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 - YELLOWSTONE AND 
 1AND TETON NATIONAL 
 
 \RKS 
 
 llDICK FOLLETTll 
 
Proceeds from 
 booklets sold by 
 the Yellowstone 
 Library and 
 Museum Association 
 help the 
 
 National Park Service 
 program of 
 information and 
 education at 
 Yellowstone. 
 
OF YELLOWSTONE AND 
 GRAND TETON N ATIONAL 
 PARKS ° nreooLLEmi 
 
 BOOK DESIGN & ILLUSTRATIONS by Bill Chapman 
 
 oSR^s? 
 
 Published by 
 
 "^SSOC- 
 
 ^^\ Yellowstone Library and Museum Association 
 
 in cooperation with 
 
 National Park Service 
 U.S. Department of Interior 
 
Gonteiits 
 
 6n- n i~\^ 
 <S}\_ 
 
 j^^'T- ■ Preface 3 
 
 ■ Introduction (How to Use This Book) 4 
 Bird Habitat Complexes of Yellowstone 
 
 and Grand Teton National Parks 6 
 ■ Feeding Adaptations of Yellowstone 
 
 and Grand Teton Birds 13 
 ■ Environmental Adaptations of 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton Birds is 
 I Birds of Yellowstone and Grand Teton 
 
 National Parks 17 
 ■ Yellowstone and Grand Teton 
 
 ■ Bird Checklist 63 
 
 ■ Acknowledgments 69 
 
 ■ References 70 
 
 ■ Index 72 
 
prefaee 
 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton are national parks of unequalled natural 
 diversity and scenic splendor. They combine the breath-taking beauty of 
 the Teton Mountains and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with the 
 uniquely fascinating hydrothermal features of Yellowstone. They provide 
 the visitor with almost unlimited opportunities for wildlife observation 
 and backcountry hiking. In the vastness of the Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton wilderness one may find peace and solitude and a special satisfac- 
 tion in observing the beauties of the landscape and the unimpaired opera- 
 tion of a natural ecosystem. 
 
 One of the primary sources of the vitality of this ecosystem is the birds. 
 Among these bird residents are endangered species such as the bald eagle; 
 rare species of limited distribution, including the black rosy finch and the 
 great gray owl; species of elegant form or striking beauty such as the 
 trumpeter swan and the western tanager, and species with unique adapta- 
 tions, including the dipper and the sage grouse. An osprey soaring over 
 the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a family of Canada geese floating 
 along the Yellowstone River in Hayden Valley, a gray jay stealing food 
 scraps from a picnic table at Colter Bay, and a Clark's nutcracker along the 
 trail to Amphitheatre Lake — these are all part of the national park ex- 
 perience. This booklet was prepared with the hope that it will increase 
 your understanding and appreciation of the birds of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton National Parks. 
 
Introduction 
 
 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 
 
 About this book: 
 
 This book provides information on the descriptions, habits and ecology 
 of sixty-four of the most common and distinctive birds of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton. It also provides a habitat guide to birding and a checklist 
 for the two parks. This book was designed to complement, rather than re- 
 place, the standard field guides. If you desire more information on park 
 birds, inquire at the nearest museum or visitor center. 
 
 Habitat Complexes of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton National Parks 
 
 Most species of birds are limited to a specific habitat by adaptations that 
 they have made to the physical and biological conditions found within 
 that habitat or complex. For this reason, the process of locating a par- 
 ticular species is greatly simplified by knowing where to look. This section 
 was designed as a general habitat guide to the birds of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton. It provides a brief physical and biological description of 
 the habitat complexes found in the two parks and lists characteristic 
 birds that might be found in each complex. 
 
Feeding Adaptations of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton Birds 
 
 Birds are widely distributed in a variety of habitats. Many species, however, 
 are limited to a particular habitat, or even to a niche within that habitat, 
 because they have developed feeding specializations which make them 
 dependent on that habitat or niche. This section features illustrations of 
 feeding adaptations of birds occupying a variety of such niches in Yellow- 
 stone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Environmental Adaptations of Yellowstone 
 and Grand Teton Birds 
 
 In a sense, a national park is a living ecological museum chronicling the 
 interrelationships of living things and the relationships of these living 
 things to their environments. This section explores a few of these rela- 
 tionships, including the adaptations of birds to Yellowstone's hydrothermal 
 regions. 
 
 Birds of Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton National Parks 
 
 This section provides information on the appearance, habits, distribution, 
 and ecology of 64 of Yellowstone and Grand Teton's most common and 
 most distinctive birds. A color photograph accompanies each article. 
 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton Bird Checklist 
 
 Lists all of the species which have been observed in the two parks and 
 provides information on their general abundance and seasonal occurrence. 
 
UN habliat 
 oiMiileHes 
 
 OF YELLOWSTONE AND 
 
 GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS 
 
 By natural selection, variousspeciesof birds have adapted to life in a variety 
 of natural environments. Habitat requirements evolved over long periods 
 and were influenced by factors such as geographic isolation and availability 
 of food and cover. 
 
 Habitat requirements vary with each species. Some species adapt to a wide 
 variety of environmental conditions, while other species have very specific 
 requirements. Natural communities or complexes are populated by species 
 occupying every available niche within the community. However, these 
 environmental complexes seldom have definite boundaries. Transitional 
 areas between these complexes often support a greater number and variety 
 of birds than their adjacent complexes. 
 
 The ranges and habitats of birds are slowly, but continuously, undergoing 
 changes as a result of competition and interaction with other species and 
 other organisms (including man), natural succession and climatic changes. 
 More than 225 species of birds have been recorded in one or more of the 
 habitat complexes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The 
 following descriptions of bird habitat complexes was designed to serve as a 
 general guide to bird distribution in the two parks. 
 
Lodgepole Pine/Spruce-Fir Complex 
 
 Dense stands of lodgepole pine blanket more than sixty percent of the 
 combined area of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. In Yel- 
 lowstone and in the northern portion of Grand Teton, lodgepole pine 
 attains climax conditions in porous volcanic soils with low fertility. In 
 the central and southern portions of Grand Teton, however, lodgepole 
 pine grows primarily in the soils of glacial moraines. True climax is seldom 
 reached in any of the forested communities of Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton, however, because of naturally recurring fire. 
 
 The regenerative growth that follows a fire, as well as the standing snags 
 left by a fire, provide nesting sites, cover, and food sources for a variety 
 of birds. Successional rates are slow in the Yellowstone and Northern 
 Grand Teton lodgepole pine complexes because of marginal moisture and 
 low fertility. Whitebark pine is thinly scattered throughout the lodgepole 
 pine complex in Yellowstone, but is confined to mountain canyons above 
 8,000 feet in Grand Teton. Pockets of spruce and fir are found along stream 
 bottoms and pond margins. Forest floor vegetation is short and sparse, 
 consisting primarily of elk sedge, pine grass, and grouse whortleberry. 
 
 In contrast to the lodgepole pine complex, the soils of the spruce-fir 
 complex are generally more moist and fertile. Engelmann spruce and sub- 
 alpine fir are the dominant climax trees. However, lodgepole pine in 
 various stages of succession covers a large portion of the complex. White- 
 bark pine grows in large stands near timberline. The forest floor vegeta- 
 tion of the spruce-fir complex is lush. Dominant plants include globe 
 huckleberry, grouse whortleberry, arnica, aster, and fleabane. 
 
Characteristic Birds of Lodgepole Pine/Spruce-Fir Complex: 
 
 goshawk, blue grouse, ruffed grouse, great gray owl, calliope humming- 
 bird, Williamson's sapsucker, hairy woodpecker, Hammond's flycatcher, 
 olive-sided flycatcher, gray jay, Steller's jay, common raven, Clark's 
 nutcracker, mountain chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, 
 dipper, American robin, hermit thrush, Townsend's solitaire, ruby-crowned 
 kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, western tanager, Cassin's finch, pine 
 grosbeak, pine siskin, red crossbill, dark-eyed junco, white-crowned 
 sparrow. 
 
 Douglas-Fir/ Aspen Complex 
 
 Along a broad zone between the upper edge of the sagebrush-grassland 
 community and the lower edge of the dense lodgepole forests at eleva- 
 tions up to 8500 feet, scattered stands of Douglas-fir and aspen grow. 
 The Douglas-fir, with its thick fire-resistant bark, has probably persisted 
 in this environment because of its ability to withstand ground fires. On 
 exposed sites it is scattered sparsely, but grows in reasonably dense stands 
 on most drier south and west facing slopes. Aspen also occur in scattered 
 stands in this environment, particularly where spring seepages or high 
 water tables exist. The absence of fire for the past eighty years and heavy 
 browsing, particularly by elk, have retarded the growth and expansion 
 of the aspen. Limber pine appears in pockets largely confined to the Mam- 
 moth Hot Springs area in Yellowstone and is scattered generally throughout 
 Grand Teton. Rocky Mountain and common juniper also occur in drier 
 transitional areas within this complex. In forested areas the forest floor 
 vegetation includes snowberry, pine grass, and a variety of wildflowers. 
 
Characteristic Birds of Douglas-Fir/Aspen Complex: 
 
 Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, blue grouse, ruffed 
 grouse, great horned owl, common nighthawk, common flicker, yellow- 
 bellied sapsucker, downy woodpecker, dusky flycatcher, violet-green 
 swallow, tree swallow, black-capped chickadee, mountain chickadee, 
 white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, house wren, American 
 robin, hermit thrush, Swainson's thrush, mountain bluebird, Townsend's 
 solitaire, ruby-crowned kinglet, starling, yellow-rumped warbler, Mac- 
 Gillivray's warbler, western tanager, evening grosbeak, Cassin's finch, 
 pine siskin, green-tailed towhee, dark-eyed junco, chipping sparrow. 
 
 Sagebrush-Grassland Complex 
 
 The sagebrush-grassland communities in Yellowstone and Grand Teton 
 are located in dry environments generally below 7500 feet. This complex 
 is generally confined to broad valleys and plateaus which are blanketed 
 with sagebrush. The prevalence of sagebrush may be due, in part, to past 
 fire suppression. The groundcover in the sagebrush-grassland complex 
 consists primarily of bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Junegrass, and 
 a variety of wildf lowers. Along the edges of this complex juniper, aspen, 
 and Douglas-fir grow in scattered clusters. Pothole lakes in these areas 
 attract many birds. In Grand Teton sagebrush complexes occur primarily 
 on gravelly glacial soils. Several sagebrush-grassland complexes in Yel- 
 lowstone occur on glacial deposits. These include Hayden Valley, Pelican 
 Creek, portions of Lamar Valley, the upper Gardiner River drainage, an 
 area near Lewis Lake, and the area surrounding Yellowstone Lake. In 
 Grand Teton extensive areas of the sagebrush-grassland complex can be 
 found over the entire valley floor. 
 
characteristic Birds of Sagebrush-Grassland Complex: 
 
 Swainson's hawk, sage grouse, sandhill crane, mourning dove, common 
 nighthawk, horned lark, black-billed magpie, sage thrasher, western 
 meadowlark, Brewer's blackbird, lazuli bunting, green-tailed towhee, 
 savannah sparrow, vesper sparrow. Brewer's sparrow. 
 
 Cottonwood-Willow Streamside Complex 
 
 
 This habitat occurs along stream margins at lower elevations and in stream 
 valleys at medium elevations. Dominant cover is narrowleaf Cottonwood 
 mixed with scattered stands of Douglas-fir and blue spruce-Engelmann 
 spruce hybrids. In Grand Teton this cover includes blue spruce but not 
 Douglas-fir. Understory plants include russet buffaloberry, silverberry, 
 Utah honeysuckle, mountain alder, and water birch, while willows of 
 various species and aquatic sedges grow in extensive valley bottoms and 
 stream meanders. 
 
