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 



