BIRDS OF COLORADO. 



7?, 



Park during the summer of 1889. (Trans. Kans. Acad. Science, 

 XII. 1889-90, 86.) Breeds from 5,000 to 7,000 feet and occa- 

 sionally higher. 



316. Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. 



Summer resident; very abundant. Arrives the last of 

 March and the early part of April, begins laying early in May 

 and fresh eggs have been found a? late as August 12. Breeds 

 everywhere below the pine region up to 10,000 feet, but rather 

 rare above 8,000 feet. In the fall wanders upward to 12,000 

 feet. Remains late in the fall even to the middle of December 

 in Larimer County. 



319. Melopelia leucoptera. White-winged Dove. 



Accidental. The only claim of this southern species to a 

 place in the list of Colorado birds, rests on the following state- 

 ment of Dr. Coues : " Mr. E. L. Berthoud informs me of its 

 occurrence near timber-line (11,500 feet), on the head of Cub 

 Creek, Jefferson County. He saw a dozen or more July, 1869." 

 (B. N. O. C. II. 1877, 83). If this is not a case of mistaken 

 identity, it is a strange case of wandering. 



325. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. 



Summer resident ; common. Occurs throughout the State 

 and breeds from the plains to 10,000 feet. C. F. Morrison found 

 one nest at 12,000 feet on the La Plata Mountains. Is most 

 common on the plains along the base of the mountains. Arrives 

 early in April and nests in the latter part of April and in May. 



327. Elanoides forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. 



Summer visitant ; rare or accidental. The only record for 

 Colorado is the one seen by Mr. C. E. Aiken, near Leadville, in 

 August, 1871. This is a bird of the plains, not coming regularly 

 west of middle Kansas. It would not be surprising to find it 

 occasionally in southeastern Colorado, but its occurrence west of 

 the range, and at 11,000 feet, is purely accidental. 



329. Ictinia mississippiensis. Mississippi Kite. 



Accidental. G. F. Breninger writes me that there is a 

 mounted specimen at Denver that was taken at Trinidad. It is 

 rare in eastern Kansas and common southward. 



331. Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. 



Resident; common. Is most common in migration, but is 

 still common as a breeder and a few remain through the winter. 

 On the plains it is one of the most common Hawks. In the 

 mountains it breeds up to 10,000 feet, and in the fall has been 

 seen as high as 14,000 feet. Spring migration begins early in 

 March. It winters on the plains to the northern boundary of 

 Colorado. 



