202 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



leave the impression that this species may not have been intended and, as the only 

 nesting record for the state, it seems best to drop it. From the records in eastern 

 Colorado, it seems likely that the species passes through the county in migration; 

 the writer feels sure that he heard their notes in May, but secured no specimens. 



Empidonax hammondi, Hammond's Flycatcher (468) 



Summer resident; distribution and abundance not well determined, probably 

 of infrequent occurrence. Gale mentions three nests, saddled on boughs at 

 heights of 7, 14 and 30 feet. They were found from June 17 to 28, apparently at 

 elevations of 9,500 to 10,000 feet. These are the only definite records for the 

 county. Widmann noted the species in three places just north of the county 

 in the Yellow Pine zone (6,200 feet, Forks Hotel, July, 1910). 



Empidonax wrighti, Wright's Flycatcher (469) 



Summer resident; common, probably from the upper part of the Yellow Pine 

 to the middle of the Mountain zone. Arrives on the Plains, May 8 (specimens) ; 

 last fall date September 28 (Gale). Eggs were found by Gale from June is to 

 July 27, in the Mountain zone, apparently up to 10,000 feet. The nests were 

 placed in low aspens, willows or firs and were saddled on the fork of a branch. 

 Widmann observed the species near Estes Park at an elevation of about 9,000 feet. 



Suborder Oscines, Song Birds 



Family ALAUDIDAE, The Larks 

 Otocoris alpestris Ieucolaema, Desert Horned Lark (474c) 



Permanent resident ; common on the Plains in summer. It occurs also above 

 timberline, though it has not been recorded in the county from the intermediate 

 zones during the summer. It is the most abundant bird on the Plains during the 

 winter, often collecting in very large flocks. It has been noted above timberline 

 as early as March 25 and as late as October 20. Eggs have been found on the 

 Plains between April 23 and June 12. Gale believed but one brood was reared and 

 that the variation in time of laying was caused by the destruction of many of the 

 first nests by late spring snows. 



Family CORVIDAE, The Crows, Jays, Magpies, etc. 

 Pica pica hudsonia, Magpie (475) 



Permanent resident; common in the Plains and Yellow Pine zones and 

 occurring in the Mountain zone to at least 9,500 feet. In winter it gathers in 

 flocks, often of considerable size, on the Plains, but is found throughout the sum- 

 mer range as given. Eggs have been found from April 18 to May 25. 



