National Park Service 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Natural Resource Program Center 

Bird Inventories of Big Hole National Battlefield, Nez 

Perce National Historical Park, and Whitman Mission 

National Historic Site 2005 

Upper Columbia Basin Network

Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2009/125 
ON THE COVER 

View of the horse pasture at Big Hole National Battlefield 

Photo courtesy of NPS Upper Columbia Basin Network 
Bird Inventories of Big Hole National 

Battlefield, Nez Perce National Historical 

Park, and Whitman Mission National 

Historic Site 2005 

Upper Columbia Basin Network 

Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2009/125 

Rita Dixon 

Idaho Conservation Data Center 

Idaho Department of Fish and Game 

600 S. Walnut Ave, P.O. Box 25 

Boise, ID 83707 

Lisa K. Garrett 

National Park Service, Upper Columbia Basin Network 

University of Idaho, Department of Fish and Wildlife 

Moscow, ID 83844-1136 

August 2009 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

National Park Service 

Natural Resource Program Center 

Fort Collins, Colorado 
ii

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This report is available from the Upper Columbia Basin Network website 

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Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM). 

Please cite this publication as: 

Dixon, R., and L. K. Garrett. 2009. Bird inventories of Big Hole National Battlefield, Nez Perce 

National Historic Park, and Whitman Mission National Historical Site 2005. Natural Resource 

Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2009/125. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. 

NPS 100155, August 2009 
iii

Contents 

Page 

Figures........................................................................................................................................... vii 

Tables............................................................................................................................................. ix 

Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... xi 

Acknowledgements...................................................................................................................... xiii 

Introduction......................................................................................................................................1 

Study Areas......................................................................................................................................3 

 

Buffalo Eddy........................................................................................................................3 

 

Spalding ...............................................................................................................................3 

 

Heart of the Monster ............................................................................................................3 

 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Mussellshell Meadow .................................................................3 

 

White Bird Battlefield..........................................................................................................3 

 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite .................................................................................................4 

Bear Paw Battlefield ............................................................................................................4 

Big Hole National Battlefield ..............................................................................................4 

Whitman Mission National Historic Site.............................................................................4 

Methods............................................................................................................................................5 

Sampling Strategy, Sampling Frame and Sample Selection................................................5 

 

Point Counts.........................................................................................................................5 

 

Area Searches.......................................................................................................................6 

Tape Playbacks ....................................................................................................................6 

Breeding Status ....................................................................................................................6 

Habitat Assessment..............................................................................................................7 

Data Analysis and Evaluation..............................................................................................8 
iv

Contents (continued) 

Page 

Results............................................................................................................................................11 

Point Counts and Area Searches........................................................................................11 

Tape Playbacks ..................................................................................................................11 

Habitat Assessment............................................................................................................11 

Special Status Species........................................................................................................11 

Discussion......................................................................................................................................17 

Buffalo Eddy......................................................................................................................17 

 

Spalding .............................................................................................................................17 

 

Heart of the Monster ..........................................................................................................18 

 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Mussellshell Meadow ...............................................................18 

 

White Bird Battlefield........................................................................................................19 

 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite ...............................................................................................19 

Bear Paw Battlefield ..........................................................................................................20 

Big Hole National Battlefield ............................................................................................20 

Whitman Mission National Historic Site...........................................................................21 

Management Recommendations....................................................................................................23 

Buffalo Eddy......................................................................................................................23 

 

Spalding .............................................................................................................................23 

Heart of the Monster ..........................................................................................................24 

 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Mussellshell Meadow ...............................................................24 

White Bird Battlefield........................................................................................................24 

 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite ...............................................................................................24 

Bear Paw Battlefield ..........................................................................................................25 
v

Contents (continued) 

Page 

Big Hole National Battlefield ............................................................................................25 

Conclusions....................................................................................................................................27 

Literature Cited ..............................................................................................................................29 

Appendix........................................................................................................................................81 

vii

Figures 

Page 

Figure 1. Location of point count stations at Buffalo Eddy, USGS Quads: Captain John Rapids, 

Idaho-Washington..........................................................................................................................35 

Figure 2. Location of point count stations at Spalding, USGS Quad: Lapwai, Idaho...................36 

Figure 3. Location of point count stations at Heart of the Monster, USGS Quads: Kamiah, 

Kooskia, Idaho ...............................................................................................................................37 

Figure 4. Location of point count stations at Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass / Musselshell Meadow, 

USGS 1:250,000: Hamilton, Montana and Idaho..........................................................................38 

Figure 5. Location of point count stations at White Bird Battlefield, USGS Quads: White Bird, 

White Bird Hill, Idaho. ..................................................................................................................39 

Figure 6. Location of point count station at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, USGS Quad: Joseph, 

Oregon............................................................................................................................................40 

Figure 7. Location of point count stations at Bear Paw Battlefield, USGS Quads: Cleveland NW, 

Cleveland, Montana. ......................................................................................................................41 

Figure 8. Location of point count stations at Big Hole National Battlefield, USGS Quad: Big 

Hole Battlefield, Montana..............................................................................................................42 

Figure 9. Whitman Mission National Historic Site, USGS Quad: College Place, Washington....43 

ix

Tables 

Page 

Table 1. Relative abundances of 43 bird species at Buffalo Eddy, Asotin County, Washington, 

from January 26,1999 to December 19, 1999................................................................................45 

Table 2. Relative abundances of 69 bird species at Spalding, Nez Perce County, Idaho, from 

January 28, 1999 to December 20, 1999........................................................................................47 

Table 3. Relative abundances of 64 bird species at Heart of the Monster, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from January 29, 1999 to December 20, 1999...............................................................................49 

Table 4. Relative abundances of 66 bird species along the Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell 

Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho, from July 28 1999 to October 5, 1999 ............51 

Table 5. Relative abundances of 84 bird species at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from March 3, 1999 to September 17, 1999 ..................................................................................53 

Table 6. Relative abundances of 59 bird species at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, Wallowa County, 

Oregon, from March 3, 1999 to December 21 1999......................................................................56 

Table 7. Relative abundances of 53 bird species at Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine County, 

Montana, from February 6, 1999 to December 14, 1999...............................................................58 

Table 8. Relative abundances of 83 bird species at Big Hole National Battlefield, Beaverhead 

County, Montana, from February 4, 1999 to December 16, 1999.................................................60 

Table 9. Relative abundances of 25 bird species at Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 

Walla Walla County, Washington, July 15, 2001..........................................................................63 

Table 10. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Buffalo Eddy, Asotin County, 

Washington. ...................................................................................................................................64 

Table 11. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Spalding, Nez Perce County, Idaho 65 

Table 12. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Heart of the Monster, Idaho 

County, Idaho.................................................................................................................................67 

Table 13. Plant species identified within vegetation releves along the Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho. .............................................68 

Table 14. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho 

County, Idaho.................................................................................................................................72 

Table 15. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, 

Wallowa County, Oregon. .............................................................................................................74 
x

Tables (continued) 

Page 

Table 16. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine 

County, Montana............................................................................................................................75 

Table 17. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Big Hole National Battlefield, 

Beaverhead County, Montana........................................................................................................76 

Table 18. Ecological systems by site and point count station........................................................79 
xi

Executive Summary 

The mission of the National Park Service is “to conserve unimpaired the natural and cultural 

resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment of this and future 

generations” (National Park Service 1999). To uphold this goal, the Director of the NPS 

approved the Natural Resource Challenge to encourage national parks to focus on the 

preservation of the nation’s natural heritage through science, natural resource inventories, and 

expanded resource monitoring (National Park Service 1999). Through the Challenge, 270 parks 

in the national park system were organized into 32 inventory and monitoring networks. 

The Upper Columbia Basin Network (UCBN) has identified 14 priority park vital signs, 

indicators of ecosystem health, which represent a broad suite of ecological phenomena operating 

across multiple temporal and spatial scales. Our intent has been to develop a balanced and 

integrated suite of vital signs that meets the needs of current park management, and that also will 

accommodate unanticipated environmental conditions and management questions in the future. 

The objectives of this study were (1) to compile a comprehensive species inventory of at least 

90% of all breeding, transient, and migratory bird species that, under normal circumstances, 

occur within the management units of interest; (2) to provide relative abundance measures for 

each of the documented species; and (3) to provide the baseline information needed to develop a 

general monitoring strategy and design that can be implemented by the park once inventories 

have been completed, tailored to specific park threats and resource issues. 

This study included eight Nez Perce National Historical Park sites: Buffalo Eddy, Spalding, 

Heart of the Monster, Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass / Musselshell Meadow, White Bird Battlefield, 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, Bear Paw Battlefield, and Big Hole National Battlefield. Four sites 

were in Idaho, two in Montana, one in Washington, and one in Oregon. Incidental to the study, 

Whitman Mission National Historical Site (WHMI) was visited once. 

xiii

Acknowledgements

I thank Gerry Wright, Dan Foster, Lisa Garrett, and Leona Svancara for their leadership, 

direction, and support of this project. Pat Heglund and Dan Davis offered initial input on the 

study design. I am grateful to Collin Hughes for his insightful editing of this report. Tim Fischer 

of Big Hole National Battlefield and Arthur Currence of Bear Paw Battlefield assisted with 

logistical arrangements and were both generous and accommodating. I am grateful to the Nez 

Perce elders who graciously allowed me to join them in their memorials at the Milk River and 

Bear Paw Battlefield. They showed me a depth of human spirit that continues to both awe and 

humble me. I thank the community of Chinook, Montana, for its warmth and hospitality. I am 

grateful to Chris Paige and Tobin Kelley and Paul and Maxine Stahl for their hospitality during 

trips to Montana. Diane Mallickan provided a list of Nez Perce animal and plant names and 

recounted the story of the “wing dress” and its significance to Nez Perce culture. Doug Eury of 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Jon James of Big Hole National Battlefield helped to 

facilitate these surveys. The staff at Big Hole National Battlefield provided assistance with bird 

and habitat surveys. But most of all, it is to the birds I sought, and the landscapes I wandered, 

that I owe my deepest appreciation. 

1

Introduction 

In 1998, Congress passed the National Parks Omnibus Management Act, which mandated a 

National Park program for the inventory and monitoring of biological resources within the 

system. The pragmatic purpose of this act is to compile and organize existing data and fill gaps 

through field investigations, so as to complement park management decisions. Priorities were 

based on the initial need for credible avian inventories in two targeted parks, Nez Perce National 

Historical Park (NEPE) and Big Hole National Battlefield (BIHO), which are currently 

administered as one unit. The rapidly changing landscapes of the twentieth century have raised 

the value and status of scientific inquiry. Today as never before, the need for species inventories 

continues, queued up in order to guide the development of diverse dialogues on the wild and our 

National Park system; these dialogues are based on an interdisciplinary synthesis among the 

disciplines of biology, history, ethnobiology, sociology, and philosophy. In other words, this 

avian study is part of the growing constructive program designed to conserve nature and serve 

the citizens of this nation. 

Nez Perce National Historical Park was created to protect and provide interpretation sites that 

relate to early Nez Perce indigenous culture, the Lewis and Clark expedition, the fur trade, 

Christian missionaries, gold mining, the Nez Perce War of 1877, burgeoning logging, and other 

epochal activities and events that represent the complicated historicity of Nez Perce country and 

the nation’s westward expansion (USDI 1997). Unlike traditional parks, this park is unique in 

that it includes sites in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. 

Nez Perce National Historical Park falls into three basic ecoregions: the shortgrass prairies of the 

Palouse Grasslands and Missouri Basin, the sagebrush steppe of the Columbia and Snake River 

Plateaus, and the conifer/alpine meadows of the Blue Mountains, the Salmon River Mountains, 

the basins and ranges of southwestern Montana, and the northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho and 

Montana (Bailey 1995). 

Previous biological inventories conducted in the park are scant and some sites have not been 

studied at all. Avian inventories have been limited to a recent study by Monello and Wright 

(1998), which documented the species occurrence, diversity, and relative abundance of birds in 

areas of exotic weed infestations and on ecologically similar lands covered by native vegetation. 

Sites included in this study were Spalding, Heart of the Monster (E. Kamiah), White Bird 

Battlefield, and Big Hole National Battlefield. In an earlier study, Van Sickle (1987) documented 

the species composition, relative abundance, and distribution of vertebrates at Big Hole National 

Battlefield, which included an avian inventory. Pierce (1982) conducted a comprehensive 

floristic study of Big Hole National Battlefield, including an inventory of all vascular plants 

within the various plant communities, the nature of the vegetation at the time of the battle, and a 

management plan for vegetation on the Battlefield. 

Within the park, management issues include concerns over the spread of exotic and noxious 

weeds—e.g., yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium), 

field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and others—and 

the preservation and interpretation of wildlife habitat, especially because of increasing 

commercialization and urbanization in surrounding areas. Federally listed threatened or 

endangered species or federal candidate species undoubtedly exist within the park boundaries. 
2

This kindredness requires managers to consider potential mitigation to avoid impacts on special 

status species and/or wetlands that support such species. 

Within this context, the objectives of this study were: (1) to compile a comprehensive species 

inventory of at least 90% of all breeding, transient, and migratory bird species that, under normal 

circumstances, occur within the management units of interest; (2) to provide relative abundance 

measures for each of the documented species; and (3) to provide the baseline information needed 

to develop a general monitoring strategy and design that can be implemented by the park once 

inventories have been completed, tailored to specific park threats and resource issues. 
3

Study Areas 

This study included eight Nez Perce National Historical Park sites: Buffalo Eddy, Spalding, 

Heart of the Monster, Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow, White Bird Battlefield, 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, Bear Paw Battlefield, and Big Hole National Battlefield. Four sites 

were in Idaho, two in Montana, one in Washington, and one in Oregon. Incidental to the study, 

Whitman Mission National Historical Site (WHMI) was visited once. 

Buffalo Eddy 

Buffalo Eddy (46o10′N, 116o56′W) is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Lewiston, 

Idaho, in Asotin County, Washington, and lies within the sagebrush steppe ecoregion. This site 

consists of groups of rock outcroppings on the Snake River and encompasses an elevational 

gradient of roughly 175 m (from 230 m to 405 m). 

Spalding 

Spalding (46o26′N, 116o49′W) is located along U.S. Highway 95 approximately 10 miles (16.1 

km) east of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho, at the confluence of the Clearwater River and 

Lapwai Creek. Much of the landscape is groomed exotics and includes an arboretum, which was 

established as part of the Spalding Memorial State Park in the 1930s. This low elevation site 

(roughly 244 m) lies within the Palouse Grasslands of the shortgrass prairie ecoregion. 

Heart of the Monster 

Heart of the Monster (46o12′N, 116o00′W) is located two miles upstream from a bridge across 

the Clearwater River in Kamiah, Idaho County, Idaho. This site is approximately 53 acres (21.5 

ha) of NPS-owned land and encompasses an elevational gradient of roughly 7 m (from 349 m to 

356 m). The site falls within the Palouse Grasslands of the shortgrass prairie ecoregion and is 

primarily grassland with a riparian corridor (dominated by black cottonwood, Populus 

trichocarpa) along the river and a wetland on the east side of Highway 12. A stand of black 

locust (Robinia pseudo-acacia) lies adjacent the wetland. 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow 

Lolo Trail is about 100 miles (161 km) long, and extends approximately from Weippe to beyond 

Lolo Pass (which is on the Idaho-Montana border), Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho. From 

Lolo, Montana, to a few miles west of Lolo Pass, the trail closely follows U.S. Highway 12. It 

then follows the high mountain ridges north of the highway for more than 80 miles (129 km), 

eventually descending to the Weippe Prairie near Weippe, Idaho. This study included 

predetermined stops along the corridor between Musselshell Meadow (46o21′N, 115o44′W) and 

Glade Creek Camp (46o37′N, 114o34′W). There is a cooperative agreement between the Forest 

Service and the National Park Service regarding the management of this site. Musselshell 

Meadow is within the Palouse Grasslands of the shortgrass prairie ecoregion and the remainder 

of the Lolo Trail is within the conifer/alpine meadows ecoregion. This diverse site covers a wide 

range of forest types as well as camas and alpine meadows and encompasses an elevational 

gradient of roughly 979 m (from 1060 m to 2039 m). 

White Bird Battlefield 

White Bird Battlefield (45o47′N, 116o16′W) is located about 15 miles (24 km) south of 

Grangeville, Idaho, between U.S. Highway 95 and the old White Bird Grade, approximately 0.5 

miles (0.8 km) from the town of White Bird, Idaho County, Idaho. This site is approximately 
4

1,245 acres (504 ha) of sloping topography that retains much of the appearance it had in 1877. 

