Birds in Montana - USA Birds

Montana is well-known for its abundant wildlife, which includes bears and elks, among other creatures. The state, on the other hand, is exceptionally rich in birdlife. Montana is home to some of the most incredible environments and national parks on the planet. It’s no surprise that the state is home to a large number of diverse species of wild birds.

Birds of Montana is a collection of species that have been documented in the state of Montana, United States, and acknowledged by the Montana Bird Records Committee (MBRC). Currently, there are 442 species on the official list, which was updated in July of this year. One hundred and one of them are now under study, and eight have been introduced in North America. An extra ten species are included on a supplemental list that is kept separate.

The Western Meadowlark is the official state bird of Montana (Sturnella neglecta). When the western meadowlark was voted as the most representative of Montana by Montana students on March 14, 1931, the Montana legislature formally recognized it as the official state bird of Montana. It is well-known for its raucous and upbeat chirping.

Montana birds of prey

It doesn’t let you down, with over 420 bird species living in its deep forests and mountainous terrain. Montana’s abundance of protected regions, such as Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, gives it an even greater haven for raptors like the hawk, which may be found in large numbers in the state.

These protected wildlife refuges provide excellent habitat for these raptors, allowing them to safely dwell, raise their young, and flourish. Among the many species of birds of prey in the Accipitridae family are hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures, among others. These birds have enormous, powerful hooked beaks that they use to shred flesh from their victims. They also have strong legs, sharp talons, and excellent vision. In Montana, fifteen different species have been identified.

Through fact, many of the species you’ll discover on this list are simply migratory visitors who only stop in for a little period of time, while others may reside in the state all year long.

Eagles in Montana

Fortunately, in Montana, winter is an excellent time to gain a better understanding of eagle identification skills and knowledge. Eagles might be difficult to distinguish from one another, but there are a few distinguishing characteristics to keep in mind.

Bald eagles are distinguished by their enormous heads and wide, broad wings that are extended out from the body at a nearly 90-degree angle. Additionally, the leading edge of the wing links the head at a roughly ninety-degree angle, and they virtually always maintain a constant flight path even when the wind is blowing strongly.

For thousands of years, bald eagles could be found all over the state of Montana. Reports of bald eagles around the state’s rivers and lakes were prevalent in old journals and documents, and the birds were often seen in the wild.

More information about these birds can be found in the section below.

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a North American raptor. With the white-tailed eagle, it is a species pair. Its ...

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

The Cooper's hawk, known to be Accipiter cooperii, is a medium-sized hawk found in southern Canada and Mexico. This species ...

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

The sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus, is a small but large-headed hawk that breeds from southeastern Canada and Maine south to ...

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Known as the northern harrier, Circus Hudsonius is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern hemisphere, including Canada ...

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Because of their size and activity levels, Aquila Chrysaetos or commonly known as Golden eagles are among the most frequently ...

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis, the red-tailed hawk, breeds over much of North America, from Alaska to Panama and the West Indies. It ...

Owls in Montana

Owls are members of the raptor (also known as “bird of prey” or “birds of prey” group of birds. Because they eat meat, raptors are highly skilled predators with sharp talons and down-curved beak – adaptations to their carnivorous diet.

Montana’s owls can be found in a variety of environments, ranging from plains and prairies to high mountains. The majority of owl species are associated with trees, but Short-eared, Burrowing, and Snowy Owls are equally at home in the openness of our prairies and plains, where they can be found in large numbers. During the winter, the majority of owls are solitary, and they are frequently encountered roosting alone.

More information about these birds can be found in the section below.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Common backyard birds of Montana

We’re looking into the most common backyard birds in Montana, which is a substantial subject. Montana’s sheer diversity of climate and vegetation provides a diverse range of habitats for a wide variety of animals and plants. You’ve got plains in the east, freezing in the south, and yet the northwest is a genuine jungle of trees and vegetation. As a result of this enthralling combination, Montana is home to 433 different bird species!

In this part, we’ll take a look at some of Montana’s backyard birds and learn a little bit about each of them.

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Setophaga Townsendi – Townsend’s Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis Tolmiei – MacGillivray’s Warbler

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Ixoreus Naevius – Varied Thrush

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Sialia Currucoides – Mountain Bluebird

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Woodpeckers in Montana

Insect-catching woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks and short legs. They have stiff tails and long tongues, which they employ to catch insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, while others have only three toes, and yet others have four toes.

Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping their beaks against the trunks of trees, making a loud noise as they do so. In Montana, fourteen different species have been identified. Woodpeckers tend to make their homes in wooded areas, woodlands, and backyards – basically anyplace there are trees that can be easily accessed.

