Sept., 1909 
NOTES ON SOME BIRDS OF KERN COUNTY 
171 
trying to beat the other to earth. They separated upon reaching a short distance 
from where I was standing and disappeared over a hill. In a few minutes a 
familiar screeching whistle echoed up the canyon and, sneaking down to a turn 
some hundred yards below, I saw one of them percht on a cliff a hundred feet from 
me. I pictured a fine mounted specimen for my den. But then it is probably 
better that the gun had been left behind. 
Falco peregrinus anatum. Duck Hawk. One seen about the cliffs above Poso 
Creek, and a female taken August 16 in the Long Tom gulch. 
Falco sparverius. Sparrow Hawk. Common everywhere. 
Aluco pratincola. Barn Owl. Common in the rocky canyons and about the 
mines. 
Otus asio bendirei. California Screech Owl. Heard at Poso Creek. 
Bubo virginianus pacificus. Pacific Horned Owl. Common along the Cliffs of 
Poso Creek and in the canyons of the foothills. A female taken August 14. 
Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea. Burrowing Owl. Common south of Poso 
Creek. 
Geococcyx calif ornianus. Roadrunner. Common on Poso Range. A speci- 
men taken July 19. In one of the large steel water-tanks at the mine I found two 
young birds which had fallen or jumpt in for a drink and were drowned. There were 
four of these tanks, which proved to be death traps for many birds and mammals. 
Twice I pickt out ground squirrels in a dying condition which had fallen or jumpt 
into these half-filled tanks. Cottontails, squirrels, mice, bats and birds made up 
the list of unfortunates that came to grief in this manner. 
Coccyzus americanus occidentalis. California Cuckoo. A few seen in willows 
at springs in the foothills. 
Dryobates villosus hyloscopus. Cabanis Woodpecker. A few seen in the pine 
country at the head of Poso Creek. 
Dryobates nuttalli. Nuttall Woodpecker. Fairly common. One taken at 
Long Tom. 
Melanerpes formicivorus bairdi. California Woodpecker. Seen in pines at 
head of Poso Creek. 
Asyndesmus lewisi. Lewis Woodpecker. Common on the oak flats on the 
north side of the Poso Range. 
Chaetura vauxi. Vaux Swift. Common along Poso Creek where first seen 
September 16. 
Archilochus alexandri. Black-chinned Hummingbird. Several seen on Poso 
Creek. 
Calypte anna. Anna Hummingbird. Common along Poso Creek and about 
springs in the foothills. 
Tyrannus verticalis. Western Kingbird. Breeding commonly. 
Sayornis saya. Say Phoebe. Common; nests found about Long Tom on 
beams in old cabins and mills. 
Sayornis nigricans. Black Phoebe. Fairly common along Poso Creek, and a 
few around Long Tom. 
Myiochanes richardsoni. Western Wood Pewee. Breeding along Poso Creek. 
Otocoris alpestris actia. California Horned Lark. Common everywhere. 
Corvus corax sinuatus. Western Raven. About ten birds were seen all told, 
usually in pairs. 
Corvus brachyrhynchos hesperis. Western Crow. Quite abundant along Poso 
Creek. 
Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Fairly common. 
Icterus bullocki. Bullock Oriole. Common along Poso Creek and about 
