SOME COMMON RAPTOR SPECIES IN MONTANA
Falconiformes Cathartidae Turkey Vulture (SR)
Accipitridae Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) (SR)
Northern Goshawk (PR) , Cooper's Hawk (Chicken Hawk) (PR) * Accipiter-like profile Sharp-shinned Hawk (PR) - and habits
Golden Eagle (PR) Bald Eagle (PR) Osprey (SR)
Red-tailed Hawk (SR) , Swainson's Hawk (SR) * Buteo-like profile Rough-legged Hawk (WR) * and habits Ferruginous Hawk (SR) -
Falconidae Prairie Falcon (SR) , Peregrine Falcon (Duck Hawk) (SR) * Falco-like profile Merlin (Pigeon Hawk) (PR) * and habits American Kestrel (Sparrow Hawk) (SR) -
Strigiformes Strigidae Great Gray Owl (PR) Great Horned Owl (PR) Long-eared Owl (PR) Short-eared Owl (PR) Western Screech-Owl (PR) Northern Saw-whet Owl (PR) Northern Pygmy-Owl (PR) Burrowing Owl (SR) ______
SR = summer resident PR = permanent resident WR = winter resident
49 Montana Raptors
Raptors include birds with (1) strongly decurved bills for tearing flesh and (2) sharply decurved talons for grasping and killing prey. In Montana, the raptors include basically 2 orders: Falconiformes (Vultures and diurnal birds of prey) and Strigiformes (nocturnal birds of prey).
With regard to their body and wing profile, most diurnal raptors can be categorized into cone of 3 basic groups, the name of which comes from the common genus in the group: (1) Accipiter-like birds have relatively short, rounded wings and long tails. This morphology is associated with a high degree of maneuverability; the birds commonly dart in and out among dense vegetation and take bird prey from the ground. (2) Falco-like birds have medium-sized wings that taper to a point, and fairly straight tails. The tapered wings facilitate a rapid wing beat; the birds commonly fly extremely rapidly (approximately 200 mph?) and take bird prey from mid-air. (3) Buteo-like birds have long, broad wings that are deeply slotted at the tip, and wedge-shaped tails. The broad wings facilitate utilization of wind currents for soaring; they commonly soar high above the ground and search for mammal prey below, then stoop down to capture the prey. They also stoop onto prey from elevated perches.
50 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
ID: Best identified by its flight -- the wings are held up in a v-shape and the flight looks extremely unsteady; black with red heads.
Range: S. Canada to Patagonia; formerly abundant in Montana and now rarer, presumably due to the slaughter of Bison.
Habitat: Everywhere except heavily forested sites.
Food: Principal avian scavenger in the U.S.; relies on carrion for food, which it can apparently find in part through olfaction.
Habits/Reproduction: Migratory; comes to Montana to breed; nests on precipitous cliffs generally with little or no nest material; as with most raptors, has a couple of young generally; they rely heavily on air currents for travel, and generally wait atop trees or cliffs in the early morning until thermals develop; both sexes incubate and both feed young by regurgitation.
51 Northern Harrier = Marsh Hawk (Circus cyaneus)
ID: Best told by flight pattern--generally found flying within a few meters above marshy or grassy vegetation; males are all white below with black wing tips and females are brown; both sexes have white rump patch.
Range: Canada to South America; common in Montana.
Habitat: Most often found in marshy areas, but also grasslands where moisture is nearby; easy to see at Ninepipes and Metcalf Refuges.
Food: Mice, frogs, snakes (occasionally grouse).
Habits/Reproduction: Most are migratory; hunting methods include the low flight above vegetation as mentioned above followed by a quick dive onto prey, or possibly hovering above prey before dropping onto them; courtship behavior is dramatic--males fly up and down making a series of "U's" and do somersaults at the top of their flight; also drop prey to female wile both are in the air; nests generally near ground amid reeds; females incubate, male passes food to female in mid-air.
52 Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
ID: Largest accipiter--bigger than a crow; has a distinctive white eye-stripe and fluffy under- tail coverts.
Range: Canada--U.S.; common in western Montana.
Habitat: Dense forests of most any type.
Food: Birds the size of grouse, ducks, jays; occasionally rabbits and squirrels.
Habits/Reproduction: Permanent resident; very secretive, sometimes result in a heavy loss to poultry farmers; males build stick nests in trees and aggressively defend these sites; hunt in accipiter fashion; females incubate, males provide food, usually by giving prey to female at some distance from the nest.
53 Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)
ID: Smaller than crow, larger than jay; rounded tail and black cap on head.
Range: North America.
Habitat: All forested areas.
Food: Birds the size of jays, but occasionally larger grouse and smaller passerines.
Habits/Reproduction: Most migrate out in winter; this is the "chicken hawk" that has given birds of prey a bad name in the farmers' world; males build most of stick nest in tree; female incubates; male brings food to female away from nest; later, both tend young.
54 Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
ID: Smallest of the accipiters-smaller than a jay; has a squared-off tail.
Range: North America.
Habitat: Forested areas.
Food: Tiny birds; mostly warblers, sparrows and the like.
Habits/Reproduction: Most migrate; feed by dashing boldly through the forest and coming upon a group of ground-foraging birds by surprise; generally nest in conifers in stick nests; the alarm calls of tiny birds often hint that the raptor is nearby; both sexes incubate, male provided food during nestling period.
55 Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
ID: HUGE, all dark bird with golden neck feathers; immatures have white specks on hind portion of wing.
