The Birds of El Paso County, Colorado S23 



Selasphorus platycercus. Broad-tailed Hummingbird. 



Summer resident; common. Begins to arrive the first 

 week in May. Departs in mid-September, the latest date we 

 have being September 18, 1913. 



This species is found all over the County, ranging well 

 up into the mountains, being known to attain an altitude of 

 above 10,000 feet, and breeding wherever found. In summer 

 it often comes about the gardens in Colorado Springs, seek- 

 ing its food from the flowers, and sometimes, when the leaves 

 have fallen, and the birds have retired to their winter quarters, 

 the delicate little nest will be noted on a shade tree by the 

 street. One confiding bird built its nest on the electric light 

 fixture directly before the front door of a house, on a porch 

 v/here people were continually going and coming, and raised 

 two young. 



Selasphorus rufus. Rufus Hummingbird. 



Summer resident ; rare. 



Aiken found this species on the Divide near Peyton in 

 July, 1897, and noted one in Colorado Springs, August 21, 

 1898, and saw one near the mouth of Bear Creek, August 20 

 1907. 



One spring some fifteen years ago the mummified re- 

 mains of a young Rufous llummer were found in a barn at 

 Manitou hanging to a piece of baling wire by the feet. It was 

 supposed the bird went into the barn the autumn before, for 



distance of from 60 to 100 yards. Alexandri is less active, less ag- 

 gressive. Noise by wings a plain hum. Female similar to female of 

 platycercus but readily distinguished when hovering before a flower 

 by the oscillating (up and down or backward and forward) movement 

 of the spread tail. The other species carry the tail still. Calliope 

 frequents same localities as the others but prefers diiTerent flowers. 

 Keeps low in and among the plants where it easily escapes notice. 

 Noise made by wings is a low hum like that of a large bumblebee. 

 All four species have the common habit of alighting among trees, 

 usually on a dead twig of a lower branch. They are very cute about 

 hiding. 



