206 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



There are a few records for December, January and February from near Boulder. 

 A flock noted on the Plains, March 12, were possibly migrants. Gale found eggs 

 between June 15 and July 3. Widmann observed three pairs in Estes Park village 

 at 7,500 feet. 



Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis, House Finch (519) 



Permanent resident; abundant on the Plains, especially in the towns, where, in 

 the spring, its song is the dominant one. It is also found occasionally in the 

 Yellow Pine zone. Gale reported it as breeding at Gold Hill (8,300 feet) June 8, 

 1891. Widmann observed a pair in Estes Park in 1910. Eggs have been found on 

 the Plains, May 6. 



Loxia curvirostra minor, Crossbill (521) 



Permanent resident; infrequent in the Yellow Pine and Mountain zones. 

 Gale took a nest April 3, 1893, and observed young birds flying about, May 8. 



Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch (524) 



Winter resident ; rather common in mixed flocks of this genus in the Yellow 

 Pine and Mountain zones and probably above timberline at times. The records 

 extend from 7,500 feet (Magnolia, 1895 and 1910) to about 10,000 feet. It has 

 been observed between November 6 and March 30 (the last date is Gale's). A 

 bird of this species and one of the Black Rosy Finch (taken by the writer on 

 December 29 at about 9,000 feet) had been feeding on the seeds of Rumex. 



Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis, Hepburn's Rosy Finch (524a) 



Winter resident; infrequent, but probably occurring regularly in flocks of this 

 genus. There were specimens in the Maxwell collection, Gale took two on 

 November 17, 1888, and the writer observed a few, December 29, 1911, in a flock 

 consisting largely of the Gray-crowned and Brown-capped Rosy Finches. 



Leucosticte atrata, Black Rosy Finch (525) 



Winter resident; rare. The only definite record for the county is a specimen 

 taken near Ward by the writer on December 29, 191 1. There was one in Mrs. 

 Maxwell's collection, taken presumably in the county with other Rosy Finches, 

 though this is not now definitely known. Judging from the status of this bird in 

 other parts of the state, it probably occurs regularly and the few records both for 

 this and for Hepburn's are due to the scarcity of winter visits of observers to 

 the region where it is found. 



Leucosticte australis, Brown-capped Rosy Finch (526) 



Permanent resident; common above timberline during the summer. Insects 

 and seeds caught on the permanent snow-banks form one source of its food. In 

 winter it has been noted in the Yellow Pine and lower part of the Mountain zone, 



