partial clearings. On the 1905 expe¬ 
dition to Isle Royale only two speci¬ 
mens were noted but there was reason 
to believe the species was much more 
common (14). In the early 1960 1 s 
Shelton sighted this bird eight times, 
all between October 26 and February 24. 
They were particularly conspicuous 
during the late winter in 1963 (39). 
Wood speculated that the species might 
breed on Isle Royale (21). 
177 „ Common Redpoll ( Acanthis 
flammea (Linnaeus)) 
This redpoll is a common winter 
visitor and is often found in the 
birch-conifer and aspen-birch-conifer 
types. Some winters the species is 
common and in others, absent. A small 
flock of six specimens was noted in 
September 1930, and small flocks were 
present during the colder part of the 
winter of 1936-37. Shelton saw large 
numbers between November 1962 and 
March 1963, but none was seen the 
previous winter ( 39) . 
178. Pine Siskin ( Spinus pinus 
(Wilson)) 
The pine siskin is an uncommon 
summer resident and a common migrant. 
There is also reason to believe the 
species is an irregular permanent 
resident. The preferred habitats are 
the birch-conifer type, the aspen- 
birch-conifer type, the swamp forest 
type, and the clearings and partial 
clearings. On the 1904 expedition 
flocks of siskins were frequently 
seen in August and September, but 
in 1905 the species was seen only 
occasionally (14, 19 ). A single 
bird was collected in 1930, and in 
the winter of 1936-37 the species was 
fairly abundant (21). In May 1948, a 
spectacular migration was observed, 
several hundred landing in the top of 
a single birch tree at the mouth of 
Ha Horan Creek on Siskiwit Bay ( 36) . 
A single specimen was recorded again 
in May 1950 ( 35) . During the early 
1960's Shelton saw them at all season* 
of the year but recorded them more 
often in the fall and spring than in 
the winter or summer ( 39) . 
179. American Goldfinch ( Spinus 
tristis .(Linnaeus)) 
The goldfinch is a rare migrant. 
On the 1904 expedition a flock was re¬ 
ported ( 22) ; a single bird was noted i 
in 1930, and a flock of six was found 
in 1938 ( 21) . Shelton saw several in 
September 1961 and three together in 
June 1963 ( 39) . 
**180. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvi- 
rostra Linnaeus) 
This crossbill is a rare summer 
resident and a rare migrant. The 
habitats preferred are the birch- 
conifer, the aspen-birch-conifer, and I 
the swamp forest types. One specimen 
was reported in 1905 and another one 
in 1929 (21). Shelton recorded red 1 
crossbills four times during 1960; 
on July 27, he saw six birds, includ¬ 
ing young being fed by adults on Wash¬ 
ington Creek; the others were small 
traveling flocks observed on August 16, 
October 16, and October 17 (39). 
181. White-winged Crossbills ( Loxia 
leucoptera (Gmelin) 
The white-winged crossbill is an 
uncommon summer resident and migrant. 
Preferred habitats are the birch- 
conifer type, the aspen-birch-conifer 
type, and the swamp forest type. On 
the 1904 expedition small flocks were 
reported, and in 1905 the species was 
quite common in the sphagnum bogs (14, 
22 ). Wood (21) reported the species 
again in 1929, and Gilbert in 1946 coni- 
eluded that the species was a rare 
migrant (30). In the early 1960's, 
Shelton made the following observa¬ 
tions: flock of six in July 1960; 
flock of 18 on June 30, 1960; flock of 
20 on December 6, 1960; and a single 
male on July 8, 1963 (39). 
50 