White Bird Battlefield is in the Palouse Grasslands of the shortgrass prairie ecoregion. The 

majority of the site is open grassland, but a riparian corridor dominated by black cottonwood 

follows White Bird Creek. There is a modified stock pond—Swartz Pond—within the study area 

boundary. Yellow starthistle has invaded the grasslands of the site and other exotics include 

black locust and various exotic grasses. The elevational gradient is roughly 309 m (from 519 m 

to 828 m). 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite (45o20′N, 117o13′W) is located on the west side of Oregon Highway 

82, just north of Wallowa Lake and one mile (0.6 km) south of Joseph, Wallowa County, 

Oregon. The site is a 5.1 acre (2.1 ha) cemetery in the conifer/alpine meadows ecoregion and is 

approximately 1344 m in elevation. 

Bear Paw Battlefield 

Bear Paw Battlefield (48o22′N, 109o12′W) is located about 16 miles (25.75 km) south of 

Chinook, Blaine County, Montana. The landscape at Bear Paw remains relatively undeveloped, 

but there is exotic and changing vegetation. Located within the Missouri Basin sites of the 

shortgrass prairie ecoregion, this 190-acre (77 ha) site consists of two communities: a small 

riparian zone and a grassland (primarily blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), needle-and-thread 

(Stipa sp.), wild rose (Rosa sp.), willow (Salix spp.), and cattail (Typha latifolia)). Bear Paw 

encompasses an elevational gradient of roughly 19 m (from 893 m to 912 m). 

Big Hole National Battlefield 

Big Hole National Battlefield (45o38′N, 113o39′W) is located approximately 10 miles west of 

Wisdom, Montana, on Montana Highway 43, in Beaverhead County, Montana. This 655-acre 

(265-ha) unit is surrounded by ranching operations and the Beaverhead National Forest and 

maintains much of the character of 1877. Big Hole is in the conifer/alpine meadows ecoregion 

and is characterized by three different landforms: mountain slope, floodplain, and bench 

(Despain 1973). Pierce (1982) described three primary vegetation types on the slope: forest, 

which is dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) 

with a small component of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa); forest ravine, which is similar in 

composition to the floodplain; and sagebrush steppe, dominated by big sagebrush (Artemisia 

tridentata) and Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) with several quaking aspen (Populus 

tremuloides) groves. Willow (Salix spp.), graminoid (tufted hairgrass Deschampsia 

caespitosa/sedge Carex spp.), and aquatic communities characterize the floodplain. The bench 

has two primary communities: grassland, which is dominated by Idaho fescue/bluebunch 

wheatgrass (Elytrigia spicata, previously Agropyron spicatum); and shrubland, which is 

dominated by big sagebrush/Idaho fescue (Mueggler and Stewart 1980). The elevational gradient 

is roughly 139 m (from 1869 m to 2008 m). For a more detailed description of the site, see Pierce 

(1982). 

Whitman Mission National Historic Site 

Whitman Mission National Historic Site (NHS) (46o02′N, 118o27′W) is located approximately 

seven miles (11.3 km) west of the city of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington. West 

of the Blue Mountains, this 98.15 acre (39.75 ha) historic site is on a portion of the original land 

settled by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, Presbyterian missionaries, in 1836 and lies within the 

Palouse Grassland Ecoregion. 

 
5

Methods 

Sampling Strategy, Sampling Frame and Sample Selection

The overall sampling strategy for the park was designed to gain a comprehensive picture of the 

avian communities present at each of the study sites during the course of the year. I accounted 

for spatial factors by using a systematic sampling design (Ratti and Garton 1996) for the 

placement of point count stations. I established points at 250 m intervals along equally spaced 

transects (at least 500 m apart) throughout each site. Because each site varied in size, the number 

of point count stations varied among sites: three at Buffalo Eddy, six at Spalding, four at Heart of 

the Monster, 24 at White Bird Battlefield, one at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, and 10 at Bear Paw 

Battlefield. The exception to this systematic sampling design was at Big Hole National 

Battlefield, where I was able to locate and subsequently use 10 (points 1-8, 11-12) of the 13 plots 

that had been established by Pierce (1982) in the three major landforms at Big Hole National 

Battlefield; and at Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow, where 16 predetermined 

points along the corridor had been identified for the study (Glade Creek Camp, DeVoto 

Memorial Grove, Powell Ranger Station, Snowbank Camp, Bear Oil and Roots, Indian Post 

Office Lake, Howard Camp, The Devil’s Chair, The Smoking Place, Greensward Camp (Bald 

Mountain), Horse Sweat Pass, Weitas Meadows, Pete Forks, Salmon Trout Camp, Lewis and 

Clark Grove Camp, Musselshell Meadow). 

The significance of the Lolo Trail points is that each of the points was a camp used by the Lewis 

and Clark expedition. Tourists will heavily use these camps during the upcoming Lewis and 

Clark bicentennial and the Park was particularly interested in obtaining baseline information for 

these specific points so that they could monitor any impacts from the increased traffic along this 

corridor. With the exception of Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow, (which I marked 

with a small (1.25-in) brass tag on the back of USFS signs), I marked each point count station 

with a 34-in rebar stake and a small (1.25-in) brass tag with the point number inscribed on it. In 

addition, when possible I recorded the UTM coordinates of each point count station using a 

Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. To assure the accuracy of the distance between 

stations, I used a hip-chain to measure distance. 

I accounted for temporal factors by sampling the sites during different seasons and by timing the 

surveys for the time of day when birds are most easily detected. I supplemented these efforts 

with additional area searches and tape playbacks to target rare species. I collected a suite of 

habitat variables at each point count station using a standardized protocol. 

Point Counts 

With few exceptions, I followed the general guidelines and procedures for point count censusing 

of birds by Ralph et al. (1993). I conducted unlimited-distance point counts from March 5, 1999 

to December 21, 1999. Weather permitting, point counts were started within 0.5 hour after 

sunrise and completed before 11:00 (PST) for Idaho and Oregon sites and 12:00 (MST) for 

Montana sites. At each point count station, I recorded birds seen and/or heard during a 5-min 

period. I selected a 5-min sampling period based on recommendations of Ralph et al. (1995) and 

other researchers (Lynch 1995; Savard and Hooper 1995; Smith et al. 1995). These researchers 

found that a 5-min period was the most efficient sampling duration. I estimated the distance to 

each bird using a Bushnell Yardage ProTM 400 laser rangefinder. 
6

Area Searches 

I supplemented point counts with area searches at selected point count stations. Area searches 

were conducted at Buffalo Eddy (point count station 3; 100 m radius), Spalding (point count 

stations 1-6; 100 m radius and point count stations 1, 3, 5; 200 m radius), Heart of the Monster 

(point count stations 1-4; 100 m radius), Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow (point 

count stations 1-16; 100 m radius), White Bird Battlefield (points 1, 11, 23; 100 m radius), and 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite (point count station 1; 100 m radius). The intent of these searches 

was to detect and identify quiet birds. Area searches were not conducted at Bear Paw Battlefield 

or Big Hole National Battlefield, primarily because these sites were large and open and most 

birds were easily detected during point counts. I conducted a one-time extensive search of 

Whitman Mission National Historical Site. In addition, I conducted an area search at Colgate 

Licks National Recreation Trail. Area searches consisted of 20 minute point counts in which I 

systematically moved around in a predefined area. Ralph et al. (1993) recommended plot sizes of 

about 3 ha in forest or dense woodland, but suggested that larger areas of 10 ha or more could be 

used in more open habitats. In addition, these authors suggested that in very dense forest, smaller 

areas of 1-2 ha could be used. I used a 100 m radius plot for area searches, with the exception of 

a one-time 200 m radius area search at Spalding. I searched the same areas on each visit. 

Although the intensive nature of this method allows it to be carried out longer into the morning 

(Ralph et al. 1993), I attempted to restrict the searches until no later than five hours after dawn. I 

recorded the number of birds of each species seen, heard, or both seen and heard in the search 

area during this time. I recorded birds outside the search area separately, but concentrated on 

finding as many birds as possible within the plot. In addition to the systematic point counts and 

area searches, I recorded observations less formally the rest of the day. 

Tape Playbacks 

For specialized groups of birds, e.g., nocturnal owls, American three-toed woodpecker (Picoides 

dorsalis), and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), I used tape playbacks in conjunction with 

point counts and area searches. The tape playbacks were only used at key times of the year for 

those species that are not easily detected during point counts. I followed the general guidelines 

and procedures for tape playbacks in the Payette National Forest Protocol for Broadcast 

Vocalizations (Payette National Forest 1993). Generally, the procedure involved broadcasting a 

sequence of calls and/or drums (e.g., American three-toed woodpecker) in a random direction 

(obtained from second-hand on watch) using a Johnny StewartTM game caller. During the 30-sec 

pause after the first sequence, the game caller was rotated 120° for the second sequence, paused, 

then rotated another 120° for the final sequence of vocalizations. When the final sequence was 

complete, I remained at the calling station for 30 seconds before continuing to the next calling 

station. The following species were targeted using tape playbacks: northern goshawk, Boreal owl 

(Aegolius funereus), great gray owl (Strix nebulosa), flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus), and 

American three-toed woodpecker. 

Breeding Status 

During the course of the year, I recorded anecdotal observations of: active nests; birds carrying 

nesting material, food, or fecal sacs; distraction displays; courtship; copulation; and territorial 

singing or drumming on all species seen or heard during each visit to each site. With this 

information, I used methods similar to those employed at Monitoring Avian Productivity and 

Survivorship (MAPS) stations (DeSante et al. 2002) to determine the breeding (summer 

residency) status of all species at each site. I first recorded the Period Breeding Status (i.e., 

Confirmed, Probable, Observed) of each species encountered during each period (visit) at each 

site. I recorded the highest hierarchical period breeding status detected for each species that 
7

period. As defined by DeSante et al. (2002), I used the following hierarchical criteria to 

designate Period Breeding Status: 

Confirmed—current year’s nest found in the study area with eggs or young, in the process of 

being built, or already depredated or abandoned; adult seen gathering or carrying nesting 

material to a likely nest site in the study area; adult seen carrying food or fecal sac to or from a 

likely nest site in the study area; distraction display or injury feigning by an adult bird; a young 

bird incapable of sustained flight (a “local”) in the study area or very young (stub-tailed) 

fledglings found being fed by parents in the study area. 

Probable—copulation or courtship observed of a species within its breeding range; other 

territorial behavior observed in the study area; territorial song or drumming heard. 

Observed—bird encountered (seen or heard) in the study area but with no territorial behavior; 

bird encountered flying over the study area. 

At the end of the year, I reviewed the period status codes and entered the apparent yearly 

breeding status of each species using one of the following six categories defined by DeSante et 

al. (2002): 

Breeder (B): Summer resident—any species within its normal breeding range that was confirmed 

or determined to be a breeder or summer resident within the site (i.e., at least one individual was 

determined to reside at least partly within the site boundary during the breeding season of the 

year under consideration). 

Likely Breeder (L): Probable summer resident—a species within its normal breeding range that 

was suspected to be a breeder or summer resident but was encountered somewhat infrequently 

during the breeding season of the year under consideration. 

Transient (T): A species that breeds in the general area of the site (perhaps even less than a 

kilometer away), but, because of habitat, altitude, or patchy distribution, does not breed at the 

site. 

Migrant (M): The site does not lie within the breeding range of the species, and the species did 

not reside at the site during the breeding season. Migrant species may pass through the site on 

migration, or reside through the winter. 

Habitat Assessment 

I followed the general guidelines and procedures for habitat assessment as outlined by Ralph et 

al. (1993). That is, I first established a releve (i.e., a variable radius plot) centered on a point 

count station. I accomplished this by walking around the point for about 5-10 minutes, or until I 

stopped adding new species, whichever was less. The distance from the stopping point, or the 

outermost boundary or vegetation that I could see from the point center, became the radius of the 

plot and was treated as the boundary for estimating relative abundance. The size of the plot 

varied from 30 m to 50 m, depending on the homogeneity of the vegetation composition and the 

density of the vegetation. 

I determined the number of major vegetation layers within each releve by their dominant growth 

form: tree layer (T), shrub layer (S), herb (H) layer, and ground cover (moss and lichen) layer 
8

(G). I used the following height classes for each stratum: the tree layer included any plants taller 

than 5 m; the shrub layer included woody plants from 0.5-5 m in height; the herb layer included 

any plants less than 0.5 m tall; and the moss/lichen layer included those plants less than 0.1 m 

high. 

I determined the average height of each major layer present and the dominant plant species. In 

addition, I also recorded the maximum and minimum diameter at breast height (dbh) of canopy 

trees and the total percent cover value of each layer. I determined the relative importance of each 

species in each layer present, which was expressed as percent cover. 

I recorded the following location and site data on a standardized data form created by Ralph et al. 

(1993): state or province, region, UTM coordinates, elevation (m), slope aspect to the nearest 

degree (with a compass), percent slope (with a clinometer), presence (+) or absence (-) of water 

within the releve, and plot radius (distance from the center to the edge of the releve). I also 

recorded the following vegetation structure and composition data: total cover of each of the four 

layers, according to the Braun-Blanquet (Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg 1974) Cover 

Abundance Scale, which is: 5 = >75% cover; 4 = 50-75% cover; 3 = 25-50% cover; 2 = 5-25% 

cover; 1 = numerous, but less than 5% cover, or scattered, with cover up to 5%; + = few, with 

small cover; and r = rare, solitary with small cover; average height of the lower and upper 

bounds of each of the four layers, to the nearest decimeter (0.1 m); species with the greatest 

cover (foliage or crown cover) within each layer’s boundary; for each layer where trees were 

present, the diameter at breast height (dbh) to the nearest centimeter of the largest tree in the 

layer and also for the smallest trees; and species of trees used for minimum and maximum dbh 

measurements. I also recorded the number of sublayers visible in each primary layer: “1” if the 

layer was uniform and “2” or more if more than a single layer was divided into sublayers. 

For layers where sublayers were recognized, I recorded the sublayers with a letter designating 

the primary layer, followed by a number (e.g., T1, T2, T3, S1, etc.), which indicated the 

sublayers by decreasing heights. I recorded cover, as described above, using the Braun-Blanquet 

method. Finally, I recorded the species’ name for each plant species that made up at least 10% of 

the cover. 

Data Anyalysis and Evaluation 

Using a combination of information obtained from point counts, area searches, tape playbacks, 

and field notes, I compiled a list of all bird species encountered over the course of the year at 

each site. I used a quantitative approach to estimating abundance and summarized these 

numerical estimates into abundance categories. Specifically, I expressed relative abundance as 

percent of total. That is, the total number of contacts (from unlimited-distance point counts) with 

a given species was divided by the total number of contacts for all species across all visits by 

site. From these results, I assigned each species one of four abundance scores, based on the 

following criteria. The least abundant 20% of species were scored 1 (rare), while the most 

abundant 20% were scored 4 (abundant). The remaining 60% of species was divided in half 

based on abundance, and assigned to categories 2 (uncommon) and 3 (common). 

I created a subset of point count data limited to the breeding season (May 20, 1999 to July 26, 

1999) to estimate density. Only birds observed within a 100 m radius from the center of the point 

count station were included in this analysis. Limiting the density estimation to the breeding 

season is justified in that many birds are not singing outside of the breeding season and 

consequently, the analysis might underestimate the actual density of certain species. I used 
9

Program VCPS (Copyright, E. O. Garton), which incorporates the optimum nonparametric 

estimation of population density (ordered distance method; Patil et al. 1982), to estimate point 

and confidence intervals of density (birds/ha). 

I used detections from point counts, area searches, and incidental sightings to assess breeding 

status of each species. 

11

Results

Point Counts and Area Searches 

Of the 164 species detected by point counts and area searches during the study period 

(Appendix; scientific names therein), 43 were detected at Buffalo Eddy (Table 1), 69 at Spalding 

(Table 2), 64 at Heart of the Monster (Table 3), 66 at Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass / Musselshell 

Meadow (Table 4), 84 at White Bird Battlefield (Table 5), 59 at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite 

(Table 6), 53 at Bear Paw Battlefield (Table 7), and 83 at Big Hole National Battlefield (Table 

8). White Bird Battlefield and Big Hole National Battlefield contained the highest species 

richness among the eight sites sampled. Each of these sites contains diverse habitats, which 

includes riparian areas in each. These sites are also large compared to the other sites sampled. 

Buffalo Eddy contained the lowest species richness, which is likely due to the relatively 

homogeneous nature of the habitats, but may also be an artifact of its small size. Each of Tables 

1 through 8 includes: abundance scores for each species; birds/count period, density (birds/ha), 

90% CI, and total number for point count data truncated at 100 m during the breeding season 

(May 20, 1999 to July 26, 1999); total number and relative abundance based on untruncated 

point count data for the entire year; and breeding status. 

Tape Playbacks 

None of the five targeted species—northern goshawk, Boreal owl, great gray owl, flammulated 

owl, American three-toed woodpecker—were detected during tape playbacks. However, the 

American three-toed woodpecker was detected during a point count at Pete Forks along the Lolo 

Trail. I heard young begging during the count and subsequently located an active nest where I 

observed an adult female feeding one male and one female nestling young, which were near 

fledging. The nest was approximately 130 meters below the road at Pete Forks in a 30 cm dbh 

lodgepole pine snag. 

