Brown-headed Cowbird

By Ben Young And the winner for the “Most Despised Native Bird of North America” award is . . . the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater).  “An open solicitation for cowbird recipes.” Such titles as this in a prominent North American birding journal in 1994 illustrate the collective disdain for this native songbird among bird-watchers and…

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Red-Naped Sapsucker

A DOUBLE KEYSTONE SPECIES By Lisa Bate Have you ever heard what sounds like someone sending a Morse code message through the trees in spring? If so, go take a look and you will likely find that the Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) has returned to Montana for breeding season. Their drum sounds like Morse code…

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Swainson’s Thrush

A SONG ABOVE OTHERS By Kathy Ross Mid-spring is filled with anticipation for the enchanting, heavenward spiraling song of the male Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) returning each year to our mountain world to breed. This secretive, not often seen, medium-sized Thrush (6″-8″ long, 12″ wingspan), entertains our sense of hearing during the summer months with its…

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