawny, especially about the centre of the back ; facial disk yellowish-black around the eye, framed by a black Une mottled with 198 Birds of Colorado white ; ear-tufts long, over an inch, and conspicuous ; quills barred brown and mottled grey, which becomes tawny basally ; tail also barred ; below confusedly marked with brown, white and tawny with irregular streaks and bars ; almost plain ta^^Tiy on the feet and under tail-coverts ; iris yellow, bill and claws blackish. Length IS-o ; wing 11 -5; tail 6-0 ; culmen l-O ; tarsus 1*5. Variable in size, but the female averages a little larger. Distribution. — North America from Hudson Bay and Mackenzie south over the whole of the United States to the Mexican tableland. The Long-eared Owl is one of the commonest resident Owls in Colorado, breeding from the plains up to about 10,000 or 11,000 feet, and winter- ing also in the plains and mountains. It has been reported from Weld CO. (Dille) to Baca co. (Warren) in the eastern plains ; from the mountains of Boulder co. (Gale) to the San Luis Valley (Baird & Warren) in the mountains and parks, and from Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata co. (Morrison) on the western slope, and probably breeds throughout. Habits. — The Long-eared Owl is a thoroughly nocturnal species, hunting only at night and keeping quiet in retired nooks by day, so that it is seldom noticed. Its food consists almost entirely of small rodents, chiefly field-mice, and it is a most beneficial species and should never be destroyed. It is rather silent for an Owl, but has a gentle hoot in the spring time ; if disturbed when nesting it generally makes a chattering, snapping noise with its mandibles, and it also gives a mournful cry. Its favourite resort in Colorado is in the thickets of willows along the creek bottoms. Morrison, Dille (86) and Gale give good accounts of the nesting-habits. It seldom builds a nest for itself, generally using in Colorado an old Magpie's nest, tearing off the dome and adding a little grass and feathers for a lining. It also makes use of Crows' or Hawks' nests, and occasionally builds one for itself. The eggs are laid from about April 15th to May 15th. Fresh eggs found later than this are a second laying, due to the loss of the first. Morrison noticed that four to six eggs were the rule at low elevations, three at about 8,500 feet. Short-eared Owl 199 while two nests found at 10,500 feet only contained two eggs. These are oval in shape, white in colour and measure 1'55 x 1"25. Warren found a pair with a young one at Sand Creek, near Medano Ranch, June 24th, at an old Magpie's nest. Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus. A.O.U. Checklist no 367— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 231 (Otus hrachyotus) ; Beckham 85, p. 143 {A. accipitrinus) ; Thome 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 66 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke 97, pp. 77, 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Rockwell 08, p. 163. Description. — Female — Above variegated with dusky brown, pale tawny and white, the markings chiefly streaks, with barring on the wings and tail ; below the breast streaked like the back ; posteriorly white, finely streaked with brown on the lower-breast and flanks ; immaculate on the legs, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; facial disk whitish, becoming black round the eye ; ear-tufts small and inconspicuous, under an inch ; iris bright yellow% bill and claws dusky bluish-horn. Length 14-5 ; wing 12 ; tail 6-0 ; cuknen -9 ; tarsus 1'6. The males average a little smaller. Young birds are rather darker and have a black face. Distribution. — The whole of America from Alaska and Mackenzie to Patagonia, except the "West Indies ; and in the Old World tliroughout Em-ope, Asia and northern Africa. In North America it breeds chiefly north of the United States boundary, and is a rare resident south of this, though fairly abundant in winter, when its numbers are reinforced from the north. In Colorado the Short-eared or Marsh-Owl is chiefly a winter visitor, found most abundantly in the plains, but extending up into the parks, even as high as Breckenridge, where it was found by Carter in winter. The only writer who alludes to its nesting in the State is Morrison. He reports that it breeds in the south-western and south-eastern portions. It is known to nest in Nebraska and Kansas. All other records are winter ones, viz. Niwot, March, and Longmont, December (Rockwell apud Henderson), Denver, winter (H. G. Smith), Orchard, March 28th (Warren), Pueblo, April (Beckham), Fort Lyon (Thome), Mosca, January 22nd (Warren), Mesa co., winter (Rockwell), Fort Lewis, February (Morrison). Habits. — The Short-eared Owl is often seen abroad in day time, especially on cloudy days, and is much less nocturnal than the Long-eared Owl. It prefers the 200 Birds of Colorado open country where there is water with high grass and bushes, among which it lurks. It is a silent bird, but if disturbed utters a few mournful cries, and chatters with its mandibles. It preys chiefly on mice and other small rodents, occasionally on small birds and insects. The nest is a rough affair of coarse grass and sticks, sparsely lined with finer material and feathers. It is placed on the ground, usually sheltered and hidden by a tuft of grass or by a bush. The eggs, four to seven in number, are white in colour and ovate in shape, and average 1'55 x r25. Morrison states: "Begins laying in April. Eggs four or five. Nest on the ground on open prairie, or more commonly upon mesas under a clump of scrub-oak, or bunch of high grass or sage-brush." He does not implicitly say that he himself found a nest. Genus STRIX. Of moderate size ; wing 12 — 14 ; bill yellow, nostrils at the edge of the small cere ; facial disk complete and large ; no ear-tufts ; ear- openings large, somewhat asymmetrical with a moderate operculun\, scarcely extending the length of the opening ; wing rounded, not twice the length of the tail ; tarsus always completely feathei'ed ; toes wholly or partly so. A large genus, chiefly in the northern hemisphere, with two distinct United States species and several local races. A. Larger ; wing generally over 13 ; abdomen streaked with dark brown. S. varia, p. 200. B. Smaller; wing generally under 13; abdomen transversely barred with brown. S. occiden talis, p. 201. Barred Owl. Strix varia. A.O.U. Checklist no 3f)8— Colorado Records— Aiken 00, p. 298 (Symium nehulosum) : Cooke 97, p. 20o ; Henderson 07, p. 198 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Above dark brown irregularly barred and spotted with buffy, whitish and yellowish-brown ; wings and tail banded ; head, neck and breast widely barred with dark brown and white or buffy ; belly streaked with dark brown on a wliitish or bufTy ground ; facial Spotted Owl 201 disk in a frame of black and white ; blackish round the eye, obscurely ringed with black and white ; iris blackish, bill dull yellow, claws horny - yellow. Length 19-2 ; wing 13-25 ; tail 9-0 ; tarsus 2-2. Young birds are barred throughout except the wing and tail quills, which are as in the adult. Distribution. — From Newfoundland and Manitoba south to Georgia and Texas, west to Nebraska and Kansas ; a resident except towards its northern limits. The Barred Owl is a rare straggler in Colorado. The only record is that of B. G. Voight, who, reports Aiken, found a pair breeding at Holyoke, in the north-east of the State near the Nebraska line, in March, 1897. One of the birds and two eggs were secured. Gale believed that he saw a pair in the Boulder Valley in 1886, but gives no particulars. Habits. — ^The Barred Owl or Hoot-Owl frequents heavy timber in swampy tracts or near water-courses. It is nocturnal as a rule, though occasionally seen abroad in cloudy weather, and has a very loud, weird and un- earthly hoot. Its nest is usually placed in a hollow tree, though sometimes the old nest of a Hawk or Crow is made use of. The pggs, two to four in number, are oval in shape, white in colour, and average 2-00 x 1'70. Spotted Owl. Strix occidentalis. A.O.U. Checkhst no 369— Colorado Records— H. G. Smith 86, p. 284 ; Morrison 89, p, 66 ; Cooke 97, p. 77 ; Oilman 07, p. 154. Description. — Resembling S. varia but smaller, and the head and neck coarsely spotted, not barred, with white ; wing-quills spotted with pale brown and whitish, and broadly tipped with whitish ; below, whitish, barred throughout with brown, with streak -marks on the belly. Length 19 ; wing 12 to 13 ; tail 8-5 to 9-0 ; culmen -9. Distribution. — From Southern California, Arizona and Colorado south to Lower California and Guanajuato on the Mexican tableland. The occurrence of the Spotted Owl in Colorado rests on rather indefinite evidence. Mr. Aiken informs me he examined and identified a specimen brought to him some years ago, killed near Colorado Springs. Oilman states that he observed two examples near Fort Lewis in spring, and Brunner writes me that he saw in the siunmer of 1907 an Owl of this species on the south fork of the Trinchera Creek in Costilla CO. 202 Birds of Colorado Genus CRYPTOGLAUX. Resembling Strix but much smaller — wings 7 to 8 — and with both skull and ear-openings highly asymmetrical ; the ear-openings very large and operculate ; legs densely feathered to the bases of the claws. Two species are recognized ; one of circimipolar distribution with an American subsjiecies, the other confined to North America. A. Larger — wing 7 ; bill yellow ; head spotted with white. C. f. richardsoni, p. 202. B. Smaller — wing under 6 ; bill black ; crown with white shaft- lines. C. acadicus, p. 202. Richardson's Owl. Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni. A.O.U. CheckHst no 371— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 160, 205. Description. — Above chocolate-brown spotted with white ; spots small and profuse on top of the head, on the nape larger and almost forming a nuchal collar, on the back and wing-coverts large and sparse ; below whitish, heavily and somewhat confusedly streaked with dark brown ; flanks and feet buffy, more or less spotted with bro^vn ; facial disk whitish, black round the eye ; iris and bill yellow. Length 1 1 ; wing 7 ; tail 4'5 ; tarsus l-O. A young bird is plain brown without spots except on the wings and tail ; below brown, paling to yellowish-brown posteriorly ; flanks slightly spotted ; facial disk dark, with a white superciliary and malar streak. Distribution. — Breeding north of the United States border up to the limit of trees ; south in winter to Oregon, Colorado and New England. Only two instances of its occurrence are known in Colorado. Mr. H. C. Lee Meyer took a male at Crested Butte in October, 1896, which was identified by Cooke, and there is an example in the Carter collection obtained at Breckenridge, December 28th, 1882. It may be considered a rare winter visitor in the mountainous part of the State. Saw-whet Owl. Cryptoglaux acadica. A.O.U. Checkhst no 372 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 79, p. 232 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Bendire 92, p. 350 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 77, 205 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Above sepia-brown, the crown with white shaft-lines, the nape and back with white bases to the feathers ; the wings and tail regularly spotted, those on the tail forming two incomplete cross-bands of wliito ; below white, streaked a lighter tawny-brown ; facial disk whitish, black round the eye ; iris yellow, bill and claws black. Length 7-5 ; wing 5-25 ; tail 2-9 ; cuhnen -6 ; tarsus 1-1. Saw-whet Owl 203 The young bird is very different ; above ruddy chocolate-brown, without any white ; wings and tail darker, and marked as in the adult ; below, throat and breast like the back ; posteriorly brownish-yellow ; no streaks. Distribution. — Breeding from Hudson Bay and British Colmnbia south, to New York and Indiana in the east, in the west through the mountains as far as Mexico, wandering often into the lower country and fvirther south in winter. In Colorado the Saw-whet is a rather uncommon resident, wintering in the eastern plains, and breeding in simamer in the mountains from about 7,000 to 9,000 feet. It has not hitherto been met with on the western slope, though noticed by Morrison in La Plata co. The following are winter records : Fort CoUins, January (Cooke), Fort Lupton, February, and Clear Creek, near Denver, April (H. G. Smith), Beloit, near the Kansas border, April (Cooke), Buttes, January (Aiken coll.), Salida, December (Frey). Simamer records are : Estes Park, breeding at 7,000 feet (W. G. Smith), Boulder co., breeding at 8,500 feet (Gale), Breckenridge, August (Carter), Dome Rock, June (H. G. Smith). Habits. — ^This little Owl gets its name from its shrill note, which is said to resemble the sound of sharpening a sav/ with a file. It is a thoroughly nocturnal species, and is only very exceptionally seen abroad in the day time. It preys almost exclusively on mice of various species, and is doubtless very beneficial from the farmers' point of view. Both Gale and W. G. Smith have found this bird breeding in Colorado (Bendire). In most cases an old Flicker-hole in an aspen tree had been made use of, but in one instance what appeared to be an old squirrel's drey was taken possession of. The clutch varies from three to five, and incubation appears to commence after the first egg is laid, since the young birds are generally found to be of obviously different ages. Gale's nests were found on May 24th and June 3rd, and the earlier one contained three young and one egg, and the later, three nearly fresh eggs, so that the egg-laying seems to extend over a couple of months at least. The eggs are white, nearly spherical, and average 1*20 x I'O. 204 Birds of Colorado Genus OTUS. Small Owls with wings under 7*5 ; facial disk not well developed, hardly noticeable ; ear-tiifts well developed ; skull and ear-openings symmetrical, the latter small and normal ; wing rounded, but long and about twice the short, rounded tail ; tarsus feathered, toes bristly or naked ; plumage with marked dichromatic phases. A large cosmopolitan genus with only two North American species, but separated into a great many subspecies difficult to discriminate. A. Larger ; wing over 6 ; toes bristly or partly feathered. a. Paler and less heavily streaked. 0. a. maxwelliae, p. 204. b. Darker and more heavily streaked. O. a. aikeni, p. 205. B. Smaller; wing under 6; toes naked. O. flammeola, p. 207: Rocky Mountain Screech Owl. Otus asio maxwellim. A.O.U. CheckUst no 373e — Colorado Records — Ridgway 77» pp- 210, 213 ; 79, pp. 232, 235 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 90, p. 298 ; 91, p. 91 ; 92, p. 263 ; Hasbrouck 93, p. 256; Cooke 97, pp. 78, 160 ; Biu-nett 03, p. 156 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; RockweU 07, p. 140 ; 08, p. 207 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 185. Description. — Very closely resembling O. a. aikeni, but very distinctly paler, the ground-colour much lighter, and the black streaking much less heavy, both above and below ; white on the wings and scapulars more conspicuous, and a tawny wash across the back, showing rather plainly. Measurements average a little larger ; wing 7-0, tail 3-5 (see Plate 5). Distribution. — North-east Colorado, chiefly north of the Arkansas Platte Divide, but occasionally in winter south to Colorado Springs ; extending northwards along the foothills as far as Fort Custer in south Montana. This Owl is a resident in north-east Colorado, and is found chiefly along the foothills and river valleys from Denver northwards. Kellogg reports it as rare in Estes Park, and it has been taken out on the plains as far as Dry Willow Creek in Yuma co., in June by H. G. Smith. Habits. — ^This Owl is an inhabitant of the cotton-wood groves along the Platte and its tributaries in north-east Colorado. It is chiefly abroad at night, spending the day in a hollow tree, or sitting quietly on a horizontal branch close to the trunk, which it closely resembles. Its home is generally betrayed by disgorged pellets lying below. The nest and eggs were first taken by Anthony on the Platte River, six miles from Denver, May 4th, 1884 ; Plate .-)] [R. B. Rockwell, Phot. ADULT AND YOUNG OF THE ROCKY-MOUNTAIN SCREECH OWL, CLEAR CREEK, JEFFERSON CO. [204 Aiken's Screech Owl 205 but Gale, Burnett and Rockwell have all written on thit subject. The most usual situation is an old Flicker- hole in a cotton-wood tree, but natural cavities in willows or box-elders are also made use of, while W. G. Smith informed Bendire that he once found a deserted Magpie's nest adopted. Often the Owl has a " scrap " with the Flicker for the possession of the hole, and if the Flicker is once able to effect an entrance it is generally able to hold possession with the menace of its sharp bill. No nest is made, but the bottom of the nest-hole is often found littered with wood-dust, feathers and the other remnants of former feasts. The site selected is generally near a stagnant pool or a stream, possibly for the convenience of procuring crawfish and small fishes, which form no small part of their diet. Incubation is carried on entirely by the female, and begins after the first egg is laid ; and as there is an interval of from twenty-four to seventy-two hours between the laying of each egg, the young birds, when hatched, are of various ages. The male is generally found near the nest-site in another cavity, which often forms a larder. Gale found remains of Blue Birds, Juncos, mice, frogs and crawfish in these caches. Gale found fresh eggs chiefly from April 15th to 30th ; those of later date, taken in May, he believed to be a second laying, due to loss or destruction of the first. The usual number of eggs is four ; these are rounded ovals and moderately glossy, and measure 1*44 x 1'18. Aiken's Screech Owl. Otus asio aikeni. A.O.U. Checklist no 373g — Colorado Records — ? Morrison 88, p. 115 (Scops asio maccalli) ; Brewster 91, p. 139; Bendire 92, p. 370; Hasbrouck 93, p; 258 ; Lowe 94, p. 2C8 (Megascops asio maxwelUae) ; Cooke 97, p. 78. 206 Birds of Colorado Description. — Adult — Above finely mottled grey and dusky and streaked with black, rather heavily on the crown ; a good deal of white on the scapulars and wing-coverts and the fulvous tinge very faint or absent ; below mottled like the back, but rather paler, heavily blotched and streaked with black, the streaks usually taking branched, tree-like shapes ; iris yellow ?, bill and claws bluish-horn. Length 6-25 ; wing 6-5 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen '75 ; tarsus 1-3. A young bu-d of the year is hardly to be distinguished from the adult. A male Screech Owl in the Aiken collection, taken in Colorado Springs, January, 1904, in the "red phase" was referred by Brewster, who examined it, to the typical Otus asio, but there seems to me to be no reason for regarding it as anything but the red phase of O. aikeni. In this specimen the whole of the grey motthng above is replaced by rich rufous, with a Uttle black streaking ; the white on the scapulars and coverts is as in the grey phase ; below there is a little rufous on the foro-neck and sides, and a few dark streaks, but the central portion of the under-parts is chiefly white. Distribution. — Aiken's Screech Owl is a fairly common resident in Colorado, and is found along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains from El Paso co. south, probably to Fort Wingate in New Mexico. There is a good series, all from the immediate neighbourhood of Colorado Springs, mostly taken in winter, in the Aiken collection. Lowe met with this Owl commonly in the footliills of the Wet Mountains, and once found a family party in thick pinons at 7,800 feet, while the Screech Owls of La Plata co. noticed by Morrison, should probably be referred here. Warren has recently (March 28th, 1909) obtained a Screech Owl from Orchard on the Platte in the north of the State which I cannot distinguish from this form, though presumably it should be 0. a. maxwellice, and I very much doubt if it will be possible to maintain the distinction between the two subspecies unless their ranges can be separated. Habits. — ^This little Owl is usually found lurking in the hollows of old willows or cotton-woods, and is so tame or perhaps frightened that it can often be caught in the hand. Aiken found the remains of a Pink-sided Junco in the stomach of one examined by him, and it probably preys on small birds as well as mice. A nestling in downy plumage was brought alive to Aiken on June 25th, 1905. He kept it for about six months. It became very tame and a great pet. It riammulated Screech Owl 207 moulted all its feathers except those of the wings and tail, between July 15th and September 15th. The note or cry most often heard was a "Wow, wow," resembling the bark of a puppy. Morrison found a Screech Owl breeding in La Plata CO., in the hollows of old pinons. He took three young ones and an addled egg in June. It was probably this subspecies. Flammulated Screech Owl. Otiis flamrneolus. A.O.U. Checklist no 374 — Colorado Records— Ridgw ay 79, p. 232 ; 80, p. 185 ; Deane 79, p. 188 ; IngersoU 80, p. 121 ; Brewster 83, p. 123 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 66 ; W, G. Smith 91, p, 27 ; Beudire 92, p. 374 ; Hasbrouck 93, p. 260 ; H. G. Smith 93, p. 364 ; Ingraham 97, p. 403 ; Cooke 97, pp. 78, 161, 206 ; Jon,es 98, p. 46 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Dille 04, p. 50 ; 09, p. 87 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Cary 09,p. 181 . Description.- — Smaller than O. asio aikeni, and easily distinguished by its shorter ear-tufts and bare, unfeathered toes. Above finely mottled dusky and white, with black streaking ; the white scapulars tinged with tawny and often a faint wash of tawny all over the head and facial disk ; below paler with dark streaks, much as in 0. a. aikeni ; iris brown, bill and toes yellowish. Length 6-0 ; wing 54 ; tail 2-1 ; culmien -5 ; tarsus 1-0. A red phase is known, but not hitherto noticed in Coloi-ado. Young birds are more or less cross -barred, especially below. Distribution. — From southern CaUfornia and Colorado, chiefly in the mountains or foothills, south through Mexico to Guatemala. In Colorado as elsewhere this little Owl has always been reckoned a very rare species, and every occiurence seems to have been carefully recorded. It is a resident along the eastern foothills and breeds there, and from about 7,000 to 10,000 feet in the mountains. It was first recorded from Colorado by Ridgway, who mentioned an example in Mrs. Maxrw^ell's collection, taken near Boulder, and it must now be considered a not unconynon resident. The following are breeding records : Estes Park at 10,000 feet (W. G. Smith & DiUe), Idaho Springs, E. Lewis (Bendire), Fremont CO., Aiken (Deane), near Beulah 7,000 to 8,000 feet (Ingraham & Jones) and La Plata co. (Morrison). There are two examples in the Aiken col- lection taken near Colorado Springs, but it is not known from the western or north-western portions of the State. 208 Birds of Colorado Habits. — The Flammulated Screech Owl resembles the other larger Screech Owl in its habits. It is nocturnal, and preys on small mammals and large insects. The eggs are laid in a natural cavity or in a Flicker-hole, generally in a coniferous tree — a pinon at lower levels, a spruce at higher — at the end of May or beginning of June. Aiken was the first to find the nest and eggs of this Owl. He took a female from the nest, which was in a dead pine tree and contained one egg. This was in the Wet Mountain Valley, at about 7,500 feet, on June loth, 1875. W. G. Smith subsequently obtained several sets of eggs in Estes Park, between 8,000 and 10,000 feet. The clutch usually numbers four, and the eggs are white with a faint creamy tinge, and oval in shape ; they average 1*12 x TO. Genus BUBO. Large Owls with wing (in the American species) over 14 ; bill robust and black ; facial disk well marked, the eyes placed nearer the upper than the lower margin ; skuU and ear-openings symmetrical, the latter small, normal and non-operculate ; ear -tufts conspicuous ; wing rather short and rounded, falling short of the tail when folded ; tail shght, rounded, almost concealed below by the lengthened under tail- coverts ; legs densely feathered to the bases of the claws, but the latter not concealed. A considerable genus, spread over most of the world ; but with only one United States species, divided into a number of subspecies ; some of these however are far from satisfactorily defined. Western Homed Owl. Bubo virginianus pallescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 375a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 185 ; Henshaw 75, p. 407 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; KeUogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 383; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; 95, p. 169 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Oberholser 04, p. 192 {Aaio magellanicus occidentalis) ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 14 ; 08, p. 163 ; Smith 10, p. 133. Western Horned Owl 209 Description. — Adult — General colour above mottled with black, dusky and white, with a varying amount of tawny intermixed ; ear- tufts large and conspicuous ; tail and wing markings in ntore or less well-developed bands ; below, a white patch on the throat, upper- breast irregularly blotched with black and tawny on white ; posteriorly white with narrow transverse bands of dusky, often washed and tinged with tawny ; legs white to pale tawny, hardly marked ; facial disk yellowish bordered by black. The variation in the amount of tawny and black is very considerable, but the bird is always less tawny than the eastern type ; iris yellow, bill and claws black. Length 21 ; wing 14 ; tail 8-5 ; culmen -8 ; tarsus 2 •80. Some observers believe that two subspecies can be distinguished in Colorado. There is certainly a great deal of variation in the plumage of individiials, but whether it is possible to discriminate two distinct forms seems very doubtful. Recently Aiken has received from the Fountain Valley a pair of Owls killed with one shot, so that they certainly appeared to be mated. Those two individuals seem to represent the two extreme types of the tawny and dusky phases, as I prefer to regard them. Distribution. — Western North America, from British Columbia and Manitoba south to the Mexican tableland. In Colorado the Horned Owl is a fairly common resident, breeding over nearly the whole of the State from the plains up to timber line, according to Drew, and wandering up to 13,000 feet in the fall ; the highest definite record I have met with is 10,000 feet, in the Wet ]Mountains (Lowo). Other localities are : Near Denver, breeding (Rockwell, see Plate 6), El Paso CO. (Aiken coll.) and Baca co., breeding (Warren), in the lains ; Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co., breeding (Gale), Crested Butte (Warren) and Wagon Wheel Gap (Aiken coll.), in the mountains ; Mesa CO. (Rockwell) and La Plata co. (Morrison), on the western slope. Habits. — ^This is the largest Owl found commonly in Colorado. It prefers wooded districts in the plains — chiefly the cotton-wood groves along the rivers ; in the mountains, the thickets along the bottoms of the valleys. Each pair appears to have its own particular range, beyond which it seldom strays. It has a loud, guttural note, " Whaugh-hoo-hoo." It is destructive to game- birds and water-fowl, and also preys largely on rabbits and prairie-dogs, as well as the smaller rodants. In settled districts it often catches an unwary fowl. p 210 Birds of Colorado The Homed Owl in Colorado makes use, as a rule, of an old Magpie's or Red-tailed Hawk's nest, in which to lay its eggs. Warren noticed it however nesting in a hole in a sandstone bluff at Gaume's ranche in Baca co. Gale found it a most persistent layer ; he took three sets of eggs from the same pair of birds ; the sets numbered four, three and two respectively, and the nest-site was changed each time. Incubation, which is undertaken entirely by the female, lasts about four weeks. The eggs, usually four in number, are rounded ovals, white in colour and not very glossy ; they measure 2"2 x 1*90. This Owl is one of our earliest breeders ; Gale found fresh eggs between March 10th and 25th ; any found later, he believed to be second or third layings, due to failure or robbery of the first set. Genus NYCTEA. Owls of large size — wing 15 to 18 — with plvuuage mostly white ; re- sembling Buho in other respects, but with the ear-tnfts rudimentary or wanting, and the bill and claws almost entirely concealed by the dense growth of the frontal and toe feathers. Only one circumpolar species is comprised in this genus. Snowy Owl. Nyctea nyctea. A.O.U. CheckUst no 376 — Colorado Records — Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, pp. 80, 161, 206 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Hender- son 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230. Description. — Male — Pure white above and below, sometimes immacu- late, more generally marked with transverse spots or bars abo\'e and below ; the face, throat and feet usually the least marked. Iris yellow ; bill and claws black. Length 22-0 ; wing 15-5 ; tail 9-25 ; culmen 1 '50 ; tarsus 1 -8. The female is larger — wing 17-3, tail 10-0 — and much darker, only the face, throat and middle of the breast and foet immaculate ; top of the head and hind-neck spotted, rest of the body barred with dark brown. Distribution. — Breeding in the Arctic regions of both hemispheres, in America north of 53°, from Alaska to Labrador ; south in winter, more or less regularly, to the northern and middle states ; more common in the east. /5 ^, Plate G] [i?. B. Rockwell, Phot. NEST OF THE WESTERN HORNED OWL AT COAL CREEK, NEAR DENVER. [210 Burrowing Owl 211 In Colorado the Snowy Owl is a rare winter visitor, more abundant in severe winters. It has been chiefly taken in the north-east of the State near Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland, Barr and Denver, whence it has been reported by Cooke and Snaith. Further south and in the mountains it is only a straggler ; but it has been recorded from Colorado Springs by Aiken, from Wet Mountain Valley by Baker, and from Breckrenridge by Carter. Genus SPEOTYTO. Medii-un-sized Owls — wing 6 to 8 — with a quite incomiolete facial disk and no ear-tufts ; ear-openings small and normal ; cere somewhat swollen ; wing modorate, slightly rounded ; tail short, less than half the wing ; legs long and slim, tarsus twice the length of the middle toe without claw, scantily feathered in front, bare behind ; lower portion and toes with a few bristles. This genus is confined to America ; there is only one species found in the United States. Burrowing Owl. Speotyto cunicularia hypogcea. A.O.U. Checknst no 378 — Colorado Records — Say 23, vol. ii., pp. 36, 200 ; Allen 72, p. 151 ; Coues 74, p. 322 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 197 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Bendire 92, p. 395 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 81, 206 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 118. Description. — Adult — Dull brown above, spotted finely on the head, more largely on the back, with white or tawny-whitish ; on the wing- quills and tail the spots tend to form cross-bars, generally broken in the centre on the shafts ; below white, the throat and fore-breast imniaculate, separated by a brown band, posteriorly with a series of brown, transverse spots, almost forming bars ; thighs and under tail- coverts plain ; iris yellow, bill greenish-yellow, cere and claws blackish. Length 9*5 ; wing 7-25 ; tail 3-5 ; cuhnen '6 ; tarsus 1'85. The sexes are aUke. Young birds are plain brown above, but with much white on the wings ; below with white chin, brown collar, and isabelline white and immaculate posterior parts. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding from southern British Columbia, Assinaboia and Minnesota south to northern Texas, Mexico and Guatemala. In Colorado the Burrowing Owl is most common on the eastern plains, wherever there are prairie-dog towns. It is also found in the moun- tains up to about 8,000 feet, while Cooke states it occasionally reaches 10,000 feet; but I have not found any reference to it higher than Middle Park, where Carter obtained it. There is also some doubt as to whether p2 212 Birds of Colorado it is a resident or only a summer bird ; it is generally considered to belong to the former category, but there seems to be no winter record for the State except that of Hersey and Rockwell, who noticed a few during that season at Barr, The following localities are reported : Fort Collins, breeding (Bendire), Greeley, breeding (Colo. Coll. Mus.), Boulder co., breeding on plains (Gale), near Colorado Springs and Limon, not common (Aiken), Baca CO., very common (Warren), Routt co., rare (Warren), Grand Junction common resident (Rockwell), Cortez (Gilman) and La Plata co., common (Morrison). Habits. — This little Owl presents a very remarkable departure from the habits of all other Owls. It inhabits the treeless plains, it is more or less gregarious, and it nests in burrows underground. As is well known, it is often found associated with prairie-dogs and rattle- snakes, but the old idea of the three living together in perfect amity has been long since dispelled. As a rule certainly, perhaps invariably, the Owl only takes up its abode in deserted burrows, and these particular ones can nearly always be detected by the litter and filth strewed near the entrance. This Owl is quite diurnal in habits, and often stands on the little mound by the side of its hole. Here it can be noticed bowing and dipping, by the passer-by. In other parts of its range it inhabits badger, skunk or spermophiles' holes, and it is said that occasionally it burrows for itself. Bendire, at any rate, watched it enlarging one. It hunts chiefly in the evening and at night, preying on young prairie-dogs and small mammals, but more often, judging by Fisher's researches, on grass- hoppers and beetles. It seldom catches birds, though Gale found the remains of a Horned Lark in a burrow examined by him. The nest is a rounded chamber, about two to three feet below the surface, and is approached by a curved or straight passage of from four to five feet long. Gale Pygmy Owl 213 noticed an extra chamber off the passage, which he supposed was for the male bird. The eggs are laid on a bed of horse or cow droppings, broken up fine, and there is usually an accumulation of food-remains, and other filth as well, while the whole spot swarms with fleas and is very ill-smelling. The eggs number from seven to nine ; they are rounded ovates in shape, and pure white in colour when clean, though usually very nest-soiled. They measure about 1'3 x 1"1. Gale found fresh eggs from May 10th to 20th ; Dille gives May 22nd, while Bendire states that fresh eggs have been found at Fort Collins as late as July 1st. A set of five eggs in the Colorado College Museum, presented by I, C. Hall, were taken by him near Greeley, May 10th, 1903. They were found at the end of a prairie- dog's hole, seven feet long and a foot deep, and were placed on a bed of horse manure. A large toad was also found in the hole. Genus GLAUCIDIUM. Small Owls, wing under 4-0 ; facial disk hardly developed ; no ear- tufts ; ear-openings nornial ; nostrils circular, opening well within tho cere ; wing short and rounded ; tail long, slightly rounded, about f of wing ; tarsus densely feathered ; toes bristly. A large genus of small Owls chiefly met with in the Tropics, with three species and one subspecies in the United States, Pygmy Owl. Glaucidium gnoma. A.O.U. CheckUst no 379 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, pp. 185, 195 ; Henshaw 85, p. 79 ; H. G. Smith 87, p. 284 ; 96, p. 76 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 92, p. 403 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 81, 161, 206 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 230 ; Oilman 07, p. 154. Description. — Above slaty-brown, with small round spots of white on the head and larger ones on the wing-coverts ; a collar of mixed white and black round the back of the neck ; wing- and tail-quills a duskier brown, marked with white spots on both webs ; chin and fore- breast white, separated by a brown band ; rest of the under-parts white, 214 Birds of Colorado heavily streaked with dusky ; sides of the breast like the back, spotted ; iris yellow, bill and toes duller yellow. Length 6-75 ; wing 3'9 ; tail 2'9 ; culraen '55 ; tarsus I'l. The young bird has the top of the head plain grey. No red or tawny phase has yet been met with. Distribution. — Western America from the interior of British Cokunbia south to the Mexican tableland, east to Colorado and New Mexico, but not reaching the coast lands of the Pacific in the west. The Pygmy Owl was first taken by Aiken in November, 1871, near, Fountain in the foothills. Since then it has been met with a good many times, and may be considered a rai'e resident, breeding in summer at elevations up to about 10,000 feet, and wintering in the foothills and the neighbouring plains. The following are breeding records : Estes Park, nesting at 10,000 feet (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Breckenridge (Carter), Ute Pass (Aiken aptid Cooke), Wet Mountains, common, 7,800 to 8,000 feet (Lowe), La Plata co., breeding (Morrison) ; winter records are : Loveland (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Boulder, January (Henderson), Denver (H. G. Smith), El Paso co., (Aiken coll.), Sahda (Frey), Pueblo (Cooke), Durango (H. G. Smith), and Routt co., below 6,000 feet (Cooke). Habits. — The Pygmy Owl is chiefly met with in or near pine woods ; it is often seen about in bright sunshine, though perhaps more common in late afternoon or early morning. It hides in pines or other thick timber, perching upright on a branch close to the trimk, where it is practically invisible. Its note is rather musical for an Owl, somewhat resembling the "Coo" of the Mourning Dove. It is very bold and fearless, and will attack birds much larger than itself. One was brought to Aiken from a ranche near Colorado Springs, which was shot while attacking a Quail, and on other occasions it has been known to pounce on a Long-crested Jay and on chickens. It also preys on small rodents and insects. A nest containing three young ones and an egg on the point of hatching, was taken by W. G. Smith, in Estes Park, May 31st, at about 10,000 feet. It was placed in an old Woodpecker's hole in a dead aspen, and was Corolina Paroquet 215 composed of a few feathers and rubbish. Morrison took several nests in La Plata co. at about 9,000 feet in June ; they were all in pines in old Woodpeckers' holes, but no eggs appear to have been available for Bendire to examine. ORDER PSITTACI. This order contains the Parrots, easily distinguished externally by their stout, strongly hooked bill, furnished with a cere, which however is frequently feathered, and by their feet, which are zygodactylous, i.e. the first and fourth toes are posteriorly, the second and third anteriorly directed. Family PSITTACID^. Genus CONUROPSIS. Bill stout ; cere, within which opens the nostrils, completely feathered ; tail long, equal to the wing ; wotlge-shaped and strongly graduated ; tarsus very short, covered with granular scales. One species only in the United States. Corolina Paroquet. Conuropsis carolinensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 382 — Colorado Records — Pike 10, p. 78 (Coues's ed., II., p. 474) ; Coues 77, p. 50 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Hasbrouck 91, p. 369 ; Cooke 97, pp. 81, 162. Description. — Above and below, green of various shades ; head all round and edge of wing yellow ; forehead and cheeks orange-red ; iris brown, bill whitish, feet flesh-coloured. Length 12'0 ; wing 7-10 ; tail 5-75 ; cubnen "9 ; tarsus -7. The sexes are alike. Young birds are green without yellow. Distribution. — Formerly ranging over all of the middle and south- eastern United States, from Colorado, Nebraska and New York south to the Gulf ; now confined to Florida and to a less extent to Arkansas and Oklahoma. Pike captirred a live bird new to him on Cliristmas Day, 1806, in the upper Ai'kansas Valley, not far from where Sahda now is. He described it as green with a tufted head, and he fed it on meat. Coues identified it with the Carolina Paroquet, but I am more inclined to think it was 216 Birds of Colorado the Long-crested Jay, E. L. Barthoud, however, informed Coues that he had seen the Parrot on several occasions in the early sixties, at Golden, close to Denver, on the Little Thompson, and also near Fort Lyon. These are the only notices of its occurrence in Colorado, and it is now doubtless extinct in the State. ORDER COCCYGES. This order, containing the Cuckoos, Trogons and Kingfishers, is very difficult to diagnose by external characters, but the bill is without cere, and is never hooked or chisel-shaped ; the tail-feathers are never stiff or sharp-pointed, and the toes are either arranged two in front and two behind ; or if three in front, the third and fourth are bound together for half their length, i.e. syndactylous. Key of the Families and Genera. A. Toes, two in front and two beliind (Guculidce). a. Wing short, J the length of tail ; head crested. Geocccc3rx, p. 216. b. Wing longer, about equal to tail ; head not crested. Coccyzus, p. 218. B. Toes three in front, one behind ; the third and fourth bound together for half their length (.4Zced/mdcF). Ceryle, p. 221. Family CUCULID.^. Toes arranged with two — ^the second and third — in front and two — ^the fkst and fourth — behind ; tail with ten rectrices in all North American forms. Genus GEOCOCCYX. Terrestrial Cuckoos with crested head and a small bare, space round the eye ; bill long, rather slender and downcurved towards the tip ; wings very short, rounded and concave, less than a length of tail, which consists of ten long, tapering feathers, and is very much graduated ; legs stout and adapted to walking ; the tarsus scutellate before and beliind. The genus contains two species only, one from the United States and one from Mexico. Road-runner 217 Road-runner. Oeococcyx calijornianus. A.O.U. Checklist no 385— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 206 Coues 73, p. 751 ; Henshaw 75, p. 383 ; Goss 78, p. 114 ; Drew 85, p. 17 Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 17 ; 89, p. 67 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 Cooke 97, pp. 81, 207 ; Warren 06, p. 20 ; Cary 09, p. 181 ; Felger 10, p. 89. Description. — Above a n^etallic bronze, becorning steely-blue on the neck and head ; all the feathers edged with white or tawny-white, pro- ducing a streaked appearance ; head strongly crested ; wing more greenish ; tail very strongly graduated ; the three outer pairs of feathers steely-blue with a terminal band of white ; below duU whitish, the feathers of the fore-neck and throat with dusky centres edged with tawny ; iris red, bill and legs dark horny, a bare space round the eye pale fleshy, eyelids blue. Length 20-5 ; wing 7-75 ; tail 12-0 ; culmen 2-1 ; tarsus 2-4, The sexes are aUke, and the young bird is very similar — iridescent from the first, but with more white and less tawny. Distribution. — South-west United States, from California and Colorado south to Mexico, east to south-west Kansas and Oklahoma. The Road-runner is a faii-ly common resident in Colorado along and south of the Arkansas Valley. North of this it is rare, but has been met with on several occasions in El Paso co., by Aiken and others, while Cooke states that Carter once observed it at Littleton just south of Denver, and Felger has recently recorded it fron^ Denver itself ; this is the most northern record. Others are : Las Animas (Goss), Fort Lyon (Coues), Gamne's Ranche (Warren and Cary), Wet Mountains at 8,000 feet (Lowe), Trinchera (Brunner) and La Plata co. (Morrison). It keeps chiefly to the lower altitudes of the cedar and pinon zone, and has not been met with above 8,000 feet (Lowe). Habits. — ^This ground-loving Cuckoo, often known as the Chaparral Cock and by the Mexicans as the Paisano, is a bird of remarkable aspect, and reminds one more of a small hen Pheasant than of a Cuckoo. It is thoroughly terrestrial and a great runner, and is said to be able to outstrip a galloping horse, aided by its wings out- stretched as supporters. It also flies well. The Road-runner is rather unsocial, and only one or two are to be met with together ; it prefers bushy hill-sides and scrub-oak, seldom or never entering pine woods. Its note is compared by Bendire to the cooing 218 Birds of Colorado of a Dove and the cackling of a hen, and it also makes a noise by snapping its mandibles. The food consists chiefly of large insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles, and also lizards, snakes and young birds. Stories of its killing large rattlesnakes are often told, but these appear to be exaggerated. The nest is built in a low bush, as a rule three to eight feet above the ground ; it consists of a flat, shallow and compact mass of sticks, lined generally with dry grass, sometimes with other material such as a few feathers. The number of eggs varies considerably, possibly where twelve have been found they are from two hens. They are ovate, white and unspotted, and measure r54 x 1'18. They are laid at considerable intervals, and incubation commences after the first few are deposited. No details in regard to the nesting of this bird within the State have yet been published. Genus COCCYZUS. Head not crested ; bill stout at the base, compressed and gently downcurved throughout ; wing pointed, about equal to the tail in length ; tail of ten obtusely-ending, strongly graduated feathers ; legs moderate, tarsus about equal to middle toe. Three species are found in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Lower mandible chiefly yellow ; outer tail-feathers strongly tipped with white. a. Smaller ; wing 5-5, culmen -93. C. americanus, p. 218. b. Larger; wing 5 '8, culmen 1*05. C. a. occidentalis, p. 220 B. Lower mandible black ; outer tail-feathers obscurely white at the tip. C. erythropthalmus, p. 220 Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 387 — Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 231 Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 67 ; Cooke 97, pp. 82, 207 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164; Henderson 09, p. 231. (This hst includes records for both subspecies.) Yellow-billed Cuckoo 219 Description.^ — ^Above greyish-brown with a slight bronzy lustre, becoming more rufous on the wings ; the inner webs of the wing-quills largely light rufous ; tail graduated, the three outer-pairs of feathers black, tipped with white ; the outer pair white along the outer web as well ; below white ; iris brown, bill with upper mandible and tip of lower, black, rest of lower and cutting-edges of both yellow, legs plum- beous. Length 10'75 ; wing 5-5 ; tail 5-5; culmen -93; tarsus 1-1. Young birds have less white on the tail and the black not so pure. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and South Dakota south to the Gulf States and West Indies ; in winter, south through eastern Mexico to Costa Rica. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a rare siunmer visitor to Colorado chiefly met with on the eastern plains, but occasionally penetrating into the mountains up to 8,000 feet. It was noticed breeding in Middle Park by Carter ; it wbs taken at Fort Lyon by Thorne, and there is an example from Ramah in El Paso co., obtained June 4th, in the Aiken collection. Miss Eggleston states that it is a summer resident at Grand Junction, and that a pair nested several seasons in an orchard there (Rockwell). Cooke referred the Yellow-billed Cuckoo of Colorado to the western subspecies C. a. occidentalie, but two examples in the Aiken collection, from Ramah and from Gem, Thomas co., Kans, undoubtedly belong to the smaller race. Possibly the birds from the western slope are nearer the western form. Habits. — ^The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is often called the " Rain Crow," or the " Kow-Kow," the former because it is more noisy when the atmosphere is moist, the latter from its note. It is an arboreal bird, keeping itself concealed in thick trees, and is more often heard than seen. It feeds chiefly on caterpillars, and will devour even the more hairy and spiny forms rejected by other birds. In some cases the stomach-walls have been found full of these spines, without any apparent injury to the birds. They also eat other insects and fruits, and have been accused, but on doubtful evidence, of sucking other birds' eggs. The nest in a shallow, frail structure, poorly put together, placed low down in bushes or vines. The eggs, three to five in number, are light bluish-green in colour ; they 220 Birds of Colorado are unspotted and measure ri9 x '90. Occasionally this Cuckoo shows a tendency to parasitism. Eggs have been known to have been dropped in the nests of other birds, most often perhaps in the nest of the Black-billed Cuckoo. California Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 387a. Description. — Larger than C. americanus, with a proportionally larger and stouter bill; wing 5-84 ; tail 6-59 ; culmen 1'05. Distribution. — Western North America from British Coluntbia south to Lower California, New Mexico, and the tablelands of Mexico proper. Cooke refers the Yellow-billed Cuckoo of Colorado to this subspecies, but most of the Colorado examples which I have seen appear to be nearer the eastern race. In the State Historical Collection at Denver there are two specimens, obtained in Denver, which perhaps might be referred to the larger-billed fonn, while others taken in Yimaa are certainly smaller, and should more properly be referred to the eastern race. Black-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythropthalmus. A.O.U. Checklist no 388— Colorado Records — Bendire 92, p. 27 ; Cooke 94, p. 183 ; 97, p. 82 ; H. G. Smith 05, p. 82. Description. — Above greyish-brown with a slight bronzy lustre, no rufous on the wings, tail-feathers all like the back, subterminally dusky, terminally obscurely white ; below whit'e ; iris brown, bare skin round the eye red, bill black, sometimes a trace of yellow on the lower man- dible ; legs plumbeous. Length 11 -5 ; wing 5-4 ; tail 6'15 ; culmen -85 ; tarsus -9. Young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts edged with whitish. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from Manitoba, Labrador and Nova Scotia, south to the Gulf States ; south in winter to the West Indies, Central America and northern South America. The Black-billed Cuckoo is even rarer in Colorado than the Yellow- billed. It is probably a summer resident, but has not yet been found nesting, and has hitherto only been met with in the north-eastern plains counties. An example now mounted in the Museum at Fort CoUins was collected by Breninger on Jime 11th. W. G. Smith and Osburn found it rare at Loveland, but believed that it nested there, and more recently H. G. Smith obtained a single example in Jackson's canon, near Wray, on May 21st, 1904. Habits. — ^The Black-billed Cuckoo hardly differs from the Yellow-billed Cuckoo in this respect. Belted Kingfisher 221 Family ALCEDINID^. Genus CERYLE. Bill longer than the head, straight, stout and acute ; head with an occipital crest ; wings long and pointed, almost double the length of the even, twelve-feathered tail ; legs short and weak, tarsus very short ; toes arranged with three in front and one behind and syndactylous — that is, with the third and fourth bound up in a comrnon sheath for about half their length. This is a large and almost cosmopolitan genus of Ivingfishers, but with only one species widely distributed in the United States. Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon. A.O.U. Checklist no 390 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 151, 179 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Henshaw 75, p. 366 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 67 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Cooke 97, pp. 82, 207 ; Henderson 03, p. 235; 09, p. 231; Dille 03, p. 74; Markman 07, p. 156; Gihnan 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 14 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164. Description. — Male^Above and a pectoral band across the chest slaty-blue with black shaft-Lines ; head crested, a white collar round the nape ; primaries dusky, with white at the base of the inner webs ; a few white spots on the wing-coverts ; tail spotted with white, and black on the inner web ; below, including a spot in front of and below the eye white, except for the pectoral band ; iris dark brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 11-5 ; wing 6'25 ; tail 34 ; culnaen 2-15 ; tarsus -45. The female has the sides and flanks and a band across the middle chestnut. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Labrador to the southern border of the United States ; a resident from New England, Colorado and Washington, southwards ; in wdnter, south as far as the West Indies and Panama. The Kingfisher is fairly abundant throughout Colorado wherever suitable conditions prevail. It ranges from the plains to about 9,500 feet in summer, while a few birds undoubtedly winter at lower eleva- tions, and where there is open water during this season. The following are recorded localities : Big Thompson in Estes Park, common (Kellogg) ; Boulder co., wintering in the valley, breeding in the hills (Gale & Henderson) ; Breckenridge, breeding (Carter), El Paso co., rather rare (Aiken), Salida, arriving April IGth (Frey), Fort Garland, August (Henshaw), Sulphur Springs and Routt co. (Warren), Grand Junction, 222 Birds of Colorado a few in winter, common in summer, and Plateau Valley in summer only (Rockwell), Sweetwater Lake in winter (Cooke), La Plata co., rather rare (Morrison). Habits. — Kingfishers are seldom found away form rivers and lakes, where fishes form the bulk of their fare ; though at times they may be met with far from water, where they take to lizards, snakes and large insects. They are rather unsocial and quarrelsome birds, and two are to be seen together only in the breeding season. Each individual or pair seem to have their own range or beat along a stream, where they allow no intruder. They sit perched on a branch overhanging the water, or on a stone, often for hours, watching for a fish. When one appears they rise in the air before diving down after it. The fish is carried back to the perch and swallowed head first. Occasionally they hover over the water and dive from this position. The note is rather shrill and they have, a characteristic rattle. The nest is a tunnel in a sand-bank or soft cliff, from four to fifteen feet in length ; it ends in a dome-shaped cavity ; here the eggs are deposited without any true nest, though as the same site is used year after year, there is often a large accumulation of fish bones and scales. The eggs, about six in number, are white, subspheroidal and glossy, and average 1-34 x 1'04. Dille gives June 5th as a date for fresh eggs. ORDER PICI. This order contains the Woodpeckers, a homogeneous group, easily distinguished by both internal and external characters ; bill stout and strong and used like a hammer or chisel ; wing of ten primaries, the outer one short but obvious ; tail of twelve rectrices, but the Woodpeckers 223 outer pair rudimentary and concealed, so that there appear to be only ten ; these are very stiff and strong with rigid shafts and pointed tips. Tarsi scutellate in front, reticulate behind ; toes four or sometimes three, the hallux being occasionally lost, the fourth toe reversed and pointing backwards alongside the first or hallux. Tongue very long, worm -like and extensile, and actuated by a special arrangement of the hyoid muscles and bones. Family PICIDiE. All the North American Woodpeckers are included in this family. Key of the Genera. A. Outer hind toe longer than the outer front toe. a. Four toes. a^ Pluraage black and white, red on the crown only, no yellow. Dryobates, p. 223. b^ Pluraage black, white, yellow and red. Sphyrapicus, p. 228. b. Three toes only ; crown with yellow, not red. Picoides, p. 227- B. Outer hind toe about equal to the outer front toe. a. Back red, black and white in masses. Melanerpes, p. 233. b. Back glossy green with a grey nuchal collar. Asyndesmus, p. 235. c. Back cross-barred with black and white. Centurus, p. 237. C. Outer hind toe distinctly shorter than outer front toe. a. Head red-crested, size large, wing over 8. PhlcEotomus, p. 232. b. Head not crested ; belly with round, black spots. Colaptes, p. 238. Genus DRYOBATES. Bill stout and straight, about equal to the head ; a sharply defined ridge on the culraen and on a groove on either side of the upper n^andible ; wing long and pointed, the outer primary quite short ; four toes, the outer posterior (fourth) longer than the outer anterior (third) ; plumage black and white, the wings black with white spots ; red on the heaxi in the male only. A considerable genus with six species in the United States. 224 Birds of Colorado Key of the Species, A. Back black, with a longitudinal central white patch. a. Outer tail-feathers plain white. a^ Larger ; wing about 5 ; wing-coverts unspotted. D. V. monticola, p. 224. b^ Smaller, wing about 4-8 ; wing-coverts profusely white- spotted. D. villosus, p. 225. b. Outer tail-feathers barred with black ; smaller wing, about 4-0. D. p. homorus, p. 226. B. Back black, cross-barred black and white. D. s. bairdi, p. 227. Rocky Mountain Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus monticola. A.O.U. Checklist no 393e— Colorado B^cords— Allen 72, p. 151, 163 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 (Piciis villosus harrisi) ; Henshaw 75, p. 386 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 Morrison 86, p. 36 ; 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 67 ; Beckham 87, p. 121 Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendire 92, p. 53 (£». v. hylosc&piis) ; Lowe 94, p. 268 Anthony 96, p. 32 ; Cooke 97, pp. 82, 207 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09 p. 231 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164 ; Warren 09, p. 14 Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 118. Description. — Male — Above black ; a red nape band and a white stripe down the middle of the back ; wing-quills spotted with white on the outer web, but the tertiaries and coverts plain black ; outer tail-feathers plain white ; below, patch on the lores, a stripe behind the eye and below the eye to the nape white, not smoky ; iris brown, bill dusky horn, legs dusky greyish. Length 9-25 ; wing 5-2 ; tail 3-6 ; culmen 1'2 ; tarsus -95 The female is slightly smaller — wing S-O, and has no red nuchal band. A young bird has the crown mostly red. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region from Montana to northern New Mexico, east to north-oast Nebraska, west to the Uintah Mountains of Utah. In Colorado the Rocky-Mountain form of the Hairy Woodpecker is a common resident from the plains to timber line. In the winter it is chiefly met with at lower elevations in the plains and foothills, while in summer it resorts to the pino forests between 8,000 and 10,000 feet, but it is by no means strictly confined within these limits. The following are notices of its occurrence : Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co., breeding in the mountains, wintering in tho valley (Gale and Henderson), Mount Lincoln, near timber line (Allen), Barr Lake district (Hersey and Rockwell) ; El Paso co., commoner in winter Hairy Woodpecker 225 (Aiken) ; Twin Lakes, breeding (Scott) Wet Mountains to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Breckenridge, breeding (Carter), Mesa co., common (Rock- well) ; San Juan co., breeding up to timber line (Drew). Habits. — In the winter Hairy Woodpeckers can often be met with among the cotton- woods and undergrowth along the streams of the foothills, but in summer they are mostly in the pine woods and aspens higher up. They are active and industrious, hammering among the tree trunks, searching for wood-borers and other insects, while in the winter they devour a few berries as well. Aiken took a nest near Fountain in El Paso CO., on May 26th ; it contained four eggs. Gale also found a great many nests about Gold Hill in Boulder co. They were nearly all located in aspen trees, from three to twenty feet up. The nest-hole is excavated by the bird itself in most cases, though not infrequently a Sap-sucker's is appro- priated. Tough-wooded trees are seldom chosen, and the same site is often occupied for successive years. The eggs, usually four or five in number, are white and measure '98 x "73. Gale found fresh eggs from May oth to June. Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus. A.O.U. Checklist no 393 — Colorado Records — Anthony 96, p. 32 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 185. Description. — Closely resembling D, v. monticola, but smaller ; wing about 4-8 ; tail 3-25 ; and the wing-coverts and inner secondaries profusely white-spotted. Distribution. — Middle portion of the eastern United States from the Atlantic to eastern Colorado. Anthony mentions a Colorado example of the typical eastern race of the Hairy Woodpecker, and Smith took a pair, June Oth, 1906, on Boye's Ranch, Dry Willow Creek, Yuma co. An example in the Aiken collection from Dellvale, Norton co., Kansas, is typical of the eastern form. Q 226 Birds of Colorado Batchelder's Woodpecker. Dryohates pubescens homorus. A.O.U. Checklist no 394b— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 206 {Picua gairdneri) ; Henshaw 75, p. 388 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Monison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 67 : Batcholder 89, p. 253 {D. p. oreoeciis) ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 83, 207 : Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 231 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164 ; Warren 09, p. 14. Description. — Very similar in general coloration to D. villosua monticola, but considerably smaller and with the lateral tail-feathers transversely spotted with black ; inner secondaries and wing-coverts unspotted ; white of under-surface not smoky, and under tail-coverts unmarked ; iris brown, bill and legs dusky slate. Length 6-6 ; wing 4-0 ; tail 2-5 ; cuLnen -65 ; tarsus -65. The female has no red on the head, and is slightly smaller — wing 3-80. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region from southern British Columbia and north-east Nebraska south through Colorado to Arizona and New Mexico, perhaps to southern California. In Colorado a less common resident than the Rocky Mountain Hairy, but still by no means rare, breeding in summer from the foothills up to timber line, and wintering more commonly on the plains along the base of the mountains and occasionally as high as 10,000 feet. I have not heard of its occurring out on the plains except that it was seen by Warren in March at Orchard, some forty miles from the foothills. The following are notices : Estes Park (KeUogg) ; Boulder co. resident in vaUey and mountains (Gale) ; near Colorado Springs, January, May and October (Aiken coll.), near Fort Garland 8,000 to 10,000 feet (Henshaw), Breckenridge, breeding (Carter), Mesa co. breeding commonly above 7,000 feet, wintering up to 9,000 feet (Rockwell), La Plata co., common resident (Morrison). Habits. — ^A restless and energetic little Woodpecker, constantly tapping the tree trunks in search of insects. It has hardly any distinctive traits of character from the Hairy. It is a late breeder ; Gale found fresh eggs from June 5th to 25th. These are deposited in a hole excavated in an aspen or pine, or sometimes in an old dead stub, and are three or four in number. They are white in colour, and measure '74 x '60. Texan Woodpecker 227 Texan Woodpecker. Dryobates scalaris hairdi. A.O.U. Checklist no 396— Colorado Records— Cooke 97, pp. 83, 162 ; Warren 00, p. 21. Description. — Male — Above regularly barred with black and white ; crown black, specked with white and overlaid by crimson ; tail-covert and four central tail-feathers black, outer ones barred black and white, below, including a stripe through the eye and the frontal bristles smoky grey, whiter posteriorly ; the flanks and abdomen spotted with black. Length 6-0 ; wing 4-1 ; tail 2-5 ; cuknen '85 ; tarsus •!. The female has no crimson on the head, which is plain black. Distribution. — From western Texas, southern Colorado and south-east California south to northern Mexico. The Texan Woodpecker was first noticed in Colorado by Lowe, who informed Cooke that it was a not uncommon resident in Pueblo and Huerfano cos., and that he beheved that they nested in the St. Charles canon near Beulah. Warren obtained a pair near Springfield in Baca CO., and recently Aiken has received examples from Mr. Wright, taken in the Fountain Valley some twenty miles north of Pueblo. It is no doubt a resident throughout the south-eastern part of the State at low or moderate elevations. Genus PICOIDES. With three toes only, the inner posterior or hallux being absent ; plumage black and white, rather similar to that of Dryobates, but the head-patch of the male yellow, not red. A circiunpolar genus confined to the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds ; two species and one additional siibspecies in the United States. Alpine Three-toed Woodpecker. Piciodes americanus dorsalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 401b — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 163, 180; Henshaw 75, p. 391 ; Scott 79, p. 95; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Stone 84, p. 9 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 67 ; Kellogg 90, p. 87 ; Bendu-e 92, p. 80 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 83, 207 ; Bangs 00, p. 135 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 231. Description. — Male — Above black, a white stripe down the middle of the back not interrupted by conspicuous barring ; primaries and secondaries with white spots, but none on the coverts ; central tail- feathers black ; lateral ones black and white ; crown-patch golden- yellow ; rest of the head black, with a few white spots and conspicuous postocular and malar white stripes ; below white, a few black spots q2 228 Birds of Colorado on the sides and flanks ; iris dark cherry -red, bill dusky plmnbeous, legs plmnbeous. Length 8-25; wing 5-0; tail 3'25 ; cuhnen 1-15 ; tarsus -OO. The female has no yellow, the crown is shining black, sUghtly speckled witli white. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region from Montana, where it intergrados with P. americanus, south to the Santa Fe mountains of New Mexico. The Three-toed Woodpecker is a not uncommon resident in the mountainous portions of Colorado. It very seldom comes down below 7,000 feet, and is chiefly a bird of the yellow-pine and spruce zones, from about 8,000 to 11,500 feet both in winter and summer. It has been noticed throughout the mountains from Estes Park (Kellogg) to the Wet Mountains (Lowe) and La Plata co. (Morrison). Warren obtained a specimen on the Divide between the Sapinero and Currecanti creeks in Gunnison co. at 9,350 feet in October, which I have examined; he also took a nest containing two almost fledged young on July 27th, 1911, at Buffalo Pass, altitude 10,300 feet ; and there is a pair taken by W. Ferril in the State collection at Denver, the male at Palmer Lake, 7,200 feet, the female at Cumbres in C!onejos co., at 10,000 feet. Habits. — ^Mrs. Stone found a nest with five young birds near Hancock, at about 10,000 feet, on July 10th, but gives no details. Breninger informed Bendire that he found a nest early in May at the low level of 6,500 feet, west of Fort Collins. The site was located in a burnt spruce-stump and contained five eggs. It is most unusual to find either spruces or three-toed Woodpeckers at so low an elevation, and I cannot help thinking that there must be some mistake about this observation. No one else has written on the nidification of this species in Colorado, and it is remarkable that Gale does not mention the bird at all in his notebooks. Genus SPHYRAPICUS. Bill loss stout than in Dryobates, hardly as long as the head, the lateral ridges extending only about half way along its length ; outer primary vory small ; tail feathers produced and attenuated ; toes four, the outer posterior (fourth) longer than the outer anterior (third) ; plumago with a good deal of yellow and rod. Red-naped Sapsucker 229 In this geaiis the tongue is hardly extensile, and the tip is obtuse and brushy ; this is correlated with the habit of feeding on the inner bark and sap of trees, A genus confined to America, with three species in the United States. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker {Sphyrapicus variiis) of eastern North America wa^? included in the Colorado hst by Ridgvvay (73, p. 185) and Cooke (97, p. 83), on the authority of Aiken presumably. Mr. Aiken informs me he never took this bird in Coloi-ado and that he does not believe that it comes so far east, and that the record rests on a misapprehension ; it is, however, included in the key, as follows : — A. Back black, spotted with white and pale yellowish. a. Nape yellowish ; throat red, bounded laterally by black. S. varius. b. Nape crimson like the crown, separated from it by a narrow black band as a rule ; red throat hardly showing black at sides. S. V. nuchalis, p. 229. B. Back glossy-black, unmarked. S. thyroideus, 5 ; wing 5-75 ; tail 3-2 ; culmen l-l ; tarsus -9. The female is like the male, but slightly smaller — wing 5-4 234 Birds of Colorado A young bird — a female killed in September — is quite different, the red parts are mottled grey and dusky, the back black, edged with greyish, the white secondaries variegated with black and the under- parts grey, streaked with dusky. Distribution. — Eastern North America from Ontario to the Gulf States, west to the Rocky Mountains from Colorado to British Columbia, migratory in the northern, a resident in the southern parts of its range, casual to Utah and Arizona. The Red-head is a common summer bird in eastern Colorado, more abundant in the plains than in the mountains, though said to nest by Drew as high as 10,000 feet. The only breeding record in the moun- tains I have met with is that of Gale, which probably does not exceed 8,000 feet ; and it is stated to be rare at Estes Park (Kellogg) and in South Park (Allen). It arrives late from the south — Springfield, May 15th (Warren), Pueblo, May I5th (Beckham) and El Paso co., May 12th (Aiken coll.), and Henderson reports it as late as October 23rd at Boulder. Apart from Breckenridge, which is practically on the con- tinental Divide, the only record for the western slope is that of Warren (08), who saw a male near Steamboat Springs on June 10th. Breeding records are : Boulder co. (Gale), Crow Creek, Weld co. (McGregor). Habits. — ^This is a handsome and attractive bird, but is rather disreputable in its habits. There can be no question that it sucks the eggs and kills the young birds of other species. Mr. W. G. Smith writes to Bendire : " I consider it a veritable butcher among our Nuthatches and Chickadees, driving every one away from its nesting- site ; and woe to the bird that this villain can reach. It destroys both eggs and young, dragging the latter out of their nests and frequently leaving the dead at the entrance of their holes." The Red-head is chiefly met with along the borders of woods and in the cotton- wood groves along the streams. It catches insects on the wing, darting at them from a fence or telegraph post, where they often perch. They do not work for the wood-borers as other Woodpeckers, but obtain larvae and other insects from tree bark, and in the autumn feed largely on acorns, nuts and berries, sometimes laying up a store like the Californian Lewis' Woodpecker 235 Woodpecker. The flight is undulating and charac- teristic and the cry a loud " Tchur, tchur." The nest-site is sometimes a natural hole, sometimes excavated by the birds in a semi-rotten tree, either a pine, willow or cotton-wood ; the entrance is narrow, only about an inch and three-quarters in diameter, and the eggs are laid upon the wood chips. These are five to seven in number, short, ovate and glossy -white, and average '99 x '76. Gale considered it one of the latest breeders, and found fresh eggs from June 10th to July 1st ; and there is a set of seven eggs, taken June 16th near Greeley by I. C. Hall, and presented to the Colorado College Museum. McGregor obtained a curious clutch of ten eggs, varying from normal size to the size of a song-sparrow's, in Weld CO., on Crow Creek. The smallest egg was quite fresh but the normal ones heavily incubated. Genus ASYNDESMUS. Resembling Melanerpes in general structure, but the wing somewhat longer, and folding almost to the tip of the tail, and the feathers of the under-parts of peculiar structure ; the barbs stiff, bristle-like and loose ; plumage glossy metallic -green above with a grey nuchal collar. Only one species ; confined to western North America. Lewis' Woodpecker. Asyndesmus lewisi. A.O.U. CheckUst no 408— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 151, 180 (Melanerpes torquatus) ; Aiken 72, p. 207 ; Trippe 74, p. 292 ; Henshaw 75, p. 397 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 108 ; 89, p. 145 ; Bendire 92, p. 117 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp, 84, 162, 208 ; Brewster 98, p. 188 ; Keyser 02, pp. 160-2 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 231 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Rockwell 08, p. 164. Description. — Male — Above, including the wings and tail iridescent bronzy-greenish-black, a narrow nuchal collar of grey continuous with the breast, which is the same colour ; sides of the face, frontal region and chin crimson, followed by a patch of black on the throat ; lower- 236 Birds of Colorado breast and belly pink, slightly pencilled with grey ; under tail-coverts bronzy like the back ; iris brown, bill blackish, legs dusky slate. Length 9-5 ; wing 6-6 ; tail 3-9 ; culmen 1-05 ; tarsus 1-0. The female is like the male, perhaps a little smaller. The young bird is at first without lustre or crimson, the coUar is absent, and the lower-parts are dull brown ; the iridescence and crimson are gradually acquired. Distribution. — Western North America from southern British Coliunbia and Alberta to western Texas and southern California : east to the Black HiUs of South Dakota. Lewis' Woodpecker is a common siuiamer bird in Colorado, breeding chiefly along the eastern foothills and somewhat less commonly in the mountains up to about 9,000 feet. Above this level it occurs up to 10,000 feet in the Wet Moimtains (Lowe) and near Fort Garland (Brvmner), and even to 12,000 feet in La Plata co. (Morrison), but has not been found nesting. Cooke classes it as a resident, but it is certainly not a common bird in winter ; Aiken tells me he has never met with it in this season. It does occasionally remain, however, as there is an example in the Colorado College Museum, kiUed January 13th, 1907, near SedaUa, by G. Flower. Breeding records are : Loveland (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Boulder co. (Gale), near Colorado Springs and Buena Vista (Keyser), Wet Mountains to 8,000 feet (Lowe), Rouse Junction (Christie apud Cooke), Mesa co. up to 6,500 feet (Rockwell), La Plata co. to 9,000 feet (Morrison). Most of the birds arrive from the south about the middle of May ; El Paso CO., May 6th (Aiken), Pueblo, May 13th (Beckham). Habits. — At first sight this bird is more like a Grackle than a Woodpecker, owing to its iridescent colouring ; and its ways rather confirm this. It is somewhat silent and very shy. It frequently perches on boughs like other birds, and it seldom "drums" or searches trunks of trees for insects. It catches its prey, which consists chiefly of grass- hoppers and other large insects, on the wing, and often sits on a bare bough high up to get a good view around. Besides insects, it feeds on berries and seeds ; it has been accused of causing considerable damage in cherry orchards. In the late fall it was observed by S. French, storing up acorns for future use in holes in cotton- wood and other trees ; some of these were small Red-bellied Woodpecker 237 and only held five or six acorns, each tightly wedged in, while others, three inches across and extending down- v.ards for six or eight inches, held many more. It was evident that the birds brought the acorns to the holes and shelled them there, as the ground beneath was littered with empty shells. These observations were made at Happy Canon, about twenty miles south- east of Denver, in November, and were published by Brewster (98). The eggs of this Woodpecker are deposited m natural cavities or old Flicker-holes, generally in old pines or spruces, or in cotton- woods on the plains. Gale states that they seldom if ever excavate a new hole for them- selves. The eggs, usually seven, are very ovate, white and not very glossy, and measure 103 x "80, Both sexes share in incubation, and fresh eggs may be met with between May 15th and June 15th. Genus CENTURUS. Closely resembling Melanerpes in structure, but with a different style of coloration ; the back and wings closely cross-barred with black and white. Three species in the United States. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Centurus carolinus. A.O.U. Checklist no 409 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 185; Morrison 89, p. 145 ; Cooke 97, pp. 84, 208. Description. — Male — Crown and nape bright scarlet ; upper-parts cross-barred with black and white ; primaries and tail-feathers black with white markings, chiefly sjDots and edgings ; below and sides of the face grey, with a faint wash of yellow, reddening on the abdomen ; iris red, bill black, legs dusky slate. Length 8-4 ; wing 5-1 ; tail 3-25 ; culmen l-l ; tarsus '85. The female has the crown grey, the frontal plumes dull red and the nape scarlet. Young birds are very like the adults, but the red on the head is rather indistinct and the belly buffy. Distribution. — Eastern North America from Ontario and Massa- chusetts to Florida and Texas, west to Kansas and Nebraska. 238 Birds of Colorado The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a straggler to eastern Colorado only. It was seen by Z. X. Snyder near Greeley in 1895, and Aiken procured a single male close to Lim,on on May 23rd, 1899. This specimen is now in the Colorado College Museum. Genus COLAPTES. Bill rather weak for the family ; culmen slightly curved and strongly ridged, but the lateral ridges absent and the nostrils exposed ; toes four, the outer posterior distinctly shorter than the outer anterior, the inner posterior (hallux) very short ; pltomage variegated, but the under-parts always with round black spots on a pale ground. An, American genus with three species in the United States as well as several geographical subspecies and hybrids. Key of the Species. A. Lining of the wings and tail yellow. C. a. luteus, p. 238. B. Lining of the wings and tail red. C. c. coUaris, p. 239. Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus luteus. A.O.U. Checklist no 412a— Colorado Records— Thorne 87, p. 264 ; Morrison 89, p. 145 ; Allen 92, pp. 21-44 ; Osbxirn 93, p. 212 ; Cooke 97, pp. 85, 162, 208 ; Burns 00, pp. 1-82 ; Felger 05, p. 421 ; Markman 07, p. 156. Description. — Male — Crown, back and sides of the neck ashy-grey, with a transverse scarlet nuchal band ; back and exposed parts of wings olive, transversely banded with black ; rump white, upper tail- coverts black and white ; primaries and taU-quills black with yeUow shafts (except the two median tail-feathers) and yellow linings below ; sides of the face, throat and fore-neck vinaceous, with a black moustache patch and a black crescent on the breast ; posteriorly pale vinaceous to dirty white, spotted with black ; iris brown, bill and feet dark-slaty. Length 12-0 ; wing 6-0 ; tail 4-25 ; culmen 1-4 ; tarsus l-l. The female resembles the male, but has no black moustache patch. Distribution. — Eastern and northern North America from Alaska, Yukon and Labrador south, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains, to Kansas and North Carolina. In Colorado pure-bred examples of the Yellow Flicker are seldom mot with, though the intermediates or hybrids are common enough. Osburn obtained a typical Yellow Fhcker at Lovoland, September 24th, 1889, and Thorne another at Fort Lyon in December, 1883. An example was recently collected by Felger at Hall Valley in Park co. at an elevation of 10,000 feet, October 24th, 1904, showing that it some- times extends into the mountains. Markman found a nest on the Big Red- shafted Flicker 239 Thompson, which he believed, from an examination of the young birds, belonged to the Yellow Flicker. If this be correct it is the first breeding record for the State. Red-shafted Flicker. Colaptes cafer collar is. A.O.U. CheckUst no 413— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 151, 158, 163, 180 (Colaptes mexicanus) ; Aiken 72, p. 207 ; Trippe 74, p. 295 ; Henshaw 75, p. 401 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Drew 81, p. 141 ; 85, p. 17 ; Tresz 81, p. 187 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Beckham 85, p. 143, 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 88, p. 115 ; 89, p. 145 ; KeUogg 90, p. 88 ; Goss 91, p. 341 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 85, 162, 208 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 231 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Richards 08, p. 38 ; RockweU 08, p. 164. Description. — Male — ResembUng C. a. luteua in most respects — in its banded back, white rimap and black wings and tail ; differing as follows : fore-part of crown vinaceous shading into grey on the nape, sides of the face and breast ; no red nape band ; moustache spot scarlet, not black ; shafts and linings of the wing and tail-quills orange-red to vermilion ; ground-colour of the upper and lower sides rather more pinkish in shade ; iris dark brown, bill dusky slate, feet dusky horn. Length 12-5; wing 6-5; tail 4*75 ; culmen 1-65; tarsus 1'15. The female is like the male, but has no red moustache patch ; wing 6-25. A young male, kiUed July 23rd, has the whole head and nape cinnamon or vinaceous and the red moustache already distinct, and is otherwise much like the adult (see Plate 7). Distribution. — From south-eastern British Columbia to western Texas and perhaps northern Mexico, west to the Pacific in California, to the Cascades from Oregon northwards. The Red-shafted Flicker is a very common resident throughout the whole of Colorado, breeding from the plains to about 10,000 feet, and often wandering higher up to 12,000 feet — Boreas Pass at 12,000 feet and at 11,700 near Crested Butte (Warren). It winters in considerable numbers in the foothills along the creeks, though a certain number undoubtedly move further south. Warren met with it even as high as Mosca at 7,560 feet on January 17th, and it is quite a common winter bird about Colorado Springs. The following are some notices : Boulder co., resident, breeding 5,500 to 9,000 (Gale) ; Idaho Springs, April to October only (Trippe) ; Twin Lakes, breeding (Scott) ; Pikes Peak to timber line in summer (Aiken) ; Ramah, nesting (Aiken) ; Wet Mountains, nesting to 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Mesa co., common, resident, breeding at all altitudes, wintering along streams at lower levels (Rockwell) ; Montrose co., resident, more common in summer (Warren 09) ; San Juan co., summer only (Drew). 240 Birds of Colorado Habits. — ^The Flicker is one of the most familiar birds in Colorado. It is commonly seen in the suburban portions of the towns, often, unlike other Woodpeckers, perched crossways, and flying from tree to tree with its characteristic undulating line, which displays its white rump and a flash of red from under the wings. They are equally at home in open country far from trees, in the cotton- woods along the streams, or in the pine timber of the mountains. The cry is a clear ringing " Piute," and a harsh and rather shrill chuckle is very characteristic. The bill of the Flicker is not so strong as that of other Woodpeckers, and they do not " drum "on the tree-trunks nearly so often. They get their food on the ground to a great extent, often digging in pastures for worms and grubs and feeding largely on ants. They occasion- ally catch insects on the wing, and are fond of berries and small fruits as well as insects. The Flicker is no great excavator ; it uses by preference natural cavities or else chooses decayed trees for its nest-site ; it will make use of almost any tree available, and sometimes selects telegraph posts or buildings, or even a hayrick ; where there are no trees it occasionally makes a burrow in a bank. Gale sometimes witnessed a battle royal between the Flicker and the Screech Owl, for the possession of a desirable site ; and old Flicker - holes are used by many other birds. The eggs, usually seven in number, are laid at the bottom of the cavity, on the wood chips ; occasionally many more eggs have been found, but in these cases they have probably been deposited by more than one female. The eggs are pure white and average 1*12 x '85. Gale found fresh eggs from May 5th to June 5th at 5,500 feet, and after June 5th at 9,000 feet. On one occasion he found two nests Plate 7] [B. B. Rockwell, Phot. YOUNG RED-SHAFTED FLICKERS ON A COTTON-WOOD AT LITTLETON, NEAR DENVER, June 6th, 1908. [240 Red-shafted Flicker 241 with eight and nine fresh eggs on April 30th. Dille gives May 29th near Denver, while Scott at Twin Lakes notes June 1st as average dates. Intermediate forms. — Where the range of the Yellow- shafted Flicker meets that of the Red-shafted form — from western Texas north along the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains to Montana and Alberta, and especially in Wyoming and Montana — most of the Flickers are intermediate in character between these two quite distinct species. Every gradation between the two has been observed. Baird (58, p. 122) first drew attention to this remarkable state of affairs, which he characterised as " unparalleled in the annals of ornithology." He believed that it was due to interbreeding of the two original forms, continued into successive generations. Although this view has not been wholly accepted by Coues (74, p. 292) and Allen (92), both of whom have discussed the matter at considerable length, it appears to be the only conclusion possible to account for the facts. A series of experiments in interbreeding these two birds in captivity on Mendelian lines, would probably throw light on the matter. In the eastern plains and foothills of Colorado the intermediate forms are not at all uncommon, and there are a considerable number from the neighbourhood of Colorado Springs showing every step between the two pure-bred forms in the Aiken collection. Nearly all these were taken in April on the spring migration, and as a rule they go further north to breed. ORDER IMACROCHIRES. This order contains the Goatsuckers, Swifts and Hummers, three groups of birds of very different external appearance, but undoubtedly allied to one another in B 242 Birds of Colorado structure. The following are the external characters, which, however, are sufficiently vague : Bill either very short and depressed with a very wide and deeply cleft gape, or very long and slender, far exceeding the head, but never with a cere ; wings very long with ten primaries and tail with ten rectrices ; feet always smaU and weak. Key of the Families. A. Bill short, broad and depressed, but gape very large. a. Plumage lax and soft ; claw of middle toe pectinated. Caprimulgidae, p. 242. b. Plumage firm and hard ; claw of middle toe not pectinated. Cypselidae, p. 248. B. Bill very long and slender, gape not deeply cleft ; plumage more or less metallic. Trochilidae, p. 251. Family CAPRIMULGIDAE. Head broad and flat, bill very small, depressed, tri- angular in shape from above, but the gape extending back to below the eye, and with usually a great development of the rictal bristles ; wing moderate, the secondaries never so short and reduced as in the Swifts and Hummers ; legs short and weak, the claw of the middle toe pectinated along its inner margin. This family contains the birds known as Goatsuckers or Nightjars in the Old World, Whip-poor-wills in the New ; they are further distinguished by their soft, lax plumage, mottled with black, tawny and white, and by their nocturnal or crepuscular habits. Key of the Genera. A. Rictal bristles very long and conspicuous. a. Tarsus bare ; nostrils tubular. Phalsenoptilus, p. 243. b. Tarsus feathered ; nostrils not tubular. Antrostomus, p. 243. B. Rictal bristles very small and hardly noticeable ; tarsus half feathered. Chordeiles, p. 245. Whip-poor-will 243 Genus ANTROSTOMUS. Nostril oval, surrounded by a raised rim which, however, is not pro- duced into a distinct tube ; rictal bristles very long and conspicuous ; tail slightly rounded, shorter than the wing ; tarsus not so long as the middle toe, and feathered in front nearly to the base of the toes ; plumage soft and mottled, tawny and black. Two species in the United States. Whip-poor-will. Antrostomus vociferus. A.O.U. Checklist no 417— Colorado Record— Burnett 04, p. 278. Description. — Male — Above finely mottled and marbled with dusky, tawny and grey, a few black marks on the crown and back ; primaries dusky with tawny spots almost forming bars ; throe outer tail-feathers dusky with the terminal third white ; below mottled like the back, becoming paler and more mixed with white posteriorly ; a white throat bar ; iris and bill black, legs dusky. Length 10-2 ; wings 6-4 ; tail 5-lo ; cuhnen -44 ; tarsus -6. The female is smaller — wing 6-2 ; the throat bar is tawny, and the white of the tail is much reduced and ochraceous ; the general tone is lighter and more ochrey. Distribution. — Eastern North America from Manitoba and New Brunswick south through eastern Nebraska and Kansas to Texas ; in winter, south to the West Indies and Guatemala. A straggler to Colorado : only once recorded. A single example, greatly emaciated but in good plumage, was found dead in an orchard near Fort Colhns by Mrs. R. J. Tenny, about September 14th, 1903. It was determined at Washington to be this species, and is now pre- served in the Museum of the Agricultural College at Fort Colhns. Genus PHAL/ENOPTILUS. Nostrils tubular and cyUndrical, opening rather forwards ; rictal bristles well developed ; tail rather short and slightly rounded ; tarsus bare except just at the joint, longer than the middle toe without claw. One species only in the United States, with two additional subspecific geographical races. A. Darker and more richly coloured. P. nuttaJIi, p. 243. B. Paler and more silvery. P. n. nitidus, p. 245. Poor-will. Phaloenoptilus nuttalli. A.O.U. Checklist no 418— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 151, 179 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Henshaw 75, p. 369 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 145 ; Kellogg R 2 244 Birds of Colorado 90, p. 88 ; Bendire 92, p. 153 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; Cooke 97, pp. 85, 208 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232; Giltnan 07, p. 154 ; Warren 08, p. 21; 09, p. 15 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 118. Description. — Male — -Above silverj'--grey, finely mottled and marked with velvety-black bars and angular spots ; primaries and outer secondaries tawny, barred with dusky, mottled like the back at the tips ; tail with four central feathers like the back, outer one chiefly dusky with white terminal patches, about -75 inch long ; below a white throat-patch, breast almost black with a few whitish spots, abdomen pale buffy irregularly barred with brown ; under tail-coverts plain bufiy ; iris dark brown, bill and legs dusky, the latter purplish. Length 7-0 ; wing 5-5 ; tail 3-0 ; culmen -32 ; tarsus -65. The female is very like the male, but the white terminal bands of the tail are narrower, about -5 inch, and tinged with tawny. Distribution. — The dryer parts of western North America, breeding from south-east British Columbia and North Dakota south to the Mexican border, east to Kansas and Oklahoma, west to the Cascades and Sierra Nevada ; in winter through eastern Mexico to Guatemala. Tho Poor-will is a fairly common summer bird in Colorado. It reaches El Paso co. early in May, Austins Bluffs, May 3rd (Allen &, Brewster), and has been found nesting both in the plains and in the parks to about 8,000 feet, while Lowe both saw and heard it as high as 10,000 feet in the Wet Mountains. The following are notices : Estes Park, nesting (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Boulder co., nesting in the hills (Gale), Barr Lake district, rare (Hersey & Rockwell), Denver, May 15th, and Fort Garland, August (Henshaw), Middle Park, breeding (Carter), Craig, June (Warren, 08), Mesa co., 6,500 to 8,000 feet m Plateau Valley (Rockwell), Montrose CO., breeding (Warren 09). Habits. — Unlike the other members of the Goatsucker family, the Poor-will is not confined to wooded districts ; it is quite as much at home on the open prairie and on the desolate sage-brush plains. It is thoroughly crepus- cular, coming out at dusk and noiselessly pursuing night-flying moths and beetles ; it also gathers a good deal of its prey on the ground. Like the Owls it ejects the hard and indigestible parts of its food in the form of pellets. During the day it remains quiet on the ground, sheltered from view by a bush or a bunch of grass. It has a melancholy wailing song, " Poor-will," heard at Frosted Poor-will 245 dusk or sometimes before dawn, and it is more often recognized by its voice than by its appearance. It often alights on the bare ground, and when it does so it is most difficult to detect it. The eggs, two in number, are laid on the bare ground, sometimes in the open, sometimes sheltered by a tuft of grass or a bush. They are oval or blunt oval, creamy - white, with a faint pink suffusion which does not disappear. They measure '99 x "75. Frosted Poor-will. Phalcenoptilus nuttalli nitidus. A.O.U. Checklist no 418a — Colorado Records — Bendire 92, p. 157 ; Cooke 97, pp. 85, 162, 22-i, Description.— Very similar to P. nuttalli, but paler and more silvery, and the dark marks of the crown and back fewer and more sharply defined ; below the transverse bars of the abdomer finer, paler and less conspicuous. Dimensions abovit the same, perhaps averaging a littlo smaller. Distribution. — From Texas to Arizona, north to southern Colorado and south-west Kansas, sovith to northern Mexico. Of three Poor-wills taken by Captam Thome at Fort Lyon, Mr. Brewster considered that one should be referred to this subspecies. Bendire and Goss believe that this subspecies is only a coloiu* -phase of the typical Poor-will, as the ranges of the two are practically identical and they do not differ appreciably in habits, action or size. Genus CHORDEILES. Horny part of the bill extremely small ; nostril cylindrical and rinuned but not tubular ; gape with very short rictal bristles ; wing long and pointed, the outer (10th) primary almost equal to the ninth ; tail slightly forked, very short, about haK the length of the wing ; tarsus about as long as the middle too without claw, feathered about half way down. Two distinct species and several subspecific races of Night-Hawks are found in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Larger ; wing 7 to 8 ; white patches on the five outer primaries, nearer the base than tip. C. v. henryi, p. 246. B. Smaller ; wing 6 to 7 ; white patches on four outer primaries only, nearer the tip than the base, C. a. texensis, p. 247- 216 Birds of Colorado Western Night- Hawk. Chordeiles virginianus henry i. A.O.U. Checklist no 420a— Colorado Records — Baird 54, p. 13 ; Allen 72, pp. 151, 158, 179 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Henshaw 75, p. 367 ; Scott 79, p, 95 ; Tresz 81, p. 184 ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 145 ; Kellogg 90, p. 88 ; Bendire 92, p. 167 ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 85, 208 ; Keyser 02, p. 262 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Gilman 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165. Description. — Male — Above mottled with black and tawny and a little white, the last chiefly on the wing-coverts ; jarimaries, greater-coverts and secondaries dusky black ; the five outer primaries with a con- spicuous white spot about the middle of their length ; tail with black bars and a white subterminal band on all except the central pair of feathers ; below, a white triangular throat-patch ; breast and sides of the throat and face mottled dusky and tawny ; posteriorly barred with dusky and ta%vny-white ; bands fading away on the under tail- coverts ; iris and bill blackish, legs dusky grey. Length 9-0 ; wing 7'5 ; tail 3-75 ; culmen '3 ; tarsus .5. A female is similar, but the throat-patch is tawny and white taU-tips are absent. A young female is paler and more silvery above, has the primaries edged with white at the tips, but the white patches much smaller below ; the throat patch is hardly defined, and there is no trace of the white on the tail. Distribution. — Western North America from central British Columbia and Manitoba south to central Mexico, east to Illinois and Kansas, west to California ; south in winter to northern South America, perhaps to Patagonia. The Western Night-Hawk was taken as long ago at 1853 by Captain Gunnison in the Rio Grande Valley, and it is an abundant summer bird aU over Colorado, breeding from the plains to about 10,000 feet, perhaps even higher. It was noticed by Keyser flying about on the top of the poak " TiUie Ann " in the Ten -mile range near Breckenridge, above timber hne at about 13,000 feet. It arrives from the south towards the end of May ; it was seen by Wtirren at Gaume's Ranche in Baca co., on the 21st, in El Paso co. on the 23rd, and near Grand Junction by Sullivan as early as the 8th. It leaves again in September, though seen as lato as October 18th at Grand Junction by Sullivan (Rockwell). Breeding records are Boulder CO., up to 9,500 feet (Gale), Breckenridge (Carter), Fairplay (Tresz), Twin Lakes (Scott) and Crested Butte (Warren). Habits. — ^The Night-Hawk is hardly well named, as it is often to be seen about in the day-time, even on Texan Night-Hawk 247 sunny days, though it is more commonly noticed at dusk. They are birds of graceful and swift flight, delighting in swift turns and zigzags when in pursuit of insects, of which they must destroy enormous numbers. They are to be found chiefly in prairie country, and in the open bare parts of the mountains. They are social in their habits, and are often seen together in considerable numbers. They alight on horizontal branches of trees or fence-rails, and sit lengthways ; but except when nesting, do not often squat on bare ground, according to Bendire. The eggs, laid on the bare ground, are two in number, and laid on alternate days. In shape slightly ovate or oval, and in colour creamy-white or grey profusely blotched with slaty or smoky-drab or lavender, they vary very considerably. They average 1*18 x '85. Gale found fresh eggs from June 20th to July 10th in Boulder co., and Dille gives June 19th as an average date. Warren secured eggs near Crested Butte on July 9th. Henderson states they sometimes lay their eggs on the flat roofs of business houses in Denver. Texan Night-Hawk. Chordeiles acutipennis texensis. A.O.U. CheckUst no 421. Description. — Rather snaaller than C. v. henryi and less tawny, more greyish in tone ; at once distinguished by the white patches on the primaries, which are confined to the outer four, and are jjlaced distinctly nearer the tip than the base of the wing ; below with a white throat- patch and abdomen barred buffy and dusky, but with no black on the chest ; primaries slightly spotted with tawny below the white patches. Length 8-0 ; wing 6.6 ; tail 3-5 ; culmen '2 ; tarsus -45. The female has the wing-patches pale tawny, and the white tail band restricted or wanting. Distribution. — South-west United States from western Texas to southern CaUfomia, Nevada and Utah ; in winter, south so far as Veragua in Columbia. 