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1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 163 



1915 (Betts, 1916, p. 163). The. fact that three of these four records are in the 

 year 1915 suggests that this species was unusually common that year. Fifteen 

 years' previous work in the vicinity of Flathead Lake had not revealed its pres- 

 ence. j\lr. Kittredge informed me that he had met with the Chestnut-backed 

 Chickadee on the Lolo and Blackfeet National Forests, and that it shows a pre- 

 ference for forests of western white pine, a tree that is uncommon in Montana, 

 except as scattered individuals. 



318. Regulus satrapa olivaceus Baird 



Western Golden-crowned Kinglet 



A common summer resident of the mountains in the western half of the 

 state. Breeds in spruce forests in the Canadian zone, and west of the divide in 

 clie Transition zone. Occurs rarely away from the mountains in migration. 

 Winters rarely in valleys, and still more rarely in the mountains. The eastern- 

 most point where it is reported to breed is in the mountains of Fergus County 

 (Silloway, 1903a, p. 6S). In southern JMontana I have noted it in Park County, 

 west of the Yellowstone. It has been found once in migration in extreme eastern 

 Montana in the Long Pine Hills of Custer County, November 16, 1909 (Saun- 

 ders, 1916d, p. 204). This record may refer to the subspecies satrapa, as may 

 other records east of the divide in the state. All Montana speciniens that 1 have 

 examined belong to olivacvus, l)ut, except from Flathead Lake, they were not 

 breeding birds. 



The migrations take place in March and November. Three years at Colum- 

 l)ia Falls give an average of March 24, with the earliest March 21, 1893 (Cooke, 

 1915c, p. 119). Other dates are: Sour Dough Canyon, Gallatin County, March 

 25, 1909; Divide Creek, Silver Bow County, April 22, 1910. Fall dates are: 

 Columbia Falls, November 20, 1892 (Cooke, 1915c, p. 121) ; Sour Dough Canyon, 

 Gallatin County, November 24, 1908; Dry Cottonwood Creek, Deer Lodge Coun- 

 ty, November 5, 1910. There is a record of this species in migration away from 

 the mountains at Great Falls, rare in fall (Williams. 1888a, p. 15). Winter 

 records are: Sour Dough Canyon, Gallatin County, February 26, 1909 (Saun- 

 ders, 1911a, p. 48) ; Bitterroot Valley, five seen December 10, 1911, three, De- 

 cember 20, 1911, three, January 20, 1912, and the species common from January 

 20 till spring (Bailey, MS). 



There is no doubt that this species breeds, as it is common all summer in iJie 

 I'ight ])laees in the mountains, but the nest appears not to have been found and 

 recorded. I have seen young out of the nest at Flathead Lake, July 23, 1911. 



319. Regulus calendula calendula (Linnaeus) 



Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

 A common summer resident of the mountains in the western half of the 

 state. Breeds in the Canadian and upper Transition zones in forests of Douglas 

 fir on the east side of the continental divide, and in mixed forests of fir and tam- 

 arack on the west side. Reported by all observers in the mountains. The eastern 

 limits of its breeding range are found in the mountains of Teton County to the 



