194 



THE OOLOGIST 



A List of Birds Observed in the Big 

 Hole Basin, Montana. 

 Earle R. Forrest 



The following list is by no means 

 complete. It was made from May 19, 

 1913, to July 9, 1913, and only covers 

 a small area of the Big Hole Basin. 

 This basin or valley is located in Deer 

 Lodge and Beaverhead counties, Mon- 

 tana. It is surrounded on all sides 

 by high rugged mountain ranges. 

 These notes were taken principally in 

 the Continental Divide Range on the 

 side of the basin at the foot of these 

 mountains. While some notes were 

 taken in other parts of the basin they 

 were made principally in Township 1, 

 North Range 16 West, Township 1, 

 North Range 15 West, Township 1, 

 South Range 15 West, and Township 

 1, South Range 16 West. A total of 

 34 species were identified. 



Anas boschas. Mallard. Common 

 on the streams and swamps in the val- 

 ley during the latter part of May. 



Nettion carolinensis. Green-winged 

 Teal. Common on the streams and 

 swamps in the valley during the lat- 

 ter part of May. 



Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpip- 

 er. Common about small mountain 

 lakes. Probably breeds. Found in the 

 Canadian zone. 



Aegialitis vocifers. Killdeer. Com- 

 mon in the basin and on the open low- 

 lands. Not seen in the mountains. 

 Probably breeds as it was observed 

 during the breeding season. 



Dendragapus obscurus fuliginosus. 

 Sooty Grouse. Very common in the 

 fir and pine forests of the mountains. 

 Breeds. Found in the Canadian zone. 



Dendragapus franklinii. Franklin 

 Grouse. Commonly called "Fool Hen" 

 because of its lack of fear. Several 

 were caught at different times by 

 workmen, but were always released. 

 During the open season they are of- 

 ten killed with clubs and stones. They 



are very common in the mountains. 

 Breeds. Found in the Canadian Zone. 



Bonasa umbellus togata. Canadian 

 Ruffed Grouse. Very common. They 

 were heard drumming around camp 

 and all through the woods as soon as 

 we arrived, and a large number were 

 seen. Breeds. Found in the Canadian 

 zone. 



Circus hudsonius. Marsh Hawk. 

 Seen occasionally flying over the mea- 

 dows in the basin. Probably breeds. 



Accipiter atricapillus sariatulus. 

 Western Goshawk. The nest of a pair 

 was found in the top of a small pine 

 tree about 35 feet from the ground. It 

 contained four young that were about 

 four or five days old on June 1st. 

 One adult was shot thus making the 

 identification positive. The nest was 

 rather bulky and was composed of 

 large sticks, lined with small twigs. 

 The nest was visited a number of 

 times and one bird was always found 

 on guard. They were very aggressive 

 and attacked me once while climbing 

 to the nest. Found in the Canadian 

 zone. 



Buteo borealis calurus. Western 

 Red-tail. The most common hawk seen 

 in the mountains and on the open 

 country of the basin. A pair was al- 

 ways to be found in the vicinity of 

 every gopher "town". The farmers of 

 the Big Hole regard them as their 

 friends and try to protect them, as 

 much as possible. They are very tame, 

 and one can approach quite close to 

 one that is sitting on a fence post. 

 Breeds. Found in the Canadian zone. 



Falco sparverius phaloma. Desert 

 Sparrow Hawk. Common in the open 

 country in the basin below the moun- 

 tains. Breeds. Found in the Cana- 

 dian zone. 



Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. 

 American Osprey. One was observed 

 at a small lake in the mountains, 

 where it was watching for fish. Prob- 



