FEATURED SPECIES
AMERICAN DIPPER: North America's only truly aquatic songbird, these plump, slate gray birds walk underwater while searching for aquatic larvae. Dippers get their name for their habit of rhythmically bobbing while moving between rocks along rushing streams.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW: These large shorebirds nest in sparse grasslands and prairies. They use their long, curved bills to probe for earthworms and other prey.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE: These large sparrows, sporting rufous crowns and greenish wings and tails, spend a fair amount of time vigorously foraging in leaf litter on the ground. They give away their presence with catlike “mew” calls.
WESTERN TANAGER: Male Western Tanagers are unmistakable with orange heads, brilliant yellow bodies and black wings, backs and tails. You will find these colorful migrants in coniferous forests during the breeding season.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: Look for these blue beauties in open areas, like sagebrush, prairies and foothills. They prefer to nest at higher altitudes, usually above 5,000 feet.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: These are the smallest hummingbirds native to the United States. The males are easily identified by the magenta rays on their throats.
CANADA GEESE, CRAZY MOUNTAINS, ANDY AUSTIN
FEATURED SPECIES
WYOMING
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN: One of North America’s largest birds, these majestic white birds are also some of Montana’s best anglers, scooping up fish with their pouched bills and working together to herd fish.
AMERICAN AVOCET: These long-legged, elegant waders glide through shallow waters on the hunt for aquatic invertebrates and can be observed resting while standing on one leg.
BLACK-NECKED STILT: These stately shorebirds are unmistakable at a glance, and when disturbed, they become quite vocal, with their high, yapping calls carrying for some distance.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK: Montana’s state bird boasts a cheerful, flutelike melody, and you’ll often hear them ringing out across a field or meadow before you even see them. Look for their bright yellow breast with the black “V.”
TUNDRA SWAN: On winter days, flocks of North America’s most numerous swans can be found gathered on lakes. A characteristic whistling in their wings led Meriwether Lewis to call them “whistling swans.”
RED-TAILED HAWK: Watch for these avid hunters atop trees and telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather.
1
MISSOURI HEADWATERS STATE PARK
(IBA)/TRIDENT-PEREGRINE TRAIL
Located at the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin rivers, which form the Missouri River, the Missouri Headwaters State Park, hosts many breeding birds and is a major migration corridor. Hike the Trident-Peregrine Trail along the river and scan the cliffs for nesting Peregrine Falcons, White-Throated Swifts and Canyon Wrens.
HABITAT: Riparian cottonwood, willow and water birch forest, ponds and wetlands.
KEY SPECIES: American White Pelican, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Kingbird, Migrating Passerine, White-Throated Swift, Sandpiper (Spotted and Solitary), Double-Crested Cormorant, Osprey, Falcon (Prairie and Peregrine), Northern Harrier, Red-Tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Rough-Legged Hawk, Long-Billed Curlew, Western WoodPewee, Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Wren (Canyon and Rock), Bullock’s Oriole, Swallow (Tree and Violet-Green), Yellow Warbler, Sparrow (American Tree, Vesper and Savannah). Multiple species of conservation concern nest within the park, including Red-Naped Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Bald Eagle, Sparrow (Song and Clay-Colored), Sandhill Crane.
WHEN TO GO: April to September offers the best viewing. June offers the chance to observe nesting songbirds.
2 COONEY RESERVOIR STATE PARK
Cooney State Park is one of the most popular state parks in southern Montana with some of the best recreational offerings in the whole state and hundreds of species of birds identified here. The west end of the lake has the best viewing opportunities, and bird walks are common during the summer months.
HABITAT: Developed state park surrounded on two sides by the reservoir.
KEY SPECIES: American Avocet, Grebe (Western and Eared), Common Loon, Horned Lark, Chestnut-Collared Longspur, Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Yellow Warbler, American White Pelican, American Kestrel, Franklin Gull, Short-Eared Owl, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle, Sparrow (Vesper, White-Crowned and Lark).
WHEN TO GO: Spring and fall migrations offer the best variety.
COONEY RESERVOIR STATE PARK, ANDY AUSTIN
MISSOURI HEADWATERS STATE PARK, JONATHAN FINCH
TRAIL/“M” TRAIL + FOOTHILLS TRAIL
The fish hatchery next to Bridger Creek is a magnet for many types of birds. Across Bridger Canyon Drive from the fish hatchery is the trailhead for both the “M” Trail and the Foothills Trail. The Drinking Horse Mountain Trail is a 2-mile loop that begins off of Fish Hatchery Road.