Range: N. America.
Habitat: Open country; commonest in plains and deserts.
Food: Large rodents, rabbits, large birds and smaller (young) big game.
Habits/Reproduction: Permanent residents; like a buteo, it soars around searching for relatively large prey on the ground; it nests in stick nests on cliffs generally. Monogamous; both sexes build nest, incubate; young fed by female with food brought by male.
56 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
ID: White head and tail on a huge bird; immatures resemble Golden Eagles, but the white specks are on the leading edge of wing and body.
Range: North America.
Habitat: Riparian habitats mostly.
Food: Mostly fish, but also ducks and smaller mammals.
Habits/Reproduction: MIGRATORY; most of the birds we see are wintering individuals, but breeding numbers have increased in the last decade. At Lake McDonald, they congregate to feast on the salmon that have finished spawning. They nest in large, conspicuous stick nests in a live tree, and may reuse old nests year after year (one in Ohio is 12' high and 30 years old!); they have a distinctive upward whistle and downward whinny; monogamous; both sexes build nest, incubate and feed young.
57 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
ID: Mostly white below; Buteo-sized bird with black wrists and black stripe through the face.
Range: N. America.
Habitat: Lakes and large reservoirs.
Food: Fish.
Habits/Reproduction: Migratory; arrive after ice melts and build huge stick nests atop snags--reuse nests from year to year; generally hover above prey, then dive feet-first into the water and capture fish with pin cushiony feet; fish always carried head first; voice is distinctive downward whistled "yewk, yewk"; monogamous; both sexes build nest, incubate; feed young.
58
BUTEOS
NAME Red-tailed Hawk Swainson's Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (Buteo swainsoni) (Buteo lagopus) (Buteo regalis)
ID Narrow black Dark head; dark Light head, black Dark legs and light, leading edge on trailing edge on belly and broad unbanded tail. wings plus dark wings; dark terminal black tail band breast feathers; red band on tail. terminally. tail; voice distinctive "wheeerr".
RANGE North America; Western North Canada in summer - Western North migrates out of American to South U.S. in winter. America. northern areas in America in winter. winter.
HABITAT Wooded areas, but Prairies near Open country, near Open plains, can be seen most riparian habitat. wetter areas badlands, rare in anywhere. normally. western MT.
FOOD Rodents, snakes, Pocket gophers, Voles, field mice. Prairie dogs, rabbits. rabbits. ground squirrels.
HABITS Both sexes build Nest in trees in Here only in the Stick nests in trees stick nest in trees or riparian habitats winter where it or on cliffs; both on cliffs; both sexes usually; not sure replaces the Red- parents incubate incubate and feed how they find and tailed Hawk; nest on and feed young. young. specialize on rock outcrops or gophers; both sexes trees; both sexes incubate and feed incubate, male young. brings food.
All have interesting courtship displays in the air that include undulating flight and parachuting. In general, Buteo species tend to separate out ecologically by occupying different habitats; they eat similar types of food in these different habitat types. Falcons, on the other hand, tend to be found together in the same habitats, but eat different sized prey (the size of prey is positively correlated with their body size). Accipiters are like falcons in this respect.
59 FALCONS
NAME Prairie Falcon Peregrine Falcon Merlin Kestrel (Falco (Falco mexicanus) (Falco peregrinus) (Falco columbarius) sparverius)
ID 2 stripes down face; 1 bold stripe down Jay-sized; dark tail Smallest; 2 facial black arm pits. face; no black arm with white stripes. stripes, red back pits. and tail (blue wings in male).
NEW WORLD Western RANGE North America North America North America North America
HABITAT Open drier country Open moister Near forested areas. Forested or open with cliffs. country with cliffs. country.
FOOD Jay/meadow lark- Duck-sized birds, Passerines; Insects, snakes, sized birds. shorebirds. waxwings a favorite small rodents. in Missoula in winter.
HABITS Nest in cliffs; Nest in cliffs; Nest in trees in stick Hole nester. hunting methods adversely affected by nests, or cliffs. described earlier. DDT.
Aerial courtship displays can be seen in most all of the falcons where there is much diving, rolling, foot-touching; all are basically monogamous and mate near the nest while stationary; both sexes incubate, but male generally brings food to female, who feeds young.
60 OWLS
NAME Great Long-eared Short-eared Common Northern Burrowing Horned Owl Owl (Asio Owl (Asio Screech- Pygmy-Owl Owl (Bubo otus) flammeus) Owl (Glaucidium (Athene virginianus) (Otus asio) gnoma) cunicularia) ID Large, Buteo Broader No visible Small (8"), Tiny; tail Long legs; sized bird; facial discs ears. eared owl; sticks out usually seen windshield than G. ping pong beyond body; on ground. wiper face; Horned; ball call. slow, single- deep hoots long ears. note call. are distinctive.
RANGE N. America N. America N. America N. America Western N. Western N. America America
HABITAT All wooded Wooded Marshy Wooded Wooded Open plains. areas. areas near areas. areas. areas; mostly dry open coniferous country. forests.
FOOD Rodents Grassland Voles. Small mice. Small birds. Prairie dogs; mostly. rodents. small birds.
HABITS Resident; Resident; Resident; Summer Resident; Migrant; nest hunt any tend to nest nest in resident; hole nester; in burrows, time of day, in wooded unlined nest in female both parents but more areas & hollow on wood- broods young feed young. often at forage in ground; packer & feeds them night; open areas female cavities & food brought reproductive at night; tends other by male. behavior females young & natural similar to incubate, male brings holes; other male brings food. female raptors; nest food. incubates& in broken- male brings top snags food. often.
