Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-07-09
MONTANA SONGSTERS.
Some Interesting Notes on the Differ
erent Birds of the Territory.
The Peculiar Habits of
the Several Species.

birds, and especially the song birds
are quite limited, both in variety and
numbers. Game birds may be OBJ
served in fair abundance, as they are
almost everywhere, until hunted with
ont let or hinderance, but [ refer par
ticrlarly to the smaller woodland spe-
cies, birds that are found commonly
about the homes and orchards of many
parts Of our land. There is the robin,
blue bird, brown thrush, cat bird,
king bird, house wren and a host of
Others Asking many an old resident
about these you will quite likely be
Informed that they are rare on alto
gether wanting in the country The
truth is, they are all to be found,
many OF them even abundantly in
certain localities. Why they are not
more observed is owing greatly to the
lack Of shade trees and shrubbery
about our dwellings,, which serve to
bring the birds more directly under
the notice of all Without doubt at
some future time, the songs Of the
brown thrush, cat-bird, house Wren,
etc, will be heard as commonly along
the streets Of Great Falls as in many
eastern towns. The birds are only
waiting for the groves and shade trees
to appear when they will come out OF
their shy retreats and be heard sing
ing the same familiar songs most Of
us have listened to with such pleasure
in other times and places.
Meanwhile, the birds that can be
seen around us almost every day are
well worthy our attention. OF these
perhaps the swallows occupy the most
prominent place. There are no less
than five different species to be found
in this vicinity The barn and cave
swallows are the most noticeable, as
they seem to prefer nesting about
buildings to their natural places OF
resort among the cliffs and lodges Of
rock. Then, too, they are found far
out on the prairies, often following
teams, lodging around and even I'M
der the horses IN pursuit of various
small insects. The barn swallow is
easily recognized by the redish under
parts and long, forked tail. The cave
swallow has whitish on the forehead
and under parts and almost square
tail. Both build nests Of mud. The
cave swallows nest is a curious,
gourd-shaped structure, with the open
ing toward the lower end, and placed
under the caves of building OF
against some perpendicular wall Of
rock, The barn swallow plasters his
(shelf like against some wall or rafter.
Next there is the bank swallow, or
sand martin, plain gray and white
bird, nesting in holes e1cavated in
sand banks. This species is widely
distributed, being found in most parts
Of the world The two remaining
swallows are the white bellied, and
violet green. They are often to be
seen in early summer, just skimming
over the surface Of the river, especi-
ally if high wind is blowing. The
first is steel-blue above, and beneath
silvery white. The violet green, much
the smaller Of the two, is dainty
little bird and the handsomest swaI-
low in North America. Above it is
fine, lustrous green and glossy violet
and purple, below it is a silyery white
The swallows are all migratory, ar
irving in this Territory in May and
departing again long before cold
weather sets in.
Of the sparrow the McCown's Bunt-
ing is one Of the commonest. The
bird is grayish with black crown and
a large black crescent on the throat.
When flying, the tail shows many
white feathers, abruptly tipped with
black. Its song is a pleasing warble
uttered as it scars about overhead OF
while slowly descending with wings
raised above the back and motionless,
reminding one Of huge butterfly
Two other sparrows often met with
are the lark. finch and bay-wing bunt-
ing, both tireless and pleasing song
sters. The first may be easily identi-
fed by the rounded tail, each feather
Of which appears tipped with white,
and is very noticeable as the bird flies
up from the ground The second is
a streaked sparrow, with only the two
outer tail feathers white
I am occasionally asked if I have
noticed on the prairies small brown
bird curiously marked about the head
with black, and with two small tufts
Of feathers, or horns over the eyes.
Yes, [ reply. It is the horned lark,
or shore lark, one of our common
prairie birds, and found here winter
and summer. This is one Of the earli-
est Of the smaller species to nest. I
have found young able to fly by the
latter part of April. Another noted