BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, ETC.: BREWER BLACKBIRD 657 
at 7,800 feet (Ligon, 1910)]; two probably breeding near Mayhill, 7,200 feet, June 
19, 1913. It is most common as a breeder in the lake region of Rio Arriba County, 
and in this district, in 1913, was common, both old and young being seen. It was 
noted July 20, on the Cliama River near El Vado; July 27, at Boulder Lake, 7,200 
feet; and August 1, at Dulce Lake, 6,700 feet (Ligon). [At Lake Burford a pair 
nested in 1918 (Wctmore). In Colfax County considerable numbers were seen, 
June 18, 1924, in Moreno Valley, near Elizabethtown, where they were carrying 
food to their young (Ligon). In northern Santa Fe County, a few pairs nest occa¬ 
sionally along the rivers, and nests were found on June 3 and 19, 1919 (Jensen). 
In the Black Range, 80 miles southwest of Magdalena and north in the high timbered 
mountains, it nests from May 1 to 10 (Ligon, 1916-1918).] 
Early in the fall it begins to arrive in flocks from the more northern breeding 
grounds. It is most common from 6,500 to 8,000 feet, and occasionally is found still 
higher, as at 8,500 feet on August 25, 1904, at Costilla, and between Brazos Canyon 
and Tierra Amarilla, September 11, 1904 (Bailey). Near Koehler Junction, it was 
fairly common in migratory flocks, being noted on August 20, September 2, 25, 28, 
29, and October 3 and 7 (Kalmbach); abundant about Clayton, October 22, 1893 
(Seton). [Two hundred were seen at Zuni on October 2, and eight on October 4, 
1916 (Skinner). In 1920 a large flock spent several days near the Santa Fe Indian 
School (Jensen).] In the northern part of New Mexico it lingers until late in the fall 
—Farmington, still abundant November 22, 1908 (Birdseye); and Aztec, common 
December 3 to 9, 1893 (Loring). 
It remains throughout the winter in the Rio Grande Valley, from Albuquerque 
southward. Some winter at Chloride (Ligon), and in the lower mountains to at 
least 6,000 feet at Silver City (Marsh). On the Carlsbad Bird Reserve it was com¬ 
mon in January, 1915, and was noted during the winter of 1915-16, [it was common 
in December, 1916, and on the Rio Grande Bird Reserve (Elephant Butte), was 
noted on December 8, 1916 (Willett). At Engle a flock w T as seen December 3, 1918 
(Ligon).] 
In the spring 200 were seen, April 26, 1915, at Mayberry Lake (Ligon); in 1895, 
the first migrants appeared on April 28 at Halls Peak (Barber); and in 1900 at Willis, 
April 24 (Birtwcll); while in 1892, late migrants remained along the Mexican bound¬ 
ary until May 6 (Mearns), and in 1884 at Silver City until May 15 (Marsh).—W. W. 
Cooke. 
Nest. —In small colonics, usually in trees or bushes, but also in tussocks of grass 
on the ground; a loose platform of twigs, supporting a cup of rootlets, fine twigs, and 
grass, and sometimes string or wire, cemented with mud, and heavily lined with bail¬ 
or, rarely, with feathers. Eggs: Usually 4 to 6, grayish, greenish, or pale bluish 
white, variably marked but usually profusety spotted, blotched, and streaked in 
wavering lines with browns and lavenders. 
Food. —Caterpillars and pupae form the largest item of animal food (about 12 
per cent). Many of these are cutworms, and there arc also cotton boll worms, corn- 
ear worms, and codling moth pupae. Beetles constitute over 11 per cent of the food. 
Grasshoppers are eaten late in the season. The vegetable food is practically all 
grain, fruit, and weed seeds. Grain, mostly oats, amounts to 54 per cent; fruit, 
largely cherries, 4 per cent, and weed seeds not quite 9 per cent. The grain is 
probably mostly wild, volunteer, or waste, so that except locally, where large flocks 
pass through when the crops are in condition to be injured, the bird does most dam¬ 
age by eating fruit. In alfalfa regions it is one of the most effective enemies of the 
alfalfa weevil, which constitutes about a fifth of the food of both young and adults 
in May, June, and July (Kalmbach). It prefers insects to fruit, leaving cherries for 
insects when plowing begins in neighboring fields (Beal). 
