July, 1908 ANNOTATED IJST OF THE BIRDS OE ]\IESA COUNTY, COLORADO 159 



gration common. The writer has seen it frequently in spring and fall thruont the 

 County up to 9,000 feet, but has not found it breeding. Mr. Sullivan speaks of it 

 as occurring along the Gunnison River and thinks they breed there. Mr. E. R. 

 Warren and Miss Eggleston report it as a common summer resident at Grand 

 Junction. 



Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. Mr. R. H. Sul- 

 livan says, "I saw a single individual in the slough south of the Sugar Factory 

 (Grand Junction) at 8 p. m. August 22, 1904. The only one I have seen here." 

 This is the only definite record for this species but it is not unreasonable to suppose 

 that it occurs with more or less regularity during migration. 



Grus mexicana. Sandhill Crane. Summer resident, not uncommon locally. 

 Several pairs of these birds have nested regularly in the high mountain parks at the 

 head of the Muddy, and they are reported frequently from various points on the 

 Grand Mesa. The usual altitude selected for their breeding grounds is from 9,000 

 to 9,500. 



[Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. Peruana Carolina. Sora. These two species, 

 while of very wide distribution, are usually found in low altitudes. Probably both species occur 

 in the Grand Valley during migration, and a few may summer there.] 



Fulica americana. American Coot. One was killed during the summer of 

 1904 by Mr. Floyd Smalley on a small reservoir in Plateau Valley at about 6500 

 feet. It is probably an occasional summer resident in suitable localities, and a 

 regular migrant, but information regarding its abundance is lacking. 



[Phalaropus lobatus. Northern Phalarope. Steganopus tricolor Wilson Phalarope. 

 Both of the above species undoubtedly occur regularly as migrants.] 



[Recurvirostra americana. American Avocet. Occurs commonly in the San Luis Valley 

 and abiindantly in Utah so it is reasonable to suppose that it is of regular occurrence in INIesa 

 County during migration, tho probably never common.] 



Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. Miss Eggleston classes this bird 

 as "irregular migrant" and says, "For a few days during the season of migration 

 this bird may be seen wading in the shallow water of the Rio Colorado in company 

 with the sandpipers. They are more often seen early in the evening when the in- 

 sects are numerous over the water. The^^ are rarelj^ seen in flocks, often only one 

 being noted in a season." 



Gallinago delicata. Wilson Snipe. Information is lacking on this bird. The 

 writer has taken it four times, once in February, 1902, and three times during the 

 winter of 1904-5 in Plateau Valley at an altitude of 6500. There is comparatively 

 little suitable ground for it in the County and I think its occurrence must be 

 classed as migrant, rather uncommon. 



Actodromas maculata. Pectoral Sandpiper. Miss Eggleston classes them as 

 "irregular migrants" and says they are occasionally seen with the other sandpipers 

 for a few days during high water, wading along the edges of the Rio Colorado. 



Actodromas bairdii. Baird Sandpiper. Miss Eggleston writes, "Regular mi- 

 grant, being seen both in the spring and fall. They come in small numbers, re- 

 maining a few days, apparently feeding upon the helgramites." 



Actodromas minutilla. Eeast Sandpiper. Regular migrant. Speaking of this 

 bird Miss Eggleston says, "This is the commonest of the sandpipers in the lower 

 valley. They are seen in small flocks for a few days each spring and fall. They 

 remain longer than the other wading birds except the heron." 



Totanus melanoleucus. Greater Yellow-legs. Totanus flavipes. Eesser Yel- 

 low-legs. Not uncommon in migration in suitable localities. The writer has seen 

 both species on the reservoirs on the Grand Mesa up to 10,000 feet, and also in 