 Characteristic Birds of Cottonwood-Willow Streamside Complex: 
 
 great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, bald eagle, osprey, 
 American kestrel, spotted sandpiper, common flicker, downy wood- 
 pecker, black-billed magpie, house wren, willow flycatcher, olive-sided 
 flycatcher, American robin, tree swallow, black-capped chickadee 
 Swainson's thrush, warbling vireo, yellow warbler, MacGillivray's warbler,' 
 common yellowthroat, Wilson's warbler, brown-headed cowbird black- 
 headed grosbeak, chipping sparrow, white-crovyned sparrow, song sparrow. 
 
 10 
 
Ponds, Lakes, Rivers, and Marshes Complex 
 
 Dominated by Yellowstone Lake and Jackson Lake, this complex includes 
 numerous ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshy areas which dot the landscapes 
 of both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Larger rivers include 
 the Yellowstone, Madison, and Snake. Unique aquatic areas in Yellowstone 
 Include the glacial pothole areas of the Lamar Valley and the aquatic 
 areas associated with the hydrothermal features. The aquatic features 
 of both parks are ringed with pondweed, pond lily, marestaii, cattail, 
 elodea, and other aquatic plants. 
 
 Characteristic Birds of Ponds, Lakes, Rivers and Marshes Complex: 
 
 white pelican, great blue heron, trumpeter swan, Canada goose, mallard, 
 gadwall, pintail, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, American wigeon, 
 ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, Barrow's goldeneye, bufflehead, ruddy 
 duck, common merganser, bald eagle, marsh hawk, osprey, sandhill 
 crane, sora, American coot, killdeer, common snipe, spotted sandpiper, 
 Wilson's phalarope, California gull, belted kingfisher, cliff swallow, 
 dipper, common yellowthroat, yellow-headed blackbird, red-winged 
 blackbird. Brewer's blackbird, savannah sparrow, song sparrow. 
 
 11 
 
Alpine Complex 
 
 An area of severe environmental conditions, the alpine complex is gen- 
 erally found at elevations in excess of 10,000 feet in Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton. Extensive areas, particularly in the Tetons, consist of open cliffs 
 and talus slopes. Vegetation at this elevation is confined to sedges, grasses, 
 heaths, and dwarfed, ground-hugging shrubs and trees. In wetter areas the 
 vegetation consists of alpine meadows, while drier windswept ridges are 
 covered with mat-forming plants. In Yellowstone alpine areas are located 
 in the higher regions of the Gallatin and Absaroka Ranges. 
 
 Characteristic Birds of Alpine Complex: 
 
 golden eagle, horned lark, common raven, Clark's nutcracker, water 
 pipit, black rosy finch, white-crowned sparrow. 
 
 12 
 
feeding 
 adaptations 
 
 OF YELLOWSTONE AND 
 GRAND TETON BIRDS 
 
 Through natural selection birds have developed techniques for collecting 
 food in a variety of environmental niches. Some species collect food in 
 a wide range of environments, while others are highly specialized. Pictured 
 here are feeding adaptations of several Yellowstone and Grand Teton 
 birds. 
 
 Red Crossbill 
 
 Evening Grosbeak 
 
 Hairy Woodpecker 
 
 Clark's Nutcracker 
 
 13 
 
14 
 
environmental 
 adaplailons 
 
 OF YELLOWSTONE AND 
 GRAND TETON BIRDS 
 
 (1) 
 
 Several species of birds have made behavioral adaptations which allow 
 them to live and breed in Yellowstone's thermal basins. Killdeer feed on 
 the abundant insect life which thrives in the warm runoff channels of 
 geysers and hot springs, and nest on the barren regions of sinter or 
 travertine deposited by the geysers and hot springs. Woodpeckers, 
 bluebirds, nuthatches, swallows and chickadees utilize the dead trees 
 scalded or drowned by thermal waters for nesting sites. 
 
 (2) 
 
 Man's role as a nonconsumptive user of our national parks is unique. 
 Here wildlife populations roam freely interacting with one another as 
 they have for centuries. In thisdynamic interaction, magpies and ravens 
 have developed an important role as scavengers, often in a symbiotic 
 relationship with predators such as the coyote. 
 
 15 
 
(3) Natural fires have played a major role in the development of the vege- 
 tation of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Yet only recently has the im- 
 portance of fire been recognized as a factor in the natural development 
 of the environment. Fire suppression policies dating back to 1889 in 
 Yellowstone have retarded natural succession and subtly influenced 
 the population and distribution of several species of birds. Grouse, 
 woodpeckers, tree swallows, and bluebirds are particularly benefited 
 by periodic natural fires which provide both nesting sites and food 
 supplies. The presence of woodpeckers and other species help, in turn, 
 to maintain balances essential to any natural forest community. One 
 example of birds benefitingfrom natural fires was the dramatic increase 
 in three-toed woodpeckers following the fire west of Jackson Lake in 
 1974. 
 
 (4) The protection afforded the trumpeter swan in Yellowstone National 
 Park and neighboring Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in south- 
 western Montana, and later in Grand Teton National Park, helped pre- 
 serve this graceful, picturesque species. Fifty years ago the trumpeter 
 swan population had decreased to fewer than seventy. Today, largely as 
 a result of protection in these sanctuaries, this species is no longer con- 
 sidered endangered. 
 
 16 
 
birds 
 
 OF YELLOWSTONE AND 
 
 GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS 
 
 WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) 
 
 A ponderous bird with an enlarged bill and a large bill pouch, the white 
 pelican is a fishing specialist with a somewhat limited distribution in 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton. In Yellowstone, it breeds in the remote 
 southern islands of Yellowstone Lake and is usually observed on the lake 
 and the upper portion of Yellowstone River, while in Grand Teton it is 
 primarily observed during spring and fall migration on or near Jackson 
 Lake. In contrast with its cousin, the brown pelican, which dives for its 
 fish prey, the white pelican fishes while swimming buoyantly on the sur- 
 face. The enlarged pouch, approximately eighteen inches long and six 
 inches deep in an adult bird, is employed as a fish scoop. A gregarious 
 species, pelicans nest in colonies and share the responsibilities of rearing 
 the young. In spite of their great size, white pelicans are efficient fliers, 
 able to soar for hours once aloft. 
 
 White Pelican 
 
 Robert C.Cildart 
 
 17 
 
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias) 
 
 The great blue heron is a large, long-necked, long-legged wading bird 
 with a spear-like bill which it uses to capture fish, frogs, snakes and other 
 prey. This species, which is often incorrectly referred to as a crane, is 
 solitary in its habits except during the breeding season. During the breed- 
 ing season herons form colonies, building bulky nests and raising scrawny- 
 looking, downy young. When perching or standing in a river or stream this 
 large, blue-gray heron has a somewhat hunched appearance. In flight the 
 neck is folded and the legs are held stiffly behind the body. Great blue 
 herons are fairly common breeding residents in both Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton. 
 
 Great Blue Heron 
 
 C Allan Morgan 
 
 18 
 
TRUMPETER SWAN (Olor buccinator) 
 
 One of the most graceful and picturesque of all birds, the trumpeter 
 swan once bred from Alaska to Wyoming and eastward to Missouri and 
 Indiana. Commercial demand for swan feathers during the last century 
 drastically reduced the number of trumpeters, however, and by the early 
 1930's fewer than seventy birds bred in the wild. The preservation of habitat 
 and the protection of swans in Yellowstone, in neighboring Red Rock Lakes 
 National Wildlife Refuge, and later in Grand Teton helped preserve the 
 species. Specialized in its breeding habitat requirements, the trumpeter 
 swan needs shallow, quiet, fresh-water environments with a relatively 
 stable level and marshy edges. In this environment the trumpeter swan 
 builds a mounded nest of bulrushes, sedges, or cattails and raises a brood 
 of up to half a dozen cygnets. The largest of the swans, the trumpeter 
 may achieve a length of 6.S inches and a wing-spread of six to nine feet. 
 Several pairs of these elegant swans, which mate for life, breed in suitable 
 habitats in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. 
 
 19 
 
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) 
 
 Among the sights and sounds of nature few are as hauntingly beautiful 
 as a honking flock of wild geese silhouetted against a crisp autumn sky. 
 Although the species is usually migratory, many Canada geese spend the 
 entire winter in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Courtship of both migra- 
 tory and non-migratory birds usually begins in April. Canada geese mate 
 for life, and both male and female share the responsibility of caring for 
 the nest and young. During the incubation period the gander guards the 
 female on the nest and aggressively drives intruders, including coyotes 
 and even humans, away from the nest. Once the goslings hatch, geese 
 feed on the shore or in open fields within commuting distance of the 
 water. Geese graze, plucking up grass and other vegetation, or they collect 
 food from the bottom of a stream or lake. Large numbers of Canada geese 
 summer in Yellowstone's Hayden Valley, and at Oxbow Bend in Grand 
 Teton, and the species is generally common on lakes and rivers of both 
 parks. 
 
 Mallard 
 
 Bruce Pitcher 
 
 GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas carolinensis) 
 
 In the shallow water of small lakes, ponds, and streams, and in marshy 
 areas where small streams wander aimlessly through the tall grasses, the 
 green-winged teal floats silently or turns bottoms up in search of aquatic 
 plants and insects. Although this teal is primarily a surface-feeder, it can 
 dive effectively if the occasion demands. Green-winged teals frequently 
 leave the water and travel long distances in search of food. When flushed, 
 the teal explodes from the water without the aid of a running takeoff. 
 The flight of the teal is swift and direct, but often features unpredictable 
 twisting and turning maneuvers. The smallest of Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton ducks, the green-winged teal is a common breeding bird, and an 
 occasional winter resident in both parks. 
 
 20 
 
Canada Goose 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
 MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) 
 
 This wide-ranging species is probably the most familiar of all wild ducks. 
 Mallards are surface-feeding fresh-water ducks which feed primarily on 
 water plants, snails, seeds, grasshoppers, wild rice, and mosquito larvae. 
 A hardy species, the greenhead remains in Yellowstone and Grand Teton 
 in moderate numbers throughout the winter. An active, wary, noisy duck, 
 the mallard constructs a simple down-lined nest among the reeds and 
 grasses along a stream, lake, or pond edge where the female lays 8 to 15 
 greenish-buff eggs. The female cares for the eggs and raises the young. 
 Shortly after breeding season the male, or drake, undergoes a complete 
 molt, becomes flightless for a time, and acquires a protective eclipse 
 plumage almost identical to that of the female. Mallards are abundant 
 breeding birds in aquatic environments in both parks. 
 
 Green-winged Teal 
 
 C. Allan Morgan 
 
 21 
 
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis) 
 
 The lesser scaup is a large duck with a glossy, dull purple head, a bluish 
 bill, and a dark breast. Its finely-flecked flanks appear white at a distance. 
 The female is generally brown with a white mask. Scaups are expert 
 divers with large and powerful feet. They generally breed on the borders 
 of freshwater marshes or ponds, but are most often observed in the open 
 water of lakes and large ponds in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The ring- 
 necked duck, which also occurs in both parks, resembles the lesser scaup, 
 but has a dark back and a white ring on the bill. The lesser scaup, or 
 "bluebill," is a common summer and occasional winter resident in both 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Barrow's ColdeneyG Harry Engels 
 
 HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus) 
 
 This handsome duck is a rare breeding resident of remote stretches of 
 the Yellowstone and Snake Rivers and their tributaries. (Harlequins are 
 often observed on the LeHardy Rapids of the Yellowstone River in spring 
 and early summer). Like its namesake, the masked character of comedy 
 and pantomime, the male harlequin is richly colored with a gaudy pat- 
 terned plumage of blues, russets, blacks, and whites. The female is dusky- 
 colored with three round spots on either side of the head. Harlequins 
 are especially attracted to rough water. They will repeatedly fly to the 
 beginning of a series of rapids and float to their terminus, or they will 
 use both their wings and feet to move upstream against the swift-moving 
 current. Harlequins feed on water insects and their larvae, small fishes 
 and tadpoles, and acquatic plants. 
 