61 UPLAND GAME BIRDS
The bird order galliformes includes heavy-bodied, chicken-like birds with muscular legs and heavy feet. They generally eat seeds that they uncover by scratching the ground, but also eat insects, berries, leaves, and buds. Most of the species are non-migratory, but they have well-developed flight muscles for explosive take-offs and short distance flights. Most of the species are polygamous--the males boom, strut, or dance and attract females, which proceed to mate with the dominant males and then leave to raise young alone. Females nest on the ground and lay 8-16 eggs. The young are very precocial and can fly at 1 week of age; they are almost entirely insectivorous, while adults eat seeds, etc.
Family Phasianidae-- Turkey, pheasant, quail, grouse, and ptarmigan
Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)
ID: Unbarred, dark tail with rusty band at tip, or black tail with white spots on topside near the base; black breast patch.
Range: Northern coniferous forests of Canada and just into the northern most United Sates west of the continental Divide; W. Montana.
Habitat: Densely forested areas.
Food: Pine, spruce, and larch needles, berries in season.
Habits/Reproduction: Well camouflaged and they also move extremely slowly, this reduces the probability that they will be detected; they will jump quickly into dense vegetation if escape is needed. In spring, males "strut" -- hold tail upright and fanned, revealing the white spots; sometimes they jump into the air and flutter up to 5 m or so, banging their wins together to produce clapping noises.
62 Blue Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)
ID: Males have yellow or red combs above eyes and orange-red neck patch; large, square, dark tail with light gray terminal band.
Range: Northwest U.S. and mountains of southwest; western Montana.
Habitat: Most common in forest edge and early successional habitats in the pine-fir elevational zone.
Food: Almost exclusively firs in winter; berries in season.
Habits/Reproduction: They show reverse altitudinal migration; they migrate downslope to breed and up to higher country to winter; males set up large territories in spring and strut, fan their tails and "hoot" by inflating throat pouches; females build nest on ground in brush or under logs.
63 Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
ID: Named for a shoulder ruff that can be raised like an umbrella; dark terminal band on a light tail.
Range: Canada and northern U.S.; W. Montana and isolated mountains in eastern part of state; most widespread non-migratory game bird in North America.
Habitat: Deciduous forests, especially riparian habitats and disturbed habitats; aspens.
Food: Buds, leaves, ferns; berries in season.
Habits/Reproduction: In spring, males use traditional "drumming" logs; they beat their wings rapidly, hanging onto the log and create a low frequency booming noise; females are attracted and mating occurs; the female leaves and scrapes a nest in a depression on the forest floor; in winter, they are known to dive into snowbanks and roost under the cover of snow.
64 Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus)
ID: Mottled bird with short, pointed tail; chicken-like clucking when flushed.
Range: Central Canada and midwestern U.S.; eastern Montana and pockets in western Montana.
Habitat: Grasslands and brushlands mixture; need woody plants in winter; pure grassland seems inappropriate; oak savannahs--movement to riparian areas in winter.
Food: Grains; birch and aspen buds in winter.
Habits/Reproduction: About a dozen males congregate on a traditional display arena (lek) in the spring and attract females, dominant males do most of the breeding; females scrape a nest within which to lay about 12 eggs.
65 Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
ID: Largest grouse species; large body with long, pointed tail, black abdomen and white breast.
Range: NW U.S.
Habitat: Sagebrush.
Food: Sage (unlike other grouse, has no gizzard).
Habits/Reproduction: Most dramatic lek species in terms of the numbers of males that congregate (30-70); each male defends a tiny territory maybe 40 ft. across and central (dominant) males do most of breeding; males strut and inflate throat pouches then force air out of them, creating a loud "pop" sound.
White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus)
ID: Mottled brown in summer, white in winter; tail and wings always white.
Range: Alaska, W. Canada, down Rockies; western Montana.
Habitat: Alpine tundra; areas with willows and dwarfed shrubs.
Food: Alpine willow; spring wildflowers and moss.
Habits/Reproduction: Large territories established by males in spring; mostly monogamous; male remains to defend territory until young hatch, then he leaves.
66
Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
ID: Huge, ground-dwelling bird; wattles.
Range: Southern U.S.; introduced into Montana in 1954 from Colorado and Wyoming; best populations exist in southeastern part of state.
Habitat: Open woodlands, especially ponderosa pine; some river bottoms.
Food: Seeds, fruits, berries, insects.
Habits/Reproduction: Polygamous; males defend their harems; normally forage in groups throughout the year; heavily reliant on agriculture in Montana.
67 Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
ID: Long tail; white ring around neck.
Range: Asia; introduced to western U.S. in 1881; Montana in 1921; now occurs across all northern states; have replaced sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens only because farmland has replaced natural habitat.
Habitat: Irrigated land, farmland, river drainages; do best where farming is "unclean".
Food: Crop foods (wheat, barley, corn, oats,...)
Habits: Polygamous.
68 Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)
ID: Gray; rufous face and belly; rusty tail; wings bend downward in flight.
Range: Europe and Asia; introduced into E. U.S. in 1870, 1st introduced game bird; in Montana by 1920; now across northern band of states and s. Canada.
Habitat: Grassy areas adjacent to farmland; harvested wheat fields; well adapted to “clean” farming.
