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 



