20 
THE CONDOR 
I VOL. VI 
Birds of Fort Custer, Montana 
BY EDGAR A. MEARNS 
M y visit to Fort Custer was a brief one. Leaving Custer station on the 
Northern Pacific railroad very early on the morning of July 23, 1889, in 
the kind of conveyance known throughout the Army as an “ambulance,” 
drawn by an excellent team of four mules, we reached Fort Custer (since aban- 
doned), located on a bluff beside the Bighorn River, about noon. The rest of that 
day, and the one following, were chiefly spent in looking about the country; and 
on July 25th, towards evening, we commenced the return trip to the railroad at 
Custer. Following is a list of the birds observed: 
Actitis macularia (Linn.). Spotted Sandpiper. One was seen on the bank of 
the Bighorn River. 
jEgialitis vocif era (Linn.). Killdeer. Very many were seen along the streams, 
and on the »iesa back of Fort Custer. 
Dendragapus obscurus richardsoni (Doug.). Richardson Grouse. I saw wings 
and tails of this grouse that had been brought in to the fort from a sawmill in the 
neighboring mountains. 
Pedioecetes phasianellus campestris (Ridg.). Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse. This 
is known as the “Willow Grouse.” I saw several flocks as we drove along the 
Bighorn River, and shot two birds that were near the road. 
Centrocercus urophasianus (Bon.). Sage Grouse. Abundant on the grassy 
plain back of Fort Custer. On July 24th, my host. Doctor William R. Hall, U. S. 
Army, took me afield in his buckboard to shoot sage grouse. A few miles from 
the post the Captain’s setter dog caught a half-grown one, which made a delicious 
meal; but, when older, the flesh is said to become tough and permeated with sage, 
for which reason these grouse were only shot by the officers of Fort Custer during 
the months of July and August. On this occasion a heavy thunder-storm drove us 
from the field before another covey could be found. 
Zenaidura macroura (Linn.). Mourning Dove. Very abundant, especiall}^ in 
the heavy timber bordering the Bighorn River. 
Cathartes aura (Linn.). Turkey Vulture. Abundant. 
Circus hudsonius (Ivinn.). Marsh Hawk. Common. vSeen coursing the prairie 
in every direction. 
Buteo or Archibuteo. Several buzzard hawks were seen on telegraph poles 
at a distance. Both genera may have been repre.sented. 
Falco sparverius deserticola Mearns. Desert Sparrow Hawk. Very abundant; 
fluttering and hovering over one spot, searching for grasshoppers on which they 
were feeding. They were very fearless, allowing the ambulance to pass within a 
few yards of them, sometimes following it in pursuit of grasshoppers disturbed by 
the passing vehicle. 
Speotyto cunicularia hypogaea ( Bon.). Burrowing Owl. Many were seen in 
prairie-dog towns between Custer station and the Bighorn River. On the mesa 
around Fort Custer it was also numerous. 
Colaptes cafer collaris (Vigors). Red-shafted Flicker. Abundant wherever 
there was timber. 
Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linn.). Red-headed Woodpecker. Abundant in 
the cottonwood timber of the river- bottoms. 
Chordeiles virginianus sennetti (Cones). .Sennett Nighthawk. Nighthawks 
