Scolecophagus Carolinus in Colorado
Scolecophagus carolinus in Colorado
While returning from a short trip up the South Fork of the Platt River, from Littleton, Colorado, February 20, 1909, I had the good fortune of meeting with a small flock of blackbirds, resembling the Brewer. There were about eight in the flock, males and females. I shot one and attempted to secure more, but they were very wild and escaped. They were in thick cottonwood growth near the river. The weather was mild with no snow on the ground.
Later, the bird taken (a male) was identified by Mr. Horace G. Smith, as a Rusty Blackbird, Scolecophagus carolinus, a rare bird for Colorado. The skin is now in my collection.
According to Prof. W. W. Cooke (Birds of Colorado, page 95) there are but two other records for Colorado: a pair collected near Denver, December 17, 1883, by I. G. Smith, and one taken by Prof. Wm. Osborn at Loveland, in November, 1889. Note that all these are winter records.
GEORGE RICHARDS
Littlelon, Colorado.