 22 
 
Lesser Scaup 
 
 National Park Service 
 
 BARROW'S GOLDEN EYE (Bucephala islandica) 
 
 This handsome species is the most wide-spread duck in Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton National Parks. It can be found not only on the major rivers 
 and streams of both parks, but also breeds on remote streams and ponds 
 at virtually all elevations. The male goldeneye is beautifully marked with 
 golden eyes, white facial crescents, purplish head, and boldly marked 
 black and white body. The female is gray, with a white collar and a dark- 
 brown head. Coldeneyes lay their eggs in tree holes near water, and for 
 this reason predation on young goldeneyes by weasels, martens, and even 
 occasionally otters is not uncommon. Many Barrow's goldeneyes remain in 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton throughout the winter, at which time they 
 are joined by the common goldeneye, which also winters in the area. 
 
 Harlequin Duck 
 
 Kenneth W. Fink 
 
 23 
 
COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser) 
 
 Mergansers are fish-ducks, with small heads, elongated bills, and saw- 
 edged mandibles for catchingtheirslippery prey. Their bodies are elongated 
 and they are more slender than most diving ducks. Although their diet is 
 primarily fish, they also feed on mollusks, crustaceans, water insects 
 and their larvae, and aquatic plants. The green head of the male is less 
 crested than the female, and often appears black. The female, with a 
 reddish head that displays more of a crest, also has a distinct white throat. 
 The merganser is a common breeding bird on rivers and lakes in both parks. 
 
 Goshawk {Immature) 
 
 Ian C. Tail 
 
 RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis) 
 
 Members of the Buteo family are large, thick-bodied, broad-winged hawks. 
 In Yellowstone and Grand Teton the red-tailed hawk is the most common 
 and widely distributed Buteo, but may be difficult to distinguish from 
 Swainson's hawk. In both appearance and in their general ecology, the 
 two species are similar. The reddish tail, and the generally lighter stomach 
 and breast area of the red-tail help to distinguish it from the Swainson's 
 hawk. Red-tailed hawks prey primarily on small rodents, including the 
 Uinta ground squirrel. They soar effortlessly for hours in broad, sweeping 
 circles or sit silently on exposed perches. Red-tailed hawks inhabit a wide 
 range of habitats in both parks. Their shrill cry is one of the distinctly wild 
 sounds of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton .wilderness. 
 
 24 
 
Common Merganser 
 
 Alan C. Nelson 
 
 GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis] 
 
 Magnificently adapted to its role as a forest predator, the goshawk de- 
 pends on both speed and stealth to capture its prey. Utilizing its short, 
 broad wings for speed and its long tail for maneuvering, the goshawk 
 can pursue its prey through thickly wooded areas with amazing speed and 
 agility. The goshawk preys primarily on small birds, but its diet includes 
 grouse, voles, shrews, mice, chipmunks, squirrels, muskrats, hares, rab- 
 bits, and marmots. The adult goshawk has a uniformly blue-gray back, 
 a finely barred white stomach, a dark crown with a white eye stripe and 
 red eyes. One of the handsomest and deadliest of all birds, the goshawk 
 is secretive in its habits and is uncommon to rare in the coniferous com- 
 plexes of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Red-tailed Hawk 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
 25 
 
Fink 
 
 BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 
 
 It is paradoxical that the bald eagle, our national bird and long a symbol 
 of strength and courage, is an endangered species. The increased use of 
 pesticides and loss of habitat have combined to greatly diminish the eagle's 
 numbers throughout the United States. Although the population density 
 of the eagle in Yellowstone was probably never significantly higher than at 
 present, recent studies reveal that eagle reproduction has decreased 
 noticeably in the past two decades. The eagle's preferred habitat is near 
 water in both parks; however, a study in Yellowstone indicated that less 
 than half of the eagle's diet in Yellowstone is made up of fish. This study 
 revealed that birds, primarily ducks, constituted more than half of the 
 eagle's diet. With its pronounced white head, hooked beak, deeply-curved 
 talons, and seven-foot wing spread, the bald eagle is truly an impressive 
 bird. Breeding populations in Yellowstone and Grand Teton are largely 
 confined to Yellowstone Lake and the Snake River. 
 
 26 
 
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) 
 
 The nickname "Fish hawk" accurately describes the osprey, for its diet is 
 made up entirely of fish. The average consumption of an adult osprey is 
 approximately one pound a day. Magnificently adapted to this specialty, 
 the osprey has a strong, hooked beak, excellent eyesight, and talons espe- 
 cially adapted to fish-catching. The talons of the osprey have sharp spines 
 which aid the bird in grasping its prey. A conspicuous crook or bend in 
 the wing and black wrist marks near the crook are excellent flight field 
 marks. Research conducted in Yellowstone has revealed that human acti- 
 vity near nesting sites can have an adverse effect on breeding success. 
 Ospreys are frequently observed in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, 
 along the Snake River, and over Jackson and Yellowstone Lakes. 
 
 27 
 
PRAIRIE FALCON (Faico mexicanus) 
 
 Anyone who has observed the aerial dive of the falcon, whether as part of 
 a mating ritual or in pursuit of prey, has witnessed one of the most thril- 
 ling and spectacular sights in the natural world. The stoop or dive of the 
 prairie falcon may exceed 125 miles per hour. Because these magnificent 
 birds stand at the top of the food chain and because of their popularity 
 among falconers, both the prairie falcon agd its rare counterpart, the 
 peregrine falcon, have declined In numbers in recent decades. Stream- 
 lined, missile-shaped birds with pointed wings, prairie falcons prey pri- 
 marily on smaller birds and rodents. The prairie falcon is a pale brown or 
 sandy-colored falcon. Its most distinguishing field marks are its "dirty 
 armpits" (distinctly dark areas in the bird's wingpits). Prairie falcons are 
 wide ranging but show a marked preference for cliff facings. They are rare 
 breeding inhabitants of the open cliffs and canyons of both Yellowstone 
 and Grand Teton. 
 
 American Kestrel 
 
 Leonard Lee Rue III 
 
 BLUE GROUSE (Dendragapus obscurus) 
 
 The blue grouse's scientific name translates "obscure tree lover." This 
 phrase describes well the appearance and habits of this species, for its 
 coloration provides excellent camouflage, and it is intimately associated 
 with conifers, particularly the Douglas-fir. The blue grouse breeds in 
 mixed woods or open conifers, but spends the entire winter in the conifers. 
 Conifers provide the grouse with both food and protective cover. During 
 the mating season the male grouse or cock attracts the female with a 
 series of booming or hooting sounds which are produced by the Inflation 
 of yellow throat sacs. The nest of the blue grouse is built on the ground, 
 often at the base of a tree or under a fallen log. The chicks, which hatch 
 in 26 days, develop rapidly and are able to fly efficiently in about two 
 weeks. Blue grouse are common permanent residents of the lodgepole 
 pine/spruce-fir and Douglas-flr/aspen complexes in both parks. 
 
 28 
 
Prairie Falcon 
 
 Kent & Donna Dannen 
 
 AMERICAN KESTREL (Faico sparverius) 
 
 Although it lacks the romantic appeal of the larger and rarer falcons, the 
 kestrel is nonetheless a handsome and interesting species. This diminutive 
 falcon often soars leisurely. When in pursuit of prey it also kites, remaining 
 in a stationary position in the air while surveying the landscape for insects, 
 which are its primary prey. Both sexes have handsome black, white, blue, 
 and reddish head and facial patterns, while the males have blue-gray wings. 
 Kestrels are common residents of the sagebrush-grassland environments in 
 both parks and are occasional breeders in the Dougias-fir/aspen habitat 
 complexes. This species, which was formerly called the sparrow hawk, 
 nests in tree cavities and cliff outcroppings. The eggs, three to seven in 
 number, are whitish with a generally spotted appearance. 
 
 Cf 
 
 BlueCrouse 
 
 Roberto. Cildart 
 
 29 
 
RUFFED GROUSE (Bonasa umbellus) 
 
 The ruffed grouse is a brown or brown-red chicken-sized bird. It is a 
 common permanent resident in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton, breed- 
 ing in mixed or deciduous woods, and wintering in the conifer forests. 
 This grouse has a broad, barred, fan-shaped tail with a black band near the 
 tip. The mottled plumage of the ruffed grouse matches the colors and 
 shadows of the mixed woods it inhabits. This protective coloration helps 
 protect the grouse against natural enemies, such as the coyote. In spring, 
 the male grouse attracts the female with a display that includes drumming. 
 The drumming sound is produced by rapid wingbeats which compress a 
 pocket of air against the bird's inflated chest. The varied diet of this 
 species includes seeds, buds, foliage, nuts, wild fruits, and insects. As 
 winter approaches, the ruffed grouse grows a series of hairlike bristles 
 along the toes. These aid the bird in walking over snow. Grouse frequently 
 bury themselves in snowdrifts at night. The snow provides them with 
 warmth and protection. 
 
 Sage Grouse Kenneth W. Fink 
 
 SANDHILL CRANE (Cms canadensis) 
 
 The height of a deer, this gray-brown inhabitant of marshes, meadows, 
 and sagebrush-grassland environments is an uncommon breeding bird 
 in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Cranes feed extensively on vege- 
 table matter including bulbs, roots, grains, and berries, as well as insects, 
 snakes, frogs, and mice. Sandhill cranes have an unusual dance which 
 occurs most often in the spring and usually on the roosting ground. While 
 dancing, the long legs of the crane are employed as springs and the wings 
 are used for balance. Although the dance is used as part of a courtship 
 display, birds of various ages participate throughout the year. The voice 
 of the Sandhill crane is a shrill, musical rattle often uttered in flight. 
 Bones of the Sandhill crane have been found in Pliocene and Pleistocene 
 deposits, making it one of the oldest of all living birds. 
 
 30 
 
Ruffed Grouse 
 
 Alan C. Nelson 
 
 SAGE GROUSE (Centrocercus urophasianus) 
 
 The sage grouse is an excellent example of habitat specialization, for it 
 spends the entire year in a sagebrush environment, and the sagebrush pro- 
 vides the species with food, protection, and nesting cover. The sage grouse 
 is the largest American grouse weighing up to 8 pounds. Sage grouse cocks 
 have elaborate courtships rituals. Early in the morning, dominant males 
 gather on display grounds where they spread their tails, droop their wings 
 and inflate their yellow throat sacs. When the air is expelled from these 
 sacs they produce a weak vocal sound. Males occupy territories relative 
 to their dominance in the group. The ritualistic courtship serves not only 
 to attract females, but also to reduce injurious fighting. Primarily a brow- 
 ser, the sage grouse feeds on leaves, buds, berries, and small quantities 
 of seeds. Sage leaves are a favorite food which comprise nearly 100 percent 
 of the bird's winter diet. Sage grouse are common in sagebrush flats of the 
 Jackson Hole area. 
 
 31 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) 
 
 Coots are plump, slate-gray duck-like birds with scalloped toes. They 
 inhabit the open water of rivers and deep ponds, feeding primarily on 
 submerged vegetation. These noisy, gregarious birds with harsh, grating 
 calls have the curious habit of pumping their heads back and forth as 
 they swim as if to assist in propelling themselves forward. In taking off 
 from the water the coot requires a long running takeoff, paddling the water 
 loudly while building up speed for the takeoff. The coot builds a floating 
 nest which is anchored to emerging pond vegetation. The female lays a 
 clutch of up to a dozen eggs, which are soon converted to downy, black 
 young with red-orange heads. Coots are common on ponds, lakes, and 
 rivers in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. 
 
