\ 



1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 85 



<• 



are on the wing at the end of July (Cameron, 1907, p. 390). At Flathead Lake 

 young were found July 6 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 28). In Teton County eggs aiM 

 laid about the middle of June, and the young leave the nests in the latter half 

 of July (Saunders, 1914a, p. 134). Eggs were found at Button June 19, 1916 

 (DuBois, MS). There is probably only one brood in a year. 



171. Tyrannus verticalis Say 



Arkansas Kingbird 



A common summer resident through most of the state, but rare in some lo- 

 calities. Breeds in the Transition and Tpper Sonoran zones, and is most abund- 

 ant in the lower valleys, being rather rare above 4500 feet in the southern part 

 of the state, and above 4000 in the northern. On the whole, less common than 

 T. tyrannus, but in some localities, that are probably Upper Sonoran, more 

 common. 



The migrations of this species take place in May and August, evidently a 

 little earlier than those of T. tijrannus. At higher elevations, where tliis king- 

 bird is rare, dates show that it arrives later instead. Eight years at Terry give 

 an average of May 17, the earliest being jMay 8, 1894 (Cooke, 1908, p. 16). Other 

 spring dates are : Gallatin Valley, May 26, 1909, and Choteau, May 28, 1912. 

 West of the divide its migrations are considerably earlier, as shown from data 

 from the Bitterroot Valley, where dates of arrival are JMay 6, 1910, April 29, 

 1911, May 8, 1912, and April 27, 1913 (Bailey, MS). Kalispell, May 6, 1913 

 (Sloanaker, MS). 



This species nests commonly and there are many notes on the nesting, wdiich 

 evidently begins early in June. In eastern Montana young are on the wing by 

 July 15 (Cameron, 1907, p. 391). Eggs were taken at the mouth of the IMilk 

 River, June 21, 22 and 28, 1874 (Coues, 1874b, p. 610). A set of three eggs was 

 taken at St. Ignatius and the sx^ecies noted nesting at JMissoula (Silloway, 191)la, 

 pp. 36 and 55). Birds were observed feeding young at Toston, Broadwater 

 County, July 11, 1911 (Saunders, 1912f, p. 218). Half grown young in the nest 

 were noted at JNIissoula, July 1 (Kittredge, MS). Birds were nest-building at 

 Kalispell, July 1 (Sloanaker, MS). 



172. Sayornis sayus (Bonaparte) 



Say Phoebe 



A common summer resident of eastern Montana, east of the mountains, 

 occurring rarely in the mountain valleys, and at present unknown west of the 

 continental divide. Breeds in the Transition zone on rocks in badlands or river 

 canyons, or about the edges of prairie buttes, and about ranch buildings and 

 under bridges. Most observers in the prairie region record this species, but the 

 only record west of the mountains is Gallatin County, where two were taken 

 (Richmond and Knowlton, 1894, p. 304). 



Arrives in spring in April, early April in southeastern ^Montana, and later 

 in the northwestern part of its range in the state. Five years at Terry show an 

 average of April 9, with the earliest April 7, 1889 (Cooke, 1908, p. 212). Other 



