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Breeding Range. (Fig. 157). Fairly common in the Pembina Hills, in the wooded deltaic sand area of western Pembina County, in the wooded valleys along the Red, Pembina, and Tongue rivers within Pembina County, and along the lower Sheyenne River within Ransom and Richland Counties; uncommon in the valleys along other portions of the Red River and tributaries (within Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill, and Cass Counties), along the upper Sheyenne River (within Barnes, Griggs, and Nelson Counties, and in northeastern Eddy County), in the wooded hills and lake shores of southeastern Benson County, and in the valley along the Missouri River below Garrison Dam (extending downstream to a point about 10 miles below Bismarck); rare and local elsewhere--recorded in the Turtle Mountains, on the Hawks Nest hills in southeastern Wells County, along the Mouse River in McHenry and Ward Counties, along Beaver Creek in Emmons County, along the Heart River in Stark County, and on the Killdeer Mountains in Dunn County.

Breeding Habitat.. Rich, mature deciduous forests that occur on slopes of prominent hills and valley bluffs, and on well-drained floodplains of large streams. Prominent tree species in these habitats include American elm, green ash, bur oak, and box elder; and in eastern North Dakota, basswood, hackberry, and hop hornbeam are common associates.

Nesting. Four nests of this species have been recorded within the state. On June 11, 1915, Remington Kellogg found a nest, containing 3 eggs, near Grafton in Walsh County. In Burleigh County, about 5 miles north of Bismarck, Paul D. Kline found a nest that contained 3 young about 1 week old on July 11, 1954; this nest was situated on a horizontal limb of a box elder, about 20 feet above the ground. On June 20, 1960, Edmund A. Hibbard found another nest in Burleigh County, that was located about 3 miles south of Bismarck; this nest was situated on a horizontal limb of a box elder, about 12 feet above the ground. On June 21, 1972, an active nest found in Wells County was situated in a box elder about 20 feet above the ground (P. F. Springer).

Figure 157. Breeding Range of Scarlet Tanager.