1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 73 



146. Dryobates villosus monticola Anthony 



KocKY .Mountain Hairy Woodpecker 



A coinnion iicnnanent resident tliroushout the western half of tlie state in 

 the mountains. Winters mainly in the Yalleys in eottonwooil gi'oYes, hut does 

 not lireed tJiei-e. Iiitergrades witii l< iicmiKias along the northern horder of the 

 state. The eastern limits of its I'ange ai'c evidently the eastern foothills of tiie 

 mountains. Just wiiii'h f(U-m breeds in the more eastern mountain ranges is not 

 definitely deti'rmine(i. hi the mountains tliis bird has lieen recorded by all ob- 

 servers. If is eommoii I'verywhere. and usually the roiumonest of the mountain 

 woodpeckers. There are few jmblished reeords of the nesting of this species in 

 the state. Young, one weel< old, wen- found in the Helt .Mountains, June -5 

 (Williams, lS,S:2a, [). til!). I have found nests in June, jind full grown young on 

 tlie wing in August. 



147. Dryobates pubescens homorus ( alianis and Heine 



Hatciielder Woodpecker 

 A rare permanent resident throughout, or nearly tiiroughout the slate, but 

 probably replaced by nicdianus in the e.xtreme eastern i)ortions. The bird is re- 

 corded by nearly all observers, but most of them consider it rare. It is cci-tainl.v 

 iinii-h rarer in the mountainous part of the state than the hairy woodpecker. Dr. 

 .Merrill found this species nesting near Fort Shaw early in June, ISTD, a set of 

 four eggs being taken on, June ]12 (Hendire, 1895, pp. 60-61). This is evidentl.v 

 (he onl,y published record of the nesting of this species in the state. Writers in 

 the eastei-n jiart of the state differ in statements as to whii'h form of downy 

 wood|)cckcr is found there, Cameron lists Iioiiitirus for Custer and Dawson conn- 

 ties (11)07, p. 27(1), but Thorne lists idi iliainis from the vicinity of Fort Ki'ogh 

 (1S1),^>, p. 214). McChesney (l,s7:i, p. 2:i!tO) and lieiulii-e (iMIt'i, p. 60) recoi-d 

 thi.s form from Fort Custer. This species, like the hairy woodpecker, while a 

 permanent resident in the .state, is found in suimuer and probably breeds in the 

 mountains or pine hills, and winters in the cott(mwooil groves in the \alleys and 

 prairies. 



148. Dryobates pubescens medianus (Swaiuson) 



Eastern Downy Woodpecker 

 rermancnt resident of extreme eastern .Montana, intcrgrading westw.-U'd 

 with hdiiiiinis. Iri'egular in Montana (Hendire, ISDfi, p, .">.")). Fort Kcogli, com- 

 mon, breeds (Thorne, 1895, p. 214). 



14!t. Dryobates pubescens nelsoni Oberholser 



Nelson Downy Woodpe(JKer 

 A rare winter visitor. (Jnc talccn at Fort Custer, January 2S, lS,s.") (Hen- 

 dire, 1S9.5, p. fid). This subspecies was not described at the time l>cndire wi'otc, 

 but his remarks and description of the specimen leave no doubt ibout its iden- 

 tity. It is probable that the subspecies oceui's more commonly in wintci' than this 



