BIRDS OF COLORADO. 
97 
the foothills and breeding quite commonly in the same localities. 
Common in towns, breeding around the cornices of buildings 
and in the shades of the electric lights like the English Sparrow 
of the East, for which it is often taken by visitors from the por- 
tions of the United States blessed by the English importation. 
Rare far out on the plains, but a flock of 15 was seen in Finney 
County, in southwestern Kansas, January 5, 1892. Breeds on 
the plains and especially in the lower foothills. Less commonly 
in the mountains to 8,000 feet. The most eastern record of 
breeding anywhere is that of Capt. P. M. Thorne, who took a 
pair at Fort Lyon June 3, 1883. The female contained an egg 
with shell. He also saw one other in the fall. The height of 
the breeding season along the foothills is the middle of June 
and two broods are often reared. Eggs have been noted at 
Fort Collins as early as March 25 and as late as the middle of 
July. The most northern record noted is that of F. Bond at 
Cheyenne, where the first came April 14 and the nest and eggs 
were taken June ii, 1889. (Auk, VI. 1889, 341.) 
521a. Loxia curvirostra stricklandi. Mexican Crossbill. 
Resident; not uncommon. Under this heading are in- 
cluded all the Red Crossbills of Colorado, not because specimens 
exactly like eastern birds are not found here, but because there 
seems to be no satisfactory way of separating them from the 
western form. Occurs on the plains and the lower foothills 
during the winter, and breeds in the foothills and the lower 
mountains to about 8,000 feet. The above may be considered 
as the usual range, but specimens have been taken in winter at 
Manhattan at an altitude of 9,000 feet, and the birds have been 
seen in summer up to at least 11,000 feet. The breeding period 
is apparently quite irregular. The Red Crossbill of the east 
breeds in winter, and the western form must do the same at 
least part of the time, for C. F. Morrison found a nest and four 
eggs January 30, 1887, near Fort Lewis (O. & O. XIII. 1888, 70), 
while W. E. D. Scott at Twin Lakes found young flying June 
24 that were several months old. On the contrary T. M. Trippe 
speaks of their breeding as late as May. 
522. Loxia leucoptera. White-winged Crossbill. 
Winter visitant; rare. Only one record, that of F. M. 
Drew, who took one in Baker’s Park, in southwestern Colorado, 
at 9,500 feet. (B. N. O. C. VI. 1881, 85 and 138.) 
524. Leucosticte tephrocotis. Gray-crowned Leucosticte. 
Winter resident; rare. A western species breeding in the 
Sierra Nevada of California and probably in British America. 
Comes south and east in winter to Colorado, and has been taken 
along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. To the speci- 