Habitat Assessment 

Plant species present at each site are summarized in Tables 10-17. Based on plant species 

composition, I assigned each point to the most appropriate ecological system (Comer et al. 2003; 

NatureServe 2003) (Table 18). I added descriptive modifiers to some of the systems when I 

could not find one that fit the plant species composition at the site. In addition, NatureServe’s 

(2003) descriptions of ecological systems did not include disturbed or developed categories. In 

those cases, I attempted to best describe the point. 

Special Status Species 

The following comments apply to those species that warrant management attention because of 

the concern over their current conservation status. 

Horned Grebe: Recorded only at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite as a migrant, breeding populations 

of this species are listed by the state of Oregon as a Sensitive Species in the peripheral or 

naturally rare category. This species’ long contracting breeding range and negative trends, based 

on North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Christmas Bird Count data, most likely 

indicate that the few measures taken on its behalf in North America have exacted little positive 

effect (Stedman 2000). Within North America, the degradation of breeding sites results primarily 

from agricultural activities, such as the mowing of lacustrine vegetation in dry years and the 

eutrophication of aquatic sites from fertilizer and pesticide build-ups (Stedman 2000). In 

addition, grebes abandon lakes where shorelines contain many summer homes and where people 

recreate on the water during the summer months (Stedman 2000). 
12

American White Pelican: Recorded as a migrant at Bear Paw Battlefield, the American white 

pelican is listed as a Species of Concern by the state of Montana (Montana Natural Heritage 

Program 2004). Until the early 1970s, combinations of changing water levels and human 

disturbance threatened the continental population of white pelicans (Evans and Knopf 1993). 

Since then, the population has recovered and appears to have recently stabilized, but the species 

remains potentially vulnerable to habitat degradation and disturbance (Evans and Knopf 1993). 

Most management concerns relate to breeding colonies. Protection of breeding colonies from 

human disturbance and protection of nesting and foraging habitat from widespread permanent 

flooding or drainage remain the primary management concerns (Evans and Knopf 1993). 

Although not recorded at any of the Idaho NEPE sites, an emerging and challenging 

conservation issue in Idaho is the conflict between piscivorous pelicans and special status native 

fish species. 

Bald Eagle: Recorded as a migrant at White Bird Battlefield, Bear Paw Battlefield, and Big Hole 

National Battlefield, the bald eagle is listed as Threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) in the lower 48 States. Endangered-species protection prohibits the “take” of bald 

eagles and also requires federal agencies to consider the impact of their actions on this species. 

Most management actions regarding the bald eagle have been directed toward the protection of 

nests and communal roosts (see Buehler 2000). Because the bald eagle does not appear to nest 

within any of the management sites inventoried in this study, management for this species within 

the Park should focus on the winter needs of bald eagles. Winter habitat suitability for bald 

eagles is defined by food availability, the presence of roost sites that provide protection from 

inclement weather, and the absence of human disturbance (Buehler 2000). Although not recorded 

at Spalding during any of the visits in 1999, bald eagles winter along the Clearwater River and 

the larger diameter ponderosa pine trees at Spalding offer potential roosts and perches for this 

species. 

Swainson’s Hawk: Recorded as a transient at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, the Swainson’s hawk 

has so reduced in numbers or distribution throughout its range that it is considered to be 

declining in Utah, Nevada, and Oregon (England et al. 1997). Although there is currently no 

federal status under the Endangered Species Act regarding this species, the Swainson’s hawk is 

listed as an Oregon Sensitive Species in the Vulnerable Category, a Species of Special Concern 

in Utah, Nevada, and Washington, and Threatened in California (Littlefield et al. 1984; Herron et 

al. 1985; Harlow and Bloom 1989). Swainson’s hawks commonly breed in areas of intensive 

agriculture; alfalfa fields and other hay fields seem particularly well suited to this species 

(England et al. 1997). On both the breeding and wintering grounds, conversion of native habitat 

to woody perennial crops and urban development eliminates habitat for Swainson’s hawks 

(England et al. 1997). A preferred management technique is to provide tree plantings in areas 

where nest sites are limiting (Fitzner 1980). 

Ferruginous Hawk: Documented as a confirmed breeder at Bear Paw Battlefield, the ferruginous 

hawk’s population numbers have been on the rise at an average annual rate of 3.4% based on the 

North American Breeding Bird Survey data from 1966-1999. Despite this increase, this species 

is still recognized as a Species of Concern in Montana (Montana Natural Heritage Program 

2004) and has seen many local declines (Bachand 2001). To maintain current population 

numbers, management measures should be directed toward enhancing nest substrates, 

maintaining prey populations, and mitigating development impacts from mining, pipeline 

construction, and urbanization (Suter and Jones 1980; White and Thurow 1985; Olendorff 1993). 
13

In addition, wildland protection or an agricultural production system largely based on ranching—

if maintained in substantial portions of both the breeding and wintering ranges—are consistent 

with ferruginous hawk conservation (Bechard and Schmutz 1995). Population declines have 

largely resulted from the effects of cultivation, grazing, poisoning and controlling small 

mammals, mining, and fire in nesting habitats, with cultivation being the most serious (Olendorff 

1993). 

Golden Eagle: Recorded as a transient at Buffalo Eddy, the golden eagle is a State Candidate 

Species in Washington, which means that it is under review for possible listing as State 

Endangered, Threatened, or Sensitive. 

Franklin’s Gull: Recorded only at Bear Paw Battlefield as a migrant, the Franklin’s gull is listed 

as a Montana Animal Species of Concern (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2004). This gull is 

sensitive to human disturbance early in the breeding cycle and will entirely desert a colony site 

with excessive exposure to humans (Guay 1968). Nesting habitat degradation occurs as a result 

of the draining of marshes or intentional drawdown for management of duck-nesting habitat 

(DuMont 1940; Littlefield and Thompson 1981). The key management technique for Franklin’s 

gulls is to maintain suitable water levels in large marshes (Burger and Gochfeld 1994). This gull 

deserts its breeding colonies from mid- to late July and wanders widely in all directions over 

large prairie regions (Burger 1972). In contrast, spring migration is more direct with less 

lingering en route to breeding colonies (Burger and Gochfeld 1994). 

American Three-toed Woodpecker: Documented as a confirmed breeder at Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, the American three-toed woodpecker was recently identified as a 

Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Idaho (Idaho Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation 

Strategy Draft SGCN list, January 2005) and is currently a U.S. Forest Service (USFS Region 4) 

Sensitive Species. This species’ association with spatially unpredictable disturbance and its large 

home range size make it sensitive to timber harvesting and forest fragmentation, both which 

ultimately reduce food availability and have contributed to population declines (Leonard 2001). 

In addition, owing to their strong preference for bark beetles, American three-toed woodpecker 

populations are directly and negatively affected by pest management operations that target beetle 

host trees (e.g., lodgepole pine or spruce) (Leonard 2001). Fire suppression has also played a role 

in reducing habitat for American three-toed woodpeckers, which, like salvage logging, 

effectively reduces or removes the dead and dying trees on which this species depends (Leonard 

2001). But more specifically, the alteration of natural fire intensity has likely resulted in 

population declines of this species (Hutto 1995). 

Sprague’s Pipit: Documented as a confirmed breeder at Bear Paw Battlefield, and locally 

abundant, the Sprague’s pipit is considered a Species of Concern by the state of Montana 

(Montana Natural Heritage Program 2004) and recognized as a Sensitive Species by the U.S. 

Forest Service. Endemic to the North American grasslands and one of the least-known birds in 

North America, the Sprague’s pipit has suffered dramatic declines in numbers throughout its 

range as prairie has disappeared via cultivation, overgrazing, and invasion by exotic plants 

(Samson and Knopf 1994; Robbins and Dale 1999). Based on North American Breeding Bird 

Survey data for the period between 1966 and 1999, the Sprague’s pipit has declined in the 

western U.S. at an average annual rate of 7.4% (Bachand 2001). Studies designed to address the 

effects of Eurasian plant species on the densities of Sprague’s pipits all showed a significantly 

greater abundance of Sprague’s pipits in native prairie than in introduced vegetation (Wilson and 

Belcher 1989; Dale 1990, 1992, 1993; Hartley 1994; Davis et al. 1996; Madden 1996; Prescott 
14

and Wagner 1996). Other issues affecting Sprague’s pipits are the consequences of grazing and 

the encroachment of shrubs and trees throughout the wintering areas (Robbins and Dale 1999). 

Several factors contribute to the effects of grazing on pipit densities ranging from the frequency 

and duration of grazing to environmental conditions such as moisture, soil types, and plant 

species composition (Robbins and Dale 1999). Management for this species should include 

prescribed fire, which is important for controlling the encroachment of woody vegetation 

(Robbins and Dale 1999). Grazing can be used as an alternative to prescribed fire for preventing 

an overaccumulation of vegetation, especially in drier portions of the range (Robbins and Dale 

1999). Moderate to heavy grazing in tallgrass and mesic mixed-grass prairie appears to have 

little impact and may even be beneficial to pipits (Kantrud and Kologiski 1982). However, 

studies in dry, sparsely vegetated mixed-grass prairie have demonstrated that grazing has a 

dramatic negative impact (Robbins and Dale 1999). Where haying is used to control vegetation, 

the timing of the harvest is critical to nest success; that is, cutting should be delayed until after 

the peak nesting period (Dale et al. 1997). 

Brewer’s Sparrow: Documented as a confirmed breeder at Big Hole National Battlefield (Table 

8), the Brewer’s sparrow is classified as a Montana Animal Species of Concern (Montana 

Natural Heritage Program 2004). Although not currently on any official state or federal list as 

threatened or endangered, recent surveys (1980s and 1990s) have shown this sagebrush obligate 

to be in significant decline rangewide—perhaps related to fundamental changes in shrubland 

ecosystems being brought about by agriculture, grazing, and the invasion of exotic plant species 

(Rotenberry et al. 1999). In addition, large-scale fragmentation and reduction in area of native 

shrublands has occurred throughout the Intermountain West (Braun et al. 1976), and may also be 

responsible for declines in Brewer’s sparrows (Rotenberry 1998). 

 

Little is known about the major aspects of this species’ biology (Rotenberry et al. 1999). 

However, Brewer’s sparrows are strongly associated with sagebrush shrublands that have 

abundant, scattered shrubs and short grass (Paige and Ritter 1999). They favor unburned 

sagebrush shrublands over burned sagebrush (Bock and Bock 1987), and in an Idaho study, high 

shrub cover and large patch size were important predictors of Brewer’s sparrow occurrence 

(Knick and Rotenberry 1995). Brewer’s sparrows are sensitive to sagebrush control, and thrive 

best where sagebrush is maintained in tall, clumped, and vigorous stands (Paige and Ritter 1999). 

The most critical conservation measure for breeding Brewer’s sparrows is the protection and 

restoration of native shrublands and shrub-steppe habitats (Rotenberry 1998; Paige and Ritter 

1999). Management recommendations include the removal of exotic annual plants that have 

become self-perpetuating (Rotenberry et al. 1999). 

Grasshopper Sparrow: Recorded as transient at White Bird Battlefield, the grasshopper sparrow 

was recently identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Idaho (Idaho 

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Draft SGCN list, January 2005), is currently a 

Montana Animal Species of Concern (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2004), and in parts of 

the United States, some subspecies are both state and federally listed (Vickery 1996). The 

population decline of grasshopper sparrow and many grassland birds has been identified as a 

national and regional conservation priority (Knopf 1994; Vickery et al. in press). Although not 

documented at Bear Paw Battlefield in the present study, the grasshopper sparrow was recorded 

as rare at Bear Paw in 1997 (Monello and Wright 1998). Primary factors that have contributed to 

the long-term declines of grasshopper sparrow populations in North America include habitat 

loss, fragmentation, and degradation; e.g., the conversion of prairies and agricultural grasslands 

(Vickery 1996). In addition, extensive and intensive grazing in western North America has 
15

negatively impacted this species (Bock and Webb 1984). Three management techniques are 

recommended for this species: prescribed burning, grazing, and mowing; however, early-season 

mowing of hayfields and other agricultural lands is generally responsible for major nest failure 

(Vickery 1996). Deferred mowing on publicly owned lands would provide improved breeding 

opportunities for grasshopper sparrows and other grassland birds (Vickery 1996). A recent study 

showed that summer burns that correspond to the period of increased natural lightning strikes 

and wild fires could be beneficial for maintaining habitat and productivity (Shriver et al. 1996). 

Baird’s Sparrow: Found only at Bear Paw Battlefield in this study, and recorded as a likely 

breeder, the Baird’s sparrow is a Species of Concern in Montana (Montana Natural Heritage 

Program 2004) and is also recognized as a Sensitive Species by the U.S. Forest Service and 

Bureau of Land Management. On May 21, 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a 

finding that the Baird’s sparrow did not require Endangered Species Act protection. However, 

Service biologists concluded that the Service should continue to monitor the status of this 

species. A grassland specialist endemic to the northern Great Plains, the grasshopper sparrow has 

suffered population declines due to the conversion of native prairie to cropland and exotic 

vegetation, invasion of native grasslands by exotic plant species, proliferation of shrubs due to 

fire suppression in moist portions of Baird’s sparrow distribution, and poor range management of 

some remaining tracts (Lane 1968; Owens and Myres 1973; Stewart 1975; Goossen et al. 1993; 

Green et al. 2002). Management for Baird’s sparrow habitat should be directed toward protecting 

native prairie preserves (Green et al. 2002). In addition, in North Dakota, controlled burning 

appeared to be an effective management tool (Green et al. 2002). 

17

Discussion 

The avian communities of Nez Perce National Historical Park are as rich and as varied as the 

landscapes they occupy. The Park serves as a permanent home to many species, a summer 

breeding area for others, a place to rest and refuel for long-distance migrants, and a place for 

some species, such as the American tree sparrow to spend the winter. The Park is home to 

common species, such as the American robin, as well as some of the rarest, such as the American 

three-toed woodpecker. Some park sites are developed, whereas others, such as the Lolo Trail 

remain mostly wild. Bear Paw Battlefield stands as a remnant of what used to be a more 

extensive prairie system. Nevertheless, this remnant prairie site supports such rare species as the 

ferruginous hawk, Baird’s sparrow, Sprague’s pipit, long-billed curlew, and others. 

Buffalo Eddy 

For such a small site, and homogeneous nature, Buffalo Eddy nevertheless provides habitat for a 

diverse species assemblage. The steep and rocky slopes provide breeding habitat for rock and 

canyon wrens, American kestrels, and violet-green swallows. The Snake River provides habitat 

for great blue herons, belted kingfishers, and common mergansers. The hackberry draws provide 

nesting habitat for species such as the Lazuli bunting, Bullock’s oriole, yellow-breasted chat, and 

spotted towhee; foraging corridors for the Cooper’s hawk; cover for the western screech-owl; 

important forage and cover for migrants such as the black-capped chickadee, golden-crowned 

and ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped and MacGillivray’s warbler, and dark-eyed junco. 

Powerline poles that cross through the site provide nest platforms for western kingbirds. Open 

country species that regularly inhabit this site include: golden eagle, common nighthawk, 

northern harrier, and red-tailed hawk. Chukars were common at this site; gray partridge and 

California quail were present, but were less common than the chukar. In 2000, a pair of 

Peregrine falcons occupied a ledge at Asotin Cliffs on the Snake River, but in the 1990s, a pair 

had nested at Ackerman Bar, which is just downstream from Buffalo Eddy. A species not 

detected in the present study, but one that I would have expected to find, is the prairie falcon. 

This area of the Snake River contains appropriate habitat and it is likely that this species occurs 

here in low densities. 

Spalding 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at 

Spalding include: bank swallow (Riparia riparia), golden eagle, and common grackle (Quiscalus 

quiscula). Of these three species, the most surprising is the common grackle. This species is 

peripheral to Idaho and only breeds in the southeastern part of the state. However, it has been 

previously documented as transient in this latilong (Stephens and Sturts 1998). 

An additional 53 species were added to Spalding from the present study. One of the more 

interesting species encountered at Spalding was the yellow-breasted chat. This species is 

typically found in dry areas near water and shrub cover, which exist at the edge of the site 

boundary to the east. Another interesting species encountered is the Bewick’s wren. Stephens 

and Sturts (1998) record this species as wintering in this latilong, but it was documented in the 

present study as a breeder. This species seems to be expanding its range in Idaho. Spalding is a 

mix of habitats and Lapwai Creek flows through the site. The creek provides habitat for common 

merganser, great blue heron, Canada goose, wood duck, mallard, spotted sandpiper, Wilson’s 

snipe, belted kingfisher, and yellow warbler, among others. The Clearwater River is used by both 

California and ring-billed gulls. The “boom” grounds to the east of the arboretum provide dense 
18

cover for mixed-species flocks of migrants and wintering species such as brown creeper, blackcapped chickadee, and white-crowned sparrow. The arboretum provides roost sites for great 

horned owls, and barn owls roost in the cottonwood and willow corridor adjacent to the river. 

