152 
BIRDS OF NEW MEXICO 
April adults were found in the caves and about the cliffs apparent ly hunting for nest¬ 
ing sites (Bailey). A third nest was found by Jensen on May 27, 1928, “under a 
pile of bowlders under the rimrock two miles east of Cerillas. It contained two 
heavily incubated eggs.’ 7 At Lake Burford, May-June, 1918, the birds were fairly 
common, probably nesting in the canyon below (Wetmore). On June 22, 1919, a 
single one was seen on Pot Creek about 20 miles southeast of Taos, at about 7,800 
feet, and on August 23, 1919, a single young one only able to fly a short distance 
was seen at the head of a rough canyon of the Black Range about thirty miles 
southwest of Chloride at about 7,500 feet (Ligon). On May 27, 1922, a pair was 
seen about 18 miles west of Santa Fe acting as if they might be nesting in a large 
pile of bowlders broken off from the rimrock. In May, 1916, others were found 
working in some caves, about 10 miles west of Cuchillo, apparently “an old nesting 
site, from the general appearance of things’ 7 (Ligon MS.). In the Pecos Valley 
between Roswell and Fort Sumner, June 16-21, 1918, they were rather common, 
many being seen about the rough rims of the mesa along the east side of the river, 
but there was no time to look for nests. On July 10, 1919, at 10,500 feet, five miles 
north of Cowles, two were seen, and July 18, 1919, at 10,000 feet on the Hamilton 
Mesa, at a dead cow, one was seen. May 6-10, 1920, between Silver City and Mexico 
they were observed daily but were not common. May 27-June 22, 1924, they 
were observed most commonly along the rim of the Staked Plains, especially east 
of Carlsbad (Ligon).] 
In the fall the birds range regularly a little higher than in summer, during their 
soaring flights mounting to very high altitudes. August 10 and 29, 1913, a few 
were seen near Koehler Junction, Colfax County (Kalmbach). The larger part 
leave northern New Mexico in September, and the last were seen—San Juan Moun¬ 
tains, one at 10,000 feet September 7, 1904 (Bailey); [two miles north of Monticello, 
September 8, 1917, 50 seen circling over a carcass; September 12, 1916, they were 
“very abundant along the railroad between Carlsbad, New Mexico and Pecos, 
Texas; on the 16th, very abundant along the railroad between El Paso and Sierra 
Blanca, Texas” (Ligon MS); and September 9, 1916, noted 12 miles northwest 
of Gallup (Skinner) 1; in the Jicarilla Mountains, noted September 25, 1903 (Gaut); 
near Taos, September 30, 1903 (Bailey); Gallup, several September 29, 1908 
(Birdseye). In the southern part of the State, they remain later; several were 
noted in the Mogollon Mountains, October 31, 1908 (Goldman); and one at Carri- 
zozo, October 31, 1902 (Gaut). Occasionally the species remains much later even 
in northern New Mexico and two were still present November 10, 1908, near Ship- 
rock (Birdseye). 
It is quite probable that in mild winters a few occur in the State all winter, 
as they usually do in southeastern Arizona. Near Mesilla Professor Merrill noted 
them throughout the year except very late in December and January. On the 
Carlsbad Bird Reserve in January, 1915, they were seen once or twice, (and on the 
Rio Grande Bird Reserve (Elephant Butte), November 23-December 9, 1916, one 
was seen (Willett).] 
The arrival of the first was noted near Silver City, April 13, 1835 (Thwaite), 
and at Halls Peak, April 20, 1895 (Barber), though they had of course come earlier 
in the lower districts, arriving at Silver City about March 25 (Hunn) and in the 
(Carlsbad caves region, March 24, 1924, becoming common during the first half of 
April (Bailey)].—W. W. Cooke. 
Eggs. —Laid on the bare ground often between or under rocks, or in a hollow 
log, stump, or tree; usually 2, white, creamy, or greenish white, generally spotted 
and blotched with brown and lavender, especially about the larger end. 
