38 THE NIDOLOGIST 
Birds of Estes Park. 
BY RICHARD C. MCGREGOR. 
STES PARK is situated in Larimer 
county, Colorado, some sixty miles 
northwest of Denver. It is an open 
park or valley of ten miles in length to four 
or six in width, with many side branches. 
The altitude is about 7,500 feet, while the 
surrounding peaks reach from 10,000 to ~ 
The highest is Long’s Peak, 
14,271 feet. The Thompson river flows 
through the main valley. My stay at Estes 
Park occupied the most of July and August, 
1893. Moraine is the post office. 
Most of the birds here recorded from 
Estes Park in the summer are such species 
as are found about the foot-hills and plains 
during the winter, showing very clearly 
that interesting fact known as_ vertical 
migration. What the birds of a _ level 
country accomplish by long journeys from 
south to north our birds are able to gain in 
a few hours from plain to mountain. Thus 
Junco caniceps and Lucosticte tephrocotis, 
which I was able to include in this list only 
by climbing the higher mountains about 
the Park, can be found in winter within a 
few miles of Denver among the, low foot- 
hills. 
Similarly such birds as the Magpie, Long- 
crested Jay, Lewis’ Woodpecker, Long- 
tailed Chickadee and Pygmy Nutchatch 
move from the mountains to the foot-hills 
and plains as the cold of winter comes on, 
and in the spring they move to their sum- 
mer camping ground. 
Loxia and “Leucosticte are especially re- 
luctant to leave their mountain homes on 
account of cold and snow. They are re- 
14,000 feet. 
ported to me as staying in the valley most» 
all winter, moving in immense flocks and 
looking for food about the houses. 
An interesting collection of notes as well 
as birds might be made by spending De- 
cember or January in Estes Park. 
Mallard—One pair seen. 
Spotted Sandpiper—A bundant. 
Killdeer—Abundant. On July 14 I col- 
lected two downy young which were sitting 
about a dry bog. 
Dusky Grouse—Abundant. Nests inthe 
hills, after which the young follow the 
mother to the protection of thick willows 
growing along the water course. The 
Grouse was found at timber-line on Long’s 
Peak. 
White-tailed Ptarmigan—Are abundant 
above timber-line on the mountains sur- 
rounding the Park. A @ with two downy 
young taken July 20. 
Mourning Dove, 
Western Red-tail—A single specimen 
taken. 
American Sparrow Hawk—Breeds very 
abundantly. 
Pigeon Hawk—Specimens taken near 
Denver are of this species. More taken at 
Estes Park. 
Belted Kingfisher. 
* Cabanis’ Woodpecker—Rare. 
immature specimen taken. 
Batchelder’s Woodpecker—Rare. 
Red-naped Sapsucker—Abundant. Nest- 
ing in all the available stubs. 
Williamson’s Sapsucker—Abundant. 
Red-headed Woodpecker—One observed. 
Red-shafted Flicker. 
Western Nighthawk—Fairty abundant. 
Broad-tailed Humnringbird—July 18 I 
flushed a 2 from a lichen covered nest 
containing two featherless young. 
Western Wood Pewee—Abundant. 
Wright’s Flycatcher— Two specimens 
taken. 
Hammond’s Flycatcher—A single speci- 
men. 
American Magpie—Abundant. 
grown young taken July 14. 
Long-crested Jay—Abundant. 
Clarke’s Nutcracker—Occasionally seen. 
Red-winged Blackbird. 
Western Meadowlark. 
Brewer’s Blackbird. 
American Pine Grosbeak—An adult male 
taken a little below timber-line July 20. 
Cassin’s Purple Finch—Abundant. Both 
young and adults taken. 
# Gray-crowned Leucosticte—A bundant on 
Long’s Peak above timber, and found on 
the summit, over 14,000 feet. 
White-crowned Sparrow—Found above 
timber-line. 
Western Chipping Sparrows—A bundant. 
Gray-headed Junco—A nest containing 
incubated eggs found July 20. 
Mountain Song Sparrow—Few observed. 
Lincoln’s Sparrow — Three specimens 
taken. 
Green- tailed Towhee—Rare. 
Louisiana Tanager—A bundant. 
Cliff Swallow—Found nesting on the 
face of a cliff after their primitive style. 
About twenty pairs. 
Barn Swallow—Rare. 
A single 
A half- 
