H)i;i IIIKDS OF MONTANA 23 



(Iriisc iiii(l('i'<;r(i\\ til (if slinilis, such as alder, wild currant and iiKiiiiitain iMifrald- 

 licrry (Sin ji/n rdin r<i innh iisis) . 'riicse differences niaki' dil'IVi-cul associations 

 as far as sonic forms of life are concerned, but they seem to lia\'e little influence 

 on the ilistrilintion ol' bird life. In fact this association has compa'-atively little 

 hird life. It is iiii|ioi-tant lieciiise it co\ers large areas, iiarticiilarly in the soiilli 

 western |iart ol' the slate, hiil most of its liii-ds are very few in niiiiihcr, and 

 foiinil mainly ahoiit the cd^cs of small open •i'rass areas or "|iarl<s". There 

 appear to he no eharacti-rist ic species, all hirds found in it heiicj also found in 

 oilier coniferous associations. The species most commonly found m il arc llie 

 Hairy Woodpecker, Alpine Three-toi'd \Vood|)cck<'r, I'ine Siskin, I'liik-sided and 



Fig. 7. A i.diiia-.iMir.K I'l.vK forkst on Dniui: 

 Ckkkk, Sn.vKR Bow County; M.w. I'Jlo. 



C.VNAIIIAN ZONE. 



.Montana .jiincos, Chippint;- Sparrow, .Viiduhon Warhler, and Kohin. 'i'lie IJoi-ky 

 Mountain Ja,v is also seen most comiiionl.\' in this association in sumiin'r, hut I 

 am not certain that i1 hreeds thi-i-e. 



The white-liark pine a.s.sociat ion is found entii'cly in Ihe lludsouiaii /.one. It 

 consi.sts of rather open efoves of this 1 ree, with a few other s|iecies, such as spruce 

 and alpine fir. In many jilaces, parliciilarly in the southern pari of tlu' slate, 

 limher pine oci-nrs with this species, and then it is cxcecdinely dirHi-iilt to sepa- 

 rate till' two. This association has hut one characteristic liii'd, Ihe I'ine (Jros- 

 heak. The Clai'k Xnlcraeker is mm-c ahiindant in it than els"wiieiv, however. 

 Otiiei' species that breed in it are the jiincos, Cassin Purple Finch, .Xmluhon 