 Killdeer 
 
 Robert C.Cildart 
 
 COMMON SNIPE (Capella gallinago) 
 
 In the world of avian specialization, the snipe is the specialist in probing. 
 The bill of the snipe has a flexible tip for locating and seizing its worm 
 prey. During the mating season snipes produce a mechanical winnowing 
 sound with their tail during a steep sky dive. This unusual mechanical 
 sound is used in courtship and is usually performed at night or on overcast 
 days. To produce this unusual sound, the snipe flies to a great height, 
 then dives earthward. As it descends, air pressure against two stiff outer 
 tail feathers cause them to vibrate, producing the winnowing sound. The 
 snipe inhabits the borders of marshes in bgth Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton. A small, short-legged, long-billed wading bird, the snipe remains 
 hidden until flushed and then explodes in a rapid zigzag flight pattern 
 while uttering a raspy "scaipe" note. 
 
 32 
 
American Coot 
 
 National Park Service 
 
 KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) 
 
 Because of their wide distribution and distinctive ciiaracteristics some 
 birds are familiar to most everyone. The killdeer is such a bird. This hand- 
 some shorebird whose call announces its name is a member of the plover 
 family. Kilideers do not build a nest, instead they lay their eggs on the 
 ground in a convenient depression. For this reason their eggs and young 
 are vulnerable to predators, as well as to human intruders. To protect 
 the nest and young the killdeer has developed an injury-feigning distrac- 
 tion display. When an intruder approaches, the killdeer moves away from 
 the eggs or young while dragging one wing, spreading the tail and uttering 
 a loud distress call. The killdeer can be found in marshy areas throughout 
 both parks. Many kilideers spend the entire summer in the hydrothermal 
 environments of Yellowstone. 
 
 Common Snipe 
 
 Stephen A. Laymen 
 
 33 
 
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularia) 
 
 Along the shores of ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams in both Yellowstone 
 and Grand Teton one may encounter a small, noisy, spotted-breasted 
 shorebird. This bird teeters nervously and when alarmed flies with stiffly 
 held wings and short, rapid wingbeats alternated with periods of gliding. 
 While in flight the bird utters a repetitious, staccato "peet." The well- 
 camouflaged eggs of this species are usually placed on or near the ground 
 along the gravelly shores of a stream or pond or within a few feet of the 
 shore. The precocial, downy young must avoid contact with coyotes, 
 weasels, and other forest predators if they are to grow to maturity. 
 
 California Cull 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
 MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura) 
 
 Although it is one of the most ecologically tolerant, and therefore widely 
 distributed of all birds, the mourning dove is a breeding bird of limited 
 distribution in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Because it feeds primarily 
 on waste grains and weed seeds, the mourning dove prefers open, semi- 
 arid environments. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton it breeds primarily 
 in the sagebrush-grassland habitat complexes. Mourning doves construct 
 flimsy nests of grasses or twigs. These nests are placed on any available 
 horizontal branch. The two white eggs deposited in the nest hatch in 
 fourteen to sixteen days. The young doves, which are fed a partly pre- 
 digested fluid by the parents, develop rapidly, leaving the nest in twelve 
 to fourteen days. 
 
 34 
 
Spotted Sandpiper 
 
 Bruce Pitcher 
 
 CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) 
 
 The California gull is an opportunist that allows few sources of food to 
 escape its notice. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton, as elsewhere, this 
 species follows the fisherman, feeding on discarded fish and fish entrails. 
 However, fish are but one item in a varied diet which includes mice, a 
 variety of insects, and where available, edible parts of garbage. The adult 
 California gull has a gray mantle with black wing tips, greenish legs, and 
 a yellow bill with a red or red and black spot. The plumage of immature 
 gulls reflects their age and sexual development. First-year gulls are mottled, 
 dusky brown with flesh-colored bills, while second-year birds are pale 
 gray. California gulls are common on larger lakes and rivers in both Yel- 
 lowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Mourning Dove 
 
 Joe Van Wormer 
 
 35 
 
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) 
 
 The great horned owl is the only large North American owl with ear tufts 
 or horns. It also has a finely barred stomach and a conspicuous white 
 -throat. Great horned owls inhabit cliffs and canyons and broken forest 
 habitats in both parks. Their prey includes grouse, squirrels, hares and 
 marmots, as well as small rodents and birds. Unlike most birds, owls have 
 binocular vision. The eyeball of this owl is as large as the eye of a human, 
 but tubular in shape. The enlarged lens-cornea portion of the eye allows 
 it to gather and concentrate all available light. Great horned owls also 
 have ears of unequal size which aid them in locating prey. The flight fea- 
 thers of the owl's wings have finely-toothed edges which allow the bird 
 to fly almost noiselessly. With these special adaptations, the great horned 
 owl is truly a marvelous predator. 
 
 Great Horned Owl 
 
 Alan G. Nelson 
 
 36 
 
GREAT GRAY OWL (Strix nebulosa) 
 
 In spite of an ever-increasing army of individuals expressing an interest 
 in birds and the lure of the natural world, and in spite of the continued 
 diminution of wilderness, the great gray owl remains a bird of mystery, a 
 ghostly apparition of the deep forest. The great gray owl, like another 
 inhabitant of the wilderness, the grizzly bear, and more than any other 
 bird, typifies the mystique of wilderness. The most striking of all owls, 
 the great gray owl is nearly two feet long and has a wingspread of five 
 feet. Prominent concentric circles on facial discs are its most distinctive 
 markings. The great gray owl flies with slow and measured wingbeats, float- 
 ing noiselessly through the forest in search of its prey of mice, voles, 
 chipmunks, and other small mammals. Great gray owls are rare inhabi- 
 tants of the dense forests and adjacent meadows of Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton. 
 
 Great Cray Owl 
 
 Ronald L. Branson 
 
 37 
 
COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor) 
 
 The nighthawk is not a hawk at all, but a goatsucker which is adapted to 
 aerial flycatching. Nighthawks have long wings and huge mouths. They are 
 most active during late evening and early morning hours. In this poor 
 light they can be identified by their unusually long wings, their erratic 
 flight, and a nasal "peent" uttered repeatedly in flight. During the mating 
 season nighthawks also produce an unusual booming sound which occurs 
 when the bird initiates rapid braking wingbeats at the culmination of a 
 spectacular aerial dive. The diet of the nighthawk is made up entirely of 
 airborne insects which range in size from minute gnats to large moths, 
 all of which are taken on the wing. Nighthawks are fairly common at 
 lower elevations in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Calliope Hummingbird 
 
 Danny On 
 
 BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon) 
 
 With its harsh, rattling call, clean-cut markings and bold outline, the king- 
 fisher is a very distinctive bird. As its name implies, the kingfisher is an 
 excellent fisher, usually launching the attack on its prey from an exposed 
 perch in full view of a lake or river. Kingfishers nest in holes dug in exposed 
 banks where they lay 5 to 8 pure white eggs. The female kingfisher is dis- 
 tinguished from the male by a chestnut band across the breast. Several 
 Plains Indian tribes carried kingfisher skins with them into battle, believ- 
 ing that the kingfisher's rapid movements were transmitted to the warrior, 
 thus enabling him to dodge enemy bullets and arrows. In ancient England 
 the dried body of a kingfisher was kept in the house as a protection against 
 lightning. Kingfishers are common residents along waterways of both 
 parks. 
 
 38 
 
Common Nighthawk 
 
 Kenneth W. Fink 
 
 CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Stellula calliope) 
 
 In open portions of the lodgepole forest, particularly in Grand Teton, a 
 moth-sized, green-backed hummingbird flits from flower to flower. This 
 is the calliope hummingbird. Weighing only one-tenth of an ounce and 
 measuring barely three inches, the calliope is the smallest of our native 
 hummingbirds. The wingbeats of hummingbirds exceed 55 beats per sec- 
 ond, and they alone are capable of backward flight. The calliope humming- 
 bird occurs primarily in meadows at lower and medium elevations within 
 the lodgepole forest. This species generally prefers red flowers and demon- 
 strates a particular preference for gilia, monkeyflower, and paintbrush. 
 The male calliope hummingbird is our only hummingbird with a streaked 
 throat pattern, while the female is bronze-green above with a tinge of 
 reddish brown on the underparts, flanks, and at the base of the tail. 
 
 Belted Kingfisher 
 
 39 
 
Common Flicker 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
 COMMON FLICKER (Colaptes auratus) 
 
 The familiar flicker is a tame, noisy bird with a variety of calls. Flickers 
 are permanent residents of the Douglas-fir/Aspen and Cottonwood-willow 
 streambottom habitat complexes in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton, 
 Because of Its adaptability, the flicker is generally common throughout 
 its range. However, the pugnacious starling, an introduced species, com- 
 petes with the flicker and other tree hole nesting species for nesting sites 
 and frequently drives them from their nests. Flickers spend much of their 
 time on the ground in search of ants, which are a primary food item. They 
 chisel their nest cavities in dead trees, usually aspens. Because of their 
 dependence on dead trees as nesting sites, and food sources, natural 
 disasters such as insect infestations and fires favor woodpeckers. 
 
 40 
 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 
 
 Dean E, Biggins 
 
 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius) 
 
 Sapsuckers drill rows of holes in trees and return later to collect the sap. 
 The yellow-bellied sapsucker shows a preference for aspen and birch in 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Because these rows of holes are drilled at 
 a slightly upward angle, they act as miniature reservoirs. The cambium 
 underneath the bark is also a primary item in the diet of this species. 
 Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are one of the few woodpeckers that have more 
 vegetable matter than animal matter in their diet. In Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton the yellow-bellied sapsucker occurs primarily in the aspen-fir 
 habitat complex, and it usually excavates its nest in a live aspen. The plum- 
 age of this species varies, but a narrow longitudinal white wing stripe is 
 very distinctive in both sexes. 
 
 41 
 
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos villosus) 
 
 Woodpeckers fill a special niche in the delicate balance of the forest com- 
 munity. The largest item of their diet is the larvae of wood-boring beetles. 
 The hairy woodpecker is a valuable predator of the western pine bark 
 beetle. Easily confused with the nearly identically marked downy wood- 
 pecker, the hairy woodpecker can be distinguished from its smaller cousin 
 by its larger size, larger and stouter bill, and lower pitched call. Like all 
 woodpeckers, the hairy woodpecker has a powerful neck, a bony skull and 
 a long, slender extensible tongue. Barbs on the tip of the tongue help pull 
 insects and grubs from burrows in the tree. Hairy woodpeckers are com- 
 mon residents of the lodgepole pine/spruce-fir complexes in both parks. 
 
 Hairy Woodpecker 
 
 Alan G. Nelson 
 
 42 
 
TREE SWALLOW (Iridoprocne bicolor) 
 
 Tree swallows have glossy green-black backs and white underparts. Be- 
 cause of the abundance of aerial insects, on which they feed, they are 
 generally widely distributed throughout both parks. However, they nest 
 primarily in tree cavities of the aspen, in company with mountain blue- 
 birds, flickers, house wrens, and dusky flycatchers. In their incessant pur- 
 suit of insects, tree swallows glide in wide, flat circles, darting this way and 
 that in pursuit of their insect prey. Tree swallows are the first of their kind 
 to arrive in spring. Following pair formation, the pair selects a hole in a 
 tree and the female lays from four to six white eggs. The violet-green 
 swallow, which is also common in both parks, resembles the tree swallow, 
 but displays prominent white rump patches. 
 
 free Swallow 
 
 Willard E Dilley 
 
 Barn Swall^ 
 
 Bruce Pitcher 
 
 BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) 
 
 A handsome swallow with a blue-black back, cinnamon-buff underparts, 
 and a deeply forked tail, the barn swallow is the epitome of grace and ease 
 of flight. The barn swallow flies close to the ground in an undulating flight 
 pattern. While in flight this species often utters its musical, twittering 
 song. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton the barn swallow breeds in open 
 meadows and marshlands. In general coloration the barn swallow re- 
 sembles the cliff swallow, but the squarish tail and buffy forehead patch 
 and underparts readily distinguish the latter species. The nest of the barn 
 swallow is a mud cup lined with feathers. It is most often placed under a 
 bridge or upon the side of a cliff. 
 
