Volume 1, No. 10, pp. 193-216

Published November 29, 1947

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Lawrence, Kansas

PRINTED BY FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER TOPEKA, KANSAS 1947

21-6960

A Check-list of the Birds of Idaho

By

M. DALE ARVEY

There is comparatively little literature dealing with the avifauna of Idaho, mostly because relatively few persons have done field work in the state. In the ornithological literature, there is nothing even comparable to a "state list," so that when birds supposedly unreported previously from Idaho are found, it is difficult to know whether or not they should be recorded as "new" to the state. The present paper has been prepared in the hope that it will stimulate additions to, and corrections of, the list. It is, admittedly, a beginning.

Material for the present article was obtained from personal collecting in the five years and ten months in which I resided in the state (October, 1938-September, 1944). Also, the published reports that could be found have been drawn upon; these publications are listed in the appended bibliography. Taxonomic problems, of which many are unsolved, are not here considered, since this is merely a list indicating whether or not the species or subspecies, as now understood, is known to be present, whether it is common, and where it might be found.

The nomenclature is that of the Fourth Edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list and its supplements, except where a revision has been made that is seemingly valid but which has not yet been acted upon by the A. O. U. Committee. For each species or subspecies the objective is to give at least one reference to occurrence, as to date and place, as accurately as possible.

Reference is made to southern, central, and northern Idaho. These references denote the Snake River Plains, characterized by sagebrush desert; the wooded regions immediately to the north of this and in the foothills, extending to Idaho County in the west; and the so-called Panhandle, respectively. In all, 292 kinds of birds are recorded in the following list.

LIST OF SPECIES

_Gavia immer elasson_ Bishop. Lesser Loon. Uncommon resident in the lakes of northern Idaho, and generally distributed. Merrill (1897:350) states that the species is common and resident at Fort Sherman.

_Gavia stellata_ (Pontopiddan). Red-throated Loon. Davis (1935b:234) records specimens taken in migration in Minidoka County at the Minidoka Irrigation Project, and Rust (1915:121) states that this species is rare in Kootenai County.

_Colymbus grisegena holboellii_ (Reinhardt). Holboell Grebe. Merrill (1897:349) records this species as common in migration at Fort Sherman.

_Colymbus auritus_ Linnaeus. Horned Grebe. Uncommon resident. Davis (1935b:234) records the bird as a summer visitant at the Minidoka Project.

_Colymbus nigricollis californicus_ (Heermann). Eared Grebe. Fairly common resident along rivers and in lakes. Rust (1915:121) records one specimen taken on Lake Coeur d'Alene in October, 1912.

_Aechmophorus occidentalis_ (Lawrence). Western Grebe. Uncommon resident. Merrill (1897:349) records one specimen from Fort Sherman.

_Podilymbus podiceps podiceps_ (Linnaeus). Pied-billed Grebe. Common resident. Merrill (1897:350) states that it is common at Fort Sherman in the spring and autumn.

_Pelecanus erythrorhynchos_ Gmelin. White Pelican. Resident along the Snake River; large nesting colonies are to be found in Bear Lake County. See Davis (1935b:234) for nesting dates.

_Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus_ Ridgway. Farallon Cormorant. Davis (1935b:234) records this bird in the Minidoka Project as a regular migrant and gives dates of occurrence. The resident population at the Bear Lake Refuge has been reported as subspecies _auritus_ by Behle (1944:68), but probably is _albociliatus_.

_Ardea herodias treganzai_ Court. Treganza Great Blue Heron. Common resident in suitable localities. (Dale Arvey 1505, 7 mi. NE Moscow, Latah County, Idaho, February 19, 1940.)

_Leucophoyx thula brewsteri_ (Thayer and Bangs). Brewster Egret. Davis (1935b:234) records one specimen from the Minidoka Project, taken on September 16, 1919, and Hayward (1934:39) reports the species as breeding at Bear Lake Valley in Bear Lake County.

_Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli_ (Gmelin). Black-crowned Night Heron. Common locally. Hayward (1934:39) reports the bird as resident in Bear Lake Valley.

_Botaurus lentiginosus_ (Montagu). American Bittern. Fairly common resident in suitable localities. Merrill (1897:351) records the American Bittern as rather common at Fort Sherman.

_Plegadis mexicana_ (Gmelin). White-faced Glossy Ibis. Vagrant. Recorded as common at the Minidoka Project by Kenagy (1914:122).

