BIRDS OF FERGUS COUNTY, MONTANA -15 



Distinguishing features: Head and neck dark brown; other parts 

 black, generally with metallic hues; length 8-9 inches. 



497. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. 



This fine blackbird is not uncommon at Lewistown during the 

 spring and fall migrations, though only a few are seen at a time. As it 

 is a bird of the swamps, it does not find many localities in this' region suit- 

 able to its habits, and hence probably does not breed to any extent in this 

 county. Records of other observers show that the yellow-headed blackbird 

 is not seen in numbers in this portion of its habitat. Dr. J. A. Allen re- 

 ports that this species was seen but three or four times on the whole 

 journey. "A small colony found breeding near the point where we crossed 

 the Big Muddy, and a single small flock seen near the head of the Great 

 Porcupine Creek. A small flock seen once also on Heart River." Dr. Mc- 

 Chesney does not mention it in his list of birds of the Big Horn region, 

 and Dr. Elliott Coues did not notice it on this portion of the Missouri 

 River. In the spring of 1902, the writer noted the yellow-headed black- 

 bird sparingly in the swamp at the head of Swan Lake, in the Flathead 

 region, with good evidence of its breeding there, though no nests were 

 found. Not more than half a dozen individuals were seen in an area of a 

 square mile. 



Capt. Platte M. Thome found this blackbird abundant in suitable 

 localities at Ft. Keogh, where it breeds. 



Distinguishing features: Head, neck, and upper part of breast 

 yellow; wing-coverts chiefly white; other parts black; length 10-11 inches. 



498. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. Agelaius phoeniceus. 



This handsome blackbird is seen regularly in this region, inhabiting 

 reedy swamps throughout the prairie districts of the county. In the sea- 

 son of 1900, the first red-winged blackbird appeared on the morning of 

 April 9 at Lewistown, calling cheerfully in spite of a light fall of snow. 

 In 1902, the first red-wing of the season was observed on March 22, sing- 

 ing in rusty tone in a thicket in a marshy place on Big Spring Creek. 



Owing to its local distribution, this blackbird is not noted in num- 

 bers except when it congregates in the restricted marshy areas. Dr. J. A. 

 Allen says that it was met with only at distant intervals, and nowhere 

 in considerable numbers. He did not observe it either on the Mussel- 

 shell or the Yellowstone. Dr. McChesney reports that he did not believe 

 this blackbird entered the Big Horn region. At Ft. Keogh, however, Capt. 

 Thome found it common and breeding. 



In the late fall, the red-winged blackbird forms large flocks with 

 Brewer's blackbird, the former fully equaling the latter in its proportions 

 in the flocks. It no longer confines its movements to the swamps, but 

 enters the towns with its associate, and gleans from the feed-lots. None 

 are seen generally after the end of October. 



Distinguishing features: Black, with wing-coverts bright red; fe- 

 male lacks the red marking, and is streaked; length 9-10 inches. 



