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Breeding Range. (Fig. 166). Common along portions of the Missouri River valley (including stretch extending downstream from Garrison Dam to a point about 10 miles below Bismarck, and the stretch extending upstream from the mouth of the Little Missouri River to the Montana line), and in the valley along the Little Missouri River (extending upstream to northwestern Bowman County); fairly common along remaining portions of the Missouri River, along most tributaries of the Missouri River (including Beaver Creek, Heart River, Knife River, Little Knife River, White Earth River, and Yellowstone River), in the Killdeer Mountains of northwestern Dunn County, along the Mouse and Des Lacs rivers (within McHenry and Ward Counties), and along other wood-bordered streams on the Northwestern Drift Plain.

Breeding Habitat. Semiopen, mesophytic woodlands that occur on slopes of prominent hills and escarpments and on well-drained floodplains of major streams. Prominent tree species in these habitats include American elm, green ash, bur oak, box elder, and Rocky Mountain cedar.

Nesting. Probable breeding season: Early June to late August. An active nest was found at Minot in Ward County on June 10, 1938 (Stine 1945). During the summer of 1967, Roger L. Kroodsma recorded a nest with four eggs near Marmarth in Slope County. Adults have been observed feeding young as late as August 1 (Erickson 1968) and August 22 (R. L. Kroodsma). Families of flying young were seen on August 19, 1967 along the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers in McKenzie County (R. L. Kroodsma).

Figure 166. Breeding Range of Lazuli Bunting.