BIRDS OF COLORADO. 89 



467. Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. 

 Migratory; rare. Comes west only on the plains of Colo- 

 rado and to the edge of the foothills. Has not been found 

 higher than 6,000 feet. Arrives in May, and probably breeds, 

 but no nests have as yet been taken. 



468. Empidonax hammondi. Hammond's Flycatcher. 

 Summer resident; common. Comes east only to the 



western edge of the plains. Pueblo is the most eastern record. 

 Breeds from the plains to 8,000 feet. Arrives early in May. 



469. Empidonax wrightii. Wright's Flycatcher. 

 Summer resident; abundant. In migration is abundant 



throughout the State west of the plains, and is equally common 

 during the breeding season from 7,500 to about 10,000 feet. 

 Arrives the last of April and the first week in May. 



474a. Otocoris alpestris leucolsma. Pallid Horned 

 Lark. 



Winter resident; abundant. The literature of the Horned 

 Larks in Colorado is more mixed than that of any other bird- 

 Alpestris^ comitta, occi'dentalis and chrysolcema have all been re- 

 corded for the State, but according to present ideas only leuco- 

 IcBma and arenicola really occur in Colorado. Leucolcema is the 

 ■common "Snowbird" of the plains region and in the northern 

 part of Colorado is enormously abundant from late in October 

 until the middle of February. Only a few enter the mount- 

 ains during the winter, probably not much if any above 8,000 

 feet. How far it passes up the mountains during migration 

 has not yet been satisfactorily determined. Breeds north of the 

 United States. 



474c. Otocoris afpestris arenicola. Desert Horned Lark. 

 Resident; abundant. All of the summer Horned Larks of 

 Colorado are arenicola and most of the winter birds of the south- 

 ern half of the State belong here, as well as many from northern 

 Colorado. Winters on the plains and a little ways into the 

 mountains up to 9,000 feet, but only a few individuals above 

 7,000 feet. Breeds on the plains and in the mountains up to 

 13,000 feet. The bulk of migratory birds arrive on the plains 

 in March and nesting begins early in April, two broods being 

 raised. Eggs have been found as late as July 5. In the mount- 

 ains nesting is from a month to two months later. Begins to 

 leave the mountains early in October. 



475. Pica pica hudsonica. American Magpie. 



Resident ; common. A few visit the plains of the extreme 

 eastern Colorado during the winter and breed nearly to the 