248 Birds of Colorado An example of this species was recently secured by Aiken at Hoehne, near Trinidad, on June 11th, 1908. This constitutes a new record for Colorado. Family CYPSELID^E. This family contains the Swifts — birds distinguished for their great power of rapid flight. The following are a few of the most obvious external characters, sufficient to distinguish them : Bill very small, flattened and triangular, but with the gape of the mouth very large and extending back to under the eye ; no rictal bristles ; wing long, thin and pointed, made up chiefly of the primaries, which are ten in number ; secondaries very short and reduced ; tail-feathers ten, variable in shape and arrangement ; legs and feet small and weak, adapted only for perching ; toes four, variously arranged in different genera. The salivary glands of the Swifts are very greatly developed, and their secretion, which forms a gluey mass, is used more or less in the construction of the nest. Key of the Genera. A. Tarsi feathered, plumage black and white. Aeronautes, p. 249. B. Tarsi naked, plumage black, no white. Cypseloides, p. 248. Genus CYPSELOIDES. Nostrils embedded in the frontal feathers ; wing with the outer primary the longest ; tail forked, the feathers obtusely pointed, but the shafts not produced to form needlo-like points ; tarsi naked, hallux normal, turned backwards, slightly elevated above the others ; plumage black. An exclusively American genus with five or six species, one of which is fovmd in the western United States. Black Swift. Cypseloides niger horealis. A.O.U. Checklist no 422— Colorado Records— Drew 81, p. 140; 82, p. 182 ; Morrison 89, p. 145 ; Bendire 92, p. 175 ; Cooke 97, p. 86. White-throated Swift 249 Description. — Sooty black above and below, with a slight greenish gloss, a Uttle paler below than above ; a velvety-black area in front of the eye ; forehead hoary ; bill black, feet dusky purplish. Length about 7-0 ; wing 7-0 ; tail 2-45, forked about '5 ; tarsus -u. The female resembles the male, but according to Coues has the tail merely forked, not emarginate. Young birds are dull black with a good deal of white tipping and edging, esijecially on the rump ; abdomen and under tail-coverts nearly pure white. Distribution. — Western North America, chiefly in the mountains from British Columbia to southern California, east to Colorado and Nevuxia. In winter south to Lower California and Costa Rica. The Black Swift has only been met with in the southern part of the State where, however, judging from Drew's account, it is far from uncommon at high elevations in the San Juan co. It breeds in the cliffs from about 10,000 to 12,000 feet, and ranges to the highest summits. At Howardsville it arrives towards the end of Jvme and stays till September. A. K. Fisher told Bendire that he had seen a number of these birds above the cliffs near Trinidad in July, 1892. These constitute the only observations in Colorado. Habits. — This species is generally seen in flocks, flying high among the mountains, and only coming down near the ground after rain, in pursuit of the small flies (Ephemeridce) on which they subsist. They are stated to be rather less noisy than other species, but in no other respect to be remarkable. Anthony, who noticed this bird in large numbers near Silver- ton, killed some females between June 25 and July 10th with ova ready to deposit, and had no doubt they nested in the cliffs near by. The nest and eggs have been taken in similar situations in. California. Genus AERONAUTES. Nostrils oval and not concealed ; wing with the outer primary a little shorter than the next ; tail short, less than half the wing, sUghtly forked and not spiny ; tarsus and toes feathered, hallux laterally directed, not reversible and jointed above the other toes ; plumage black and white. One North American species only. 250 Birds of Colorado White-throated Swift. Aeronautes melaTioleitcus. A.O.U. Checklist no 425— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 151 {Panyptila melanoleuca) ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Stone 81, p. 67 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 (Cypsehts aaxatilis) ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 145 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 ; Bendire 92, p. 185 ; Cooke 97, pp.19, 86, 208 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 06, p. 109 ; 09, p, 232 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165; Cary 09, p. 181. Description. — General colour black, rather glossy on the back ; lores, a narrow eyebrow, edge of the outer primary, tips of the inner secondaries, whole of the chin, sides of the face, throat and fore-breast, continued as a narrow line down the middle of the belly, and patch on the flanks, white ; bill black, feet yellowish. Length 6-5 ; wing 5-8 ; tail 2-5 ; culmen -2 ; tarsus •45. Distribution. — Western North America from California, Montana and South Dakota, south through western Texas and Mexico to Guate- mala ; a resident in southern California and Arizona ; north of this a simamer bird. The White-throated Swift is far from uncommon in Colorado, where there are cliSs and inaccessible rocks suitable for nesting. It reaches EI Paso CO. from the south about the second week in April, though a few were seen as early as March 24th by Allen and Brewster. The following are known breeding places : Pawnee Buttes (Hender- son), Boulder co. (Gale), Horsetooth Mountain, 7,000 feet, near Fort Collins (Cooke), Garden of the Gods, Glen Eyrie and Cheyenne Cafion, all close to Colorado Springs (Allen & Aiken), Wet Mountains to 10,000 (Lowe), Breckenridge (Carter), Book CliiTs coal mine, near Grand Junction (Rockwell), Silverton (Anthony apud Bendire). It breeds indifferently from the plains up to 12,000 feet, and often wanders to the highest summits. Habits. — Like other Swifts this species is a bird of rapid and powerful flight, seldom seen low down except in cloudy or damp weather. Their loud, shrill titter can often be heard about rock pinnacles and cliffs, where they are very numerous, circling round and flashing past with incredible speed. They make their nests in the cavities of the cliffs, in places that are practically inaccessible, so that although the bird is far from scarce their nests and eggs are almost unknown. It is said to be a saucer-like structure, made of shreds of bark White-throated Swift 251 and other vegetable matter and a few feathers, all glued together with hardened saliva. The eggs, four or five, are white and measure 87 x '52. A female shot by Drew, June 20th, at 13,000 feet near Silverton, contained an egg ready for extrusion ; while Gale, though he apparently never actually took eggs of this species, gives May 25th to June 10th as the date for fresh eggs in Boulder co. Family TROCHILIDiE. The Humming-birds which make up this family hardly require a diagnosis ; their tiny size and their metallic colouring at once distinguish them. The bill is very long and slender and usually straight, the nostrils are linear and protected by an overhanging scale or oper- culum, and often feathered and concealed ; the wing is long and consists of ten elongated and often curiously attenuated primaries, and six reduced and very short secondaries ; the tail consists of ten rectrices ; the feet are extremely small and weak, and only adapted to perching. The following Key separates the Species found in Colobado. A. Tail not white-tipped (males). a. Back chiefly rufous, gorget coppery-red. S. rufus, 65 ; tail 1-1 ; culmen -7. The female has no gorget, the throat sometimes with dusky spots ; tail rounded, all but the central feathers dusky purplish with terminal bands of white ; wing 1'9. Distribution. — Western North America from southern British Columbia to western Texas and Sonera, wintering to southern Mexico. The Black-chinned Himmiing-bird is confined to the south-west and western portions of Colorado. Morrison found it fairly common and breeding in La Plata co. about Fort Lewis ; a fine male was taken near Glenwood Springs in 1898 by Wilham Cross. These are the only definite records for the State. Habits. — ^Morrison states he was shown a nest con- taining three eggs ; this is unusual, as Humming-birds almost invariably lay but two eggs. Genus SELASPHORUS. Nostrils concealed ; wing with the outer or two outer primaries strongly attenuated and bowed in the male, less so in the female ; tail rounded or graduated, not forked ; male with a gorget not produced Broad- tailed Humming-bird 253 into a ruff ; female with white-tipped tail ; a certain amount of rufous in the plumage, especially at the base of the tail in both sexes. Three well-known species are found in the United States ; for key, see p. 251. Broad-tailed Humming-bird. Selasphorus platycercus. A.O.U. CheckUst no 432— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 151, 158, 163, 180 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Coues & Trippe 74, p. 272 ; Henshaw 75, p. 377 ; Coues 78, p. 95 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Minot 80, p. 232 ; Tresz 81, p. 185 (T. colubris) ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; 85, p. 17 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 196 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Kellogg 90, p. 88 ; Ridgway 90, p. 350; Bendire 92, p. 210 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 86, 208 ; Keyser 02, pp. 103, 230 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165 ; Warren 07, p. 81 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Fray 09, p. 70. Description. — Male. — Above, including the crown and middle tail- feathers, metallic green ; wings dusky purpUsh, the outer primary narrowed and pointed, the apex turned slightly outwards ; the next also attenuated but less so ; lateral tail-feather dusky purpUsh with sometimes a slight edging of chestnut ; tail graduated, the middle- feathers broad and obtusely pointed ; gorget metallic crimson to pur- plish-red ; below greyish-white with a little golden-green on the sides. Length 3-9 ; wing 2-0 ; tail 1-25 ; culmen '6. The female is green above like the male ; the outer primary is narrow, but with no special attenuation ; the lateral tail-feathers are chestnut at the base, then purplish-black with white tips ; there is no gorget, the throat is spotted with dark or greenish specks ; there is no green below, but a wash of rufous, which is not nearly so marked, however, as in S. riifus. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain regions from Idaho and Wyoming south to Arizona and New iloxico, east to the foothills of Colorado, west to the Sierra Nevada ; in winter south over Mexico to Guatemala. The Broad-tailed Plumming-bird is the only species commonly met with in Colorado. It arrives early in May ; Aiken notes May 5th, near Fountain, Rockwell the same date for Mesa co. as the earliest. It nests everywhere, from the foothills up to 10,000 or 11,000 feet, and wanders higher, often above timber line, but it is most common between 7,000 and 9,000 feet. It departs again in September, the males leaving some Uttle time before the females and young birds. It was seen as late as October loth hy Rockwell in Mesa co. It has not been met with on the eastern plains. Nesting records are : Estes Park (McGregor), Boulder co., foothills to 10,000 feet (Gale), Glen Eyrie, near Colorado Springs, 6,500 feet (W. L. Sclater), Twin Lakes (Scott), Wet Mountains 254 Birds of Colorado to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Steamboat Springs (Warren), Breckenridge (Carter), Buzzard Creek, Mesa cc, at 8,000 feet (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew), and the head-waters of the La Plata (Coues, 78). Habits. — This Humming-bird is very common, and universally distributed over the mountain sides and throughout the valleys ; it congregates everywhere where there are flowers, from which it not only gets the nectar, but also the insects attracted to the flowers. It is also an expert insect-catcher, perching on a dead limb and making sharp excursions after passing insects. It has a sharp, quick note, uttered when angry or alarmed. During early summer it mounts straight up into the air, poising itself there for a few moments and then descending again, and repeating this manoeuvre several times. When flying a rattling, buzzing sound is -pro- duced by the vibration of the wings, quite different from the gentle hum of the eastern Ruby -throat. The nest of the Broad-tailed Humming-bird is generally placed low down in a willow or alder bush overhanging a stream ; though sometimes it is saddled on a horizontal bough of a pine or fir ; but it is seldom more than fifteen feet from the ground, generally a good deal lower. It is an exquisite little structure, built up of the cottony down of willows and cotton-woods, and has no feather lining. The outside is covered with lichen, leaves or shreds of bark, secured with spider or cocoon silk. A large nest taken by W, G. Smith at Pinewood, June 23rd, measured 2 x If inches outside, while the cup was 1 X |. The eggs are two or very rarely three in number, white in colour, and average '50 x "33. According to Gale fresh eggs may be found in the foothills as early as May 6th, at 8,500 feet by June 10th, and at 10,000 feet on July 10th. Some observers state that two or three broods are raised at Plate 8] [E. R. Warren, Phot. BROAD-TAILED HUMMING-BIRD ON ITS NEST, BUILT ON AN ELECTRIC-LIGHT PENDANT ON A STOOP AT COLORADO SPRINGS. [254 Rufous Humming-bird 255 successively increasing elevations by the same parents, but direct proof ot this seems very difficult to obtain. A rather remarkable nesting-place for this species was noticed and photographed by Warren (Plate 8). The nest was fixed on a spiral-shaped electric-light fixture, on a porch in front of a house in Colorado Springs. Although the house was occupied and the porch was constantly being used, two young ones were successfully reared and flew away. Rufous Humming-bird. Selasphorus rufus. A.O.U. Checklist no 433 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 375 ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Ridgway 90, p. 343 ; Cooke 97, pp. 86, 162, 208 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165. Description. — Male — Above rufous-brown with a patch of metallic green on the crown and also sometimes on the back ; wings purplish- dusky, the outer primary narrowed, falcate and bent inwards ; below, tail like the back, but with a little dusky purplish at the edge and tip, the central pair of feathers broad and rather narrowed and pointed at the tip, the next pair nicked near the tip of the inner web, the outer one considerably nari'owed ; below, the gorget coppery-red, somewhat prolonged at the corners into a ruff ; breast white, posteriorly rufous- brown, rather paler than above. Length 3-4; wing 1-6; tail -9; culmen -65. The female above is chiefly metallic green overlying the rufous ; the male characters of the wings and tail hardly show ; the middle tail-feathers are rufous, darkening at the tip ; the others cinnamon, then purplish, then white ; the gorget is absent, but the throat is white, usually spotted with metallic — scarlet or greenish in some lights ; the rest of the under-parts washed with rufous. Distribution. — Western North America from southern Alaska south to the mountains of southern California, east to Wyoming, Colorado and western Texas ; in winter south to Oaxaca in Mexico. The Rufous Humming-bird is not common in Colorado except perhaps in the extreme south-west, where in La Plata and San Juan cos. it is said to breed from 6,500 to 10,500 feet by Drew and Morrison. It was first taken in the State by Aiken at Fort Garland, August 12th, 1874. It is rare along the eastern foothills ; Aiken met with it at Ramah in July, 1897, and noticed one in a garden in Colorado Springs, 256 Birds of Colorado August 21st, 1898. Carter took one at Breckenridge, and W. G. Smith informed Bendire it was rare in Larimer, but more common in Arapahoe county ; Cook and Henderson state that Gale obtained one at Boulder, but the species is not mentioned in his notes ; Rockwell reports that it is an occasional spring migrant at Grand Junction, according to Miss Eggleston. Habits. — Henshaw writes that the males of this species are very pugnacious, and wage unceasing warfare amongst themselves as well as with other species, especially the Broad-tailed. In other respects there does not seem anything very remarkable about the species. The nesting habits in Colorado have not been described, but elsewhere it appears to locate its nest somewhat higher than the Broad-tailed, though it is constructed in a very similar manner. The eggs are two in number, v/hite in colour, and measure '50 x '33. Genus STELLULA. Outer primaries simple, hardly attenuated ; tail of the male double- rounded, feathers rather spoon-shaped and rounded at tip, not attenu- ated or pointed ; male with a gorget of metallic spots set on white. One species only in the United States. Calliope Humming-bird. Stellula calliope. A.O.U. Checklist no 436— Colorado Record— Cooke 97, pp. 163, 208. Description. — Male — Above metallic green ; wings and tail dusky, the feathers of the latter with a Uttle concealed rufous about the bases, and with slightly paler tips ; gorget with the feathers white basally, metallic purplish terminally, forming a series of metallic rays on a white groiuid ; rest of lower-surface whitish with a little green on the sides. Length 2-9; wing 1-55; tail -8; culmen -55. The female has no gorget, the throat is white with a few dusky specks, and the under-parts are washed with rufous ; the two middle pairs of tail-feathers are green tipped with dusky ; the others dusky, tipped with white, with rufous at the extreme base — wing 1-75. Distribution. — Mountains of western North America, breeding from British Columbia south to southern California and New Mexico ; south in winter into Mexico. The Calliope is a rare species in Colorado, and has been only twice recorded. Aiken found an adult male dead in Cheyenne Canon, near Passerine Birds 257 Colorado Springs July 25th, 1897, and there is an example in the Carter collecfcion taken at Breckenridge, June 30th, 1882. ORDER PASSERES. This group embodies the ordinary perching birds and contains over 6,000 species — as many as all the other orders put together. It is by no means an easy order to diagnose by external characters, but the following apply, at any rate, to all North American forms : Bill of variable shape and size, but never with a soft or tumid cere at the base ; wing with nine or ten primaries, if the latter the outer one usually very distinctly shorter than the others ; secondaries always more than six ; tail of varying size and shape, but always of twelve rectrices ; feet with four toes, the first or hallux directed backwards, not reversible, and always jointed at the same level as the others ; oil-gland naked ; young hatched naked and helpless. Key of the Families. A. Tarsus rounded behind ; sides and back of the tarsus covered with variously arranged scutes, with a " seam " along the inner side. a. Ten primaries, the outer the longest ; hind toe longer than its claw, which is curved. Tyrannidae, p. 259. b. Only nine primaries, the outer (tenth) obsolete ; hind claw straight and longer than its toe. Alaudidse, p. 279. B. Tarsus covered postero-Iaterally with two entire longitudinal plates, meeting posteriorly to form a sharp ridge, a. Primaries apparently only nine, the outer (tenth) rudimentary or obsolete, not obvious, a^ Outer primaries twice as long as the inner ones ; bill short; broad, flat, notched and deeply cleft. Hirundinidas, p. 412. b^ Outer primaries not twice the inner ones, a* Bill slender and thin at base. a* Head crested, outer (tenth) primary present, but so short as readily to escape notice. Bombycillidae, p. 424. 258 Birds of Colorado b' Head not crested. a* Inner secondaries elongated, nearly as long as the longer primaries ; hind claw straight, equal to or exceeding the hind toe. Motacillidae, p. 472. b* Inner secondaries not elongated, hind claw curved, always clearly shorter than the hind toe. Mniotiltidae, p. 438. b* Bill short, stout, deep and conical. a' Bill notched at the tip and with bristles at the gape, a* Nostrils more or less concealed by bristles or overhung by a distinct scale, or the cutting-edge of the lower mandible forming a distinct angle. Fringillidse, p. 319. b* Nostrils exposed ; cutting-edge of the lower mandible always straight and without any angle. Tangaridse, p. 408. b^ Bill without notch at the tip, or bristles at the gape. Icteridae, p. 299. 1». Primaries obviously ten ; the outer one more or less shortened, a^ Tarsus distinctly scutellate in front. a* Outer primary at least half as long as the next. a' Bill distinctly hooked at the tip. Laniidae, p. 427. b^ Bill not distinctly hooked at the tip. a* Nasal plumes erect or inclined backwards, a^ Rictal bristles well developed. Mimidae (except Oroscoptes), p. 477. b^ No rictal bristles. Troglodytidse, p. 485. b* Nasal bristles directed forwards and nostrils con- cealed. Corvidae, p. 282. l>* Outer primary not half as long as the next, generally much shorter. a' BiU shghtly hooked or notched at the tip. a* Smaller ; wing under 2-5. a* Above greenish or greyish ; tail even. Vireonidae, p. 431. b^ Above bluish, tail graduated. Sylviidae (Polioptila), p. 509. b* Larger, wing over 3-5. Mimidae (Oroscoptes), p. 477. b* Bill not hooked or notched. a* Tail-feathers stiff and pointed at tip. Certhiidae, p. 496. Passerine Birds 259 b* Tail-feathers normal. a* Bill slender, as long as the head ; tail shorter than the wing. Sittidae, p. 498. b^ Bill stoxit, shorter than the head ; tail equal to or longer than the wing. Paridse, p. 503. b^ Tarsus booted, not divided into plates except at the extreme base. a* No rictal bristles ; tail abnormally short. Cinclidae, p. 474. b^ Rictal bristles present ; tail normal. a^ Small; wing under 3-0; plumage greenish; young not spotted. Sylviidae (Regulus), p. 509. b^ Larger, wing over 3-0 ; young spotted. Turdidae, p. 514. Family TYRANNIDiE. Bill broad, depressed and flat, the tip down-turned ; nostrils not operculate ; wings with ten primaries, the outer one of which is always well developed and obvious ; tail of twelve reetrices usually even or nearly so ; feet small and weak, tarsus excapedian, i.e. covered with variously arranged scutes, not forming a ridge at the posterior edge, but meeting on the postero-internal face in a deep groove. Six of the twelve North American genera are found in Colorado. They can be distinguished as follows* : — A. Tips of the outer primaries attenuated ; a concealed crown- patch of orange. Tyrannus, p. 260. B. Tips of the outer primaries not attenuated ; no crown-patch. a. Tail marked with rufous ; a distinct crest. Myiarchus, p. 264. b. Tail plain coloured without rufous ; no distinct crest. a^ Feet very small ; tarsus not exceeding the culmen in length, a* Tail very short, less than f length of wing ; a patch of silky feathers on either side of the rtunp. Nuttallomis, p. 268. b^ Tail longer, about f length of wing ; no silky patch on rump. Myiochanes, p. 270. * Muscivora for/icata, the Scissors-tailed Flycatcher, is included by Cooke in the Colorado avifauna on the strength of it havng been once seen by G. F. Breuninger at Table Eock, on the Arkansas-Flatte divide. s2 260 Birds of Colorado b^ Feet of normal size ; tarsus always longer than the culmen. a- Larger, wing three to four inches ; bill narrow, its width at nostrils barely half the length of culmen. Sayomis, p. 266. b^ Smaller, wing 2-25 to 3-25 ; bill broad, its width at nostrils equal to or exceeding half the length of the culmen. Empidonax, p. 272. Genus TYRANNUS. Moderate-sized birds with wings from four to six inches ; wings with the tips of the outer primaries more or less attenuated ; tail less than three-fourths the length of the wing and never deeply forked ; a concealed crown-patch of yellow or orange in the adults. This genus ranges over the whole of temperate and tropical America. Three out of ten described species occur in Colorado as follows : — A. Plmnage black, grey and white ; no yellow. T. tyrannus, p. 260. B. Abdomen and under tail-coverts canary-yellow. a. Outer (tenth) primary about the same length as ninth, longer than fifth ; shaft and whole of outer web of outer tail- feathers markedly white below. T. verticalis, p. 262. b. Outer (tenth) primary markedly shorter than ninth, also shorter than fifth ; outer web of outer tail-feathers paler, and merely edged with white. T. vociferans, p. 263. Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus. A.O.U. Checkhst no 444— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 150; Aiken 72, p. 205 ; Trippe 74, p. 236 : Henshaw 75, p. 341 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 194 ; Beckham 85, p. 142 ; Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Bendire 92, p. 236 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 87, 209 ; Keyser 02, p. 97 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; Gibnan 07, p. 154 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165 ; Gary 09, p. 182. Description. — Dark slate above, becoming black on the head and tail ; below and edges of the wings and tail white, a grey patch across the chest, a concealed patch of orange-red along the middle of the crown ; tips of the two outer primaries attenuated. Length 8-0 ; wing 4-80 ; tail 3-50 ; tarsas -75 ; culmen -62. The female resembles the male, but the orange patch is more re- stricted and the tips of the primaries less attenuated ; the young bird has no crown-patch, and the edges of the wings and tail are brownish. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America from southern British Columbia and Nova Scotia southwards, chiefly east of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico ; wintering in Cuba, the Bahamas, Central and South America to southern Bolivia. Kingbird 261 In Colorado the Kingbird Ls a summer resident, chiefly on the plains and eastern foothills up to about 7,000 feet. It arrives at Colorado Springs about the first week in May, and is quite common on the plains ; it has been recorded from an elevation of 7,500 feet at Idaho Springs by Trippe, and Frey has taken a pair, May 15th, at Salida. It is said to breed in Middle Park, but it is not common in the mountains. In Baca CO., in the south-eastern corner of the State, Warren found it by no means common, while in Routt co. he saw it on several occasions between Steamboat Springs and Lay. Habits. — ^The Kingbird is well kno\\'n for its bold and fearless characteristics, and for its pugnacity towards birds larger and stronger than itself. It has been seen by Aiken to attack even so large a bird as Swainson's Hawk, flying above it and alighting on its shoulders and pecking out its feathers. The food of the Kingbird consists almost entirely of insects of various kinds, chiefly taken on the wing. It has been accused of killing honey-bees, and indeed is often known as the Bee-Martin or Bee-bird, but the investigations of the Agricultural Department have shown that its propensities in this respect have been greatly exaggerated, and in only a small percentage of the stomachs examined did bees occur, and these mostly drones. The nest, generally placed m the crotch of a tree, often in an orchard or near a dwelling-house, is well built, chiefly of twigs with a lining of hair or wool, and is often occupied several successive years. The male assists in incubation and in the construction of the nest. The eggs, three or four in number, measure "95 x '12, and are white to pale pink, varyingly blotched with brown or lavender. In Colorado the eggs are usually laid about the middle of June. Bendire figures an egg from a clutch taken by Dennis Gale at Gold Hill, in Boulder co., on June 25th, while Dine gives June 12th as an average date for fresh eggs. 262 Birds of Colorado Arkansas Kingbird. Tyrannus verticalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 447 — Colorado Records — Say 23, vol. ii., p. 60 ; Allen 72, p. 150 ; Aiken 72, p. 205 ; Henshaw 75, p. 342 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Beckliam 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 87, 163, 209 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Keyser 02, p. 95 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 232 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Oilman 07, p. 154 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 165. Description. — Head, neck all round, and breast pale grey, becoming whiter on the chin ; a concealed patch of orange-red on the crown ; back washed with greenish ; wings slaty-black, tail black, below with the outer web of the outer tail-feathers very distinctly white ; abdomen and under tail-coverts canary- yellow ; four outer primaries gradually attenuated at tips, outermost (tenth) longer than fifth. Length about 8-5; wing 5-30; tail 3-75 ; tarsus -90 ; culmen -70. The female resembles the male, but the tips of the primaries are less attenuated and the crown-patch more restricted. The young are without the crown-patch and the yellow of the vinder-parts is paler. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the United States west of about the 100th meridian from southern British Columbia to northern Jlexico, wintering in Guatemala. The Arkansas Flycatcher is a common summer resident in eastern Colorado, both in the plains and foothills. It arrives in "El Paso co. about the 6th of May, and eggs may be looked for about a month later ; it leaves again for the south in September. Its range extends up into the mountain parks to about 8,000 feet ; it has been known to breed in Middle Park in the middle of June, and is noted as a rare summer resident in Estes Park by Kellogg. In south-east Colorado it was met with by Warren in May, while in Gimnison co. he foimd it breeding in June, but in La Plata co., in the south-west, Oilman states that it is a straggler, though it is common at Coventry (Warren, 09) and Grand Junction (Rockwell), and was found nesting near Craig and Buford, in Rio Blanco co., by Warren (08) (Plate 9). Habits. — The Arkansas Kingbird frequents open country, but is seldom found far from water and the cotton-wood trees which usually line the banks of streams in Colorado. It is a loud and noisy bird, even more so than the Kingbird, and the males are very pugnacious until they have paired off for the breeding season ; they do not seem so bold however in attacking other larger birds, such as hawks. The food consists almost entirely Plate 9] [R. B. Rockiv ARKANSAS KINGBIRD ON NEST IN THE FRAME OF A GATE, PLATEAU VALLEY, MESA CO. cIl, Phot. FARM- [262 Cassin's Kingbird 263 of insects caught on the wing, and while they have been accused of destroying honey-bees, it appears that only the drones attract them, and that they are in every way most useful and desirable birds and deserve rigid protection. The nest, which is completed about the first week in June, is generally placed in a fork or on a horizontal bough of a cotton-wood tree, and is often a bulky structure. The eggs, three or four in number, closely resemble those of the Kingbird and measure about '93 x "69 inch. Cassin's Kingbird. Tyrannus vociferans. A.O.U. Checklist no 448— Colorado Records— Aiken 872, p. 205 ; Henshaw 74, p. 343 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 87, p. 122 ; Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Kellogg 90, p. 88 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97. pp. 87, 209 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Gihnan 07, p. 155 ; Rockwell 08, p. 166; Warren 09, p. 15 ; Henderson 09, p. 232. Description. — Closely resembling T. verticalis in size and colour, but the breast a much darker ashy, and contrasting more strongly with the whiter chin ; the outer web of the outer tail-feather below paler than the inner one, but never pure white ; four outer primaries abruptly attenuated, the outermost (tenth) shorter than the fifth ; middle toe shorter than the tarsiLs. Length about 7-9; wing 5-30; tail 3-70 ; tarsus -82 ; culmen -70. The female resembles the male in colour, but the tips of the primaries are hardly attenuated, and the orange-red crown spot is somewhat restricted ; the young birds have no crown-patch. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the south-western portion of the United States, from Wyoming southwards to western Texas and through New Mexico and Arizona to southern California (but not, apparently, in Utah or Nevada) ; also in northern and middle Mexico, wintering in southern Mexico and Guatemala, and also, it is said, in southern California. In Colorado Cassin's Kingbird is a common summer resident along the eastern foothills and the adjacent plains, arriving in El Paso co. about the second week in May, a little later than the Arkansas Kingbird. It ranges up into the mountain parks to 9,000 feet, having been observed breeding at that elevation near Breckenridge by Carter, and by Kellogg in Estes Park at 8,000 feet. North of the Arkansas-Platte divide this species does not appear to be nearly so abundant, as it has only once been met with by Henderson 264 Birds of Colorado in Boulder co., and is rare at Barr. It is quite a common resident in Mesa CO., arriving early in May and nesting a fortnight later. Oilman has found it breeding in La Plata co. (7,500 feet), in the extreme south- west comer of the State. Habits. — Cassin's Kingbird is found in very similar country and has very similar habits to its cousin, but is described as being more sedate and less lively in its disposition. Its notes, too, are more harsh and less fre- quently uttered. It builds its nest in cotton-wood trees as well as in pines and other trees, generally fixing it well out on a horizontal limb. It is sociable and fond of human habitations, often making use of gate frames or log fences in which to locate its nest. The eggs, three or four in number, resemble closely those of the Arkansas I^ngbird, but are not usually so heavily spotted. Genus MYIARCHUS. Dull-coloured Flycatchers, of moderate size with wings measuring from 2-75 to 4-5 ; tips of the primaries not attenuated ; culmen about equal to or longer than the middle toe and claw ; crown with a sUght crest ; tail never edged with white, but generally marked with rufoas or rusty. Of about thirty-five species and subspecies of this genus, which ranges over the whole of temperate and tropical America, one only is commonly met with in Colorado. ICey of the Species. A. Larger ; wing about 4 ; inner webs of the rectrices cinnamon. M. cinerascens, p. 264. B. Smaller ; wing about 3-25 ; inner webs of rectrices cliiofiy dark- brown. M. 1. olivascens, p. 266. Ash-throated Flycatcher. Myiarchus cinerascens. A.O.U. Checklist no 454— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 205 {M. mexicanua) Ridgway 73, p 184 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 87, 209 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Oilman 07, p. 155 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 185 ; Rockwell 08, p. 166. Ash-throated Flycatcher 265 Description. — General colour above greyish-brown, less ashy on the crown, v/hich is crested, the feathers being longer and somewhat pointed ; wings darker, the secondaries edged with dull whitish, the primaries with cinnamon-rufoiLs ; breast very pale ashy-grey, abdomen and under tail-coverts very pale yellow ; tail with the outer web of the outer feather almost white ; the inner web cinnamon-rufous with brown tips. Length 7-50 ; wing 4 00 ; tail 3-50 ; tarsus -95 ; culmen -70. The female is very similar, but is slightly smaller ; the young are essentially like the adults. Distribution. — Breeding in the western United States from southern Wyoming and Oregon southwards to northern Mexico ; in winter through central and southern Mexico to Yucatan and Guatemala. The Ash-throated Flycatcher is a rare summer resident in Colorado, and is more frequently met with in the southern portion of the State ; there are several examples, taken in May and June, in Fremont co., in the Aiken collection, where it is not uncommon in the cedar and pLnon countiy ; it was once noticed by Warren in Baca co., while Oilman observed " one in spring," in La Plata co. North of the Arkansas divide it seems to be rare, but, according to Cooke, has been taken by Osburn at Golden, and by Bond at Cheyenne, just over the northern border of the State. Warren met with it at Douglas Spring in Routt CO., and at Dotsero in Garfield co., while Sullivan reports it to be rather a rare summer resident at Grand Junction from May 2nd to August 22nd ; he was unable to find the nest, though he had little •doubt it bred in the neighbourhood (Rockwell). It arrives from the south late in May and returns in September. Habits. — This Flycatcher is of a retiring disposition and not easily seen or flushed ; it frequents dense thickets along creek bottoms ; it is not very noisy, and its food consists chiefly of insects, with some berries. I have not met with any account of its nesting habits in Colorado, but Bendire states that it frequently makes use of the nests of other birds, such as the Cactus-Wren and the smaller Woodpeckers ; but that when it makes its own nest it is usually a bulky structure of rootlets, lined with hair, and that the eggs, three to six in number, are creamy to pinkish-buff, profusely covered with fine longitudinal streaks of dark purplish. 266 Birds of Colorado Olivaceous Flycatcher. Myiarchus lawrencei olivascens. A.O.U. Checklist no 455a — Colorado Records — Thome 89, p. 276 ; Cooke 97, p. 88. Description. — General colour above plain olive-brown ; tail and wings without any distinct rusty-red edgings ; below pale primrose. Length about 6-5; wing 3-25; tail 30; tarsus '75; culmen -70. The female is slightly smaller — wing 3-00. Distribution. — This species ranges from southern Arizona southward through western and southern Mexico to Oaxaca. It was once taken in Colorado by Captain Thome at Fort Lyon in Bent CO., on April 20th, 1874. It may be regarded as an accidental visitor to the State. Genus SAYORNIS. Medium-sized Flycatchers with a wing measurement of 3 to 4-5 ; bill somewhat narrow, a little less than half the length of the culmen across the nostrils ; culmen shorter than both the tarsus and the middle toe ; wings without attenuated tips to the primaries, long and pointed, the seventh, eighth and ninth primaries the longest, the tenth (outer) intermediate between the fourth and sixth ; tail plain-coloured without rufous or rusty, even or slightly emarginate ; tarsus always longer than the middle toe and claw. Only three species of this genus, ranging from North America to Bolivia, are recognized. One of these is commonly met with in Colorado. A. Larger; wing about 4-0 ; abdomen cinnamon -buff. S. saya, p. 267. B. Smaller ; wing about 3 -5 ; abdomen pale primrose-yellow. S. phoebe, p. 266, Phoebe. Sayornis phoebe. A.O.U. Checklist no 456— Colorado Record— Thome 89, p. 276. Description. — Crown and sides of the head dark sooty-brown, becoming paler and olivaceous-brown on the back ; wings and tail dull brown, the wings with paler greyish margins, most conspicuous on the secon- daries and greater coverts ; the outer web of the outer tail-feather distinctly edged with greyish-olive ; below pale yellowish, the throat and chest washed over with dusky greyish and the sides of the breast brownish-olive ; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 6-5 ; wing 3-50 ; tail 2-70 ; tarsus •! ; culmen -52. The adults are alike, except that the female is slightly smaller — wing 3-25 ; yoimg birds resemble the adults, but are rather browner above, and the wing-coverts are broadly tipped with cinnamon-buff. Distribution. — Breeding throughout eastern North America from Maine and Great Slave Lake southwards to western Texas and the high- lands of South Carolina ; wintering in the states south of 37", Cuba, eastern and central Mexico. Say's Phoebe 267 This very familiar eastern bird, though common in eastern Kansas, has only once been taken in Colorado, by Captain Thome at Fort Lyon, April 20th, 1884. Say's Phcebe. Sayornis sayus. A.O.U. Checklist no 457 — Colorado Records — Bonaparte 25, p. 20 ; Allen 72, p. 151 ; Aiken 72, p. 205 ; Henshaw 75, p. 349 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; H. G. Smith 84, p. 120 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 87, p. 35; 89, p. 146; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Bendire 92, p. 276 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 88, 209 ; Keyser 02, pp. 131, 270 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; 09, p. 15 ; Gilman 07, p. 155 ; Markman 07, p. 156 ; Rockwell 08, p. 166 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 118. Description. — Above ashy-brown, slightly darker on the crown ; tail nearly black, the outer rectrices indistinctly edged with whitish ; wing pale brown, the greater- coverts and secondaries edged and tipped with paler ; below throat and breast pale ashy -brown, becoming tinged posteriorly with cinnamon, most strongly on the under tail-coverts ; iris brown ; bill, legs and feet black. Length 7-0; wing 4-25; tail 3-20 ; tarsus -70 ; culmen -50. The sexes are alike ; young birds are browner, and have the wing- coverts more distinctly marked with tips of cinnamon-buff. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska, Manitoba, and middle Kansas southwards and westwards to northern and perhaps central Mexico ; wintering in Mexico, the coast of Texas, and perhaps southern California. In Colorado, Say's Phcsbe is a common summer resident, chiefly along the eastern foothills, but also throughout the mountain valleys up to 9,500 feet, at which elevation it was found breeding by Keyser near Malta in Lake Coimty, and at Jefferson in South Park. It has been noted as common in May in Baca co. by Warren, in La Plata CO. by Gilman, in the San Luis Valley by Henshaw, in the Boulder co. plains by Henderson, near Barr by Hersey and Rockwell, and in Larimer co. by Bendire. It is a common summer resident in Mesa co., reaching Grand Junction as early as March 4th and Plateau Valley, at a higher elevation, about March 20th (Rockwell). Habits. — Say's Phoebe reaches El Paso co. from the south early in April, and has been noted at Pueblo on March 17th (Lowe), and fresh eggs may be found about the middle of May or beginning of June. It leaves again in September, and was seen as late as the 15th by Henderson, near Boulder. Like the eastern Phoebe, it evinces a great attachment for its old home, returning 268 Birds of Colorado year after year to build in the same place, which is usually under the eaves of barns or sheds, or under bridges, but generally in the neighbourhood of a ranehe. In early days, before the advent of civilization, it made use of caves and overhanging banks for its nest. This is a bulky structure plastered up with mud, and generally lined with hair or wool, with a base of various materials. The eggs are usually four or five in number, rather short ovates in shape, and generally pure white. Two broods are often raised in one season. Say's Phoebe is a restless bird, constantly flicking its tail and raising its crest ; it is always on the move, looking out for insects, which almost exclusively form its food, and which it often catches on the wing ; like Owls, it rejects the hard parts of these in the form of pellets. The note is loud and somewhat plaintive. Genus NUTTALLORNIS. Flycatchers of moderate size — wing about 4-0, with a very stout bill, the width of which at the nostrils exceeds half the length of the culmen ; wings long and pointed, the outer (tenth) primary exceeding the seventh distinctly ; tail short, about two-thirds of the length of the wing, plain coloured and emarginate ; feet very small, tarsus shorter than the culmen and the middle toe and claw ; a patch of silky white feathers on either side of the rump. Only the one species here described is assigned to this genas. Olive-sided Flycatcher. Nuttallornis borealis. A.O.U. Checklist no 459— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 158 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Henshaw 75, p. 350 ; Scott 79, p. 94 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; Tresz 81, p. 183 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 ; Bendire 92, p. 282 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 88, 201; Henderson 03, p. 235; 09, p. 232; Oilman 07, p. 155; Rockwell 08, p. 167. Description. — General colour above slaty-olive, feathers of the crown with darker centres ; wings and tail dark brown, the former with the secondaries and greater coverts edged and tipped with whitish ; below the chin and throat very pale yellowish ; the centre of the breast, Olive-sided Flycatcher 269 abdomen and under tail-coverts somewhat less pale ; the sides of the neck, breast and flanks ashy-brown, indistinctly streaked with darker ; a patch of pale yellowish, fluffy feathers on the flanks, generally con- cealed but sometimes very clearly visible on either side of the rvunp ; iris brown, bill and legs brownish-black. Length 6-5 ; wing 4-20 ; tail 2-5 ; tarsus -55 ; culmen -85. The sexes are alike, and the young essentially like the adults, but the pale tips of the coverts and secondaries are brownish. Distribution.^ — Breeding throughout the coniferous forest regions from Alaska and Hudson Bay southwards to New York and Minnesota, and thence along the Alleghanies, Rockies and subsidiary ranges of the west to northern Mexico, migrating southwards to Columbia, western Ecuador and Peru. A fairly common siunmer resident in the moimtains of Colorado, but only a migrant in the plains and not so often met with. It is noted as a migrant in the plains of Boulder co. by Henderson, and is not very abundant in El Paso co. on the plains, but Scott found it not uncommon near Twin Lakes at about 9,300 feet, and Minot at 10,000 feet on Pikes Peak. Gale found nests from 8,000 to 9,500 feet in the mountains of Boulder co, ; Lowe records it nesting at about 9,500 feet in the Wet Mountains in Huerfano co., and Henshaw met with it from 7,000 feet to timber line near Fort Garland. In Mesa co. it is stated by Rockwell to be quite rare ; he only observed it once in Plateau Valley at 6,800 feet. It arrives from the south in May ; W. G. Smith notes it once at Loveland on the 11th ; Allen and Brewster first saw it on the 17th ; Aiken's earliest record is the 21st. It departs south again at the end of August or beginning of September. Habits. — ^The Olive-sided Flycatcher is never very abundant, possibly owing to its quarrelsome and un- sociable nature. Its favourite resort is the top of a bare spruce, whence it makes constant sallies after passing insects, clicking its bill as it catches them on the wing. It has a loud whistle-like call-note, as well as a " Chip, chip, chip." The nest is usually saddled far out on the horizontal limb of a fir, and is completed about the middle of June ; it is small and flat, and appears fragile though constructed of strong material. The eggs are generally three in number, with a white to pale pinkish ground-colour, thickly blotched and spotted with chestnut and purple. 270 Birds of Colorado Bendire describes a nest sent him by Denis Gale from Gold Hill, taken on July 7th, at about 9,500 feet. Genus MYIOCHANES. Flycatchers of medium or small size — wing 2-5 to 4-5, with a broad, flattened biU, the width of which across the nostrils is often f the length of the culmen ; wing long and pointed, the outer primary always exceeding the fifth, often the sixth ; tail slightly emarginate, plain coloured, from f to | the length of the wing ; feet very slender and small ; tarsus about the same length as the culmen and generally exceeding the middle toe and claw ; no conspicuous silky tufts on either side of the rump. A considerable genus of some seventeen species, spread over the whole of temperate and tropical America (except the West Indies) ; one species commonly occurs in Colorado. Key of the Species. A. Dusky ohve above ; lower mandible dusky brown. C. richardsoni, p. 271. B. Greenish-olive above ; lower mandible whitish. C. virens, p. 270. Wood-Pewee. Myiochanes virens. A.O.U. Checklist no 461 — Colorado Record — Warren 06, p. 21. Description. — Closely resembling the Western Wood-Pewee, but distinguished by the darker and more olive and less ashy shade of the back ; by the less extent of the dusky grey band on the chest, which is more or less interrupted in the middle so as to form two lateral patches ; and by the pale whitish colour of the lower mandible, which is pinkish in life, but usually has the extreme tip brownish. Length 5-50 ; wing 3-30 ; tail 2-50 ; tarsus -40 ; culmen -50. The sexes are alike, and the young essentially similar to the adults. Distribution. — Breeding throughout eastern North America, from Manitoba and Prince Edward Island southwards to Texas and Florida ; migrating southwards in winter through Mexico and Central America as far as Ecuador and Peru, and also to Cuba. The Wood-Pewee is common as far as the eastern border of the great plains, westwards of which (i.e. in western Kansas) it is rare. It has only once been met with in Colorado ; Warren obtained a single specimen near Springfield, in the extreme south-east corner of the State, on May 12th, 1905. Western Wood-Pewee 271 Western Wood-Pewee. Myiochanes richardsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 462. — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 151, 158 ; Aiken 72, p. 206 ; Trippe 74, p. 247 ; Henshaw 75, p. 353 ; Scott 79, p. 94 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Drew 81, p. 140 ; Tresz 81, p. 183 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 268 ; Miller 94, p. 38 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 88, 209 ; Keyser 02, p. 32 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 ; 09, p. 232 ; Warren 06, p. 21 ; 08, p. 21 ; Gihnan 07, p. 155 ; Rockwell 08, p. 167 ; Markman 08, p. 156. Description. — Above very dark slaty-brown, with a very faint wash of olive, darker brown on the crowm ; wings and tail blackish-brown ; the greater- and middle-coverts and secondaries edged with whitish ; below dusky grey over the greater part of the breast and flanks ; paler, sometimes whitish, on the chin and throat ; the middle of the abdomen usually washed with very pale yellow ; upper mandible dark brown , lower mandible pale brown, but never so pale as in M. virens. Length 5-50 ; wing 3-50 ; tail 2-50 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus -47. The young birds are very like the advilts, the sexes of which are alike, but the pale tips of the coverts and secondaries are more conspicuous and tinged with pale rufous. Distribution. — Breeding through western North America from Alaska and Manitoba southwards to western Texas and northern Mexico, in winter south over the rest of Mexico and Central America to Ecuador and northern BoHvia. The Western Wood-Pewee is a common summer resident throughout Colorado, breeding from the plains to at least 10,000 feet. It has been recorded as common in the following localities : Boulder co. (Minot & Henderson), EI Paso co. (Aiken), Estes Park (Kellogg), Bergin Park, 7,500 feet (Trippe), South Park (Allen) ; Wet Mountains, 10,000 feet (Lowe) ; Breckenridge, 9,700 feet (Carter) ; Twin Lakes, 9,300 feet (Scott) ; Deep Creek, Gunnison co., breeding, June 30th (Warren) ; San Juan co. (Drew) ; La Plata co. (Morrison) ; Mesa co., 7,000 to 10,000 feet (Rockwell), and Baca co. (Warren). It arrives in El Paso CO. about the first week in May, reaching the mountains about tlu:ee weeks later, and leaves again for the south in September. It has been noticed as early as April 25th at Pueblo (Lowe). Habits. — ^The Western Pewee, though closely resembling its relative of the east in appearance, differs from it very considerably in habits ; it frequents more open country, and has a much harsher, more abrupt, and less-pleasiug song. It is generally to be found in the lower branches 272 Birds of Colorado of trees, whence it darts out after its insect prey. Some controversy seems to have arisen in regard to the situation of the nest : Aiken states, as is the case with the eastern bird, it is usually saddled on the outer fork of a horizontal bough, and in plain sight. It is somewhat deeper and more strongly constructed than that of the eastern bird, and is covered externally with leaves and bark, not, as a rule, with lichens. Fresh eggs are to be found at low elevations in the middle of June ; but at Twin Lakes, Scott took a nest with three eggs on July 11th. These, generally three in number, are white to pale cream, spotted and blotched with reddish. They cannot be distinguished from those of the eastern bird. Genus EMPIDONAX. Small Flycatchers — wings measuring from 2-25 to 3-25 — with broad, flattened bills, the width of which across the nostrils is about equal to the culmen ; wings long and pointed, the tenth (outer) primary between the fourth and sixth, the ninth to seventh the longest ; tail even or slightly emarginate, shorter than the wings, generally about I to I ; legs and feet of normal size, the tarsus from | to ^ the length of the wing, always exceeding the culmen and middle toe and claw. About thirty species and subspecies have been recognized, spread over the greater part of America, except the West Indies. Seven of these have been taken in Colorado. The members of this genus have a very similar coloration, varying from olive to dark grey above and from pale yellow to whitish-grey below ; they are also very nearly of the same size, and are consequently difficult to discriminate ; the following key, therefore, should be used with caution, and the description in aU cases referred to before a satisfactory conclusion can be reached. Key of the Species. A. Yellow wash of under-side richer, and distinctly extending over the throat ; size large (wing 2-85) ; tail emarginate. E. difficilis, p. 273. B. Yellow wash of under-side paler, not extending over the throat, which is markedly white. Western Flycatcher 273 a. Tail even; size larger; wing about 2-70. a^ Above duller and more brownish ; culmen longer, about -5 ; lower mandible dusky. E. trailli, p. 274. b^ Above brighter and more greenish ; culmen shorter, about -4 ; lower mandible whitish. E. t. alnorum, p. 275. b. Tail slightly emarginate ; size much smaller ; wing about 2-55 • E. minimus, p. 275. C. Yellow wash of under-side overlaid by the extended area of the grey of the breast ; throat more or less grey ; tail emarginate. a. Tenth (outer) primary longer than the fifth ; biU small and narrow ; culmen about -40. E. hammondi, p. 276. b. Tenth (outer) primary shorter than the fifth. a^ Smaller; wing about 2-75; bill large; culmen -52, lower mandible dark, E. wrighti, p. 277. b^ Larger ; wing 2-85 ; bill smaller ; culmen -50 ; lower mandible pale, tipped dusky. E. griseus, p. 278. Western Flycatcher. Empidonax difjicilis. A.O.U. Checklist no 464— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 184 Trippe 74, p. 258 ; Henshaw 75, p. 359 ; Minot 80 ; p. 231 ; Drew 81 p. 140 ; Tresz 81, p. 183 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Bendire 92, p. 298 ; Cooke 97, pp. 88, 209 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 233. Description. — Above dull oUve-brown ; wings and tail dusky brown, the outer webs edged with yellowish-ohve, the middle- and greater- coverts strongly tipped with greenish-brown, forming a conspicuous double wing-band ; below pale primrose, soUed with buffy-olive on the breast and neck, paling slightly on the throat, which is distinctly yellow ; a pale yellow orbital ring ; outer (tenth) primary distinctly shorter than the fifth ; tail emarginate ; iris brown, upper mandible dark brown, lower pale yellowish ; legs dusky brown. Length 5-10 wings 2-85; tail 2-40; culmen -45; tarsus -62. The sexes are alike ; the young are browner above and the wing-band more ochraceous. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the western half of North America, from Alaska and western Manitoba southwards to western Texas, northern Mexico and California ; in winter, south to Oaxaca and Guererro in southern Mexico. In Colorado the AVestern Flycatcher is a regular summer resident in the mountains and neighbouring foothills, breeding up to 10,000 feet, but not apparently in the plains. It has been recorded from Estes Park, 8,000 feet (Kellogg) ; Gold Hill, breeding from 8,500 feet to 10,000 274 Birds of Colorado feet (Gale) ; Breckenridge, breeding at 9,700 feet (Carter) ; Green Mountain Falls, 7,700 feet, in El Paso cc, and Beaver Creek, Fremont CO. (Aiken) ; San Juan co., breeding up to 10,000 feet (Drew). It arrives late (May 24th in Fremont co., Aiken), and nests at the end of June or beginning of July, and returns south in September. Habits. — ^This Flycatcher generally affects narrow canons, or shady glades near a mountain stream. It sometimes perches on dead tree-tops, whence it keeps watch for passing insects. It has a somewhat plaintive call of two low notes, and a clear, pleasing song as well. A nest found by A. W. Anthony on June 25th, in the San Juan co., was placed on a ledge of rock, about ten feet above the cart road ; it was a large ball of green moss, with a little cup in the centre lined with hair ; the eggs, generally three in number, are creamy-white, spotted and blotched with cinnamon, rufous and buffy- pink ; they measure about "66 x '52. Out of nine nests taken by Gale, three were from mine-shafts or tunnels. Traill's Flycatcher. Empidonax irailli. A.O.U. Checklist no 466— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 206 (E. pusilhis) ; Henshaw 75, p. 356 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Drew 81, p. 140 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 88, p. 107 ; 89, p. 146 ; Bendire 92, p. 305 H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke 97, pp. 88, 209 ; Henderson 03, p. 235 09, p. 233 ; Warren 06, p. 21. Description. — Above dull olive-brown, slightly darker on the crown ; wings and tail dark brown, the secondaries edged with whitish-olive and the middle- and greater -coverts broadly tipped with pale buffy, forming two conspicuous wing-bands ; below ashy-grey, white on the throat, duskier on the breast, becoming pale primrose on the flanks and abdomen ; tenth (outer) primary longer than the fifth ; tail even. Iris brown, upper mandible blackish-brown, lower pale brownish- white, legs brownish-black. Length 5-20 ; wing 2-70 ; tail 2-40 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus -60. The sexes are alike, and the young birds hardly differ from the adults. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from southern Alaska through Idaho to the Mississippi Valley and westwards ; in winter, south over Mexico and Central America to Colombia. Trail's Flycatcher is a common summer resident in Colorado from the plains to about 8,000 feet. It reaches EI Paso co. about May 15th, Alder Flycatcher 275 and leaves again late in September. It has been recorded from Boulder CO., breeding at 5,500 feet (Gale), Limon and El Paso co. (Aiken) ; Baca CO. (Warren), Salida, May 17th (Frey), Pueblo, Fort Garland, 7,900 feet, and Pagosa Springs, 7,100 feet (Henshaw), and San Juan co. (Drew). Habits. — This little Flycatcher is chiefly to be met with among the willows and alders which fringe so many of the streams, both on the plains and in the lower moun- tain valleys and parks ; it is shy, quick and nervous, constantly flicking its tail and catching insects, and its call is a sharp single " Whit." Dennis Gale found it breeding in the alder bushes, along a stream in Boulder co. at about 5,500 feet, on July 2nd ; the nest contained five eggs, one of which belonged to a Cow-bird. The eggs are creamy-white, moderately spotted with vinaceous and ferruginous ; they measure about '70 x '53. Alder Flycatcher. Empidonax trailli alnorum. A.O.U. Checklist no 466a. Description.- — Closely re.sembling E. trailli, but the general colour above, including the sides of the head, very distinctly brighter greenish- olive ; below, the breast clearly washed with greenish-olive, and the flanks and abdomen a brighter shade of yellow ; bill distinctly smaller, about 45 instead of -50, and the lower mandible much paler, almost white. Distribution. — This species replaces Traill's Flycatcher in north- eastern North America, where it breeds from the Yukon to the New England States and the Alleghanies in Maryland ; it migrates south in winter to south-eastern Mexico, Central America, and Ecuador. A Flycatcher obtained by Aiken near Limon in Lincoln co.. May 27th, 1905, appears to be an undoubted example of this subspecies ; it is probably a straggler from the general line of migration, and is so far the only record from Colorado. It was identified by Ridgway. Least Flycatcher. Empidonax minimus. A.O.U. Checklist no 467 — Colorado Records — Baird, Brewer & Ridgway 74, vol. iii., p. 519 ; Henshaw 75, p. 358 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 89 ; Warren 06, p. 21. T 2 276 Birds of Colorado Description. — Closely resembling E. trailli, but slightly richer in colour, and the wing-bands a cleaner white. At once distinguishable, however, by its distinctly emarginate tail, and by its smaller size. The amount of yellow on the under-surface varies considerably, but the throat is always pure white ; lower mandible pale dusky. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-55 ; tail 2-20 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -55. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from the eastern base of the Rocky Slountains in Athabasca and western Texas to Prince Edward Island and North Carolina ; southward in winter through eastern Mexico and Central America to northern Peru. In Colorado the Least Flycatcher has only been foimd, as a regular, though rather rare spring migrant, on the eastern plains and foothills of the State. It has not hitherto been found nesting, though it probably does so ; nor has it been met with in or west of the Rocky Mountains. It has been noticed in the following localities only : Loveland, May 12th (Cooke) ; Denver, May 12th to 17th (Henshaw) ; El Paso cc, May 13th to June 6th, Elbert co.. May 21st, Lincola co.. May 22nd to 27th, and Fremont co.. May 11th (Aiken) ; Baca co.. May 13th (Warren). Habits. — This little Flycatcher is a common bird in the east, where it is often kno\vn as the "Chebec," from its call ; it prefers open, cultivated country, and can often be seen in orchards and hedgerows ; it is an exceedingly restless creature, constantly flitting about and darting after insects. Hammond's Flycatcher. Empidonax haimnondi. A.O.U. Checklist no 468— Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 184 ; Trippe 74, p. 258 ; Henshaw 75, p. 362 ; Minot 80, p. 231 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Beckham 85, p. 143 ; Morrison 89, p. 146 ; Bendire 92, p. 315 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 89, 209 ; Oilman 07, p. 155 ; Henderson 09, p. 233. Description. — Closely resembling E. minimus, with the tail distinctly emarginate, but the bill narrower and the wing, tail and middle toe longer. Below the ashy shading on the breast is darker and more widely spread, extending over the throat, which is not distinctly white ; tenth (outer) primary equal to the fifth. As in E. m,inimu8, there are two distinct colour phases, some individuals being strongly washed with pale yellow below, others being vvithout any trace of yellow ; the bulk of specimens are intermediate, and the differentiation does not seem to depend on age, sex or season. Length 5-10 ; wing 2-85 ; tail 2-40 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -60. Wright's Flycatcher 277 Distribution. — Breeding in the mountains of Colorado and California, north to south-east Alaska ; south in winter through Mexico to Guatemala. Hammond's Flycatcher is a rather uncommon summer resident in the mountains of Colorado, and does not occur in the plains except on migration. It has been recorded as follows : Gold Hill, Boulder co., breeding 10,000 feet (Gale) ; Idaho Springs, 7,500 feet (Trippe), Dillon, breeding at 9,000 feet (Carter), Pikes Peak and Turkey Creek, El Paso CO. and Fremont co.. May 23rd (Aiken), Pueblo (Beckham), Salida, May 21st (Frey), La Plata co., breeding (Gilman). Habits. — This is a silent and retiring bird of very different disposition from its nearest relative, the Least Flycatcher ; it affects the glens and recesses of the mountains, and is to be met with in the alder bushes along alpine streams. From time to time it makes a dart at a passing insect, and quickly returns to its perch. Dennis Gale found a nest at Gold Hill, on 27th June ; it was saddled on the horizontal arm of a spruce, about fourteen feet from the ground, and three feet from the trunk ; the nest was solidly constructed with an outer covering of old weed-stems, bark, etc, etc., and lined within with fine bark, hair and a few feathers ; the eggs, four in number, are creamy-white and generally unspotted ; they measure '66 x '51. Wright's Flycatcher. Empidonax wrighti. A.O.U. Checklist no 469— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 151, 158 {E. obscurus) ; Trippe 74, p. 258 ; Henshaw 75, p. 360 ; Scott 79, p. 95 ; Tresz 81, p. 183 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 17 ; Morrison 89, p. 147; Kellogg 90, p. 90; Bendire 92, p. 318 (E. wrighti) ; Lowe 94, p. 268 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97 pp. 89, 209 ; Henderson 03, p. 107 ; 09, p. 233 ; Rockwell 08, p. 167. Description. — Very similar to E. hammondi, but distinctly a larger bird, though the wing is proportionately shorter ; bill much longer ; tail and tarsus longer ; the outer (tenth) primary shorter than the fifth ; ashy wash on breast slightly paler and less extended ; lower mandible generally dark brown, but varying ; tail emarginate. Length 5-25; wing 2-75; tail 240 ; culmen -52 ; tarsus -69. Distribution.— Breeding in the Rocky Moim tains from Montana and Oregon to Arizona and New Mexico ; in winter to southern California and Mexico as far south as the State of Oaxaca. 278 Birds of Colorado In Colorado, Wright's Flycatcher is a fairly common summer resident, especially in the mountains ; it is probably only a migrant in the plains. It has been recorded from Estes Park (Kellogg) ; Boulder co., breeding at 10,000 feet (Gale) ; Denver, May 12th to 17th (Henshaw) ; Idaho Springs (Trippe) ; Breckenridge (Carter) ; Twin Lakes (Scott) ; South Park, breeding (Allen) ; Crested Butte, Gunnison co., breeding 8,800 feet (Warren) ; El Paso and Lincoln cos. (Aiken) ; Wet Mountains (Lowe) ; Fort Garland 7,000 feet (Henshaw), Mesa co., 7,000 to 9,000 feet, common (Rockwell), and Silverton, breeding (Anthony apud Bendire). The earhest date for arrival in El Paso co. is May 5th. Habits. — Like the Hammond Flycatcher, this species is shy and retiring, concealing itself in the thick willow and alder bushes along the courses of mountain streams, and seldom venturing forth on to the mountain sides. Dennis Gale found a nest containing four eggs on July 22nd, in Boulder co. It was built in thick spruce-bush, about thirty inches from the ground. Warren found three nests in the summer of 1900, near Crested Butte ; they were all largely constructed of fibre from the inner bark of dead aspen trees, and were placed in bushes four to six feet above the ground. The eggs are dull white and unspotted ; they average •68 X -52. Gray Flycatcher. Empidonax yriseus. A.O.U. Checklist no 469.1 — Colorado Record — Ridgway 01 pt. iv., p. 571. Description. — Resembling E. wrighti, but much greyer above (with hardly any trace of olive) as well as below ; wing averaging longer, tail shorter and bill narrower ; lower mandible very pale (pinkish in life) with a dusky tip ; tail emarginate, tenth primary about equal to the fourth. Length 5-25 ; wing 2-85 ; tail 2-30 ; cuhnen -50 ; tarsus -70. Distribution. — Breeding from southern California to southern New Mexico and the highlands of northern Mexico ; in winter to Lower California. This bird is only an accidental straggler in Colorado ; Ridgway records an example taken at Newcastle on the Grand River on May 24th, while a Flycatcher in the Aiken collection taken by Mr. Aiken, May 3rd, 1872, near Fountain in El Paso co., appears to be undoubtedy referable to this species. Desert Horned Lark 279 Family ALAUDID-^. Characters of the single genus. Genus OTOCORIS. Bill stout, somewhat conical ; nostrils circular, completely concealed by stiff feathers directed forwards ; primaries nine, the tenth (outer) not obvious ; tail nearly square ; tarsus rounded in front and behind, and covered both anteriorly and posteriorly with scutes ; claws of front toes shghtly curved, that of hind toe straight and exceeding its digit in length ; head not crested, but with a little erectile, elongated feather-tuft on either side. This genus is spread over nearly all of North America and extends south to Colombia ; also over Europe, Asia and northern Africa. The Horned Larks are remarkable for the great amount of variation which they have undergone throughout their range ; these variations are not very marked, and as a rule are connected by intermediate forms. Mr. Oberholser, the most recent monographer of the genus, recognizes no less than thirty-six forms, of which only six, in his opinion, are worthy of specific separation. All the American forms are included in one species, Otocoris alpestris (Linn.). The Horned Larks of Colorado were by Henshaw (84) supposed to be referable to two subspecies — (o) a large pale form with a white throat (0. leucolcema of Henshaw = 0.arc; family are by no means easy to dis- criminate, an alternative key is given ; this is adapted from that of Coues, in which colour and plumage characters are more freely used. A. Bill with tips of mandibles crossed. Loxia, p. 333. B. Bill very large, culmen almost equal to tarsus, greenish in colour. Hesperiphona, p. 325. C. BiU large and reddish ; head crested. Cardinalis, p. 398. D. Bill with a pair of tufts of bristles at base of upper mandible partially or completely concealing nostrils. a. Length over 8 ; plumage grey with red in male, yellow in female. Pinicola, p. 327. b. Length less than 8. a'* Plumage black and white, washed with clear brown in winter. Plectrophenax, p. 349. b^ Plumage chocolate or dusky, with rosy edgings and washings. Leucosticte, p. 335. c^ Pkmiage chiefly yeUow, no red ; wings and tail black. Astragalinus, p. 342. d^ Plumage streaky. a' Bill turgid ; male chiefly rosy ; female dusky, no yellow. Carpodacus, p. 328. b' Bill acute ; crown crimson. Acanthis, p. 340. c^ Bill acute, no red ; yellow about wings and tail. Spinas, p. 346. E. Bill without tufts ; nostrils generally exposed. a. Hind claw lengthened and straightened. a" Bill moderate ; white on tail oblique. Calcarius, p. 350. b" Bill turgid, white on tail transverse. Rhynchophanes, p. 353. b. Hind and fore claws lengthened, the inner reaching at least half-way to the end of middle one. a^ Plumage sparrow-like, spotted and streaked. Passerella, p. 390. b^ Plumage black, white and chestnut in masses. Pipilo (in part), p. 392. X 2 324 Birds of Colorado c. Claws normal, not enlarged, a* Length over 7-5. a* Tail longer than wing ; plumage plain brown, or black, white and chestnut. Pipilo (in part), p. 392. b' Tail shorter than the wing ; male rose or orange on breast, female yellow on under wing-coverts. Zamelodia, p. 398. b* Length less than 7-5. a' Colour greenish ; crown chestnut. Oreospiza, p. 396. b' Colour not green ; not extensively streaked, a* Black with white wing-patch. Calamospiza (male), p. 406. b* Male blue, with chestnut wing-band, female plain brown; length over 6. Guiraca, p. 401. c* Male blue, with rufous and white, female brown ; length under 6. Passerina, p. 403. d* Slaty or ashy ; outer tail-feathers white. Junco, p. 373. e* Grey ; throat and tail black with white edges. Amphispiza (in part), p. 381. c' Colour not greenish ; extensively streaked, a* Inner secondaries lengthened. a^ A large white or buffy-white wing-patch. Calamospiza (female), p. 406. b' Bend of wing chestnut, outer tail-feathers white. Pooecetes, p. 354. c^ No white or chestnut on wing. a* Edge of wing faint yellow, wings longer, exceed- ing tail and tarsias together. Passerculus, p. 3i56. b* Edge of wing bright yellow ; wings shorter, about equal to tail and tarsus together. Ammodramus, p. 359. c® Edge of wing white, wing short, hardly equal to tail and tarsus together. Centronyx, p. 358. b* Inner secondaries not lengthened ; wing decidedly longer than tail. a^ Yellow on breast, edge of wing and eyebrow ; throat-patch black. Spiza, p. 405. b^ No yellow ; head with black, white and chestnut ; tail black, tipped with white. Chondestes, p. 361. c^ No yellow ; white bar on wing, throat black in male. Passer, p. 348. Western Evening-Grosbeak 325 c^ Inner secondaries not lengthened ; wing about equal to or shorter than the tail, a^ Tail graduated. a* Tail-feathers very narrow and pointed. Passerherbulus, p. 360. b" Tail-feathers normal, rounded at ends. a' Edge of wing yellow. Peucaea, p. 384. b' Edge of wing not yellow. Aimophila, p. 385. b^ Tail forked ; no yellow on wing. Spizella, p. 368. c^ Tail even or slightly roiuided. a* Tail black with white edges. Amphispiza, p. 381. b6 Tail not black. a' Streaked below. Melospiza, p. 386. b' Not streaked below. Zonotrichia, p. 363. Genus HESPERIPHONA. Large Finches — wing over iO — with a very stout and swollen bill of a greenish tinge, the culmen of which is about equal to the tarsus ; rami of the lower mandible very short, only about one- fifth of the gonys; head not crested ; wings long and pointed, the difference between the primaries and secondaries about twice the length of the tarsus ; tail short, slightly forked, hardly more than half the length of the wing ; tarsus very short. Plumage yellow or grey and black with a white patch on the wing. This genus, containing only two species, is confined to North and Central America. One subspecies, differing from the tjrpical eastern form only by its shghtly larger bill, is fovmd in Colorado. Western Evening-Grosbeak. HesperipJio7ia vespertina montana. A.O.U. Checklist no 514a — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 199 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Morrison 89, p. 149 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Cooke 97, pp. 95, 169, 211 ; Henderson 03, p. 236 ; 09, p. 235 ; Dille 04, p. 50 ; 09, p. 87; Markman 07, p. 157 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 187 ; Rockwell 08, p. 170. Description. — Male — ^A broad frontal band of yellow ; occiput black, becoming olive-brown on the upper-back, sides of the head and breast, and paling into yellow on the scapulars, rump, lower-breast and abdomen ; wings and upper tail-coverts and tail black, except for the inner greater coverts and inner secondaries, which are white ; leg- feathers black. Iris brown, bill apple-green to pale yellowish-green, legs light brown. Length 6-75; wing 4-30; tail 2-40; culmen -85; tarsus -75. 326 Birds of Colorado The female is smoky-grey above, darkest on the head and tinged on the hind-neck with greenish-yellow ; wings, tail and tail-coverts black, with white tips and patches on many of the feathers ; below bufiy-grey, becoming white on the throat and under tail-coverts ; a dusky sub -malar streak on each side of the throat. This subspecies differs from the eastern form in its smaller and more slender biU, its narrow frontal band and in the more buffy under-parts of the female. Distribution. — Western North America from British Columbia to northern Mexico, east to the eastern bases of the Rocky Mountains. In Colorado the Evening -Grosbeak is an irregular wanderer, appearing from time to time and then not seen perhaps for months or even years ; but as it has been met with during every month in the year and is known to breed, it may be classed as a resident bird. Its range extends from the plains to 10,000 feet, at which elevation Lowe records it in the fall from the Wet Mountains. Other records are : Fort ColHns, July, October (Cooke), Estes Park, breeding (Dille), Boulder co., regularly in winter since 1901 (Henderson), Weld CO., Jiuie (Markman), El Paso co., January, May, June (Aiken) ; Fremont CO., April (Aiken), Beulah, May, July and August (Jones apud Cooke) ; Fort Lyon, May (Cooke), Routt co., breeding (H. G. Smith), Mesa co. (Rockwell), La Plata co., May (Morrison). Habits. — This handsome bird is almost always to be met with in small flocks, and generally in the pine woods of the momitains, though it sometimes comes down to tile plams, and I have even seen it in the suburbs of Colorado Springs in October, attracted by the buds of the maple trees planted in the streets, of which it appears to be excessively fond. It also feeds on the berries of the cedars and other fruits, while in smnmer caterpillars and insects form its chief food. Its voice is a loud, clear whistle . Dille and his collector Andrews found a nest of this bird in Estes Park in 1903, at an elevation of about 9,000 feet. There were many of the birds at the time in the park, but the nest was not located till July 4th. It was placed about forty feet up, towards the end of a horizontal limb of a tall white pine {Finns flexilis). The nest was a deep cup and well constructed ; it consisted Rocky Mountain Pine-Grosbeak 327 entirely of rootlets woven together, and contained four eggs which were slightly mcubated ; the eggs were dull green spotted with bro\ATi, and closely resembled those of the Red-winged Blackbird. Smith (08) states that H. S. Reed found a brood of four or five young birds just out of the nest on July 22nd, 1898, in California Park in the Elk Head Mountains, Routt co., so that it probably breeds not uncommonly in the mountain parks. Genus PINICOLA. Large Finches — wing over 4-0 — with a broad, stout and short bill, the culmen strongly down-ciu-ved and hooked at the tip, and less than the length of the tarsus ; nostrils more or less concealed by forwardly growing bristles ; wing long and pointed, difference between primaries and secondaries less than twice the length of the tarsus ; tail moderate, slightly emarginate, about -75 length of wing ; tarsus shorter than the middle toe and claw ; plumage plain grey with a wash of red or yellow. The Pine -Grosbeaks are all included under one species, spread over the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. A number of sub- specific races have been recognized by recent authors, and one of these is found at higher elevations in Colorado. Rocky Mountain Pine-Grosbeak. Pinicola enucleator montana. A.O.U. Checklist no 515a — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 181 ; Trippe 74, p. 105 ; Drew 81, p. 89 ; 85, p. 15 ; Stone 82, p. 191 ; Mor- rison 88, p. 73 ; 89, p. 149 ; Kellogg 90, p. 88 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 96, 212 ; Henderson 03, p. 236 ; 09, p. 235 ; Rockwell 08, p. 170. Description. — Male — General colotu? above and below ashy-grey becoming dusky or blackish on the wings and tail, most of the wing- feathers margined with white ; the greater part of the body-feathers, especially on the head, rump and breast, overlaid with bright carmine- red ; bill dull black to horn-brown ; legs black. Length 8-25 ; wing 4-60 ; tail 3-60 ; culmen -60 ; tarsus -60. The female has no red, but the crown and sides of the head are bright golden-yellow, and there is a touch of the same colour on the upper tail-coverts. Young males usually resemble the females, but there is a good deal of abnormality about the plumage of this species ; adult 328 Birds of Colorado males are occasionally met with having the plumage of the female, and the amount of red or yellow is subject to considerable variation. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain Pine-Grosbeak is confined to the Rocky Mountains from Idaho and Montana to New Mexico, and breeds throughout its range at high elevations. The species as a whole is found over the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. In Colorado the Pine -Grosbeak is a not uncommon resident at high elevations, chiefly between 9,500 and 12,000 feet, where it is found throughout the year, though occasionally stragglers descend to the foothills and plains, probably driven down by storms. It has been recorded as follows : Estes Park, at timber line (Kellogg and McGregor), Boulder co., 10,000 feet, July, 9,000 feet, November (Gale) ; slope of James Peak (Trippe), Breckenridge, breeding (Carter), Tennessee Gulch, Lake co. and Pikes Peak (Aiken), Crested Butte, October (Warren), S. Mamm Peak, 10,000 feet. Mesa co. (Rockwell), San Juan CO. (Drew) and La Plata co. (Morrison) ; stragglers to the plains have been noticed at Fort Collins in November (Breninger), and at Fort Lyon by Captain Thome (Cooke). Habits. — ^As its name implies this bird is chiefly found in the pine woods, and except during the breeding season is generally in flocks or small parties ; it feeds chiefly on the buds and seeds of the pines as well as on those of the birch and alder, and perhaps a few berries and insects, especially in the breeding season. It has a clear, sweet, flowing song, something like that of the Purple Finch. It nests in July near timber line at 11,000 feet, according to Mrs. Stone, but information in regard to its breeding habits is very scanty. Genus CARPODACUS. Moderate-sized birds — wings under 4-0, with a moderately developed, slightly swollen bill ; the culmen either straight or curved, and the mandibles of approximately equal depth ; nostrils hardly concealed by the forwardly growing brLstles ; wings long and pointed ; tail rather short or moderate, from -62 to -77 of the wing, sUghtly emarginate to nearly square ; plumage of the males with crimson, of the females stripy brown. A large geniLs with a number of species distributed over the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Two species commonly occur in Colorado, while a third, the eastern Purple Finch, is a straggler. Purple Finch 329 Key of the Species. A. Crown and rump crimson (males). a. Tail distinctly emarginate ; wing washed with reddish. a^ Bill smaller, culmen -45 ; flanks and under tail-coverts white and unstreaked. C. purpureas, 3 p. 329. b^ Bill larger, culmen -50 ; flanks and under tail-coverts smoky-white and streaked with dusky. C. cassini, (? p. 329 b. Tail almost square ; wings without red wash. C. m. frontalis, - ■ >HrsR^ 3rJ^ ^1^ / — >^ ^xl 1 - ^SE ' wulBdS^HHIf^B ,^p|f t //^-n rf^; /^ ^#^ {':■• / ,;. T^'^^aT^ yTJsI^ '^" ''" ." ' r'-^'' \ /^ ^.-^•-^ yK,* •^JLv->- ^■A./'Jfr$^^ s i^f-^. ■^*-^-^lP ^- ,- -^;^ ^ w p a c-i — -with small slender bills and elongated oval nostrils overhung by an operculum ; tail about half the length of its wing, moderately forked ; tarsus with a tuft of small feathers on its posterior edge near the joint of the hind toe ; claws rather long and slender, that of the hallux exceeding its digit. Sexes alike ; eggs white. A widely spread genus, found over the greater part of the world, but with only one American species. 422 Birds of Colorado Bank-Swallow. Biparia riparia. A.O.U. Checklist no 616— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, HI ; Rockwell 08, p. 175 ; Henderson 09, p. 238. Description. — Male — Above dusky brown, becoming dusky black on the wings and tail, but without gloss ; below white, except for a broad band of greyish-brown across the chest, extending back along the flanks on either side ; a tuft of feathers on the tarsus, pale buffy ; iris brown, biU black, legs dark horn. Length 4-90 ; wing 4-15 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -25 ; tarsus -40. The sexes are alike. The young birds have the feathers of the back and upper tail-coverts, also the inner secondaries and wing-coverts, tipped with buffy-white and the chin tinged with buff. Distribution. — The Bank-Swallow, or Sand-Martin as it is called in England, has a range perhaps more extensive than that of any other Passerine bird. It breeds throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America, in the latter continent from the Arctic regions to Georgia and northern Mexico ; it goes south in winter to southern Asia and Africa, and in America to the West Indies and throvigh Central America to Peru and Brazil. The Bank-Swallow is quite a rare bird in Colorado, or else it has generally escaped the notice of observers. Aiken (72) records it as first noticed on April 26th in the Fountain Valley, and there is one example in the Aiken collection from Fremont eo., dated May 16th. Dennis Gale notes its arrival in the Boulder Valley April 20th, but Henderson considers this record doubtful ; Rockwell reports that Sullivan found it reasonably plentiful near Grand Junction, arriving May 1st and departing September 1st. This is the extent of the information available. Habits. — The Bank-Swallow breeds in large colonies, making horizontal holes or burrows in sand-banks, generally along streams, but often too in railway cuttings ; the eggs, four to six in number, are white with a rosy tinge when unblown, and measure on an average '69 x •49. Sullivan dug out of a bank on the Gunnison River, July 2nd, 1904, six young ones ready to fly. Genus STELGIDOPTERYX. Rather small Swallows — wing luider 4-5— with slender bills and roimded, superiorly directed nostrils without an operculum ; outer primary with the tips of the barbs of the outer web produced and reciu-ved, so as to form a series of clinging hooks along the outer edge of the wing ; this structure is only fully developed in the male, in the Rough -winged Swallow 423 female the barbs are stiffened and produced, but not hooked ; tail short, about half the length of the wing, very nearly square ; tarsus. without a tuft of feathers, claws short, that of the hallux less than its digit. Sexes alike ; eggs white. This genus, containing several species, is confined to the temperate and tropical regions of continental America. Only one species is met with in the United States. Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis. A.O.U. Checklist no 617— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 149 ; Henshaw 75, p. 219 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Drew 8.5, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Morrison 88, p. 73 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 111 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Oilman 07, p. 158. Description. — Male — Above pale mouse-brown nearly uniform except on the wings and tail, which are a shade darker ; below a paler shade of mouse-brown shading into white on the lower-breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts ; outer primary with the barbs of the outer web produced and hooked ; iris brown ; bill black ; legs homy -brown. Length 4-75 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -25 ; tarsus -40. The female resembles the male but is slightly smaller, and the barbs of the outer web of the outer primary slightly produced and stiffened but not hooked — wing about 4-0. The young bird is slightly washed with fawn above and has fawn-colovired tips and edgings to most of the coverts and secondaries ; the throat and chest are also slightly tinged with the same colour. Distribution. — Breeding in temperate North America from British Columbia and Massachusetts south to central Mexico ; south in winter to Costa Rica and occasionally on the coast of South Carolina. In Colorado the Rough-winged Swallow is a fairly common simimer bird along the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, from Cheyenne over the Wyoming border to Trinidad, where it was fovmd breeding by Aiken, but it does not go up into the mountains. It has also been met with in the south-western portion of the State at Fort Lewis by Oilman, and is stated by Morrison on the authority of Anthony to occur on the Animas River near Silverton ; if so it reaches an elevation of 9,000 feet, a good deal higher than was previously supposed. It arrives in Colorado about the first week in May. Habits. — The Rough-winged Swallow resembles the Bank-Swallow in habits and actions ; its swift and low flight and twittering notes being very similar. They are not, however, so gregarious in their habits, and nest in smaller numbers or even singly. The nest-holes are 424 Birds of Colorado almost invariably along the vertical banks of streams, and are by no means so uniform or carefully constructed as those of the Bank-SwaUow ; in fact Kingfishers' and other holes are often made use of, and cavities and crevices in the masonry abutments of bridges. The nest cavity is loosely lined with grass and feathers. The eggs, usually four or five, are pure white, and measure about •70 X -50. Family BOMBYCILLID^. Bill rather short, broad and flat, shghtly hooked and notched at the tip ; head conspicuously crested ; nasal fossae and nostrils almost concealed by the mass of forwardly -growing, dense, soft loral feathers ; rictal bristles obsolete ; ^ving of ten primaries, the outer (tenth) very minute, less than haK the length of the primary coverts ; wing long and pointed, the eighth and ninth the longest of the primaries ; tail much shorter than the wing and sHghtly rounded ; plumage soft and silkj% with curious red, horny appendages attached to the inner secondaries, and occasionally to other long feathers as well ; sexes alike ; young streaky. Following Ridgway, this family includes only the Waxwings of the genus Bomhy cilia, formerly known as Ampelis, which appear to be sufficiently distinct from the other genera containing the Silky Flycatchers, Phainopeplas, and Palm-Chats usually associated with them. Genus BOMBYCILLA. The characters of the genus are given witli those of the family. Its range inchides the temperate and subarctic portions of both the Old and New Worlds. A. Larger — wing over 4 ; under tail-coverts chestnut ; wing-feathers yellow or white tipped. B. garrula, p. 425. B. Smaller — wing under 4 ; under tail-coverts white ; wing-feathers without white or yellow tips. B. cedrorum, p. 426. Bohemian Waxwing 425 Bohemian Waxwing. Bomhycilla garrula. A.O.U. Checklist no 618— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 198 {Ampelis garrula) ; Trippe 74, p. 92 ; Drew 81, p. 89 ; 85, p. 15 ; H. G. Smith 84, p. 120 ; Morrison 88, p. 73 ; Cooke 97, pp. Ill, 217 ; Henderson 03, p. 236 ; 09, p. 238 ; Rockwell 08, p. 175. Description. — Sexes alike. General colour above and below grey or drab-brown, becoming tinged with rufous towards the head ; forehead and under tail-coverts rufous-chestnut ; a line running through the eye and along the base of the upper mandible and a patch on the chin and throat black ; wings dusky grey, the primary coverts tipped on both webs with white, the primaries with the tips of the outer webs white or yellow, the secondaries also tipped with white and the shafts of several of the feathers prolonged into sealing-wax red, flattened, pear-shaped appendages ; tail dusky grey with a terminal band of yellow ; iris brown, bill black, blueish-grey at base, legs black. Length 6-7."> ; wing 4-55 ; tail 2-65 ; culmen -45 ; tarsus -70. In some birds the red appendages to the secondaries are absent, and the yellow spots on the primaries are all white. This does not appear to be connected with age or sex or season. Distribution. — Breeding m the coniferous forests of the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds ; in America from Alaska to Hudson Bay, southwards in winter very irregularly as far as Pennsylvania and northern California. In Colorado the Waxwing is a not uncommon winter bird, more abundant in the moimtains, where it has been foimd as high as 10,000 feet by Dennis Gale near Ward in Boulder co. ; occasionally it is seen in the foothills, but it is notoriously erratic in its movements and may occur at any place. It reaches Colorado in November or December and remains often till the end of March. It was seen by Deimis Gale as late as Aj^ril 6th. The following are recorded localities : Boulder, a few in winter (Henderson), Denver (Smith), Idaho Springs (Trippe), Breckenridge (Carter apud Cooke), El Paso co. (Aiken), Mesa co. not imcommon in winter (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co. (Morrison). Habits, — The Bohemian Waxwing is usually seen in flocks, sometimes of very large size ; it is very erratic in its wanderings, and though common one winter in one particular locaHty, may not be seen again in the same place for many years. It feeds chiefly on wild berries, and the presence of these in sufficient quantities may perhaps account for its wandering habits, but it 426 Birds of Colorado also devours insects, catching flies on the Mdng like a Flycatcher. Its call is a Hsping whistle. It occasionally visits the to"RTis, and I have seen it in a suburban garden plot in Colorado Springs in October. It is not hkely to be found breeding in Colorado, but its nest is a bulky structure about six to twenty feet from the ground in a tree, and its eggs, three to four in number, are blueish- white or greyish, spotted with lilac and dark brown. Cedar-Waxwing. Bomhycilla cedrorum. A.O.U. Checklist no 619— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Scott 79, p. 93 ; Cooke 97, p. Ill ; Warren 09, p. 17 ; Henderson 09, p. 239. Description. — Sexes alike. General coloiu- above brown, becoming more grey on the rump, and more cinnamon on the head and breast ; a narrow black band running through the eye along the base of the upper mandible ; chin dull black, paling on the throat to brown ; wings dusky grey unmarked except for the red sealing-wax coloured ap- penda2;es to the shafts of the secondaries ; tail also dusky grey tipped with yellow ; below, flanks and abdomen pale yellowish, under tail- coverts white ; iris brown, bill black, greyish towards the base ; legs black. Length 5-5; wing 3-60; tail 2-10; culmen -40; tarsus -60. Some examples lack the red appendages to the secondaries, while some possess them on the tail-feathers as well, and have the yellow tail-tips narrower and paler, but this does not depend on sex or age. Young birds of the year are olive-drab above and mottled white and olive-drab below ; the black frontal band and the yellow tail-tip are present, but there are no red appendages to the secondaries as a rule. Distribution. — Breeding tlaroughout temperate North America from British Columbia and Prince Edward Island south to Arizona and Virginia ; wintering over the whole of the United States, and also south to Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica. In Colorado the Cedar-bird is far from common, though apparently a resident ; it keeps chiefly to higher elevations in summer and descends to the foothills dm-ing the winter ; Aiken observed it several times in early winter in El Paso co., and on one occasion saw a single bird on May 23rd, near Limon out on the plains ; Scott foimd it breeding twenty miles east (? west) of Fairplay in South Park on June 9th at 9,000 feet, and also observed it at Twin Lakes ; Warren reports that Cedar- Wax wing 427 C. H. Smith of Coventry, in the winter of 1907-8, saw a flock from which he shot one. Henderson reports one taken by Bragg at Boulder July 4th, 1904, now in the State Collection at Denver. These con- stitute the only records which I have been able to find. Habits. — The Cedar- Waxwing frequents woods, orchards and groves, going in flocks, all the year round except in the breeding season, and like the Bohemian Waxwing is a great wanderer. The notes are soft and subdued and hardly noticeable. The food consists chiefly of berries, especially those of the cedar, as well as insects. The}'' are generally regarded with alarm by the fruit-grower in consequence of their ravages on orchards, but they also destroy immense numbers of injurious insects and are probably more beneficial than harmful. The nest is a deep bulky structure of twigs and grasses hned with leaves or fine rootlets, and placed in thick bush or low tree ; the eggs, usually four in number, are blueish to purphsh-grey, spotted with brown or black ; they measure •82 X -60. The use and meaning of the characteristic red appen- dages are quite unknown ; they vary considerably in development and may be found even in young birds, though as a rule best developed in adult males. Family LANIIDiE. A large and cosmopolitan family chiefly developed in the Old World, and only represented in the Western Hemisphere by two species of the genus Lanius ; the characters of which may therefore be used to diagnose the American members of the family. Genus LANIUS. Bill robust, compressed, strongly hooked and toothed ; nostrils basal, nearly round, partly at any rate concealed by bristles ; rictal bristles numerous ; wing rather short and rounded, of ten primaries, the outer (tenth) about half the length of the ninth, the sixth, seventh , 428 Birds of Colorado and eighth the longest ; tail of twelve rectrices, about equal to the wing, and graduated ; tarsus rather short, but longer than the middle toe and claw, markedly scutellate. Sexes alike ; } oung more or less barred and vermiculated. This is an extensive genus ranging all over Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. A. Larger — wing over 4-25 ; no frontal band of black. L. borealis, p. 428. B. Smaller — wing under 4-0 ; a narrow frontal band connects the two side-patches of black. L. 1. excubitorides, p. 429; Northern Shrike. Lanius borealis. A.O.U. Checklist no 621— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Trippe 74, p. 102 ; Drew 81, p. 89 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 73 ; H. G. Smith 88, p. 163 ; Cooke 97, pp. 112, 217 ; Henderson 03, p. 236 ; 09, p. 239 ; Rockwell 08, p. 175 ; Warren 09, p. 17 ; Cary 09, p. 183. Description. — Male — Above blueish-grey, whitening on the rump, scapulars and superciliary region ; a black patch from the base of the bill through the eye to the ear-coverts ; wings and tail black, the primaries with a white bar across them, and the secondaries tipped with white, the tail-feathers with concealed white bases and an in- creasing amount of white on the terminal portion from the centre outwards ; below white with more or less distmct vermiculations of dusky on the breast ; iris brown, bill black in smnmer, dusky horn in winter, legs black. Length 10-25 ; wing 4-5 ; tail 4-25 ; culmen -65 ; tarsus -OS. The female closely resembles the male, but is slightly duller in coloiu* ; the white on the wing and tail is more restricted and the vermicula- tions on the chest more distinct ; the dimensions a shade smaller. The young birds are distinctly brownish in shade above, with vermi- culations on the rump, and more marked venniculations on the lower- smrface. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska to Labrador, but not south of the Canadian boimdary. In winter south over to the United States as far as Virginia, New Mexico and central California. In Colorado the Northern Shrike is a fairly common winter bird, arriving from the north in October, when it is often foimd at considerable elevations — up to 12,500 f. et according to Drew — and wintering in the plains, foothills and mountain parks up to about 9,500 feet. It goes north again at the end of March or beginning of April — latest date April 9th (Aiken). White-rumped Shrike 429 The following localities are recorded : Boulder co., rather tincommon (Henderson), Idaho Springs (Trippe), Denver (Smith), EI Paso co. (Aiken), Las Animas co., November (Gary), Mesa Co., not common (Rockwell), Crested Butte (Warren), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co. (Morrison). Habits. — The Northern Shrike has a deserved repu- tation for cruelty and rapacity ; it is a solitary bird and frequents open countrj^ and cultivated land, where it takes up a conspicuous perch and watches for an opportunity of securing its prey. In the autumn this consists largely of grasshoppers, beetles and other fairly large insects, but later on when these have disappeared it pounces on mice and small birds, especially the Juncos and Horned Larks, and Sparrows about the toAvns. It flies direct from its perch, strikes and carries back its victim in its claws to its perch again to devour at leisure. It does not appear to impale its victims on the thorns and barbed wire to any extent as other Shrikes do. Its ordinary note is harsh, but it has a SM^eet and pleasant song according to Smith, especially agreeable in winter, when the woods are bare and there is little else to hear. White-rumped Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus excubitorides. A.O.U. Checklist no 622a— Colorado Records— Baird 64, p. 445 ; Allen 72, p. 149 ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Henshaw 75, p. 233 ; Drew 81, p. 89 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Morrison 88, p. 73 ; Smith 88, p. 163 ; S. "Bob White " 94, p. 138 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 112, 217 ; Keyser 02, p. 98 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 239 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; 08, p. 24 ; Gihnan 07, p. 194 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 175. Description. — Adult Male — General colour above blueish-slaty-grey, becomin .; broadly white on the scapulars and rump, but hardly showing any white on the frontal and superciliary region ; a broad black patch from the base of the bill through the eye to the ear-coverts, this extends to the nasal tufts and the base of the culmen ; wings and tail black, the former with a white band across the base of the primaries ; the tips of 430 Birds of Colorado the secondaries white ; the tail with increasing amounts of white from the central feathers outwards ; the outermost pair wholly white, except for a small spot on the shaft towards its base ; below white without freckhng or vermiculation ; iris brown, bill black in sxinimer, dusky- horn in winter, legs black. Length 8-25 ; wmg 3-90 ; tail 3-90 ; culmen •55 ; tarsus 1-0. The sexes are aUke ; young birds have the upper-parts finely verini- culated with dusky and the lower -parts also finely barred with dusky on a browTiish ground. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from Saskatche- wan to south-eastern CaUfornia, northern Mexico and western Texas. In winter over the southern part of its breeding range, and further south to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The White-rumped Shrike is a common summer bird in Colorado, chiefly met with on the plains and at lower elevations and becoming rare in the mountains. The highest recorded locaUties seem to be those of Warren (08), who met with it between Sulphur Springs and Grand Lake in Middle Park on May 11th, and who tells me he occasion- ally met with it at Crested Butte at 9,000 feet, but always in the fall. It arrives from the south early in April (April 5th Aiken for El Paso CO., April 9th — 14th W. G. Smith for Loveland), and may winter occasionally in the southern part of the State. The following are further recorded locahties : Boulder co. (Henderson), Denver (Henshaw), Limon, Pueblo and Del Norte (Aiken), Baca co. (Warren), Mesa CO., wintering near Grand Junction (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co. (Morrison). Habits — ^The White-rumped Shrike preys chiefly on grasshoppers and other large insects, of which it must consume enormous quantities, less commonly on smaller birds and mice. It impales its prey on thorns, and frequently makes use of the barbs of barbed w^ire fencing for this purpose, though the reason for this practice seems uncertain. It catches its })Tey darting down on it from a fixed post, or sometimes hovering above it like a Hawk. It has a variety of call-notes and a not un- pleasing song. It breeds in May, and fresh eggs are to be found at any time during the latter half of the month, or even the beginning of June. It seems probable that in the plains at least two broods are raised. Dennis Gale's notes give ample details on the nidification of White-rumped Shrike 431 this species. He found the nests usually placed in low bushy thick-twigged willows at from seven to twenty feet from the ground. The nest is a bulky, rather untidy structure of grass and other vegetable stems, lined with finer material, including wool and hair. The eggs, seven or eight in number, are whitish-yellow, uniformly freckled with yellowish-brown, and measure about •97 X -72. Family VIREONIDiE. Bill variable in size, but rather Shrike-like, strong^ hooked and notched ; nostril oval or rounded, overhung by an operculum ; frontal and rictal bristles present ; wing with ten primaries, but the outer or tenth sometimes so small and rudimentary as to be entirely concealed, sometimes about half the length of the ninth ; tarsus longer than the middle toe and claw, scutellate in front ; toes adherent at the base, the basal joint of the middle toe rather shortened and soldered to the basal joints of the lateral toes ; plumage with plain green and grey prevailing ; never spotted or barred even in the young. This is a purely New World family, containing the Vireos or Greenlets ; about seventy species are kno^vn ; those of North America were formerly all referred to the type genus, but it is perhaps a matter of convenience to divide them as is here done. Key of the Colorado Species. A. Tenth primary entirely concealed, apparently absent ; no wing-bars. V. olivacea, p. 432. B. Tenth primary narrowed, pointed and short, less than } length of the ninth. a. No wing-bars. V. g. swainsoni, p. 433. b. Two distinct pale wing-bars. a^ OUve-green above and on the flanks and edges of the wing. L. s. cassini, p. 435. b^ Grey above.edges of wing whitish. L. s, plumbeus, p. 435. 432 Birds of Colorado C. Tenth primary longer, from i to i of the ninth. a. Larger — wing over 2-5 ; upper-parts grey, no olive. V. vicinior, p. 438. b. Smaller — wing tmder 2-5 ; upper-parts oHve-green. V. belli, p. 437. Genus VIREOSYLVA. Medium-sized or small Vireos, with a bill somewhat variable in length, but generally rather slender, narrow and compressed ; its depth at the base not more than half the distance from the nostril to the tip ; culmen straight with abruptly down-curved tip ; wing long and pointed, the tenth (outer) primary either rudimentary and wholly concealed, or if present, narrow and pointed and less than i^ the length of the ninth ; ninth primary longer than the fourth ; tail shorter than the wing, nearly even ; wings without bars. This genus containing a coixsiderable number of species, ranges over the whole of temperate and tropical America. (For key, see p. 431). Red-eyed Vireo. Vireosylva olivacea. A.O.U. Checklist no 624 — Colorado Records — ? Allen 72, p. 176 ; Thome 87, p. 264; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 112, 168, 218; Henderson 05, p. 421 ; 07, p. 239 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 189. Description. — Male — Crown slaty-grey, faintly margined with a narrow line of dusky ; rest of upper-parts dull olive-green ; wings and tail dusky, edged with olive-green ; a white superciliary line extending over the ear-coverts, and a dusky loral stripe in front of the eye ; below white tinged on the flanks and under tail-coverts with yellowish-oUve ; imder wing-coverts pale yellow ; tenth (outer) primary obsolete ; iris brownish-red, bill dusky grey, lower mandible rather paler, legs diisky. Length 5-5 ; wing 3-10 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus -63. The sexes are alike. A young bird is brown above and has the post- ocular streak rather indistinct. Distribution. — Breeding throughout temperate North America, except in arid districts, from British Columbia and Nova Scotia to western Texa^s and Florida ; in winter south to the Bahamas and through Mexico to Brazil and Bolivia. The Red-eyed Vireo is a somewhat rare svunmer bird in the plains country of eastern Colorado and does not extend into the foothills or moimtains. It arrives late in May and departs again in September. The following are the recorded occurrences : Fort Lyon May 29th, three times (Thome) ; Loveland, once seen May 12th by Prof. W. Osbiurn, and Denver, one seen May 22nd, 1892, by H. G. Smith (Cooke) ; Limon, Western Warbling Vireo 433 pair collected 22nd to 24th May, 1899 (Aiken) ; Yiima, seen by Miss Patten, May 27th, 1905 (Henderson) ; Boulder, one male taken May 30th, 1904, by L. C. Bragg, and Wray, one male taken May 26th, 1906, W. C. Ferril (H. G. Smith.) Allen (72) states, "movmtains of Colorado up to 11,000 feet," but this seems based on an error, as it has not since been met with away from the eastern plains. Habits. — These birds are found mostly along timbered streams, and are often met with near dwelling-houses in groves and among shade trees ; they have an animated song, consisting, according to Goss, of a few clear warbling notes repeated in a loud, animated and almost continuous strain while seated on the topmost branches of a tree. Their food consists chiefly of insects, which they hunt for among the leaves and branches and also catch on the wing, but small berries are also relished. Their nests are suspended from the forks of the trees ; they are made of fibres, vine stalks, old leaves and spider threads, woven in and fastened together with saliva and lined v/ith fine stems and rootlets. They are hung by material of the same kind fastened to the rim. The eggs, three to five in number, are pure white, thinly and irregularly speckled with reddish-brown, and measure about '82 x '56. Western Warbling Vireo. Vireosylva gilva swainsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 627a — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 149, 156, 176 ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Henshaw 75, p. 221 ; Scott 79, p. 93 ; Minot 80, p. 229 ; Drew 81, p. 89 ; 85, p. 15 ; Tresz 81, p. 288 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Morrison 88, p. 73 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 112, 218 ; Keyser 02, pp. 198, 230 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; Gilman 07, p. 194 ; Rockwell 08, p. 176. Description. — Male — General colour dark slaty-grey, darkest on the head, washed with olive-green on the back and edges of the wings ; the inner webs of the wing and tail-feathers edged with white ; a white superciliary line from the base of the bill to above the ear-coverts, and an indistinct line of dusky below ; under-parts whitish, faintly washed with olive-yellow, especially on the flanks ; tenth (outer) EE 434 Birds of Colorado primary obvious, longer than the coverts ; iris brown, bill pale horn, legs dmky. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-90 ; tail 2-2 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -75. The sexes are alike ; the young bird has the top of the head bufEy, and buSy tips to some of the coverts. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from British Columbia and Athabasca south along the eastern border of the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and Lower California ; further south in winter to Vera Cruz and Oaxaca in Mexico. In Colorado this species is the commonest of the Vireos, arriving from the south about the middle of May in El Paso co., and spreading up into the mountains, where it breeds up to about 10,000 feet. The earliest date for El Paso co. is May 15th among the Aiken collection, but Warren gives May 3rd for Baca co., and Henshaw the same date for Fort Garland. Other recorded localities are Loveland, May 12th, W. G. Smith (Cooke), Boulder co. (Miiiot), Limon (Aiken), and Pueblo (Beckham), in the plains and foothills ; in the mountains, Estes Park (Kellogg), Graymont, 10,000 feet (Keyser), Breckenridge (Carter apud Cooke), Twin Lakes (Scott), South Park (Allen), Mesa co., common, breedmg at 7,500 feet (Rockwell), San Juan co. (Drew) and La Plata co. (Gilman). Habits. — ^The Warbling Vireo frequents deciduous trees, especially cotton-woods and aspens, and also groves and orchards about the dwelling-places of man. They are celebrated for the sweetness of their song, their notes being soft, low and musical ; according to Keyser they sing even while sitting on the nest. They are of great service to man as insect destroyers, devouring large numbers of scale and other insects injurious to fruit and shade trees. The nest, hke that of the Red-eyed, is suspended to the slender forks of twigs either of a cotton-wood or at great elevations of a quaking aspen ; it is somewhat smoother and more compact in its make-up. The eggs, four to five in number, are white, sparmgly spotted about the larger end with reddish to dark brown and lilac. They measure about '75 x 55. Fresh eggs may be looked for about July 1st. Cassia's Vireo 435 Genus LANIVIREO. Medium-sized V^ireos resembling Vireosylva, but with a relatively- shorter and stouter bill, the depth of which at the base is far more than half the distance from the nostrils to the tip ; wings as in Vireo- sylva, but with two conspicuous wing-bars. This genus, containing three species, ranges over temperate North America, south to Colombia (for key, see p. 431). Cassin s Vireo. Lanivireo solitarius cassini. A.O.U. Checklist no 629a— Colorado Records— Ridgway 79, p. 228 ; H.G.Smith 96,p.76; 08,p.l89; Cooke 97, pp.112, 1G8; Gary 09, p.l83. Description. — Male — Top and sides of the head dark ashy-grey, passing into olive-green on the back and rump ; a white ring round the eye, continued forward over the lores ; wings and tail dusky, edged with olive-yellow ; the innermost secondaries with almost white, and the middle and greater coverts with pale yellow tips, forming a double wing-bar ; below white, becoming pale olive-yellow on the flanks ; inner webs of wing- and tail-feathers edged with white ; iris brown, bill greyish with a darker tip, legs dusky. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-90 ; tail 2-15 ; cuhnen .42 ; tarsus -70. The sexes are practically alike ; the yoimg birds have the orbital ring and the under-parts tinged with brownish-buff. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from British Colvunbia to southern California, eastwards on migration through Arizona and New Mexico, and south through Mexico to Oaxaca. Cassin's Vireo is of accidental occurrence in Colorado. It was represented in the Maxwell collection (Ridgway), and has since been obtained on three occasions near Denver by H. G. Smith — a male on the Platte River, September 16th, 1884, another example at Cresswell in Jefferson co. on September 9th, 1887, and a female on Coal Creek on May 13th, 1888 ; it was also taken by W. F. Doertenbach near Pueblo September 6th, 1897 (Cooke), and Gary has recently obtained an example on September 4th on the Escalante hills in westernRoutt co. Plumbeous Vireo. Lanivireo solitarius plumbeus. A.O.U. Checklist no 629b— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 149, 156 ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Trippe 74, p. 100 ; Henshaw 75, p. 224 ; Minot 80, p. 229 ; Tresz 81, p. 289 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 112, 218 ; Henderson 03, p. 236 ; 09, p. 239. Description. — Male — General colour above slaty-grey, with a very faint tinge of olive on the rump ; orbital ring and supra-loral stripe white, slightly separated by a black spot in front of the eye ; wings and tail dusky black edged with white, especially the outer tail-feathers EE 2 436 Birds of Colorado and the inner secondaries ; middle and greater coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing-bar ; below white, shghtly washed on the sides and flanks with pale slaty-grey and a tinge of olive ; iris brown, bill blackish, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs dusky. Length 5-30 ; wing 3-15 ; tail 2-25 ; cuhnen -45 ; tarsus -75. The sexes are alike ; yotmg birds are very similar to the adults, but have the back more brownish. Distribution. — Breeding in the Rocky Mountains region from southern Wyoming through Mexico to the State of Vera Cruz ; further south in winter to Oaxaca. The Plumbeous Vireo is a fairly common summer bird in Colorado, passing along the eastern bases of the moiuitains during migration, and breeding chiefly in the moimtains up to about 10,000 feet. It arrives from the south early in May — El Paso co. May 3rd, Allen & Brewster — passes up into the moui^tains about the end of the month, and breeds in June. The highest breeding locality seems to be Breckenridge, 9,700 feet (Carter apud Cooke). Other localities are : Loveland (Cooke), Estes Park (Kellogg), Boulder co. (Minot), Idaho Springs (Trippe), South Park (Allen), Pueblo (Beckham), and Wet Moimtains (Lowe). It does not seem to be recorded from the western slopes or from the eastern plains hitherto. Habits. — This Vireo does not seem to be very different in its habits from the others, except that it appears to have a more decided hking for pine woods, in the recesses of which it is often to be found. The nest was first taken by Aiken in May, 1872, on Turkey Creek in El Paso CO., and is described by lienshaw as composed of soft cottony substances bound with strips of bark and other fibrous material, and lined with fine grasses ; the eggs, four or five in number, are white, spotted chiefly at the larger end with reddish-brown. Fresh clutches ma}'' be looked for from June 10th to June 25th according to Gale's notes. Minot does not consider its song so sweet as that of its eastern ally, the Solitary Vireo. Genus VIREO. Small Vireos with the tenth (outer) primary well developed, always more than one-third, often hah, the length of the ninth, the latter shorter than the fourth. Bell's Vireo 437 Tliis genus, containing a considerable number of species, ranges over North America as far south as Costa Rica and throughout the Greater Antilles (for key, see p. 431). Bell's Vireo. Vireo belli. A.O.U. Checklist no G33— Colorado Records— Thome 87, p. 264 (error apud Cooke) ; Cooke 97, p. 218 ; H. G. Smith 03, p. 438 ; 05, p. 82 ; 08, p. 189. Description. — Male — Above dull greyish-brown, slightly tinged with ohve, niore so on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; orbital ring and supra-loral streak obscurely white ; wings and tail dull dixsky with paler edgings, and an obscure double wing-band formed by the pale tips of the middle and greater coverts ; below white, tinged on the sides, flanks, under tail-coverts, axUlaries and under wing-coverts with sulphur- yellow ; iris brown, bill pale horn, lower mandible paler, legs dusky horn. Length 4-15; wing 2-20; tail 1-80; culmen -38; tarsus .75. The sexes are alike ; the young birds closely resemble the adults, but the wing-bands are more distinct and the inner secondaries are edged with yellowish-white. Distribution. — Breeding in the prairie regions from North Dakota and Indiana southwards to north-east Mexico ; in winter further south through Mexico to Oaxaca. Bell's Vireo, long suspected to be a regular svunmer visitor to Colorado, has only recently, through the observations of H. G. Smith, been proved to be so. He has taken it in con- siderable nimabers at Julesburg, Wray and Holly, all localities on the eastern border of the State, between the 18th of May and 31st of Augiist, while his first example was obtamed on Clear Creek near Denver on June 6th, 1903. It may be considered a regular summer bird in the eastern half of the State. Habits. — Goss writes: "These active birds inhabit dense patches of bushes and briers on the prairies ; hedge- fences are also a favourite resort. Their call and alarm notes are rather harsh, and their song does not rank very high. Their deep, cup-shaped nests are suspended from slender forks of twigs or vines and are composed of lint-like strippings from plants, neatly interwoven with bits of old leaves, and lined with fine weed stems, and in some cases hairs. The eggs, usually four in number, are pure white, thinly speckled at the larger end with dark reddish-brown, and measure "69 x "50." 438 Birds of Colorado Grey Vireo. Vireo vicinior. A.O.U. Checklist no 634— Colorado Record— H. G. Smith 08, p. 189. Description. — Male — Above slaty-grey, with a hardly perceptible wash of olive on the riimp ; a white orbital ring and dirty-white lores ; wings and tail dusky, edged with whitish ; greater coverts tipped with whitish, but hardly forming a distinct wing-band ; below dull white tinged with grey on the throat and breast and more or less with ohve on the flanks ; iris brown, bill dusky, markedly pale along the cutting- edges, legs dusky. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-60 ; tail 2-30 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -72. The sexes are aUke, and the young are very similar to the adults. Distribution. — From southern California and western Texas south- wards into north-west Mexico and Lower California. The inclusion of the Grey Vireo in the Colorado f aima is also due to the indefatigable coUectiag of Mr. H. G. Smith, who obtained two pairs of this species at Lamar on the Arkansas River in Prowers co., between May 16th and 20th, 1907, thus extending the range of the species considerably northwards ; the nearest recorded locality in New Mexico is Las Vegas. Family MNIOTILTID^. This family contains the Warblers or, more properly- speaking, the American Warblers, as the birds knowai by that name in Europe belong to quite another family. The American Warblers are all small birds ; except Icteria and Seiurus, they hardly average over five inches in length. It is not possible to characterize them exactly and definitely, as they present a number of minor modi- fications of form in the direction of other famiUes, but they have the following external characteristics in common : Bill small, generally acute,the breadth and depth about equal ; no lobe or tooth along the cutting- edge, never strongly hooked at the tip and never very much flattened ; gape comparatively short and usually with a few rictal bristles ; wings with nine primaries, the inner secondaries or tertials never greatly elongated ; tarsus scutellate ; rectrices twelve. The members of this family are confined to America, and have their centre of abundance perhaps in the eastern Mniotiltidse 439 parts of the United States. Colorado has 29 species out of about 155 distributed in summer from Alaska to the Argentine. The following is a plumage key to the Colorado species, as the genera are not easily discriminated. The key will not invariably hold good for the females and juveniles, for which the main text should be always consulted. Plumage Key of the Colorado Warblers. A. Tail particoloured, dxosky or slaty marked with white. a. With a bright yellow patch on the wing. V. chrysoptera, p. 443. b. Without a conspicuous yellow patch on the wing. a^ Below white, with or without black markings or streaks, but no yellow, a^ Head and back streaked with black and white. M. varia, p. 441. b^ Head black, not streaked. a^ Back slaty ; a yellow spot in front of the eye. D. nigrescens, p. 457. b^ Back olive-grey ; no yellow spot. D. striata, p. 455. c^ Crown and back greyish-blue. a^ Throat black. D. casrulescens, p. 451. b* Throat white. D. cerulea, p. 455. d^ Crown and back yellowish-green ; sides of the face yellow. D. virens, p, 459. b^ Below with some yellow. a^ Crown and back slaty-blue, and an olive patch in the middle of the back. C. a. usnese, p. 447. b^ Crown and head all roimd bright orange-yellow. P. citrea, p. 442. c^ Crown with a yellow patch surrounded by black or dusky. a' Throat yellow. D. auduboni, p. 453. b^ Throat white. D. coronata, p. 451. d* Crown grey, riimp yellow. D. magnolia, p. 454. e^ Crown grey, streaked with black, rump like the back, not yellow. D. gracise, p. 456. f^ Crown black, with a yellow superciliary line on either side ; rump like the back. D. townsendi, p. 459. g^ Crown chestnut. D. palmarum, p. 460. h- Crown and back olive-green. D. caerulescens ?, p. 451. 440 Birds of Colorado B. Tail dusky and bright yellow ; rest of the plumage yellow. D. aestiva, p. 449. C. Tail with salmon-red or pale yellow at the base ; rest of plumage black or brown with salmon. S. ruticilla, p. 470. D. TaU dusky or olive, not marked or spotted. a. Large — wing at least 3-0 ; breast bright yellow. I. V. longicauda, p. 467. b. Smaller — wing 2-75 to 3-0 ; breast white, spotted with black, a^ Crown with an orange patch bordered by black stripes. S. aurocapillus, p. 461. b^ Crown like the back, brown. S. n. notabilis, p. 462. c. Smallest — wing under 2*7o ; breast never white, spotted with black, ai Bill acute and pointed, rictal bristles hardly evident. a^ Crown slaty-blue, becoming olive-green on the back, a^ Sides of the head and breast like the crown — slaty ; posteriorly yellow below, a* A complete white ring round the eye. 0. agilis, p. 462. b* A white spot only above and below the eye. O. tolmiei, p. 463. b^ Below whitish, no slaty or yellow. V. peregrina, p. 446. b^ Crown and back olive-green ; forehead and sides of the head black G. t. occidentalis, p. 465. c* Above grey, a concealed crown-patch of chestnut. V. virginise, p. 443. d^ Above dull olive-green with a concealed crown-patch of orange. V. celata, p. 444. b^ Bill broad, flat and triangular, rictal bristles long and conspicuous. a-. Breast yellow, spotted with black. W. canadensis, p. 470. b^ Breast yellow but unspotted. a* Larger — wing 4-25 ; forehead bright yellow. W. p. pileolata, p. 468. b' Smaller — wing 4-15 ; forehead pale yellow. W. pusilla, p. 469. Genus MNIOTILTA. Bill rather long, about equal to the head, laterally compressed, with curved culmen and rather short rictal bristles ; wing long and pointed, the three outer primaries about equal to one another ; tail even, distinctly shorter than the wing ; hind toe and claw very long ; plumage black and white. Only one species. Black and White Warbler 441 Black and White Warbler. Mniotilta varia. A.O.U. Checklist no 630— Colorado Records— Minot 80, p. 226 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Cooke 97, p. 113 ; 04, p. 18 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Chapman 07, p. 38 ; Smith 08, p. 190. Description.— Male — Crown and sides of the head black, with a central and two lateral white streaks through and above the eye ; back striped black and white ; upper tail-coverts black with white edges ; wings and tail black with white or grey margins to most of the feathers ; wing with double wing-bar formed by the white tips of the median and greater coverts, tail with the two outer feathers with a terminal white spot on the inner web ; below, the throat black, centre of abdomen white, rest of the under-parts black and white striped; iris and bill black, legs dusky horn. Length 4-5 ; wing 2-75 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -60. The female is duller in colour than the male ; the ear-coverts are bufiy, not black, bordered above by a narrow streak of black, the throat is white, and the streaks of the under-parts less distinct and the white ground-colour tinged with buffy. The young bird resembles the female, but the colouring is even less distinct and the white more buffy. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from the Mac- kenzie Valley and Newfoundland to Virginia and Texas, wintering along the Gulf coasts, in the West Indies and through Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela. The Black and White Warbler is a rare straggler into Colorado ; it has been observed but not obtained on four occasions only — at Boulder on Jime 1st, 1880, by Minot ; at Fort Lewis by Morrison ; at Table Rock near Palmer Lake by Brenninger (Cooke), and at Holly in Prowers co. on May 23rd, 1907, by H. G. Smith. Habits. — The Black and White Warbler is dis- tinguished by its Creeper-like habits ; it runs actively up tree trunks and along the branches of the deciduous trees among which it is chiefly met with, with all the agility of a Creeper or Nuthatch. It is not kno\\Ti to breed in Colorado, but in the east the nest is usually placed on the ground, under the shelter of a tree trunk, rock or fallen log ; the eggs, four or five in number, are creamy-white, heavily spotted with various shades of brown and lavender, and measure "66 x "SS. 442 Birds of Colorado Genus PROTONOTARIA. Bill large and stout, rather wedge-shaped, culmen slightly decurved ; rictal bristles very short, hardly visible ; wing rather pointed, the three outer primaries subequal, and much longer than the short, square tail ; hind toe short but stout ; plumage yellow and slaty-blue. Only one species. Prothonotary Warbler. Protonotaria citrea. A.O.U. Checklist no 637— Colorado Record— Felger 07, p. 342. Description. — ^Male — Head and neck all round bright yellow ; centre of the back yellowish-olive ; wings, rump and tail dark slaty-grey ; wing and tail-feathers, except the central pair, white on the inner web, the tail-feathers tipped with darker ; below bright yellow, becoming white on the under tail-coverts; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus -70. The male in winter has a paler bill. The female is slightly smaller — wing 2-75 — and duller in colour. Distribution. — Breeding in the low-lying districts of the eastern United States from Minnesota and Virginia southwards to the Gulf states ; south in winter via Yucatan to Nicaragua and Venezuela. A rare straggler in Colorado — Felger has examined and identified three examples shot by B. G. Voigt, one between Palmer Lake and MonuLment, the others on the Arkansas River near Pueblo. These examples had the pale bills characteristic of the fall and winter plmnage, and were probably taken in the fall, but the date appears to be uncertain. They constitute the only records. Habits. — The Prothonotary Warbler is always asso- ciated with heavily timbered country, and slow, sluggish streams or swamps ; an abundance of willows also seems to be very essential. The nest is usually placed in a hole in a tree trunk, often the deserted one of a Downy Woodpecker or Chickadee, and as a rule not very high from the ground, and near water ; the nest is made up of straws, strips of bark and moss, feathers or hair being rarely used ; the eggs, usually six in number, are rich creamy-white to buffy, very heavily blotched and spotted with various shades of browTi, and measure •70 X -57. Golden-winged Warbler 443 Genus VERMIVORA. Bill short, slender and acute, with nearly straight culmen ; rictal bristles not evident ; wings moderate but longer than the tail, which is even, and with rather narrow, rounded feathers, not marked with white (in the Colorado species) ; tarsus longer than middle toe and claw. About ten species ; the breeding range is confined to North America (for key, see p. 439). Golden- winged Warbler. Vermivora chrysoptera. A.O.U. Checklist no 642— Colorado Record— Cooke 09, p. 314. Description. — Male — General colour grey with a slight tinge of olive- green ; cheeks and throat black ; a large and conspicuous patch of yellow on the wings ; below white ; iris brown ; bill black ; legs dark brown. Length 4-3; wing 2-45; tail 1-90; culmen -35; tarsus -65. The female has the cheeks and throat grey, not black. Distribution. — Breeding from Wisconsin and New Hampshire, south to northern Illinois and Georgia in the mountains ; south in winter across the southern Mississippi Valley to Guatemala and Colombia. The Golden-winged Warbler has once been noticed in Colorado, by Miss Patten at Yuma, on May 25th, 1906. Virginia's Warbler. Vermivora virginice. A.O.U. Checklist no 644 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 196 Henshaw 75, p. 189 ; Minot 80, p. 226 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Cooke 97, pp. 113, 218 ; 04, p. 37 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 09, p. 239 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; Chapman 07, p. 98 ; Rockwell 08, p. 176. Description. — Male — General coloiu* above dark slaty-grey ; crown with partly concealed patch of dark chestnut ; a conspicuous white orbital ring ; riunp and upper tail-coverts, a patch on the breast paling off towards the throat, and imder tail-coverts bright yellow ; wings and tail dusky, unmarked ; below pale grey except for the yellow ; iris brown, bill horn, paler on the lower mandible, legs dusky horn. Length 4-30 ; wing 2-5 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -72. In fall and winter the plumage has a much browner tinge, the yellow breast-patch is less conspicuous and the crown-patch completely con- cealed by the long grey tips of the feathers. The female resembles the male, but is duller in colour generally, especially as regards the chestnut of the crown and the yellow patches, all of which are more restricted. The young bird has the wing-coverts tipped bxifiy, forming two obscm-e wing-bars, and at first hardly any traces of chestnut or yellow. Distribution. — Breeding in the Rocky Mountains region from Colorado and Nevada south to New Mexico and Arizona ; in winter through Mexico as far south as Guerrero. In Colorado Virginia's Warbler is of common occurrence along the eastern foothills of the mountains up to an elevation of about 7,500 444 Birds of Colorado feet, where it breeds ; it has also been met with on the plains, but probably only on migration. It arrives from the south early in May — El Paso CO. May 2nd (Aiken), Monon, Baca co., May 3rd (Warren) — and leaves again late in September. At Grand Junction on the western slope Miss Eggleston states that it is a regular migrant (Rockwell). The following are recorded localities : Estes Park, breeding (W. G. Smith ap^ld Chapman), Boulder co. (Minot), Middle and South Parks (Carter), Beulah, Pueblo co. (Chapman), Fort Garland and Pagosa Springs (Henshaw), all in the foothills and mountains ; Limon (Aiken) and Monon (Warren), in the plains. Habits. — ^Aiken was the first to find this Warbler in Colorado, and to him belongs the credit of first describing the nesting habits of the species. He gives the following account (Henshaw 75) : " During its migrations, this interesting little bi^d^\dll be found among the cotton-woods and willows bordering the streams, and often also among the pines, but in summer it frequents only the low scrub-oak brush on the hill-sides. It exhibits at all times a good deal of shyness, hiding instantly at the approach of an intruder or keeping at a respectful distance while uttering its sharp alarm-note. The male is very musical during the nesting season, uttering his sweet httle ditty continually as he skips through the bushes in search of his morning repast. No bird with, which I am acquainted conceals its nest more effectually than this Warbler. This is placed at the base of a tussock of grass, among the oak bushes, being sunk in a hollow scratched in the earth so that the rim of the nest is on a level with the surface. About the first of June, five white eggs, dehcately speckled with reddish-brown, are laid." H. G. Smith found a nest on June 20th in Estes Park ; it was under a rock ledge, sunk in the ground and well hidden ; the eggs, four in number, were white, speckled chiefly in a wreath round the larger end, mth reddish and purplish-brown, and measured 66 x "49. Orange-crowned Warbler 445 Orange-crowned Warbler. Vermivora celata. A.O.U. Checklist no 646— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 196 Henshaw 75, p. 191 ; Minot 79, p. 226 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 156 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 269 H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 (H. c. luteecens) ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 113 ; 04, p. 40 Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Oberholser 05, p. 243 (H. c. orestera) Warren 06, p. 23 ; Chapman 07, p. 89. Description. — General colour above greyish-olive, brighter and purer on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; crown with an orange-chestnut patch, hidden more or less by the olive-green tips to the feathers ; an orbital ring of pale yellow ; wings and tail dusky, immarked ; below pale greenish-yellow, with a dusky or greyish wash, clearest on the under tail-coverts ; iris brown ; bill horny-brown, under mandible paler ; legs brownish-homy. Length 4-60 ; wing 2-40 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen •40 ; tarsus -70. The female is indistinguishable from the male, though generally rather duller and very slightly smaller. Young birds have no crown- patch ; the wing-coverts are pale tipped, and the general coloration is duller and more buify. The Orange-crowned Warblers of eastern Colorado which have been examined appear to be on the whole nearest to the t3^ical eastern form and quite separable from Cahfornian birds {H. c. lutescens), though a specimen in the Aiken collection from Mosca Pass, taken on Jvme 28th, is rather brighter and perhaps somewhat intermediate. Ober- holser (05) has recently distinguished a Rocky Moimtain race {V. c. orestera) intermediate in colour between the brighter California and duller Middle States races. Should this new race be " passed " by the A.O.U. Conamittee, the Colorado bird will certainly be referred to it. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Manitoba south along the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico and Arizona. In winter south to Vera Cruz in central Mexico, and east over the Mississippi Valley and Gulf states to South CaroHna. The form " orestera " is stated by Oberholser to breed from British Columbia, through the Rocky Mountains to southern California and New Mexico, and to go south in winter to lower Cahfomia and southern Mexico. In Colorado the Orange-crown is far from uncommon during migration, arriving from the south the first week in May (Fort Lyon May 9th, Thome ; El Paso co. May 2nd, Aiken ; Loveland May 2nd, W. G. Smith), and passing south again late in September. It is stated to breed in the mountains from 6,000 to 9,000 feet, but I have not been able to find any direct evidence of its doing so. It is chiefly met with on the eastern plains and foothills, as the following additional records show : Boulder May 21st (Henderson), Denver (Henshaw), Limon, Lincoln co. (Aiken), Pueblo (Lowe), Salida May 1st (Frey), 446 Birds of Colorado Baca CO. (Warren), Fort Garland and Pagosa Springs (Aiken), Wet Mountains to 8,000 feet (Lowe 94), and finally Mosca Pass, 10,000- 11,000 feet, Huerfano co. (Aiken). Habits. — ^Very little has been written on the habits of the Orange-crown either in Colorado or elsewhere ; Henshaw states that it frequents the tops of low trees and bushes, whence it makes Flycatcher-like darts at passing insects, and that it has a short and simple song. Its nest has not been described, but that of its close ally, the Lutescent Warbler, is placed on the ground, generally on dry hill-sides covered with brush, and is loosely made of dry leaves and grasses, Imed with, fine grass. The eggs closely resemble those of the Lutescent Warbler, being white or creamy-white, finely speckled, chiefly at the larger end, with reddish or chestnut-brown. They measure "64 x *46. Tennessee Warbler. Vennivora jteregrina. A.O.U. Checklist no 647 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, pp. 176, 180 ; Minot 80, p. 226 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Cooke 97, pp. 113, 168, 218, 224 ; 04, p. 42 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Chapman 07, p. 83 ; H. G. Smith 05, p. 82 ; 08, p. 190. Description. — Male — Head and neck ashy-brown, rest of the iipper- surface olive-green, brightest on the rump ; wings and tail dusky, the primaries edged with greyish, the secondaries, coverts and tail- feathers with olive -greenish ; the tail white on the iimer web ; super- ciliary streak white, bordered below by a dusky line running through the eye ; below dull white, shaded with grey on the flanks ; iris brown, bill blackLsh-brown, paler on the lower mandible ; legs homy-brown. Length 4-20 ; wing 2-5 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen -43 ; tarsus -65. The female closely resembles the male, but sometimes the ashy-grey of the head is slightly tinged with olive. Young birds have the head and neck green like the back, and the superciliary streak and under- parts, except the under tail-coverts, strongly washed with yellowish- olive. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Labrador to British Columbia and New England ; south in the fall through the Middle States and Mexico to Central America, Colombia and Venezuela in winter. Northern Parula Warbler 447 In Colorado the Tennessee Warbler is fairly common on migration in the eastern plains part of the State, but seldom comes near the mountains ; it is only recently that it has been commonly reported. It passes north through the State in the second half of May, and returns south late in September. Aiken first recorded it from Colorado ; a young male taken in El Paso CO. September 28th, 1872, is still in the Aiken collection ; it has subsequently been met with by Minot at Boulder, May 31st ; at Love- land by Messrs. Osburn and W. G. Smith near the foothills ; and out in the plaiixs at Limon — five examples I9th-23rd May by Aiken, and at Julesburg, Wray, Kit Carson, Manzanola and Holly by Messrs. Smith and Ferril between May 21st and 27th, along the eastern border of the State (W. G. Smith 05, 08.) Habits. — Little has been written on the habits of this bird ; it often associates with other Warblers, generally perching high up in trees and. making darts at passing insects ; Minot found it an active little creature but heard no song, only a slender " Tsip, tsip." Aiken considers that it may breed in Colorado, as he observed a bird in July in Colorado Springs which he believed to be this species, but no other evidence is forthcoming, and indeed little is known about its nesting habits at all. In British Columbia it has been found nesting on the ground ; the nest was well arched over with dried grass, and was made of leaves and moss and lined with fine grass. The eggs are creamy-white, fine speckled, and also marked with larger spots of reddish-brown. They measure about '60 x "47. Genus COMPSOTHLYPIS. Bill short and acute and the culmen slightly curved ; rictal bristles distinct but not very evident ; wing with the four outer primaries subequal ; outer and naiddle toe united at the base for most of the basal joint. Three species from northern and tropical America. Northern Parula Warbler. Compsothlypis americana usnece. A.O.U. Checklist no 648a — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Cooke 97, pp. 114, 218 ; 04, p. 45 ; Chapman 07, p. 104 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 190. 448 Birds of Colorado Description. — Male — General colour above, including the sides of the head, slaty-blue with a patch of rich olive-yellow in the middle of the back ; middle and greater coverts tipped with white, forming two conspicuous wing-patches ; tail with the three outer pairs of rectrices spotted, the next two merely edged on the inner web with white ; lores black, a small white spot above and below the eye ; throat and chest bright yellow, separated usually by a dvisky patch ; rest of the under-parts white, bluish-grey on the sides and flanks ; iris brown, upper mandible black, lower yellow in life ; legs brownish. Length 412 ; wing 2-25 ; tail 1-70 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -65. The female resembles the male, but is duller throughout, and usually without the dusky chest-patch ; young birds have the upper-parts washed over with olive-green ; the white aroimd the eye more extended, and the yellow of the throat paler and no dusky patch. The birds of the Mississippi Valley appear to average slightly smaller than those breeding in the north eastern states. They have been distinguished as a subspecies (C. a. ramalince) by Ridgway (02, p. 486), but the form has not yet been recognized by the A.O.U. Committee. Colorado examples must be referred to it, if so recognized. Distribution. — Breeding from Minnesota to Nova Scotia southwards in the mountains to Virginia ; south in winter through the middle states to southern Mexico and Nicaragua. The Parula is a rare straggler in Colorado. It was first taken by Aiken in El Paso co. on May 11th, 1872, and has since been definitely recorded twice only — from Clear Creek near Denver — a single female in May, 1904, and from Kit Carson in Cheyenne co. on May 27th, when Mr. Ferril killed one female from a flock (Smith). I have recently seen a male taken by Mr. Hersey at Barr, May 20th, 1909, now in the Natural History Museinn at Denver. Habits. — ^During the migration period the Parula is generally distributed, though preferring deciduous to coniferous trees. In the breeding season it is only to be found where the usnea moss grows freely. This is a lichen, growing on trees in swampj'' places and forming great, freely hanging masses dependent from the branches. In this the Parula makes its nest, generally with a small side-entrance. The eggs, usually four, are white to creamy -white, with coarse, ill-defined markings of reddish- brown, chestnut and grey. They vary very much in size and shape, but average "67 x '48. The Parula is not kno^vn to nest in Colorado. Yellow Warbler 449 Genus DENDROICA. Bill variable but generally rather conical, the basal width and depth about equal ; culmen slightly decurved ; rictal bristles quite obvious ; wing with the four outer primaries about equal ; tail shorter than the wing, about even or slightly rounded ; plumage in most cases with white wing-bars and white patches on the tail. This is the largest genus of the family ; it contains about thirty-four species, twenty-three of which have been found in the United States, the others inhabiting Mexico, Central America and specially the West Indies. For key, see p. 439. Yellow Warbler. Dendroica cestiva. A.O.U. Checkhst no 652— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 148, 175 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 192 ; Minot 80, p. 226 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 158; Drew 85, p. 15; Beckham 85, p. 141; Bren- ninger 88, p. 64 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; H. G. Smith 93, p. 244 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 114, 218 ; 04, p. 52 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Warren 06, p. 23 ; 08, p. 24 ; 09, p. 17 ; Chapman 07, p. 113 ; Oilman 07, p. 194 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 176. Description. — Male — Above yellow with an olive wash on the back, clearer and richer on the head and rump ; wings and tail dusky, mostly edged and tipped with yellow ; below rich yellow with chestnut streaks on the chest and flanks ; iris brown, bill dusky horn, legs light homy. Length 4-50 ; wing 2-55 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen -42 ; tarsus -70. The female resembles the male, but is rather duller in colour through- out ; the head is like the back and the chestnut streaks are iisually absent, or if present quite indistinct. Size smaller — wing 2-30. Young birds are very similar to the females. Colorado birds are, some of them, intermediate between the typical eastern form and the more yellowish form, with narrower and less marked chestnut streaks below (D. ce. sonorana), which occurs in New Mexico and Arizona, but on the whole it is perhaps safest to refer them to the typical race. The Yellow Warblers of the west have been also distinguished from those of the east imder the name of D. ce. morcomi or D. ce. brewsteri, but for this there hardly seems to be any justification. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the greater part of Canada and the United States, except Florida, Georgia and the south-western states from Texas to Arizona, south in winter across the Gulf of Mexico to south Mexico, central and South America as far as Peru and the Amazon Valley In Colorado the Yellow Warbler is perhaps the commonest of its family in summer. It arrives from the south the first week in May, Pueblo May 4th (Beckham), El Paso co. same date (Aiken), and leaves FF 450 Birds of Colorado again for the south in September. It nests chiefly in the plains but also in the mountains, perhaps up to 9,700 feet (Breckenridge, Carter). It is common throughout the State from Routt co. (Warren 08) to La Plata co. (Oilman), and from Weld co. (Markman) to Baca co. (Warren 06), and Costilla co. (Henshaw). In Mesa co., where it is the commonest Warbler, it breeds up to 7,000 feet. Habits. — ^The Yellow Warbler is perhaps the best known of all the familj' owing to its conspicuous coloration and familiar habits. It is fond of frequenting parks and gardens, and is very common about the suburban parts of towns, where it frequently builds its nest. Its more natural surroundings in Colorado are willow and cotton-wood trees and bushes along streams, but it does not care for thick forest or pine woods. Like other Warblers, its food consists entirely of insects, and it is alwaj^'s busy searching for these among the leaves and smaller branches of the trees. The song is rather simple, but sweet and Uvely and highly character- istic, and is indulged in even in the middle of the day. The nest, according to Gale, is placed in a crotch of a small tree, or more often in a low bush, usually a willow or cotton-wood ; in the latter case it is pensile, bemg fastened to the surrounding twigs at the rim. It is woven of wild hemp or vine stems and grasses, and lined with the cotton from the cotton-wood trees, and is a Hght, compact and well-built structure. Fresh eggs are to be met with about June 12th (Dille) ; the clutch is usually four, sometimes five, and the eggs are greyish to greenish- white, marked with spots, splashes and blotches of various shades of lilac and brown. They average "68 x '50. This Warbler is one of the most frequent victims of the parasitic Cow-bird, and appears to reaUze the fact, as it is one of the few birds which constantly build a second and sometimes a third story Myrtle-Warbler 451 to the nest, so as to cover up and prevent the incubation of the intruding egg. Black-throated Blue Warbler. Dendroica ccerulescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 654 — Colorado Records — Cooke 94, p. 183 (error); 97, p. 114; 04, p. 57 ; H. G. Smith 9G, p. 76; OS, p. 190; Chapman 07, p. 133. Description. — Male — Above slaty-blue, the middle of the back some- times a little speckled with black ; wings black, extensively edged with blue, a conspicuous white patch towards the base of the pruiiaries, except the outermost ; the primaries also extensively white on the inner web ; tail dusky, edged with blue, the outermost feathers with a large subterminal patch on the inner web ; below, throat, sides of the head and flanks black ; rest of the under-parts white ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky horn. Length 4-50 ; wing 2-60 ; tail 1-90 ; culmen •40 ; tarsus -65. The autumn and winter male is very similar, but has a brown bill and a buffy tinge on the white of the flanks. The young male has a slight greenish wash over the blue of the upper-parts and a slight white freckling on the black of the throat and flanks. The female is olive-green above, rather more bluish on the crown and tail ; an in- complete whitish ring round the eye and a white patch at the base of the primaries ; below pale yellow. Size about the same as the male. Distribution. — Eastern North America, breeding from Hudson Bay and Newfoundland south to the mountains of Pennsylvania ; on migration south, chiefly east of the Mississippi to southern Florida and the Antilles. The Black-throated Blue Warbler is a rare straggler as far west as Colorado. It has only been twice met with, on both occasions by H. G. Smith. He obtained a female on the Platte River near Denver, May 24th, 1888, and very plainly observed, but did not obtain, a male at Wray on September 18th, 1903. Myrtle- War bier. Dendroica coronata. A.O.U. Checklist no 655— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Ridgway 73, p. 176 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 193 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 158 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 114 ; 04, p. 61 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 239 ; Chapman 07, p. 141 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 190. Description. — Male — Above slaty-blue, streaked with black ; patch on the crown, rump, and a patch on either side of the breast, bright yellow, the rump-patch palest ; wings and tail dasky, with greyish edgings, the coverts broadly tipped and edged with white, foi-ming a double wing-bar ; the three outer pair of tail-feathers with a large subterminal white spot on the inner web ; sides of the head black, with FF 2 452 Birds of Colorado a little white around the eye ; below white, with irregular patches of black on the chest and streaks of the same colour on the flanks ; iris brown, bill black, legs dark brown. Length 5-25; wing 310; tail 2-55 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -Id. The male in autumn and winter is very different ; the general colour above is dingy brown with indistinct streaks of black, the crown-patch concealed by the brownish tips of the feathers ; but the rump Ls bright yellow ; below and the sides of the head dingy white, and the yellow breast-patches are hardly noticeable. The female in spring is like the male but is smaller — wing 2-80 — and duller in colour, the back is strongly washed with brown and the crown-patch is smaller ; the sides of the head dusky brown, not black, and the black of the lower-parts is more streaky and less patcliy. Yoiuig birds are like the female, but duller and less marked. Distribution. — Breeding far north from Alaska and Labrador south to the northern border of the states from Minnesota to Massachusetts, wintering in the middle tier of the states from Kansas and Massachu- setts south to eastern IMexico, Panama, the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles. The Myrtle-Warbler is a rather uncommon spring migrant in the eastern part of Colorado up to the foothills of the mountains, arriving about the last week in April — El Paso co. April 28th (Allen & Brewster), Loveland April 24th-25th (W. G. Smith) — and passing onward about the end of May. It has not been found breeding in the State, nor has it been recorded dm-ing the fall migration, but recently H. G. Smith (08) has fovmd it wintering at Holly in the Arkansas Valley. As it is well known to winter in south-eastern Kansas, this is not surprising. The following are additional recorded locaUties : Boulder co. on migration (Henderson), Idaho Springs up to 9,000 feet (Trippe), Denver (Henshaw), Limon (Aiken), Salida May 9th (Frey), and Fort Lyon (Thome apiid Cooke). Habits. — The Myrtle-Warbler is generally seen about low trees, moving briskly along and picking up small insects, though in winter it is said to feed largely on berries, especially those of the myrtle, from which it gets its name. It has a characteristic " Tchip " or " Tchep," while Henshaw states that its song is a low and sweet warble resembling that of the Audubon. Beyond our limits it nests in small coniferous trees, while the eggs, usually four in number, resemble those of other Warblers. Audubon's Warbler 453 Audubon's Warbler. Dendroica auduboni. A.O.U. Checklist no 656— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 148, 155, 162 ; Aiken 72, p. 197 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 196 Brewer 77, p. 394 ; Scott 79, p. 92 ; Minot 80, p. 227 ; Tresz 81, p. 285 Drew 81, p. 88 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 158 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 87, p. 125 ; Stone 84, p. 20 ; W. G. Smith 88, p. 114 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 269 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 Cooke 97, pp. 18, 115, 219 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 09, p. 239 ; Cooke 04, pp. 18, 64 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 24 ; 09, p. 17 ; Chapman 07, p. 147 ; Rockwell 08, p. 176. Description. — Male — Closely resembling the Myrtle- Warbler in most respects, but with the throat yellow, not white, with a larger subter- niinal spot on four of the outer tail-feathers ; the sides of the face more blueish and less black, and with a less conspicuoas white eyebrow ; iris brown, bill black, legs dark brown. Length 5-0 ; wing 3-1 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -75. The males in autumn, the females and young birds resemble similar stages in the Myrtle, but the throat is always at least tinged with yellow, except in the birds of the year. These are always distinguish- able by the larger amount of white to the tail-feathers. Distribution. — Audubon's Warbler replaces the Myrtle in the western part of America, breeding at high altitudes in the Rockies from British Columbia and Alberta south to southern California and northern New Mexico ; it winters in California and western Mexico south to Guatemala. Audubon's Warbler is one of the commonest spring migrants in Colorado, arriving from the south at the end of April — April 16th in El Paso CO. (Aiken), Loveland, April 19th-24th (W. G. Smith)— and slowly moving up in the mountains where it nests in June or July ; it gradually descends again in Augast and September, and leaves the State in October — Pueblo, October 24th (Beckham), is the latest date recorded. On the western slope in Mesa co. it is very common, breeding in heavy coniferous timber from 8,000 to 10,000 feet. It arrives in May — earliest date May 7th — -and begins to go south late in August. It has been recorded breeding in Estes Park 8,000 feet (W. G. Smith), Idaho Springs (Trippe), Georgetown (Keyser), near Breckenridge (Carter apud Brewer), Twin Lakes (Scott), Pikes Peak and Divide (Aiken), and San Juan co. (Drew), and on migration in Baca co., May 2nd-15th, and Bedrock, Montrose co., April 20th (Warren), and along the foothills of the range everyivhere. Habits. — ^Audubon's Warbler is generally found in the cotton-woods and thickets along the river valleys 454 Birds of Colorado in the plains, on its arrival from the south ; it soon, however, passes on up into the mountains, and in the breeding season is chiefly met with among the pines and spruces, from 7,500 to 11,000 feet. The nest and eggs were first taken by Carter and described by Brewer. The nest is generally placed in a low pine about eight to ten feet up, but so etimes (W. G. Smith) in " birch " timber near water. It is made of strips of bark or sage-brush, and lined with horsehair, and usually a few feathers. The eggs, nearly always four, are to be found about June 15th at 9,500 feet, and a fortnight later at 11,000 feet. They are white, generally with a blueish tinge, varyingly spotted and blotched with brown and lavender, and usually more profusely at the larger end. They average about •70 X -56. The song of the Warbler is a weak httle trill, and the call-note a " Tchip," resembling that of the Myrtle- Warbler. Magnolia-Warbler. Dendroica magnolia. A.O.U. Checklist no 657 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 196 D. maculosa) ; Cooke 97, pp. 115, 168 ; 04, p. 65 ; Chapman 07, p. 121 ; Warren 08, p. 24 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 190. Description. — Male — Crown and nape blueish-grey ; a stripe throvgh the eye, back, wings and tail black ; eyebrow and a patch on the wing- coverts white ; rump and under-parts yellow, with a black band across the upper-breast and streaks on the lower-breast and flanks ; all the tail-feathers, except the two centre ones, with a transverse white band on the inner web ; under tail-coverts also white ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky brown. Length 5-25 ; wing 2-4 ; tail 20 ; culmen • 35 ; tarsus -70. The female is duller in colour than the male ; the crown is dull grey, the sides of the face and back also dull grey, the centre of the back tinged with olive, spotted with black ; the yellow of the rump duller, and the white wing-patch much less marked ; below without the chest- band, and streaks far less conspicuous. The male in the fall and the young birds are very similar to the female. Cerulean Warbler 455 Distribution. — The breeding range of the Magnolia Warbler is limited to the Canadian zone, from Great Slave Lake and Newfoundland south to northern New York and along the Alleghanies to Maryland. In winter it resorts to southern Mexico and Central America as far as Panama. In Colorado it is merely a straggler and has only been taken during the spring migration. The following are the records : Near Denver with a flock of Audubons, on May 17th, 1873, by Henshaw ; near Denver again, by H. G. Smith, May 17th, 1888 ; near Fort Lyon, Bent co., by Captain Thome, on May 17th, 1884 (Cooke); near Springfield, Baca co., May 5th, 1905, by Warren; and near Holly, Prowers co.. May 22nd, 1907, by H. G. Smith. Cerulean Warbler. Deyidroica cerulea. A.O.U. Checklist no 658 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 196 ; Cooke 97, p. 115 ; 04, p. 69 ; Chapman 07, p. 170. Description. — Male in breeding pkimage — Above bright blue, with a few black streaks ; wings dusky, with a double white wing-bar ; tail black, with white subterminal patches on the inner webs ; below white with a narrow chest-band and streaks along the sides of blueish-black ; iris brown, bill dusky, legs dusky brown. Length 4-25 ; wing 2-50 tail 1-75 ; culmen -3 ; tarsus -6. The female is duller than the male and slightly tinged with olive above and below ; it has no breast-band or streaks below. The fall plumage is practically identical with that of the spring. Distribution. — Breeding in the south-eastern United States from eastern Nebraska and Kansas eastwards, and from southern Ontario southwards, migrating south across the Gulf of Mexico to north-west South America, from Panama to Peru, where it winters. The only Colorado record for this Warbler is that of Henshaw, who observed one individual among a flock of Audubons migrating near Denver, May 17th, 1873. It can only be regarded as a straggler. Blackpoll-Warbler. Dendroica striata. A.O.U. Checklist no 661 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 198 ; Minot 80, p. 227 ; AUen & Brewster 83, p. 158 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 115 ; 04, p. 76 ; Chapman 07, p. 196 ; Henderson 09, p. 239 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 121. Description. — Male in breeding plumage — Crown black, back grey streaked with black ; wings and tail dusky, the middle and greater covf ts tipped with white, forming a double wing-band ; centre of the b' ck and wings with a faint wash of olive ; outer tail-feathers with oubterminal white spots ; cheeks to below the eye and under-parts white, streaked heavily on either side of the throat and less so along the flanks with black ; iris brown, bill horny-brown, darker on the 456 Birds of Colorado vipper mandible, legs pale yellow-brown. Length 5-25 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 20 ; cuknen -40 ; tarsus -70. In autumn the male is very different, the black cap is entirely absent, and the upper-parts are olive-green, sUghtly streaked with black in the middle of the back, the tips of the coverts tinged with oUve ; below paler ohve-green, becoming white on the under tail-coverts. The female is somewhat like the fall male, but is more distinctly streaked on the crown and back, while below it is paler, often white on the centre of the abdomen, and streaked laterally with dusky. Distribution. — Breeding far north from Alaska and Labrador to Michigan and northern New England, in winter southwards through the West Indies to northern South America as far as northern Brazil and Ecuador. The Blackpoll cannot be considered anything but a straggler on migration in Colorado. A ntunber were seen and one female obtained near Denver, May 17th, 1873, by Henshaw ; Henderson saw one at Boulder on May 7th, 1905, at very close range ; and Hersey obtained one May 6th, 1908, at Barr ; Allen & Brewster saw two and obtained one near Colorado Springs on I\Iay 8th and 9th, 1882 ; and Cooke notes it in his migration tables at Fort Lyon, May 8th, and Loveland May 12th ; there is no example in the Aiken collection. Minot states " local summer resident at Seven Lakes," on the southern slopes of Pikes Peak. This breeding record has never been confirmed and is a long distance from Mackinac Isle, Michigan or Manitoba, the nearest recorded portions of the breeding range, and even Manitoba seems doubtful. It will be perhaps safest to neglect the Minot record until further, verified, and consider the Blackpoll a rare straggler on migration, and not a breeding resident. Grace's Warbler. Dendroica gracice. A.O.U. Checklist no 664— Colorado Records— Drew 81, p. 142 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Cooke 97, p. 115 ; 04, p. 86 ; Chapman 07, p. 185 ; Cary 09, p. 183. Description. — Adult Male — Above slaty-grey with a few black stripes on the crown and the middle of the back ; wings and tail dusky, the former with white tips to the coverts, forming a double wing-bar ; the latter largely white on the inner webs of the outer feathers ; a stripe from the base of the bill to above the eye and the throat and chest bright yellow ; ear-coverts grey, with a white patch above them, rest of the under-parts white, streaked with black on either side ; iris brown ; bill blackish, legs dusky brown. Length 4-50 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 2-20 ; cubnen -4 ; tarsus -7. The female resembles the male, but is duller in colour, the grey of the back tinged with brown, and the black streaks on the back and Black-throated Grey Warbler 457 flanks less distinct. Young birds of both sexes are tinged with brown on the back, and also on the flanks, and hav^e the black streaks very indistinct. Distribution. — Grace's Warbler, originally discovered by Coues in Arizona and named by him after his sister, breeds throughout northern Mexico and the mountains of New Mexico, Arizona and south-west Colorado, and winters in western Mexico (Jalisco). In Colorado it was first met with by Drew in San Juan co., and subsequently by Morrison in La Plata co. ; the latter observer describes it as an uncommon bird, but found it breeding at an elevation of 8,500 feet. Cary states that it is tolerably common in the Yellow Pine forests near Pagosa Springs. He obtained a specimen May 28th. The only other record from the State is that of Osbiu-n, who observed a small flock on migration near Loveland in the extreme north, and obtained a single specimen on April 25th, 1889. Habits, — ^Drew describes Grace's Warbler as a " dainty little inhabitant of the pines up to 7,500 feet," and in the White Mountains of Arizona, where it is one of the ■commonest summer Warblers, it was noted by Hen- shaw as frequenting the tops of the coniferous trees, running swiftly over the smaller branches at the extremity of the limbs, and pursuing its prey on the wing. It was occasionally, too, seen among the oaks. Morrison found a nest in May, 1887, about four feet from the ground, in a juniper bush ; it was placed in a forked limb and was lined with dried grass, cowhair, and a few feathers ; it contained four eggs, white with reddish spots very sparingly distributed near and on the larger end. A second nest was found a few days later. The eggs measure about "69 x *50. Black-throated Grey Warbler. Dendroica nigrescens. A.O.U. CheckEst no 665 — Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 197 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 198 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 116, 168 ; 04, p. 87 ; Chapman 07, p. 151 ; RockweU 08, p. 176; Warren 09, p. 17 ; Cary 09, p. 183. Description. — Male in spring — Crown and head all round black, except for a white band from above the eye to the nape, and another from the base of the bill along the sides of the throat ; a small yellow- spot in front of the eye ; back grey with a few black streaks ; wings 458 Birds of Colorado and tail dusky, the coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing- bar ; the outer three pairs of tail-feathers largely white ; under-parts white, sharply defined from the black throat ; sides streaked with black ; iris brown, biU black, legs dusky. Length 4-30 ; wing 2-45 ; tail 1-90 ; culmen -4 ; tarsus -7. The female resembles the male, but usually has less black on the head, and a wash of brown on the back ; the throat and breast are mottled black and white. Young birds and adults in the fall have less black on the head and cheeks, and have the tliroat mottled black and white. Distribution. — A western Warbler, breeding from British Columbia to Lower California, and eastwards to Colorado and New IVIexico, migrating south in winter as far as Oaxaca and Vera Cruz in Mexico. In Colorado the Black-throated Grey Warbler is a rare bird ; arriving from the south in May, and ranging up to 9,500 feet at Silverton in San Juan co. It has been reported from Idaho Springs, May 23rd, by Trippe, and from Loveland on May 9th by W. G. Smith, while Aiken records it from El Paso and Fremont cos., where he tells me that he believes that it breeds among the pinon hills north and east of Canon City, but neither he nor any other observer has taken tlie nest in the State. Cary reports that he saw or took this bird at Douglas Springs in September, in Sinbad Valley in July, at Coventry, and at Mesa Verde, 7,000 feet, all localities in the west of the State. Habits. — ^Aiken gives the following account : "Rather a rare migrant in Colorado ; a few probably remaining to breed. I have never seen it anywhere but on the mesas and foothills that are covered with low, scraggy pinon pines. The male as he searches for insects on leaf or limb repeats at intervals a singular but withal a very pretty song, with something of a metallic ring in it. Shy and retiring in its habits, and frequenting pinon groves so dense that one can scarcely see a dozen yards ahead, it is easily overlooked and requires con- siderable perseverance to secure." In Arizona it is reported to nest in dense scrub-oak as well as high up in pine trees. The nest resembles that of the Yellow Warbler, and usually contains four eggs — ^white, delicately marked with specks of red-brown and purplish, and measuring about 69 x "50. Townsend's Warbler 459 Black-throated Green Warbler. Dendroica virens. A.O.U. Checklist no 667. Description. — Male in spring — Above yellowish olive-green, a little streaked with black on the back ; sides of the head and neck, including the malar region and a superciliary stripe, lemon-yellow, turning to olive-green on the postocular region and ear-coverts ; chin, throat and chest black ; rest of the under-parts white or yellowish-white, Btreaked with black on the flanks ; wings and tail dusky, the former with a white double bar, the latter with white on the inner webs of the outer rectrices ; iris brown, bill blackish, legs and feet homy. Length 4-5 ; wing 2-5 ; tail 1-9 ; culmen -4 ; tarsus •?. The female has the chin and throat whitish or pale yellow, but is otherwise much like the male. Distribution.