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1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA T3 



146. Dryobates villosus monticola Anthony 

 Rocky IMountain Hairy Woodpecker 



A common permanent resident throughout the western half ol' the state in 

 Ihe mountains. Winters mainly in the valleys in eottonwood groves, but does 

 not breed there. Intergrades with leucomelas along the northern border of the 

 state. The eastern limits of its range are evidently the eastern foothills of the 

 mountains. Just wiiieh form breeds in the more eastern mountain ranges is not 

 definitely determined. In the mountains this bird has been recorded by all ob- 

 servers. It is common everywhere, and usually the commonest oC the mountain 

 woodpeckers. There are few published records of the nesting, of this species in 

 the state. Young, one week old, were found in the Belt Mountains, June 25 

 (Williams, 1882a, p. 62). I have found nests in June, and full grown young on 

 the wing in August. 



147. Dryobates pubescens homorus Cabanis and Heine 



Batchelder Woodpecker 

 A rare permanent resident throughout, or nearly throughout the state, l)ut 

 probably replaced by mcdianus in the extreme eastern portions. The liird is re- 

 corded by nearly all observers, but most of them consider it rare. It is certainly 

 much rarer in the mountainous part of the state than the hairy woodpecker. Dr. 

 Merrill found this species nesting near Fort Shaw early in June, 1879, a set of 

 four eggs being taken ou June 12 (Bendire, 1895, pp. 60-61). This is evidently 

 the only published record of the nesting of this species in the state. Writers in 

 the eastern part of the state differ in statements as to which form of downy 

 woodpecker is found there. Cameron lists homorus for Custer and Dawson coun- 

 ties (1907, p. 270), but Thorne lists mcdianus from the vicinity of Fort Keqgh 

 (1895, p. 214). McChesney (1879, p. 2390) and Bendire (1895, p. 60) record 

 this form from Fort Custer. This species, like the hairy woodpecker, while a 

 permanent resident in the state, is found in summer and probably breeds in the 

 mountains or pine hills, and winters in the eottonwood groves in the valleys and 

 prairies. 



148. Dryobates pubescens medianus (Swainson) 



Eastern Downy Woodpecker 

 Permanent resident of extreme eastern Montana, intergrading westwarr] 

 with homorus. Irregular in ^lontana (Bendire, 1895, p. 55). Fort Keogh, com- 

 mon, breeds (Thorne, 1895, p. 214). 



149. Dryobates pubescens nelsoni Oberholser 



Nelson Downy Woodpecker 

 A rare winter visitor. One taken at Fort Custer, January 28, 1885 (Ben- 

 dire, 1895, p. 56). This subspecies was not described at the time Bendire wrote, 

 but his remarks and description of the specimen leave no doubt about its iden- 

 tity. It is probable that the subspecies occurs more commonly in winter than this 