 43 
 
GRAY JAY (Perisoreus canadensis) 
 
 The gray jay's long association with campers and outdoorsmen has pro- 
 vided the bird with a host of descriptive nicknames including "camp 
 robber," "moose bird," "whisky jack," and "meat bird." Campers, picnick- 
 ers and backcountry travelers in Yellowstone and Grand Teton are bound, 
 sooner or later, to strike up an acquaintance with this likeable bird. 
 Because of its loose, fluffy plumage it can fly almost noiselessly and it 
 often glides into camp completely unnoticed. A soft whistled note may 
 announce the arrival of a second jay. After surveying the camp and picking 
 up any loose food morsels, the jays drift from the camp as noiselessly as 
 they arrived. In addition to the food they scavenge from campers, and 
 picnickers, the jay's diet fare includes berries and fruits, insects, the eggs 
 and nestlings of other birds, and carrion. In keeping with its general 
 character the jay's vocal repertoire is rich and varied, consisting of a 
 great variety of squawks, screams and whistles. Cray jays are common in 
 both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Black-billed Magpie 
 
 Joe Van Wormer 
 
 COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax) 
 
 Ravens are intelligent, wary, adaptable birds. One of the first birds men- 
 tioned in early history and mythology, the raven was mentioned in the 
 Biblical account of Noah's Ark and was honored as the hero-bird of the 
 Cherokee Indians. The raven is distinguished from its cousin, the crow, 
 which is rare in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, by its larger size, stouter 
 bill, wedge-shaped tail, and coarser voice. The raven's diet includes small 
 rodents and young rabbits, insects, worms, nestling birds, bird eggs, snakes, 
 frogs, and carrion including dead elk, deer, and bison. Ravens are excellent 
 fliers, performing a variety of flight maneuvers, including acrobatic feats 
 and spectacular dives. Ravens are common breeding birds in both Yellow- 
 stone and Grand Teton. They prefer open terrain and canyons with steep 
 cliffs upon which they can build their nests. 
 
 44 
 
Cray Jay 
 
 Danny On 
 
 BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica pica) 
 
 In both personality and appearance, the magpie is a distinctive bird. 
 Noisy, intelligent and wary, the magpie is striking in appearance with its 
 contrasting black and white plumage and long, wedge-shaped tail. Con- 
 fined to lower elevation sagebrush-grassland habitats in Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton, the magpie is a scavenger which profits not only from the 
 presence of the coyote and other predatorsv with which it frequently 
 associates, but also from road kills of squirrels and other rodents by the 
 vehicles of park visitors. The magpie spends much of its time on the ground 
 in search of food. It walks with a jerky gait or hops on both feet. The nest 
 of this species is usually built in a dense, thorny shrub or tree. It is a large, 
 domed mass of sticks with entrances on each side. 
 
 Common Raven 
 
 Dick Follett 
 
 45 
 
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucitraga coiuniDiana) 
 
 The nutcracker is a handsome, curious bird, which seems to incorporate in 
 form or in manner the characteristics of the crow, the woodpecker, and 
 the jay. More than any other bird, this noisy, good-natured mountaineer 
 symbolizes the high country. Drawn to the hiker by its limitless curiosity, 
 the nutcracker utters its harsh, grating call as if to remind the hiker that he 
 is not alone in the wilderness. The nutcracker derives its name from the 
 fact that it is very adept at extracting pine nuts from cones. The bird 
 accomplishes this by employing its long bill in the fashion of a pick and 
 a crowbar. When pine nuts are out of season, the nutcracker varies its 
 diet with ants, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, grubs, and butterflies, which 
 are caught both on the ground and in the air. Nutcrackers are common in 
 both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. However, fluctuations in seed crops 
 can dramatically affect the population of these birds from year to year. 
 
 Mountain Ch 
 
 Dilley 
 
 MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Parus gambeli) 
 
 Chickadees are tame, friendly, hyperactive birds. They are constantly on 
 the move, searching among the twigs, foliage, and bark for caterpillars, 
 plant lice, and insect eggs. Even in bitterly cold weather, small flocks of 
 chickadees flit among the conifers undaunted by the weather. The moun- 
 tain chickadee, more common at higher elevations than its counterpart, 
 the black-capped chickadee, is distinguished from the latter by a narrow 
 white line which interrupts the black cap, running from the bill over and 
 behind the eye. These agile, acrobatic birds nest in cavities in rotten 
 stumps, laying 7 to 9 spotted eggs and raising as many as 2 or 3 broods 
 each summer. The Cheyenne and Blackfeet Indians, which occupied or 
 traversed much of the country in and around what has become the Yel- 
 lowstone and Grand Teton Parks, revered the chickadee and referred to it 
 as "the bird that tells us that summer is coming." 
 
 46 
 
Clark's Nutcracker 
 
 Dick Follett 
 
 Red-breasted Nuthatch 
 
 Dean E. Biggins 
 
 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) 
 
 The nuthatch is a small bird with a long, slightly upward-turned bill and 
 short legs set far back on its stubby body. Unlike other birds which patrol 
 the tree trunks, the nuthatch moves about without the aid of its tail. Fur- 
 thermore, the red-breasted nuthatch not only moves^laterally and upward, 
 it also may be seen crawling down a tree trunk in jerky, circular spirals. 
 This species feeds largely on bark insects and their larvae. It varies its diet 
 with seeds and nuts. The nuthatch nests in a hole in a dead conifer or 
 conifer snag, and displays the unique ability of flying directly into the 
 nest cavity. The call of the red-breasted nuthatch is a nasal, oft-repeated 
 "ank," which resembles the sound produced by a little tin horn. Red- 
 breasted nuthatches breed in relatively open stands of lodgepole pine and 
 Douglas-fir in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, 
 
 47 
 
DIPPER (Cinclus mexicanus) 
 
 Dippers are plump, stubby-tailed, slate gray songbirds which have adopted 
 many of the habits of the wading and diving birds. They inhabit clear, 
 cascading mountain streams, feeding on aquatic insects. With their strong 
 legs, special oil glands, and dense plumage, dippers are uniquely adapted 
 to this watery habitat. Dippers have a peculiar habit of bobbing up and 
 down, most often from a spray-drenched rock. When under water, the 
 dipper walks along the stream bottom with the aid of its wings, feeding on 
 water beetles, caddisflies, dragonflies, and other water-dwelling insects 
 and their larvae. The song of the dipper is bubbling and wren-like, and its 
 nest is a domed structure, constructed of grasses and mosses and lined 
 with leaves and rootlets. It is usually placed near water on a rock, under 
 a bridge, or on a ledge behind a waterfall. Dippers are common breeding 
 birds along mountain streams in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 American Robin Leonard Lee Rue lil 
 
 SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catbarus ustulatus) 
 
 Thrushes are inconspicuous birds which spend much of their time on the 
 ground. The Swainson's thrush is a uniformly brown bird with a spotted 
 breast, and a buffy face and eye-ring. The hermit thrush, which is also 
 common in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, can be distinguished from the 
 Swainson's thrush by its reddish tail. The Swainson's thrush prefers damp 
 areas near water, and may be found in willow thickets, river woods or forest 
 undergrowth. It shows a particular preference for environments where 
 conifers are mixed with aspen. To truly appreciate the thrush one must 
 hear its song, for thrushes are among the most gifted of all songsters. To 
 hear the song at its best, one must retreat to a cool, quiet hillside during 
 the freshness of early morning or in the tranquil stillness of early evening, 
 when the sun casts shafts of slanted light through the trees. In this setting, 
 the thrush pours out its serene, flute-like song, which some consider the 
 most beautiful sound in all of nature. 
 
 48 
 

 
 Dipper 
 
 National Park Service 
 
 AMERICAN ROBIN (Tardus migratorius) 
 
 The robin, with its cheery song, distinctive red-orange breast, and trusting 
 habits, is perhaps the best known and best loved of all our native song 
 birds. Because of its adaptability the robin thrives in almost any environ- 
 ment. In Yellowstone and Grand Teton the robin is one of the most abun- 
 dant breeding birds, breeding in virtually every environmental complex 
 below timberline. Robins which breed in developed areas of the parks are 
 as tame and trusting as the robins found in towns, city parks, and farm- 
 yards; however, the backcountry hiker will encounter a wild robin whose 
 temperament is more in keeping with its wild surroundings. The nest of 
 the robin is grass-lined and mud-wailed and the eggs are a beautiful 
 turquoise blue. 
 
 Swainson's Thrush 
 
 Alan C. Nelson 
 
 49 
 
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) 
 
 The male mountain bluebird is a striking bird with sky-blue or azure plum- 
 age and light underparts. The female is a dull brownish-gray with a 
 touch of blue on the rump, tail and wings. The Pima Indians believed that 
 the mountain bluebird was originally an unlovely gray, but that it acquired 
 its present exquisite azure coat by bathing in a certain lake of blue water 
 that had neither inlet nor outlet. The distribution and abundance of blue- 
 birds in Yellowstone and Grand Teton is apparently influenced to some 
 degree by the availability of nesting sites which are largely confined to 
 dead trees in forest clearings. Lightning fires, epidemics of wood-boring 
 insects, and similar natural agents, including the drowning or scalding of 
 trees by hydrothermal features, are therefore beneficial to the species. 
 The mountain bluebird is generally common in both Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton. 
 
 Townsend's Solitaire Dale & Marian Zimmerman 
 
 WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) 
 
 The warbling vireo is a plain, sluggish dweller of the forest canopy. Show- 
 ing a decided preference for decidous trees, the warbling vireo is more 
 easily detected by song than by sight. The song is a repetitious, rolling 
 warble. The male sings incessantly throughout the summer. The warbling 
 vireo may be distinguished from other small residents of the forest canopy 
 by the heavy bill and the lack of wing bars. Vireos feed almost exclusively 
 on insects. They are especially fond of small caterpillars and measuring 
 worms. The nest of the warbling vireo is a neat, compact cup composed 
 of bark fibers, fine grasses, and plant stalks, ornamented with spider egg 
 cases, lichens, and cottonwood down. The nest is usually attached to the 
 fork of two branches, high in a deciduous tree. The tree most commonly 
 used for nesting in Yellowstone and Grand Teton is the narrow-leaf cot- 
 tonwood. 
 
 50 
 
Mountain Bluebird 
 
 Joe Van Wormer 
 
 TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi] 
 
 A quiet, retiring bird, the Townsend's solitaire is a close relative of the 
 thrushes, though it acts very much like a flycatcher. A slim, gray bird, 
 the solitaire shows pale patches in the wings and tail in flight. Sparsely 
 distributed through its range, the solitaire shows a marked preference for 
 open forests of pine and fir or juniper. The nest of the solitaire, a roughly 
 constructed mass of bark, twigs, stalks, and grasses, is usually placed on 
 or near the ground. The eggs are white and heavily blotched with various 
 shades of brown. This slender, long-tailed bird is most often observed 
 perched erectly on the outermost or top-most branch of a small tree along 
 the edge of a forest clearing. The most common call note uttered by the 
 solitaire is a single pipping note. 
 
