ORNITHOLOGIST 



—AND- 



OOLOGIST. 



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PUBLISHED BV FRAXK B. WEBSTER. 



Established, March, 1875. 



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 10 cents. 



Vol. XIV. 



BOSTON, MASS., OCTOBER, 1889. 



No. 10. 



A List of the Birds of Colorado.* 



[All Rights Reserved.] 



14fi. Melanerpes erythnicephnlus (Linn.). 

 Red-headed Woodpecker. JSiimmer visitant; 

 tolerably common. Thi.s species is far more 

 common in the northern portion of the state 

 than elsewhere, although I found it common 

 in the vicinity of Fort Lyon in south-western 

 C'olorado, Reaches 10,000 feet in spring 

 and Slimmer. Eggs four to six, sometimes 

 seven. 



147. Melanerpen torquatus (VVils.). Lewis's 

 Woodpecker. Common in the pine forests 

 throughout the state. Its nest is generally 

 high up in a large pine, stubs being favorite 

 sites for its abode. I have often observed 

 large numbers upon the high branches sitting 

 motionless until some passing in.sect would 

 arouse them, w iiicli tliey captured on the wing. 

 From my observations this is its principal 

 method of feeding, as I do not remember of 

 ever having seen it searching for food on the 

 limbs and tree trunks as the Woodpeckers do. 

 While on the wing it would easily be mistaken 

 for a Brewers Grackle; its flight is generally 

 steady, and only seldom will it be seen to fly 

 in long festoons like its relatives. Eggs are 

 four and five. 



148. Melanerpes caroUnus (Linn.). Red- 

 bellied Woodpecker. Entered in Drew's list 

 upon Mr. Ridgway's authority. Xot observed 

 by any of the members, and it must be rare if 

 occurring at all. There is no reason, however, 

 why it should not wander into the eastern 

 part of the state, and with more observers 

 this would no doubt be proved to be so. Eggs 

 four and five, commonly. 



149. Colnptes aitrntxs (Linn.). Flicker. Com- 

 mon along the streams in eastern Colorado. 

 Gives way to (\ rqt'er at the eastern foot hills 

 of the mountains. 



Continued from page C.5. 



150. Colaptes nuratm hi/hridiis (Baird.). 

 Ridgw. Hybrid Flicker. Dropped from the 

 A. O. U. list. Found commonly along the 

 eastern foot hills during the migrations, the 

 centre of abundance being in Wyoming, where 

 it is found in every conceivable plumage. In 

 the Big Horn range I found it mated with C. 

 cafer and secured two sets of eggs, one of four 

 and one of seven; in both instances the parent 

 birds w^ere shot. The first set, however, I do 

 not believe complete. 



151. Colaptes cafer (Gmel.). Red-shafted 

 Flicker. Common in the mountains and west- 

 ward. Habits similar to auratus but is equally 

 abundant in tlie pines and along the streams. 

 One of the earliest migrants, coming with the 

 first warm wave in southern Colorado and 

 remains. Reaches 12,000. 



152. Phalfjeoptilus nuttalU Am\.). Poor Will. 

 Reported by Anthony as summer or transient 

 visitant; rare. Reaches 8,000 feet according 

 to Drew. I consider it very rare as I never 

 saw it in the state, and I know of no authentic 

 case of its eggs having been taken. 



153. C/iordeiles vinjinianus henryi (Cass.). 

 Western ^ighthawk. Summer visitant; com- 

 mon. Reaches 11,000 feet to breed. Eggs two, 

 deposited upon the ground with generally no 

 nest whatever. A new variety* has been de- 

 scribed which should be found in the eastern 

 part of the state, and those members having 

 opportunities should look carefully for it. I 

 liope soon to be able to include it in this list. 



154. Cypseloides niger {G\ne\.). Black Swift. 

 Reported by Drew from San Juan County. 

 Found from 9,000 to 18,000 feet. 



1.55. MicropuHmelanoleuc us (Baird.). White- 

 throated Swift. Also I'eported by Drew from 



* "Chordeiles virginianus sennetti-" (Coues.), Cham- 

 berlain. " Chordeiles popetue sennetti," Coues, Auk, V, 

 Jan. 1888, p. .37. " Chordeiles virginianus sennetti," 

 Chamberlain, Systematic Table of Canadian Birds, 

 1888, Appendix A. p. 14. Hab. Dakota to Texas, in any 

 treeless country. 



Copyright. 188!i, by Frank B. Webster. 



