BIRDS OF BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO 219 



Telmatodytes palustris iliacus, Prairie Marsh Wren (725^) 



Migrant; probably common in the marshes of the Plains. Seen in the spring, 

 April 3 — May 2 (3 records); in the fall, September 24— October 31 (4 records). 

 Gale "supposed" he saw a marsh wren, May 7, 1887, his only reference to this 

 species. Two specimens taken in October, 1910, by the writer were identified 

 by Oberholser as of this subspecies (iliacus), and all the county records have 

 been assigned to this form. Sclater gives plesius as the form occurring in both the 

 eastern and the western parts of the state; both forms may occur in the county. 



Family CERTHHDAE, The Creepers 

 Certhia familiaris montana, Rocky Mountain Creeper (7266) 



Permanent resident; rare in summer in the Mountain zone, though perhaps 

 overlooked; in winter common in the Plains and Yellow Pine zones (possibly 

 higher). It reaches its winter range September 18 — October 6 (4 records); 

 and leaves, March 5-17 (3 records). Gale found a nest with five eggs, June 11, 

 1890, "between bark and trunk of large balsam stub," probably at about 9,500 

 feet. The writer saw a bird, June 23, near Estes Park at 8,500 feet. Kellogg 

 found it at timberline near Estes Park. 



Family SITTIDAE, The Nuthatches 

 Sitta carolinensis nelsoni, Rocky Mountain Nuthatch (727c) 



Permanent resident; in summer common in the Yellow Pine and lower part 

 of the Mountain zone; in winter common in the Yellow Pine, also reaching the 

 Plains. Gale found eggs between May 21 and June 5, one nest being taken at 

 9,500 feet. 



Sitta canadensis, Red-breasted Nuthatch (728) 



Summer resident; rare in summer, the only definite records are from the 

 Mountain zone; in migration it is rather infrequent in the Yellow Pine. Gale 

 believed it to be a permanent resident. It has been noted in the spring, April 2-8 

 (2 records); and in the fall, October 22— November 17 (3 records). Gale found a 

 nest, June 6, 1889 (probably at about 9,000 feet), and saw birds at about 10,000 

 feet. The writer saw several birds in the lower Yellow Pine, August 28. 



Sitta pygmaea pygmaea, Pygmy Nuthatch (730) 



Permanent resident; common in summer in the Yellow Pine and lower part 

 of the Mountain zone; in winter common in the Yellow Pine, occurring in bands 

 of ten to twenty, in which are usually a number of Mountain Chickadees, a few 

 Rocky Mountain Creepers and Rocky Mountain Nuthatches and occasionally 

 Golden-crowned Kinglets. Gale found many nests from May 28 to June 19, 

 mostly from 8,500 to 9,500 feet. One nest in the University collection is labelled 

 July 1, 1890, 10,000 feet. 



