1914 



INTRODUCTION 



The beginning of this list of the birds of Arizona dates back about eleven 

 years, to a time when the author was engaged in field work in that state. A hasty 

 compilation was made of a few local lists, and the manuscript carried in the field 

 as a guide and aid in making observations and collections. This beginning proved 

 an incentive to the gathering of further data, and shortly after, the opportunity 

 presenting itself for visiting more extensive libraries than had hitherto been 

 available, a careful and systematic search was made through the literature deal- 

 ing with the ornithology of Arizona. The resulting information was filed away 

 and added to as chance offered, but more pressing work and other interests inter- 

 fered to prevent the whole from being put into shape for publication. Further- 

 more it soon became evident that while a fairly long list of species could be com- 

 piled as occurring within the state, the published information concerning a large 

 proportion of them was scanty and fragmentary. The writer had hoped to be in 

 a position to continue field work in certain little known sections of the state, where 

 undoubtedly there is much to be added to our knowledge of the birds, but this 

 contingency became more and mure improbable, and under the circumstances it 

 seemed advisable to publish the list as it now stands. 



It is hoped that as far as it goes this list will be found to be fairly accurate. 

 Pertinent literature has been gone over with care, and it is doubtful if any im- 

 portant publication has been overlooked. At the same time it can hardly be 

 doubted but that there are in collections specimens whose existence will modify 

 many of the statements made here, and it is also highly probable that there are 

 active collectors who have many unpublished records in their notes which would 

 also occasion changes. Available collections and collectors' notes, however, have 

 been made use of wherever possible. 



The aim of the present publication is to give a list of the species of birds oc- 

 curring in Arizona, with a synonymy of the names applied, as regards their oc- 

 currence within the state, and a brief but comprehensive outline of the manner 

 of occurrence. The latter, it is hoped, is in each case as clear and accurate as the 

 present state of our knowledge permits. An effort has been made to give a gen- 

 eral statement outlining the range and manner of occurrence, supplemented by 

 the citation of authorities for extreme or unusual instances. Exact dates have 

 been given only for the rarest species, those of which but a few specimens have 

 been recorded. The synonymy consists of those names by which the species has 

 been known in literature pertaining to Arizona ornithology. 



Thus the general manner of treatment is closely similar to that followed by 

 Grinnell in his Check-List of California Birds* the main difference lying in the 

 greater elaboration of detail in the outlining of ranges, and the numerous cita- 

 tions of authorities, in the present publication. 



The order, and in general the nomenclature, of the American Ornithologists' 

 Union Check-List, has been followed. Where there is disagreement from this 



Grinnell, J., Check-List of California Birds. Pacific Coast Avifauna, no. 3, 1902, pp. 1-92, 2 pis. 