 Warbling Vireo 
 
YELLOW WARBLER (Dendroica petechia) 
 
 The yellow warbler breeds in streamside thickets of willow, alder, and 
 Cottonwood in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. This slender, active bird is 
 the only yellow warbler with spots on its tail. The male also has rusty 
 streaks on the breast. The nest of the yellow warbler is a deep, felted cup 
 placed in the upright crotch of a shrub or tree. Yellow warbler nests are 
 frequently parasitized by cowbirds, which do not build nests of their own, 
 but lay their eggs in the nests of other species. The larger, more aggressive 
 cowbird fledgling usually crowds the young warblers out of the nest and 
 becomes the sole object of the parent warbler's attention. It is not un- 
 common to see an adult yellow warbler feeding a cowbird fledgling twice 
 its size. 
 
 Yellow-rumped Warbler 
 
 Dale & Marian Zimmerman 
 
 WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta) 
 
 The familiar meadowlark is one of our most widespread and most abun- 
 dant songbirds. Its cheery song, plump profile, and conspicuously marked 
 yellow and black breast are its most identifiable characteristics. Meadow- 
 larks are common breeding birds in the sagebrush-grassland habitat com- 
 plexes in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. In this environment the meadow- 
 lark builds a grass domed nest and feeds on beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, 
 caterpillars, wasps, ants, spiders, and seeds. When on the ground the mea- 
 dowlark flicks its tail incessantly and in flight displays white outer tail 
 feathers. Meadowlarks are not true larks but are related to the blackbirds 
 and orioles. 
 
 52 
 
Yellow Warbler 
 
 lanC.Tait 
 
 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (Dendroica coronata) 
 
 The yellow-rumped warbler is the most widely distributed and most 
 abundant western warbler. This species is always on the move, darting 
 and flitting around twigs and branches, sometimes hanging upside down, 
 and sometimes flycatching. The most common call uttered by this species 
 is a metallic "chip," however, during the breeding season it sings a sweet 
 and melodious "chee-chee-chee-ah-wee" song. The yellow throat and 
 rump of the male are conspicuous field marks, though both fade to a faint 
 wash in the bird's winter plumage. The yellow-rumped warbler prefers 
 mixed woods, but usually chooses an evergreen to nest in. This species 
 is common in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Western Meadowlark 
 
 Bruce Pitcher 
 
 53 
 
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 
 
 In springtime, marshes and ponds in Yellowstone and Grand Teton re- 
 sound with a medley of bird calls. Coots, ruddy ducks, diving ducks, 
 rails, yellowthroats, marsh wrens, and blackbirds all join in the annual 
 competition for mates and territory. One of the most striking bird inhabi- 
 tants of this marshland environment is the male yellow-headed blackbird. 
 The yellow head, neck, and chest, and the broad, white wing patch con- 
 trast sharply with the black of the bird's body and tail. The male is most 
 often seen perched in a conspicuous spot along the edge of a pond. From 
 this location he utters a variety of harsh, unmusical notes and flits com- 
 batively through the marsh defending his territory. The female is brownish 
 with a wash of yellow on the breast and with a white throat and streaked 
 lower breast. This species breeds in localized colonies throughout Yel- 
 lowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Western Tanager 
 
 Joe Van Wormer 
 
 EVENING GROSBEAK (Hesperiphona vespertina) 
 
 The evening grosbeak is a handsome bird with a richly colored plumage 
 and a powerful beak. The male is yellow with black wings and tail, while 
 the female is gray with black wings and tail. Both sexes have large white 
 wing patches, and the female has a yellowish cast across her back and 
 upper breast and white in her tail. During the breeding season evening 
 grosbeaks feed primarily on conifer seeds and wild berries. When the 
 breeding season has been completed evening grosbeaks congregate in 
 areas where they can feed upon the ripening chokecherries. During the 
 winter flocks of evening grosbeak descend to lower elevations to feed on 
 the seeds of seed-bearing trees such as the box elder. It is at this time that 
 the grosbeaks powerful beak comes into play. The powerful, overlapping 
 mandibles are used for shearing seeds off the trees. Evening grosbeaks 
 are fairly common permanent residents in both parks. 
 
 54 
 
Yellow-headed Blackbird 
 
 Bruce Pitcher 
 
 WESTERN TAN ACER (Piranga ludoviciana) 
 
 Amid the breathtaking beauty of the natural landscapes of Yellowstone 
 and Grand Teton, it is most fitting that the striking western tanager 
 should reside as one of the most common breeding birds, for it is one of 
 the most beautiful of all birds. From a pinnacle or bough of an evergreen 
 tree, the tanager sings its deliberate, robin-like song and on medium- 
 height branches builds its shallow, saucer-shaped nest. The brilliant male 
 is lemon yellow, with black wings and tail and a red head. The female is 
 dull greenish above, yellow below, with white or yellowish wingbars. 
 Tanagers are birds of the forest canopy. They move deliberately in their 
 incessant search for insects, vvhich make up the main part of their diet. 
 Western tanagers are common breeding birds in open conifers and mixed 
 forests of the spruce-fir, lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir/aspen habitats. 
 
 EveningCrosbeak 
 
 Dean E. Biggins 
 
 55 
 
CASSIN'S FINCH (Carpodacus cassinii) 
 
 The preferred habitat of the Cassin's finch is open forest and forest edge. 
 A common breeding bird in both parks, the Cassin's finch has a varied, 
 liquid, warbling song. The male Cassin's finch has a brilliant red crown 
 patch which contrasts sharply with its brownish neck. Females have 
 narrowly striped underparts, and both sexes have unusually long wings. 
 Like other finches, this species has a short, stout bill adapted to seed- 
 cracking. The food of this species consists primarily of seeds, insects, 
 and small fruits. Following pair formation in the spring, finches build a 
 cup nest on the limb of a conifer and the female lays four or five blue, 
 spotted eggs. In winter most Cassin's finches in Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton migrate to lower elevations outside the parks. 
 
 Pine Grosbeak 
 
 Harry Engels 
 
 PINE GROSBEAK (Pinicola enucleator) 
 
 The pine grosbeak is a relatively uncommon breeding bird of the conifer 
 forests of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The nest of this species is a loose 
 cup in a low conifer branch along the edge of a stand of conifers. Our 
 largest and one of our handsomest finches, the pine grosbeak is a hardy 
 species with an attractive plumage and a beautiful song. Adult males have 
 a rose-red plumage, while females and immature males are gray with a 
 dull yellowish-tinged head and rump. Both sexes display distinct white 
 wing bars. The powerful bill of this large finch is used to extract and crush 
 pine seeds. The diet of this species also includes needle buds, fruits, 
 berries, and an occasional insect. In flight the pine grosbeak has a deep, 
 undulating flight pattern. 
 
 56 
 
Cassin's Finch 
 
 Dale ^ Marian Zimmerman 
 
 Black Rosy Finch \^ a..3^B^^^^ Harold R Holt 
 
 BLACK ROSY FINCH (Leucosticte atrata) 
 
 Uniquely adapted to the alpine environment, the black rosy finch is the 
 most characteristic bird of the alpine regions of both Yellowstone and 
 Grand Teton. Its unique adaptations include long, pointed wings for coping 
 with the strong winds at these high elevations and a pair of pockets in the 
 floor of the mouth, which develop during the breeding season and ap- 
 parently allow the species to carry larger quantities of food on each 
 trip back to the nest. Black rosy finches glean seeds and insects from 
 snowfields above timberline. Rosy finches are dark sparrow-sized birds 
 with a pinkish wash on their wings and rump and a light gray patch on the 
 back of the head. The nest is a carefully concealed grass cup placed in a 
 rock crevice. 
 
 57 
 
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) 
 
 Siskins are noisy, gregarious birds with a nomadic nature. They may be 
 abundant some years, and scarce in others. In many ways these small, 
 tame, streaked birds with yellow in their wings and at the base of their 
 tails resemble their close relatives, the goldfinches. While in flight, siskins 
 utter light, twittering notes in rhythm with their undulating flight, while 
 at other times their notes are wheezy. Siskins breed chiefly in coniferous 
 forests and are generally common throughout both Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton. In the summer their food is made up of insects, buds, small leaves, 
 dandelion seeds, and the seeds of conifers. The nest of a siskin is usually 
 found in a conifer. It is a compact and well-constructed cup made of dry 
 roots, grasses, and leaves. 
 
 Red Crossbill Dean E. Biggins 
 
 GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Chlomra chlorura) 
 
 The green-tailed towhee is a slender, long-tailed sparrow found chiefly in 
 the low brush of open mountain sides or high sagebrush plains. The best 
 evidence of this shy bird's presence is often its peculiar cat-like mew note, 
 but it also possesses a rich, varied song. When flushed from a perch or 
 hiding place, this species flies close to the ground, pumping its tail while 
 in flight. Like other towhees, the green-tailed towhee spends much of its 
 time on the ground scratching for insects and seeds beneath shrub or bush. 
 This it accomplishes by hopping and then kicking backward with both 
 feet. The green tail for which the species is named is less distinctive than 
 its rufous cap or its white chin. Green-tailed towhees breed primarily on 
 brushy, transitional hillsides in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 58 
 
Pine Siskin 
 
 Dean E Biggins 
 
 RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) 
 
 The unique overlapping mandibles of the crossbill are used for extracting 
 seeds from the cones of conifers. This the crossbill accomplishes by in- 
 serting the closed bill into the side of the cone and then opening the 
 mandibles with a movement which tears out the scales and leaves the 
 seeds exposed. Crossbills often hang from evergreen cones in the manner 
 of a chickadee, while noisily extracting seeds with their peculiar bills. 
 Red crossbills are vagrants, which may be abundant one year and virtually 
 absent from the same general area the following year. The male red cross- 
 bill is brick red with a bright rump area. The female is dull olive-gray, and 
 juveniles are streaked above and below. Red crossbills are inhabitants of 
 the lodgepole pine/spruce-fir and Douglas fir/aspen complexes of both 
 Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Green-tailed Towhee 
 
 Kent & Donna Dannen 
 
 59 
 
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis] 
 
 Small, shy, and lacking distinguishing markings, the savannah sparrow is 
 easily overlooked. A heavily streaked sparrovi^ with a narrow, yellowish 
 streak over the eye, this species inhabits areas of short grasses or sparse 
 vegetation, and the grassy fringes of marshes. The savannah sparrow usual- 
 ly remains on or near the ground, and the best evidence of its presence is 
 often its weak, lispy song. When flushed, the savannah sparrow flies a short 
 distance before disappearing back into the grasses. The nest of this spe- 
 cies is a simple, grass-lined hollow on the ground. Savannah sparrows are 
 common breeding birds in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 60 
 
DARK-EYED lUNCO (junco hyemalis) 
 
 The junco is one of the most abundant breeding birds in the two parks, 
 and its abundance seems to be related to its general adaptability. Juncos 
 are primarily birds of the open forest or of clearings in dense forests. The 
 song of the junco is a bell-like trill. As the snows begin to melt exposing 
 patches of bare ground, the trilling of the junco, and the emergence of the 
 glacier lily are harbingers of spring in the forests of Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton. The simple, grass-lined nest of the junco is placed on the ground, 
 often under a small conifer. Distinctive field marks of this small, active, 
 ground-dwelling species are its light pink bill, gray or black hood, and 
 white outer tail feathers. There are several races of juncos, and hybridi- 
 zation is common. 
 
