By Jeannie Marcure Webster defines a grebe as: “any of a family (Podicipedidae) of swimming and diving birds closely related to loons but having lobed toes.” In western Montana, six species of grebes are found during breeding season: Western, Clark’s, Eared, Horned, Pied-billed, and the topic of this month’s article, the Red-necked. I became familiar…
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Virginia Rail
Merlin
By Lewis Young If you have ever watched a large wintertime flock of waxwings around Kalispell and have seen a small dark bird chasing the waxwings and exhibiting an impressive display of speed and agility, then you likely have seen a merlin. Such a sight can be seen with some frequency every winter in Kalispell….
Read MoreRough-legged Hawk Revisited
By Marcy Mahr Like me, you may have had to sit down with a field guide on more than one occasion to sort out the various hawk species that inhabit our area. Particularly challenging is distinguishing the subtle differences in plumages, which are confusingly similar. Birding field guides read, “plumage is extremely variable,… both dark…
Read MoreClark’s Nutcracker
By Mary Nelesen The Clark’s nutcracker, named after the famed Lewis and Clark explorer, Captain William Clark, was mistaken for a woodpecker when first sighted by The Corps of Discovery while they camped with the Shoshone Indians near Idaho’s Lemhi River, on August 22, 1805. This jay-sized gray bird with glossy black wings with a…
Read MoreEvening Grosbeak
By Linda DeKort The first time I spotted a flock of Evening Grosbeaks at a feeder adjacent to Owen Sowerwine Natural Area, I thought I was witnessing escapees from a tropical bird aviary. The plumage of these stocky robin-sized birds is stunning and unmistakable. The male’s forehead and eyebrows are bright yellow. The crown is…
Read MoreTownsend’s Solitaire
By Gail Cleveland It is late February; the snow is still covering the backyard with deep, crusty snow. I am looking for a harbinger of spring. The mountain ash berries are nearly gone, eaten by the resident winter flock of Pine grosbeaks and an occasional flock of waxwings. But there are still a few berries…
Read MoreSpotted Sandpiper
By Jeannie Marcure Now that spring is officially here, it seems appropriate to write about one of my favorite spring arrivals— the Spotted Sandpiper. Before I became serious about birding, the word sandpiper evoked an image of sunny tropical beaches filled with small unidentifiable birds playing happily in the surf. However, as I became more…
Read MoreWood Duck vs Harlequin Duck
By John Ashley There are only two serious contenders for the most dazzling duck in western Montana. The male Wood Duck and male Harlequin Duck are easily our most decked-out waterfowl. But other than looking outrageously handsome, there are surprisingly few similarities between these two Montana natives. Trying to describe the feathers on these fellows…
Read MoreHouse Wren
By Jeannie Marcure Because we live in such a desirable tourist destination, many of us have frequent visitors during our beautiful short summers. In fact, a common joke around the Flathead describes our climate as nine months of winter and three months of relatives! At our home south of town, we’ve been privileged to have…
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