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Breeding Range. (Fig. 123). Locally common in the southern part of the Little Missouri Slope (portion within Bowman and Slope Counties, and in the southern halves of Golden Valley and Billings Counties); fairly common locally in the northern part of the Little Missouri Slope (portion within McKenzie and Dunn Counties and in the northern halves of Golden Valley and Billings Counties), and in the southeastern part of the Missouri Slope (most numerous within Sioux and Morton Counties); uncommon and local on river bluffs or butte outliers of the Coteau Slope; rare and local on the Northwestern Drift Plain--recorded in Ward County at Kenmare and at Minot.

Breeding Habitat. Especially characteristic of badly eroded, sparsely vegetated slopes and arroyos of badlands, and eroded slopes of buttes in southwestern North Dakota. Occasionally, breeding pairs also are attracted to road cuts and to gravel pits. In Bismarck during July 12-16, 1920, Florence M. Bailey observed one singing on a chimney.

Nesting. Probable breeding season: Late May to mid-August. Henry Kyllingstad observed adults carrying twigs into rock crevices in Morton County during May [1936]. Nestlings were recorded on June 19 [1962] in Bowman County (RES). Eight records of dependent young out of the nest ranged from July 5 [1954] in Morton County (P. D. Kline) to August 11 [1954] in Slope County (H. S. Huenecke). Nests were constructed in crevices of steep rock or clay slopes.

Figure 123. Breeding Range of Rock Wren.