 61 
 
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella Passerina) 
 
 The chipping sparrow is a small, tame sparrow with a rusty cap and a 
 black line through the eye. It inhabits open areas in relatively dry environ- 
 ments with thinly scattered trees. Although it occurs in several habitat 
 types, it is most common in the fir-aspen complex. The chipping sparrow's 
 song consists of a series of rapid, monotonous chips. The song is most 
 often delivered from the outermost tip of a conifer branch. The nest of 
 this species is a neat, hair-lined cup, most often built on the branch of a 
 conifer. The eggs are light blue, richly flecked with rust. Chipping sparrows 
 are common breeding residents in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 Chippinf^ Sparrow 
 
 Willdrd E. Dilley 
 
 White-Crowned sparrow 
 
 )oe Van Wor 
 
 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 
 
 This handsome sparrow with a distinctive black and white crown striping 
 is primarily a bird of the willow thickets of mountain meadows and lakes 
 in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. The song of this species is a series of 
 beautifully whistled notes followed by buzzing trills. When distressed, 
 the white-crown utters a metallic "pink." Irpmature white-crowned spar- 
 rows have brown head stripings and pinkish bills. The nest of this species 
 is a well-lined cup of grasses placed on the ground or in the fork of a low 
 willow or conifer. The eggs are spotted and blue-green. This species is 
 one of the most common breeding birds in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. 
 
 62 
 
oheckllsi 
 birds 
 
 OF YELLOWSTONE and GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS 
 
 Seasonal Status 
 
 S — March-May 
 
 S— June-August 
 
 F— September-November 
 
 W— Decern ber-February 
 
 Status of Abundance 
 
 a— abundant 
 c — common 
 
 Ic — locally common (common In 
 local or regional habitats 
 within the parks) 
 o— occasional 
 r — rare 
 A— accidental 
 
 YELLOWSTONE 
 
 W 
 
 Ic Ic 
 
 Ic 
 c 
 
 Loons: 
 
 Common Loon 
 
 Grebes: 
 
 Red-necked Crebe 
 Horned Crebe 
 Eared Crebe 
 Western Grebe 
 Pied-billed Crebe 
 
 Pelicans: 
 
 White Pelican 
 
 Cormorants: 
 
 Double-crested Cormorant 
 
 Herons and Bitterns: 
 
 Great Blue Heron 
 Common Egret 
 Snowy Egret 
 
 Black-crowned Night Heron 
 American Bittern 
 
 Storks and Ibises: 
 
 Wood Stork 
 White-faced Ibis 
 
 Waterfowl: 
 
 Whistling Swan 
 Trumpeter Swan 
 Canada Coose 
 Snow Goose 
 Mallard 
 Black Duck 
 Cadwall 
 
 GRAND TETON 
 S S F W 
 
 63 
 
c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 Pintail 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 Green-winged Teal 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 Blue-winged Teal 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 Cinnamon Teal 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 American Wigeon 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 Northern Shoveler 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Wood Duck 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 
 Redhead 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 c 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 Ring-necked Duck 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 Canvasback 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 Lesser Scaup 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 Common Coldeneye 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 Barrow's Coldeneye 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Bufflehead 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 Harlequin Duck 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 Black Scoter 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 Ruddy Duck 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Hooded Merganser 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Common Merganser 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 Red-breasted Merganser 
 Vultures, Hawks and Falcons: 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 Turkey Vulture 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 X 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Goshawk 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Sharp-shinned Hawk 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Cooper's Hawk 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 Red-tailed Hawk 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 Swainson's Hawk 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Rough-legged Hawk 
 
 
 r 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Ferruginous Hawk 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Golden Eagle 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 Ic 
 
 Bald Eagle 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Ic 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 Marsh Hawk 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 Osprey 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Prairie Falcon 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Peregrine Falcon 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Merlin 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 American Kestrel 
 Gallinaceous Birds: 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Blue Grouse 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Spruce Grouse 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 Ruffed Grouse 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Sage Grouse 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Cray Partridge 
 Cranes: 
 
 
 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 Whooping Crane 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 Sandhill Crane 
 
 Rails and Coots: 
 
 Virginia Rail 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 Sora 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 American Coot 
 
 Plovers: 
 
 Semipalmated Plover 
 
 o 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 
 Killdeer 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 Mountain Plover 
 Black-bellied Plover 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 64 
 

 
 
 Shorebirds: 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r Common Snipe 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Long-billed Curlew 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Spotted Sandpiper 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 Solitary Sandpiper 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 Willet 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 Greater Yellowlegs 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Lesser Yellowlegs 
 Pectoral Sandpiper 
 Baird's Sandpiper 
 Least Sandpiper 
 Dunlin 
 
 Long-billed Dowitcher 
 Stilt Sandpiper 
 Semipalmated Sandpiper 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 Western Sandpiper 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 Marbled Codwit 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 Hudsonian Codwit 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sanderling 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 American Avocet 
 
 r 
 o 
 
 r 
 r 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 o 
 r 
 r 
 
 Phalaropes: 
 
 Wilson's Phalarope 
 Northern Phalarope 
 
 Jaegers: 
 
 Parasitic Jaeger 
 
 Gulls and Terns: 
 
 Herring Gull 
 California Cull 
 Ring-billed Gull 
 Franklin's Cull 
 Bonaparte's Cull 
 Common Tern 
 Caspian Tern 
 Black Tern 
 
 Doves and Cuckoos: 
 
 Band-tailed Pigeon 
 Mourning Dove 
 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 
 Black-billed Cuckoo 
 
 Owls: 
 
 Screech Owl 
 Great Horned Owl 
 Snowy Owl 
 Hawk Owl 
 Pygmy Owl 
 Burrowing Owl 
 Barred Owl 
 Great Gray Owl 
 Long-eared Owl 
 Short-eared Owl 
 Boreal Owl 
 Saw-whet Owl 
 
 Nighthawks: 
 
 Poor-will 
 
 Common Nighthawk 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 r 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 65 
 
Swifts and Hummingbirds: 
 
 X Black Swift 
 
 3 o o White-throated Swift x 
 
 Black-chinned Hummingbird r r 
 
 r r Broad-tailed Hummingbird o o 
 
 r r Rufous Hummingbird o o 
 
 r r Calliope Humingbird c c 
 
 Kingfishers: 
 
 o o o r Belted Kingfisher o o o r 
 
 Woodpeckers: 
 
 c c c o Common Flicker c c c r 
 
 Acorn Woodpecker x 
 
 r r r Lewis Woodpecker r r r 
 
 Ic Ic Ic Yellow-bellied Sapsucker c c c 
 
 r r r Williamson's Sapsucker o o r 
 
 c c c c Hairy Woodpecker c c c c 
 
 o o o o Downy Woodpecker c c c c 
 
 r r r r Black-backed Three-toed 
 
 Woodpecker 
 
 o o o r Northern Three-toed Woodpecker r r r 
 
 Flycatchers: 
 
 Eastern Kingbird o o o 
 
 Western Kingbird o 
 
 Ash-throated Flycatcher 
 
 Say's Phoebe r r 
 
 Willow Flycatcher c c c 
 
 Hammond's Flycatcher c c c 
 
 Dusky Flycatcher o o o 
 
 Western Flycatcher 
 
 Western Wood Pewee c c 
 
 Olive-sided Flycatcher c c 
 
 Larks: 
 
 o Horned Lark c o o o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 X 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 Swallows: 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 r 
 
 
 Violet-green Swallow 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 
 Tree Swallow 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 Bank Swallow 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 Rough-winged Swallow 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 
 Barn Swallow 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 
 Cliff Swallow 
 
 Crows, Magpies and Jays: 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Cray Jay 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Steller's Jay 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Black-billed Magpie 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Common Raven 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Common Crow 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Pinon Jay 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Clark's Nutcracker 
 Chickadees: 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Black-capped Chickadee 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Mountain Chickadee 
 Nuthatches: 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 White-breasted Nuthatch 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Red-breasted Nuthatch 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 
 Pygmy Nuthatch 
 
 o o 
 ceo 
 
 c c 
 
 c c 
 
 o o r 
 
 a a 
 
 a a a a 
 
 c c c c 
 
 a a a a 
 
 a a a a 
 
 r r r r 
 
 r r r 
 
 c c c c 
 
 c c c c 
 
 c c c c 
 
 c c c c 
 
 o o o o 
 
 66 
 

 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Creepers: 
 
 r Brown Creeper 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Dippers: 
 
 c Dipper 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 Ic 
 
 o 
 
 r 
 Ic 
 
 o 
 
 Wrens: 
 
 House Wren 
 Long-billed Marsh Wren 
 Rock Wren 
 
 r 
 r 
 
 r 
 r 
 
 
 Thrashers: 
 
 Catbird 
 Sage Thrasher 
 
 a 
 c 
 
 
 
 r 
 c 
 
 
 
 a 
 c 
 
 
 
 r 
 c 
 
 
 
 a 
 o 
 r 
 r 
 o 
 o 
 
 Thrushes: 
 
 r American Robin 
 Hermit Thrush 
 Swainson's Thrush 
 Veery 
 Mountain Bluebird 
 
 o Townsend's Solitaire 
 
 r 
 c 
 
 r 
 c 
 
 r 
 c 
 
 Kinglets: 
 
 Golden-crowned Kinglet 
 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Pipits: 
 
 Water Pipit 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 o 
 
 Waxwings: 
 
 o Bohemian Waxwing 
 Cedar Waxwing 
 
 
 
 
 
 c 
 
 Shrikes: 
 
 Northern Shrike 
 Loggerhead Shrike 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Starlings: 
 
 o Starling 
 
 r r 
 
 r r 
 
 o o o 
 
 o o 
 
 r r 
 
 r r 
 
 c c 
 
 a a a 
 
 c c r 
 
 c c r 
 
 a a o 
 ceo 
 
 r r r 
 
 o c o 
 
 Vireos: 
 
 r Solitary Vireo r 
 
 r Red-eyed Vireo r 
 
 c c o Warbling Vireo a a o 
 
 Warblers: 
 
 X Tennessee Warbler 
 
 o o o Orange-crowned Warbler o o o 
 
 X Nashville Warbler x 
 
 c c o Yellow Warbler a a c 
 
 X Cape May Warbler 
 
 c c c Yellow-rumped Warbler a a c 
 
 r r Townsend's Warbler o 
 
 X Blackpoll Warbler 
 
 r r Northern Waterth rush r r 
 
 o o MacCillivray's Warbler c c c 
 
 c c c Common Yellowthroat c c c 
 
 Yellow-breasted Chat r r 
 
 r Wilson's Warbler o o 
 
 American Redstart o o 
 
 Weaver Finches: 
 
 r r House Sparrow o o o 
 
 67 
 

 
 
 Blackbirds and Orioles: 
 
 r 
 
 
 r 
 
 Bobolink 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Western Meadowlark 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Ic 
 
 Yellow-headed Blackbird 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Red-winged Blackbird 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 Tri-colored Blackbird 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 r 
 
 Northern Oriole 
 Rusty Blackbird 
 
 
 X 
 
 
 Common Crackle 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 c 
 
 Brewer's Blackbird 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 Brown-headed Cowbird 
 
 o 
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 Tanagers: 
 
 Western Tanager 
 
 Grosbeaks, Sparrows and Finches: 
 
 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 
 Black-headed Grosbeak 
 Indigo Bunting 
 Lazuli Bunting 
 Evening Grosbeak 
 Cassin's Finch 
 House Finch 
 Pine Grosbeak 
 Gray-crowned Rosy Finch 
 Black Rosy Finch 
 Common Redpoll 
 Pine Siskin 
 American Goldfinch 
 Red Crossbill 
 White-winged Crossbill 
 Green-tailed Towhee 
 Rufous-sided Towhee 
 Lark Bunting 
 Savannah Sparrow 
 Grasshopper Sparrow 
 Vesper Sparrow 
 Lark Sparrow 
 Dark-eyed Junco 
 Tree Sparrow 
 Chipping Sparrow 
 Clay-colored Sparrow 
 Brewer's Sparrow 
 Harris' Sparrow 
 White-crowned Sparrow 
 White-throated Sparrow 
 Fox Sparrow 
 Lincoln's Sparrow 
 Song Sparrow 
 McCown's Longspur 
 Lapland Longspur 
 Snow Bunting 
 
 r 
 
 Ic 
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 * V "^^ _ - - 
 
 68 
 
acknowleilsemenis 
 
 I am indebted to a number of individuals who have assisted me during 
 the preparation of this book. 
 
