The Elk Mountain pilot., 1901-07-09
MANY VARIETIES OF
BIRDS in COLORADO

birds. He has gotten bad reputation
in larger cities. especially Denver, for
destroying the buds on the ornamental
shrubs.
In sharp contrast with this robber
Is the whisky jack or camp bird,
most familiar resident of the mining
camps His friendly manners have
made him great friend to the lonely
miners shut up in their winter camps.
A very conspicuous bird in the south
western portion of the state is the
American raven. His sepulchral ap-
pearance and harsh voice, however, Is
not calculated to render him popular
favorite.
The American crow Is only common
Is northwestern Colorado.
The distant relatives of the crows
grouped together under the head of
black birds (the red wings, the yellow
headed black bird and the COW bird)
are exceedingly common In the
swamps. Their migrations in large
fiocks are one of the most prominent
indications of the beginning and close
of the summer. In some cases where
food is abundant considerable num-
bers will remain throughout the
winter.
The song of the western meadow
lark Is the most noticeable of the sum-
mer residents of the plains. This bird,
although so closely resembling the
meadow lark of the eastern states as
to be regarded as an Identical species
for many years, possesses radically
different song. The brilliant yellow OF
the plumage of its breast is in marked
contrast with the browns and grays OF
its upper surface, which enables him
to SO easily conceal himself in the dry
herbage of the plains.
We will often hear the song OF a
bird in the cottonwood trees that we
are unable to identify. Finally one de-
tects a brilliant plumaged blrd-the
golden black of a bullock's oriole. This
bird does not visit us until the leaves
are out on the cottonwoods. He prn,
dently conceals himself so that days
may elapse without a sight OF the
songster who is constantly serenadins
us at morning and evening. His hang
ing nest is so strongly built as to DEFY
the winters gales, and is perhaps the
most common of the nests which we
see after the leaves have fallen.
The inches are in Colorado in great
numbers. The most conspicuous Is
the dear little house finch, the most
common bird of Denver. The habits
of this bird are in some respects like
those of the eastern sparrow, but It's
cheerful song is "A happy relief from
the irritating squawk of the eastern
invaders.
Until recently Colorado has not been
bothered by the English sparrow. Not
withstanding several attempts to intro
duce these birds, they did not COM
mence to increase until within the last
five year. Now in several parts of the
state, and particularly in Denver, they
are as numerous as in any eastern
town. struggle for existence Is In
progress between the house fnches
and the English sparrows. Despite
the rapid increase of the sparrows, the
song of the finch is still heard even on
the busiest business streets of the
cities, and it may be questioned wheth-
er they have suffered from the attacks
of their pugnacious enemies.
The mountain ptarmigan is one OF
the most interesting of the Colorado
birds. In the summer its plumage IL
like the brown and lichen-colored
rocks among which it feeds. With the
approach of winter white feathers be
gin to appear until with the coming
of the snow it is only distinguishable
by motion from the vast snow fields OF
the range.
known as the humming bird of the
Sierras, is most interesting occupant
of our mountain canons. 1t feeds on
water insects and lives almost a half
submerged life, often running for min
utes underneath the foaming waters
of our mountain cataracts.
One of the birds that is practically
extinct in Colorado is the large, white
pelican of the gulf states.
Among the numerous water fowls
are several birds that are usually
found only along the sea shore, such
as the gulls, the double crested cor
morants and some terms. The herons
have several rockeries along the
streams of Colorado.
One of the rarest birds among the
game birds of the state is the Amer
lean woodcock.
, The wild turkey may still be found,
but doubtless will soon be extermi-
mated. A bird that is now extinct in
Colorado, as in many of the northern
states, is the pretty little Caroline par
oquet.
In Colorado ornithology one Of the
most difficult feats is to determine the
true species of the various kinds OF
snow birds. The common so-called
snow bird, so abundant in the city
streets after or during a storm, Is not
the true snow bird of the eastern
states, but should be properly called
a horned lark.
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