May, 1907 THE BREEDING BIRDS OF ESCONDIDO 87 



years to my knowledge and were "old residents" before that. Only three pairs 

 known in a radius of thirty miles. Nesting early in April. 



Falco sparverius. American Sparrow Hawk. Common resident, nesting 

 anywhere it can find a tree with a suitable cavity. March 25 to June 14. 



Strix pratincola. American Barn Owl. Common resident. Nesting in any 

 suitable place. Has been found in trees, crevices in ledges, pigeon boxes, inside a 

 huge wood-rat's nest, at the entrance to a tunnel in an abandoned mining shaft, 

 65 feet below the surface, and in an old crow's nest. March 11 (advanced) to May 

 22 (advanced). 



Asio wilsonianus. American I^ong-eared Owl. Common resident. Up to a 

 few years ago almost every old crow's, hawk's or rat's nest along the river in San 

 Pasqual had its pair of owls. Of late, for some unknown reason they have been 

 less plentiful. As probably half of the eggs produced were successfully hatched 

 (to make a very low estimate) and the birds are seldom molested, it is rather dif- 

 ficult to account for their apparently diminishing numbers. The earliest recorded 

 set was taken by the late J. M. Hatch on February 14, 1896. Eggs have been 

 found fresh on the 10th of May. 



Megascops asio bendirei. California Screech Owl. Not a common resident. 

 More often heard at night than seen in the daytime, and probably its apparent 

 rarity can be accounted for by its nocturnal habits. March 24 to May 31 (advanced). 



Bubo virginianus pacificus. Pacific Horned Owl. Not a common resident. 

 More plentiful in the higher interior valleys. February 2 to March 16. 



Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. Common everywhere. 

 March 23 to June 16 (commenced). 



^ Glaucidium gnoma. Pygmy Owl. A pair of these diminutive owls were 

 found nesting at Escondido by the late J. M. Hatch in 1895 and 1896. The 

 nests were in oaks not far apart both being in hollow, nearly horizontal limbs 

 with openings allowing access to the nest from either side. The first nest had, I 

 believe, very badly incubated eggs and was not disturbed. It was not located the 

 following year until the eggs had hatched. The trees were shortly after cut down 

 and the birds disappeared.. There are no other instances of the species being seen 

 here. Mr. Chas. Schnack who was with Mr. Hatch when the second nest was 

 found tells me the owls had a curious trick of flattening themselves out on a branch 

 so that it was almost impossible to tell them from the branch itself. 



Geococcyx californianus. Road-runner. Common everywhere, especially 

 around the cactus patches. Most every patch of any size has its nest. February 14 

 (advanced) to June 1 (commenced). 



Dryobates pubescens turati. Willow Woodpecker. Rather rare among the 

 willows along the river in San Pasqual. April 22 to May 24. 



Dryobates nuttalli. Nuttall Woodpecker. Rather common among the willows 

 in San Pasqual and in the low-lying oaks near the river. Rarely seen in Escon- 

 dido. April 15 to June 18. 



Melanerpes formicivorusbairdi. California Woodpecker. Rare in the valleys. 

 Never seen in San Pasqual. Common however in the higher interior valleys. 

 May 24 (young) to June 11. 



Colaptes cafer collaris. Red-shafted Flicker. Not uncommon in San Pasqual 

 and Escondido where there is suitable timber for it to operate upon. April 14 to 

 June 15. 



Phalaenoptilus nuttalli californicus. Dusky Poor-will. Altho no authentic 

 record of the breeding of this species here has been secured it is without doubt en- 