Heart of the Monster 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at Heart of 

the Monster include: varied thrush, bank swallow, common grackle, ring-billed gull, and fox 

sparrow. Varied thrush is interesting because this species is usually associated with conifer 

forests. However, it was likely migrating through. Both bank swallow and common grackle were 

also detected by Monello and Wright (1998) at Spalding, but I did not record them at any of the 

sites I visited. Ring-billed gulls frequent the Clearwater River and so would be expected at this 

site. Fox sparrow is another species that was likely migrating through. 

An additional 53 species were detected in the present study. The slough that occurs between the 

Clearwater River and the site proper provides habitat for a variety of waterfowl and grebe 

species including: wood duck, mallard, northern shoveler, green-winged teal, and hooded 

merganser. Species such as the great blue heron, Canada goose, ring-necked duck, bufflehead, 

common goldeneye, common merganser, spotted sandpiper, belted kingfisher, and osprey 

frequent the Clearwater River, which provides breeding habitat for some and wintering habitat 

for others. There is a great blue heron rookery upstream and across the river from Heart of the 

Monster. The moist meadow at the south end of the site is prime habitat for the Wilson’s snipe. 

The ephemeral wetland adjacent the RV Park opposite the highway from the main site offers 

habitat for migrating waterfowl and American coots, as well as habitat for red-winged 

blackbirds. The black cottonwood corridor along the river provides important breeding habitat 

for a wide variety of species including: downy woodpecker, northern flicker, red-eyed vireo, 

gray catbird, western wood-pewee, willow flycatcher, yellow warbler, Bullock’s oriole, and 

black-headed grosbeak. Both mountain and western bluebirds occur at this site, but the mountain 

bluebird as a migrant only. Other key migrant species include: yellow-rumped warbler, blackcapped chickadee, MacGillivray’s warbler, white-crowned sparrow, and red-naped sapsucker. 

Both eastern and western kingbirds were documented at this site, the western as a confirmed 

breeder. A Cooper’s hawk was detected hunting in the black locust stand across the highway and 

adjacent the wetland. However, this is a species poor stand that does not offer much in the way 

of habitat for species at this site. 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow 

Although this was the most extensive site in terms of coverage, the site was not accessible due to 

snow until past the ideal survey period for breeding birds. Therefore, it is likely that a number of 

species were not detected. That said, this site still had a diversity of species. One of the most 

notable species detected on the Lolo Trail was the American three-toed woodpecker. This 

species is typically found at higher elevations and is most likely to be found in lodgepole and/or 

Engelmann spruce forests. Another species that was only documented on the Lolo Trail was the 

spruce grouse. Chestnut-backed chickadees were detected only at Lewis and Clark Grove, which 

is western red cedar-hemlock forest. Key species associated with mountain hemlock forests 

included: brown creeper, fox sparrow, golden-crowned kinglet, mountain chickadee, pine siskin, 

varied thrush, white-crowned sparrow, winter wren, and yellow-rumped warbler. Most species 

encountered occurred across a range of habitats that included, in addition to the above: mixed 

conifer, lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, ponderosa pine, and riparian woodland and shrublands. The 

Lincoln’s sparrow was an exception, and only occurred at two locations: Glade Creek and 

Weitas Meadow, which were subalpine-montane riparian shrubland and subalpine dry-mesic 
19

spruce-fir forest and woodland, respectively. One of the most species rich areas I found was in an 

alder thicket near Horse Sweat Pass and Spirit Revival Ridge. This thicket provided habitat for: 

Wilson’s warbler, pine siskin, yellow-rumped warbler, Townsend’s warbler, Nashville warbler, 

mountain chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, rufous hummingbird, dark-eyed junco, and 

American robin. The Rufous hummingbirds were feeding on Menziesia ferruginea flowers. 

 

White Bird Battlefield 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at White 

Bird Battlefield include: bank swallow, mountain bluebird, fox sparrow, short-eared owl, and 

vesper sparrow. There are highway cuts adjacent to the site, but they are mostly cut through 

basalt and don’t offer the substrate that bank swallows need for nesting. I suspect the bank 

swallows observed by Monello and Wright (1998) were likely moving through the site, but not 

breeding. This is probably true of mountain bluebird and fox sparrow as well. White Bird could 

potentially support short-eared owls, but they were not observed in the present study. Vesper 

sparrow is considered a near obligate of sagebrush steppe in Wyoming, Nevada, and Idaho 

(Medin et al. 2000), and so it is not likely that White Bird would ever support a breeding 

population of this species. 

In addition to the species detected by Monello and Wright (1998), 63 additional species were 

detected in the present study. Key grassland species included savannah sparrow, grasshopper 

sparrow, northern harrier, and western meadowlark. Other open country species included: turkey 

vulture, golden eagle, prairie falcon, Say’s phoebe, western kingbird, and eastern kingbird. White 

Bird would likely support a greater diversity and higher density of grassland species if starthistle 

could be controlled. Both rock wrens and canyon wrens occupy the rocky cliffs of the battlefield 

as well as the basalt talus slopes above and below the highway. Two rail species were detected at 

White Bird: the sora and the Virginia rail. The sora was detected at Swartz Pond, but the Virginia 

rail was in a tiny patch of cattails near the entrance to the walking loop. Swartz Pond is one of 

the most important habitats on the Battlefield. This wetland provides habitat for migrating 

shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as breeding habitat for species such as red-winged and yellowheaded blackbirds. White Bird Creek supports red-eyed vireo, a species closely associated with 

riparian areas. The hackberry draws are important habitat for Lazuli buntings and yellowbreasted chats, as well as migrants such as the black-capped chickadee. Five exotic species were 

detected at White Bird: chukar, gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, California quail, and 

European starling. The steep rocky slopes adjacent to the battlefield provide ideal habitat for 

chukars. Gray partridge were abundant, often in large expanses of starthistle. Bald eagles do not 

nest in this region, but are important winter visitors. 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, like Buffalo Eddy, is a small site. However, this site is at the mouth 

of Wallowa Lake, has an irrigation stream below the site, dense conifer forest opposite the site, 

and open country on the other side. Consequently, the species assemblage at this site was rich. 

Species detected from the site, but associated with Wallowa Lake include: horned grebe, Canada 

goose, mallard, common goldeneye, common merganser, and osprey. Key upland forest species 

included: sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawk, Vaux’s swift, Clark’s nutcracker, red-breasted 

nuthatch, brown creeper, golden-crowned kinglet, Townsend’s solitaire, Swainson’s thrush, 

yellow-rumped warbler, western tanager, red crossbill, and pine siskin. Because of the site’s 

proximity to more open country, golden eagle, red-tailed hawks and American kestrels were 

detected from the site year-round, Swainson’s hawk during the breeding season, and roughlegged hawk during the winter. The most interesting species detected at this site during the 
20

winter was the gray-crowned rosy-finch. Species associated with the riparian area include: belted 

kingfisher, red-naped sapsucker, warbling vireo, winter wren, and yellow and MacGillivray’s 

warbler. Three swallow species—northern rough-winged, tree, and violet-green swallow—were 

detected during the study. Other species of note detected at the site include: great horned owl, 

calliope hummingbird, mountain bluebird, and Lazuli bunting. 

Bear Paw Battlefield 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at Bear 

Paw include: Brewer’s blackbird, lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), gadwall (Anas 

strepera), chipping sparrow, and grasshopper sparrow. I would have expected to find Brewer’s 

blackbirds and grasshopper sparrows in the present study, but did not. I did observe lark 

sparrows in that region of Montana, but not at Bear Paw. Both Gadwall and chipping sparrows 

were most likely migrating. 

An additional 35 species were recorded in the present study, which added several migratory 

species and wintering species. A pair of ferruginous hawks, (one light phase and one a rare dark 

morph), nested on the Davies’ property beyond the corral and on top of a small knoll and 

produced five young. Other notable species at Bear Paw included the rare Baird’s sparrow and 

Sprague’s pipit, both recorded as breeders. The small ravines of common snowberry and pearhip 

rose provided habitat for clay-colored sparrows and short-eared owls. The clay-colored sparrow 

was one of the most abundant species at this site. Other grassland species included: vesper and 

savannah sparrow, willet, long-billed curlew, and western meadowlark. Two swallow species, 

cliff swallow and barn swallow occurred at the site. Of particular interest was a rock wren 

observed in October on the cutbank at the south end of the site. It was calling and I subsequently 

observed it. It was the only time I saw this species and I wonder if it was a dispersing juvenile. 

American white pelican, California gull, and Franklin’s gull were observed en route to their 

breeding grounds, but did not actually stop at the site. Sandhill cranes were detected at the site, 

but apparently nested elsewhere. The coulee provided important habitat for many migrants 

including: American wigeon, northern shoveler, northern pintail, hairy woodpecker, blackcapped chickadee, ruby-crowned kinglet, and Wilson’s warbler. The coulee provided breeding 

habitat for mallard, yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, eastern kingbird, gray catbird, redwinged blackbird, and song sparrow. Bear Paw also provides wintering habitat for the bald eagle. 

Big Hole National Battlefield 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at Big 

Hole include: common merganser (Mergus merganser), solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria), 

western flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis), ferruginous hawk, black-headed grosbeak, Wilson’s 

warbler, and common yellowthroat. Big Hole is within the range of common merganser, and the 

Big Hole River could provide habitat. However, this species was not detected at any time during 

the course of the year. The solitary sandpiper does not breed in Montana, so it is likely that 

Monello and Wright (1998) encountered this species during migration. The western [Pacificslope] flycatcher does not occur in Montana, but the cordilleran flycatcher (E. occidentalis) does. 

Neither of these species were recorded at Big Hole in this study. Monello and Wright (1998) 

reported scrub jay, but gave the scientific name Perisoreus canadensis, which is actually gray jay 

(and was recorded during this study). However, they also included an entry for gray jay with the 

same scientific name listed for scrub jay. Montana is not within the normal distribution of the 

[western] scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica), nor is Big Hole typical habitat for this species. 
21

Van Sickle (1987) recorded 24 additional species than encountered in the present study, most 

notably the northern goshawk, golden eagle, western screech-owl, MacGillivray’s warbler, and 

spruce grouse. He, like Monello and Wright (1998), also recorded common merganser, solitary 

sandpiper, ferruginous hawk, and black-headed grosbeak. Of interest is that he recorded both 

Swainson’s thrush and hermit thrush. Although these two species can overlap, the hermit thrush 

is more typically associated with higher elevation forests such as those at Big Hole. Van Sickle 

(1987) also recorded Williamson’s sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus), which is typically 

associated with ponderosa pine forests. 

Sixteen additional species—unique from Monello and Wright (1998) and Van Sickle (1987)—

were encountered in the present study, which expands our knowledge of Big Hole’s avifauna. 

Two winter residents of note recorded in this study were the American tree sparrow and the 

common redpoll. Other species of note include: bald eagle, rough-legged hawk, northern pygmyowl, long-eared owl, Hammond’s flycatcher, and Say’s phoebe. But what is curious is that 

neither Monello and Wright (1998), nor Van Sickle (1987) recorded black-billed magpie. This 

species’ presence is likely associated with adjacent ranch lands. 

The willow flats along the river supported concentrations of veery, northern waterthrush, 

Lincoln’s sparrow, and yellow warbler. The lodgepole pine forest on the mountain slope 

consisted of typical forest species including: Townsend’s solitaire, hermit thrush, goldencrowned kinglet, Clark’s nutcracker, and western tanager, among others. The sagebrush-steppe 

of the bench and mountain slope was represented by key sagebrush and/or grassland associated 

species such as the Brewer’s sparrow, vesper sparrow, and savannah sparrow. 

Whitman Mission 

Species recorded by Monello and Wright (1998), but not detected in the present study at 

Whitman Mission include: ring-necked pheasant, Canada goose, bank swallow, common grackle, 

mallard, California quail, rock [pigeon] dove, American coot, red-tailed hawk, killdeer, blackcapped chickadee, and warbling vireo. Because Whitman Mission was not originally one of the 

targeted sites, I only visited it once during the present study. So it is not surprising that these 

species were not detected. I did, however, detect an additional 13 species including: wood duck, 

sharp-shinned hawk, mourning dove, western wood-pewee, northern rough-winged and barn 

swallow, Bewick’s and house wren, song sparrow, black-headed grosbeak, house finch, 

American goldfinch, and an unidentified hummingbird. Whitman Mission is in an agricultural 

area of eastern Washington, hence the bird community there is influenced by this. This site does 

support Swainson’s hawks though, likely because of it’s proximity to these same agricultural 

areas, which provide a prey base for this species. 

23

Management Recommendations 

Although each of the eight sites targeted in this study is unique, many of the sites share similar 

management issues. For example, the spread of exotic and noxious plants is paramount 

throughout the Park sites (U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service 1997). Monello 

and Wright (1998) conducted an inventory of exotic plants at four NPS units including five sites 

within the Nez Perce National Historical Park (Spalding, Heart of the Monster, White Bird 

Battlefield, Bear Paw Battlefield, Big Hole National Battlefield), and they found that, in 

proportion to its size, Spalding was the site most severely affected by exotic species and noxious 

weeds. However, each of the other sites inventoried had its own suite of exotics. Exotics such as 

yellow starthistle, scotch thistle, field bindweed, poison hemlock, and others rapidly outcompete 

existing vegetation. These species change the integrity of the environment and can affect bird 

communities in a number of ways. Tree species like black locust are not as suitable for nesting 

and foraging and therefore cannot support the number or diversity of birds that black cottonwood 

stands can support. Yellow starthistle invades and replaces native grass species that are important 

for both nesting and foraging. Thistle species replace native forbs that are important forage 

plants. A priority management issue for the Park should be to return the land to native 

vegetation. Efforts are already underway at some Park sites, such as the restoration of the 

ponderosa pine stand at Spalding and the reclamation of the borrow pit at White Bird Battlefield. 

These efforts are vital and should continue. 

Other key management issues throughout the Park include increased encroachment and 

commercialization of surrounding areas, sustainability of water quality, federally listed 

threatened and endangered species, and wetland restoration or rehabilitation. The following 

comments are intended to address management issues on a site-by-site basis. 

Buffalo Eddy 

Management issues here include assessing the effects of recent road construction, which 

increases the potential mortality of birds from collisions with cars. In addition, access to the site 

is increasing on the Idaho side by boat. Residential and secondary homes are also encroaching on 

the Washington side. With the exception of exotics, the most likely impacts to birds here will 

come from human disturbance. Importantly, the deep draws between the ridges at this site are 

dominated by hackberry and provide important nesting habitat and cover for breeding birds, and 

cover and forage for migrating and wintering birds. The power poles currently provide nest 

platforms for western kingbirds, but other structures could be erected for this species. The rock 

faces and cliffs provide habitat for nesting rock and canyon wrens, American kestrels, and 

swallow species. 

Spalding

As mentioned above, exotic species and noxious weeds are the key issue here as well as 

encroachment from outside the Park boundary. I recommend that the Park continue its 

restoration efforts of the ponderosa pine stand as well as to work toward restoring the majority of 

the Park to native vegetation. Perhaps paradoxically, the arboretum, although comprised of many 

introduced species, provides valuable habitat to migrating and overwintering birds. Maintaining 

the water quality in Lapwai Creek should be a priority for species such as the spotted sandpiper 

and belted kingfisher. The viaduct provides a substrate for cliff swallows to build their nests. 

This should be protected from disturbance. 
24

Heart of the Monster 

Management issues here include exotic species and noxious weeds, and increased urbanization. 

Traffic on the highway poses risks to birds flying between the river and the wetland. The 

expansion of the RV park, which is one of the largest private campgrounds in Idaho, together 

with the construction of a motel and residential housing in recent years, has reduced the buffer 

near the eastern part of the site. Much of the site is harvested as grass hay during the summer, 

which eliminates habitat for birds and has the potential to disrupt breeding and/or cause mortality 

of young. If the public could be informed of the importance of this habitat to birds, then the 

existing walkway could be left, but the rest of the site could be restored to native vegetation. The 

riparian corridor, associated slough, and wetland result in a diverse assemblage of birds and 

should be maintained. The black locust stand opposite the highway and adjacent the wetland is 

species poor and could potentially be replaced with native species such as ponderosa pine and/or 

black cottonwood. 

Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow

The most current and significant management issue for this site is the potential impact from 

increased traffic along this corridor, especially in relation to the Lewis and Clark bicentennial. 

Firewood gathering, the potential for introducing exotic species, and general disturbance to these 

sites are the most pressing management concerns. Other ongoing issues include timber extraction 

and the potential for inappropriate development at Musselshell Meadow. The Lolo Trail was the 

only site where I detected American three-toed woodpeckers. These woodpeckers nest and 

forage on dead and dying substrates. Firewood gathering should be either restricted or closely 

monitored, so as to limit impacts to this species as well as other cavity-nesting species such as 

the northern pygmy-owl. Camping should be limited to specific sites so as to reduce the impacts 

to surrounding areas. 

