372 Birds of Colorado 
have no details as to their nesting habits in Colorado but 
Elliott Coues found them breeding in large numbers 
on the Red River in Dakota, in June. Nests were placed 
in willow bushes within a few inches of the ground, and 
the eggs, three or four in number, were light greenish, 
scantily but sharply speckled with various shades of 
brown, and measured ‘62 x ‘50. The note of this bird 
is described by Beckham as a wheezy rattle, while Coues 
states that: ‘“ I know of no more assiduous and persistent 
songster than this little bird is, although his vocal efforts 
are of a humble sort.” 
Brewer’s Sparrow. Spizella breweri. 
A.O.U. Checklist no 562—Colorado Records—Ridgway 73, p. 182; 
Henshaw 75, p. 279; Allen & Brewster 83, p. 191; Drew 85, p. 16; 
Morrison 89, p. 38 ; Cooke 97, p. 104 ; Henderson 03, p. 108 ; 09, p. 237; 
Warren 06, p. 23; 08, p. 23; 09, p. 16; Markman 07, p. 157. 
Description.—Very similar to S. pallida, but the striping of the 
crown and back quite uniform throughout, and of a narrower character 
than that of S. pallida; the grey nape-collar, the white supercilium 
and the dusky postocular stripes are hardly to be distinguished, and 
the general colour is duller throughout ; bill brownish, liliaceous-brown 
in life, lower mandible paler. Length 5-10; wing 2.53; tail 2.48; 
culmen -35; tarsus -60. 
The sexes are alike ; the young closely resemble the adults, but have 
the breast streaked with dusky at first. 
Distribution.— Western North America, breeding from British 
Columbia southwards to the southern limits of the United States; 
in winter south through north-western Mexico to Jalisco. 
In Colorado Brewer’s Sparrow is a summer resident most abundant 
in the sage-brush country of the south and west of the State, though 
far from uncommon in the eastern grassy plains as well. It does not 
appear to range up to any great elevation as a rule, but Henderson took 
two and saw several others at Silver Lake in Boulder co., at 10,000, in 
September. Brewer’s Sparrow is a late migrant, reaching central 
Colorado early in May (earliest date for El Paso co, April 30th) and 
leaving again in early October. Other recorded localities are: Weld co. 
(Markman), Boulder co. (Henderson), Denver (Henshaw), Lincoln co. 
(Aiken coll.), Fort Lyon (Thorne apud Cooke), Baca co., after April 
29th, Routt and Rio Blanco cos. (Warren 06, 08). 