Food: Cultivated grains; weeds and leafy herbs.
Habits/Reproduction: Monogamous; birds run around in coveys of closely related individuals year-round.
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
ID: Black and white face and striped flanks.
Range: Eurasia, Asia; introduced into U.s. around turn of century; in Montana by 1930; does not do very well this far north.
Habitat: Steep, rocky slopes with grass (specifically, cheatgrass [Bromus tectorum]); sage, juniper.
Food: Cheatgrass, thistles, some herbaceous plants.
Habits/Reproduction: Monogamous, also run around in coveys.
69 Montana Waterfowl
These are duck-like birds with flattened bills, webbed feet and dense plumage (lots of down feathers); food is obtained from water or its margins; eat molluscs, fish, insect larvae, pond weeds, grain crops; all are migratory; they molt flight feathers all at once in summer; generally monogamous--they pair on the wintering grounds and often copulate during trip northward; nest on ground or in cavities in trees; females incubate 6-12 eggs.
Family Anatidae--ducks, geese, swans
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
ID: Large; all white; long neck; red "lips"; deep "trumpeting" voice.
Range: Alaska and S.W. Montana (Yellowstone and Red Rock Lakes); Red Rock was made a refuge in 1935 when 26 birds bred--now about 250 birds.
Habitat: Marshes adjacent to large ponds or lakes.
Food: Aquatic plants; some aquatic invertebrates.
Habitats/Reproduction: Monogamous; probably pair for life; delayed maturation-takes 3-4 years to breed; nest in marshy areas and uproot plants surrounding the nest "ill" so that the nest is surrounded by water; cygnets (smoky gray color) remain with cob and pen until late summer.
Whistling Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
ID: Like Trumpeter, but usually has yellow spot on bill in front of eye; voice more of a "cooing" than Trumpeters'.
Range: Sub-arctic zone; no breeders here, only migrants on their way to or from California or Utah.
Habitat: Ponds.
Food: Aquatic plants; leaves, stems, tubers.
Habits/Reproduction: Monogamous; nest on shores generally, 20 m or so from the water.
70
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Ross' Goose (Anser rossii)
ID: Snow goose shorter neck than swans', longer than ducks'; two color phases--blue goose and snow goose; all white birds in Montana, with black wing tips and black "lips".
Range: Both migratory and do not breed here; breed in Alaska and Canada and winter in central California.
Habitat: Lakes, river deltas.
Food: Root stalks of rushes and marsh grasses; grain crops.
Habits/Reproduction: Nest in colonies on islands in lakes or on river deltas (Ross); females incubate eggs and do not leave nest to feed until late stages and loose 25% of body weight; both sexes care for young.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
ID: Black and white with white chinstrap on black head; incredible variation in size (2.8 - 1.4 lb!).
Range: Alaska, Canada, U.S.
Habitat: Near open water.
Food: Largely agricultural products nowadays; also browse.
Habits/Reproduction: Monogamous; versatile in nesting requirements--will nest on cliffs, islands, marshes, in osprey nests, washtubs nailed to trees . . . they are, therefore, very receptive to management practices; young jump down from elevated nests, crash to the ground and waddle off to water; young may amalgamate into huge (100 or more) groups under care of single pair; generally, both parents care for young.
71 Family Anatidae--ducks
Surface-feeding ducks (dabbling ducks). These ducks feed by dabbling at and just below water's surface. They are adapted to breed on land near small ponds, marshes, and rivers and can take-off from these small areas abruptly by springing out of the water; their feet are centrally located and they are good walkers; their feet are small, and the hallux is not lobed. Most have iridescent speculum area on wing; they usually swim with tail well clear of water. Examples include: Mallard, Gadwall, Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler.
Perching ducks. These are mostly tropical in distribution and we have only one species here--the Wood Duck. It is a cavity nester, has sharp claws, is colorful, and eats primarily acorns over most of its range. Wildlife managers put up nest boxes to encourage nesting in refuges.
Pochards (diving ducks). These ducks dive for plant food and show adaptations for more of a swimming existence than the 2 preceding groups--feet are farther back on body; hind toe (hallux) is lobed and the webbed foot is large; they patter along the surface of water to take-off from larger bodies of water; they have no iridescent speculum; they nest close to water on reed mats. Examples include: Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck.
Sea ducks. These are similar in most respects to the last group, but most nest in cavities like the Wood Duck; they eat mostly animal, as opposed to plant, food (mollusks, fish, insect larvae; plankton. . .); they normally breed in arctic tundra and winter along the sea coasts.
Examples: Common Goldeneye , Barrow's Goldeneye * These eat primarily pond, Bufflehead - lake invertebrates.
Harlequin Duck ] This is a streamside nester.
Hooded Merganser , Common Merganser * These eat primarily fish and Red-breasted Merganser - have serrated bills.
72 SOME SMALL LAND BIRDS OF MONTANA
Most of the smaller birds that perch in trees belong to a single order, Passeriformes-- the songbirds. They are the hardest birds to observe and so they provide the bird watchers a real challenge. These small birds belong to many families, and each family can be recognized not only by the appearance of the birds belonging to each, but also by the behaviors of the birds.
We will consider 12 groups (most represent distinct families) of birds that you would be very likely to encounter in Montana. These groups illustrate a remarkable diversity of adaptations for such a small group of organisms. Details concerning the most conspicuous species in each group are included below.