— Breeding from Nova Scotia and the southern shores of Hudson Bay, south along the mountains as far as South Carolina. In the winter south to the West Indies, and eastern Mexico as far south as Panama. Mr. L. J. Hersey obtained a single example of the Black-throated Green Warbler at Barr, near Denver, May 20th, 1909. The specimen is now in the Natural History Museum at Denver. This is the only record of the species in the State. Townsend's Warbler. Dejidroica tovmsendi. A.O.U. Checklist no 668 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 200 ; Drew 85, p. 16 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Cooke 97, p. 116 ; 04, p. 90 ; Chapman 07, p. 154 ; Cary 09, p. 183. Description. — Male in spring— Crown and throat black ; another black patch on the side of the head from the base of the bill to the ear-coverts, separated above and below by a yellow streak, and con- taining a yellow spot below the eye ; back yellowish-green spotted with black, wings and tail dusky black, the coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing-band ; the three outer pairs of tail-feathers largely white on the inner web ; central part of the breast yellow, posterior part and under tail-coverts white, with well marked black streaks on either side ; iris brown, bill blackish, legs dark horn. Length 4-75 ; wing 2-70 ; tail 2-0 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -65. The female is not very unlike the male, but the crown is olive-green spotted with black, and there is little black spotting on the back ; there is less white on the tail ; and the chin and throat are yellow throughout, showing black bases to the feathers. The male in autumn has the black of the crown and tliroat obsciu-ed by olive-green tips to the feathers, and the young bird is very similar. 460 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska to Oregon, and perhaps south to the mountains of Lower Cahfomia, and east to western Colorado ; in winter south to western and central Mexico as far as Guatemala. Townsend's Warbler is apparently a rare bird in Colorado, and there is no definite record of its breeding within the State. It was taken by Aiken, according to Henshaw, at Conejos, August 26th, and at the mouth of the Navajo Creek in Archuelta co., September 11th, in the south of the State ; Lowe says that it is abundant in the Wet Mountains in the fall at elevations of 7,400 to 10,000 feet ; while Cooke states that one example was seen by Captain Thorne at Fort Lyon on May 26th, 1883, and Chapman notes its arrival at Loveland on May 11th, 1889. The only authority for its breeding is that of Drew, who gives no further details. Gary reports that he shot a male August 24th, 1906, on the Snake River, twenty miles west of Bagg's Crossing, while on its southward migration in company with other Warblers. Habits. — This Warbler frequents the highest trees, and is very active in its movements after insects, so that it is difficult to obtain. According to Henshaw, it affects the firs and spruces and shuns the true pines. Its note is described as a simple " Tsip." The only well-authenticated eggs known appear to be a set taken at Vancouver by Walter Raine, and described by J. L. Childs in Chapman's Warblers. Palm Warbler. Dendroica palmarum. A.O.U. Checklist no 672 — Colorado Records — Cooke 97, p. 168 ; 04, p. 93 ; Chapman 07, p. 213. Description. — Male — Above dusky brown ; the crown chestnut, bordered by a yellow superciliary stripe ; upper tail-coverts yellowish ; wing without conspicuous bars ; the two outer tail-feathers white at the tip of the inner web. Under-parts yellow, becoming almost grey on the abdomen, obscorely streaked with brownish ; iris brown, bill blackish-brown; legs dusky-brown. Length 4-60; wing 2-50; tail 1-85 ; culmen -40 ; tarsus -65. The sexes are alike, but in winter the crown is like the back, greyish- brown with faint streaks of black ; the superciliary line and under-parts are dull white, with very slight traces of yellow, except on the under tail-coverts. Distribution. — The Palm Warbler breeds in the interior of British North America west of Hudson Bay, and migrates south along the Oven-Bird 461 Mississippi Valley to southern Florida, the West Indies and Yucatan, where it winters. It is a straggler to Colorado, only once recorded. H. G. Smith observed but did not secure an example near Denver, June 20th, 1891. Genus SEIURUS. Warblers of large size — wing over 2-75 ; close to Dendroica in structure but very different in plumage ; this is tlunish-like, with spotted under- parts on a white ground. Three species, all found within the United States. For key, see p. 439. Oven-Bird. Seiurus aurocapillus. A.O.U. Checklist no 674— Colorado Records— Minot 80, p. 227 ; Cooke 97, pp. 116, 219 ; 04, p. 99 ; Chapman 07, p. 219. Description. — Adult Male — Centre of the crown orange, bordered on either side by two black stripes from the bill to the nape ; general coloiu: above olive-green, without marks on the wings or tail ; below white, the breast and flanks heavily streaked with black, and a narrow black line along either side of the throat ; iris brown, upper mandible dark brown, lower paler, legs pale flesh. Length 5-25 ; wing 3-0; tail 2-20 ; cuhnen -45 ; tarsiLS -80. The sexes closely resemble one another, but the orange crown is generally a little paler and tipped with brown in the female. In the fall the plimaage colours are somewhat richer, and so too in the case of the young bird. Distribution. — The Oven-Bird breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland, south to Kansas and the mountains of South Carolina, and winters in southern Florida, the West Indies and western Mexico, south to Columbia. It is a rare bird in Colorado, though it was first noticed by Dr. C. Wemigk near Denver so long ago as June, 1862. The only other definite record is that of Aiken, who obtained a single female, now in the Colorado College Musetun at Ramah, in El Paso co., June 5th, 1898 ; the ovaries were enlarged, and it appeared hkely to be about to breed, so that the bird may be regarded as a scarce resident. Minot believed that he heard the notes of the Oven-Birds at Boulder and Nederland, near by, in May, 1880. Habits. — The Oven-Bird is a distinctly terrestrial form, seeking its food on the groyjid among decaying leaves, and making its remarkable covered nest, from which it gets its name, on the ground, generally under the shelter of a bush. 462 Birds of Colorado Grinnell's Water -Thrush. Seiurus noveboracensis notahilis. A.O.U. Checklist no 675a— Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 20-4 ; Minot 80, p. 227 ; Cooke 97, pp. 116, 169 ; 04, p. 105 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 239 ; Chapman 07, p. 234. Description. — Adult — Above tliroughout brown, with a slight tinge of olive ; a conspicuous line above the eye white with a tinge of bufiy ; under-parts white with a faint wash of yellowish, heavily streaked throughout with black ; iris brown, bill dusky, leg pale brown. Length (of a female) 5-20 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 2-20 ; cuknen -50 ; tarsus -75. The sexes are alike, and the seasonal variation is very slight. This, the western subspecies, is distinguished from the typical form by its longer bill, browner upper- and whiter under-parts. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from Alaska to Minnesota and Nebraska ; on migration southwards, through the south-eastern Atlantic states to the West Indies, Mexico, Central and South America. Grinnell's Water-Tlirush is only a straggler on migration in Colorado. It was noticed at Denver May 12th, 1873, by Henshaw ; at Fort Lyon, May 6th, 1886, by Thorne ; at Boulder by Minot and at Loveland by Cooke, wliile Aiken observed it near Cafion City in May, 1873, and obtained a specimen, now in the Colorado College Museum, near Limon May 23rd, 1900 ; he also informs me he saw six examples at Butte on May 3rd, 1908. There is another example in the State collection at Denver, obtamed May 14th, 1904, at Boulder by Bragg (Henderson). Habits. — ^Like the Oven-Bird, this species is for the most part a ground-bird and a walker, haunting swamps and deep woodland bogs, and giving vent to a sudden and loud vivid song. It is generally regarded as the most notable musician among the Warblers. Genus OPORORNIS. Bill as in Dendroica with the rictal bristles weak, sometimes obsolete ; wings comparatively long and pointed, about 3^ times the length of the tarsus ; plumage green, yellow and slate, without spots or bars on the wings and tail. Four species, all breeding in the United States. For key, see p. 439. Connecticut Warbler. Oporornis agilis. A.O.U. Checklist no 678— Colorado Records — Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Cooke 97, p. 219 ; 04, p. 110; Chapman 07, p. 241. MacGillivray's Warbler 463 Description. — Male in spring — Above olive-green ; the crown, sides of the head, throat and breast slaty-grey, paler on the throat ; a white ring round the eye ; rest of the under-parts yellow, tinged with olive along the flanks ; iris brown, bill dusky-brown, lower mandible paler, legs pale flesh. Length 4-75 ; wing 2-70 ; tail 1-50 ; culmen -45 ; tarsus -75. The female has the crown brownish-olive-green and the cheeks, throat and breast brownish-olive ; young birds closely resemble the female. Distribution. — Breeding in Manitoba and perhaps in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan ; migrating south along the Atlantic coasts, through the Bahamas to northern South America, returning in spring along the Mississippi Valley. In Colorado the Connecticut Warbler is a straggler on migration. It has only been once recorded. Aiken obtained a single male on May 24th, 1899, in a cliunp of willows bordering a water-hole near Limon in Lincoln co. This extends its range many hundred miles west, as it does not appear to have been taken previously at any distance west of the Mississippi River. Habits. — So retiring and elusive is this Warbler that it is likely to escape the observation of one unacquainted with it. It haunts the thick undergrowth of swamps, and is only with the greatest difficulty flushed from its hiding-place. The only authentic nest of this species was found by Ernest Seton in Manitoba, June 21st, 1883. It was placed on the ground and contained four white, slightly brown-spotted eggs. MacGillivray's Warbler. Oporornis tolmiei. A.O.U. Checklist no 680 — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 197 (Oeothlypis macgillivrayi) ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 205 ; Minot 80, p. 227 ; Drew 81, p. 88 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 159 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; McGregor 97, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 117, 219 ; 04, p. 114 ; Keyser 02, p. 205 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; Oilman 07, p. 194 ; Chapman 07, p. 249 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. Description. — Male in spring — Head all round slaty-blue ; a white mark above and below the eye, and the lores black ; back, wings and tail olive-green ; throat and upper-breast streaked with slaty-blue and slaty-black ; rest of the under-parts yellow, greenish on the flanks ; iris brown, upper mandible dusky brown, lower pale brown, legs light brown. Length 4-30 ; wing 2-50 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen -4 ; tarsus -85. 464 Birds of Colorado The female resembles the male, but the crown is less distinctly- slaty, and washed with olive ; the throat and breast are pale slaty- grey ; the lores are not black, and the white eye-spots are smaller. An autumn male has the crown slightly tipped with brownish. A young bird has the crown olive-brown, not slate. Distribution. — Breeding in western America from British Columbia to Arizona and New Mexico, wintering from Lower California to Colombia. This is one of the commonest simMner Warblers throughout Colorado, extending for a considerable distance out into the plains and to the western slope of the mountains, and breeding from the foothills up to 11,000 feet. It reaches El Paso co. about the middle of May, and the higher elevations of the mountains towards the end of the month. It departs again in September. Henderson took one at 10,500 feet early in that month in Boulder co. It has been recorded as breeding in Estes Park (Chapman), near Gold Hill, Boulder co., 11,000 feet (Gale), Idaho Springs (Trippe), Middle Park (Carter), Manitou (Minot), San Juan co. (Drew), and La Plata co. (Morrison), and on migration at Loveland (Cooke), Denver (Henshaw), near Colorado Springs and at Limon (Aiken), Pueblo (Beckham), Fort Lyon (Thome apud Cooke), Springfield, Baca co. (Warren), and Grand Junction by Miss Eggleston (Rockwell). Habits. — ^MacGillivray's Warbler is a shy and retiring bird, and would generally be overlooked were it not for its song ; it is commonest in thickets and bushes, along the banks of streams, but is also found among the scrub of the steep hill-sides. It spends a good deal of its time on the ground searching for insect under dry logs and among dead leaves, while its song " Chee- chee-chee-chee," is short and sweet, and not easily distinguished from that of the Pileolated Warbler. The nest is generally placed low down in bushes at six inches to two feet above the ground, but Minot found one on June 21st near Manitou in scrub-oak, about five feet up. It was a bulky structure built of shreds of stalks and grass and lined with hair. The eggs, four in number, were white, finely marked with lilac and various browns, generally forming a wreath ; they average '11 x "52. Western Yellow-throat 465 Other dates are Estes Park, June 15th (Chapman.), and Decker's Ranch, near Crested Butte, 9,000 feet, July (Warren). Genus GEOTHLYPIS. Bill short ; rictal bristles obsolete ; wing short and rounded, about 2| the length of the tarsus ; the outer primary (ninth) shorter than the sixth ; tail nearly as long as the wing, distinctly rounded ; plumage olive and yellow, with a black mask in the male. An extensive genus of about twelve ^ecies, ranging south to the Argentine. Only one species in the United States. Western Yellow-throat. Geothlypis trichas occidentalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 681a— Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 197 ; Henshaw 75, p. 204 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 158 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 117, 219, 220; 04, p. 119; Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 240 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Chapman 07, p. 259 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177 ; Cary 09, p. 183 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 121. Description. — Adult male in spring — A black mask over the front of the crown and extending back through the eye to the ear-coverts, bordered posteriorly with white ; above olive-green, rather more dusky on the wings and tail ; under-parts bright orange-yellow, fading into buffy-brown on tlie centre of the abdomen and the flanks ; iris brown, bill blackish, legs light brown. Length 4-5 ; wing 2-25 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -45 ; tarsias -75. The female has no black mask, but the front of the crown is slightly tinged with cinnamon. The under-parts are always much paler and less brilliant than in the male ; sometimes the yellow is confined to the iinder tail-coverts. The autumn plmnage is very similar to the spring, but the bill is always paler and less dusky. Young birds have no black mask, and closely resemble the females. This subspecies is distinguished from the eastern form (0. t. tricJias) by its brighter yellow under-parts, whiter and less greyish frontal band, and its longer tail. The Yellow-throat taken near Colorado Springs May 31st, 1898, by Aiken, and referred by Cooke (p. 219) to the eastern form, appears to me on the whole nearer the western variety, and I think it best to include all Colorado birds under the western name. Distribution. — Breeding in western North America from the Canadian border to northern Mexico, and from Kansas to California, wintering in southern California and western Mexico to Tepee. In Colorado the Western Yellow-throat is a fairly common summer bird in the plains and along the foothills of the eastern half of the State, GG 466 Birds of Colorado but is not usually found above 6,000 feet, nor is it so common on the western slopes. It arrives from the south about the first week in May, and has been recorded from Loveland May 9th (Cooke), Boulder (Henderson), Barr, breeding abundantly (Hersey & Rockwell), Denver May 7th (Henshaw), El Paso co. May 3rd, and Limon May 23rd (Aiken), Pueblo (Beckham), Salida, arriving April 29th and breeding (Frey), Fort Lyon May 13th (Cooke), and in western Colorado at Grand Jiuiction, where it arrives early in May, and stays throughout the siunmer (Rockwell). That it occasionally enters the mountains is shown by two records given by Cooke — Sweetwater Lake in Garfield co., 8,000 feet, May 5th, 1898 (L. B. Gilmore), and breeding near Dillon, Smnmit CO., 8,860 feet (E. Carter), while Cary recently observed it near Sulphur Springs at about 8,000 feet. Habits. — This is an active and restless little bird, commonly found about the low weedy thickets and the thick undergrowth bordering streams or sloughs. It is constantly on the move, climbing weed stalks and search- ing among the leaves on the ground for small insects, and often uttering a rather harsh scolding note. It has a pretty little characteristic song, easily identified though difficult to syllable — " whichitee-whichitee-whichitee " seeras the nearest. No Colorado observer appears to have described the nest, but Goss gives the following account : " Their nests are usually placed on the ground, sometimes in bushes, two or three feet up. They are composed of loosely bound grass and leaves outside, lined with fine stems and rootlets wdthin. The eggs, usually four, vary a good deal, but are generally white, spotted and blotched with umber and other browns, chiefly at the larger end, and measure "74 x '54." Genus ICTERIA. The largest of the Warblers, with a wing of 30 or more ; bill short, stout, laterally compressed and highly arched ; culmen strongly ridged and curved ; tail rounded, as long as or exceeding the wing. One species only. Long-tailed Chat 467 Long-tailed Chat, Icteria virens longicauda. A.O.U. Checklist no 683a— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 148 Aiken 72, p. 197 ; Henshaw 75, p. 207 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 159 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Miller 94, p. 42 ; Cooke 97, p. 117 04, p. 122 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Chapman 07, p. 268 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Gihnan 07, p. 194 ; Warren 08, p. 24 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. Description. — Adult male — Above olive-green with a greyish tinge ; superciliary line, a mark imder the eye, and a malar stripe white ; lores black ; throat and breast, edge of wing and under wing-coverts bright yellow ; abdomen white, flanks buffy ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky blueish-grey in life. Length 7-0 ; wing 3-20 ; tail 3-40 ; culmen -55 ; tarsus -98. The sexes can hardly be distinguished, though the female is generally duller in colour, and the lower mandible a pale horn. The male in autumn and the young bird are very similar. The eastern bird is distinguished by its shorter wing and tail, the latter being as a rule shorter than the wing as well, and by the restriction of the white malar stripe, which hardly reaches to below the eye. A female taken by Aiken May 21st, 1899, near Limon, in Lincoln co., now in the Colorado College Mu.seum, is somewhat inter- mediate in character. Distribution.— In summer from British Columbia to the neighbourhood of Mexico City, and from western Kansas to the Pacific ; in winter in western Mexico, perhaps as far south as Costa Rica. In Colorado the Long-tailed Chat is a common summer resident in the plains and foothills, and also on the western slopes of the Rockies, but it never breeds above 6,500 feet, and does not seem to go any higher at other times. It reaches El Paso co. about the middle of May, and has been noticed by Aiken as early as the 5th of that month. It has been recorded from Boulder co. (Henderson), Denver (Allen), El Paso CO. (Aiken), and Pueblo (Beckham) on the east of the range ; and from Lily in Routt co. (Warren), and Grand Junction (Rockwell), where it breeds, on the west. Habits. — Though often found in gardens and thick shrubbery near houses, the Long-tailed Chat shuns observation, and remains concealed in the thickest and densest growth. It is also very suspicious. It is said that no one has yet photographed this or the Yellow- breasted Chat on its nest. As a singer, the Chat is unique among the Warblers • its notes are a singular GG 2 468 Birds of Colorado medley of calls and whistles, and are very often heard at night, especially if it is moonlight. The nest is placed among small saplings or briers at from two to three feet above the ground ; it is constructed of leaves and grasses, and has as a rule no special hning. The eggs, usually four, are clear white with spots and specks, or sometimes large blotches of various shades of brown, and measure about "86 x '66. Fresh eggs should be met mth about the second week in June near Denver, according to Dille. Genus WILSONIA. Small fly-catching Warblers with a very short, broad and flattened bill, distinctly wider than deep at the nostrils ; rictal bristles con- spicuous ; wing with the ninth (outer) primary longer than the flfth, the sixth to eighth the longest ; tail shorter than the wing and somewhat rounded ; plumage chiefly yellow and green, no red. Three species, all breeding in the United States. For key, see p. 439. Pileolated Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla pileolata. A.O.U. Checklist no 685a — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 156, 162 ; Aiken 72, p. 197 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Henshaw 75, p. 207 ; Minot 80, p. 228 ; Tresz 81, p. 286 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 159 ; Stone 84, p. 20 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 117, 228 ; 04, p. 128 ; Keyser 02, pp. 63, 238 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; Gibnan 07, p. 194 ; Chapman 07, p. 278 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. Description. — Male— Crown glossy black, forehead, eyebrow and cheeks very bright yellow ; above olive-green, dusky on the wings and tail ; below bright yellow throughout ; iris brown, bill dusky- brown, paler on the lower mandible, feet light brown. Length 4-5 ; wing 2-25 ; tail 20 ; culmen -30 ; tarsus -75. The female resembles the male, but is usually duller in colour, and the black crown-patch is less glossy and smaller. The male in the autumn is very similar, and the young bird has even less trace of the black cap. Distribution. — The species is found breeding throughout western North America from Alaska to western Texas, but only at considerable elevations towards the south. It winters throughout the greater part of Mexico, and as far south as Panama. Wilson's Warbler 469 In Colorado the Pileolated Warbler is a common summer bird throughout. Arriving from the south about the first week in May, it quickly moves up from the plains and foothills to the higher elevations, and nests from 7,000 to 12,000 feet, but chiefly at about 10,000 feet. Spring migration records are as follows : Monon, Baca co., May 3rd (Warren), Fort Lyon, May 5th (Cooke), El Paso co., May 14th, and Limon, May 21st (Aiken), Denver May 14th (Henshaw), and Loveland, May llth-13th (Cooke). Fall records are: El Paso co., September 27th (Aiken), Pueblo, October 5th (Beckham), and Sapanero, Gunnison co., September 26th (Warren M.S.). Breeding records are : above timber hne near Idaho Springs, July (Trippe) ; Hancock, Chaffee CO., 10,000 feet (Mrs. Stone), Seven Lakes, on the slopes of Pikes Peak; about 11,000 feet, Jime 22nd (Minot) ; Fort Lewis, La Plata co., 7,500 feet (Morrison). Habits. — ^A sprightly and active little bird, this Warbler is generally to be found about willow swamps at high elevations ; it flits from bush to bush, and seldom perches on trees. Its song is not remarkable, and is syllabled by Minot " chee-chee," seven times repeated. The nest is usually placed on the ground under the shelter of a willow or other bush, though Morrison states that he found it building in the cotton-woods and willows that fringe the Rio de la Plata. The nest taken by Mrs. Stone on July 16th contained two young birds ; it was placed on the ground under a \\dllow, and was a flimsy affair made of bark strips, rootlets and dried grasses, and lined with a few horsehairs. The eggs, four or five, are white or sometimes creamy, spotted and speckled with browns and greys, sometimes regularly throughout, sometimes in a wreath at the larger end. They average •63 X "49. Gale gives June 12th to 25tb for fresh eggs at Duck Lake, near Gold Hill, at 9,000 feet. Wilson's Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla. A.O.U. Checklist no 686 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 01, pt. ii., p. 710; Chapman 07, p. 274. Description. — Closely resembling the Pileolated, but averaging a little smaller (wing 2-15 as against 2-25), and coloration paler and 470 Birds of Colorado duller, especially the forehead, which is pale yellow instead of a bright, almost orange-yellow. Distribution. — Breeding chiefly in Canada from Hudson Bay to Newfoundland, and wintering in Central America from Guatemala to Costa Rica. The discrimination of the eastern and western forms of this Warbler in the Colorado records is a httle uncertain, but there can be little doubt that the eastern form occasionally occurs as a straggler on migration in Colorado. There are no undoubted Colorado examples of this form in the Aiken collection, but Ridgway mentions a specimen from Fort Garland, taken in May, doubtless by Henshaw, and now in the United States National Museiun. Most of the other records seem to refer to the Pileolated Warblers. Canadian Warbler. Wilsonia canadensis. A.O.XJ. Checklist no 686— Colorado Records— Aiken 00, p. 298 ; Cooke 97, p. 220 ; Chapman 07, p. 280. Description. — Male — Above slaty-grey, the crown slightly spotted with black, the forehead, lores and a patch under the eye usually black ; a line from the bill to above the eye and the imder-parts yellow ; a series of black spots across the breast ; under tail-coverts nearly white ; iris brown, bill dusky-brown, paler on the lower mandible; legs pale horn. Length 4-75 ; wing 2-45 ; tail 2-15 ; culmen -4 ; tarsus -75. The female is very similar, but duller throughout, and the black of the crown, forehead and lores is less dLstinct, and the breast spots dusky and not well defined. There is very little seasonal change, and the yomig bird is like the female, with still less sign of black. Distribution. — Breeding from Athabasca and Newfoundland south to Minnesota and Connecticut, and further south along the Alleghany Mountains, wintering chiefly in Ecuador and Peru. In Colorado the Canadian Warbler is a straggler on migration. It has been taken once only — by Aiken near Limon in Lincoln co.. May 23rd, 1899. The single specimen, a male, is now in the Colorado College Museum. Genus SETOPHAGA. Closely allied to Wilsonia in structure, but the bill rather flatter and wider, and the rictal bristles generally more developed ; plumage of the males with red or salmon on the wings and tail. Two species in the United States. American Redstart. Setophaga ruticilla. A.O.U. Checklist no 687— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 148 ; Aiken 72, p, 197 ; Trippe 74, p. 232 ; Minot 80, p. 228 ; Allen & Brewster American Redstart 471 83, p. 159 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 118, 220 ; 04, p. 132 ; Keyser 02, p. 184 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; Chapman 07, p. 237 ; Gary 09, p. 183 ; Heraey & Rockwell 09, p. 121. Description. — Male — General colour above, including the head all round, and upper- breast black ; wings with a cross-band of salmon ; tail with the four outer pairs of feathers salmon, with black tips, the central pair black, the other pair with salmon on the outer web only ; under-parts white, tinged with salmon, and with a brilhant patch of salmon on either side of the breast ; iris brown, bill black, paler in the fall, legs dark brown. Length 4-8 ; wing 2-5 ; tail 2-25 ; culmen -30 ; tarsus -65. The female has the crown and sides of the head grey, and the back olive-green ; the wings and tail slightly washed with the same colour ; the sahnon of wings, tail and breast of the male replaced by yellow ; the tmder-parts from the chin to the under tail-coverts white. Young males in the fall closely resemble the females, and in the following spring show a few black feathers about the chest and head, but do not acquire the full male dress until the second year. Distribution. — Breeding from Alaska and Newfoundland to Utah, Kansas and North Carolina, wintering in the West Indies and South America as far as Ecuador and British Guiana. In Colorado the Redstart can hardly be described as common, though not infrequently met with along the eastern foothills, especially on the spring migi'ation, and in the mountains up to about 8,000 feet, where it is stated to breed. It is absent, or at any rate quite rare, in the western part of the State. The following are migration records : Fort Lyon, May 14th (Cooke), Pueblo, May 27th (Beckham), El Paso CO., May 18th (Allen & Brewster), Barr Lake, May 10th (Hersey & Rockwell), Boulder, May 31st (Minot), Loveland, May 9th (Cooke), Trippe states that it breeds near Idaho Springs, and Carter (Cooke) in Middle Park, but no details are given. More recently Cary observed a few migrating individuals on the Lower Snake River, twenty miles west of Baggs Crossing, in August. Habits. — ^The Redstart frequents parks, groves and deep woods ; it lives largely about tree tops, and flits restlessly about with outspread tail and open wings, making a display of its bright-coloured plumage, darting quickly after a passing insect, and snapping its bill at every capture. The nest, according to Goss, is situated in small trees, as a rule from three to even thirty feet above the ground ; 472 Birds of Colorado it is often placed in and woven round three or more upright twigs, and is made up of stems, rootlets and plant strippings, worked in with a soft cotton-like sub- stance, and lined inside with hairs, fine stems and some- times a few feathers. The eggs, usually four, are white or creamy, speckled and blotched \vith several shades of brown and lilac of varying extent and distribution. They average '63 X "48. Family MOTACILLID-S. Bill shorter than the head, slender, straight and acute, notched at the tip ; nostrils not concealed ; gape without conspicuous bristles ; primaries nine ; the ninth (outer) and eighth about equal, the seventh to sixth the longest ; inner secondaries greatly lengthened, almost as long as the primaries ; feet slender, tarsus scutellate ; hind toe with a long and almost straight claw. Genus ANTHUS. Characters as given above under the family. Two species only are found in the United States. American Pipit. Anilius rubescens. A.O.U. Checklist no 697 — Colorado Records — {Anthns ludovicianus and A. pensilvanicus) — Allen 72, p. 161; Aiken 72, p. 196; Trippe 74, p. 231 ; Scott 79, p. 92 ; Minot 80, p. 226 ; Drew 81, p. 88 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 118 ; Keyser 02, pp. 50, 239 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Gihnan 07, p. 194 ; Warren 08, p. 24 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. Description. — Adult in spring — Above greyish-olive with obscure dusky centres to some of the feathers, especially of the middle of the back ; wings and tail with paler edgings to the feathers, but no very distinct wing-bands ; two outer pairs of tail-feathers with white on the outer web ; stripe above the eye and under-parts pale buffy-white ; the chest and flanks usually, though by no meaixs invariably, streaked with black ; iris brown, bill dusky, palor on the lower mandible ; legs brownish -black. Length of a female 5-20; wing 3-20; tail 2-25; culmen -43 ; tarsvis -80. American Pipit 473 The sexes are alike ; young birds are more distinctly spotted on the back and streaked below. Distribution. — Breeding from eastern Siberia, Alaska and Newfound- land to Quebec Province, and southwards at high elevations along the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains ; in winter southwards over the greater part of the United States and Mexico to Guatemala. In Colorado the American Pipit is exceedingly common during migration throughout the State, and breeds at high elevations in the mountains, chiefly between 11,000 and 13,000 feet, and above timber line, though occasionally, according to Gale, as low as 9,000 feet. It arrives on the plains and foothills towards the end of April, and moving up into the mountains, reaches timber line in June, where fresh eggs may be met with from June 25th to July 10th ; it lingers on at high elevations until September or even October, and does not leave the State imtil November. The following are spring migi'ation records : El Paso co., last week of April (Allen & Brewster), Limon, May 1st (Aiken), Boulder co., plains, April 20th (Gale), Fort Lewis, La Plata co., April 30th (Morrison), Mesfi CO., " early spring " (Rockwell). Breeding records are: Estes Park at timber line (McGregor), Boulder co., from timber line to 9,000 feet (Gale), along timber line near Idaho Springs (Trippe), Seven Lakes, 10,600 feet on Pikes Peak (Minot), above timber line on Mount Lincoln, Park CO. (Allen), timber line at Motmt Emmons, Gimnison co. (Warren MSS.), above timber line, San Juan co. (Drew). Habits. — The American Pipit, or Titlark as it was formerly called, arrives from the south in large flocks, which do not break up until they reach their breeding grounds. In the mountain parks they frequent the open hill-sides, and show a strong partiality to the ploughed fields of the mountain ranches. Later on in June they reach the summit of 'the range and commence nesting as soon as the snow has sufficiently melted to allow the grass to spring up. They are somewhat shy at this time, hardly permitting an approach of fifty or sixty yards. The male has a song during the breeding season not heard at other times. " Rising in the air at an angle of forty-five degrees, with a fluttering uncertain flight, they commence singing when they are up a little way, and continue till they have reached a height of a hundred 474 Birds of Colorado yards or so ; then descending, fluttering their w-ings as before, they light on a stone or sod, not far from where they started " (Trippe). The nest is placed on the ground, usually under the shelter of a stone or bunch of grass ; it is constructed entirely of dried grasses, outside coarser, inside finer, and the walls are thick and warm. The eggs, five or six in number, are dark brownish-purple, almost hidden by spots and splashes of purplish-black, and though varying somewhat, are very dark in colour. They average -78 x '57. Family CINCLIDiE. Bill shorter than the head, rather slender and com- pressed ; nostril partly concealed ; no rictal bristles ; wing of ten primaries, the tenth (outer) very short ; wing short, rounded and concave ; tail of twelve short rounded feathers almost hidden by the coverts ; tarsus normal ; claws curved. A small family distinguished chiefly by the adaptation of its members to aquatic life. Genus CINCLUS. Characters of the family ; one species only in the United States. American Dipper. Cinclus mexicanus unicolor. A.O.U. Checklist no 701— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 148, 161 ; Aiken 72, p. 194 ; Trippe 74, p. 229 ; Henshaw 75, p. 159 ; Scott 79, p. 91 ; Minot 80, p. 224 ; Drew 81, p. 86 ; 85, p. 15 ; Stone 82, p. 181 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; Pearce 86, p. 8 ; Morrison 86, p. 27 ; 88, p. 71 ; W. G. Smith 88, p. 149 ; Bendire 89, p. 75 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Chamberlain 94, p. 163 ; Miller 94, p. 70 ; Taylor 96, p. 6 ; McGregor 96, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 118, 169, 221 ; Keyser 02, pp. 163-174; Dille 03, p. 74; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Gilman 07, p. 194 ; Henderson 08, p. 1 ; Warren 08, p. 24 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. American Dipper 475 Description. — Adult — General colour throughout pale slaty-grey, faintly tinged with brown on the head and neck, which, according to Drew, is slightly bronzed and metallic in spring ; below slightly paler than above ; iris brown, bill black, legs horny brown. Length 6-75 ; wing 3-75; tail 2 0; culmen -70; tarsus 1-20. The sexes are alike ; in autumn the feathers of the under-parts and most of the wings are very narrowly margined with white, and the bill is pale horny brown. Young birds are still more noticeably mottled with white below; the throat mainly, sometimes entirely white. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountains in their widest sense, from Alaska to western Texas and southern California, including the Black Hills of Dakota. A resident throughout its range. In Colorado the Dipper is generally to be found throughout the mountainous western half of the State wherever suitable conditions exist. It ranges from the foothills at about 5,000 feet to timber line, 11,500 feet, and though generally found at slightly lower elevations in winter, this is by no means invariably the case. It has been observed by Gilmore (Cooke) at the head waters of Clear Creek, 10,500 feet, on December 15th, and about timber line at Berthoud Pass, 11,500 feet, on October 3rd. On the other hand, in summer it has been found nesting at various elevations from 5,000 to 11,000 feet, so that it can hardly be said to be a regular vertical migrant. It has been recorded from most of the mountainous parts of the state from Estes Park (Pearce & Kellogg) to the Wet Mountains (Lowe), and on the western slopes from Glenwood Springs (Cooke) and Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata co. (Gilman). / Habits. — The remarkable aquatic habits of the Dipper render it quite unique among the Passerine birds. This and its curious nesting ways have caused a number of observers to pay special attention to it, as is shown by the long list of Colorado records. The notes of Dennis Gale, which, through the kindness of the authorities of the University of Colorado at Boulder, I have been able to make use of, are full of observations on the Dipper, and the following account is largely based on these. The Dipper, sometimes called the Water-Ouzel, and locally in Colorado often knoMn as the Water-Turkey, is found only along the rushing mountain streams, which it seldom leaves, and which it follows up, skimming 476 Birds of Colorado close to the surface with, a rapid chattering note. Occa- sionally it alights on a rock or stone in mid-stream, and commences a series of little curtseyings or bobs, at the same time flicking its tail and alternately compressing its body and spreading its Avings. It is this habit which has got it its name of Dipper. Presently it plunges into the icy water and dives ^ith the help of its Avings, or even walks along the pebbly bottom quite submerged, in search of the small water insects which it feeds on. In winter it mil freely go below the ice, reappearing at some air-hole a few yards off, wdthout hesitation. At this season it is often found at mountain lakes, especially if there is open water, owing to warm springs. It is a somewhat unsocial bird, and a single pair usually monopolize a stream or section of a stream to the exclusion of others. The song is clear and sweet, some- what Wren-hke in tone ; according to DreAv it is to be heard all the year round, both in winter and summer. The nest (Plate 16) is placed on a rocky ledge over- looking the stream, on an island rock, behind a water- fall, or sometimes under a bridge, but nearly always within reach of the spray of the water, so that it is always moist and damp. It differs somewhat in shape in order to suit the cavity where it is situated, but is nearly always oven-shaped, a little longer than broad, \vith a front entrance. It is constructed chiefly of moss, with some decayed leaves and other rubbish, strongly put together in a wet state. Inside is the nest proper, saucer- shaped, about 1| inches deep and 3| wide. It is composed of a peculiar non-absorbent wiry grass, lined with a few willoAV leaves flat and intact, and all perfectly dry. The nest harmonizes with its surroimdings, and is made use of after repairs year after year, probably by the same pair of birds. The hen undertakes most American Dipper 477 if not all the work of building. The eggs, four or five in number, are pure white, and rather pointed at one end. The time of nesting of the Dipper is rather irregular. Gale found fresh eggs from early in May until the middle of June ; Drew found one nest with four hatched young, and another nest yet unfinished on the same date — June 19th in San Juan co. — while Dille gives the first week in June as a good average date for fresh eggs. Family MIMID^E. Rather large birds with considerable external re- semblance to the Thrushes, with a bill of variable size and shape, but always with conspicuous rictal bristles ; wing short and rounded, shorter than or only just exceeding the tail ; outer primary never very small, usually about half the length of the next ; tarsus stout and adapted to walking. This family, containing the Mocking-birds, Thrashers and their allies, is confined -to America. Key of the Genera. A. Tail slightly shorter than the wing and nearly even ; breast spotted. Oroscoptes, p. 477. B. Tail always longer than the wing and distinctly graduated. a. Culinen shorter than the middle toe without claw, a^ With a good deal of white on the wings and tail. Mimus, p. 479. b^ Without any white on the wings and tail. Dumetella, p. 481. b. Culmen always exceeding the middle toe and without claw. Toxostoma, p. 482. Genus OROSCOPTES. Bill moderate, not hooked or curved except at the tip, shorter than the head ; rictal bristles well developed ; wing and tail apjjroximately equal, the latter even or very slightly graduated ; outer primary hardly half the length of the next ; plumage thrush-like, dull brown with spotted under-parts. One species only. 478 Birds of Colorado Sage-Thrasher. Oroscoptes montanus. A.O.U. Checklist no 702— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 147 ; Trippe 74, p. 228 ; Henshaw 75, p. 149 ; Scott 79, p. 91 ; Drew 81, p. 86, 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 153 ; BeckJiam 85, p. 140 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 119, 221 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Gilman 07, pp. 42, 194 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177. Description. — Adult — Above pale earthy -brown, with indistinct darker mesial streaks on the head ; wings and tail duskier -brown, the former with pale whity edgings to the feathers, those of the coverts forming indistinct wing-bands ; three pairs of outer tail-feathers tipped with white ; below white, tinged with buffy on the sides and posteriorly ; a blackish malar streak and a series of triangular black spots on the breast and flanks ; iris lemon-yellow, bill dusky, paler towards the base of the lower mandible ; legs homy, olivaceous in the flesh. Length 7-75; wing 3-80; tail 3-50; culmen -75; tarsus 1-15. The sexes are alike, and the young birds are very similar, but a little browner and less grey, and with the streaks on the under-side less sharply defined. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the drier portions of western North America from eastern British Columbia to western Texas, and from north Dakota to the interior of southern California ; in winter south to northern Mexico and lower California. The Sage-Thrasher is a not imcommon siunmer resident tliroughout Colorado, from the plains to about 9,000 feet, wherever arid conditions and the accompanying sage-brush are to be met with. It is chiefly found at moderate elevations, but has been noticed breeding at Dillon, about 9,000 feet, in Summit co., by Carter. It arrives from the south about the middle of April (10th to 15th in El Paso co., Allen & Brewster) and leaves again in October. Other breeding records are : Fort Garland (Henshaw), Snake River in Routt co. (Warren), and between Cortez and Navajo Springs (Gilman). It is more abvmdant in the south and west, but is reported as far north as Boulder (Henderson). Habits. — ^This bird is nearly always associated with the dreary, arid sage-bush plains, where, sitting on the top of some low bush, with its beautiful low warbling song, it makes a pleasant contrast to the surrounding desolate waste. The nest is a bulky, inartistic structure of coarse twigs, lined with grasses and fine rootlets, and is placed some- times in a low sage bush, sometimes in a larger thorny Western Mocking-bird 479 bush ; Henshaw states that in the case of a nest examined by him there was a kind of platform erected above the nest, apparently as a screen from the sun. The eggs, usually five, are greenish-blue, heavily spotted with brown and lilac. Warren found a nest with five fresh eggs on June 22nd, near the lower bridge over the Snake River, in Routt co., and Oilman (07, p. 142) several with six and seven eggs at Navajo Springs, near the New Mexico border line, on May 31st and the following days. Genus MIMUS. Bill moderate, shorter than the head ; culmen slightly curved ; rictal bristles well developed ; tail slightly longer than the wing, graduated, the outer feathers considerably shorter than the next pair ; tarsus very distinctly scutellated ; plumage dull brown with white on the wings and tail. A considerable American genus with only one species in the United States, separated into ah eastern and western race, hardly to be dis- tinguished from each other. Western Mocking-bird. MimiLS polyglottos leucopterus. A.O.U. Checklist no 703a— Colorado Records— Say 1823, Vol. ii., p. 182 ; Ridgway 73, p. 179 ; Henshaw 75, p. 151 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 153 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 119, 221 ; 98, p. 13 ; Keyser 02, p. 98 ; DiUe 03, p. 74 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Gihnan 07, p. 194 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 177 ; Henderson 09, p. 240. Description. — Adult male — Above dull slaty-browni, becoming dusky black on the wings and tail, the former with white on the bases of the primaries, on the greater part of the primary-coverts and the tips of some of the oviter coverts ; the tail with the outer pair of feathers almost entirely white, the second and third pairs with oblique white tips chiefly on the inner web ; below and an indistinct superciliary stripe dirty white, rather smoky on the chest and flanks, more buffy on the breast ; iris greyish-yellow, bill black, paler towards the base of the lower mandible ; legs diosky. Length 8-5 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 4-5 ; culmen -7 ; tarsus 1-15. The female closely resembles the male, but is a trifle smaller. A young bird is a good deal paler above, and has the light edgings on the wings more developed, and the imder-parts spotted with dusky. 