d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • fa l l 2 0 1 4
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In order t o see birds it is necessary t o become part of t he silence. ~ Robert Lind
A Y o u ng M a n ' s I nt r o t o
Downy Woodpecker
(P icoides pubescens)
Showing a white back, the Downy Wood-
pecker is similar to the Hairy Woodpecker,
the Downy Woodpecker tail feathers sport
white spots. It is seen in suburbs, park-
lands, orchards, and forests. It is a staple
woodpecker of Montana.
Mountain Bluebird
(Sialia C urrucoides)
Sky blue from above, pale blue from
below, a white underbelly… the blue bird
of higher elevations. The only thing that
separates this species from the Western
Bluebird is the lack of a red-orange flank.
It nests in cavities, generally inhabiting
elevations above 5,000 feet.
H
ere in Montana, I have had t he plea-
sure t o be surr ounded by more wild life,
open spaces, and wilderness t han I wil l
pr obably ever see again elsewhere.
At MSU
Bozeman I had the opportunity to take
a bird watching class this past summer
session. The class was demanding. We
met at 6:00 a.m., then drove off around
southwest Montana to find the right
habitat for different species. I have been
snowboarding in Montana for near 20
years now and previously just consid-
ered bird sounds ambient background.
We were tasked to keep a field notebook
as well as journal of all of the birds we
encountered each day. Here are some
of the birds I listed. Now not only can
I determine a bird species by looking
at it, but also I can hear birds in the
distance. These birds have now become
part of my Montana experience.
