234 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



491. Nucifraga Columbiana — Clarke Nutcracker. 



Common resident of the mountains up to timberline. Have not seen it below 7,000 

 feet. Gale took two nests with eggs in 1888 and 1889, respectively, the first of which was 

 sent to the National Museum, the other is now in the University Museum, both mentioned 

 and described by Bendire. 



492. Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus — Pinyon Jay. 



Common locally at times, but so uncertain in its movements as to have escaped several 

 competent observers. In August, 1907, I saw 20 on Flagstaff Mt, near Boulder. In 

 May and June, 1907, large flocks, estimated in one instance at 200 birds, repeatedly passed 

 over Boulder, flying just over the housetops and several times alighted in trees near the 

 writer's house. On October 1 to 4, 1908, the pine trees on the foothills at Lyons seemed 

 fairly alive with them. There were undoubtedly thousands of them in that vicinity then. 



494. Dolichonyx oryzivorus — Bobolink. 



For several years a dozen or more have occupied a big meadow just east of Boulder 

 each summer and a few others have been reported not far distant, but most of the reports 

 upon investigation develop into observations of the lark bunting. 



495. Molothrus ater — Cowbird. 



Common summer resident of plains and up to 8,000 feet or more. Gale found its 

 eggs in the nests of Dendroica astiva, Zamelodia melanocephala, Empidonax trailli, 

 Euphagus cyanocephalus, Agelaius phoeniceus (probably fords) and Geothlypis trichas 

 occidentalis. 

 497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus — Yellow-headed Blackbird. 



Common summer resident of plains. Have not seen it in the mountains or foothills, 

 but Gale places it in his list of summer mountain birds, as well as in his plains list. 



498c/. Agelaius phoeniceus fortis — Thick-billed Redwing. 



From Oberholser's treatment of the redwing sub-species it seems likely that our abund- 

 ant summer redwings are all of this form. I have no definite records of arctolegus, but 

 its distribution and definite records from south of this county make it seem a likely winter 

 visitor. All of our redwings had been called A. phoeniceus. There are some around 

 nearly every winter and sometimes, as in the winter of 1906-7, they occur in large numbers, 

 though whether fortis or arctolegus I cannot now say. I have found them in the mountains 

 in summer at Nederland and at the foot of Long's Peak. 



501. 1. Sturnella neglecta — Western Meadowlark. 



Abundant summer resident on plains and in lower mountain region. Occasional, at 

 least after nesting, up to timberline. All of Gale's nests were from the plains. Some 

 usually remain through the winter in the valley, but are not common then. 



507. Icterus galbula — Baltimore Oriole. 



A very rare bird in Colorado. Gale's notes mention a nest of five eggs taken in the 

 mountains June 25, 1884. A specimen in Mrs. Maxwell's collection bore no locality 

 label, I believe. 



508. Icterus bullocki — Bullock Oriole. 



Common summer resident of plains and probably less common in the mountains. I 

 have no mountain nesting records. 



