1921 BIRDS OF MONTANA 85 



are on the wing at the end of July (Cameron, 1907, p. :390). At Flathead Lake 

 young were found July 6 (Silloway, 1901a, p. 28). In Teton County eggs ai-.' 

 laid about the middle of June, and the young leave the nests in tlie lattei' half 

 of July (Saunders, 1914a, p. i:>4). Eggs were found at Button Jiuu' 19, 191ti 

 (DuBois, jMS). TiuTe is prohalJ.y only one brood in a year. 



171. Tyrannus verticalis Say 



Arkansas Kingbird 



A eoiuinon sui er resident through most of tlie state, liiit rare in some lo- 

 calities. Breeds in the Transition and I'pjier Sonoran zones, and is most abund- 

 ant in the lower valle.ys, being rather rare above 4r)0(l feet in the southern piirt 

 of the state, and above 400(1 iu the northern. On the whole, less eouuiion tiian 

 T. tyrannus, but in some ioealities. that are probably I'pper S(uioi-an. mori/ 

 common. 



The migrations of this species tai<e pliiee in May and August, evidently a 

 little earlier tlian those of T. tijrainnts. At higher elevations, where this king- 

 bird is rare, dates show that it arrives later instead. Eight years at Tej'ry give 

 an average of May 17, the earliest being May S, 1894 (Cooke, 1908, p. ll)). (_)ther 

 spring dates are: Gallatin Valley, May 26, 1909, and Choteau, May 28, 1912. 

 West of the divide its migrations are eonsideral)ly (-arlier, as shown from data 

 from the Bitterroot Valley, where dates of arrival are .Alay (i, 1910. .\pril 29, 

 1911, May 8, 1912, and April 27, 1918 (Bailey, .MS). Kalispell. .May (i, 191;; 

 (Sloanaker, .AIS). 



This species nests commonl.v and thei'e are many notes on the nesting, which 

 evidently begins early in June. In eastern ^lontana young are on the wing by 

 July 15 (Cameron, 1907, p. .'Wl). Eggs were taken at the mouth of the .Milk 

 River, June 21, 22 and 28, 1874 (Cones, 1874b, p. 610). A set of three eggs wms 

 taken at St. Ignatius and the species noted nesting at Missoula (Silloway, 19()la, 

 pp. 36 and 55). Birds were observed feeding young at Toston, Broadwater 

 County, July 11, 1911 (Saunders, 1912f, p. 218). Half grown young in the nest 

 were noted at Jlissoula, Jidy 1 ( Kittredge, MS). Birds were nestJ)uilding at 

 Kalispell, July 1 (Sloanaker, .AIS). 



172. Sayornis sayus (lionaparte) 



Say Phoebe 



A conuuon summer resident of eastern .Montana, e;ist of the mountains, 

 occurring rarely in the mountain valleys, and at jireseut unknown west of the 

 continental divide. Breeds in the Transition zone on rocks in badlands or river 

 canyons, or about the edges of prairie buttes, and aiiout ranch buildings and 

 under bridges. Most observers in the prairie region record this species, but the 

 only record west of the mountains is Gallatin County, where two were taken 

 (Richmond and Knowlton, 1894, p. 304). 



Arrives in spring in April, earl.v April in southeastern Montana, and later 

 in the northwestern part of its range in the state. Five years at Terry show an 

 average of April 9, with the earliest April 7, 1889 (Cooke, 1908, p. 212). Other 



