July, 1917 SOME BIRDS OF CENTRAL OREGON 135 



Lophortyx californica californica. California Quail. Common at the ranches, in 

 the canyons and on the slopes near the mouth of the Deschutes River, and in Bake-oven 

 Creek canyon near Maupin. 



Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. Sooty Grouse. This bird was noted at Maupin 

 by Jewett, and two specimens were taken by O. J. Murie at the mouth of Davis Creek, in 

 Crook County, on April 8, 1913. 



Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. This spe- 

 cies, locally called Prairie Chicken, occurs locally in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam coun- 

 ties where it frequents grazing land and grain fields on the high plateaus south of the 

 Columbia River. This was formerly a bunch-grass country, but is now cultivated to a 

 large extent. Two nests with eggs were collected on April 19, 1915, in Sherman County 

 near the Miller Ranch at the mouth of the Deschutes River. The nests were similar, 

 each being a slight depression lined with grass, grain stems and feathers, and situated 

 in small clumps of growing grain in a large field. While incubating, the females have a 

 most gentle and unexcitable disposition. 



Centrocercus urophasianus. Sage Hen. Tolerably common in suitable localities. 

 1 observed it in numbers north of Fort Rock, and it is abundant in parts of the Silver 

 Lake country. In the latter place their worst enemies are the great bands of sheep that 

 graze over their breeding ground and destroy many nests. On May 10, 1915, a parent 

 bird with her band of young was seen at Haycreek by the foreman of the Haycreek 

 Ranch. At that place Sage Hens are said to congregate in large bands during the winter. 



Phasianus torquatus. Ring-necked Pheasant. A number of these birds were lib- 

 erated on the Moody Ranch in northeastern Sherman County in August, 1914. They have 

 also been introduced near Willows, Gilliam County, and at Haycreek, Crook County. 



Zenaidura macroura marginella. Western Mourning Dove. Common over a large 

 part of the open country, particularly in the vicinity of ranches and cultivated areas. 



Cathartes aura septentrional is. Turkey Vulture. While not abundant, buzzards 

 were often seen flying above the rimrocks in many places throughout this region. At 

 the mouth of the Deschutes this species was common and roosted in the trees on a small 

 island in the river. 



Accipiter velox. Sharp-shinned Hawk. A bird of this species that had been killed 

 by a ranchman was seen near Madras on May 21, 1913. 



Accipiter cooperi. Cooper Hawk. One was noted by Jewett in the mountains 

 twelve miles east of Haycreek on May 21, 1915. 



Buteo borealis calurus. Western Red-tail. The Red-tail is typical of the Deschutes 

 canyon, sage brush and juniper deserts, and the Blue and Cascade mountains. Noted in 

 nearly every locality visited. The nests are usually placed on shelves or in crevices in 

 rocky bluffs or desert rimrocks. 



Buteo swainsoni. Swainson Hawk. Noted in the vicinity of Haycreek, where with 

 other hawks they were attracted by the hundreds of Oregon Ground Squirrels (Citellus 

 oregonus) which were poisoned in the hay fields of the Haycreek Ranch. 



Archibuteo lagopus sancti-johannis. Rough-legged Hawk. Seen by Jewett at Wil- 

 lows on April 2, 1915. 



Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. This bird was noted on the high plains 

 west of Willows early in April, 1915. Jewett records the Bald Eagle as of regular oc- 

 currence along the Columbia River in eastern Oregon. 



Falco mexicanus. Prairie Falcon. Jewett noted this bird at Millers, April 16, 1915. 



Falco sparverius phalaena. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Well distributed throughout 

 the greater part of central Oregon except in the deserts of southern Crook and northern 

 Lake counties, where it occurs sparingly. Noted in the Blue Mountains east of Hay- 

 creek and in the foothills of the Cascades. Deserted woodpecker holes are the usual 

 nesting sites of this species, but it also nests on cliffs and canyon sides. This falcon is 

 abundant between The Dalles and the Deschutes River, a region that is almost treeless. 

 Here it nests in holes in the banks of creeks and coulees. 



Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. Osprey. Noted only on Crooked River during 

 June, 1913. 



Asio wilsonianus. Long-eared Owl. Early in April, 1915, these birds were found 

 breeding in numbers in the willow groves at the mouth of Willow Creek in Gilliam 

 County. The nests examined were apparently old crows' nests relined with feathers. 

 Six weeks later in the vicinity of Haycreek this species was noted, and a nest contain- 