Doves
Rock Dove (Columbia livia)
ID: The only large pigeon-like bird that occurs in cities and parks; has white rump.
Range: World-wide (in domestication): probably the first bird ever to be domesticated for their meat and for their homing abilities (approximately 4500 B.C.?); into U.S. by mid-1600's.
Habitat: Large buildings and cliffs near cities (occasionally in cliffs removed from cities, like along the Missouri River).
Food: Grain, seeds of weeds, scraps from man.
Habits/Reproduction: Have extraordinary homing abilities; often nest in spring and fall; build flimsy twig nest on building ledge or cliff face; both sexes build nest and incubate eggs, which hatch in 2.5 weeks; parents produce "pigeon's milk" from the crop and feed that plus grubs to young.
Hummingbirds
Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope)
ID: Tiniest bird species in the United States; males have bright red-purple throat gorget, whose color shows only when the light is just right; elongated bills.
Range: Migratory; breeds in western U.S., winters in western Mexico.
Habitat: Coniferous forest edges (other species occupy riparian and second growth habitats).
73 Food: Primarily nectar, which they extract from flowers; also flying insects.
Habits/Reproduction: Birds arrive here in spring and sexes occupy separate territories; males have striking aerial courtship display; females build tiny nest covered with lichens on horizontal tree branch, incubate 2 eggs, and feed young for about 30 days alone; they head south by late July.
Woodpeckers
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
ID: Woodpeckers perch upright on the sides of trees and pound on the bark with their bills; Hairy has black and white stripes on face, and white patch down middle of back.
Range: Permanent resident throughout most of North America.
Habitat: Deciduous and coniferous woodlands.
Food: Mostly beetle larvae, which they obtain by excavating into and under bark of trees.
Habits/Reproduction: Mated pairs seem to occur together throughout the year and often drum to defend a territory against others of their species; both sexes begin to excavate nest hole in early spring (approximately 20 days); both sexes incubate 4 eggs for approximately 12 days and feed naked young for about 20 days.
Swallows
Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota)
ID: Swallows can be told from other birds by their small size and habit of flying constantly overhead; the Cliff Swallow has a white patch on the forehead and a squared-off tail.
Range: Migratory; breeds throughout North America, winters in Central and South America.
Habitat: Most common along streams, rivers.
Food: Tiny airborne insects, which they capture wile in flight.
Habits/Reproduction: Birds return in spring and begin to build mud nests (takes about 1 week) in colonies with other pairs on cliff face or under bridge; female lays about 4 eggs and both sexes incubate (2 weeks) and feed young (3 weeks); they may then est a second time before returning south in late August.
74 Crows, Magpies, Jays
Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica)
ID: This group includes fairly large birds that are colored in blacks and blues; the magpie is the noisy bird around farms and ranches with the extremely long tail.
Range: Permanent residents in Northwestern U.S. and all of Europe and Asia.
Habitat: Canyons and valleys near water; wherever there are scattered shrubs with broad open spaces.
Food: Insects, carrion, mice, snakes, some grain, and fruit.
Habits/Reproduction: This species usually travels in small family flocks and may roost with many other families in winter; in spring, males bring nest materials to female, who arranges sticks into huge structure; birds may build for a month or more; female lays about 6 eggs and incubates (2.5 weeks) alone; both sexes feed young (3 weeks); family groups remain together until following spring.
Chickadees, Titmice
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
ID: Small, black and white birds with a "chick-a-dee" call.
Range: Permanent residents throughout northern U.S. and Canada.
Habitat: Deciduous woodlands (Mountain Chickadee is more common in coniferous woodlands).
Food: Insects, spiders, some seeds; they are real acrobats and have access to food that other species can not get at.
Habits/Reproduction: Mated pairs generally stay around the same territory all year, but roam more widely for food in winter (hence, we see them as common visitors to our winter bird feeders); mated pairs begin to excavate a nest hole in decaying wood in early spring and the female lays about 7 eggs; females incubate the eggs (2 weeks) and both sexes feed the young (2 weeks); the young disperse (about 2 km, on average) to find their own potential mates and territories in the fall.
75 Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensus)
ID: Tiny little bird (with a white eye stripe) that crawls along conifer branches and gives a "beep, beep" call (commonly heard on campus).
Range: Permanent resident throughout most of U.S.; some migrate to Canada to breed, and others winter in southern U.S. in years when seed crops fail farther north.
Habitat: Coniferous forests.
Food: Mostly seeds from pine cones, but also insects; they act like tiny woodpeckers and pound on bark of branches to get at grubs beneath.
Habits/Reproduction: They roam around in flocks with chickadees in winter and pairs begin to excavate nest holes (or use old woodpecker holes) in spring; female lays about 5 eggs and incubates (2 weeks); both sexes feed young (3 weeks).
Thrushes
American Robin, Mountain Bluebird (Turdus migratorius, Sialia currucoides)
ID: Medium-sized birds that forage on the ground; Robins have red breast feathers; Bluebirds are all blue in color; females are duller in both species.
Range: Robin: throughout North America; migratory in more northern areas (Canada), and permanent resident in most of U.S. Bluebird: same, only restricted to western North America.
Habitat: Robin: virtually everywhere. Bluebird: high elevations in open coniferous forests.
Food: Earthworms, insects, berries, which they take mostly from the ground.
