Jan., 1912 
SOME BIRDS OF SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA 
23 
were much less thorough and covered shorter periods of time, and for that reason 
I feel that the list of valley birds is far from complete. Although this is the most 
thickly settled portion of Montana, there has, to my knowledge, been nothing pre- 
viously published by other observers on the birds of this region. For a more ex- 
tended account of the nesting habits of some of the birds listed the reader is referred 
to The Condor, xii, pp. 195-204. 
Colymbus nigricollis calif ornicus. Eared Grebe. Migrant. A flock numbering 
approximately 175 was seen on Rock Creek Rake, Powell County, on September 17, 
1910. This flock wms composed mostly of young birds, who kept together in a body 
in the middle of the lake, and appeared to be resting but not feeding. A wounded 
bird of this species was captured near Butte in late May, 1911, and kept alive for 
several days in a small tank in a cafe window in Anaconda. 
Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Seen near Buxton, Silver Bow 
County, on May 6, 1910, and near Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, May 1, 1911. 
Anas platyrhynchos . Mallard. A common migrant in the valleys. A few re- 
main to breed in suitable localities, and a few also winter wherever warm springs 
keep the water from freezing. The first spring migrants are usually seen early 
in April. 
Mareca americana. Baldpate. Seen near Buxton May 7, 1910, and near Ana- 
conda on several occasions from April 20 to May 27, 1911. 
Nettion carolinense. Green- winged Teal. An abundant migrant and probably 
also a summer resident. Late in August, 1910, both this and the next species be- 
came very abundant throughout the Deer Lodge valley. Residents of the region 
claimed that they were much more abundant than usual at that season, and believed 
that it was because of the forest fires that were raging at that time farther north and 
west in Montana, which had driven them from their breeding grounds earlier than 
usual. The same was true of the Mallard to a lesser extent, and perhaps of other 
species of ducks. Migration dates for this species are April 23, 1910, April 23, 1911, 
and October 30, 1910. It winters rarely, as one was observed near Anaconda Janu- 
ary 8, 1911. 
Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. Common migrant and probably also 
summer resident. Migration dates are April 23, 1911, and September 26, 1910. 
Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. I saw a pair of these birds on the 
Silver Bow marshes. May 21, 1911. 
Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. Common migrant. Observed September 25, 
1910, and from April 30 to May 14, 1911. 
Clangula clangula americana. Golden-eye. A common wdnter resident in the 
canyon of the Jefferson River below Whitehall. 
Erismatura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. An adult female of this species was 
captured alive near Anaconda in October, 1910, and was kept alive in a small tank 
in a cafe window for some time, in company with a Green-winged Teal and a Coot. 
Branta canadensis (subspecies?). Canada Goose. A regular migrant. Seen 
in flight overhead, but seldom alighting in this region and rarely secured by hunters- 
Olor columbianus. Whistling Swan. A regular migrant. In my list of the 
Birds of Gallatin County, Montana {^Auk xxviii, pp. 26-49), I recorded this 
species as the common migrant swan, though with considerable hesitation because 
there were no definite data to show that this species had ever occurred in Montana. 
Recently, however, I have strengthened my belief that this is the common migrant 
species in the state, by examining two specimens. One of these consists of the 
head and wing of a young bird that was shot by Mr. Rheesis Fransham in the 
