Male essentially black with glossy, iridescent sheen; head, neck, and breast are glossy purplish blue or bluish green. Female slightly smaller and less glossy. Glossy head contrasts with brassy bronze body.
Montana Range
Observations in Montana: 1291
Montana CountiesBeaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Deer Lodge, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone
In the Bozeman area, normal migration periods are from April 24 to May 5 and September 15 to October 1.
Species found in open woodland and forest edges; also swamps, marshes, and around human habitation.
Diet consists mainly of insects, seeds and invertebrates.
One, occasionally two broods, consisting of four to five eggs per brood. Incubation period 13-14 days. Young able to fly 16-20 days after hatch.