July, 1908 ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS OP MESA COUNTY, COLORADO 



169 



position. They are probably winter as well as summer residents tho information 

 of a definite nature to verify this is lacking. 



Cyanocephalus cyanocephalus. Pinyon Jay. Resident, abundant. Frequents 

 the barren cedar country from 5000 to 8000 feet in immense flocks during late sum- 

 mer, fall and winter and divides into small flocks to breed, late in March and in 

 April. I have found young just able to fly as early as April 22. They are oc- 

 casionally seen during summer and fall in the cultivated valleys but the great bulk 

 of the birds are found among the dry cedar covered hills far removed from habita- 

 tions, and are very seldom seen in well watered localities. Miss Eggleston says it 

 is abundant around Grand Junction during the fall. 



[Dolichonyx oryjjivorus. Bobolink. This species probably occurs rarely within the 

 County boundaries. Carter took it in Middle Park and South Park and Mr. E. R. Warren saw 

 several in Routt County during the sunniier of 1907.] 



NESTING SITE OF AMERICAN RAVEN (just above cross) ON SANDSTONE 

 I^EDGE; MESA COUNTV, 6800 FEET ALTITUDE 



Molothrus ater. Cowbird. Summer resident, common. Thruout the culti- 

 vated portions of the County the Cowbird is common, but in the barren or sparsely 

 settled parts it is rarely met with. Frequents pastures and feed-lots used by cattle 

 and is at all times very tame and lifeless. Nests of the Yellow Warbler, Green- 

 tailed and Spurred Towhees and Red winged Blackbird are the favorite repositories 

 for the eggs, which are deposited during June. 



Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. Summer resident, 

 not uncommon. Miss Eggleston says, "These birds are seen in small numbers 

 with the flocks of other Blackbirds and Cowbirds. They are numerous in the cat- 

 tail swamps and scarcely notice passers b_v." Mr. Sullivan mentions a colony of 

 15 or 20 birds nesting in a slough near Grand Junction. In the higher portions of 

 the County they are rarely seen and I have not found them nesting in Plateau 

 Valley. 



