64 
BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
of northern Colorado , below 6,000 feet, even within a few rods 
of cultivated ground. Eggs have been taken near Fort Collins 
on June 8. In southern Colorado it is known only as a migrant. 
Reaches northern Colorado the last of April. 
225. Recurvirostra americana. American Avocet. 
Summer resident; common. Most common on the plains, 
but occurs in the mountain parks up to 8,000 feet. Rather rare 
in western Colorado. Henshaw found them breeding abund- 
antly in the San Luis Valley, with nearly all the eggs hatched 
by June 21. In northern Colorado on the plains the eggs are 
mostly laid b}^ the first week in June, the birds having come 
the middle of April. 
226. Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. 
Summer resident; not uncommon. It is found at the same 
places and at the same time as the Avocet, but the order of 
abundance is reversed, the Stilt being more common west of 
the range though still occurring in eastern Colorado. Breeds 
at the same time as the Avocet from the plains to 8,000 feet. 
228. Philohela minor. American Woodcock. 
Summer visitant; rare. Colorado marks the extreme 
western range of the Woodcock and it is found here only to the 
base of the foothills. The five known instances are all within 
50 miles of Denver. H. G. Smith reports one August 12, 1885, 
and one in October, 1885, within the city limits of Denver. He 
also reports that one was seen by Mr. John Bently during 
the fall of 1887 near Boulder and that one was recently shot 
near Fort Lupton. (Auk, III. 1886, 284 and Nidologist, III. 
1896, 65.) Dr. W. H. Bergtoid, of Denver, writes that he saw 
one in Denver, June, 1895. Since the Woodcock breeds 
throughout its range and since it has been noted here in June 
and August, it is fair to presume that it breeds occasionally in 
Colorado, but no nests have as yet been found in the Stale. 
230. GaMinago delicata. Wilson’s Snipe. 
Summer resident, rare; in migration, common; winter 
resident, rare. Found throughout the State in migration any- 
where below 10,000 feet, but more common on the eastern slope 
than the western. F. M. Drew found it breeding in San Juaii 
County (B. N. O. C. VI. 1881, 85), and W. E. D. Scott found a 
few pairs breeding in June at Twin Lakes at over 9,000 feet. 
(B. N. O. C. IV. 1879, 90.) On the plains it is known only in 
migration and a few in winter. Aiken, Morrison and Bennett 
report it in winter, the first on the plains, the second at port 
Lewis, and the last in Routt County. It has been known to 
winter at open marshy springs even 150 miles north of Colorado 
in central Wyoming. 
