BIRDS OF COLORADO. 8 1 



State. It was unusually common around Denver during the 

 winter of 1886-7. One was captured alive near Fort Collins in 

 the early winter of 1896-7. 



378. Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. 

 Resident; abundant locally. Breeds from the plains to 



8,000 feet regularly, less commonly to 9,000 feet and only occas- 

 ionally seen at 10,000 feet. It is found clear across the State to 

 Utah. Begins laying the latter half of April and eggs have 

 been found in northern Colorado as late as the first of July. 

 The Burrowing Owl is a partial migrant in northern Colorado 

 and in the higher altitudes, but there is need of more precise 

 knowledge concerning its movements. 



379. Gfaucidium gnoma. Pygmy Owl. 



Resident ; rare. Occurs throughout the whole State west 

 of the foothills, but no records as yet for the plains, except the 

 single specimen taken in winter at Loveland by W. G. Smith, 

 and that was but ten miles from the foothills. Mr. Smith also 

 found the nest, with just hatched young. May 31, 1890, in Estes 

 Park, at 10,000 feet, while in the extreme southwestern part of 

 the State, at 1,000 feet lower, C. F. Morrison found four nests 

 with eggs the first half of June, 1886. W. P. Lowe reports it 

 as common in the Wet Mountains from 7,800 to 10,000, while 

 E. B. Darnall writes that it occurs in Routt County in north- 

 western Colorado, below 6,000 feet. One was taken at Denver 

 by H. G. Smith, February 18, 1888, and one during the winter 

 of 1888-9 near Durango. 



382. Conurus carolinensis. Carolina Paroquet. 



Formerly resident. The only record for Colorado is that 

 of E. Iy. Berthoud, who wrote to Dr. Cones : "I saw the Caro- 

 lina Parrot at this place (Golden) and at Denver on the South 

 Platte in 1860-61, and on the Little Thompson River, Colorado, 

 in 1862. I have also seen it near old Fort Lyon, on the Arkan- 

 sas River. (Coues, B. N. O. C. 1877, 50.) 



385. Geococcyx californianus. Road-runner. 



Resident; not common. Has been recorded along the 

 southern border of Colorado from the extreme southeastern to 

 the extreme southwestern corner. Its first Colorado record was 

 by C. E. Aiken from El Paso County, and that still remains as 

 the most northern record. There was a specimen in Mrs. Max- 

 well's collection at Boulder, but it probably was taken in south- 

 ern Colorado. Breeds throughout its range. Rarely found 

 above 5,000 feet, but W. P. Lowe writes that he once saw one 

 at 8,000 feet in the Wet Mountains. According to Henshaw 

 the young hatch the last of July. 



