BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
89 
467. Empidonax minimus. Least Flycatcher. 
Migratory; rare. Comes west only on the plains of Colo- 
rado and to the edge of the foothills. Has not been found 
higher than 6,000 feet. Arrives in May, and probably breeds, 
but no nests have as yet been taken. 
468. Empidonax hammondi. Hammond’s Flycatcher. 
Summer resident; common. Comes east only to the 
western edge of the plains. Pueblo is the most eastern record. 
Breeds from the plains to 8,000 feet. Arrives early in May. 
469. Empidonax wrightii. Wright’s Flycatcher. 
Summer resident; abundant. In migration is abundant 
throughout the State west of the plains, and is equally common 
during the breeding season from 7,500 to about 10,000 feet. 
Arrives the last of April and the first week in May. 
474a. Otocoris alpestris leucolaema. Pallid Horned 
Lark. 
Winter resident; abundant. The literature of the Horned 
Larks in Colorado is more mixed than that of any other bird. 
Alpestris^ cornuta^ occidentalis and chrysolcBJua have all been re- 
corded for the State, but according to present ideas only leuco- 
Icema and arenicola really occur in Colorado. LeucolcEma is the 
common “Snowbird” of the plains region and in the northern 
part of Colorado is enormously abundant from late in October 
until the middle of February. Only a few enter the mount- 
ains during the winter, probably not much if any above 8,000 
feet. How far it passes up the mountains during migration 
has not yet been satisfactorily determined. Breeds north of the 
United States. 
474c. Otocoris alpestris arenicola. Desert Horned Lark. 
Resident; abundant. All of the summer Horned Larks of 
Colorado are arenicola and most of the winter birds of the south- 
ern half of the State belong here, as well as many from northern 
Colorado. Winters on the plains and a little ways into the 
mountains up to 9,000 feet, but only a few individuals above 
7.000 feet. Breeds on the plains and in the mountains up to 
13.000 feet. The bulk of migratory birds arrive on the plains 
in March and nesting begins early in April, two broods being 
raised. Eggs have been found as late as July 5. In the mount- 
ains nesting is from a month to two months later. Begins to 
leave the mountains early in October. 
475. Pica pica hudsonica. American Magpie. 
Resident ; common. A few visit the plains of the extreme 
eastern Colorado during the winter and breed nearly to the 