Habits/Reproduction: Thrushes are the real songsters of the bird world; both species arrive in early spring; Robin: males arrive before females and set up territories, females arrive and pair with males, build nest of sticks and mud, and incubate 4 blue eggs (2 weeks); both sexes feed young (2 weeks); may nest 2 or 3 times each summer! Bluebird: birds arrive in spring and select an old woodpecker hole within which to nest; both sexes incubate 4 eggs (2 weeks) and feed young (2.5 weeks); families roam around at high elevation in late summer and move south by September.
76 Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing, Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus, B. cedrorum)
ID: Silky-looking birds with black masks on faces and crests on heads; Cedar: white under tail; Bohemian: brown under tail.
Range: Cedar: breeds in Northern U.S. and southern Canada; winters in southern U.S., Mexico. Bohemian: breeds in Canada, Alaska, winter in northern U.S. (so, we have Cedar here in summer, and Bohemian here in winter).
Habitat: Riparian areas mostly; wherever numerous fruiting trees are present.
Food: Berries almost exclusively (mountain ash heavily used here); insects in summer.
Habits/Reproduction: In winter, huge flocks of thousands of Bohemian (and a few Cedar) Waxwings congregate in the Missoula area to eat the berries of mountain ash and other ornamental plants; in summer, Cedars arrive from farther south and build stick nests in hawthorns or alders; the female incubates 4 eggs (2 weeks) and both parents feed young (3 weeks); they nest much later than most birds so that the fledglings will have abundant hawthorn, dogwood, and other berries readily available.
Warblers
Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)
ID: Tiny little yellow bird that flits around in deciduous trees.
Range: Breed throughout North America; winter from Mexico to South America.
Habitat: Streamside thickets, lakeside deciduous woods, willows, parks.
Food: Insects, which it actively gleans from vegetation or takes in mid-air.
Habits/Reproduction: This is the common "yellow canary" that can be seen in your yard in spring and summer; it sings a loud warbled song; males arrive in spring and set up territories; females arrive about a week after males and choose a mate, build a little cup nest of plant stems and fibers in the upright crotch of a bush or sapling, lay 4 eggs, and incubate them alone (2 weeks); both sexes feed young (2 weeks).
77 Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
ID: A black bird with red shoulder patches (epaulets) that nests in marshy areas. Other similar-looking birds include: Starling--introduced into U.S. in mid-1800's; is all black except for yellow bill; nests in holes; has spots on black plumage in fall; Brewer's Blackbird--all black with a yellow-white eye; common in parks and farmland; Brown-headed Cowbird--has a short, finch-like bill; smaller bird than the other; parasitic--the females lay their eggs in other birds' nests and young are raised by the host species.
Range: Throughout North America; migratory in northern areas.
Habitat: Wet cattail marshlands.
Food: Mostly aquatic insects that emerge from marsh, but also seeds and insects from adjacent fields.
Habits/Reproduction: Males arrive in spring and set up small territories in the marsh; females arrive about a week later and choose mates (or territories); some males have more than one mate (polygynous); females build nests in cattails by weaving leaves together and they incubate 4 eggs alone (2 weeks); both parents feed young (2 weeks).
Sparrows, Finches
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
ID: Little finch-like bird with dark back and head and white belly; white outer fail feathers can be seen when it flies.
Range: Migratory; breed mostly in Canada and northwestern U.S.; winter in U.S.
Habitat: Coniferous forests, particularly open areas with downed timber.
Food: Seeds in winter; mostly insects in summer.
Habits/Reproduction: In winter, these birds occur in large flocks and are common visitors to bird feeders; in spring, males arrive on breeding grounds and establish territories with the help of their buss-like, trilled song; females arrive soon after males, select a mate, build a cup nest under a downed log out of stems and grasses, lay 4 eggs, and incubate alone (2 weeks); both parents feed young insects.
78 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF MONTANA
We will consider only the more common species, but this is a fairly complete list of the species that are possible to see in the state. There is an east-west split in terms of where these species occur. species that are restricted to western Montana are preceded by a "W"; those restricted to the east with an "E"; and those occurring throughout Montana with a "T". The species are also indicated as being common "C", uncommon "U", or rare "R".
Salamanders Turtles W Long-toed Salamander C E Snapping Turtle R E Tiger Salamander C T Painted Turtle C W Coeur d'Alene Salamander R E Spiny Softshell Turtle U
Frogs and Toads Snakes and Lizards W Tailed Frog C W Rubber Boa U T Chorus Frog C E Western Hognosed Snake C T Leopard Frog C T Racer C W Spotted Frog U T Gopher Snake (Bullsnake) C W Pacific Tree Frog U E Milk Snake U E Plains Spadefoot Toad C T Western Garter Snake C W Western Toad U E Plains Garter Snake U E Great Plains Toad C T Common Garter Snake C E Woodhouse's Toad U T Western (Prairie) Rattlesnake C E Sagebrush Lizard U E Short-horned Lizard C W Western Skink U W Northern Alligator Lizard U
79 MONTANA REPTILES
Reptiles include lizards, snakes, and turtles, In general, all have dry, scaly skin and all are ectothermic -- their body temperature is determined by external surroundings and adjusted by orienting toward or away from the sun and by movement between areas that differ in temperature. Eggs are fertilized internally and sperm is occasionally stored by the female for fertilization, which may take place months after copulation. Most all lay their eggs in the soil, in rotting leaf litter or logs. Newly hatched young resemble the adults in body shape; some snakes and lizards bear live young.