White Bird Battlefield

This site has been severely impacted by exotic species and noxious weeds. It has lost many of the 

native grasses to yellow starthistle and as such has been rendered less suitable to species such as 

the grasshopper sparrow and savannah sparrow. The two species most observed in the yellow 

starthistle were the western meadowlark and gray partridge. But the majority of the other species 

were primarily restricted to the cliff areas, shrubby draws, riparian areas, and Swartz Pond. The 

riparian corridor along White Bird Creek would benefit from rehabilitation efforts and likely has 

water quality issues due to the significant commercial cattle operation on the opposite side of the 

creek. Swartz Pond provides important migratory and breeding habitat for birds, but because it 

draws so many birds, it also attracts the attention of gun enthusiasts who may illegally shoot 

birds. In 2002, a pair of tundra swans were shot and killed on the pond. This is primarily an issue 

of education. Perhaps placing some signs at the pond explaining the laws that protect migratory 

birds as well as the importance of these species would discourage such inappropriate activities. 

Old Chief Joseph Gravesite 

This is a small site that chiefly has a “manicured” appearance. Similar to Heart of the Monster, 

this site would benefit from restoration to native species. In addition, fishing on the lake adjacent 

the site poses threats to birds from discarded monofilament fishing line and plastic six-pack 

carriers. Signs should be placed near the lake edge to inform people of this risk and to request 

that they pick up any line and/or fishing tackle to prevent injuries or death to birds from 

ingestion or entanglement. 
25

Bear Paw Battlefield

The unique ecological nature of Bear Paw Battlefield provides a refuge amidst a landscape of 

otherwise tilled and grazed land. Bear Paw is an island of native shortgrass prairie and as such 

provides important habitat to prairie dependent species such as the Baird’s sparrow and 

Sprague’s pipit. Both of these species have experienced population declines because of the 

conversion of their native prairie to cultivation, overgrazing, and invasion of exotic plants. Every 

effort should be made to assure that the integrity of this site be maintained without compromise. 

Visitors should be encouraged to stay on existing trails to limit habitat degradation and 

disturbance to ground-nesting birds. Exotic vegetation is an issue here and efforts should be 

made to maintain native vegetation. Habitat diversity should be maximized by managing for a 

range of grassland structure (height and density) and a variety of successional stages (Bachand 

2001). Mowing and haying operations should be delayed to permit grassland bird nestlings to 

fledge. 

Big Hole National Battlefield

Key management issues at Big Hole National Battlefield include adjacent agricultural and 

ranching land use, potential for cowbird parasitism, past fire suppression in the forested area, and 

the invasion of exotic species. Because of the diversity of habitats at this site, it supports a 

variety of bird communities, each with their inherent management issues. Management 

recommendations outlined for riparian (Idaho Partners in Flight 1998) and sagebrush (Paige and 

Ritter 1999) habitats should be incorporated into a management plan for the Park. Prescribed fire 

could be used as a tool to open up the canopy of the lodgepole dominated forest, but controlled 

burns should be restricted to the fall to avoid nesting season mortality. Visitors should be 

encouraged to stay on maintained trails to limit disturbance to nesting birds.

27

Conclusions

This inventory provides a foundation from which to build future avian research and monitoring 

efforts at Nez Perce National Historical Park. The logical next step is to integrate this 

information into a long-term monitoring plan that will be consistent with the goals established in 

the four major bird initiatives and tailored to the specific species and management issues at each 

site. Depending on the future objectives of the Park, more intensive efforts could be carried out 

to obtain demographic data at these sites. With all of the current efforts to integrate bird 

monitoring, this is an opportune time for the Park to collaborate with other agencies and 

organizations and to gradually develop a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of bird 

communities within the Park. 

29

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Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. 

Ralph, C. J., S. Droege, and J. R. Sauer. 1995. Managing and monitoring birds using point 

counts: standards and applications. Pages 161-175 in Monitoring bird populations by 

point counts (C. J. Ralph, J. R. Sauer, and S. Droege, technical eds). General Technical 

Report PSW-GTR-149. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Ratti, J. T., and E. O. Garton. 1996. Research and Experimental Design. Pages 1-23 in Research 

and management techniques for wildlife and habitats (T. A. Bookhout, ed.). 5th ed., 

revised. The Wildlife Society, Bethesda, MD. 

Robbins, M. B., and B. C. Dale. 1999. Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii). Pages 1-15 in the 

birds of North America, No. 439 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North 

America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 

Rotenberry, J. T. 1998. Avian conservation research needs in western shrublands: exotic invaders 

and the alteration of ecosystem processes. Pages 261-272 in Avian conservation: research 

and management (J. M. Marzluff and R. Sallabanks, eds.). Island Press, Covelo, CA. 

Rotenberry, J. T., M. A. Patten, and K. L. Preston. 1999. Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella breweri). 

Pages 1-23 in The birds of North America, No. 390 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The 

Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 

Samson, F., and F. Knopf. 1994. Prairie conservation in North America. BioScience 44:418-421. 

Shriver, W. G., P. D. Vickery, and S. A. Hedges. 1996. Effects of summer burns on Florida 

grasshopper sparrows. Florida Field Naturalist; in press. 

Stedman, S. J. 2000. Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus). Pages 1-27 in The birds of North 

America, No. 505 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., 

Philadelphia, PA. 

Stephens, D. A., and S. H. Sturts. 1998. Idaho bird distribution. Special Publicaton No. 13. 2nd

edition. Idaho Museum of Natural History and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. 

Stewart, R. E. 1975. Breeding birds of North Dakota. Tri-College Center, Environmental 

Studies, Fargo, ND. 

Suter, G. W., II., and J. L. Jones. 1980. Criteria for golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, and prairie 

falcon nest site protection. Raptor Restoration 15:12-18. 

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. 1997. General management plan: Nez 

Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield. Prepared by J. W. 

Powell, P. Henderson, M. Marek, S. Durrant, D. Kodak, C. Hawkes, B. Clemensen, L. 

Domler, and H. Thompson. Nez Perce National Historical Park, Spalding, ID. 
34

Van Sickle, W. 1987. Survey of Vertebrates on the Big Hole National Battlefield. Report 88-

01, Wyoming Cooperative Fishery and Wildlife Research Unit, Laramie, WY. 

Vickery, P. D. 1996. Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Pages 1-23 in The birds 

of North America, No. 239 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). The Academy of Natural 

Sciences, Philadelphia, PA and The American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C. 

Vickery, P. D., J. R. Herkert, F. L. Knopf, J. Ruth, and C. E. Keller. In press. Grassland birds: an 

overview of threats and recommended management strategies. Partners-in-Flight 

Conference, Cape May, NJ. 

White, C. M., and T. L. Thurow. 1985. Reproduction of ferruginous hawks exposed to controlled 

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introduced Eurasian vegetation in Manitoba, Canada. Conservation Biology 3:39-44. 
35

Figure 1. Location of point count stations at Buffalo Eddy, USGS Quads: Captain John Rapids, 

Idaho-Washington.

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1

2 3

250 0 250 500 750 Meters N
36

Figure 2. Location of point count stations at Spalding, USGS Quad: Lapwai, Idaho. 

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250 0 250 500 750 Meters N
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Figure 3. Location of point count stations at Heart of the Monster, USGS Quads: Kamiah, 

Kooskia, Idaho. 

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250 0 250 500 Meters N
38

Figure 4. Location of point count stations at Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell Meadow, 

USGS 1:250,000: Hamilton, Montana and Idaho. 

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4 5

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10 0 10 20 Kilometers

N
39

Figure 5. Location of point count stations at White Bird Battlefield, USGS Quads: White Bird, 

White Bird Hill, Idaho. 

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1000 0 1000 2000 3000 Meters N
40

Figure 6. Location of point count station at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, USGS Quad: Joseph, 

Oregon. 
41

Figure 7. Location of point count stations at Bear Paw Battlefield, USGS Quads: Cleveland NW, 

Cleveland, Montana. 

#

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1

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3 4

5

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N
42

Figure 8. Location of point count stations at Big Hole National Battlefield, USGS Quad: Big Hole 

Battlefield, Montana. 

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1

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600 0 600 1200 1800 Meters N
43

Figure 9. Whitman Mission National Historic Site, USGS Quad: College Place, Washington.

45

Table 1. Relative abundances of 43 bird species at Buffalo Eddy, Asotin County, Washington, 

from January 26, 1999 to December 19, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or 

infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding status. 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa Total #b

% of 

Totalb

Abundance 

Category

Breeding

Statusc

Canada goose 13 7.3 4 T 

Common merganser 1 0.6 2 M 

Northern harrier 5 2.8 3 B 

Cooper's hawkd 2 T 

Red-tailed hawk 3 1.7 3 T 

Golden eagle 1 0.6 2 T 

American kestrel 10 5.6 4 B 

Chukar 8 4.5 3 L 

Gray partridge 2 1.1 2 B 

California quail 1 0.11 1 0.6 2 L 

Killdeerd

 2 M 

Rock pigeon 9 5.1 4 L 

Mourning dove 2 1.1 2 L 

Western screech-owld

 2 M 

Common nighthawkld

 2 T 

Unidentified 

hummingbirdd 1 M 

Belted kingfisher 1 0.11 1 0.6 2 T 

Northern flicker 2 1.1 2 T 

Willow flycatcherd

 1 T 

Western kingbird 2 0.22 0.053 0.079 6 3.4 3 B 

Black-billed magpie 1 0.11 2 1.1 2 T 

American crow 18 10.2 4 L 

Violet-green swallow 9 5.1 4 L 

Black-capped chickadee 1 0.6 2 M 

Rock wren 1 0.11 5 2.8 3 B 

Canyon wren 19 10.7 4 B 

Bewick's wrend

 1 T 

Winter wrend

 1 M 

Golden-crowned kingletd

 1 M 

Ruby-crowned kingletd

 1 M 

Yellow warbler 6 0.67 0.314 0.274 6 3.4 3 L 

Yellow-rumped warblerd

 1 M 

MacGillivray's warbler 1 0.6 2 M 

Yellow-breasted chat 2 1.1 2 L 

Spotted towhee 2 0.22 9 5.1 4 L 

Song sparrow 8 0.89 0.605 0.515 16 9.0 4 B 

Dark-eyed juncod

 1 M 

Black-headed grosbeak 1 0.11 2 1.1 2 L 

Lazuli bunting 5 0.56 0.307 0.313 9 5.1 4 B 

Red-winged blackbird 2 1.1 2 M 
46

Table 1. Relative abundances of 43 bird species at Buffalo Eddy, Asotin County, Washington, 

from 26 January 1999 to 19 December 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

 Total #b

% of 

Totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Western meadowlarkd 1 T 

Brown-headed cowbird 1 0.11 5 2.8 3 T 

American goldfinch 1 0.11 7 4.0 3 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts. 
47

Table 2. Relative abundances of 69 bird species at Spalding, Nez Perce County, Idaho, from 

January 28, 1999 to December 20, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or 

infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding status. 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count 

Perioda 

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa Total #b

% of 

Totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding 

Statusc 

Great blue heron 2 0.3 2 T 

Canada goose 38 5.8 4 L 

Wood duckd

 1 T 

Mallard 9 1.4 3 B 

Common merganser 1 0.06 1 0.2 2 B 

Northern harrier 1 0.2 2 T 

Sharp-shinned hawkd

 1 T 

Cooper's hawk 1 0.2 2 T 

Red-tailed hawk 4 0.6 3 L 

American kestrel 8 0.44 0.250 0.207 16 2.5 4 B 

Chukar 1 0.2 2 T 

Ring-necked pheasant 1 0.06 3 0.5 2 T 

Wild turkey 11 1.7 3 T 

California quail 16 0.89 0.579 0.354 47 7.2 4 L 

Killdeer 2 0.11 0.065 0.085 6 0.9 3 L 

Spotted sandpiper 3 0.17 0.100 0.112 4 0.6 3 L 

Wilson’s sniped

 1 T 

Ring-billed gull 7 1.1 3 T 

California gull 8 1.2 3 T 

Rock pigeon 27 4.1 4 T 

Mourning dove 5 0.28 0.229 0.221 13 2.0 4 L 

Barn owld

 1 L 

Great horned owl 1 0.2 2 B 

Common nighthawk 5 0.8 3 T 

Belted kingfisher 6 0.9 3 T 

Downy woodpecker 2 0.3 2 L 

Northern flicker 3 0.17 0.100 0.112 12 1.8 3 L 

Western wood-pewee 9 0.50 0.173 0.128 17 2.6 4 L 

Willow flycatcherd

 1 T 

Cordilleran flycatcher 5 0.28 0.229 0.213 5 0.8 3 T 

Western kingbird 7 0.39 0.540 0.538 7 1.1 3 B 

Warbling vireo 2 0.11 0.146 0.190 2 0.3 2 L 

Red-eyed vireo 2 0.11 0.016 0.021 3 0.5 2 L 
48

Table 2. Relative abundances of 69 bird species at Spalding, Nez Perce County, Idaho, from 

January 28, 1999 to December 20, 1999 (continued). 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts.

Species 

Total 

#a

Birds/ Count 

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIa

Total 

#b

% 

of Totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding 

Statusc

Black-billed magpie 1 0.06 19 2.9 4 L 

American crow 7 1.1 3 T 

Common raven 1 0.06 6 0.9 3 T 

Violet-green swallowd

 1 T 

Northern rough-winged 

swallow 3 0.5 2 M 

Cliff swallow 2 0.3 2 B 

Black-capped chickadee 1 0.06 5 0.8 3 L 

Brown creeperd

 1 M 

Bewick's wren 2 0.11 0.146 0.190 10 1.5 3 B 

House wren 11 0.61 1.141 0.846 11 1.7 3 L 

Golden-crowned kingletd

 1 M 

Townsend's solitaired

 1 M 

American robin 38 2.11 3.411 1.942 74 11.3 4 B 

Gray catbird 1 0.2 2 L 

European starling 24 1.33 2.301 1.784 96 14.7 4 L 

Cedar waxwing 7 0.39 6.620 7.176 22 3.4 4 B 

Yellow warbler 19 1.06 0.833 0.481 20 3.1 4 L 

Yellow-rumped warblerd

 1 M 

MacGillivray's warbler 1 0.06 1 0.2 2 M 

Yellow-breasted chat 1 0.2 2 T 

Western tanager 5 0.28 0.742 0.716 5 0.8 3 L 

Spotted towhee 1 0.2 2 T 

Chipping sparrow 1 0.2 2 L 

Song sparrow 9 0.50 0.236 0.175 22 3.4 4 B 

White-crowned sparrowd

 1 M 

Dark-eyed junco 1 0.2 2 M 

Black-headed grosbeak 3 0.17 1.107 1.244 3 0.5 2 L 

Lazuli buntingd

 1 T 

Red-winged blackbird 5 0.28 0.186 0.185 32 4.9 4 L 

Western meadowlarkd

 1 T 

Brewer's blackbird 14 0.78 3.209 3.821 25 3.8 4 B 

Brown-headed cowbird 4 0.22 0.399 0.419 4 0.6 3 L 

Bullock's oriole 9 0.50 1.358 1.070 10 1.5 3 B 

Cassin's finchd

 1 M 

House finch 1 0.2 2 L 

American goldfinch 2 0.11 0.328 0.428 11 1.7 3 L 
49

Table 3. Relative abundances of 64 bird species at Heart of the Monster, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from January 29, 1999 to December 20, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or 

infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding status. 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIa

Total 

#b

% 

of Totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Great blue heron 5 0.8 3 T 

Canada goose 11 1.38 0.411 0.836 52 8.6 4 B 

Wood duckd

 2 T 

Mallard 5 0.63 2.610 4.088 121 20.1 4 L 

Northern shovelerd 2 M 

Green-winged teald

 2 M 

Ring-necked duck 2 0.3 2 M 

Bufflehead 4 0.7 3 M 

Common goldeneye 11 1.8 3 M 

Hooded merganserd 2 M 

Common merganser 1 0.2 2 L 

Osprey 2 0.3 2 T 

Cooper's hawkd

 1 T 

Red-tailed hawk 2 0.3 2 T 

Ring-necked pheasant 7 1.2 3 L 

California quail 28 4.7 4 L 

American cootd

 1 T 

Killdeer 5 0.63 0.852 1.153 17 2.8 4 L 

Spotted sandpiper 1 0.13 3 0.5 3 L 

Wilson’s snipe 7 1.2 3 T 

Mourning dove 3 0.5 3 L 

Western screech-owld

 1 T 

Calliope hummingbirdd

 1 T 

Belted kingfisher 9 1.5 3 L 

Red-naped sapsuckerd

 1 M 

Downy woodpecker 3 0.5 3 L 

Northern flicker 14 2.3 4 L 

Western wood-pewee 2 0.25 13 2.2 4 B 

Willow flycatcher 4 0.7 3 T 

Western kingbird 1 B 

Eastern kingbird 2 0.3 2 T 
50

Table 3. Relative abundances of 64 bird species at Heart of the Monster, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from January 29, 1999 to December 20, 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count 

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

 Total #b % of Totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding 

Statusc

Red-eyed vireo 3 0.5 3 T 

Black-billed magpie 1 0.2 2 T 

American crowd

 1 T 

Common raven 2 0.3 2 T 

Tree swallow 1 0.13 3 0.5 3 B 

Violet-green swallow 13 2.2 4 L 

Northern rough-winged 

swallow 1 0.13 6 1.0 3 L 

Black-capped chickadee 2 0.3 2 M 

Bewick's wren 5 0.8 3 T 

House wrend

 1 T 

Winter wrend

 1 M 

Western bluebirdd

 1 L 

Mountain bluebird 3 0.5 3 M 

American robin 5 0.63 0.852 0.807 39 6.5 4 B 

Gray catbird 1 0.13 7 1.2 3 L 

European starling 10 1.7 3 L 

Cedar waxwing 1 0.13 62 10.3 4 B 

Yellow warbler 16 2.00 0.771 0.513 30 5.0 4 L 

Yellow-rumped warbler 1 0.2 2 M 

MacGillivray's warblerd

 1 M 

Spotted towhee 1 0.2 2 T 

Song sparrow 7 0.88 0.304 0.260 22 3.7 4 B 

White-crowned sparrowd

 1 M 

Dark-eyed juncod

 1 M 

Black-headed grosbeak 2 0.25 0.041 0.056 4 0.7 3 L 

Red-winged blackbird 13 1.63 0.639 0.601 32 5.3 4 L 

Brewer's blackbird 2 0.25 1.311 1.963 13 2.2 3 B 

Brown-headed cowbird 11 1.38 2.568 2.782 15 2.5 4 B 

Bullock's oriole 1 0.13 1 0.2 2 M 

House finch 4 0.7 3 L 

Red crossbill 1 0.2 2 M 

Pine siskin 1 0.2 2 M 

American goldfinch 1 0.13 11 1.8 3 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts. 
51

Table 4. Relative abundances of 66 bird species along the Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell 

Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho, from July 28, 1999 to October 5, 1999; 4 = 

abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown is breeding status. 

