\ 



1!^21 BIRDS OF MONTANA 159 



tliis species. It is rather rare in southwestern Montana, where tlie Transition 

 yellow pine is not found, but it is quite common in the northwestern part of the 

 state. Just where the eastern limits of its range are is not determined, but it 

 IS probable that this form breeds in all the true mountains, while carolinensis 

 is confined to the pine hills of the prairie region. 



There are no records of the taldng of eggs of this subspecies in the state, 

 init a nest containing newly hatched young was found in the Belt ^lountains, 

 June 25, 1880 (Williams, 1882a, p. 62). I have observed these birds feeding 

 young at Flathead Lake in Jul.y, 1914. 



311. Sitta canadensis Linnaeus 



Red-breasted Nuthatch 



A summer resident in the proper localities throughout the state. Breeds 

 in yellow pine forests in the Transition zone, and is only found in sununer where 

 such forests occur. East of the mountains it evidently breeds in the pine hills, 

 but of all the observers who have worked in this region, only two have found it. 

 Seven skins, dated April 25 to 27, 1900, and May 18, 1902, are from the vicinity 

 of jMiles City (Hedges, coll. Univ. iMontana). I noted this species in the Long 

 Pine Hills, Carter County, November 29, 1909. In the mountains it is reported 

 commonly. It breeds in Fergus County (Silloway, 190;3a, p. 68), and at Helena 

 ;Crooker, 1893, p. 183), east of the divide. West of the divide where the eleva- 

 tions are lower and yellow pine commoner, the Red-breasted Nuthatch is found 

 breeding in a larger area. It is reported breeding in Powell County (Saunders, 

 1912a, p. 31), at Flathead Lake (Silloway, 1901a, p. 72), at Belton (DuBois. 

 MS), and about Lake MacDonald in Glacier National Park. West of the divide 

 it is occasionally found in winter. 



The migrations take place in April and May, and in September and Octo- 

 ber. In southwestern Montana it migrates through the Canadian zone in the 

 mountains in regions where it is not known in summer. It sometimes occurs 

 during migrations in the prairie region, when not far from the mountains. Dates 

 of migration in regions where it does not breed are as follows : Arrival in fall : 

 Bridger Creek, Gallatin County, September 7, 1908 ; Pipestone Basin, October 2, 

 1909. Departure in fall : Cinnabar Basin, Park County, October 24, 1908. 

 Spring arrival: Sour Dough Canyon, Gallatin County, April 16, 1909; Divide 

 Creek, Silver Bow County, April 18, 1910. Spring departure : Bozeman, ]\Iay 

 25, 1909. Records in the prairie region are: Choteau, May 25. 1912 (Saunders, 

 1914a, p. 143) ; Dutton, June 18, 1917 (DuBois, MS). 



In 1919 a great flight of these birds occurred in the prairie region in Augusl 

 The probable cause of this flight was the forest fires which were very severe 

 ihat year in the western part of the state. The birds w^ere reported from Dutton 

 by DuBois, and from Miles City by Hedges. In the former locality they were 

 seen on the open prairie miles away from trees, where they climbed over the 

 sides of ranch buildings and on fence posts. The Pygmy Nuthatch was found 

 with the Red-breasted at Miles City, and large flights of crossbills of both spe- 

 cies were reported. It is perhaps significant that all these species were birds 

 breeding in yellow pine forests. 



