AN ANNOTATED LIST OF BIRDS BREEDING IN 
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 
BY CHARLES W. RICHMOND. 
In treating of the fauna and flora of the District of Columbia, 
authors generally extend the limits twenty miles from the Capi- 
tol in all directions. Owing to the fact that his experience does 
not extend far beyond the District limits proper, the writer has 
preferred to restrict the present notes, as much as possible, to 
within that boundary. Some species are left out, therefore, 
which would otherwise be included. Among such birds are 
the Bald Eagle ( Halueetus leucocephahis) , the Wild Turkey 
( Meleagr is ycillopavo) , and the Wood Duck ( yl ix sponsa ), 
which are known to breed at Mt. Vernon, Va., about fourteen 
miles from Washington ; the Turkey Vulture ( Cathartes aura), 
and the Great Horned Owl {Bubo virginianus) , breeding near 
Wilson’s Station, Md., about seven miles from here, as the writer 
is informed by Mr. Frank White. The Red-tailed Hawk ( Buteo 
borealis ) has been found breeding at Sandy Spring, Md., about 
eighteen miles distant, by Dr. A. K. Fisher. 
Mr. LIugh M. Smith kindly contributes the following interest- 
ing note on the breeding of the American Scaup Duck {Ajthya 
marila ne arcpp ca) at Mt. Vernon :' t Hn May, iSSTJa female 
duck was often noticed swimming to and from a marshy tract 
near Mt. Vernon Springs, and in June was flushed from the 
nest by Mr. L. P. Pumphrey, an experienced gunner and duck 
shooter. The nest contained fourteen eggs, which were not 
disturbed. Later in the same month they were found to have 
hatched (with the exception of one), and the young ducks were 
transferred to the care of a hen. The ducks grew, and when old 
enough to fly, went off one at a time and never returned. At 
no time was the male bird seen. Mr. Pumphrey’s identification 
of the bird was complete, and his gieat familiarity with the 
birds of the river makes his dictum reliable.” This instance, of 
course, was purely accidental, the bird probably being wounded 
and obliged to remain where it was discovered. 
Three birds given as breeding in ‘Avifauna Columbiana,’ by 
Drs. Coues and Prentiss, are here omitted, viz : Brown Creeper 
{Certhia familiaris americana) , Tree Swallow ( Tachycineta 
bicolor ), and Bronzed Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula ceneus ) . 
The first is a winter resident, being common from the middle 
of October until the first week in April. The Tree Swallow is 
said to be “a common summer resident,” whereas it does not 
occur as such, although small scattered flocks of migrants are 
often seen flying over the city during the latter part of July. 
The Bronzed Grackle is little more than a straggler, and indi- 
viduals passing through here hardly remain to breed. Llowever, 
the writer has a male, taken on April 1 7, 1886, a date when 
^ordinary quiscula is nesting, and a female shot on April 6, 
1887, about the time the Purple Grackles are laying their first 
eggs. Both of these birds were taken in a grove of cedars 
occupied by a colony of Purple Grackles. 
The writer desires to thank Mr. LI. W. Henshaw, Mr. Robert 
Ridgway, and others whose names are mentioned in connection’ 
with the following notes, for information arid .asSiSTa'nce in pre- 
paring the list. The notes apply to the breeding season only. 
V. Jan, 1888. p. 
. ‘"‘. A 