HABITAT: A wooded sanctuary of cottonwood, willow, dogwood and Douglas fir at the mouth of the canyon with juniper, chokecherry, and hawthorn along the trails, as well as a steep climb up Drinking Horse Mountain with forest habitat and grassy areas.
KEY SPECIES: American Dipper, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Calliope Hummingbird, Yellow Warbler, Black-Headed Grosbeak, Horned Lark, Bluebird (Western and Mountain), Norther Harrier, American Goldfinch, Gray Catbird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Brown Thrasher, Lazuli Bunting, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Towhee (Green-Tailed and Spotted), Sparrow (Vesper and Chipping), Belted Kingfisher, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Raptor (multiple species).
WHEN TO GO: Spring through fall offers the best variety.
4 ITCH-KEP-PE PARK AND THE STILLWATER RIVER
Situated beside the Yellowstone River just south of Columbus, this is a scenic spot for viewing a variety of songbirds. At Absarokee, the Stillwater River Road leads into the foothills of the Custer Gallatin National Forest and trails fan out from there in the high-country of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness where forest-dwelling birds are in abundance.
HABITAT: Cottonwood riparian zone and forested wilderness.
KEY SPECIES: Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, American Dipper, Osprey, Oriole (Bullock’s and Baltimore), Warbler, Flycatcher, Woodpecker, Hummingbird (Rufous, Broad-Tailed, Calliope and Black-Chinned).
WHEN TO GO: Spring and fall migrations offer the best variety. In the summer, keep your eyes out for common Merganser hens with ducklings in tow.
DRINKING HORSE MOUNTAIN TRAIL, ANDY AUSTIN
BELTED KINGFISHER, JACOB W. FRANK/NPS
5 EAST GALLATIN RECREATION AREA
A variety of birds are attracted to this popular recreation area in Bozeman— including waterfowl, wading birds, water birds, songbirds and raptors—and a trail allows easy access to viewing.
HABITAT: Glen Lake, plus cottonwoods, grasslands and shrub thickets.
KEY SPECIES: Western Meadowlark, Sparrow (Savannah and Song), Willow Flycatcher, Violet-Green Swallow, Gray Catbird, Green-Winged Teal, Western Bluebird, Northern Waterthrush, Duck (multiple species).
WHEN TO GO: Spring and fall migrations offer the best opportunities for viewing large numbers of waterfowl.
6 HYALITE CANYON
Hyalite is one of Yellowstone Country’s most popular recreation areas, with several trails leading into the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Large, forested areas offer miles and miles of birding hotspots to explore.
HABITAT: Rugged, forested canyon with some meadows and a reservoir.
KEY SPECIES: Bohemian Waxwing (winter), Common Redpoll (winter), Western Tanager, Mountain Chickadee, Red-Naped Sapsucker, Woodpecker (Hairy and Downy), American Dipper, Canada Jay.
WHEN TO GO: May through October offers the best variety. Late winter through early spring is a great time to hear owls.
Mind your habitat. It goes without saying that what you see depends a great deal on where you look. Birds are specially adapted to particular habitats. Look for meadowlarks in large open fields, woodpeckers in trees and sparrows in thickets.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK, JACOB W. FRANK/NPS
HYALITE CANYON, CAMERON ROSIN
7 KIRK HILL
South of Bozeman, Kirk Hill is said to be one of the best areas to bird the foothills. Kirk Hill Trail is a 1.6-mile, short, steep trail that emerges to a ridge with views of the Madison and Gallatin ranges. A single trail leads to several loop trails of varying distances and steepness.
HABITAT: Mountain foothills with a marshy meadow mixed with willow, aspen and Douglas fir forest and grasslands plus juniper and sage.
KEY SPECIES: Ruffed Grouse, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Calliope Hummingbird, Western Tanager, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Steller’s Jay.
WHEN TO GO: Spring through fall offers the best variety. Late winter offers a chance to see and hear Great Gray Owls.
8 PELICAN FISHING ACCESS SITE
East of Big Timber on the Yellowstone River is the Pelican FAS. En route to Pelican FAS, keep your eyes open for Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, Western Meadowlark, Mourning Dove, Ring-Necked Pheasant, plus Waterfowl, Gulls and Killdeer. Also stop at Greycliff Prairie Dog Town State Park to view wildly entertaining prairie dogs.
HABITAT: Golf course, open grassland, river habitat.