_Cygnus columbianus_ (Ord). Whistling Swan. Resident in the winter in the larger lakes, and transient along the Snake River. (D. A. 1783, 1 mi. S Hagerman, Gooding County, February 1, 1940.)

_Cygnus buccinator_ Richardson. Trumpeter Swan. Merriam (1891:91) states that Bendire found this swan breeding on Henry Lake in 1877, and that two were collected in August of that year. Rust (1915:123) records the species as a rare fall migrant on Lake Coeur d'Alene. There are no recent records.

_Branta canadensis_ (Linnaeus). Canada Goose. Fairly common resident. See Aldrich (1946b) for records of each subspecies.

a. _moffitti_ Aldrich. Great Basin Canada Goose. This is the resident race.

b. _occidentalis_ (Baird). White-cheeked Goose. Migrant.

c. _leucopareia_ (Brandt). Lesser Canada Goose. Migrant.

_Branta hutchinsii hutchinsii_ (Richardson). Hutchins Cackling Goose. Migrant. See Aldrich (1946b) for the status of this goose.

_Branta bernicla nigricans_ (Lawrence). Black Brant. Davis (1935b:234) records this species as a regular migrant in Minidoka County, and indicates that some remain all winter.

_Anser albifrons albifrons_ (Scopoli). White-fronted Goose. Uncommon migrant. Jones (1943:120) records a specimen from "about 10 mi. north Pocatello, Bingham County."

_Chen hyperborea hyperborea_ (Pallas). Lesser Snow Goose. Fairly common transient along the Snake River. Two specimens are in the State Game Department's mounted collection from the Snake River, probably from near Payette, Payette County.

_Chen rossi_ (Cassin). Ross Goose. Transient along the Snake River. The Game Department collection has two mounted skins from "along the Snake River."

_Anas platyryhnchos platyryhnchos_ Linnaeus. Mallard. Very common resident. (D. A. 1753, Boise River, 1 mi. S Middleton, Canyon County, November 24, 1940.)

_Anas acuta tzitzihoa_ (Vieillot). American Pintail. Resident and common during migration. (D. A. 1752, Snake River, 1 mi. S Hammett, Elmore County, November 16, 1940.)

_Anas carolinensis_ Gmelin. Green-winged Teal. Common resident. (D. A. 1261, Thorn Creek, 7 mi. S Moscow, Latah County, October 30, 1938.)

_Anas discors_ Linnaeus. Blue-winged Teal. Rare resident. Merriam (1891:90) records two shot on Saw Tooth Lake (=Alturas Lake, Blaine County), about October 1.

_Anas cyanoptera_ Vieillot. Cinnamon Teal. Uncommon resident. I observed a female with four young in Bellevue, Blaine County, in July, 1942, and Merrill (1897:350) records a female with young on June 11 at Fort Sherman.

_Anas strepera_ Linnaeus. Gadwall. Resident locally; fairly common in migration. (D. A. 1310, Havenor's, 7 mi. NW Pocatello, Power County, January 2, 1939.)

_Mareca americana_ (Gmelin). Baldpate. Common during migration, and resident along the Snake River. (D. A. 1747, 1 mi. W Bowman Ranch on Boise River, Canyon County, October 26, 1940.)

_Spatula clypeata_ (Linnaeus). Shoveller. Common in migration, and breeds locally. (D. A. 1492, Wallace, Shoshone County, October 22, 1939.)

_Aix sponsa_ (Linnaeus). Wood Duck. Fairly common in migration, and resident locally. Merrill (1897:350) records it as a summer resident at Fort Sherman.

_Aythya americana_ (Eyton). Redhead. Fairly common migrant. Recorded by Merrill (1897:350) at Fort Sherman.

_Aythya collaris_ (Donovan). Ring-necked Duck. Uncommon transient. Merrill (1897:350) records it at Fort Sherman.

_Aythya valisineria_ (Wilson). Canvas-back. Fairly common in migration, and recorded by Low and Nelson (1945:131) as breeding in Bonneville and Caribou counties.

_Aythya marila_ (Linnaeus). Greater Scaup Duck. Fairly common migrant. Davis (1935b:236) records one bird from the Minidoka Project taken on March 28, 1920.

_Aythya affinis_ (Eyton). Lesser Scaup Duck. Common during migration. Davis (1935b:235) lists this bird as a regular winter visitant in Minidoka County from October 30 to May 31.

_Glaucionetta clangula americana_ (Bonaparte). American Golden-eye. Common resident. (D. A. 1476, Bellevue, Blaine County, June 28, 1939.)

_Glaucionetta islandica_ (Gmelin). Barrow Golden-eye. Uncommon transient. Davis (1935b:234) records one specimen taken at the Minidoka Project.

_Glaucionetta albeola_ (Linnaeus). Buffle-head. Common migrant. (D. A. 1852, Snake River, 1 mi. S Hammett, Elmore County, November 15, 1941.)

_Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus_ Brooks. Western Harlequin Duck. Uncommon. Rust (1915:122) records one specimen taken on the marshes of the St. Joseph River in Kootenai County, and Merrill (1897:350) states that it is occasionally taken on the St. Joseph and Coeur d'Alene rivers.

_Melanitta fusca_ subsp.?. White-winged Scoter. Rust (1915:122) records this bird as common on Lake Coeur d'Alene in the winter of 1913.

_Melanitta perspicillata_ (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter. Rust (1915:122) states that this is a rare fall migrant in Kootenai County.

_Oxyura jamaicensis rubida_ (Wilson). Ruddy Duck. Common migrant on the Snake River. Merrill (1897:350) records this duck as "not uncommon in the spring and autumn" at Fort Sherman.

_Lophodytes cucullatus_ (Linnaeus). Hooded Merganser. Common resident in suitable localities. (D. A. 1389, Lewiston, Nezperce County, April 2, 1939.)

_Mergus merganser americanus_ Cassin. American Merganser. Common resident. Merrill (1897:350) states that the bird is common in fall and winter at Fort Sherman.

_Mergus serrator_ Linnaeus. Red-breasted Merganser. Uncommon. Merrill (1897:350) records one specimen taken "near Fort Sherman."

_Cathartes aura teter_ Friedmann. Western Turkey Vulture. Common resident in southern Idaho, and transient elsewhere. Merrill (1897:352) records it as a summer resident at Fort Sherman.

_Accipiter gentilis striatulus_ (Ridgway). Western Goshawk. Fairly common migrant, and possibly resident. Hand (1933b:36) reports it as resident in northern Idaho. (D. A. 1317, 1318, Nezperce, Lewis County, January 9 and 12, 1939.)

_Accipiter striatus velox_ (Wilson). Sharp-shinned Hawk. Common resident. (D. A. 1296, 4-1/2 mi. NE Genessee, Latah County, November 27, 1938.)

_Accipiter cooperii_ (Bonaparte). Cooper Hawk. Common resident in the forests. (D. A. 1450, Sandpoint, Bonner County, May 24, 1939.)

_Buteo jamaicensis calurus_ Cassin. Western Red-tailed Hawk. Common resident. (D. A. 1352, Moscow, Latah County, March 18, 1939.)

_Buteo platypterus platypterus_ (Vieillot). Broad-winged Hawk. Davis (1936:86) records one specimen of this hawk taken on May 23, 1935, at Castle Creek, 8 mi. S Oreana, Owyhee County.

_Buteo swainsoni_ Bonaparte. Swainson Hawk. Common resident. (D. A. 1451, Moscow, Latah County, May 21, 1939.)

_Buteo lagopus s. johannis_ (Gmelin). American Rough-legged Hawk. Common migrant and possibly resident. (D. A. 1301, 11 mi. SE Genessee, Nezperce County, November 27, 1938.)

_Buteo regalis_ (Gray). Ferruginous Rough-leg. Uncommon migrant. (D. A. 1326, 4 mi. N Minidoka Power Plant, Minidoka County, January 27, 1939.)

_Aquila chrysaetos canadensis_ (Linnaeus). Golden Eagle. Uncommon resident. Merrill (1897:353) stated that the species occurred "sparingly" at Fort Sherman.

_Haliaeetus leucocephalus washingtoniensis_ (Audubon). Northern Bald Eagle. Uncommon resident in northern Idaho, Merrill (1897:353) stated that a few pairs bred about Lake Coeur d'Alene.

_Circus cyaneus hudsonius_ (Linnaeus). Marsh Hawk. Very common resident. (D. A. 1371, Havenor's, 7 mi. NW Pocatello, Power County, April 1, 1939.)

_Pandion haliaetus carolinensis_ (Gmelin). Osprey. Uncommon resident. Merrill (1897:353) reported the bird as frequent in the summer at Fort Sherman.

_Falco mexicanus_ Schlegel. Prairie Falcon. Fairly common resident. (D. A. 1319, American Falls, Bingham County, January 16, 1939.)

