214 Birds of Colorado 
heavily streaked with dusky ; sides of the breast like the back, spotted ; 
iris yellow, bill and toes duller yellow. Length 6°75; wing 3-9; 
tail 2-9; culmen -55; tarsus 1-1. 
The young bird has the top of the head plain grey. No red or tawny 
phase has yet been met with. 
Distribution.— Western America from the interior of British Columbia 
south to the Mexican tableland, east to Colorado and New Mexico, 
but not reaching the coast lands of the Pacific in the west. 
The Pygmy Owl was first taken by Aiken in November, 1871, near, 
Fountain, in the foothills. Since then it has been met with a good 
many times, and may be considered a rare resident, breeding in summer 
at elevations up to about 10,000 feet, and wintering in the foothills and 
the neighbouring plains. The following are breeding records: Estes 
Park, nesting at 10,000 feet (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Breckenridge 
(Carter), Ute Pass (Aiken apud Cooke), Wet Mountains, common, 7,800 
to 8,000 feet (Lowe), La Plata co., breeding (Morrison) ; winter records 
are: Loveland (W. G. Smith apud Bendire), Boulder, January 
(Henderson), Denver (H. G. Smith), El Paso co., (Aiken coll.), 
Salida (Frey), Pueblo (Cooke), Durango (H. G. Smith), and Routt co., 
below 6,000 feet (Cooke). 
Habits.—The Pygmy Owl is chiefly met with in or 
near pine woods ; it is often seen about in bright sunshine, 
though perhaps more common in late afternoon or early 
morning. It hides in pines or other thick timber, 
perching upright on a branch close to the trunk, 
where it is practically invisible. Its note is rather 
musical for an Owl, somewhat resembling the “Coo” of 
the Mourning Dove. 
It is very bold and fearless, and will attack birds much 
larger than itself. One was brought to Aiken from a 
ranche near Colorado Springs, which was shot while 
attacking a Quail, and on other occasions it has been 
known to pounce on a Long-crested Jay and on chickens. 
Tt also preys on small rodents and insects. 
A nest containing three young ones and an egg on the 
point of hatching, was taken by W. G. Smith, in Estes 
Park, May 31st, at about 10,000 feet. It was placed 
in an old Woodpecker’s hole in a dead aspen, and was 