 Chief Park NaturaMst Al Mebane, and Assistant Chief Park Naturalist 
 John Tyers of Yellowstone took a very active interest in the book, and were 
 most helpful in providing resources for the book. 
 
 Chief Park Naturalist Charles McCurdy of Grand Teton provided me 
 with information on Grand Teton National Park and its birds. He also 
 provided me with an invaluable list of resource persons. 
 
 Former Yellowstone Chief Park Naturalist Bill Dunmire, former 
 Grand Teton Chief Park Naturalist Willard E. Dilley, former Yellowstone 
 Assistant Chief Naturalist Stan Canter, former North District Naturalist 
 Supervisor George Morrison, former Yellowstone Sub-district Naturalist 
 Supervisor George Downing, and current North District Supervising Natural- 
 ist John Whitman were all kind enough to evaluate the manuscript and 
 share their observations of birds in the two parks. 
 
 Botanist Don Despain, of the Yellowstone Biologists Office, provided 
 invaluable assistance in writing habitat complex descriptions, and biolo- 
 gists Glenn Cole and Doug Houston, of the same office, read and evalu- 
 ated the manuscript. 
 
 1 am deeply indebted to Seasonal Naturalists Paul Schullery and Steve 
 Gniadek of Yellowstone, and Cheryl McGinley of Grand Teton for their 
 help in gathering information, providing records on bird observations, and 
 evaluating the manuscript. 
 
 Illustrator Bill Chapman was most helpful in developing the book's 
 format and design features, and the following people read and evaluated 
 the manuscript or provided suggestions, ideas, or encouragement: 
 
 Don Arceneaux, Butch Bach, Cordon Bolander, Joanna Booser, 
 Ha Bucknall, Douglas C Campbell, Geri Hape, Chris Judson, 
 Reed Kelly, Hugh Kingery, Charles Milliken, John and Judy 
 O'Neale, Bert Raynes, Ed Riddell, Susan Sindt, and Robert 
 Wood. 
 
 Finally, I wish to express my appreciation to my wife, Peggy, and my 
 daughter, Jackie, for patiently reading or listening to, and passing judg- 
 ment on hundreds of passages from the book, and for untold hours of typ- 
 ing and proofreading. 
 
 69 
 
REFERENCES 
 
 Behle, William H. and Perry, Michael L. 1975. Utah Birds — A Guide, 
 Check List and Occurrence Chart, Utah Museum of Natural History. 
 
 Bent, Arthur Cleveland. 1915-1968. Life Histories of North American Birds, 
 Dover Publications, New York. 
 
 Binford, Laurence C. 1974. Birds of Western North America, MacMillan 
 Publishing Co., New York. 
 
 Blackford, John L. 1956. Western Wonderlands, Vantage Press inc., 
 New York. 
 
 Brooks, Maurice. 1967. The Life of the Mountains, McCraw-Hlli, Inc., 
 New York. 
 
 Cameron, Angus and Parnall, Peter. 1971. The Nightwatchers, Four 
 Winds Press, New York. 
 
 Davenport, Margaret B. December, 1974. Piscivorous Avifauna on Yel- 
 lowstone Lake, U.S. National Park Service, Yellowstone National 
 Park, Wyoming. 
 
 Despain, Don. 1974. Major Vegetational Zones of Yellowstone National 
 Park, Information Paper No. 19, Yellowstone National Park Service, 
 U.S. Department of the Interior. 
 
 Dilley, Willard E. Autumn and Winter, 1968. Birds of the Grand Tetons, 
 The Naturalist Magazine, Volume 18. 
 
 Dixon, Joseph S. and Sumner, Lowell. 1953. Birds and Mammals of the 
 Sierra Nevada, University of California Press, Berkeley. 
 
 Grant, Karen and Verne. 1968. Hummingbirds and Their Flowers, Colum- 
 bia University Press. 
 
 Hall, Henry M. 1960. A Gathering of Shore Birds, Bramhall House, New 
 York. 
 
 Harry, Bryan and Dilley, Willard E. 1964. Wildlife of Yellowstone and Grand 
 Teton National Parks, Wheelwright Lithographic Co., Salt Lake. 
 
 Henrickson, William H. March, 1969. Plant Ecology Studies RSP 39, An 
 Open-file Progress Report Reflecting Observations and Working Hypo- 
 thesis for Future Study. 
 
 Ingersoll, Ernest. 1923. Birds in Legend, Fable and Folklore. Longmans, 
 Green and Co., New York. 
 
 Johnsgard, Paul A. 1975. North American Game Birds, University of 
 Nebraska Press, Lincoln. 
 
 Line, Les. (Editor). July, 1970. The Unknown Owl, Audubon Magazine, 
 Volume 72, No. 4. 
 
 Livingston, John A. 1966. Birds of the Northern Forest, Houghton-Mif- 
 flin Co., Boston. 
 
 70 
 
Lopez, Barry. May, 1975. Least in Strength — Mighty Chickadee— Strongest 
 in Mind. National Wildlife Magazine, Volume 13, No. 3. 
 
 McDougall, W. B. and Baggley, Herma A. 1956. Plants of Yellowstone Na- 
 tional Park, Yellowstone Library and Museum Association. 
 
 McElroy, Thomas P Jr., 1974. The Habitat Guide to Birding, Alfred A. 
 Knopf, Inc., New York. 
 
 Murie, Adolph. 1940. Ecology of the Coyote in Yellowstone, Fauna Series 
 No. 1, Conservation Bulletin No. 4, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
 Washington, D.C. 
 
 Pearson, T. Gilbert (Editor). 1917. Birds of America, Garden City Books, 
 Garden City, New York. 
 
 Peterson, Roger T. 1961. A Field Guide to Western Birds, Houghton- 
 Mifflin Co., Boston. 
 
 Robbins, Chandler S.; Bruun, Burtel; Zim, Herbert S. 1966. A Guide to 
 Field Identification Birds of North America, Golden Press, New York. 
 
 Scharff, Robert (Editor). 1966. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National 
 Parks, David McKay Co., Inc., New York. 
 
 Skinner, Milton P. 1925. Birds of Yellowstone National Park, Roosevelt 
 Wildlife Bulletin, Volume 3, No. 1, Roosevelt Wildlife Forest Ex- 
 periment Station of New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse 
 University. 
 
 Stebbins, Cyril A. and Robert C. 1954. Birds of Yosemite National Park, 
 Yosemite Natural History Association. 
 
 Swenson, Jon E. March, 1975. Ecology of the Bald Eagle and Osprey in 
 Yellowstone National Park. Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for 
 degree of Master of Science, Montana State University. 
 
 Taylor, Dale L., July, 1974. Forest Fires in Yellowstone National Park, 
 Journal of Forest History. 
 
 Walkinshaw, Lawrence. 1949. The Sandhill Crane, Bulletin No. 29, Cran- 
 brook Institute of Science. 
 
 71 
 
InileH 
 
 Accipiter gentilis 25 
 Actitis macularia 34 
 American Coot 32 
 American Kestrel 29 
 American Robin 49 
 Anas carolinensis 20 
 Anas platyrhynchos 21 
 Ardea herodias 18 
 Aythya affinis 22 
 
 Bald Eagle 26 
 Barn Swallow 43 
 Barrow's Coldeneye 23 
 Belted Kingfisher 38 
 Black-billed Magpie 45 
 Black Rosy Finch 57 
 Blue Grouse 28 
 Bonasa umbellus 30 
 Branta canadensis 20 
 Bubo virginianus 36 
 Bucephala islandica 23 
 Buteo jamaicensis 24 
 
 California Cull 35 
 Calliope Hummingbird 39 
 Canada Goose 20 
 Capella gallinago 32 
 Carpodacus cassinii 56 
 Cassin's Finch 56 
 Catharus ustulatus 48 
 Centrocercus urophasianus 
 Charadrius vociferus 33 
 Chipping Sparrow 62 
 
 31 
 
 Chlorura chlorura 58 
 
 Chordeiles minor 38 
 Cinclus mexicanus 48 
 Clark's Nutcracker 46 
 
 Colaptes auratus 40 
 Common Flicker 40 
 Common Merganser 24 
 Common Nighthawk 38 
 Common Raven 44 
 Common Snipe 32 
 Corvus corax 44 
 
 Dark-eyed Junco 61 
 Dendragapus obscurus 28 
 Dendrocopos viilosus 42 
 Dentroica coronata 53 
 Dendroica petechia 52 
 Dipper 48 
 Evening Grosbeak 54 
 Faico mexicanus 28 
 Faico sparverius 29 
 Fulica americana 32 
 
 Goshawk 25 
 Gray Jay 44 
 Great Blue Heron 18 
 Great Gray Owl 37 
 Great Horned Owl 36 
 Green-tailed Towhee 58 
 Green-winged Tea! 20 
 Crus canadensis 30 
 
 Hairy yVoodpecker 42 
 
 72 
 
Haliaeetus leucocephalus 26 
 Harlequin Duck 22 
 Hesperiphona vespertina 54 
 Hirundo rustica 43 
 Histrionicus histrionicus 22 
 
 Iridoprocne bicolor 43 
 
 junco hyemalis 61 
 
 Killdeer 33 
 
 Larus californicus 35 
 Lesser Scaup 22 
 Leucosticte atrata 57 
 Loxia curvirostra 59 
 
 Mallard 21 
 Megaceryle alcyon 38 
 Mergus merganser 24 
 Mountain Bluebird 50 
 Mountain Chickadee 46 
 Mourning Dove 34 
 Myadestes townsendi 51 
 
 Nucifraga columbiana 46 
 
 Olor buccinator 19 
 Osprey 27 
 
 Pandion haliaetus 27 
 Par us gambell 46 
 Passerculus sandwichensis 60 
 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 17 
 Perisorvus canadensis 44 
 P/ca p/ca 45 
 Pine Grosbeak 56 
 Pine Siskin 58 
 Pinicola enucleator 56 
 Piranga ludoviciana 55 
 Prairie Falcon 28 
 
 Red-breasted Nuthatch 47 
 Red Crossbill 59 
 Red-tailed Hawk 24 
 Ruffed Grouse 30 
 
 Sage Grouse 31 
 Sandhill Crane 30 
 Savannah Sparrow 60 
 Sialia currucoides 50 
 Sitta Canadensis 47 
 Sphyrapicus varius 41 
 Spinus pinus 58 
 Spizella passerina 62 
 Spotted Sandpiper 34 
 Stellula calliope 39 
 Strix nebulosa 37 
 Sturnella neglecta 52 
 Swainson's Thrush 48 
 
 Townsend's Solitaire 51 
 Tree Swallow 43 
 Trumpeter Swan 19 
 Turdus migratorius 49 
 
 Vireo gilvus 50 
 
 Warbling Vireo 50 
 Western Meadowlark 52 
 Western Tanager 55 
 White-crowned Sparrow 62 
 White Pelican 17 
 Xanthocephalus xantboceplialu? 54 
 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 41 
 Yellow-headed Blackbird 54 
 Yellow-rumped Warbler 53 
 Yellow Warbler 52 
 
 Zenaida macroura 34 
 Zonotricbia leucophrys 62 
 
 73 
 
Field Notes