_Falco peregrinus anatum_ Bonaparte. Duck Hawk. Uncommon resident. Bond (1946:104) lists this bird as a rare breeder in Idaho.

_Falco columbarius bendirei_ Swann. Western Pigeon Hawk. Rust (1915:124) records one specimen from Coeur d'Alene as subspecies _columbarius_; although the skin has not been checked by me, it would seem to be more likely of subspecies _bendirei_, corresponding to others taken in northern Idaho.

_Falco sparverius sparverius_ Linnaeus. Eastern Sparrow Hawk. Common resident. (D. A. 1267, Little Bear Ridge, 5 mi. SW Troy, Latah County, November 2, 1939.)

_Dendragapus obscurus_ (Say). Blue Grouse. Common resident.

a. _obscurus_ (Say). Dusky Grouse. Specimens from southeastern Idaho are referable to this race.

b. _richardsonii_ (Douglas). Richardson Grouse. This is the resident race of southwestern Idaho north to Idaho County, where intergradation occurs with the next form. (D. A. 1431, 1432, 10 mi. SW Riggins, Idaho County, May 14, 1939.)

c. _pallidus_ Swarth. Oregon Dusky Grouse. Birds in the northern portion of the state are of this race.

_Canachites franklinii_ (Douglas). Franklin Grouse. Uncommon resident. I have observed the birds in the Selway National Forest, in Idaho County, and specimens have been taken in Bonner County. (D. A. 1336, 1337, 6 mi. S Coolin, Bonner County, February 19, 1939.)

_Bonasa umbellus_ (Linnaeus). Ruffed Grouse. Common resident. See Aldrich and Friedman (1943) for ranges of the following races.

a. _phaia_ Aldrich and Friedmann. Idaho Ruffed Grouse. This is the race resident in southwestern Idaho, and it intergrades with the two following forms.

b. _umbelloides_ (Douglas). Gray Ruffed Grouse. Resident in northern Idaho.

c. _incanus_ Aldrich and Friedmann. Hoary Ruffed Grouse. Resident in southeastern Idaho.

_Lagopus leucurus altipetens_ Osgood. Southern White-tailed Ptarmigan. Several specimens of this bird are mounted in a collection in Idaho City, having been collected "in the vicinity."

_Pedioecetes phasianellus columbianus_ (Ord). Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse. One specimen was sent me from Bonner County, where the species was said to be fairly abundant. (D. A. 1513, 15 mi. N Priest River, Bonner County, April 1, 1940.)

_Centrocercus urophasianus_ (Bonaparte). Sage Grouse. Common locally. Previously numerous, and now recovering from a severe decline in numbers. Merriam (1891:93) speaks of using these birds for fresh meat during much of his trip.

_Perdix perdix perdix_ (Linnaeus). European Partridge. Common since its introduction.

_Colinus virginianus texanus_ (Lawrence). Texas Bob-white. Common resident in southern Idaho. Merriam (1891:92) states that the birds were first introduced at Boise, Ada County.

_Lophortyx californica brunnescens_ Ridgway. California Quail. Introduced into southern Idaho; not numerous but establishing itself in the foothills.

_Oreortyx picta picta_ (Douglas). Plumed Quail. Common resident. Wyman (1912c:538) states that this species was not present in Idaho prior to about 1900, having at that time extended its range from Oregon.

_Phasianus colchicus_ Linnaeus. Ring-necked Pheasant. Common resident since its introduction; there is considerable admixture of races in the stock.

_Grus canadensis tabida_ (Peters). Sandhill Crane. Uncommon resident. Merriam (1891:91) reports the bird breeding near Fort Lapwai, Nezperce County, in June 1871, and Davis (1935b:234) states that it is a regular migrant at the Minidoka Project.

_Rallus limicola limicola_ Vieillot. Virginia Rail. Davis (1923) states that this rail is uncommon at the Minidoka Project, but that it was abundant in earlier years.

_Porzana carolina_ (Linnaeus). Sora. Uncommon resident. Merriam (1891:91) recorded this species from Big Lost River, "about 8 mi. above Arco," Butte County, on July 26.

_Fulica americana_ Gmelin. American Coot. Common resident. (D. A. 1745, Notus, Canyon County, October 20, 1940.)

_Charadrius vociferus vociferus_ Linnaeus. Killdeer. Common resident in the Transition Life-zone. Rust (1915:123) records the earliest arrival date for the bird in Kootenai County as March 9, 1913, and says that it leaves by September 1.