Lizards (order Squamata)
Lizards usually have movable eyelids, long tails (which can be regenerated if broken) and 4 legs; some have no legs. Their dry (usually) skin is shed at fairly regular intervals throughout the active time of year. Most are dormant during the cooler months. There is much aggression and head-bobbing display among the males during breeding season; such displays often reveal bright coloration in throat region.
Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus)
ID: Rusty color on sides and powder blue throat with speckling of white scales; blue belly patches.
Range: Western U.S.; central and southern Montana.
Habitat: Sagebrush flats, open, well-illuminated pine forests. Usually occurs around rocks, stumps, clumps of vegetation.
Food: Insects of all sorts.
Habits: Largely a ground dweller, but occasionally climbs trees. They generally actively search for food on the surface of ground and vegetation during the day.
Reproduction: Females lay around 3 or 4 eggs in June and young hatch in August; males and females lead solitary existence except for mating.
80 Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglassi)
ID: Has spines or spikes around head; dorso-ventrally flattened, but rounded body shape.
Range: Canada to Mexico through west central U.S.; eastern Montana.
Habitat: Sagebrush, short-grass prairies.
Food: Mostly ants; also grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects.
Habits: Active by day; generally find ant colony for feeding purposes; can change color fairly rapidly to match background; strictly ground-dwelling and will readily bury themselves in sand. They can be induced to spurt blood from a sinus at the base of eyelid.
Reproduction: Bear live young (average around 15) in July; each young is enclosed in a thin sac and they burrow into dry soil almost immediately.
81 Western Skink (Eumecia skiltonianus)
ID: Smooth scales; brownish back, with 2 stripes down back; adults have bright red faces; tails brilliant blue in juveniles.
Range: Northwest U.S.; western Montana.
Habitat: Beneath logs, bark, rocks and leaf litter in woodlands, and forests.
Food: Insects and spiders; sow bugs.
Habits: Very secretive and seldom seen except when stones, logs, and other cover is overturned; most active in late afternoon; tail is readily lost and detached segment will wiggle and often detract potential predator.
Reproduction: Females lay 7-10 eggs in July in underground chamber and may stay with eggs until hatching a month or so later.
82
Northern Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus coeruleus)
ID: Fairly large lizard with large triangular head; mottled appearance; and a long lateral "fold" of skin that is apparent down the sides.
Range: Pacific Northwest, Northern Washington, Idaho, and Western Montana.
Habitat: Coniferous forests--under logs and in presence of bushes, trees, and grasses.
Food: Termites, moths, beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, snails.
Habits: Active by day; ferocious little guy; can climb well; tongue is used in snake-like fashion to "smell".
Reproduction: Mating occurs early in spring; copulation may last up to 24 hrs!; bear live young (2-15) in the fall.
83 Snakes (order Squamata)
Snakes have limbless, elongate bodies. They have no eyelids and eyes are covered by a hard, transparent eyecap. They have no external ear openings. Bones of the skull are loosely joined and jaw often disarticulates to facilitate consumption of food. Food is procured by simply seizing it and swallowing (garter snake), by constricting and throwing coils around prey until it suffocates (gopher snake), or by hypodermic injections that immobilize prey (rattlesnake).
Western Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
ID: Not much of a neck constriction; spade-like nose scale; blotches and spots down back.
Range: Canada to Mexico through central U.S.; eastern Montana.
Habitat: Treeless plains.
Food: Mostly amphibians; occasionally lizards.
Habits: Adapted for burrowing and is capable of rapid submergence into loose soil by using its spade-like head in side-to-side motion; if caught, will feign death by turning onto its back! Active by day.
Reproduction: Females lay 10 or so eggs in July and they hatch in August.
84 Gopher Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)
ID: Light body with large black blotches on back.
Range: Western and midwestern U.S., northern Mexico; throughout Montana.
Habitat: All drier habitats.
Food: Mice, rats, gophers; birds and eggs.
Habits: Usually active by day; they often seek refuge in rodent burrows and under logs, stones; they are good climbers and will search for bird eggs in trees; prey are killed by constriction.
Reproduction: Females deposits around 10 eggs in soil in July; they hatch in early fall; male crawls over body of female during courtship and inserts an organ analogous to a penis into her cloaca (as other snakes do); solitary otherwise.
85 Western Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans)
ID: Distinct neck; usually have stripes down back.
Range: Western U.S. and Canada; western Montana.
Habitat: All moist areas; lakes, streams, meadows.
Food: Terrestrial animals--mice, frogs, birds; and fish and tadpoles.
Habits: Excellent swimmers; active by day and will take most any aquatic or terrestrial critter mouse-sized or smaller; they exude a foul-smelling fluid from anal scent glands when handled. Occasionally congregate in large numbers in fall to hibernate together.
Reproduction: Females produce large broods of live young (up to 50); the young are born in August and subsist on earthworms and the like until large enough to take other prey.
86 Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)
ID: Dark blotches on light back; distinctive triangular-shaped head.
Range: Western U.S.; throughout Montana; only poisonous snake here.
Habitat: Dry, grasslands, and sagebrush areas; open pine forests.
Food: Mammals--from mice to rabbits.
Habits: Active primarily at dusk; shelter during day is sought in burrows, under rocks and in crevices; may hibernate in large groups in winter; can locate prey with infrared detectors (pits on face); inject toxin through fangs to subdue prey; rattle loose tail buttons when disturbed.
Reproduction: Females probably copulate in fall, ovulate in spring and the eggs are then fertilized by stored sperm, young are born in fall.
