BIRDS OF COLORADO. 97 



the foothills and breeding quite commonly in the same localities. 

 Common in towns, breeding around the cornices of buildings 

 and in the shades of the electric lights like the English Sparrow 

 of the East, for which it is often taken by visitors from the por- 

 tions of the United States blessed by the English importation. 

 Rare far out on the plains, but a flock of 15 was seen in Finney 

 County, in southwestern Kansas, January 5, 1892. Breeds on 

 the plains and especially in the lower foothills. Less commonly 

 in the mountains to 8,000 feet. The most eastern record of 

 breeding anywhere is that of Capt. P. M. Thorne, who took a 

 pair at Fort Lyon June 3, 1883. The female contained an egg 

 with shell. He also saw one other in the fall. The height of 

 the breeding season along the foothills is the middle of June 

 and two broods are often reared. Eggs have been noted at 

 Fort Collins as early as March 25 and as late as the middle of 

 July. The most northern record noted is that of F. Bond at 

 Cheyenne, where the first came April 14 and the nest and eggs 

 were taken June 11, 1889. (Auk, VL 1889, 341.) 



521a. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Mexican Crossbill. 

 Resident; not uncommon. Under this heading are in- 

 cluded all the Red Crossbills of Colorado, not becau.se specimens 

 exactly like eastern birds are not found here, but because there 

 seems to be no satisfactory way of separating them from the 

 western form. Occurs on the plains and the lower foothills 

 during the winter, and breeds in the foothills and the lower 

 mountains to about 8,000 feet. The above may be considered 

 as the usual range, but specimens have been taken in winter at 

 Manhattan at an altitude of 9,000 feet, and the birds have been 

 seen in summer up to at least 11,000 feet. The breeding period 

 is apparently quite irregular. The Red Crossbill of the east 

 breeds in winter, and the western form must do the same at 

 least part of the time, for C. F. Morrison found a nest and four 

 eggs January 30, 1887, near Fort Lewis (O. & O. XIIL 1888, 70), 

 while W. E. D. Scott at Twin Lakes found young flying June 

 24 that were several months old. On the contrary T. M. Trippe 

 speaks of their breeding as late as May. 



522. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. 



Winter visitant; rare. Only one record, that of F. M. 

 Drew, who took one in Baker's Park, in southwestern Colorado, 

 at 9,500 feet. (B. N. O. C. VL 1881, 85 and 138.) 



524. Leucostrctc tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Leucosticte. 

 Winter resident; rare. A western species breeding in the 

 Sierra Nevada of California and probably in British America. 

 Comes south and east in winter to Colorado, and has been taken 

 along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. To the speci- 



