The Birds of El Paso County, Qilorado 577 



Piranga ludoviciana. Western Tanager. "Louisiana Tan- 

 ager." 



Summer resident; common. Arrives May 10-15. Begins 

 to leave early in September, but has been taken as late as the 

 middle of October. 



The Tanagers arrive from the south in small flocks of 

 from 3 or 4 to 7 or 8, and in migration are found well out 

 on the plains. While the majority pass ori a good number 

 remain to breed. They are largely birds of the foothills and 

 the Divide, probably not breeding much above 8,000 feet, 

 though Aiken saw one in the neighborhood of St. Peter's 

 Dome, 8,700 feet, July 4, 1907. In summer they are con- 

 fined almost exclusively to the pines. Keyser speaks of finding 

 a nest in a pine tree at the entrance of Engelmann's Canon 

 near Manitou. While often seen in Monument Valley Park 

 in May it probably does not breed there, not having been ob- 

 served in the summer months. Aiken notes the call as clif-ic 

 or crif-ic, uttered at intervals of one or two seconds. 



Piranga erythromelas. Scarlet Tanager. 



Rare. One was taken at Palmer Lake, May 17, 1902, by 

 W. C. Ferrill. J. A. Jeancon reported seeing a considerable 

 number at Palmer Lake, May 16 and 17, 1909, during a severe 

 snowstorm. 



Petrochelidon lunifrons lunifrons. Cliff Swallow. Eave 

 Swallow. 



Summer resident; common. Arrives the middle of May; 

 leaves the last of August or early in September. 



This species reaches a high altitude, at least in its search 

 for insects, for it has been observed to above 13,000 feet. One 

 of our most common swallows. It breeds in colonies about cliffs 

 and buildings, on the latter under the eaves. 