87 Turtles (order Chelonia)
Shoulder girdle is actually inside rib cage (which has become the shell). The top part of shell is carapace and bottom is plastron. Fertilization is internal and eggs are laid in a burrow on land. Turtles lack teeth and tongue is almost totally adherent to floor of mouth.
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentine)
ID: Carapace has 3 "ridges" down back and rear edge is saw-toothed; jaws hooked.
Range: Eastern U.S. and Mexico, eastern Montana.
Habitat: Permanent bodies of water with an abundance of aquatic plants.
Food: Omnivorous, but more animal (crayfish, snails, clams, insects, fish, salamanders, ducklings, small mammals) than plant food.
Habits: Ferocious bits; they hibernate under water in mud or in burrows of other animals (muskrats).
Reproduction: Mating may occur any time in summer; copulation occurs under water; sperm may remain viable in female for several years!; eggs laid on land in hole dug by female; young hatch in fall or spring.
88 Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)
ID: Carapace has pattern of irregular net-like lines; yellow stripes on legs and tail.
Range: Throughout U.S. and Montana.
Habitat: Slow moving water of weedy ponds and marshes.
Food: Insects as young; plants, frogs, snails as adults.
Habits: Sleep under water at night and bask in sun during the day, often in tremendous numbers on logs; hibernates in winter.
Reproduction: Females lay eggs in burrow on land; young hatch in fall, but remain inside burrow, feeding on earthworms, etc., until following spring; courtship underwater.
89 MONTANA AMPHIBIANS
This class includes salamanders, frogs, toads, and limbless caecilians. These animals live both in water and on land. Usually, eggs are laid in water and hatch into free-swimming gilled larvae, which metamorphose into an adult form for terrestrial existence. They have a moist skin (sometimes supplied with poisonous mucous) and breathe through the skin, at least in part. All are ectothermic. Fertilization is most always external and as eggs are extruded, the male releases sperm into water surrounding them.
Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
ID: Looks like a slimy, blackish lizard with yellow dorsal spots or blotches.
Range: Canada, most of U.S. and Mexico; throughout Montana.
Habitat: During dry weather they can be seen in moist areas (in burrows, under logs) in most all habitats; during breeding season around ponds, lakes, and slow streams.
Food: Adults eat earthworms, mollusks, fish, salamanders, frogs; larvae eat aquatic insects, crustaceans, tadpoles, other salamander larvae.
Habits/Reproduction: Emerge from hibernation in spring when ice breaks from ponds; females lay eggs singly or in small clusters on twigs in water; eggs hatch in 2-3 weeks and larvae metamorphose by late summer; sometimes larvae fail to metamorphose and retain their larval form (neotony)--these are called axolotls; in some cases, these neotenic forms may become sexually active (pedogensis).
90 Frogs and Toads (order Salientia)
These critters have no neck constriction and the head and trunk are fused; tails are absent in adults (1 exception); 4 limbs of unequal size; webbed feet; loud breeding vocalizations. Frogs have smooth, moist skin, slender hind legs and pelvic area (are good leapers), and are found in or near water. Toads have dry, rough skin, are stocky, and hop, rather than leap, and are usually seen away from water.
Gravid females are grasped by males (called amplexus) and the male discharges sperm over eggs that are released by female.
Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei)
ID: Eye with vertically elliptical pupil; have "tail".
Range: Pacific Northwest, northern Idaho, western Montana.
Habitat: Well-forested areas near rapid streams.
Food: Primarily insects, spiders, millipedes, snails; larvae feed on diatoms and pollen.
Habits: Mainly nocturnal; adults may leave vicinity of streams to feed; larvae face upstream and cling to stones with mouth.
Reproduction: This is the only frog or toad in world with internal fertilization; eggs are attached to undersurfaces of stones in a single jelly envelope.
91 Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)
ID: Typical laboratory frog; greenish with oval and round black spots outlined with lighter color.
Range: North America; throughout Montana.
Habitat: Most any aquatic situation, but commonest in marshes and shallow dead streams.
Food: Insects, pill bugs, leeches, spiders, amphibians, small snakes, and birds.
Habits: Active by day or night; stay close to water and dive when frightened; can jump 6 feet if chased; release fluid with disagreeable odor; hibernate in mud and beneath stones; distinctive vocalizations.
Reproduction: Typical frog pattern.
92 Plains Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus bombifrons)
ID: Bony lumps between eyes; black "spade" on hind feet.
Range: Central plains; eastern Montana.
Habitat: shortgrass prairies and alkaline flats in arid regions.
Food: insects, spiders.
Habits: Chiefly nocturnal; construct burrows in soil to 3 feet; can spend 9 months or move underground; when rains come, they emerge.
Reproduction: After heavy rains create temporary pools in summer, they emerge and breed; eggs are laid within a day or two and larvae hatch in another couple of days.
93 Western Toad (Bufo boreas)
ID: Cubby; greenish with mid-dorsal stripe.
Range: Alaska, western Canada, Northwest U.S.; western Montana.
Habitat: Grasslands, woodlands, and meadows; slowly flowing streams and ponds are used for breeding.
Food: Insects, crayfish, pill bugs, snails, spiders, other toads.
Habits: Active at night mostly; seek shelter in burrows, beneath logs, etc.
Reproduction: Females lay more than 15,000 eggs at a time in string in shallow water.
94 REFERENCES
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96
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97