108 PACIFIC COAST AVIFAUNA No. 14 



207. Loxia curvirostra minor (Hrehm) 



Crossbill 



A suniiiKT resicieut of yellow pine fore,sts in the Transition zone, vvhei-e\er 

 they occur in the state. In other parts of the state mainly an irregular migrant, 

 lias been found more rarely in winter. The yellow i)ine forest, which appears 

 to be the only place where this species breeds, occurs only at low elevations, be- 

 low 4,500 feet in the southern part of the state and below 4,000 in the northern. 

 Such forest forms the main bod.y of timlier in the pine hills of eastern Montana, 

 and occurs in the lower foothills of the mountains of many parts of western 

 Montana, so that the Crossbill's breeding range should include all such areas. It 

 has been found in the breeding season in Custer County (Cameron, 1907, p. i')2) ; 

 along the Yellowstone and Musselshell (Allen, 1874, p. 55) ; at Flathead jjake 

 (Silloway, 1901a, p. HI); in the vicinit.y of Gold Creek, Powell County (Shiih- 

 ders, 1912a, p. 28) ; at Florence, in the Bitti'rroot Valley (Bailey, ilS) ; and at 

 Lake MacDonald, Glacier National Park. 



In migration this bird has been found at Lame Deer, .M;).v, 1891 (Thorne. 

 1S95, p. 216); in Gallatin County, September 23 to October 24, 1908; at Elk 

 Park, Silver Bow County, September 2 to 8, 1910 (Saunders, 1912a. p. 28') -. and 

 at Gary, Flathead Count.y, September 26, 1915 (DuBois, JIS). In winter it has 

 been noted at Lnbec, Teton County, January 15. 1912 (Saunders, 1914a, p. 136) : 

 and at Corvallis in February, 1909 (Bailey, MS) ; and at Kalispell, February 

 3, 1917 (Sloanaker, MS). 



The nest has evidently been found but onee in the state, at Flathead Lake. 

 This nest was being built on July 19, and, with its eggs, was collected on July 

 27, when incubation was partly advanced (Sillowa,v, 1905h, p. 74). In Custer 

 { ounty young are stated to be out of the nest June 15 (Cameron, 1907. p. 402). 



208. Loxia leucoptera Gmelin 

 White-wi nged Crossbill 



A rare summer resident in the mountains of northwestern Montana, oc- 

 curring very rarely elsewhere in the state in migrations or in winter. Summer 

 records: One male seen at Swan Lake, and one female at Lake MacDonald (Sil- 

 loway, 1905b, p. 176) ; two seen on the road between Belton and Lake MacDon- 

 ald, Glacier National Park, Jul.y 4, 1915 (DuBois, IMS). One male and two fe- 

 males seen on the South Fork of the Flathead River at Riverside, August 18, 

 1915 (Betts, 1916, p. 163). Records in migration: Big Sandy, April 22, 1905, 

 and September 12, 1905 (Cooke, 1912, p. 46). Winter records: Occurs irregu- 

 larly in winter in the mountains of Fergus County (Sillowa.v. 1903a, p. 49) : 

 lour birds, a male and three females, M'ere taken at ]\Iiles Cit.v, November l(i, 

 1919, by Hedges. These birds were in a draw among wild rose bushes and Span- 

 ish bayonet, three-quarters of a mile from the nearest trees and twelve miles 

 from the nearest pines. 