Species Total Recordeda % of Totala Abundance Category Breeding Statusb

Turkey vulturec 2 T 

Mallard 1 0.9 2 T 

Green-winged tealc

 2 T 

Buffleheadc

 2 T 

Ospreyc

 2 T 

Red-tailed hawk 2 1.8 3 T 

American kestrelc

 2 T 

Spruce grousec

 2 B 

Mourning dovec

 2 T 

Great horned owlc

 2 T 

Northern pygmy-owlc

 2 T 

Common nighthawkc

 2 T 

Vaux's swiftc

 2 T 

Rufous hummingbirdc

 2 L 

Belted kingfisherc

 2 T 

Red-naped sapsuckerc

 2 T 

Hairy woodpeckerc

 2 L 

American three-toed woodpecker 1 0.9 2 B 

Northern flicker 4 3.5 4 L 

Pileated woodpeckerc

 2 T 

Olive-sided flycatcher 2 1.8 3 L 

Western wood-peweec

 2 T 

Willow flycatcher 1 0.9 2 L 

Hammond's flycatcherc

 2 T 

Dusky flycatcherc

 2 T 

Warbling vireo 2 1.8 3 L 

Gray jayc

 2 L 

Steller's jayc

 2 L 

Clark's nutcrackerc

 1 T 

Common raven 1 0.9 2 L 

Violet-green swallowc

 1 T 

Northern rough-winged swallowc

 1 B 

Barn swallow 2 1.8 3 T 
52

Table 4. Relative abundances of 66 bird species along the Lolo Trail and Lolo Pass/Musselshell 

Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho, from July 28, 1999 to October 5, 1999 

(continued). 

Species Total #a % of Totala Abundance Category Breeding Statusb

Mountain chickadee 5 4.4 4 L 

Chestnut-backed chickadee 1 0.9 2 L 

Red-breasted nuthatch 3 2.6 3 L 

Brown creeper 2 1.8 3 T 

House wren 1 0.9 2 L 

Winter wren 4 3.5 4 B 

American dipperc

 1 T 

Golden-crowned kinglet 7 6.1 4 L 

Ruby-crowned kingletc

 1 L 

Townsend's solitairec

 1 T 

Swainson's thrush 2 1.8 3 L 

American robin 8 7.0 4 L 

Varied thrush 4 3.5 4 B 

Gray catbird 1 0.9 2 T 

European starlingc

 1 T 

Cedar waxwing 7 6.1 4 L 

Nashville warblerc

 1 T 

Yellow warblerc

 1 B 

Yellow-rumped warbler 7 6.1 4 B 

Townsend's warblerc

 1 L 

MacGillivray's warblerc

 1 L 

Wilson's warblerc

 1 T 

Western tanager 5 4.4 4 L 

Spotted towheec

 1 T 

Chipping sparrow 1 0.9 2 B 

Fox sparrow 3 2.6 3 L 

Song sparrow 5 4.4 4 L 

Lincoln's sparrow 4 3.5 3 T 

White-crowned sparrow 1 0.9 2 T 

Dark-eyed junco 7 6.1 4 B 

Red crossbill 11 9.6 4 L 

Pine siskin 6 5.3 4 L 

Evening grosbeak 1 0.9 2 T 

a Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

b

B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant.

c Encountered outside of point counts. 
53

Table 5. Relative abundances of 84 bird species at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from March 3, 1999 to September 17, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or 

infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding status. 

Species 

Total 

#a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa Total #b

% of 

Totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Pied-billed grebed 1 M 

Eared grebe 1 0.01 4 0.2 2 L 

Great blue herond

 1 T 

Turkey vultured

 1 T 

Snow goose 1 0.1 2 M 

Canada goose 133 7.2 4 M 

Wood duck 2 0.1 2 L 

American wigeon 1 0.01 1 0.1 2 L 

Mallard 2 0.03 0.016 0.021 35 1.9 4 B 

Blue-winged teal 3 0.04 27 1.5 3 B 

Cinnamon teal 2 0.03 5 0.3 3 L 

Northern shoveler 1 0.1 2 M 

Green-winged teal 8 0.4 3 M 

Redhead 2 0.1 2 M 

Ring-necked duck 4 0.06 0.012 0.013 9 0.5 3 B 

Bufflehead 4 0.2 2 M 

Common goldeneyed

 1 M 

Barrow's goldeneyed

 1 M 

Ruddy duck 7 0.10 0.055 0.046 19 1.0 3 L 

Bald eagled

 1 M 

Northern harrier 2 0.1 2 T 

Sharp-shinned hawk 1 0.1 2 T 

Cooper's hawk 2 0.1 2 T 

Red-tailed hawk 14 0.8 3 L 

Golden eagle 6 0.3 3 B 

American kestrel 12 0.7 3 L 

Prairie falcond

 1 T 

Chukar 27 1.5 3 L 

Gray partridge 13 0.18 1.333 0.913 42 2.3 4 B 

Ring-necked pheasant 1 0.01 39 2.1 4 L 

California quail 3 0.04 0.011 0.012 71 3.9 4 L 

Virginia raild

 1 M 

Sora 5 0.3 3 M 
54

Table 5. Relative abundances of 84 bird species at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from March 3, 1999 to September 17, 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

 Total #b

% of 

totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

American coot 94 1.31 0.290 0.362 279 15.1 4 L 

Killdeer 13 0.7 3 L 

Wilson’s snipe 12 0.7 3 L 

Wilson's phalarope 2 0.1 2 M 

Rock pigeon 2 0.03 0.082 0.104 4 0.2 2 L 

Mourning dove 13 0.7 3 L 

Western screech-owld

 1 T 

Great horned owl 1 0.01 2 0.1 2 T 

Belted kingfisherd

 1 L 

Downy woodpecker 2 0.1 2 L 

Hairy woodpecker 1 0.1 2 T 

Northern flicker 1 0.01 18 1.0 3 L 

Western wood-pewee 1 0.01 7 0.4 3 L 

Willow flycatcher 1 0.1 2 T 

Cordilleran flycatcherd

 1 T 

Say's phoebed

 1 T 

Western kingbirdd

 1 T 

Eastern kingbird 21 0.29 0.228 0.123 44 2.4 4 B 

Warbling vireo 1 0.01 1 0.1 2 T 

Red-eyed vireo 1 0.01 1 0.1 2 T 

Black-billed magpie 5 0.07 0.027 0.024 95 5.2 4 L 

Common raven 28 1.5 3 L 

Violet-green swallow 87 4.7 4 L 

Cliff swallow 14 0.8 3 T 

Barn swallow 1 0.1 2 T 

Black-capped chickadee 1 0.1 2 M 

Rock wren 2 0.03 0.146 0.184 12 0.7 3 L 

Canyon wren 2 0.03 0.016 0.021 5 0.3 3 L 

House wren 3 0.2 2 T 

American robin 2 0.03 13 0.7 3 L 

European starling 9 0.13 0.339 0.249 114 6.2 4 L 

Cedar waxwing 3 0.2 2 L 

Yellow warbler 5 0.07 0.057 0.051 5 0.3 3 L 

Yellow-rumped warbler 4 0.2 2 M 

Yellow-breasted chat 6 0.3 3 L 

Spotted Towhee 10 0.5 3 L 
55

Table 5. Relative abundances of 84 bird species at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho County, Idaho, 

from March 3, 1999 to September 17, 1999 (continued) 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

 Total #b

% of 

totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Chipping sparrow 1 0.1 1 T 

Savannah sparrow 2 0.03 0.027 0.034 11 0.6 3 L 

Grasshopper sparrow 1 0.01 1 0.1 1 T 

Song sparrow 13 0.18 0.245 0.156 43 2.3 4 L 

White-crowned sparrow 5 0.3 3 M 

Dark-eyed juncod

 1 M 

Black-headed grosbeak 2 0.1 1 T 

Lazuli bunting 20 0.28 1.962 1.044 51 2.8 4 L 

Red-winged blackbird 20 0.28 0.123 0.087 88 4.8 4 B 

Western meadowlark 43 0.60 0.341 0.147 204 11.1 4 B 

Yellow-headed blackbird 13 0.18 0.053 0.043 42 2.3 4 B 

Brewer's blackbird 5 0.07 0.046 0.043 41 2.2 4 B 

Brown-headed cowbird 3 0.04 0.051 0.055 4 0.2 2 L 

Bullock's oriole 18 0.25 0.112 0.063 28 1.5 3 B 

American goldfinch 7 0.10 0.736 0.589 49 2.7 4 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts.
56

Table 6. Relative abundances of 59 bird species at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, Wallowa 

County, Oregon, from March 3, 1999 to December 21, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = 

uncommon or infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding 

status. 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

Total 

#b

% of 

totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Horned grebed 3 M 

Canada goose 70 53.8 4 T 

Mallardd

 3 T 

Common goldeneyed

 3 M 

Common merganserd

 3 M 

Ospreyd

 3 T 

Sharp-shinned hawkd

 3 T 

Cooper's hawkd

 3 T 

Swainson's hawkd

 3 T 

Red-tailed hawk 1 0.8 4 T 

Rough-legged hawkd

 2 M 

Golden eagle 1 0.8 3 T 

American kestreld

 2 L 

California quail 1 0.8 3 T 

Killdeerd

 2 T 

Great horned owl 2 1.5 4 T 

Vaux's swiftd

 2 T 

Calliope hummingbirdd

 2 T 

Belted kingfisherd

 2 T 

Red-naped sapsuckerd

 2 T 

Northern flicker 1 1.00 3 2.3 4 B 

Western wood-pewee 2 1.5 4 L 

Hammond's flycatcher 1 1.00 1 0.8 3 L 

Warbling vireo 1 0.8 3 T 

Clark's \nutcrackerd

 2 T 

Black-billed magpied

 2 T 

Common ravend

 2 T 

Tree swallowd

 2 T 

Violet-green swallowd

 2 T 

Northern rough-winged 

swallowd

 2 T 

Black-capped chickadeed

 2 M 

Red-breasted nuthatchd

 2 M 

Brown creeperd

 2 M 
57

Table 6. Relative abundances of 59 bird species at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, Wallowa 

County, Oregon, from March 3, 1999 to December 21, 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a

90% 

CIa

Total

#b

% of 

totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

House wrend 2 T 

Winter wrend 2 M 

American dipperd

 1 T 

Golden-crowned 

kingletd 1 M 

Mountain bluebirdd

 1 T 

Townsend's solitaired

 1 M 

Swainson's thrushd

 1 M 

American robin 1 1.00 8 6.2 4 B 

European starlingd

 1 T 

Cedar waxwing 22 16.9 4 T 

Yellow warblerd

 1 T 

Yellow-rumped warbler 1 1.00 2 1.5 4 L 

MacGillivray's warbler 1 0.8 3 L 

Western tanager 1 0.8 3 T 

Spotted towheed

 1 T 

Chipping sparrow 2 2.00 2 1.5 4 L 

White-crowned 

sparrowd 1 M 

Lazuli bunting 2 1.5 4 T 

Western meadowlark 1 1.00 1 0.8 3 L 

Brewer's blackbird 1 0.8 3 L 

Brown-headed cowbird 1 1.00 2 1.5 4 L 

Gray-crowned rosyfinchd

 1 M 

House finchd

 1 L 

Red crossbill 1 0.8 3 T 

Pine siskin 5 3.8 4 L 

American goldfinchd

 1 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts. 
58

Table 7. Relative abundances of 53 bird species at Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine County, 

Montana, from February 6, 1999 to December 14, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = 

uncommon or infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding 

status. 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIa Total #b % of totalb

Abundance 

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

American white pelican 2 0.4 2 M 

Great blue heron 2 0.4 2 T 

Canada goose 7 1.3 3 T 

American wigeon 6 1.1 3 M 

Mallard 22 4.2 4 L 

Northern shoveler 1 0.2 2 M 

Northern pintail 1 0.2 2 M 

Bald eagle 1 0.2 2 M 

Northern harrier 4 0.13 0.135 0.136 41 7.8 4 B 

Red-tailed hawkd

 1 T 

Ferruginous hawk 5 0.9 2 B 

Golden eagled

 1 T 

Prairie falcon 1 0.2 2 M 

Ring-necked pheasant 39 7.4 4 B 

Sandhill crane 5 0.9 2 T 

Killdeerd

 1 T 

Willet 4 0.8 2 M 

Long-billed curlew 5 0.9 2 T 

Wilson’s snipe 1 0.03 7 1.3 3 T 

Franklin's gull 2 0.4 2 M 

California gull 8 1.5 3 M 

Rock pigeon 41 7.8 4 B 

Mourning dove 3 0.10 0.018 0.021 4 0.8 2 L 

Great horned owld

 1 T 

Short-eared owl 1 0.2 2 T 

Hairy woodpeckerd

 1 M 

Willow flycatcher 3 0.10 0.027 0.030 14 2.7 3 T 

Eastern kingbird 9 0.30 0.091 0.069 20 3.8 4 B 

Black-billed magpie 6 1.1 3 L 

American crow 1 0.2 2 T 

Horned larkd

 1 T 

Cliff swallow 8 0.27 0.056 0.055 24 4.6 4 T 

Barn swallow 12 2.3 3 T 
59

Table 7. Relative abundances of 53 bird species at Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine County, 

Montana, from February 6, 1999 to December 14, 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIa Total #b % of totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Black-capped chickadeed 1 M 

Rock wren 1 0.2 2 M 

House wrend

 1 T 

Ruby-crowned kinglet 1 0.2 1 M 

American robin 1 0.03 6 1.1 3 T 

Gray catbird 2 0.07 0.014 0.018 5 0.9 2 L 

Sprague's pipit 3 0.10 0.035 0.039 25 4.7 4 B 

Yellow warbler 3 0.10 0.042 0.046 14 2.7 3 B 

Common yellowthroat 5 0.17 0.309 0.288 17 3.2 4 B 

Wilson's warblerd

 1 M 

Spotted towhee 1 0.03 3 0.6 2 T 

Clay-colored sparrow 24 0.80 5.522 3.269 42 8.0 4 B 

Vesper sparrow 5 0.17 0.092 0.084 16 3.0 3 B 

Savannah sparrow 4 0.13 0.071 0.072 10 1.9 3 B 

Baird's sparrow 1 0.03 1 0.2 1 L 

Song sparrow 2 0.07 12 2.3 3 B 

Red-winged blackbird 2 0.07 0.126 0.162 24 4.6 4 B 

Western meadowlark 12 0.40 0.221 0.150 43 8.2 4 L 

Brown-headed cowbird 5 0.17 0.077 0.077 11 2.1 3 T 

American goldfinch 1 0.03 14 2.7 3 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts. 
60

Table 8. Relative abundances of 83 bird species at Big Hole National Battlefield, Beaverhead 

County, Montana, from February 4, 1999 to December 16, 1999; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 

= uncommon or infrequent, 1 = rare; also shown are mean point count results and breeding 

status. 

