8" PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA. [No. 4 



Faico fusco-coerulescens Vieillot. Aplomado Falcon. 



In Bendire's "Life Histories" there appears a detailed account of 

 the nesting- of this species on the plains below Fort Huachuca. Although 

 evidently of quite common occurrence in this region at the time the data 

 for the article mentioned was gathered, in 1887, since then they seem 

 to have left the country altogether. Time and again I have driven over 

 these plains without ever seeing a single bird which I could ascribe to^ 

 this species, nor do I know of any being seen or taken in this region with- 

 in the last few years. What could have caused them to shift their loca- 

 tion so absolutely it is hard to surmise. 



Falco sparverius phaloena (Lesson). Desert Sparrow Hawk. 



During the migrations the Sparrow Hawks are most abundant on 

 the plains, where the swarms of grasshoppers afford them an abundance 

 of food. They breed in the oak regions of the foothills, and also in the 

 pines on the summit, but in the canyons they are seldom seen ; seeming 

 to prefer the more open prairies and the uninterrupted view from the 

 moimtain tops, to the narrower, more restricted canyons. With a mild 

 winter I suppose they might remain the year through, but in 1903 the 

 weather was cold and there was lots of snow on the ground ; and I saw 

 no Sparrow Hawks until the middle of March. From this time until the 

 middle of April they were very abundant, by which time the migrating 

 birds had passed on. In 1902 the southerly movement was begun about 

 the first of August, when the young birds began to make their appear- 

 ance in large numbers. From this time until I left, September 5, they 

 were exceedingly abundant everywhere on the plains and foothills. 



Syrnium occidentale Xantus. Spotted Owl. 



The Spotted Owl is resident in fhe Huachucas, above 6500 feet, 

 particularly favoring the extensive, dark thickets of quaking asp found 

 in the higher parts of the mountains, but occurring also in suitable local- 

 ities along the canyons, usually not far from water. There are probably 

 at least a pair or two in every canyon, and their varied and uncanny 

 hooting is often heard in the most unexpected of places, occasionally in 

 broad daylight. 



Megascops asio cineraceus Ridgway. Mexican Screech Owl. 



Tlie common Screech Owl of this region. Probably resident, for I 

 have heard them hooting in February, they are most abundant in the 

 oak region of the lower parts of the mountains ; and I do not recall ever 

 seeing one above 6500 feet, though they may occur at a higher elevation. 

 Compared with specimens of cineraceus taken at Tucson, the Huachuca 

 Mountains birds are appreciably darker, both above and beneath ; the 

 ground color being dark slaty gray, quite different from the pale ashy 

 of the bird of the lowlands. 



Megascops trichopsis (Wagler). Spotted Screech Owl. 



Though it is hard to estimate the relative abundance of secretive, 

 nocturnal birds like the Screech Owl, this species does not appear to be 

 nearly as common in the Huachucas as cineraceus is, and from my ex- 

 perience it would seem to be of quite rare occurrence. I have seen just 

 two specimens taken in the Huachucas ; one a male, taken by W. B. 

 Judson, May 28, 1896, at about 6000 feet, altitude; and the second, also 

 a male, taken by H. Kimball, September 29, 1895, ^"<^ now in my 

 collection. 