480 Birds of Colorado The western form of the Mocking-bird differs from the eastern bird only in its slightly larger average size and relatively shorter tail. Distribution. — South-western United States and INIexico from Texas to California, and Wyoming to Vera Cruz, breeding throughout the greater part of its range, though not wintering in the northern portion. In Colorado the Mocking-bird is a fairly common smnmer resident, especially in the southern part of the State, both in the plains and at low elevations. It seldom goes above 7,000 feet. It arrives frona the south about the last week in April, and nests about a month or six weeks later, departing south again in September. It is not known to winter in the State. The following are migration records : Fort Lyon, April 17th (Cooke), Pueblo, April 25th (Lowe), Salida, May 4th (Frey), Baca co., May 1st (Warren), El Paso co.. May 2nd (Aiken collection). The breeding records are : Fort Collins (Cooke),' Evans, Weld CO. (Eggs in Colo. Coll. Mas.), Boulder co. (Gale), Platte River, near Denver (Say), Ramah and Pueblo (Aiken), La Plata co. (Morrison), Grand Junction (Rockwell). It has been exceptionally met with as high as Breckenridge, 9,700 feet, by Carter. Habits. — ^The Mocking-bird is justly celebrated for its vocal powers and its ability to imitate the notes of other birds ; in this respect the western form shows no falHng off, though perhaps less known, because less common. It is also noted for its attachment to its home, returning year after year to the same spot and often making use of the same nest after effecting repairs. In summer it chiefly feeds on insects and worms, and obtains these on or near the ground, but later on it prefers soft fruits and berries, grapes and raspberries being the favourites. The nest is frequently placed in a cactus bush where these are to be found, but willows and other low trees and bushes are also used. Dennis Gale describes the nest as being formed of dry twigs of greasewood, fixed upon or between the twigs of a horizontal bough, and rather loosely put together, so that it falls apart when removed. The lining is of fine roots and horsehair ; he states that the bulk of the nests he has examined are old ones, in which Cat-bird 481 the lining only was renewed each year. The eggs, four or five in number, are light greenish or blueish, spotted with several shades of yellow-brovm. They measure •98 X "74, and are to be found about the beginning of June (Gale and Dille). Miss Myra Eggleston reports (Rockwell) that at Grand Junction they raise two broods each season. A clutch of two eggs taken on June 10th from a nest made of horsehair and old rags, built in the school-house j^ard at Evans, Weld co., is preserved in the Colorado College Museum. They were taken and presented by Ivan Hall. Genus DUMETELLA. Very closely allied to Minms, but the tarsal scutellation often very indistinct, and the plumage without white on the wings and tail. One North American species. Cat-bird. Dumetella carolinensis. A.O.U. ChecklLst no 704 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, p. 147 Trippe 74, p. 228 ; Henshaw 75, p. 152 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 153 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; Cooke 97 pp. 19, 119, 221 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 25 ; Gihnan 07, p. 194 ; Markman 07, p. 158 Rockwell 08, p. 177 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 121. Description. — Male— General colour above and below slaty-grey, darker above, lighter below ; crown, nape and tail sooty-black, the wings the same but edged with slaty ; under tail-coverts rich chestnut ; iris brown, bill black, legs dark horny. Length 8-40; wing 3-60; tail 4-0; culmen -65 ; tarsus 1-05. The female is very similar, but the crown is generally a little less sooty, the chestnut of the under tail-coverts less conspicuoas, and it is shghtly smaller — wing 3-55. In a young bird the colours are again less defined, the under-parts obsoletely spotted with darker and the under tail-coverts paler or even fawn colour. Distribution. — Breeding from British Columbia and Oregon to Texas, and from Nova Scotia to northern Florida, wintering in the southern States, West Indies and eastern Mexico to Panama. In Colorado the Cat-bird is a fairly common summer resident in the plains and foothills of the eastern half of the State, but is a good deal less plentiful on the western slope ; it breeds in the mountains up to HH 482 Birds of Colorado about 8,000 feet, but not so commonly. It reaches Colorado from the south about the second week in May. The following are migration records : Baca co., May 12th (Warren), Fort Lyon, May 8th — 14th (Cooke), Salida, May 14th (Frey), El Paso co., May 10th (Allen & Brewster), Denver, May 12th (Henshaw), Loveland, May 11th (Cooke). Breeding records are : Boulder co. (Gale), Barr Lake (Hersey & Rockwell), Middle Park (Carter apud Cooke), Fort Garland, 7,900 feet (Henshaw), Fort Lewis (Morrison & Gilman). Habits. — ^The Cat-bird is apparently somewhat more shy and silent in the west than it is in the east ; it haunts thick shrubberies, and is not often seen, nor is its cat-like mew so often heard. It feeds chiefly on insects, and though fond of fruit, the damage it does in this respect is largely outweighed by its insecticidal propensities. The nest is generally placed in willows or other low bushes along the borders of a creek ; it is built of coarse stems, decayed leaves and strips of inner bark and grasses, with a hning of fine roots, and the whole made up in a wet state, according to Gale's notes. The eggs, usually four in number, are blueish-green, and measure about •94 X "67. Dille gives June 12th as an average date for fresh eggs ; Gale, in Boulder co., found nests with unincubated eggs through the whole of June and up to July 3rd. Genus TOXOSTOMA. Bill either longer than the head and curved throughout or shorter than the head and straight, but the culmen at least equal to or longer than the middle toe without claw ; wings quite short and rounded, markedly shorter than the tail, which is distinctly graduated ; feet stout, tarsus strongly graduated. A very considerable American genus, with about eight species in the United States, chiefly in the drier south-western districts. Key of the Species. A. Above rich rufous ; below heavily spotted with dusky. T. rufum, p. 483- B. Above greyish-brown ; below very faintly marked with dusky. T. bendirei, p. 484. Brown Thrasher 483 Brown Thrasher. Toxostoma rufum. A.O.U. Checklist no 705— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 147, 174 ; Henshaw 75, p. 154 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 153 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 120 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 240 ; JIarkham 07, p. 158 ; Gihuan 07, p. 195. Description. — IMale — Above rufous, a little browner on the head ; wing-coverts tipped with white, forming a double wing-band ; under- parts white, with a slight wash of pale buffy on the breast and flanks, these parts conspicuously marked with oval spots of brown ; iris bright yellow, bill dusky, paler on the base of the lower mandible ; legs hght brown. Length 10-25 ; wing 4-10 ; tail 4-80 ; culmen -90 ; tarsus 1 -30. The sexes are alike, but the females average slightly smaller ; the young bird is essentially like the adult, but has indistinct dusky spots on the back and the spots on the under-parts black, but less clearly defined. Distribution. — Breeding in eastern North America from Maine and Saskatchewan to eastern Texas and north Florida, and west to the base of the Rocky Mountains ; wintering in the south-eastern states from North Carolina to south Texas. In Colorado the Brown Thrasher is a fairly common summer resident in the eastern plains and foothills, but hardly enters the mountains or reaches a higher elevation than 7,000 feet. It arrives from the south about the second week in May, and nests in June. It has once been recorded from the western side of the range by Gihnan, who states that he was told by Mr. Peterson that a pair nested in a gooseberry bush near his house at Fort Lewis, in La Plata co., in 1904. It does not appear to have been recorded from New ]\Iexico, Arizona or LTtah, though foimd in Wyoming and Montana. The following are migration records : Fort Lyon, May 4th-10th (Cooke), Colorado Springs, May 11th (Aiken coll.), Denver, May 12th (Henshaw), Boulder co.. May 12th (Gale), Loveland, May 10th (Cooke). Habits. — ^This bird, delighting chiefly in thick under- growth and tangled thickets, rather shuns the eye of man ; yet in the spring the male mounts to a conspicuous perch and pours forth a loud and rather brilliant song. It gets its name of " Thrasher " from its habits of beating or thrashing the insects it catches until dead and deprived of wings and legs. hh2 484 Birds of Colorado Gale found several nests in Boulder co., generally in low cotton trees along the creeks. He gives the following description : " Nest about eight feet from the ground and very large, constructed outside of very coarse branches and twigs, middle structure of rather finer material and a few dead leaves, hning of fine roots. The nest was placed among thick twigs and close to the stem of an aspen tree. The eggs, four in number, were greenish- white, speckled thickly and uniformly with small brownish-reddish markings ; they were rather small for the size of the bird." This nest, in which the eggs were quite fresh, was taken on June 25th, a rather later date than the average. The eggs measure I'OS x '80. Bendires Thrasher. Toxostoma bendirei. A.O.U. Checklist no 708 — Colorado Records — Allen & Brewster 83, pp. 57, 153 ; Cooke 97, pp. 120, 109 ; Cooke 97a, p. 7. Description. — Adult — Above pale greyLsh-brown, wing with indistinct bars ; tail darker, and the outer feathers tipped with white ; below brownish-white, mdistinctly spotted with brown ; flanks brownish ; iris yellow, bill dusky, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs brownish, dull blueish in life. Length 9-5 ; wing 4-20 ; tail 4-30 ; culmen -90 ; tarsus 1 -30. The sexes are alike ; the yovmg bird has a tawny-buff wash on wings, and the under-parts are paler and have narrower streaks. Distribution. — The desert districts of Arizona, south-east California and Sonora, extending north to southern Colorado ; in winter to southern Sonora and Sinaloa in Mexico. Bendire's Thrasher was first recorded from Colorado by Allen & Brewster, who obtained a single female example at Austins Bluffs, near Colorado Springs, on May 8th, 1882, after heavy storms, which had driven many birds towards the foothills for shelter. The occur- rence was doubtless accidental. It has since been found by N. R. Christie (Cooke) at Rouse Junction, in Huerfano co., at 6,000 feet, where it breeds. Christie took four nests with eggs or young ones between Jvme 6th and 13th, 1896, while in the following year he observed a pair of birds, but found no nest. Bendire's Thrasher must be regarded as a rare resident in the southern part of the State. Rock-Wren 485 Family TROGLODYTID-^. The Wrens are all small birds, seldom exceeding six inches in length, with generally rather long, slender bills, without rictal bristles, and exposed nostrils ; wing rather short and rounded, of ten primaries, the tenth (outer) about half the length of the ninth ; tail moderate, of twelve feathers ; tarsus scutellPvte, often behind as well as in front. Kky of the Genera. A. Tail equal to or longer than the wing ; only the middle tail- feathers barred, the others chiefly dasky. Thryomanes, p. 490. B. Tail shorter than the wing. a. Outer toe distinctly longer than the inner one. a^ Culmen shorter than the tarsus. Salpinctes, p. 485. b^ Culmen longer than the tarsus. Catherpes, p. 487. b. Outer toe not distinctly longer than the inner one. a^ Back plain or faintly transversely barred. a" Tail at least ^ of wing. Troglodjrtes, p. 491. b^ Tail less than f of wing. Nannus, p. 493. b^ Back streaked with white and black. a^ Bill shorter, culmen less than middle toe and claw. Cistothorus, p. 494. b^ Bill longer, culmen exceeding middle toe and claw. Telmatodytes, p. 495. Genus SALPINCTES. Bill about as long as the head, slender, slightly deciu-ved and acute, the culmen shorter than the tarsus ; no rictal bristles ; nostril large, rather conspicuous with an overhanging scale ; wing rounded but longer than the tail, which is even and has twelve feathers with rounded ends ; tarsus scutellate anteriorly and posteriorly ; outer toe slightly longer than the inner one. One species only in the United States. Rock-Wren. Salpinctes obsoletus. A.O.U. Checklist no 715 — Colorado Records — Say 23, Vol. ii., p. 4 ; Allen 72, pp. 148, 161 ; Trippe 74, p. 230 ; Henshaw 75, p. 179 ; Minot 80, p. 225 ; Drew 81, p. 88 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; W. G. Smith 86, p. 17 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Nixon 90, p. 21 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 269 ; 01, 486 Birds of Colorado p. 276 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 120, 221 ; Keyser 02, p. 296 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 : 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178. Description. —Adult — Above pale brownLsh-grey, washed with rufous on the rump, delicately speckled throughout with darker ; tail-feathers, except the central pair, with a subterminal band of black and a terminal one of pale buffy ; below dull white tinged with buff on the flanks, the chest and lower throat finely streaked with dusky and the under tail-coverts spotted with the same ; iris brown, bill horny, the lower mandible paler, legs blackish. Length of a male 5-4 ; wing 2-8 ; tail 2 1; cuhnen -75 ; tarsiLs SO. The sexes are alike ; young birds are vermiculated rather than speckled above, and are inmiaculate below. Distribution. — Western North America from British Columbia to central Texas, south to central Mexico, west to the Pacific, breeding throughout its range and wintering in the southern portion of it. In Colorado the Rock -Wren is plentiful, though never very common, throughout the State from the plains to timber line, and from the Kansas to the Utah border. It arrives from the south about the middle of April, breeds from the plains to 12,000 feet, though chiefly between 6,000 and 9,000 feet, and departs again in October. There can be little doubt that a few individuals winter in the State, as it has been observed by Lomo (01) on January 12th, at the foot of the Wet Moun- tains, about eighteen miles south-west of Pueblo. The following are some spring records : Springfield, Baca co., April 10th (Warren), Fort Lyon, April 20th (Cooke), Pueblo, April 7th (Lowe), El Paso co., April 27th (Allen & Brewster), Boulder co. (Henderson), Loveland, April 29th (Cooke), Mesa co., May 1st (Rockwell), Coventry and Bedrock, common (Warren). Habits. — ^The favourite resort of this bird is among the heaps of fallen and loose rock lying about on the mountain sides, and also about rocky canons and bluffs ; here it skulks about, running s-wiftly over the bare stones more like a rat than a bird. It is a fine songster, its notes being clear and bright, though perhaps not so varied as those of the House-Wren. When singing, the male nearly always perches on some conspicuous position, the summit of a rock, or even occasionally the ridge of a miner's cabin ; here he stands very erect, with head thrown up and swelling throat, and pours forth his lay ; Canon-Wren 487 at intervals he frequently bobs and bows like the Dipper. Towards the end of summer, owing to the constant running over the sharp rocks, the plumage becomes a good deal worn. The nest is placed on the ground, generally among a heap of stones, or under a projecting bank ; Gale found one in the crevice of a rotten tree trunk, while Smith describes a nest, which he discovered in a hole in a bank, as having a little platform constructed in front of it, levelled off and paved with flat stones. Nests found by Gale in Boulder co. were constructed of grass and plant stems, with a little wool added ; the lining was of fine roots and hair ; the eggs, six or sometimes seven in number, are white, finely spotted with chestnut brown, chiefly at the larger end ; they average '72 x "57. Nixon (90) describes a nest from Rio Grande co., containing six eggs, taken on May 29th, while Gale gives from May 25th to June 10th as the average nesting dates. One set of six fresh eggs found on June 24th was probably a second laying. Genus CAT HERPES. Resembling in most respects Salpinctes, but the bill, which is very- slender and nearly straight, longer, the cuhnen exceeding the tarsus ; plumage with white specks above and deep rusty posteriorly below. Only one species in the United States. Canon-Wren. Catherpes mexicanus conspersus. A.O.U. Checklist no 717a— Colorado Records— Allen 72, p. 148 ; Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Minot 80, pp. 181, 225 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Miller 94, pp. 74, 85 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; Cooke 97, p. 120 , Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 07, p. Ill ; Markman 07; p. 158 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; Burnett 08, p. 87 ; Test 08, p. 226 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178 ; Dille 09, p. 88 ; Cary 09, p. 184 ; Betts 10, p. 218. Description. — Adult — Above umber-brown, becoming greyer on the head and more rufous posteriorly, speckled throughout with dusky and white ; tail chestnut with transverse narrow black bara ; throat and 488 Birds of Colorado breast piore white, becoming rusty rufous on the abdomen ; iris brown, bill pale homy, legs dark brown. Length 50 ; wing 2-3 ; tail 2-10 ; culmen -80 ; tarsvis -70. The sexes are alike ; young birds have fewer white spots on the upper-parts, but are more coarsely vermiculated with dusky. Distribution. — The arid districts of western United States from Colorado to Nevada and south-eastern California ; the Wyoming record appears to be based on a confusion between the two portions of the paper by Holden and Aiken, in the 15th vol. of the Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, in which Holden's notes refer to Wyoming and Aiken's to Colorado. In Colorado the Caiion-Wren is a resident throughout the year and a somewhat uncommon bird, though probably often overlooked. It is most common along the eastern foothills, hardly extending upwards beyond an elevation of 8,000 feet ; it has been taken out on the arid plains near Cheyenne Wells, only eighteen miles from the Kansas border, in November, by Warren (07), but this appears to be exceptional. It is not uncommon near Colorado Springs, having been first recorded from this neighbom-hood by Allen, who fovmd it frequenting the roclcs in the Garden of the Gods, where it is still to be seen and heard, while Minot found a nest near Manitou close by, and !Miss Miller watched it in south Cheyenne Canon. Other records are : Trilby, near Fort Collins, June (Markman), Longmont, October 20th (Burnett), Boulder, October to January (Betts), Golden, February 22nd and October lOtli (Test), Wet Movmtains, up to 8,000 feet (Lowe), Irwin's Ranch, Las Animas co.. May 1st (Warren), Gaume's Ranch, November (Cary,) and on the western slopes-^twenty mUes east of Rangeley, September fCary ), Glenwood Springs in winter (Cooke), Grand Jvmction, March 3rd (Smith apud Rockwell), and Fort Lewis, La Plata eo. (Gilman). Habits. — ^The favourite haunt of the Canon- Wren is among the crevices in perpendicular masses of rock and chffs ; here it may be more frequently heard than seen, since its notes are exceedingly characteristic and once listened to can never be forgotten. Beginning with a high note, which is often twice repeated, it descends in chromatic scale for seven or eight notes, each dis- tinctly marked and clearly and somewhat shrilly given out in a series of detached whistles. It is very quick in its movements and seldom still, flying up and down the perpendicular faces of the great rocks and creeping about among the crevices, and even clinging to the over- Canon-Wren 489 hanging roofs of small caves. The song is heard not only in the breeding season but in the middle of winter on a fine day, especially among the rocks of the Garden of the Gods, where it is nearly always to be met with. Further south, in Texas and Mexico, the Canon- Wren is a more familiar bird, often setthng about houses and singing from the chimney tops, but except in the case of an individual seen by Burnett " in a yard stacked witli cement building blocks " in Longmont, it appears to avoid the hamits of man in Colorado. The only definite nesting record in Colorado is that of Minot. He found a nest near Manitou on June 8th, 1880. It was placed in a niche in the roof of a cave about ten feet above the ground, and so narrow was the entrance that he was unable to put his hand in ; it was necessary finally to obtain the help of a mason to knock the slab away. The nest itself was made of twigs, very roughly and loosely put together with a lining of a thick felt of down and feathers, held together with a few plant stalks. The eggs, five in number, were white, with a rosy tinge before being blown, dehcately speckled, chiefly towards the larger end, with reddish-brown. They measured "75 x "55. Dille has recently given a rather different account, at least as far as the date is concerned ; he located a nest in a sheltered crevice on a sixty-foot cKff in the foothills of Boulder co. By means of a rope an investigation was made on April 4th, when the nest was found to be completed, and to contain three eggs ; but it was not further disturbed. Brimning mentioned to Dille three other nesting sites of the Caiion-Wren in the immediate neighbourhood, and stated that the bird arrived onty about the end of November, and left again in spring, I presume after nesting was finished. 490 Birds of Colorado Genus THRYOMANES. Bill slender and rather compressed ; tail very slightly exceeding the wing in length ; outer and inner toe about equal ; plumage plain brown, the tail chiefly dusky. Four species in North America, including Mexico. Baird's Wren. Thryomanes hewicki hairdi. A.O.U. Checklist no 719b — Colorado Records — Beckham 85, p. 140 {T. b. leucogaster) ; Thorne 87, p. 265 ; Cooke 97, pp. 120, 169, 221 Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 190 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178 Warren 09, p. 17 ; Dille 09, p. 88 ; Cary 09, pp. 184, 311. Description. — Adult — Above plain brown with a greyish tinge, and a few concealed white spots on the rump ; middle tail-feathers dusky- grey, finely cross-barred with blackish ; lateral feathers dusky, with white on the outer edges and tips ; a conspicuous white superciliary streak ; below dirty white, the under tail-coverts narrowly barred with black ; iris brown, bill horny, paler on the lower mandible ; legs homy- brown. Length 4-75 ; wing 2-10 ; tail 2-20 ; culmen -55 ; tarsus -65. The sexes are alike, and the young birds hardly differ from the adults. Distribution. — The drier parts of south-western United States from Colorado and Nevada south through Mexico to the State of Oaxaca, probably a resident throughout its range. Baird's Wren is a rare bird in Colorado ; it has only been taken some half-dozen times, and mixst be regarded as a scarce resident. It has been most often met with in the southern half of the State, and was observed by Christie breeding near Rouse Junction, in Huerfano co., at the beginning of June (Cooke). Other records are : Colorado Springs, May, 1879 (Aiken coll.), Pueblo (Beckham), Fort Lyon, April 27th (Thorne), Loveland (Cooke), Holly, Prowers co.. May 22nd (H. G. Smith), Irwin's Ranch, Las Animas co., April 26th (Warren), near Lily and Rangeley, September (Cary), Grand Junction, November 2nd (Rockwell), and Fort Lewis, a few noticed (Oilman). Habits. — ^Baird's Wren is most numerous in cedar and pifion country in canons and dry aroyas. It has a melodious song, sweeter and perhaps more musical than that of the House- Wren. No one has described the breeding habits in Colorado, but Coues found a nest placed in the cavity of a rotten horizontal bough of a cedar, about eight feet from the ground ; it was built up of small cedar twigs and finely frayed bark of the same Western House- Wren 491 tree, and lined with a matted mass of rabbit fur, stuck full of feathers, chiefly of the Carolina Dove. The eggs were not found, but probably resemble those of Bewick's Wren ; these are seven to nine in number, white, speckled with various shades of brown, chiefly at the larger end, and measure "66 x '50. Ridgway has included most of the Colorado refer- ences to Bewick's Wren under the Texan subspecies {T. h. cryptus), but the examples which I have examined from Colorado Springs and from Holly certainly appear to belong to the greyer race, T. h. eremophilus of Ridgway 's "Birds of Middle North America," T. b. hairdi of the last CheckUst. Genus TROGLODYTES. Very small— wing under 2-5 ; tail shorter than the wing, but alwayg more than three-quarters of its length ; outer and inner toes about equal to one another; plumage, including tail, finely barred with dusky. A genus with niunerous species found throughout temperate and tropical America ; one species only in the United States forming two local races. Western House-Wren. Troglodytes aedon parkmani. A.O.U. Checklist no 721a— Colorado Records— Baird 58, p. 367 Allen 72, pp. 148, 155, 174 ; Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Trippe 74, p. 231 Henshaw 75, p. 184 ; Tresz 81, p. 285 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 141 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; H. G. Smith 93, p. 244 ; Miller 94, p. 24 ; Lowe 94, p. 269 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 120, 121 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Hen- derson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 240 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178. Description. — Adult — Above cinnamon-brown, brighter posteriorly ; the back, wings, scapulars and tail narrowly cross-barred with dusky ; eyebrow paler, but rather indistinct ; below very pale brown, the sides, flanks and under tail-coverts more or less distinctly barred with blackish ; iris brown, bill brown, paler on the lower mandible ; legs brov/n. Length 4-5 ; wing 2-20 ; tail 1-90 ; culmen -45 ; tarsus -60. The sexes are alike ; a young bird with the tail not full-grown is rather darker than the adult, and has less dusky barring on the back, while below it is a good deal more mottled with dusky. 492 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Western North America, breeding from British Columbia and Alberta south, probably to northern Mexico, and from the Pacific to the Mississippi Valley. In winter throughout the greater part of Mexico. In Colorado the Western House-Wren is quite a common summer resident, reaching the State early in May from the south and departing again in October. It breeds both in the plains and moimtains, but most commonly in the latter, up to about 10,000 feet, and is occasionally met with up to timber line. It has been recorded from all over the State, from Estes Park (Kellogg) and Weld co. (Markman) to Baca co. (Warren) on the east, and from Routt co. (Warren) and Mesa co. (Rockwell) to La Plata co. (Morrison) on the west. The highest definite breeding record seems to be Breckenridge, where it was met with by Carter. Habits. — ^This quaint little bird is found about cliffs and rocky hill-sides as well as in the thickets along the streams, and is also, as its name imphes, frequently in the neighbourhood of dwellings. It has a great variety of song with a number of clear, ringing and ebulHent notes ; this is generally poured forth from a perch with considerable vigour, the head being thro"wn back and the wings trembhng. In search of the insects which constitute its food, it is very industrious, creeping about and looking over dead leaves, with tail erect and with a quick, nervous manner. The nest is to be found almost anywhere where a suitable cavity, chink or cranny can be found — under logs, in old Woodpeckers' holes, between the logs of miners' cabins, among the timber of old mming shafts, in deserted cabins ; these are all sites made use of. Warren (09) relates how a pair tried to nest in his wagon- box, but when turned out of that, took possession of an empty fruit can nailed up against a cotton -wood tree close by. On the whole, perhaps a decayed and hollow branch or stub is most frequently used. The greater part of the cavity is filled up with small twigs and other rubbish. Winter-Wren 493 only a small space back from the opening being left for the nest proper. This is made up of grasses, with a few feathers and hair or wool for lining. The full complement of eggs seems to be seven ; these are white, rather thickly spotted with reddish-broAvn and purplish, and measure about -64 X -49. Fresh eggs are to be met with, according to Gale, about the first two weeks in June, while Trippe believed that two or even three broods were raised in one season, and that the last was not hatched till late in July. Genus NANNUS. Closely resembling Troglodytes, but with a much shorter tail, which is less than three-quarters the length of the wing and beyond which the feet extend considerably. Several species in the colder parts of the Old and New Worlds. One species only in the United States. Winter-Wren. Nannus hiemalis. A.O.U. Checklist no 722— Colorado Records— Ridgway 73, p. 180 ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke, 97 pp. 121, 222. Description. — Adult — Above brown with rufescent tinge, stronger posteriorly ; back, wings and tail slightly barred with dusky and often with whitish as well ; the outer webs of the primaries with more distinct light and dark bars ; a light stripe above the eye ; below pale brown, becoming darker posteriorly, owing to the mottling and barring of dark and light browns ; iris brown, bill dusky, paler on the lower man- dible ; legs light brown. Length 3 -55 ; wing 1 -80 ; tail 1 -25 ; culmen -38 ; tarsus -70. The sexes are alike ; young birds are essentially like the adults, but the barring of the upper-surface is less distinct or absent, and the eye-stripe is less noticeable. Distribution. — Eastern North America, breeding frona Manitoba and Ontario south along the Alleghanies to North Carolina, wintering in the southern part of its breeding range, and south to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. In Colorado the Winter- Wren is a rare bird, and has only been met with a very few times. It was first noticed by Ridgway, but on what authority I do not know. Cooke gives three records — thirty miles west of Fort Collins, in the mountains, at 8,000 feet, July 7th, 1896, C. P. Gillette ; Estes Park, about 7,000 feet, the same year, Cooke ; 494 Birds of Colorado Denver, July 8tli, 1S96, W. H. Bergtold ; while H. G. Smith obtained a single female caught by a cat in his house at Denver, October 13th, 1891. Warren informs me that he saw a specimen in the Sapinero Valley, Gunnison co., on September 26th, 1906, at about 8,500 feet. It may therefore be considered a resident. I have not seen a Colorado example of the Winter-Wren, but have followed Prof. Cooke in assigning the Colorado records to the eastern rather than the western form of the bird ; H. G. Smith's example was also assigned by Oberholser, of the Biological Survey, to the eastern subspecies. Habits. — ^The Winter- Wren is a somewhat shy and retiring bird, keeping near the ground, generally in thick undergrowth or among fallen timber, where it creeps about investigating cracks and crannies for its insect food. On this account it is probably often overlooked, and may be of commoner occurrence than it is generally thought to be. The nest is usually placed in a crevice in a fallen log or in a stump ; it is large and sohdly made, and lined with fur and feathers. The eggs, five to seven in number, are white, sparingly spotted with reddish- brown, and measure "65 x •48. It has not yet been found breeding in the State. Genus CISTOTHORUS. Bill very short and slender, less than half the length of the head ; tail shorter than the wing, graduated ; plumage with the back and crown streaked longitudinally with black and white, eggs white. A considerable American genus, with only one species in the United States. Short-billed Marsh-Wren. Cistothorus stellaris. A.O.U. Checklist no 724— Colorado Record— Cary 09, p. 184. Description. — Adult — Above streaked with dusky and light brown in varying amovmts, with, in addition, narrow white streaks on the scapulars and back ; tail barred with light and dark brown ; below white, tinged with pale rufous on the chest, flanks and under tail- coverts ; bill dusky, with quite pale horny lower mandible, legs brownish, pinkLsh in the flesh. Length 3-75; wing 1-75; tail 1-40; culmen -40 ; tarsus -65. The sexes are alike ; in autumn the plumage is somewhat more richly coloured. Western Marsh-Wren 495 Distribution. — Breeding from Manitoba and Maine southwards to Georgia and westwards to Utah ; wintering in the Gulf states. This bird has been fovind breeding at Prove, on Utah Lake, and one example has been taken at Cheyenne, in Wyoming, but the only undoubted record of the species within the State is that of Merritt Gary, who shot one in a rank growth of marsh-grass on the Medano Springs Ranch, in the San Luis Valley, October 23rd, 1907, and saw another individual next day. Genus TELMATODYTES. Closely resembling Cistothoriis, but the bill longer, more than half the length of the head, and the crown plain without streaks ; eggs dark brown. One species only, confined to temperate North America, but divided into a number of local races. Western Marsh -Wren. Tclmatodytes palustris plesius. A.O.U. Checklist no 725c — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 196 ; Henshaw 75, p. 185 ; Drew 81, p. 88 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 155 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Osburn 93, p. 212 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 121, 222 ; Richards 08, p. 38. Description. — Adult — Crown dusky black, becoming brown in the centre line to a varying extent ; centre of the back black, streaked with white ; rest of the upper-surface rufous-brown, dusky on the wings and tail, the upper tail-coverts more or less distinctly barred with dusky ; the tail-feathers barred dusky and rufous, especially the median pair ; a well-marked white superciliary stripe ; below dull white, passing into pale cinnamon-brown on the flanks ; under tail-coverts more or less distinctly barred ; iris brown, bill dusky-brown, paler on the lower mandible; legs brownish. Length of a female 4-25; wing 2-10; tail 1-75 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus -72. The sexes are alike, the coloration is a little richer in autumn and the young are like the adults, but the pattern of coloiu- is less distinct and the superciliary stripe is almost obsolete. Distribution. — This subspecies is found in the Rocky Mountain district, extending from British Columbia to New Mexico, and west to eastern slopes of the Cascades ; it winters in many places within its breeding range, as well as in the northern states of Mexico. In Colorado the Western Marsh-Wren is not uncommon where there are suitable spots, such as marshy lakes. It is undoubtedly a resident throughout the year in many places. L. J. Hersey tells me he ha.? repeatedly observed it at Barr Lake, near Denver, in the months of December, January and February, while Richards (08) saw two at Littleton, also near Denver, on Christmas Day, 1907, and Cooke states that it has been seen in Routt co. in January by A. A. Bennett. Other 496 Birds of Colorado recorded localities are : Loveland, March, 1889 (Osburn), Colorado Springs, November 3rd, 1877 (Aiken coll.), Caiion City, April 27th (Aiken), San Luis Lakes, breeding, May 28th-June 4th (Henshaw), San Juan co. (Drew), and La Plata co. (Morrison). It Ls said by Carter to breed in South Park, and probably does not range above 8,000 feet. Habits. — ^The Marsh-Wren is an inhabitant of swamps in which there is a thick growth of reeds, rushes and cat- tails ; they are generally found in considerable numbers together, and sing lustily, though their voices are not particularly musical. Their flight is short and not strong, but they are full of energy, chmbing up and down the reeds in every conceivable position with their heads cocked up, searching for insects. The nest is a large globular structure, about five inches in diameter, constructed chiefly of grass, woven round upright growing reeds or cat-tails ; it has a side entrance, and is hned with feathers or other soft substances. A clutch of five eggs taken by I. C. Hall on June 1st, on Storm's Lake, near Greeley, and presented to the Colorado College Museum, are pale brown, marked ^dth darker bro\\Ti, one of them being much paler than the others. They average "05 x "50. According to Henshaw, the time of nesting is rather irregular, but he found fresh eggs at San Luis Lakes about the middle of June, Family CERTHIID^. A small family of birds knoAm as Creepers, at once distinguished by their rigid and sharp-pointed tail- feathers, resembling those of a Woodpecker. Other characters are — bill long, slender, sharp-pointed and decurved, about as long as the head ; nostrils exposed ; no rictal bristles ; wing with ten primaries, the outer one less than half the next ; tail rounded, about equal to the wing. Rocky-Mountain Creeper 497 Genus CERTHIA. Characters of the family ; only one species in the United States, separated into several geographical races. Rocky- Mountain Creeper. Certhia familiaris montana. A.O.U. Checklist no 726 — Colorado Records — Ridgway 73, p. 180 ; Trippe 74, p. 230 ; Henshaw 75, p. 177 ; Drew 81, p. 88 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; Cooke 97, pp. 121, 222 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 241 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178. Description. — Adult — General colour above dusky brown, streaked with white ; rump and upper tail-coverts rufous, with slaty bases and white spots to the feathers ; wings dusky with white spots on the coverts and remiges ; a more or less clearly defined white eyebrow ; below almost pure white, very faintly tinged with buffy posteriorly ; iris bro'mi, bill dusky brown, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs brownish. Length 4-90 ; wing 2-5 ; tail 2-6 ; culmen -52 ; tarsus -59. The sexes are alike and the young closely resemble the adults. Distribution. — The Rocky Mountain region from Alaska to New Mexico and Arizona ; on migration to south-eastern California and perhaps to northern Mexico, but generally a resident throughout the year. In Colorado the Creeper is found all the year round, chiefly between 7,000 and 9,000 feet in winter, and from 9,000 feet to timber line in simnmer, but it may be met with almost anywhere from the foothills to timber line at almost any season. The following are breeding records : Estes Park at timber line (Kellogg), Boulder co., 9,000 to 11,000 feet (Gale), Idaho Springs, at timber hno (Trippe), near Fort Garland (Henshaw), San Juan co. (Drew), and La Plata co. (Morrison) ; it has been taken in El Paso co. in February, May and December (Aiken coll.), and in Boulder co. in winter (Henderson), and is considered only as an occasional visitor, chiefly in winter, at Grand Junction (Rockwell). Habits. — This bird derives its name from its habit of creeping about the trunks and larger branches of trees, and in this its stiff tail and sharp claws greatly assist it ; so closely does it harmonize with the rough bark over which it glides that it is often extremely difficult to detect it ; it has a thin, sharp, long drawn-out cry which generally betrays its presence. It feeds on small insects, their eggs and larvae, for which it searches diligently under the interstices of the bark. II 498 Birds of Colorado The nest is placed in a hole or crevice, generally between the bark and the trunk of a rotten pine or fir. Gale found a nest in such a situation about eight feet from the ground, on June 11th, contaiuing five eggs slightly- incubated. He states further that in Boulder co. fresh eggs can usually be found from June 10th to 25th at 9,000 feet, and from June 30th to July 10th at 11,000 feet. The eggs are white, speckled with reddish-brown, and measure '59 x '46. Family SITTID^. This family contains the Nuthatches, distinguished by the following external characters : Bill rather long, straight, slender and acute, about as long as the head ; nostrils rounded and concealed by bristles ; wing long and pointed with ten primaries, the outer one of which is very short or even spurious, and always less than half the next ; tail always considerably shorter than the wing. Tongue horny, acute and barbed. Genus SITTA. Characters of the family. Four species in the United States with several additional geographical races. Key of the Species. A. Crown black in males, dusky grey in females. a. Larger — wing over 3-0 ; below white. S. c. nelsoni, p. 498. b. Smaller — wing under 3-0 ; below reddish-buff. S. canadensis, p. 500. B. Crown greyish-olive. S. pygmsea, p. 501. Rocky-Mountain Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis nelsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 727c— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 148, 161 ; Aiken 72, p. 195 ; Trippe 74, p. 230 ; Henshaw 75, p. 173 ; Scott 79, p. 92 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Morrison 86, p. 35; 88, p. 72; Kellogg 90, p. 89; Lowe 94, p. 270; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 121, 122, 222 ; Henderson 03, pp. 237, 108; 09, p. 241 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Warren 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Richards 08, p. 194 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178. Rocky-Mountain Nuthatch 499 Description. — Male — Crown and nape shiny black ; general colour above, including the central tail-feathers, greyish-blue ; greater coverts tipped with white ; on the longest tertial the central black area of the feather is acutely pointed, not rounded ; tail-feathers, except the central pair, black, with increasing amounts of white towards the outer ones ; below, including the sides of the head and superciliary region, white ; flanks slightly washed with grey ; lower abdomen and under tail- coverts blotched with chestnut ; iris brown, bill blackish, paler on the culmen at the base and on the lower mandible, legs dusky. Length 5-30 ; wing 3-50 ; tail 1-80 ; culmen -75 ; tarsus -68. The female has the crown more greyish, though still glossy, and the yoimg birds are very similar to the adults. Distribution.— Western North America from British Columbia and Manitoba, south along the eastern border of the great plains to western Texas and northern Mexico, west to the eastern slopes of the Cascades and Sierra Nevada. Generally a resident. In Colorado the Rocky-Mountain Nuthatch is a common resident throughout the year, being found chiefly along the foothills and in the pinon and cedar zone in winter, and at higher elevations, nearly up to timber line, in summer, but it has been found breeding as low as 5,300 feet at Littleton near Denver (Richards 08). Other breeding records are : Estes Park (McGregor), Gold Hill, Boulder co., about 9,S00 feet (Gale), above Idaho Springs, from 8,000 feet to timber line (Trippe), Twin Lakes (Scott), West Monument Creek, El Paso co. (Allen & Brewster), La Plata co., up to 11,000 feet (Morrison). Habits. — This Nuthatch is a tree-trunk bird, resembhng the Creeper ; its usual position is clinging Uke a Wood- pecker to the trunk of some rough-barked tree or running up and down looking for insects which constitute the bulk of its food. Its long hind toes and hooked claws enable it to chug to the undersides of horizontal branches and to creep down as well as up the vertical trunks. They have an unmistakable nasal ringing call " Chank, chank," by which their whereabouts can be easily detected. The Rocky -Mountain Nuthatch nests in holes, gener- ally in fir trees, sometimes in cotton-woods. These are more usually excavated by the bird itself, but an ii2 500 Birds of Colorado old Woodpecker's hole is sometimes taken up ; Gale believed that the same hole is often utilized year after year. The nest proper is placed at the bottom of the excavation, which is about six or eight inches deep. It is made up of a felted mass of fur and feathers. The eggs, usually five in number, are white, spotted chiefly at the larger end with brown. This bird nests early ; Gale gives May 10th to 30th for freshly-laid eggs, while the nest described by Richards (08) already seemed to contain young birds as early as May 15th, but this, of course, was at an exceptionally low elevation. Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis. A.O.U. Checklist no 728 — Colorado Records — Henshaw 75, p. 174 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; Cooke 97, pp. 122, 222 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 241. Description. — Male — Whole of the crown and a broad stripe from the lores through the eye to the side of the neck black, with a faint gloss ; a white superciliary line extending above the lores ; rest of the upper-surface, including the two middle tail-feathers, blueish-grey ; the wing quilLs ashy ; the outer tail-feathers black, tipped with grey, the three outermost with a subterminal band of white ; throat and sides of the neck below the black band white, rest of the vmder-parts bufiy, varying somewhat in intensity ; iris brown, bill black, paler at the base of the lower mandible, legs horny. Length 4-10 ; wing 2-70 ; tail 1-50 ; culmen -52 ; tarsus -60. The female has the black of the head less glossy and more slaty ; yoimg birds are very similar to the adults. Distribution. — From southern Alaska and Labrador, south to the northern tier of states and further south along the Rockies and Alleghanies to California, Colorado and N. Carolina ; fvirther south to the Gulf states, Arizona and New Mexico in winter. In Colorado the Red-breasted Nuthatch is by no means common, as can be seen by the scanty notices. It is a resident throughout the year in the mountains, breeding from 8,000 to 10,000 feet so far as records show ; in the plains it has been taken by Aiken at Resolis, in Elbert co.. May 26th, and at Limon, Lincoln co., May 19th, when it was probably migrating north. The other records are as follows : Boulder co., breeding (Gale), foothills in El Paso co., about 7,000 feet, November (Colo. Coll. Mus.), Pigmjr Nuthatch 501 Breckenridge (Cooke), Sapinero Creek, Gunnison co., October (Warren), Wet Mountains up to 10,000 feet (Lowe), Fort Garland, breeding (Henshaw). Habits. — This little Nuthatch is more sociable than the previous species, and is often seen in small flocks, especially in winter. Henshaw describes it as being very brisk and busy, the male hunting with great energy for insects for the incubating female, though both sexes assist in this duty. Henshaw found a single nest among the pine woods near Fort Garland early in June. This was placed in a hole in a rotten pine stub about five inches deep, the nest itself being lined with pine bark ; Gale found a nest about fifteen feet up in an old aspen treC) on June 4th ; it was made of wood fibre and strips of aspen bark, and differed from that of the Rocky -Mountain Nuthatch in having no fur or feathers. The eggs, four or five, are white, slightly rosy-tinted when unblown, thinly spotted with reddish dots confluent at the larger end ; thej^ measure '60 x '50. Pigmy Nuthatch. Sitta pygmcea. A.O.U. Checklist no 730— Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 195 Henshaw 74, p. 175 ; Trippe 75, p. 230 ; Scott 79, p. 92 ; Drew 85, p. 15 Morrison 86, p. 28 ; 88, p. 72 ; Norris 88, p. 173 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 Lowe 94, p. 270 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 122, 222 ; Hen derson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 241 ; GHman 07, p. 195 ; Warren 08, p. 25 09, p. 17 ; Gary 09, p. 184. Description. — Adult — Crown and hind neck greyish-olive, rest of the upper surface blueish-grey, becoming dusky on the wings ; a more or less concealed whitish spot at the junction of nape and back ; central tail-feathers like the back, with white at the base of the inner web, black at the base of the outer ; rest of the tail-feathers black, the outer two pairs crossed by an oblique band of white ; below pale buffy, becoming nearly white on the throat and blueish on the flanks ; iris dark brown, bill black, grey on the base of the lower mandible ; legs dusky-horn. Length of a female 4-10; wing 2-50; tail 1-30; culmen -50 ; tarsus -55. The sexes are alike ; the young birds have the crown the same colour as the back and the flanks, and under-parts very pale buSy. 502 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — The mountains of western North America from British Columbia to the State of Vera Cruz in Mexico, east to Wyoming and Colorado. The Pigmy Nuthatch is a common resident in the mountainous portion of Colorado, being foiuid along the foothills up to about 8,000 feet in winter, and from 7,000 to 10,000 in smnmer ; it is as a rule, though by no means strictly, confined to these hmits. It has been recorded from Estes Park (Norris) to Fort Garland (Henshaw) on the eastern slopes, and from Douglas Spring, in Routt CO., to Fort Lewis, in La Plata co., on the west ; it is seldom found away from pine timber, and is not therefore to be met with on the plains. Habits. — The Pigmy Nuthatch is a gregarious bird, associating in quite large flocks in mnter with Chickadees and Woodpeckers, and even in summer being often mixed up in flocks with Warblers and Bluebirds, and squabbling with the latter and the Chickadees over nest-holes. It is practically confined to coniferous forest, and is seldom seen beyond its limits. It is ex- cessively active and persevering in its search for insects, creeping rapidly over the limbs of trees and examining every crevice, and often striking with its bill like a Wood- pecker with very considerable force. It is a noisy bird, and its loud querulous " Weet, weet " can be easily distinguished among the softer notes of the other species. It is said by Trippe to capture fljnng insects on the wing. The nest is placed in a hole in a rotten pine tree, and is almost invariably excavated by the bird itself, often a zone of quite tough wood having to be cut through for this purpose ; the aperture is generally small, and the cavity from about three to four inches in depth. Upon a few chips at the bottom of the cavity is placed the nest, made up of the softest materials, chiefly soft velvety plant leaf, held together with cobweb, hair, feathers and fibres. Though perhaps often using the same site, it forms a new nest each season ; the eggs, generally Grey Titmouse 503 seven in number, are pure white ^\dth light reddish- brown speckling, chiefij^ at the larger end, and average •62 X '47 (Norris). According to Gale, who took a very large number of nests in the hills of Boulder co., and from whose notes this account has been chiefly taKen, fresh eggs are to be met with from the end of May to the middle of June. Family PARID^E. Small birds — wing under 3, with a short, stout, com- pressed conical bill, shorter than the head, not notched, and with the culmen rounded or flattened ; nostril entirely concealed by dense tufts of feathers ; wing with ten primaries, the outer about half the length of the next, somewhat rounded, shorter than or only just exceeding the tail ; tarsus scutellate ; tail-feathers never stiff or acuminate. Key of the Genera. A. Head crested ; plumage plain ; wing slightly exceeding the tail. Bceolophus, p. 503. B. Head not crested. a. Crown and throat always black ; wing and tail about equal. Penthestes, p. 504. b. No black on crown or throat ; tail distinctly exceeding the wing and markedly graduated. Psaltriparus, p. 508. Genus BiEOLOPHUS. Head crested ; build very stout and conical ; wings rather long but rounded ; tail slightly shorter than the wing, slightly rounded ; plumage plain grey without black. The genus contains four species, confined to the wanner parts of North America. Grey Titmouse. Bceolophus inornaius griseus. A.O.U. Checklist no TSSa — Colorado Records — Aiken 72, p. 195; Ridgway 73, pp. 179, 189 ; Drew 81, p. 87 ; 85, p. 15 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; Cooke 97, pp. 122, 169 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Warren 08, p. 25 ; 09, p. 17 ; Rockwell 08, p. 178 ; Gary 09, p. 184. 