1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 109 



209. Leucosticte tephrocotis tephrocotis Swainsoii 



Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 



An irregular, but sometimes very common winter visitor to the prairies in 

 the eastern half of the state. An irregular migrant, occurring more rarely in 

 winter, in the mountain valleys of the western half of the state. A summer res- 

 ident of the Alpine zone in the high mountains of Glacier National Park, and 

 perhaps elsewhere in northwestern Montana. 



In summer this species occurs about the Blackfoot and Sperrj' glaciers, and 

 probably in other similar localities in Glacier National Park. I noted a few in 

 August, 1914, and found the birds common in August, 1915. 1 am informed 

 that Mr. Silloway and Dr. Elrod found them at Sperry Glaciei- several yc'ars 

 before this, but the fact has not been published. Probably the species breeJs 

 in these localities, placing its nest in crevices between the rocks of the glacial 

 moraines, but the nest is yet to be found in the state. 



In the western half of Montana it is often common in migrations, and 

 sometimes occurs in winter. The fall migrant flocks are usually small ones, the 

 birds evidently gathering in larger and larger groups through the winter, until 

 in the spring the flocks number thousands. Fall migration begins in October, 

 the first birds usually being seen in the mountains. Dates for the first appear- 

 ance are: Lewistown, October 30, 1899 (Silloway, 1908a, p. 49); Ramshorn 

 Peak, Gallatin Range, October 29, 1908; Anaconda, October 29, 1910; Big 

 George Creek, Teton County, October 22, 1911; Belton, October 6, 1914 (DuBois, 

 ]\IS). The spring migration takes place in the mountains from March to May. 

 I am of the opinion that the majority of the birds winter on the prairies in the 

 eastern half of the state, and return to the western half by the middle of March. 

 In the higher mountain valleys, where spring is late, and late spring snowstorms 

 are liable to occur until almost the first of June, the flocks appear with every 

 snowstorm, disappearing again as soon as good weather prevails. Thus I have 

 seen large flocks late in May in the Gallatin Valley, and at Anaconda until May 

 27, when dissection of specimens secured showed that the time for breeding was 

 not far distant. 



Winter records in the western half of the state are as follows: Park County, 

 February, 1909, flocks seen at a ranch for several days; Helena, flock seen Feb- 

 ruary 25, 1911; Trego, flocks of 10 to 200 seen in the Canadian zone, February 

 n to 26, 1916 (Kittredge, MS). 



In the eastern half of the state this bird is usually a common winter visitor. 

 In Custer and Dawson counties it is abundant, but none occurred in 1905-06. 

 It arrives there October 25 and leaves March 15 (Cameron, 1907, p. 402). In 

 Fergus County it is abundant from October to the middle of Ai)ril (Silloway, 

 1903a, p. 49). It is also reported from P'ort Keogh (Tliorne, 1895, p. 216), and 

 from Fort Custer (^IcChesney, 1879, p. 2386). Its migrations are as follows. At 

 Big Sandy it arrived October 1, 1900, and October 3, 1906. At Terry, October 

 18, 1903, and November 1, 1904. It left Terry March 13, 1904, and was noted 

 at Columbia Falls, April 6, 1893 (Cooke, 1913b, p. 364). 