_Pluvialis dominica fulva_ (Gmelin). Pacific Golden Plover. Sloanaker (1925:73) records one specimen of this bird, shot from a flock of four near Coeur d'Alene on Lake Chactolet on October 1, 1923.

_Squatarola squatarola_ (Linnaeus). Black-bellied Plover. Rust (1915:123) records one specimen of this bird taken on the St. Joseph marshes, Kootenai County.

_Capella gallinago delicata_ (Ord). Wilson Snipe. Fairly common resident. (D. A. 1739, Boise River, 3 mi. W Boise, Ada County, October 17, 1940.)

_Numenius americanus_ Bechstein. Long-billed Curlew. Uncommon resident. See Oberholser (1918) for ranges of the following subspecies.

a. _americanus_ Bechstein. Long-billed Curlew. Resident in southern Idaho.

b. _parvus_ Bishop. Northern Curlew. The resident population in northern Idaho is referable to this subspecies.

_Actitis macularia_ (Linnaeus). Spotted Sandpiper. Common resident in the Canadian Life-zone. (D. A. 1807, junction of Simmon's Cr. and Boise River, Boise County, July 5, 1941.)

_Tringa solitaria cinnamomea_ (Brewster). Western Solitary Sandpiper. Davis (1935b:236) took one specimen on April 9, 1920 at the Minidoka Project, and records the bird as erratic in occurrence.

_Catoptrophorus semipalmatus inornatus_ (Brewster). Western Willet. Davis (1935b:235) records this bird as a summer visitant at the Minidoka Project, and gives dates of its occurrence there.

_Totanus melanoleucus_ (Gmelin). Greater Yellow-legs. Davis (1935b:234) records this bird at the Minidoka Project in migration.

_Totanus flavipes_ (Gmelin). Lesser Yellow-legs. Fairly common in migration. (D. A. 1742, Notus, Canyon County, October 20, 1940.)

_Erolia melanotos_ (Vieillot). Pectoral Sandpiper. Merrill (1897:351) records this bird as common in 1896 from August to October at Fort Sherman, and a number of specimens were taken.

_Erolia minutilla_ (Vieillot). Least Sandpiper. Fairly common migrant. Davis (1935b:234) gives dates of migration of this bird at the Minidoka Project.

_Limnodromus griseus scolopaceus_ (Say). Long-billed Dowitcher. Merrill (1897:351) collected five specimens on September 12 on the St. Joseph marshes.

_Micropalama himantopus_ (Bonaparte). Stilt Sandpiper. Davis (1935b:234) collected one bird at the Minidoka Project on May 13, 1919, and stated that the species was erratic in occurrence.

_Ereunetes mauri_ Cabanis. Western Sandpiper. Rust (1917:32) recorded this bird on August 27 near Spencer, Fremont County, and also at Henry Lake.

_Limosa fedoa_ (Linnaeus). Marbled Godwit. Davis (1935b:236) records one specimen taken on August 1, 1920, at the Minidoka Project.

_Limosa haemastica_ (Linnaeus). Hudsonian Godwit. Davis (1935b:236) records one bird taken at the Minidoka Project on July 7, 1919.

_Crocethia alba_ (Pallas). Sanderling. Davis (1935b:236) records this bird from the Minidoka Project in migration, and he took one specimen on May 19, 1921.

_Recurvirostra americana_ Gmelin. Avocet. Uncommon resident in southern Idaho. (D. A. 1631, Snake River at Hagerman, Gooding County, June 16, 1940.)

_Himantopus mexicanus_ (Mueller). Black-necked Stilt. Davis (1935b:235) records this bird from Minidoka as a summer visitant, and gives dates of its occurrence.

_Phalaropus fulicarius_ (Linnaeus). Red Phalarope. Hand (1935:180) reports one bird of this species in October on the St. Joseph River at St. Maries, Benewah County.

_Steganopus tricolor_ Vieillot. Wilson Phalarope. Uncommon. Davis (1935b:236) took one specimen at the Minidoka Project on May 13, 1919.

_Lobipes lobatus_ (Linnaeus). Northern Phalarope. Uncommon resident. Davis (1935b:236) reports the species as erratic at the Minidoka Project, where he took one specimen on May 13, 1919.

_Stercorarius pomarinus_ (Temminck). Pomarine Jaeger. Davis (1935b:236) took one bird "on the Snake River," on September 4, 1919.