Species Total #

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIa

Total

 #b % of totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Great blue heron 1 0.2 2 T 

Turkey vulture 1 0.2 2 T 

Canada goose 12 2.0 4 T 

American wigeon 12 2.0 4 M 

Mallard 25 4.1 4 L 

Northern pintaild

 1 M 

Green-winged teal 8 1.3 3 M 

Bald eagle 1 0.2 2 M 

Northern harrier 4 0.7 2 T 

Cooper's hawk 1 0.2 2 T 

Swainson's hawk 3 0.5 2 L 

Red-tailed hawk 1 0.2 2 T 

Rough-legged hawk 1 0.2 2 M 

American kestrel 7 1.2 3 T 

Prairie falcond

 1 M 

Ruffed grouse 1 0.03 3 0.5 2 L 

Sandhill crane 4 0.14 0.040 0.041 32 5.3 4 L 

Killdeer 7 1.2 3 L 

Spotted sandpiper 1 0.03 6 1.0 3 B 

Wilson’s snipe 1 0.03 28 4.6 4 L 

Wilson's phalarope 6 1.0 3 M 

Mourning dove 1 0.2 2 M 

Great horned owld

 1 T 

Northern pygmy-owld

 1 M 

Long-eared owld

 1 T 

Rufous hummingbirdd

 1 M 

Belted kingfisher 6 1.0 3 L 

Red-naped sapsucker 1 0.03 4 0.7 2 L 

Downy woodpeckerd

 1 M 

Northern flicker 17 2.8 4 B 

Western wood-pewee 2 0.07 4 0.7 2 L 

Willow flycatcher 2 0.07 6 1.0 3 L 

Hammond's flycatcherd

 1 T 
61

Table 8. Relative abundances of 83 bird species at Big Hole National Battlefield, Beaverhead 

County, Montana, from February 4, 1999 to December 16, 1999 (continued). 

Species 

Total

# 

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIaTotal #b % of totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Dusky flycatcher 6 0.21 0.062 0.053 11 1.8 3 B 

Say's phoebed 1 T 

Eastern kingbird 1 0.03 8 1.3 3 B 

Cassin's vireo 2 0.07 0.033 0.042 3 0.5 2 L 

Warbling vireo 9 0.31 0.585 0.429 14 2.3 4 L 

Gray jay 1 0.2 2 T 

Clark's nutcracker 18 3.0 4 B 

Black-billed magpie 1 0.2 2 T 

American crow 4 0.7 2 T 

Common raven 8 1.3 3 B 

Tree swallow 3 0.5 2 T 

Cliff swallow 18 3.0 4 T 

Barn swallowd

 1 T 

Black-capped chickadeed 1 M 

Mountain chickadee 4 0.14 0.074 0.073 14 2.3 4 B 

Red-breasted nuthatch 2 0.07 0.017 0.021 5 0.8 3 L 

House wren 1 0.2 1 T 

American dipperd

 1 L 

Golden-crowned kinglet 5 0.8 3 M 

Ruby-crowned kinglet 4 0.14 0.089 0.091 7 1.2 3 B 

Mountain bluebird 1 0.03 3 0.5 2 L 

Townsend's solitaire 1 0.2 1 T 

Veery 1 0.03 4 0.7 2 B 

Hermit thrush 2 0.07 3 0.5 2 T 

American robin 13 0.45 3.309 2.252 45 7.5 4 B 

Gray catbird 1 0.2 1 L 

European starling 5 0.8 3 T 

Yellow warbler 19 0.66 0.419 0.260 27 4.5 4 B 

Yellow-rumped warbler 1 0.03 4 0.7 2 B 

Northern waterthrush 6 0.21 0.083 0.071 12 2.0 4 B 

Western tanager 1 0.03 5 0.8 3 T 

American tree sparrow 4 0.7 2 M 

Chipping sparrow 2 0.07 0.023 0.029 3 0.5 2 B 

Brewer's sparrow 4 0.14 0.110 0.112 6 1.0 3 B 

Vesper sparrow 10 0.34 0.104 0.077 12 2.0 3 B 

Savannah sparrow 6 0.21 0.389 0.360 10 1.7 3 L 
62

Table 8. Relative abundances of 83 bird species at Big Hole National Battlefield, Beaverhead 

County, Montana, from February 4, 1999 to December 16, 1999 (continued). 

Species Total #a

Birds/Count

Perioda

Density 

(Birds/ha) a 90% CIaTotal #b % of totalb

Abundance

Category 

Breeding

Statusc

Fox sparrow 3 0.5 2 L 

Song sparrow 1 0.03 3 0.5 2 B 

Lincoln's sparrow 1 0.03 3 0.5 2 T 

White-crowned sparrow 4 0.14 0.040 0.039 7 1.2 3 B 

Dark-eyed junco 5 0.17 0.080 0.073 20 3.3 4 B 

Red-winged blackbird 3 0.10 0.032 0.036 20 3.3 4 L 

Western meadowlark 3 0.5 2 T 

Yellow-headed blackbirdd 1 M 

Brewer's blackbird 2 0.07 0.362 0.465 21 3.5 4 B 

Brown-headed cowbird 3 0.10 5 0.8 3 L 

Cassin's finch 2 0.3 2 L 

Red crossbill 9 1.5 3 M 

Common redpolld

 1 M 

Pine siskin 34 5.6 4 L 

a Breeding season point count results (data truncated at 100 m). Sample sizes of one were too small for density analysis and were 

eliminated from the table. 

b Total number recorded and percent of total based on unlimited distance point counts. 

c B = Breeder; L = Likely Breeder; T = Transient; M = Migrant. d Encountered outside of point counts. 
63

Table 9. Relative abundances of 25 bird species at Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 

Walla Walla County, Washington, July 15, 2001; 4 = abundant, 3 = common, 2 = uncommon or 

infrequent, 1 = rare. 

Species # recorded % of total Abundance category 

Wood duck 1 1.2 1 

Northern harrier 1 1.2 1 

Sharp-shinned hawk 1 1.2 1 

Swainson's hawk 2 2.3 2 

American kestrel 3 3.5 3 

Ring-billed gull 11 12.8 4 

Mourning dove 1 1.2 1 

Downy woodpecker 1 1.2 1 

Northern flicker 2 2.3 2 

Western wood-pewee 1 1.2 1 

Black-billed magpie 1 1.2 2 

American crow 13 15.1 4 

Northern rough-winged swallow 16 18.6 4 

Barn swallow 3 3.5 3 

Bewick's wren 2 2.3 2 

House wren 1 1.2 2 

American robin 7 8.1 4 

European starling 3 3.5 3 

Song sparrow 4 4.7 3 

Black-headed grosbeak 2 2.3 3 

Red-winged blackbird 4 4.7 4 

Brown-headed cowbird 2 2.3 3 

House finch 2 2.3 3 

American goldfinch 1 1.2 2 

Unidentified hummingbird 1 1.2 2 
64

Table 10. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Buffalo Eddy, Asotin County, 

Washington. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

American vetch Vicia americana 

Arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata 

Blue elderberry Sambucus cerulea 

Bluebunch wheatgrass Elytrigia spicata (prev. Agropyron spicatum)

Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 

Chicory Cichorium intybus 

Clematis Clematis sp.

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Hackberry Celtis reticulata 

Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale 

Mint Mentha sp. 

Moss 

Moth mullein Verbascum blattaria 

Mulberry Morus alba 

Poison ivy Rhus radicans 

Rabbit-brush Chrysothamnus sp. 

Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra 

Syringa Philadelphus lewisii 

Thistle Cirsium sp. 

Western salsify Tragopogon dubius 

Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis 
65

Table 11. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Spalding, Nez Perce County, 

Idaho. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Ash Fraxinus sp. 

Black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa 

Black locust Robinia pseudo-acacia 

Blue elderberry Sambucus cerulea 

Bluebunch wheatgrass Elytrigia spicata (prev. Agropyron spicatum) 

Buckhorn plantain Plantago lanceolata 

California brome Bromus carinatus 

Chicory Cichorium intybus 

Cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis 

Common cattail Typha latifolia 

Common chokecherry Prunus virginiana 

Common cocklebur Xanthium strumarium 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common tansy Tanacetum vulgare 

Common teasel Dipsacus fullonum 

Curly dock Rumex crispus 

Dogbane Apocynum sp. 

Dwarf mallow Malva neglecta 

Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis 

Hackberry Celtis reticulata 

Himalayan blackberry Rubus discolor 

Hop Humulus lupulus 

Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum 

Japanese knotweed Polygonum cuspidatum 

Johnsongrass Sorghum halepense 

Lilac Syringa vulgaris 

Maple Acer sp. 

Matrimony vine Lycium halimifolium 

Moss 

Mulberry Morus alba 

Nuttall's Sego lily Calochortus nuttallii 

Pearhip rose Rosa woodsii 

Poison hemlock Conium maculatum 

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa 

Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 

Prostrate knotweed Polygonum aviculare 

Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 

Rose species Rosa sp. 

Ryegrass Lolium sp. 
66

Table 11. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Spalding, Nez Perce County, 

Idaho (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra 

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa 

Sycamore Platanus sp. 

Syringa Philadelphus lewisii 

Tall Oregon grape Berberis aquifolium 

Unidentified pine Pinus sp. 

Western clematis Clematis ligusticifolia 

Western wildcucumber Marah oreganus 

White horehound Marrubium vulgare 

White poplar Populus alba 

Wild oat Avena fatua 

Willow Salix sp. 

Witchgrass Panicum capillare 

Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis 
67

Table 12. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Heart of the Monster, Idaho 

County, Idaho. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Bittersweet nightshade Solanum dulcamara 

Black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa 

Black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii 

Black locust Robinia pseudo-acacia 

Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum 

Buckhorn plantain Plantago lanceolata 

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis 

Canada thistle Cirsium arvense 

Cascara Rhamnus purshiana 

Common chokecherry Prunus virginiana 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 

Common St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum 

Common teasel Dipsacus fullonum 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Curly dock Rumex crispus 

Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis 

Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense 

Hairy vetch Vicia villosa 

Himalayan blackberry Rubus discolor 

Lilac Syringa vulgaris 

Mint Mentha sp. 

Moss 

Moth mullein Verbascum blattaria 

Oxeye daisy Chrysanthemum leucanthemum 

Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota 

Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa 

Syringa Philadelphus lewisii 

Timothy Phleum pratense 

Western salsify Tragopogon dubius 

Western thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 

White campion Silene alba 

White clover Melilotus sp. 

Witchgrass Panicum capillare 

Yellow sweetclover Melilotus officinalis 
68

Table 13. Plant species identified within vegetation releves along the Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Alpine knotweed Polygonum phytolaccaefolium 

Alpine mitrewort Mitella pentandra 

American false hellebore Veratrum viride 

Arrowleaf groundsel Senecio triangularis 

Aster Aster sp. 

Baldhip rose Rosa gymnocarpa 

Baneberry Actaea rubra 

Bearberry honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata 

Beargrass Xerophyllum tenax 

Big huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum 

Black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii 

Blue wildrye Elymus glaucus 

Bluejoint reedgrass Calamagrostis canadensis 

Bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum 

Bracted lousewort Pedicularis bracteosa 

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 

Bunchberry Cornus canadensis 

Buttercup Ranunculus sp. 

California false hellebore Veratrum californicum 

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis 

Cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis 

Cinquefoil Potentilla sp. 

Common camas Camassia quamash 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 

Common St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Coolwort foamflower Tiarella trifoliata 

Cow parsnip Heracleum lanatum 

Desert phlox Phlox austromontana 

Dogtooth violet Erythronium grandiflorum 

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 

Dwarf bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus 

Elderberry Sambucus racemosa 

Elephant's head Pedicularis groenlandica 

Elk sedge Carex geyeri 

Engelmann spruce Picea engelmannii 

False bugbane Trautvetteria caroliniensis 

False Solomon's seal Smilacina racemosa 

Field horsetail Equisetum arvense 
69

Table 13. Plant species identified within vegetation releves along the Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Field woodrush Luzula campestris 

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium 

Fool's huckleberry Menziesia ferruginea 

Goldenrod Solidago sp. 

Grand fir Abies grandis 

Grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium 

Harebell Campanula sp. 

Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale 

Huckleberry Vaccinium sp. 

Indian paintbrush Castilleja sp. 

Jacob's ladder Polemonium pulcherrimum 

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis 

Labrador tea Ledum glandulosum 

Ladyfern Athyrium filix-femina 

Leafy lousewort Pedicularis racemosa 

Leafy thistle Cirsium foliosum 

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta 

Lupine Lupinus sp. 

Maidenhair fern Adiantum pedatum 

Mimulus Mimulus sp. 

Montana golden pea Thermopsis montana 

Moss 

Mountain alder Alnus incana 

Mountain arnica Arnica latifolia 

Mountain boykinia Boykinia major 

Mountain hemlock Tsuga mertensiana 

Mountain-ash Sorbus scopulina 

Needle-and-thread Stipa comata 

Needlegrass Stipa sp. 

Northwestern sedge Carex concinnoides 

Oak-fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris 

Ocean-spray Holodiscus discolor 

One-sided wintergreen Pyrola secunda 

Pachistima Pachistima myrsinites 

Pathfinder Adenocaulon bicolor 

Pearhip rose Rosa woodsii 

Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea 

Penstemon Penstemon sp. 

Pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens 

Prince's-pine Chimaphila umbellata 
70

Table 13. Plant species identified within vegetation releves along the Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota 

Queen cup beadlily Clintonia uniflora 

Red columbine Aquilegia formosa 

Red mountain-heather Phyllodoce empetriformis 

Red raspberry Rubus idaeus 

Red-osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera 

Rein-orchid Habenaria sp. 

Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum 

Ross sedge Carex rossii 

Round-leaved violet Viola orbiculata 

Rudbeckia Rudbeckia occidentalis 

Rush Juncus sp. 

Scouler willow Salix scouleriana 

Sedge Carex sp. 

Self-heal Prunella vulgaris 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Showy aster Aster conspicuus 

Side-flowered mitrewort Mitella stauropetala 

Sitka alder Alnus sinuata 

Sitka valerian Valeriana stichensis 

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra 

Smooth woodrush Luzula hitchcockii 

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa 

Starry Solomon-seal Smilacina stellata 

Sticky cinquefoil Potentilla glandulosa 

Stinging nettle Urtica dioica 

Strawberry Fragaria virginiana 

Subalpine fir Abies lasiocarpa 

Subalpine spiraea Spiraea densiflora 

Sweetscented bedstraw Galium triflorum 

Tall bluebells Mertensia paniculata 

Tall mountain shooting star Dodecatheon jeffreyi 

Timothy Phleum pratense 

Tiny-bloom penstemon Penstemon procerus 

Trillium Trillium ovatum 

Twinflower Linnaea borealis 

Utah honeysuckle Lonicera utahensis 

Verticillate-umbel licorice-root Ligusticum verticillatum 

Western goldthread Coptis occidentalis 

Western hemlock Tsuga heterophylla 
71

Table 13. Plant species identified within vegetation releves along the Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell Meadow, Clearwater and Idaho Counties, Idaho (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Western larch Larix occidentalis 

Western meadowrue Thalictrum occidentale 

Western rattlesnake-plantain Goodyera oblongifolia 

Western red cedar Thuja plicata 

Western thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 

Western wintergreen Gaultheria humifusa 

Western yew Taxus brevifolia 

White coiled-beak lousewort Pedicularis contorta 

White pine Pinus monticola 

White rhododendron Rhododendron albiflorum 

White-flowered hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum 

Wild ginger Asarum caudatum 

Windflower Anemone piperi 

Woods strawberry Fragaria vesca 
72

Table 14. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho 

County, Idaho. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Threeawn Aristida longiseta 

Mustard Brassica sp. 

Smallseed falseflax Camelina microcarpa 

Hackberry Celtis reticulata 

Yellow star-thistle Centaurea solstitialis 

Canada thistle Cirsium arvense 

Chicory Cichorium intybus 

Western clematis Clematis ligusticifolia 

Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis 

Black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii 

Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale 

Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota 

Common teasel Dipsacus fullonum 

Ash Fraxinus sp. 

Catchweed bedstraw Galium aparine 

Common sunflower Helianthus annuus 

Common St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum 

Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola 

Clasping pepperweed Lepidium perfoliatum 

Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum 

Lupine Lupinus sp. 

Matrimony vine Lycium halimifolium 

Dwarf mallow Malva neglecta 

White horehound Marrubium vulgare 

Moss 

Catnip Nepeta cataria 

Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium 

Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 

Plum Prunus sp. 

Black cottonwood Populus trichocarpa 

Cherry, Plum Prunus sp. 

Cultivated apple Pyrus malus 

Smooth sumac Rhus glabra 

Poison ivy Rhus radicans 

Currant Ribes sp. 

