2 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
State. Thirty-two species or subspecies have been added since the death 
of Professor Cooke, bringing the total number up to three hundred 
and eighty-one, while there is a hypothetical list of fifteen additional 
ones that may have occurred or arc likely to occur in the State. Pro¬ 
fessor Cooke also planned for numerous maps, showing the distribution 
of individual species, to be prepared from data in the Biological Survey, 
together with a route map (see page 14), showing the field trips made 
by wagon or pack outfit by members of the Biological Survey when 
engaged in their extensive study of the birds and mammals of New 
Mexico. 
This work, of great value to the student, had been nearly finished 
before the death of Professor Cooke on March 30, 1916. Soon after 
this, Dr. E. W. Nelson, then Chief of the Biological Survey, decided 
to change the character and scope of the report, incorporating Professor 
Cooke's material in a comprehensive book of general use and interest 
on the birds of the State. At Doctor Nelson’s request, I have pre¬ 
pared the book, bringing down Professor Cooke’s lists of itineraries anil 
localities, and his State distributional records from 1916 to 1928, and 
adding a statement of complete range, descriptions of the birds, their 
nests, eggs, and food, together with accounts of their general habits, 
references to some of the more important or interesting papers concern¬ 
ing them, a bibliography of literature cited, a list of the most notable 
periodicals treating of birds, a list of abbreviations, and a glossary of the 
few necessary technical terms used, in addition to introductory material 
on the value and zonal distribution of birds in the State, refuges and 
conservation organizations, fossil birds found, birds first described, and 
collections made in the State. 
In the process of completing the State records compiled by Professor 
Cooke, new material, worked up or recorded since the date of his death, 
has not only resulted in the inclusion of additional species, but in certain 
instances has so altered his conclusions that his paragraphs have been 
partially rewritten, in some of which cases his name has been omitted 
as authority for the paragraphs. In many other cases, additional 
notes have merely amplified his statements and, if referring to a period 
prior to his death, have been inserted without comment; if dated sub¬ 
sequent to his death, they have been inserted in the proper place in the 
paragraph credited to him, but inclosed in brackets. In these State 
records, to avoid the repetition of the name of the authority for records 
of two or more localities, the name has been given only after the last. 
In addition to the distributions worked out by Professor Cooke for 
local students, under the heading “ State records,” I have added for the 
benefit of the more general student and also the casual reader, the brief 
