Upland Game Birds: 



Family Tetraonidae 



The blue grouse lives in the foothills and 

 open forests, feeding on seeds, buds, 

 plants, and berries. It nests on the ground 

 and produces one clutch of eggs each sum- 

 mer. Spruce or Franklin's grouse ranges in 

 much the same habitat. It is sometimes 

 called the fool hen because it often seems 

 unaware of danger. The ruffed grouse 

 tends to occupy lower elevations, living in 

 mountain valleys and along streams. 



The white-tailed ptarmigan's mottled 

 plumage serves as camouflage in summer 

 when it resembles the mossy rocks of its 

 habitat. Its feathers molt (drop out) and 

 come in white when the snows of winter 

 require a different blend for protection 

 against its predators. Its winter wear in- 

 cludes extra feathers on legs and feet for 

 comfort in bitter cold. The ptarmigan bur- 

 rows into snow drifts for warmth and for 

 protection from foxes and bobcats. 



Three other species among the most pop- 

 ular game birds in Montana are not native 

 to the state. They are the ring-necked 

 pheasant, the Hungarian partridge, and 

 the chukar, a type of quail. The wild (or 

 Merriam's) turkey, which is gaining favor 

 as a game bird, has also been introduced 

 into the prairies of eastern Montana. It 

 lives in open forests of Douglas fir and pon- 

 derosa pine, roosting in trees at night. 



Montana Department of Fish. Wildlife & Parks 



Montana Department of Commerce 



Ruffed Grouse 



Paddlefish 



Fish 



Of the 80 species of fish in Montana's 

 streams, only a few inhabit the cold waters 

 of the Rockies. These are of the salmonidae 

 family— trout, whitefish, salmon, and 

 grayling, considered by some anglers to be 

 the top game fish in the state. No single 

 species is found in all drainages. 



Most of the other families of fish occupy 

 the warmer waters of the central and east- 

 ern Montana plains. Many members of the 

 minnow family live in the Missouri, Yellow- 

 stone, and Little Missouri rivers; chubs, 

 dace, shiners, and suckers are among 

 them. 



Three members of the sturgeon family 

 live in Montana streams, as well as sun- 

 fish, perch, sculpin, and catfish. The most 

 unusual fish in the state is the paddlefish, 

 unchanged from prehistoric times. This 

 large fish weighs 50 to 60 pounds or more, 

 has a smooth, tough hide, and a unique up- 

 per jaw shaped like a paddle. Because its 

 growth can be measured by rings of carti- 

 lage in its skeleton, scientists have discov- 

 ered these fish may live as long as 30 

 years. 



14 