504 Birds of Colorado Description. — Adult — Ashy-grey throughout, duskier on the wing-J and tail ; a good deal paler on the under-parts ; head strongly crested : iris brown, bill dusky-brown, legs dusky. Length 5-0; wing 2-75; tail 2 -25 ; culmen 40 ; tarsus -72. The sexes are alike ; the young birds closely resemble the adults, but the crest is not quite so long, and the upper-parts are a shade more olivaceous. Distribution. — The drier south-western districts of the United States, from Colorado and Nevada to western Texas and south-east California. In Colorado the Grey Titmouse is a rather uncommon resident through- out the year, more or less confined to the upper Sonoran zone of pinons and cedars, between 5,000 and 8,000 feet. On the east of the range it has been observ-ed in Fremont and El Paso cos. by Aiken, and is represented in his collection by examples taken in April and October. West of the range there are many more records, viz., Douglas Spring, Routt CO., June (Warren), Grand Junction, November (Rockwell), Coventry, April (Warren), San Juan co., September (Drew), Fort Lewis (Morrison). It doubtless breeds, but no details have yet been given. Habits. — ^Henshaw tells us that the Grey Titmouse is generally found in the groves of pinon and scrub cedars in the northern part of its range, but in the south, in Arizona, it often frequents oak scrub ; it is never found in pine-woods. It spends much of its time on the ground looking for insects, and has a harsh, scolding note, with, in summer, a short, disconnected, though somewhat pleasing song. It is gregarious in winter, but after January, according to Aiken, is found singly. Its nesting habits, so far as I am aware, have never been described, but it almost certainly builds, in holes in trees or stumps, a nest of felted material and feathers, and lays six to eight M^iite eggs like its Pacific coast congener, the Plain Titmouse [B. inornatus). Genus PENTHESTES. Head not crested ; bill more slender and less stout ; wings and tail approximately equal ; crown and throat always black. About twelve species from the northern parts of the Old and New- Worlds. Long-tailed Chickadee 505 Key of the Species. A. With no white supercihary streak. P. a. septentrionalis, p. 505. B. With a white superciliary streak. P. gambeli, p. 506. Long-tailed Chickadee. Penthestes atricapillus septentrionalis. A.O.U. CheckUst no 735a — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 155, 174 ; Aiken 72, p. 195 ; Trippe 74, p. 230 ; Henshaw 75, p. 170 ; Minofc 80, p. 225 ; Tresz 81, p. 285 ; Drew 81, p. 87 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154; Beckham 87, p. 123; Morrison 86, p. 153; 88, p. 72 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; McGregor 97, p. 37 ; Cooke 97, pp. 122, 222 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 241 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179 ; Richards 08, p. 194 ; Hersey & Rockwell 09, p. 121. Description. — Adult — Crown and nape glossy black ; back slaty- grey, becoming tinged with pale buffy on the rump and tail-coverts ; wings and tail dusky-slate, most of the feathers edged with white ; a white patch on the sides of the head extending forwards to the bill ; below, chin and throat black, rest of the under-parts dull white, shghtly washed with pale bufJy on the flanks ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 5-0 ; wing 2-75 ; tail 2-74 ; culmen -30 ; tarsus -70. The sexes are alike ; in the autuinn the colour is a little brighter, especially the bufly wash on the lower back and flanks ; the young are very similar to the adults. Distribution. — Central parts of western North America, from Alaska and Mackenzie to New Mexico, east to Kansas, west to Utah. In Colorado the Long-tailed Chickadee is a fairly common resident through- out the year, chiefly in the foothills and at elevations up to 9,000 feet, though occasionally wandering higher ; in winter they are mostly below 8,000 feet, while in summer they breed from 5,500 to 9,000 feet. The following localities show the breeding range in the State : Littleton near Denver, 5,500 feet (Richards), near Trinidad, 6,000 feet (Cooke), up to 9,000 feet in Boulder co. (Gale) ; additional records are : Estes Park, summer (Kellogg), Fort Garland, October (HeiLshaw), Mesa CO. in winter (Rockwell), Barr Lakes in winter (Hersey & Rock- well), San Juan co., breeding (Drew), and Fort Lewis, breeding (Oilman). Habits. — ^The Chickadee is a social creature, going about in small parties, especially in winter, among the cotton-woods along the stream -beds, and very actively searching the bark and winter buds for insects, their eggs and larvae, which form the bulk of its food all the year round ; they are undoubtedly of the greatest value 506 Birds of Colorado to the agriculturist in destroying an infinite number of insect pests, while the damage they do is infinitesimal. They creep and crawl in all sorts of attitudes, often hanging suspended from a branch or running along, head down and tail up. The note of the bird is recalled in its common name, and in this respect the eastern and western forms hardly differ at all. The nest is placed in an old aspen stub or in a rotten pine tree, the hole being usually hollowed out by the bird itself ; the nest, placed at the bottom of the hole, is made of bark strips or moss, and lined with fur, hair or feathers ; the eggs, four to eight, are dull white, rather evenly speckled with reddish-bro\vn, and measure "62 x '48. Gale found fresh eggs in Boulder CO. between May 20th and June 15th. Mountain- Chickadee. Penthesfes gamheli. A.O.U. Checklist no 738— Colorado Records— Allen 72, pp. 161, 174 ; Aiken 72, p. 195 ; Trippe 74, p. 230 ; Henshaw 75, p. 169 ; Scott 79, p. 92 ; Drew 81, p. 87 ; 85, p. 15 ; Coues 83, p. 240 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; 87, p. 125 ; W. G. Smith 86, p. 25 ; Morrison 88, p. 72 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; Cooke 97, pp. 123, 222 ; Henderson 03, p. 257 ; 09, p. 241 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ,- Warren 08, p. 26 ; 09, p. 17 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179. Description. — Adult — Closely resembling the Long-tailed Chickadee, with black crown and throat and oHve-grey back, but distinguished at once by a conspicuous superciliary stripe running from the forehead over and behind the eye ; whole of the back olive-grey with but little trace of the buffy on the rump ; wings and tail with slightly paler edgings, but without white on the coverts ; below white, becoming olive on the flanks and abdomen ; iris dark brown, bill black, feet dusky, blueish-grey in the flesh. Length 5-30 ; wing 2-80 ; tail 2-50 ; culmen -38 ; tarsus -65. The sexes are alike ; the young closely resemble the adults, but the black of the crown and throat is duller and less glossy, and the white supercihum is less distinct and sometimes rather broken up. Distribution. — The mountains of western North America, from British Columbia to California and western Texas. In Colorado the Mountain-Chickadee is a common resident throughout the year at the Mountain-Chickadee 507 higher elevations of the mountains, occasionally associating with the Long-tailed Chickadee, but as a nile keeping higher up among the pines and spruces, where it breeds, chiefly between 8,000 feet and timber line. In winter it is often found at lower elevations among the pinons and cedars of the foothills, even as low as Grand Junction (4,500 feet), where it has been noticed from October to April (Rockwell), and Pueblo at 4,600 feet (Beckham). It has been recorded from Estes Park (Kellogg) and Sulphiu* Springs (Warren) in the north to Fort Lewis (Gihnan) in the south, and appears to be a common bird throughout the mountainous part of the State. Habits. — This Chickadee does not appear to differ very materially from its long-tailed congener. It is generally noticed in small bands or parties actively engaged in its search for insects, their larvae and eggs, about the rough bark and the buds of trees in the winter. Gale took a large number of nests near Gold Hill in Boulder co., between 8,200 and 10,000 feet ; these were generally in aspen trees or stubs, sometimes in pines. They were either excavated by the birds themselves or, as often as not, an old Woodpecker's or other hole was taken possession of. The nest itself is composed of a felted mass of rabbits' fur or hairs, with occasionally a little moss as well. The eggs, usually seven, but varying in number, are sometimes pure white without spots, as was first pointed out by W. G. Smith to Elliot Coues (83), and sometimes faintly speckled mth reddish, the proportion of spotted to plain eggs being about equal. The birds are courageous in defence of their nest-holes, and often contend with House-Wrens and Bluebirds for the possession of a desirable habitation. Before the young are hatched the nest is very difficult to locate, but afterwards the constant requirements of the large number of young soon betray the spot. Gale noted that fresh eggs were to be found between May 20th and June 15th. 508 Birds of Colorado Genus PSALTRIPARUS. Very small Titmice — wing under 2-0 ; the head without crest, short and rounded wings and long and graduated tails, clearly exceed- ing the wing in length ; plumage dull and grey without black on the head or throat. Four species are known from the western United States and temperate parts of Mexico. Plumbeous Bush-Tit. Psaltri'parus 'plumbeus. A.O.U. Checklist no 744 — Colorado Records— Aiken 72, p. 195 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; Cooke 97, pp. 123, 222 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179 ; Cary 09, p. 184 ; Warren 09, p. 17. Description. — Adult — General colovu- above blueish-grey, sUghtly washed with olive on the back, darker and duskier on the wings and tail ; sides of the head from the lores to the ear-coverts pale greyish- brown ; below dirty white ; iris pale yellow (according to Aiken, brown in the male, yellow in the female), bill and legs black. Length 4-30 ; wing 2-05 ; tail 2-30 ; culmen -24 ; tarsus -65. The sexes are alike, and the young hardly distinguishable from the adults. Distribution. — The drier districts of the western United States from eastern Oregon south to western Texas and south-eastern California, and perhaps into northern Mexico. This Bush-Tit is a rather uncommon resident in Colorado and is restricted chiefly to the southern and western portions of the State. It comes as far north as Fremont and El Paso cos. on the eastern slopes of the mountains. It is practically restricted to the piiiona and cedars of the upper Sonoran zone, and does not range above 7,800 feet as a rule. The following are the recorded localities : El Paso co. and Fremont CO., winter and summer (Aiken coll.), Sahda, December (Frey), Wet Mountains up to 7,800 feet (Lowe), Coventry, breeding (Warren), Grand Junction, November, A. H. Howell (Rockwell) ; Glenwood Springs, breeding (Cooke), near Douglas Spring (Cary). Habits. — This Bush-Tit frequents the shrubs and bushes on steep hill-sides, and the pinon and cedar country ; in winter it is to be met with in fairly large flocks ; it is one of the most industrious and active of the family, searching with sharp prying eyes for insects and their larvse, and keeping up an incessant querulous chirping. Plumbeous Bush-Tit 509 Aiken found a nest in the foothills north-east of Canon City, containing five eggs, May 9th, 1876 ; D. P. Ingraham took three sets of eggs near Beulah, at the foot of the Wet Mountains, in the summer of 1897, and W. Cross a nest with six eggs at Glenwood Springs, but no further details are given by Cooke. Nests taken by Lieut. Benson, U.S.A., in southern Arizona (Bendire, " P.U.S.N. Mus.," XI., p. 557) were gourd-like in shape, woven into and supported by twigs of scrub oak ; they were made of sage-bush leaves, spider web, moss and lichen, and thickly lined with soft small feathers ; the entrance was on the side near the top. The eggs were pure white in colour, and ovate in shape ; they were four to six in number, and measured •53 X -40. Family SYLVIID^. This family contains the true Warblers chiefly met with in the Old World. They are very closely alhed to the Thrushes, from which they can best be distin- guished by the fact that the young are unspotted, and that most of them undergo a double moult in spring and autumn. The United States genera can be easily distinguished by their small size — wing under 3 — their slender bill more or less notched at the tip, their wing with ten primaries, the outer of which is barely or considerably less than half the next, and by their plain blueish or olive- greenish plumage. Key of the Genera. A. Tarsiis booted ; crown with a yellow or reddish patch. Regulus, p. 510. B. Tarsus scutellate ; no crown-patch ; plumage chiefly slaty. Polioptila, p. 513. 510 Birds of Colorado Genus REGULUS. Small birds — wing under 3-0 — with a very slender, straight bill, shorter than the head ; nostrils slightly overhung but not concealed by small feathers ; wings rather long and pointed, exceeding the tail ; outer primary very short, always less than half the nest ; tail slightly forked, the feathers pointed ; tarsus slender and booted, i.e. covered in front with one long scute ; plumage olive-green with a patch of red or yellow on the crown. About ten species from the northern parts of the Old and New Worlds. Key of the Species. A. Crown with orange or yellow bordered by black. R. s. olivaceus, p. 510. B. Crown with a red spot but no black. R. calendula, S p. 511. C. Crown plain, like the back. R. calendula, ? p. 511. Western Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa olivaceus. A.O.U. Checklist no 748a — Colorado Records — Ailten 72, p. 195 ; Drew 81, pp. 87, 244 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; Cooke 97, p. 123 ; Henderson 09, p. 241 ; Betts 10, p. 219. Description. — Male — Centre of the crown bright orange red, narrowly edged with yellow ; around this a V-shaped patch of black, while a narrow frontal and superciliary band of white bounds the black ; rest of the upper-parts olive, greyer anteriorly, greener posteriorly ; wings and tail dusky, edged with ohve-yellow, and the middle and greater coverts tipped with whitish ; under-parts white, washed with dusky olive ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky brown. Length 3-75 ; wing 2-20 ; tail 1-5 ; culmen -25 ; tarsus -70. The female is like the male, but has the orange part of the crown replaced by yellow ; young birds have the crown brownish-grey with the black V-mark rather indistinct. Distribution. — Western North Anaerica, breeding from Alaska to Mount Whitney in California, and to Colorado, wintering south to Guatemala. The Golden- crowned appears to be quite a rare resident in the mountains of Colorado, while it is perhaps a little more common as a migrant on the plains in spring ; only very few observers have noted it. Aiken and Allen and Brewster record it from El Paso co., probably on migration, at the end of April and begimiing of May. Drew obtained an adult male on July 1st, at 11,500 feet, and a young bird just fledged Ruby-crowned Kinglet 511 at 11,000 on July 25th in San Juan co., and concluded that it must breed at about this elevation, while Aiken recently obtained a female, now in the Colorado College Museum, at Clyde, in Teller co., 9,400 feet, on January 12th, proving that a few birds at least winter in the State. One taken by Gale in August in Boulder co. is now in Mr. Felger's collection, another was recently shot in the same district by Betts on February 6th, out of a flock of eight. Finally, Morrison states that he observed it three times in La Plata co. Habits. — The Golden-crouTied I^nglet resembles its cousin the Ruby-crowned in its habits, but has rather a different call-note — a fine high " Ti, ti," only audible to practised ears. The nest, generally pensile, composed of green mosses, lined with fine bark strips, rootlets and feathers, is placed in coniferous trees from six to sixty feet up. The eggs, nine or ten, are creamy-white, blotched and speckled with pale wood-brown, and rarely faint lavender ; they measure "55 x '44 (Brewster, "Auk," v., p. 337). Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula. A.O.U. Checklist no 749 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 161, 174 ; Aiken 72, p. 195 ; Batty 73, p. 35 ; Trippe 74, p. 229 ; Henshaw 75, p. 164 ; Ingersoll 76, p. 77 ; Scott 79, p. 91 ; Minot 80, p. 225 ; Drew 81, pp. 87, 85, p. 15 ; Stone 83, p. S3 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 154 ; Beckham 87, p. 123 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 123, 222 ; Keyser 02, p. 65 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 241 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; Warren 08, p. 26 ; F.ockwell 08, p. 179. Description. — Male — Above olive-greyish anteriorly, more greenish posteriorly ; a wedge-shaped patch of scarlet from the middle of the crown to the nape, sometimes more or less concealed ; wings and tail dusky, edged with olive-yeUow and with dull white tips to the wing- coverts, forming a double wing-band ; a whity ring round the eye ; below dull olive-grey, darkest on the breast and flanks ; iris and bill dark brown, legs dusky-brown. Length 3-75 ; wing 2-50; tail 1-75 ; culmen -30; tarsus -71. The female resembles the male, but lacks the red crown-patch ; in the fall the plumage is a somewhat brighter shade of olive ; young birds resemble the female, but the wing-bands are tinged with buffy. Distribution. — Breeding in the northern parts of North America from Alaska and Labrador to Michigan and Quebec, and further south 512 Birds of Colorado along the western mountains to northern CaUfornia, Arizona and New Mexico ; in winter south tlirough the United States and Mexico to Guatemala. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a conamon bird throughout Colorado, in the plains a migrant, in the mountains a sunomer resident. It arrives from the south about the middle of April and passes on north or up into the mountains before the middle of May, descends again in September, and leaves the State in October. Its breeding range extends vertically from about 7,000 feet — Middle Park (Carter ajmd Cooke) to timber line. The following are breeding records : Buffalo Peaks, Park eo. (Batty), Twin Lakes, 9,200 feet (Scott), Boswell, 11,000 feet (E. Lewis apud Cooke), and Hancock, 11,000 feet (Stone), all in Chaffee co.; Gold Hill and Ward inBoiilder co. (Gale) ; near Fort Garland, 10,000 feet (Henshaw), San Juan co., 7,000 to 10,500 feet (Drew). During the spring migration its range extends out on the plains as far as Limon, in Lincoln co., where it has been taken, April 30th and May 19th, by Aiken. Habits. — ^The Ruby-crowiied is a very sociable bird, especially in the fall, when it may generally be seen in small parties with Bluebirds, Titmice and Warblers, pursuing its way through the w^oods and very actively engaged in securing small insects from the branches and trunks of trees, and also catching them occasionally in flight. It has a very sweet and modulated song, remarkably loud and strong for so small a bird. The first nest and eggs known were secured by Batty in the Buffalo Peaks, in Park co., on June 21st, 1873. This nest was in a spruce tree, about fifteen feet up, and contained five young and one egg. It has subsequently been taken by a good many other collectors, including Gale, who found a number in the mountains above Boulder. They were almost always placed in a spruce tree, from eight to fifty feet above the ground, sometimes almost pensile and woven to the smaller twigs, sometimes simply saddled on a horizontal bough. The nest itself is a large and loosely woven structure of fine moss, soft stringy fibres and spider web, lined with hair or feathers. Western Gnatcatcher 513 The eggs, generally eight m number, are creamy-white when fresh, pure white when blown, with a very fine peppering of reddish-brown at the larger end ; some- times this is so indistinct that the egg appears to be plain white ; they measure "55 x "45 (Scott). Gale found fresh eggs from June 1st to 30th, and believed that a second brood was often raised in July. Genus POLIOPTILA. Small slender birds — wing under 2-5, with a straight bill rather shorter than the head, broad and depressed at the base and a slightly hooked tip ; nostrils exposed ; wings rounded, outer primary about half the next ; tail exceeding the wing and distinctly graduated, the feathers slightly club-shaped ; tarsus scutellate ; plumage chiefly ashy with black and white, no bright colours. A genus of about twenty species and subspecies, confined to the warm temperate and tropical regions of America. Western Gnatcatcher. Polioptila ccerulea obscura. A.O.U. Checklist no 751a — Colorado Records — Ridgway, 73, p. 179 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; Cooke 97, pp. 124, 169 ; Henderson 05, p. 421 ; 09, p. 241 ; H. G. Smith 08, p. 190 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179 ; Cary 09, p. 184. Description. — Male — Above greyish-blue with a black V-shaped band across the forehead to the eye ; wings dusky with whitish edgings, especially on the inner secondaries ; tail and upper tail-coverts black, the outer pair of tail-feathers largely white, but the black base extending beyond the tail-coverts ; the second pair with the terminal third, the third pair only tipped with white ; a white orbital ring ; below white, washed with blueish-grey ; iris brown, bill black, legs dusky. Length 4-55 ; wing 2-05 ; tail 2-20 ; culmen -40 ; tarsiis -70. The female is slightly duller in colour above and lacks the black frontal band ; young birds are very Uke the female, but rather more brownish above. Distribution. — The drier portions of south-western North America from the interior of northern California and Colorado to Colima in Mexico. In Colorado the Gnatcatcher is a rare summer resident in the plains and at low elevations up to about 7,000 feet. It arrives early in May, and has been noticed at Pueblo on May 6th (Lowe), in Fremont co., May 12th, and at Limon, May 23rd (Aiken coll.), and at Boulder, May KK 514 Birds of Colorado 12th (Henderson), while on the western slope it was taken by W. C. Ferril at Grand Junction, May 17th (Smith). The only definite breed- ing record is that of Nash, who found a nest containing two young and a Cow-bird, near Pueblo, June 22nd (Cooke). Cary found it fairly common in the McElmo canon in June, and along the Dolores River in July. Habits. — ^The Gnatcatchers are active and highly- strung little birds, always on the move, cocking up their tails and twisting their heads about ; they have their home chiefly among shrubby bushes on the hill-sides or among mesquite or other cover on the plains ; they feed on small insects, which they catch on the wing, darting from a fixed perch like a Flycatcher. The nest is cup-shaped, made of shreds of bark, lined with finer shreds and feathers, and is generally placed in a bush a few feet from the ground. The eggs are marked wdth reddish-brown and purplish, most heavily round the larger end. Family TURDIDiE. This family comprises the Thrushes, a large family of birds, especially distinguished by the spotted plumage of the young birds. Other special features are — bill slender, more or less straight, nostril never concealed by bristles ; wing with ten primaries, the outer one spurious or quite short ; tail always shorter than the wing, generally considerably so ; tarsus booted, i.e. covered in front with one long shield. Key of the Genera.* A. Tail long, nearly equal to the wing and double rounded ; plumage grey with a double wing-bar. Myadestes, p. 515. B. Tail always distinctly shorter than the wing. a. Plimaage chiefly blue. Sialia, p. 526. b. No blue in plixmage. * Betts ("Auk," 1910, p. 218) has recently recorded the Varied Thrush (Txoreus fimviiM ) from Colorado. He states that he saw but did not obtain a single example on December 5th, 1909, at Gregory Cahon, near Boulder. Townsend's Solitaire 515 a^ Under-parts plain reddish, only the throat streaked. Planesticus, p. 523. b^ Under-parts white or buffy-white. a* Base of the tail white contrasting with terminal portion. Saxicola, p. 525. b^ Base of the tail never white, under-parts spotted. Hylocichla, p. 517. Genus MYADESTES. Bill short, widened, flattened and depressed at the base ; wings long and pointed, the outer primary short, less than half the length of the next ; tail long though not exceeding the wing, doubly rounded, the outer and central feathers shorter than the intermediate ones ; feet rather weak ; tarsus booted with a single long scute before and behind ; plumage of adult chiefly plain grey, of young spotted. A pTirely American genus with only one species in the United States. Townsend's Solitaire. Myadestes tovmsendi. A.O.U. Checklist no 754 — Colorado Records — Allen 72, p. 161 ; Aiken 72, p. 198 ; Trippe 74, p. 95 ; Henshaw 75, p. 231 ; Lamb 77, p. 77 ; Scott 79, p. 93 ; Drew 81, p. 15 ; Stone 82, p. 191 ; 84, p. 20 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 160 ; Coues 83, p. 239 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; 87, p. 125 ; W. G. Smith 86, p. 25 ; Morrison 88, p. 71 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 94, p. 270 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 124, 169, 223 ; Keyser 02, p. 298 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 241 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 26 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179 ; Cary 09, p. 185. Description. — Male — Above slaty-grey, becoming duskier on the wings and tail ; basal portion of the inner primaries and of the second- aries ochraceous-buff, concealed when the wing is closed, but forming a conspicuous band when the wing is spread ; outer pair of tail-feathers white on the terminal half of the outer web, and tipped on the inner web with the same ; second pair with a smaller white tip ; below slaty- grey, but paler than the upper-parts ; iris dark brown, bill and legs black. Length 7-85; wing 4-60; tail 40; cuhnen -50; tarsus -80. The female resembles the male, but is slightly smaller — wing 4-45 ; yoiing birds have the upper-parts, except the wings and tail-feathers, conspicuously spotted with buff, and most of the feathers edged with black ; below pale buff, the feathers margined with dusky. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding from Alaska south to the mountains of Zacatecas in Mexico, and from the coast ranges of the Pacific to North Dakota and western Texas ; wintering from Oregon southward. kk2 516 Birds of Colorado In Colorado Townsend's Solitaire is a resident throughout the year, breeding in the mountains from about 7,000 feet to timber line, and wintering occasionally up to 9,000 feet, as well as in the pinon and cedar belts of the foothills. It sometimes wanders out into the plains, and has been recorded by Thome from Fort Lyon in April, and by Warren (06) from Baca co. in the same month, while Allen & Brewster saw a large number close to Colorado Springs as late as April 29th, driven down from the mountains by a severe storm. The following are the breeding records : Estes Park, 8,500 feet (Cooke), near Arkins, at about 6,200 feet (Cary), near Gold Hill, Boulder CO., 7,000 to 10,000 feet (Gale), Buffalo Creek, Jefferson co., 6,000 feet (Smith), above Breckenridge, 10,000 feet (Lamb), Hancock and Alpine Tunnel, ChaSee co., 11,000 to 11,500 feet (Stone), Howardsville, San Juan CO., 10,500 feet, Trippe (Drew). Habits. — ^Townsend's Solitaire is rather a shy and retiring bird. It is not uncommon in winter in the pinon and cedar zone of the foothills, where it feeds on the cedar berries, and also on whatever insects it can procure ; these it catches like a Flycatcher, darting from a fixed perch, or searching for them among dead leaves on the ground. It is rather solitary, though occasionally seen in small bunches of four or five in the fall, probably family parties. All observers wax enthusiastic over its song — " a silvery cascade of melody," Trippe calls it ; curiously enough, it is heard chiefly in the fall and winter, not only on bright sunny days, but even in the worst weather. It has a loud and clear call-note as well. The credit of the first discovery of its nest is due to Wilbur F, Lamb, M^ho in July, 1876, found one in the bank of a miner's ditch among overhanging roots, at an elevation of 10,000 feet above Breckenridge in Summit co. Siuce then it has been described by several observers. The nest is always placed on the ground in a crevice in a bank or railway cutting (Stone), or very frequently in a miner's shaft (Gale), but always where it is screened from the direct rays of the sun by an over- hanging rock or other shelter. The nest itself is loosely Wood-Thrush 517 and rather carelessly and untidily constructed of sticks on the outside and coarse grasses within, and has no further lining. It is somewhat shallow and flat. The eggs, nearly always four in number, are greyish- white, splashed to a varying extent with rusty-brown and pale lilac. They measure about "95 x "68. Gale found fresh eggs between May 20th and June 25th, and this agrees with the observations of other naturalists. Genus H"iXOCICHLA. Bill moderate, rather weak ; wings long and pointed, outer primary very short and spurious ; tail always very clearly shorter than the wing, about even ; tarsus rather long and slender, always exceeding the middle toe and claw ; plumage plain brown above, spotted or streaked below on a white or yellowish-white ground ; never any blue. A considerable North American genus, closely allied to the true Thrushes (Turdus) of the Old World. Five species and a good many additional subspecies occur in the United States. H. guttata pallaai may possibly occur in Colorado, so it is here included in the key. Key of the Species. A. Spots on the lower surface very distinct and extending on to the flanks. H. mustelina, p. 517. B. Spots on the lower surface less distinct and not extending on to the flanks. a. Upper-parts the same colour throughout. a^ A distinct buSy ring round the eye. H. u. swainsoni, p. 519. b^ No buffy ring round the eye. H. f. salicicola, p. 518. b. Rump and tail with a distinct rufous shade contrasting with the olive back a^ Larger — wing over 3-55. a^ More richly coloured, especially the rufous of the tail. H. g. pallasi. b* Duller and less richly coloured. H. g. auduboni, p. 521. b^ Smaller — wing under 3 50. H. guttata, p. 521. Wood-Thrush. Hylocichla mustelina. A.O.U. Checklist no 755 — Colorado Record — Henderson 05, p. 42. Description. — Adult — Above head and back cinnamon-brown, fading to ohve-brown on the rump, tail and wings ; a white orbital ring ; below white, marked on the breast and flanks with large well-defined 518 Birds of Colorado dusky-black spots ; iris dark brown, bill dusky-horn, paler on the base of the lower mandible, legs pale yellowish-brown. Length 7-25 ; wing 4-25 ; tail 30 ; culmen -60 ; tarsus 1-12. Young birds have the crown streaked with buff, the wing-coverts tipped with rusty-yellow, and the breast washed with brownish. Distribution. — Eastern North America, breeding from New Hampshire and eastern Nebraska to northern Florida and eastern Texas, in winter through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica and to the West Indies. The only record of the occurrence of the Wood-Thriish in Colorado is that of Miss J. M. Patten, who identified a specimen on May 27th, 1905, near Yuma, on the north-eastern comer of the State (Henderson). Willow-Thrush. Hylocichla fuscescens salicicola. A.O.U. Checklist no 576a — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 155, 173 ; Trippe 74, p. 228 ; Henshaw 75, p. 148 ; Ridgway 82, p. 374 ; Drew 85, p. 15 ; Thome 87, p. 265 ; Cooke 97, pp. 124, 223 ; Henderson 09, p. 241. Description. — Adult — Above dark olive-brown, slightly more dusky on the wings and tail ; eye without a white orbital ring ; below, chest and throat pale buffy streaked with dusky brown, rest of the under- parts, including the chin, white ; the flanks washed with slaty ; iris dark brown, bill blackish, pale yellowish at the base of the lower mandible ; legs pale yellowish, flesh-coloured in Ufe. Length 6-70 ; wing 3-85 ; tail 2-85 ; culmen -50 ; tarsus 1-05. Young birds have the feathers of the upper-parts mesially streaked with yellowish-buff, and the wing-coverts spotted with brownish-buff. Distribution. — The interior districts of western North America, breeding from British Columbia and Manitoba south to Nevada and Colorado, in winter through Mexico to central Brazil ; casually east to lUinois and Mississippi. The Willow-Thrush is a scarce migrant and summer resident in Colorado, or else it has been overlooked ; it has only been noticed on the plains and along the foothills of the eastern base of the moimiteiins, and does not reach an elevation of much more than 8,000 feet. It was found nesting by Henshaw at Fort Garland at about 8,000 feet, and it was with one of these specimens that the subspecies was first discriminated by Ridgway ; it was subsequently met with by Gale in the Boulder hills, while the other records, chiefly migratory, are: Denver, May 17th (Henshaw), north fork of South Platte, between Denver and South Park (AUen), at 8,000 feet near Idaho Springs (Trippe), and various localities in the plains of El Paso, Elbert and Lincoln cos., from May 15th to June 6th (Aiken coll.). Oliv-e-backed Thrush 519 Habits. — Henshaw found the Willow-Thrush plentiful near Fort Garland, among the deep swampy thickets along the streams, where he often heard the " weird music of its beautiful song." He also took two nests of this species, both built on the ground and modelled in and above those obviously used in the previous season. He described the eggs as blue, and slightly darker than those of Audubon's Thrush. Gale only took one nest of this species ; it was placed about three feet above the ground, in a low evergreen bush in a shady and wooded canon near Gold Hill. The nest was made up of plant stems, mosses and grasses, and lined with fine rootlets, but with no mud or clay. The eggs, four in number, were light blue, and averaged "90 x "70. This nest was taken June 13th, but there appears to be some little doubt about the identification. Olive-backed Thrush. Hylocichla ustulata swainsoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 758a— Colorado Records — Trippe 74, p. 228 Henshaw 75, p. 147 ; Minot 80, p. 224 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 153 Drew 85, p. 15 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; 87, p. 127 ; Morrison 88, p. 70 Cooke 97, pp. 19, 124, 223 ; Burnett 01, p. 114 (H. u. almce) ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 241 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179. Description. — Adult — Above dark brownish-olive ; a conspicuous pale buffy orbital ring ; sides of the face, chin, throat and chest very pale buffy, streaked with dusky, except on the centre of the throat ; rest of the under-parts white, tinged with slaty-grey on the flanks, and with a few more or less indistinct rounded spots of the same colour on the lower breast ; iris dark brown, bill blackish, pale brown-horn at the base of the lower mandible, legs pale horny. Length 6-40 ; wing 3-90 ; tail 2-80 ; cuhnen -5 ; tarsus 1-0. The sexes are alike ; the yoimg birds are streaked and spotted with pale tawny above, while below the markings are more or less transverse in direction. Distribution. — Breeding throughout the greater part of northern North America, except the Pacific coast belt, from Alaska and Hudson Bay south at higher elevations, to Cahfomia, Colorado and Virginia, southwards on migration through Mexico and Central America to Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and the Argentine. 520 Birds of Colorado In Colorado the Olive-backed Thrush ia a common spring and fall migrant, both in the plains and mountains ; it arrives from the south early in ^lay, the males appearing at least a week or a fortnight before the females ; most of the birds pass on further north, but a small pro- portion stay with us to breed in the mountains, at from about 8,000 to 10,000 feet. Gale is the only observer who has actually taken the nest of this species in Colorado, but Minot observed the bird between 9,500 and 10,500 feet on Pikes Peak, in June, where it was doubtless breeding ; on spring migration it is common on the plains from Colorado Springs to Limon, and a large series in the Aiken collection show very clearly the earUer arrival of the males, the dates of these running from May 5th to May 27th, while the females date from May 23rd to June 6th. Other migration records are : Springfield, Baca co., May 16th, males ; May 29th, females (Warren) ; Fort Lyon, May 6th (Cooke) ; Pueblo, May 13th-20th (Beckham) ; SaUda, May 10th (Frey) ; Denver, May 10th to 17th (Henshaw). The only record of its occurrence on the western slope of the Con- tinental Divide is that of Rockwell, who found a deserted nest with two eggs, on August 1st, 1905, in Mesa co., at an altitude of about 6,500 feet. Habits. — ^The Olive-backed Thrush is in no way remarkable in this respect ; it is chiefly met with in shrubbery and in cotton-wood groves along the valleys of streams, and obtains its food on the ground, scratching among dead leaves. During migration it is silent and retiring, but when nesting it has a loud, ringing and characteristic song, generally heard in the twilight. Gale found the nest of this bird on several occasions ; it was placed in a willow bush close to, and almost over- hanging a creek, and was securely and compactly built, chiefly of grasses with fibre and leaves, and hned with finer materials of the same kind ; it was attached by the side or rim to several twigs, so that it was semi-pensile and not saddled on the Umb. The eggs, generally four in number, were blueish-green, speckled with soft rufous or tan, and measured '90 x "64. Unincubated eggs were met with between June 20th and July 7th. Rocky -Mountain Hermit Thrush 521 Alaska Hermit or Kadiak Dwarf Thrush. Hylocichla guttata. A.O.U. Checklist no 759 — Colorado Records — Sprague 96, p. 85 {Turdus aonalaschkce) ; H. G. Smith 96, p. 76 ; Cooke 97, pp. 125, 170, 223 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; Warren 06, p. 24. Description. — Adult — Above plain greyish-brown, becoming cinnamon- brown on the upper tail-coverts and tail ; a white orbital ring ; sides of the face and ear-coverts greyish-brown, not buffy ; below white, chest very slightly tinged with buffy, with conspicuous triangular spots of dusky ; flanks slightly washed with pale greyish-brown ; iris brown, bill black, pale horn at the base of the lower mandible, legs light horn. Length 6 0 ; wing 3-50 ; tail 2-60 ; culmen -5 ; tarsus 1-05. The female is slightly smaller — wing 3-25. Young birds are streaked and spotted with bui?y above, the chest is more strongly tinged with buffy, and the lower-breast and flanks more or less barred with dusky. Distribution. — Breeding in the coast districts of Alaska, and migrating south in winter to Lower CaUfornia, Chihuahua and western Texas. One of the migration routes of this Hermit-Thrush runs along the foothills and neighbouring plains of eastern Colorado, where the bird is quite common in the spring and autumn. It was first recognized as a Colorado bird by Sprague, who obtained an example at Magnoha, in Boulder co., 7,500 feet, October 6th, 1895. Other records are : Baca CO., May 1st to 12th (Warren), El Paso and Lincoln cos., April 24th to May 24th (Aiken coll.), Denver, May 13th, September 26th and October 5th (H. G. Smith), Fort Collins, October 1st (Cooke). Frey found large numbers of these birds along the river bottom at Salida on May 3rd, 1908, and for ten days or so afterwards. They appeared after a very heavy storm. Rocky- Mountain Hermit-Thrush. Hylocichla guttata auduhoni. A.O.U. Checklist no 759a — Colorado Records — Allen 72, pp. 147, 155, 161, 173 (T. pallasi) ; Trippe 74, p. 228 ; Henshaw 75, p. 144; Scott 79, p. 91 ; Minot 80, p. 224 ; Tresz 81, p. 283 ; Drew 81, p. 86 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 152 ; Stone 84, p. 20 ; Beckham 87, p. 124 ; Morrison 88, p. 70 ; Thorne 88, p. 265 ; Kellogg 90, p. 89 ; Lowe 92, p. 101 ; 94, p. 270 ; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 19, 125, 223 ; Keyser 02, pp. 68, 235 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 07, p. 31 ; 09, p. 242 ; Gihnan 07, p. 195 ; Rockwell 08, p. 179. Description. — Hardly to be distinguished from H. guttata, except by its larger size ; upper-parts a trifle greyer and cinnamon of tail a shade duller. Length 6-50 ; wing 3-87 ; tail 2-90 ; culmen -52 ; tarsus 1-12. 522 Birds of Colorado Distribution. — Breeding in the Rocky Moian tains from eastern British Columbia to Lower California and New Mexico, south in winter through Mexico to Guatemala ; a few wintering in western Texas. The Rocky-Mountain Thrush is certainly the most abvmdant member of its genus ia Colorado. It is a summer resident, breeding throughout the mountains, from about 8,000 feet to 11,000 feet and nearly up to timber line ; it occurs on migration out on the plains, as far as Limon (Aiken coll.. May 21st), and Fort Lyon (May 6th to 9th, Thorne), and has been met with breeding £i3 low as 6,500 feet on Groove Creek, Mesa CO., by Rockwell. Other breeding records are : Boulder co., 5,800 to 10,000 feet (Gale), above Idaho Springs, 11,000 feet to 13,000 feet (Trippe), Breckenridge, Carter (Cooke), slopes of Grays and Pikes Peaks (Keyser), Hancock, 11,000 feet (Stone), slopes of Moimt Baldy, near Fort Garland (Hen- shaw), San Juan co. (Drew), La Plata co., at 10,000 feet (Gihnan). On migration it arrives early in May — Pueblo, May 6th (Lowe), and departs in October — Pueblo, October 5th, 6th and 13th (Beckheim). Habits. — ^The favourite liaunts of the Rocky -Moimtain Thrush are deep and sheltered canons and dark spruce forest, where the sun hardly shines ; here it is to be found sometimes alone, sometimes several together, enlivening the gloomy solitudes with its exquisite notes both during the middle of the day and also evening and morning. It is very shy and retiring, and even when located by its note is most difficult to catch a glimpse of. Gale's notes contain the record of a large number of nests found by him at various elevations, from about 6,000 to 11,000 feet ; they were placed almost exclusively on spruce trees from about three to ten feet from the ground, generally in a spot near a mountain stream or close to a spring. Nests were constructed of various materials, such as rotten wood, mosses, grasses and plant stems, and lined with rootlets, horsehair or fine grasses. All these materials have been found in the nests, though by no means in every nest. The construction varied consider- ably, but no clay or mud is used. The nests were very Western Robin 52S quickly completed ; one begun on June 6th was finished on the 13th, and the first clutch of eggs laid by the 18th. The eggs, nearly always four in number, are bright greenish-blue, and imspotted, and average about "90 x '67. This bird generally returns to the same spot every year, sometimes repairing an old nest, sometimes build- ing a fresh one close by. Gale also found a very large number of deserted nests, sometimes with a full com- plement of eggs. He believed that some of these were due to the mischievous procHvities of Jays, but he also suggested that, as the bird is a rather late migrant and the females arrive first, it was perhaps possible that they at once set to work to build nests and lay sterile eggs, and that after the arrival of the males fresh nests were made and the sterile eggs deserted. Gale found fresh eggs between June 10th and July 10th, and his obser- vations agree very well with those of other naturalists. Genus PLANESTICUS. Rather large Thrashes resembling Hylocichla, but with a longer tail, which is always more than three times the length of the tarsus, and with the lower parts not spotted though the tluroat is streaked. A large genus of nearly cosmopolitan distribution, with one species in the United States separated into an eastern and western subspecific form. The eastern race has a distinct white tip to the outer tail- feather, absent in the western race. The Colorado Robins are many of them somewhat intermediate in character, but on the whole seem closer to the western subspecies. Western Robin. Planesticus migratorius propinquus. A.O.U. Checklist no 761a — Colorado Records — Say 23, Vol., ii., p. 17 ; Allen 72, pp. 147, 155, 161, 173 ; Aiken 72, p. 193 ; Trippe 74, p. 228 ; Henshaw 75, p. 143 ; Scott 79, p. 91 ; Tresz 81, p. 282 ; Drew 81, p. 85 ; 85, p. 15 ; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 152 ; Beckham 85, p. 140 ; 87, p. 125 ; Morrison 86, p. 153 ; 88, p. 70 ; Kellogg 90, p. 90 ; Lowe 94, p. 270; McGregor 97, p. 39 ; Cooke 97, pp. 18, 126, 223 ; Keyser 02, p. 31 ; Dille 03, p. 74 ; Henderson 03, p. 237 ; 09, p. 242 ; Warren 06, p. 24 ; 08, p. 26 ; 09, p. 17 ; Oilman 07, p. 195 ; Markman 07, p. 158 ; Rockwell 08, p. 180 ; Bergtold 09, p. 196. 524 Birds of Colorado Description. — Male — Crown and sides of the head black, with a little white roiind the eye and a spot of white on the lores ; rest of the upper-parts slaty-olive, becoming black on the tail ; outer tail- feather without or with only a narrow margin of white at the tip, no regular terminal spot ; chin and throat white, the latter streaked with black ; rest of the under-parts cinnamon-rufous, the centre of the abdomen, anal region and under tail-coverts white and grey ; iris dark brown, bill yellow, dusky at the tip, legs dark homy. Length 9-5 ; wing 5-5 ; tail 4-10 ; culmen -78 ; tarsus 1-20. The female resembles the male, but the black feathers of the crown are edged with greyish and it is smaller — wing about 5-25. Other spring females, possibly birds of the previous year, have the head the same colour as the upper-parts, the tail dusky not black, the cinnamon- rufous of the under-parts much paler and edged with white, and the bill much more dusky. In the fall a male has the upper-parts washed with yeUowish-olive, conceahng the black crown ; the cinnamon of the lower surface is edged with white. Young birds are dusky above, with most of the feathers tipped with black, and often a subterminal tip of white, giving a spotted appearance ; below whitish, becoming buffy on the flanks and middle of the breast, which are profusely spotted with black. Distribution. — Western North America, breeding from the coast district of Alaska, south along the Rocky Mountains to the plateau of Mexico, and westwards to the Pacific. The Western Robin is one of the commonest birds in Colorado. Chiefly a simamer resident, it arrives from the south about the middle of March, and is to be found breeding from May to July everywhere from the plains up through the mountains to timber line. The greater number of the birds disappear southwards in November, but a few winter in sheltered places. Hersey tells me there is always a small flock at Barr Lake, near Denver, through the winter ; Frey took one near Salida on January 9th, while one or two can always be found in Colorado Springs. They have been seen as early as February 15th at Loveland (Cooke), and in the south of the State Gibnan states that he has seen one on January 30th close to Fort Lewis, and others in Montezuma co. in the same month. Habits. — The Western Robin is a familiar bird, found in the vicinity of man, and seen in the suburbs of our towns in considerable numbers, as well as in orchards and gardens in the country. It devours large quantities of earth-worms, which it tugs out of their holes, as well as other destructive insects and their larvae. In the Western Robin 525 autumn and winter it subsists to a great extent on berries, and Trippe states it is to be found in very large numbers among the Blueberry patches on the mountain sides, in September. Its note is cheerful and musical, but not especially remarkable. The nest is built of twigs, stiff plant stems and grasses outside ; this is cemented and lined with wet mud, and when dry an inner lining of fine grasses is added, the whole forming a compact and strong structure. It is placed in a bush or small tree, generally on a crotch, and nearly always low down. The eggs, usually four in number, are plain, unspotted, and greenish-blue in colour, and measure about I'l x '80. Two or even three broods are raised in the year, the time for finding fresh eggs extending from May 15th to July 5th according to Gale's observations. He further believed that a fresh nest for the second laying was built at a higher elevation in the mountains by the hen before the first brood was fledged, and that the cock bird remained behind at the lower level to look after the first brood imtil they were able to leave the nest and fend for themselves. Dr. Bergtold has recently given a very interestmg account of a series of albino robins observed by him and others in the City Park in Denver during four successive years, from which it appears that the albinistic characters may in this case have been hereditary. Genus SAX I COLA. Bill shorter than the head, straight and depressed at the base ; wings long and pointed ; outer primary very short, not a quarter the length of the next ; tail much shorter than the wing, about square ; pltimage without spots or streaks in the adult and with the basal portion of the tail and coverts white. An extensive Old World genus, one species of which is a straggler in the United States. ^26 Birds of Colorado Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe. A.O.U. Checklist no 765— Colorado Records — Minot 80, p. 224 ; Cooke 97, p. 125 ; Henderson 09, p. 242. Description. — Male — Above plain ashy, black on the wings and terminal third of the tail ; basal two-thirds of tail, except the middle feathers, white ; forehead, a superciliary line and upper tail-coverts white ; below pinky-buff, becoming white posteriorly ; iris brown, bill and legs black. Length 6-0 ; wing 3-75 ; tail 1-75 ; culmen -55 ; tarsus 1-05. The female is duller in colour than the male, and the black is replaced by dusky. In the winter the upper-parts are brown, the wings have lighter edgings, the under-parts are rusty-buff, and the head has no distinct streaks. Distribution. — Breeding in northern Europe and Asia and across Bering Strait to Alaska ; wintering in East Africa and India. The Wheatear was met with by Minot at Boulder on May 14th, 1880. Minot does not specifically say that he obtained the bird, he merely writes " One specimen at Boulder," and it is possible he may have been mistaken, as it has not been taken in western America before or since. Ridgway doubtfully assigns this record to the Greenland Wheatear (S. oe. leucorhoa) which breeds in Labrador, and has recently been taken in eastern Canada and New York State. Genus SIALIA. Bill straight and rather stout ; wings very long and pointed, over five times the length of the tarsus, the outer primary short and not extending beyond the primary coverts ; tail much shorter than "the wing, ertiarginate ; plumage always with a good deal of blue, not spotted except in the young bird. A genus of three species, confined to America ; three species in the United States. Key of the Species. A. Head bright blue. a. Blue above and below, no chestnut. S. currucoides, c? p. 529. b. Blue above, throat and chest chestnut. S. sialis, c? p. 527. c. Blue above and on the throat, chestnut across the back and breast. S. m. bairdi,