Jan., 1910 
SOME CENTRAL COLORADO BIRD NOTES 
35 
Molothrus ater. Cowbird. Seen at Hooper, Mosca, San Luis Lakes, Medano 
Ranch, Durkee Ranch, Querida, and near Colorado Springs. An egg was found 
in a Savannah Sparrow’s nest at Medano Ranch. 
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird. This species was 
seen at some of the small lakes near San Luis Lake, and at Medano Ranch, nesting 
in the bushes and cat-tails. Durand saw one at Querida, another instance of post- 
breeding wandering. I also saw one a few miles south of Westcliffe. 
Agelaius phoeniceus fortis. Thick-billed Redwing. Seen a few miles south of 
Colorado Springs; near Canon City; near Texas Creek; at San Luis Lake; abund- 
ant at Medano Ranch, and in the meadows near Westcliffe. Also seen near Buttes 
Station. 
Sturnella neglecta. Western Meadowlark. Often seen from Colorado Springs 
to the Durkee Ranch, very common in the San Luis Valley; next seen on Muddy 
Creek; common at Westcliffe; seen occasionally between Beulah and Colorado 
Springs. 
Icterus bullocki. Bullock’s Oriole. Seen near our Texas Creek camp; at the 
Durkee Ranch; and a few between Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Much of the 
country visited was not specially favorable for these birds, and much of course was 
not carefully examined. They are no doubt more abundant than these notes would 
indicate. 
Euphagus cyanocephalus. Brewer’s Blackbird. Seen everywhere between 
Colorado Springs and the Durkee Ranch, and a very common bird at many places; 
seen at Muddy Creek; at Westcliffe, late in July, they were beginning to gather in 
flocks as is their habit after the breeding season. Seen near Beulah. At San Luis 
Lake, June 18, I found a young one panting under such shade as a greasewood 
bush afforded in the middle of the day; it was able to fly a little; the birds must 
nest on the ground here, or in the greasewood bushes, for there are no trees. 
Quiscalus quiscula aeneus. Bronzed Grackle. Seen at Glendale and Canon 
City. 
Carpodacus cassini. Cassin's Finch. This bird was seen at Querida only, 
where it was rather common about the town. 
Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. House Finch. One seen in Frey’s yard at 
Salida, and one at Mosca. I cannot persuade myself at present to adopt the new 
A. O. U. name of “California Linnet”, for it seems to me that it conveys the im- 
pression that the species is peculiar to or characteristic of California, and I think 
that can hardly be said to be the case with a bird which “Breeds 
from western parts of Kansas and Texas to the Pacific, and from Oregon to northern 
Mexico”. Bailey, Handbook of Birds of Western United States. As long ago as 
1874 Coues used the name House Finch in the Birds of the Northwest, so that it is 
not a newly invented name. I realize that some of the vernacular names present a 
more difficult problem than the scientific, as so many birds are known by different 
names in different localities, and it is hard to decide on the most appropriate, but 
in this case I think the Committee had better have let the old name stand until they 
could find a really good one. 
Leucosticte tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. In February 1, 1909, 
there was a very large flock of Rosy Finches about Querida, and 10 out of 18 col- 
lected were Gray-crowns. 
Leucosticte tephrocotis littoralis. Hepburn’s Rosy Finch. One was taken at 
Querida February 5, 1909. 
Leucosticte atrata. Black Rosy Finch. One taken at Querida February 5, 1909. 
