BIRDS OF COLORADO. 



n 



young are around by the middle of July. Breeds from the 

 plains to 11,500 feet and in the fall ascends to the highest peaks, 

 feeding on mice and grasshoppers. 



364. Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. American Osprey. 

 Summer resident; not uncommon, locally. W. E. D. 



Scott found a pair breeding at Twin Lakes at about 9,000 feet. 

 (B. N. O. C. IV. 1879, 90-) It is said to begin laying the last 

 of April, but Mr. Scott found eggs as late as the middle of June. 

 Has been taken in the fall as high as 10,500 feet. 



365. Strix pratincola. American Barn Owl. 

 Resident; very rare. The only record for Colorado is the 



one mentioned by H. G. Smith as caught in the Town Hall of 

 South Denver. (Nidologist, HI. 1896-7, 76.) A southern spe- 

 cies rarely coming so far north as Colorado. The above record 

 of "resident" is made not so much from the instance cited, as 

 from its general distribution and the fact that it has been found 

 breeding in Nebraska near the Colorado line. 



366. Asio wilsonianus. American Long-eared Owl. 

 Resident; common. Winters from the plains to 10,000 



feet and breeds from the plains to 11,000. Eggs are laid early 

 in April. 



367. Asio accipitrinus. Short-eared Owl. 



Resident; not common. Much less common than the 

 Long-eared and nearly confined to the plains. The highest 

 record is a little below 8,000 feet. Breeds throughout its range 

 in Colorado, but rather more common in summer in northern 

 than southern Colorado. Begins laying in April. 



369. Syrnium occidentale. Spotted Owl. 



Resident. There is no reason to doubt the occurrence of 

 this species in the State, but its record for Colorado is badly 

 mixed. All Colorado records are known.to be incorrect except 

 the statement by H. G. Smith that C. E. Aiken has taken sev- 

 eral Owls of this species. (Auk. HI. 1886, 284.) Though the 

 correctness of this statement has been challenged, yet Mr. 

 Aiken has lately informed the present writer that there can be 

 no question of the identification. 



372. Nyctala acadica. Saw-whet Owl. 



Resident; not uncommon. Occurs throughout the State 

 below 8,000 feet, but all the records of breeding come from the 

 mountains between 7,000 and 8,000 feet. Eggs are laid the 

 latter part of May. H. G. Hoskins writes that he found one at 

 Beloit, near the Kansas line, April 9, 1894. H. G. Smith 

 records three cases in the vicinity of Denver. 



