July, 190S ANNOTATED LIvST OF THE BIRDS OF MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 



16- 



[Falco mexicanus. Prairie Falcon. Cooke says, "In some of the more open portions of 

 western Colorado it is quite numerous." Carter found it breeding- in Middle Park. Probably is 

 a not uncommon resident locally.] 



[Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk. Cooke reports it as breeding up to 10,00U 

 feet, and it has been found breeding in different parts of western Colorado. Probably occurs 

 regularly as a resident biit never commonly.] 



Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. The only record of this species at hand is 

 one seen by the writer December 23, 1901, on Plateau Creek at about 6,000 feet. It 

 probably occurs regularly but rather rarely. 



[Falco richardsoni. Richardson Merlin. Prol)ably occurs occasionally in migration.] 

 Falco sparverius phaloena. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Summer resident, 

 abundant. By far the most abundant raptorial bird found in the County. Arrives 

 the first of April and breeds during the whole of IVlay and June up to at least 8,500 

 feet. As soon as the young are able to fly they congregate in small flocks and fre- 

 quent the fields feeding chiefly on mice and grasshoppers. By November first all 

 have left for the south. The choice of a 

 nesting site varies greatly. I have fotmd 

 them breeding in cedar stumps within 

 fotir feet of the ground, in cavities in 

 sandstone ledges and one pair nested in 

 the roof of a small schoolhouse. 



Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Amer- 

 ican Osprey. Irregular migrant. Miss 

 Eggleston says of this bird, ' 'Occasionally 

 seen perched along the high banks of the 

 Rio Colorado watching for fish. It is a 

 solitary bird only one being seen at a 

 time." 



Asio wilsonianus. American Dong- 

 eared Owl. Resident, not ttncommon. 

 This bird is occasionally met with along 

 the creek bottoms and in dense willow 

 thickets around springs, but on account 

 of its retiring habits is little known. 

 Nests about the middle of April, usually 

 in willow thickets. Feeds largely upon 

 small birds and mammals. 



Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. 

 The only record at hand for this species 

 is of one seen by the writer during the 

 winter of 1904-05 in Plateau Valley, at 



about 6,500, during a spell of unusually cold w^eather. It was huntingsfaround 

 the stock-yards, evidently looking for mice. It is probably of very uncom- 

 mon occurrence. 



[Cryptoglaux acadica. Saw-whet Owl. Cooke says of this species that it occurs thruout 

 the State below SOOO feet. Proba1:)ly occurs rarely in JMesa Covmty.] 



Bubo virginianus pallescens. Western Horned Owl. Resident, not uncom- 

 mon. Altho I have not found it nesting there can be no doubt but what this bird 

 breeds in the County as I have seen it all thru the winter and in June 1897 I saw 

 an adult bird and two young of the year. I have no positive information as to 

 whether the Mesa County bird is referable to ardicus or to pallescois but am led 

 to believe it is the latter. 



Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. Miss Eggleston says this 



SPARROW HAWK 



