BIRDS OF COLORADO. lOI 



539- Rhyncophanes mccownii. McCown's Longspur. 



Winter resident; common. One of the commonest winter 

 birds on the whole plains region of Colorado east of the mount- 

 ains. Found by Allen and Brewster at Colorado Springs as late 

 as May 9. Reaches southern Colorado in the fall about the 

 first of October. McCown's Ivongspur has been several times 

 given as breeding in Colorado. This is very likely true, but 

 the prgsent writer has been unable to find a single authentic 

 record of its occurrence in the State during the summer. Allen 

 found it breeding abundantly at Cheyenne, Wyo., only a few 

 miles north of Colorado. 



540a. Poocstes gramineus confinis. Western Vesper 

 Sparrow. 



Summer resident; abundant. During migration one of 

 the most abundant of birds on the plains and in the foothills. 

 It breeds sparingly on the plains of eastern Colorado, more com- 

 monly on the plains nearer the foothills, and abundantly at the 

 base of the mountains. It is still a common breeder to 9,000 

 feet, and occasionally to 12,000. Arrives in southern Colorado 

 the middle of April, and reaches the mountain parks early in 

 May. 



542b. Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus. Western 



Savanna Sparrow. 



Summer resident; common. In migration it is very 

 abundant and many remain to breed. On the plains they can 

 hardly be called other than a migrant, but from the base of the 

 foothills through the mountains it is not an uncommon breeder 

 up to nearly 12,000 feet. Arrives early in April and remains 

 until the middle of October. All the specimens taken by Capt. 

 P. M. Thorne at Fort Lyon were typical alaudinus. 



545. Ammodramus bairdii. Baird's Sparrow. 



Migratory; not common. Has been taken at various 

 places along the eastern edge of the mountains and on the 

 plains during spring and fall migration. The only record west 

 of the Front Range is the one taken by Aiken in the San 

 Ivuis Valley August 22, 1874. But since it is common in Ari- 

 zona during the fall and winter, it undoubtedly crosses western 

 Colorado during its migrations. Not known to breed in the 

 State. 



546a. Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus. Western 



Grasshopper Sparrow. 



Summer resident; not uncommon, but seldom noticed. 

 Breeds mostly on the plains or in the lower foothills. Arrives 

 the middle of April. 



