Jan., 1918 THE BREEDING BIRDS OF BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS 41 



Coccyzus americanus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Common in all portions 

 of the county, but like the Roadrunner, seems to prefer the heavier brush and small oaks 

 as nesting sites. Nests rather erratically hero, from April to July, more frequently in 

 June; the nests are placed from two feet up in the bushes to thirty-fivp feet in the oaks. 



Ceryle americana septentrionalis. Texas Kingfisher. A rare bird in this county. 

 While we have never been able to locate an inhabited nest, we have found several bur- 

 rows in the clay banks of the Medina and San Antonio rivers, and observed tfie birds in 

 the vicinity in April, May and June of 1916. We were not permitted to examine these 

 burrows. 



Dryobates scalaris bairdi. Baird or Texas Woodpecker. This county seems to be 

 the northern limit of this species, as only a few are observed. The majority are found 

 in the chaparral area, where they nest in the small mesquites in May and June. 



Centurus aurifrons. Golden-fronted W r oodpecker. Common, breeding over the en- 

 tire county. Owing to the scarcity of suitable natural sites in some portions, this spe- 

 cies is found most abundantly along the railway tracks, where the birds take advantage 

 of the opportunities offered by telegraph poles. When found in the chaparral area, their 

 nests are rarely over four or five feet from the ground, and, owing to the smallness of 

 the trees, leave the trunk a mere shell around the nest. They breed from the latter part 

 cf April to the middle of June. 



Antrostomus carol inensis. Chuck-will' s-widow. We have never located a nest of 

 this species, but have been informed by reliable parties that the nests are frequently 

 found in the hilly country. As we have seen the birds in the nesting season in such lo- 

 calities, we are satisfied that this is true. Nests in May and June. 



Phalaenoptilus nuttalli nuttalli. Poor-will. As with the preceding species, we 

 have been unable to locate eggs. However, we have observed the birds on numerous 

 occasions during their breeding season, and are therefore positive they nest here. 



Chordeiles acutipennis texensis. Texas Nighthawk. Fairly plentiful over the en- 

 tire county, but more abundant in the prairie section. Nests in May and June. 



Archilochus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. This species is restricted 

 to the hilly northwestern portion of the county, where the birds nest along the various 

 streams. They are also frequently seen in the numerous parks of the city. They nest in 

 June. 



Muscivora forficata. Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. This species nests abundantly 

 along all the roads of the county. One or two nests may usually be found near every 

 farm house, where they are protected, as they readily detect and drive away any hawk 

 that ventures too near. Nests in May and June. 



Myiarchus crinitus. Crested Flycatcher. Rare in this county, and nesting only 

 along the streams in the heavily timbered areas. The size and Constant chattering of 

 these birds readily distinguishes them. They nest in May and June. 



Myiarchus magister nelsoni. Mexican Crested Flycatcher. An extremely rare 

 bird in this county, but plentiful in the counties to the south. We have located a few 

 nests in the extreme southern portions of the chaparral area, where this flycatcher nests 

 in April and May. 



Myiarchus cinerascens cinerascens. Ash-throated Flycatcher. This species is 

 found nesting throughout the county in April, May and June. 



Sayornis phoebe. Phoebe. These birds are found only in the hilly parts of the 

 county, where they nest in cavities in the limestone cliffs. We have found very few 

 nests, and these only in May and June. 



Pyocephalus rubinus mexicanus. Vermilion Flycatcher. In June, 1912, we lo- 

 cated a nest of this species containing two heavily incubated eggs, which forms our only 

 record. While we have been told of other nests in the chaparral area, we have been un- 

 able to obtain authentic data in regard to them. 



Molothrus ater obscurus. Dwarf Cowbird. Abundant everywhere. Our personal 

 observations condemn this species. A set of any of our smaller birds is rarely found 

 without one or more eggs of the Cowbird. If these are allowed to hatch, the Cowbird 

 rapidly outgrows the lawful occupants of the nest, and either smothers them or pushes 

 them entirely from the nest to die upon the ground. This is not a supposition on our 

 part, but based upon countless observations. 



Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus. Red-winged Blackbird. Common in all portions 

 of the county which afford suitable nesting sites. Especially abundant at Mitchell's 