Dog rose Rosa canina 

Curly dock Rumex crispus 

Blue elderberry Sambucus cerulea 

Bulrush Scirpus sp. 
73

Table 14. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at White Bird Battlefield, Idaho 

County, Idaho (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Tumblemustard; Jim Hill mustard Sisymbrium altissimum 

Lilac Syringa vulgaris 

Field pennycress Thlaspi arvense 

Common cattail Typha latifolia 

Moth mullein Verbascum blattaria 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Hairy vetch Vicia villosa 

Common cocklebur Xanthium strumarium 
74

Table 15. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Old Chief Joseph Gravesite, 

Wallowa County, Oregon. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Artemisia Artemisia sp. 

Baldhip rose Rosa gymnocarpa 

Beckmannia Beckmannia syzigachne 

Black hawthorn Crataegus douglasii 

Bluebunch wheatgrass Elytrigia spicata (prev. Agropyron spicatum)

California false hellebore Veratrum californicum 

Cheatgrass Bromus tectorum 

Cinquefoil Potentilla sp. 

Common chokecherry Prunus virginiana 

Common mallow Malva sylvestris 

Common mullein Verbascum thapsus 

Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Creeping Oregon grape Berberis repens 

Douglas rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 

Eriogonum Eriogonum sp. 

Goldenrod Solidago sp. 

Gromwell Lithospermum sp. 

Houndstongue Cynoglossum officinale 

Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis 

Junegrass Koeleria nitida (prev. Koeleria cristata) 

Lomatium Lomatium sp. 

Lupine Lupinus sp. 

Meadow salsify Tragopogon pratensis 

Moss 

Mustard Brassica sp. 

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa 

Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 

Sego lily Calochortus sp. 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Showy aster Aster conspicuus 

Sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum 

Wax currant Ribes cereum 

White-flowered hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum 
75

Table 16. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Bear Paw Battlefield, Blaine 

County, Montana. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Artemisia Artemisia sp. 

Aster Aster sp. 

Beckmannia Beckmannia syzigachne 

Big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata 

Blue grama Bouteloua gracilis 

Bluebunch wheatgrass Elytrigia spicata (prev. Agropyron spicatum) 

Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare 

Common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Coneflower Ratibida columnifera 

Gaillardia Gaillardia aristata 

Goldenrod Solidago sp. 

Horsetail Equisetum sp. 

Lupine Lupinus sp. 

Milkweed Asclepias sp. 

Moss 

Mustard Brassica sp. 

Needle-and-thread Stipa comata 

Pearhip rose Rosa woodsii 

Prickly-pear cactus Opuntia polycantha 

Rabbit-brush Chrysothamnus sp. 

Red-osier dogwood Cornus stolonifera 

Reed canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea 

Rush Juncus sp. 

Saltgrass Distichlis stricta 

Sedge Carex sp. 

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa 

Unidentified composite 

Unidentified grass 

Western salsify Tragopogon dubius 

White clover Melilotus sp. 

Wild licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota 

Willow Salix sp. 

Yellow sweetclover Melilotus officinalis 
76

Table 17. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Big Hole National Battlefield, 

Beaverhead County, Montana. 

Common Name Scientific Name 

American bistort Polygonum bistortoides 

Arrowleaf balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata 

Baltic rush Juncus balticus 

Bearded wheatgrass Agropyron caninum 

Bedstraw Galium sp. 

Big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata 

Black-hairy microseris Microseris nigrescens 

Blue huckleberry Vaccinium globulare 

Bluebells Mertensia viridis 

Bluebunch wheatgrass Elytrigia spicata (prev. Agropyron spicatum) 

Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis 

Cinquefoil Potentilla gracilis 

Common camas Camassia quamash 

Common yarrow Achillea millefolium 

Creeping Oregon grape Berberis repens 

Cusick's paintbrush Castilleja cusickii 

Diverse-leaved cinquefoil Potentilla diversifolia 

Douglas rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus 

Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii 

Douglas's sedge Carex douglasii 

Elk sedge Carex geyeri 

Fiddleneck Amsinckia sp. 

Field woodrush Luzula campestris 

Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium 

Frasera Frasera albicaulis 

Geranium Geranium sp. 

Geyer's onion Allium geyeri 

Grouse whortleberry Vaccinium scoparium 

Heartleaf arnica Arnica cordifolia 

Hook violet Viola adunca 

Houndstongue hawkweed Hieracium cynoglossoides 

Idaho fescue Festuca idahoensis 

Junegrass Koeleria nitida (prev. Koeleria cristata) 

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis 

Lance-leaved sedum Sedum lanceolatum 

Leafy aster Aster foliaceus 

Leafy thistle Cirsium foliosum 

Lichen 

Liddon's sedge Carex petasata 

Lodgepole pine Pinus contorta 
77

Table 17. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Big Hole National Battlefield, 

Beaverhead County, Montana (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Long-leaf fleabane Erigeron corymbosus 

Long-leaf phlox Phlox longifolia 

Long-leaved aster Aster chilensis 

Long-leaved hawksbeard Crepis acuminata 

Long-plumed avens Geum triflorum 

Long-stalked clover Trifolium longipes 

Long-styled rush Juncus longistylis 

Meadow death-camas Zigadenus venenosus 

Montana goldenrod Solidago missouriensis 

Moss 

Nebraska sedge Carex nebraskensis 

Needle-and-thread Stipa comata 

Nine-leaved lomatium Lomatium triternatum 

Northern bedstraw Galium boreale 

Northwestern sedge Carex concinnoides 

Nuttall's Sego lily Calochortus nuttallii 

One-sided wintergreen Pyrola secunda 

Orange arnica Arnica fulgens 

Pearly everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea 

Pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens 

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa 

Prairie gentian Gentiana affinis 

Prince's-pine Chimaphila sp. 

Quaking aspen Populus tremuloides 

Queen Anne's lace Daucus carota 

Red-seeded dandelion Taraxacum laevigatum 

Rocky Mountain aster Aster stenomeres 

Ross sedge Carex rossii 

Rosy pussy-toes Antennaria microphylla 

Scarlet gilia Gilia aggregata 

Scouler willow Salix scouleriana 

Sedge Carex sp. 

Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 

Showy fleabane Erigeron speciosus 

Shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa 

Silver lupine Lupinus argenteus 

Slimpod shooting star Dodecatheon conjugens 

Smooth brome Bromus inermis 

Snowberry Symphoricarpos sp. 

Spiraea Spiraea betufolia 
78

Table 17. Plant species identified within vegetation releves at Big Hole National Battlefield, 

Beaverhead County, Montana (continued). 

Common Name Scientific Name 

Strawberry Fragaria sp. 

Strawberry Fragaria virginiana 

Sulfurflower Eriogonum umbellatum 

Thin-leaved owl-clover Orthocarpus tenuifolius 

Thistle Cirsium sp. 

Thread-leaved sedge Carex filifolia 

Timber oatgrass Danthonia intermedia 

Timothy Phleum pratense 

Tiny-bloom penstemon Penstemon procerus 

Tufted hairgrass Deschampsia caespitosa 

Western gromwell Lithospermum ruderale 

Western groundsel Senecio integerrimus 

Western needlegrass Stipa occidentalis 

Western thimbleberry Rubus parviflorus 

White coiled-beak lousewort Pedicularis contorta 

Willow Salix sp. 

Wyeth lupine Lupinus wyethii 
79

Table 18. Ecological systems by site and point count station. 

Site Point Ecological System 

Buffalo Eddy 1 Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland 

 2 Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland 

 3 Columbia Basin Foothill and Canyon Dry Grassland 

Spalding 1 Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland 

 2 Developed--Arboretum 

 3 Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland 

 4 Disturbed and Invasive Grass and Forb 

 5 Disturbed and Invasive Grass and Forb 

 6 Developed 

Heart of the Monster 1 

Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland/Disturbed and Invasive Grass and 

Forb 

 2 

Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland/Disturbed and Invasive Grass and 

Forb 

 3 

Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and Shrubland/Disturbed and Invasive Grass and 

Forb 

 4 North American Arid West Emergent Marsh/Disturbed and Invasive Grass and Forb 

Lolo Trail and Lolo 

Pass/Musselshell 

Meadow 1 Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland 

 2 Northern Rocky Mountain Montane Mixed Conifer Forest 

 3 Northern Rocky Mountain Montane Mixed Conifer Forest 

 4 North Pacific Mountain Hemlock Forest 

 5 Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest 

 6 North Pacific Mountain Hemlock Forest 

 7 North Pacific Mountain Hemlock Forest 

 8 Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland 

 9 Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest 

 10 Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland 

 11 Northern Rocky Mountain Montane Mixed Conifer Forest 

 12 Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland 

 13 Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland 

 14 Northern Rocky Mountain Montane Mixed Conifer Forest 

 15 Northern Rocky Mountain Western Red-cedar-Hemlock Forest 

 16 Northern Rocky Mountain Montane Mixed Conifer Forest 

White Bird 

Battlefield 1 

Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Columbia Basin Foothill Riparian Woodland and 

Shrub 

 2 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 3 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Hackberry Woodland 

 4 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 5 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 6 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Hackberry Woodland 

 7 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 8 Hackberry Woodland 

 9 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 10 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 11 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 12 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 13 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 14 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 15 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 16 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 17 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 18 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 19 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 20 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

 21 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Hackberry Woodland 
80

Table 18. Ecological systems by site and point count station (continued). 

Site Point Ecological System 

 22 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Hackberry Woodland 

 23 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe/Hackberry Woodland 

 24 Columbia Plateau Grassland and Steppe 

Old Chief Joseph 

Gravesite 1 Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland 

Bear Paw Battlefield 1 Disturbed-grassland 

 2 Disturbed-grassland 

 3 Disturbed-grassland 

 4 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

 5 Western Great Plains Riparian Woodland and Shrubland 

 6 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

 7 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

 8 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

 9 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

 10 Northwestern Great Plains Mixedgrass Prairie 

Big Hole National 

Battlefield 1 Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest 

 2 Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest 

 3 Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe 

 4 Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe 

 5 Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland 

 6 Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland 

 7 Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe 

 8 Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe 

 11 Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland 

 12 Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland 
81

Appendix Families and common and scientific names for the 164 bird species detected in 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield in 1999. Taxonomy 

follows the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list (American Ornithologists’ Union 1998) 

and incorporates changes made in the 42nd, 43rd, 44th, and 45th Supplements to the Check-list, as 

published in The Auk 117: 847-858 (2000); 119:897-906 (2002); 120:923-931 (2003); 121:985-

995 (2004). 

Family Name Common Name Scientific Name 

Anatidae Snow goose Chen caerulescens 

 Canada goose Branta canadensis 

 Wood duck Aix sponsa 

 American wigeon Anas americana 

 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 

 Blue-winged teal Anas discors 

 Cinnamon teal Anas cyanoptera 

 Northern shoveler Anas clypeata 

 Northern pintail Anas acuta 

 Green-winged teal Anas crecca 

 Redhead Aythya americana 

 Ring-necked duck Aythya collaris 

 Bufflehead Bucephala albeola 

 Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula 

 Barrow’s goldeneye Bucephala islandica 

 Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 

 Common merganser Mergus merganser 

 Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis 

Phasianidae Chukar Alectoris chukar 

 Gray partridge Perdix perdix 

 Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus 

 Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus 

 Spruce grouse Falcipennis canadensis 

 Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo 

Odontophoridae California quail Callipepla californica 

Podicipedidae Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps 

 Horned grebe Podiceps auritus 

 Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis 

Pelecanidae American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 

Ardeidae Great blue heron Ardea herodias 

Cathartidae Turkey vulture Cathartes aura 

Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus 

 Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 

 Northern harrier Circus cyaneus 

 Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus 

 Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii 
82

Appendix Families and common and scientific names for the 164 bird species detected in 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield in 1999 (continued). 

Family Name Common Name Scientific Name 

 Swainson's hawk Buteo swainsoni 

 Red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis 

 Ferruginous hawk Buteo regalis 

 Rough-legged hawk Buteo lagopus 

 Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos 

Falconidae American kestrel Falco sparverius 

 Prairie falcon Falco mexicanus 

Rallidae Virginia rail Rallus limicola 

 Sora Porzana carolina 

 American coot Fulica americana 

Gruidae Sandhill crane Grus canadensis 

Charadriidae Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 

Scolopacidae Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 

 Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularia 

 Long-billed curlew Numenius americanus 

 Wilson’s snipe Gallinago delicata 

 Wilson's phalarope Phalaropus tricolor 

Laridae Franklin's gull Larus pipixcan 

 Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis 

 California gull Larus californicus 

Columbidae Rock pigeon Columba livia 

 Mourning dove Zenaida macroura 

Tytonidae Barn owl Tyto alba 

Strigidae Western screech-owl Megascops kennicottii 

 Great horned owl Bubo virginianus 

 Northern pygmy-owl Glaucidium gnoma 

 Long-eared owl Asio otus 

 Short-eared owl Asio flammeus 

Caprimulgidae Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor 

Apodidae Vaux's swift Chaetura vauxi 

Trochilidae Calliope hummingbird Stellula calliope 

 Rufous hummingbird Selasphorus rufus 

Alcedinidae Belted kingfisher Ceryle alcyon 

Picidae Red-naped sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis 

 Downy woodpecker Picoides pubescens 

 Hairy woodpecker Picoides villosus 

 American three-toed woodpecker Picoides dorsalis 

 Northern flicker Colaptes auratus 

 Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus 
83

Appendix Families and common and scientific names for the 164 bird species detected in 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield in 1999 (continued). 

Family Name Common Name Scientific Name 

Tyrannidae Olive-sided flycatcher Contopus cooperi 

 Western wood-pewee Contopus sordidulus 

 Willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii 

 Hammond's flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 

 Dusky flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri 

 Cordilleran flycatcher Empidonax occidentalis 

 Say's phoebe Sayornis saya 

 Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 

 Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus 

Vireonidae Cassin's vireo Vireo cassinii 

 Warbling vireo Vireo gilvus 

 Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus 

Corvidae Gray jay Perisoreus canadensis 

 Steller's jay Cyanocitta stelleri 

 Clark's nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana 

 Black-billed magpie Pica hudsonia 

 American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 

 Common raven Corvus corax 

Alaudidae Horned lark Eremophila alpestris 

Hirundinidae Tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor 

 Violet-green swallow Tachycineta thalassina 

 Northern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis 

 Cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 

 Barn swallow Hirundo rustica 

Paridae Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus 

 Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli 

 Chestnut-backed chickadee Poecile rufescens 

Sittidae Red-breasted nuthatch Sitta canadensis 

Certhiidae Brown creeper Certhia americana 

Troglodytidae Rock wren Salpinctes obsoletus 

 Canyon wren Catherpes mexicanus 

 Bewick's wren Thryomanes bewickii 

 House wren Troglodytes aedon 

 Winter wren Troglodytes troglodytes 

Cinclidae American dipper Cinclus mexicanus 

Regulidae Golden-crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa 

 Ruby-crowned kinglet Regulus calendula 

Turdidae Western bluebird Sialia mexicana 

 Mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides 
84

Appendix Families and common and scientific names for the 164 bird species detected in 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield in 1999 (continued). 

Family Name Common Name Scientific Name 

 Townsend's solitaire Myadestes townsendi 

 Veery Catharus fuscescens 

 Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus 

 Hermit thrush Catharus guttatus 

 American robin Turdus migratorius 

 Varied thrush Ixoreus naevius 

Mimidae Gray catbird Dumetella carolinensis 

Sturnidae European starling Sturnus vulgaris 

Motacillidae Sprague's pipit Anthus spragueii 

Bombycillidae Cedar waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 

Parulidae Nashville warbler Vermivora ruficapilla 

 Yellow warbler Dendroica petechia 

 Yellow-rumped warbler Dendroica coronata 

 Townsend's warbler Dendroica townsendi 

 Northern waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis 

 MacGillivray's warbler Oporornis tolmiei 

 Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 

 Wilson's warbler Wilsonia pusilla 

 Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens 

Thraupidae Western tanager Piranga ludoviciana 

Emberizidae Spotted towhee Pipilo maculatus 

 American tree sparrow Spizella arborea 

 Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina 

 Clay-colored sparrow Spizella pallida 

 Brewer's sparrow Spizella breweri 

 Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus 

 Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 

 Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum 

 Baird's sparrow Ammodramus bairdii 

 Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca 

 Song sparrow Melospiza melodia 

 Lincoln's sparrow Melospiza lincolnii 

 White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 

 Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis 

Cardinalidae Black-headed grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 

 Lazuli bunting Passerina amoena 

Icteridae Red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 

 Western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta 

 Yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus 
85

Appendix Families and common and scientific names for the 164 bird species detected in 

Nez Perce National Historical Park and Big Hole National Battlefield in 1999 (continued). 

Family Name Common Name Scientific Name 

 Brewer's blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus 

 Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater 

 Bullock's oriole Icterus bullockii 

Fringillidae Gray-crowned rosy-finch Leucosticte tephrocotis 

 Cassin's finch Carpodacus cassinii 

 House finch Carpodacus mexicanus 

 Red crossbill Loxia curvirostra 

 Common redpoll Carduelis flammea 

 Pine siskin Carduelis pinus 

 American goldfinch Carduelis tristis 

 Evening grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus 

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