KEY SPECIES: American White Pelican, Tundra Swan, Song Sparrow, Swallow (Tree and Violet-Green), Burrowing Owl.
WHEN TO GO: Spring through early fall offers the best viewing opportunities.
Get the sun at your back. When possible, position yourself so the sun is behind you. This will make it much easier to identify birds. When a bird is between you and the sun, its color disappears, and it may look like a black silhouette.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
NUTHATCH
9 MOLT/BIG LAKE COMPLEX
The Big Lake Complex near Molt comprises Hailstone and Halfbreed national wildlife refuges and the Big Lake Wildlife Management Area. This is one of the best spots in the state to view waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, upland game birds and songbirds.
HABITAT: Open water, short-grass prairie, rocky outcrops, wetlands, uplands.
KEY SPECIES: Grebe (Eared, Western, Pied-Billed, Horned), American White Pelican, Duck (Canvasback, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Redhead), Gray Partridge, Sharp-Tailed Grouse, American Bittern, American Avocet, Yellowlegs (Greater and Lesser), Black-Necked Stilt, Short-Eared Owl, Lark Bunting, Wild Turkey, Pinyon Jay, Pine Siskin.
WHEN TO GO: Spring offers the largest number and variety. Winter offers the best viewing options for wild turkeys and raptors.
10 BEAR CANYON IMPORTANT BIRD AREA (IBA)
The number of bird species in this Pryor Mountains location is quite remarkable—given that this is the driest part of the state—and the scenery is stunning. The canyon supports breeding populations of more than a dozen species of conservation concern. You’ll also find the highest known number of nesting blue-gray Gnatcatchers among the handful of foothill canyons in the area that constitutes the entire range of the species in Montana.
HABITAT: A Sagebrush canyon mouth leads into cottonwood riparian, and conifer forest takes over at the top. This site is the home of Montana’s only Utah juniper stands.
KEY SPECIES: Wren (Rock and Canyon), Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, White-Throated Swift, Loggerhead Shrike, Calliope Hummingbird, Thrasher (Brown and Sage), Common Poorwill, Green-Tailed Towhee, Pinyon Jay, Greater Sage-Grouse.
WHEN TO GO: Late spring through early fall.
GREATER SAGE-GROUSE
WESTERN GREBE
11 TRIPLE TREE TRAIL
Triple Tree offers perhaps the greatest bird diversity for any short hike in the Gallatin Valley, as well as a spectacular spring wildflower show. This steep trail serves as a transition area between the Gallatin Mountains and grasslands, Limestone Creek and brushy deciduous areas.
HABITAT: Grassy, brushy bottoms and coniferous forest with a developed hiking trail that crisscrosses a creek and heads steeply uphill.
KEY SPECIES: Sparrow (Savannah, Fox, Vesper, Veery, Clay-Colored and Lincoln’s),
Ruffed Grouse, Red-Naped Sapsucker, Mountain Bluebird, Norther Harrier, Calliope Hummingbird, Cassin’s Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, American Redstart, Western Tanager.
WHEN TO GO: May through October offers the best viewing options.
12 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Records of bird sightings have been kept in Yellowstone since it was established as America’s first national park in 1872. These records document nearly 300 species of birds to date. Approximately 150 species of birds nest in Yellowstone National Park.
HABITAT: The variation in elevation and broad array of habitat types found within the park contribute to the high diversity of birds found here, especially during the spring/ summer months and fall migration. Thermal features and geyser basins also offer yearround habitat for a few hearty species.
KEY SPECIES: Raptors, songbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl. Birds that can be viewed in Yellowstone year-round include the Common Raven, Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Dusky Grouse (formerly Blue Grouse), Gray Jay, Black-Billed Magpie, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, American Dipper, Mountain Chickadee. A few species, such as common Goldeneye, Bohemian Waxwing and Rough-Legged Hawk, migrate here for the winter.
WHEN TO GO: Spring is a good time to look for birds. Migration brings many birds back to the park from their winter journeys south; other birds are passing through to more northern nesting areas. Songbirds are singing to establish and defend their territories; and many ducks are in their colorful breeding plumages, which makes identification easier. Watch for birds on early morning walks from mid-May through early July. Most birds migrate to lower elevations and more southern latitudes beginning in August. At the same time, other birds pass through Yellowstone. Hawkwatching can be especially rewarding in the Hayden Valley late August through early October. In early November, look for Tundra Swans on the water.
BALD EAGLE, JACOB W. FRANK/NPS
MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER
