Habitats

Lodgepole Pine Forest

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) is often the dominant tree in the altitudinal zone above the ponderosa belt and below the spruce-fir forest. It usually has shorter needles than ponderosa, so that outer branches are less ball-shaped and more bottlebrush-shaped. Pure lodgepole stands, which often cover vast areas after fires, are easily recognized by their uniformity, with many tall, very thin, straight trees growing so close together that there is little room or light for underbrush. Various montane birds may inhabit these groves, but they contain no specialty species, and in general bird numbers and diversity tend to be lower in the lodgepole forest than they are in other montane habitats.