_Larus argentatus thayeri_ Brooks. Thayer Gull. Merrill (1897:350) records several birds of this species taken in the fall and winter on Lake Coeur d'Alene.

_Larus californicus_ Lawrence. California Gull. Common in the winter, and possibly breeds along the Snake River. Davis (1935b:235) records this bird as a common summer visitant at the Minidoka Project.

_Larus delawarensis_ Ord. Ring-billed Gull. Uncommon straggler. Merrill (1897:350) records it in the winter at Fort Sherman.

_Larus pipixcan_ Wagler. Franklin Gull. Late winter and spring straggler. See Slipp (1942).

_Larus philadelphia_ (Ord). Bonaparte Gull. This gull is recorded by Merrill (1897:350) as taken at Fort Sherman in November.

_Sterna forsteri_ Nuttall. Forster Tern. Davis (1935b:235) lists this bird as a summer visitant in Minidoka County, and gives dates of its occurrence there.

_Sterna hirundo hirundo_ Linnaeus. Common Tern. Rust (1915:121) states that this tern is rare in Kootenai County.

_Hydroprogne caspia_ (Pallas). Caspian Tern. Common during migration. Davis (1935b:234) records the species as common in migration at the Minidoka Project, and gives dates of its occurrence.

_Chlidonias nigra surinamensis_ (Gmelin). Black Tern. Fairly common on lakes; evidently resident. Rust (1915:121) records this bird as common in June, 1914, on the St. Joseph Marshes.

_Columba fasciata fasciata_ Say. Band-tailed Pigeon. Rare at present. Merrill (1897:349) states that Cooper listed this bird in what is now Idaho.

_Zenaidura macroura marginella_ (Woodhouse). Western Mourning Dove. Common summer resident, frequently remaining in winter. Rust (1915:123) lists the bird as a fairly common summer resident in Kootenai County.

_Ectopistes migratorius_ (Linnaeus). Passenger Pigeon. Extinct. Merrill (1897:349) states that Cooper listed this species from Montana and from what is now Idaho.

_Coccyzus americanus occidentalis_ Ridgway. California Cuckoo. This bird was reported by Davis (1935b:236), as taken May 16, 1918 at the Minidoka Project, and he says that nests have been taken near Rupert by Kenagy.

_Coccyzus erythropthalmus_ (Wilson). Black-billed Cuckoo. One breeding bird of this species was reported by Arvey (1941:291), taken at Slide Gulch on the Boise River, Boise County, on July 10, 1941. Since this time I have observed the bird twice in Boise, Ada County, in the summer.

_Tyto alba pratincola_ (Bonaparte). Barn Owl. Uncommon resident. One specimen in the University of Idaho collection of mounted birds was taken near Moscow, Latah County.

_Otus asio_ (Linnaeus). Screech Owl. Common resident.

a. _macfarlanei_ (Brewster). MacFarlane Screech Owl. Resident in southern Idaho. (D. A. 1861, Boise, Ada County, April 11, 1942.)

b. _brewsteri_ Ridgway. Brewster Screech Owl. Resident in northern Idaho. (D. A. 1312, Lapwai, Nezperce County, December 25, 1938.)

_Otus flammeolus flammeolus_ (Kaup). Flammulated Screech Owl. Rare resident. Specimens have been taken in two localities. Merriam (1891:96) took one specimen on the west side of Big Wood River, "only a few miles north of Ketchum, September 22," 1890. The record from Blaine County and the one of Rust (1915:125), near Fernan Lake, September 28, 1914, are the only two positive records of this species to my knowledge.

_Bubo virginianus_ (Gmelin). Great Horned Owl. Common resident. See A. O. U. Check-list (1931).

a. _wapacuthu_ (Gmelin). Arctic Horned Owl. Migrant.

b. _occidentalis_ Stone. Montana Horned Owl. Resident in central and southeastern Idaho.

c. _lagophonus_ (Oberholser). Northwestern Horned Owl. Resident in western and northern Idaho. (D. A. 1486, 10 mi. SW Riggins, Idaho County, September 15, 1939.)

_Nyctea scandiaca_ (Linnaeus). Snowy Owl. Casual migrant. Merrill (1897:352) stated that there was an invasion of owls of this species in the winter of 1896-'97, and many were observed during that time at Fort Sherman.

_Surnia ulula caparoch_ (Mueller). American Hawk Owl. Uncommon. Hand (1933a:32) reports one specimen of this owl taken at Stanley Butte, 10