For the benefit of these winged creatures, Montana is home to a plethora of natural areas, like the Bitterroot and Flathead national forests, which they can claim as their permanent residence.

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Best Birdwatching Spots in Montana

Montana encompasses a large area of the Pacific Northwest, comprising both desert grasslands and peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The majority of the state’s eastern two-thirds is comprised of rolling prairie, while the western third contains mountains and rivers that are well-known for their excellent hiking, fishing, and birding opportunities.

The majority of Montana’s best birding spots are located within national wildlife refuges, which provide habitat for a variety of species including ducks, shorebirds, grassland songbirds, and year-round raptors, among others.

Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area
Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Glacier National Park

Other Montana birds

Throughout today’s piece, we’ll take you on a journey through a vibrant collection of some of the most unique and visually stunning bird species that you’ll find throughout the state. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Setophaga Townsendi – Townsend’s Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis Tolmiei – MacGillivray’s Warbler

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Oxyura Jamaicensis – Ruddy Duck

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Mergus Serrator – Red-Breasted Merganser

Mergus Merganser – Common Merganser

Lophodytes Cucullatus – Hooded Merganser

Bucephala Islandica – Barrow’s Goldeneye

Bucephala Clangula – Common Goldeneye

Bucephala Albeola – Bufflehead

Melanitta Americana – Black Scoter

Aythya Marila – Greater Scaup

Aythya Americana – Redhead

Anas Crecca – Green-Winged Teal

Anas Acuta – Northern Pintail

Anas Platyrhynchos – Mallard

Mareca Americana – American Wigeon

Mareca Penelope – Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca Strepera – Gadwall

Spatula Clypeata – Northern Shoveler

Spatula Cyanoptera – Cinnamon Teal

Spatula Discors – Blue-Winged Teal

Aix Sponsa – Wood Duck

Cygnus Columbianus – Tundra Swan

Cygnus Buccinator – Trumpeter Swan

Branta Canadensis – Canada Geese

Branta Hutchinsii – Cackling Goose

Anser Rossii – Ross’s Geese

Anser Caerulescens – Snow Geese

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa Semipalmata – Willet

Tringa Flavipes – Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa Solitaria – Solitary Sandpiper

Actitis Macularius – Spotted Sandpiper

Gallinago Delicata – Wilson’s Snipe

Limnodromus Scolopaceus- Long-Billed Dowitcher

Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper

Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Calidris Alba – Sanderling

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Limosa Haemastica – Hudsonian Godwit

Numenius Americanus – Long-Billed Curlew

Numenius Phaeopus – Whimbrel

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Sternula Antillarum – Least Tern

Larus Hyperboreus – Glaucous Gull

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Glaucoides – Iceland Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Californicus – California Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Hydrocoloeus Minutus – Little Gull

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Sayornis Saya – Say’s Phoebe

Empidonax Occidentalis – Cordilleran Flycatcher

Empidonax Difficilis – Pacific-Slope Flycatcher

Empidonax Oberholseri – Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax Hammondii – Hammond’s Flycatcher

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Tyrannus Savana – Fork-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus Vociferans – Cassin’s Kingbird

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Loxia Curvirostra – Red Crossbill

Acanthis Flammea – Common Redpoll

Haemorhous Cassinii – Cassin’s Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Leucosticte Tephrocoti – Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch

Pinicola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Pica Hudsonia – Black-billed Magpie

Nucifraga Columbiana – Clark’s Nutcracker

Cyanocitta Stelleri – Steller’s Jay

Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus – Pinyon Jay

Perisoreus Canadensis – Canada Jay

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Tachycineta Thalassina – Violet-Green Swallow

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Ixoreus Naevius – Varied Thrush

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Sialia Currucoides – Mountain Bluebird

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Euphagus Cyanocephalus – Brewer’s Blackbird

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Icterus Galbula – Baltimore Oriole

Icterus Bullockii – Bullock’s Oriole

Icterus Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Sturnella Neglect – Western Meadowlark

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Tympanuchus Phasianellus – Sharp-tailed Grouse

Dendragapus Obscurus – Dusky Grouse

Centrocercus Urophasianus – Greater Sage-Grouse

Bonasa Umbellus – Ruffed Grouse

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Coccyzus Erythropthalmus – Black-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Aechmophorus Occidentalis – Western Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podiceps Grisegena – Red-Necked Grebe

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Aeronautes Saxatalis – White-Throated Swift

Chaetura Vauxi – Vaux’s Swift

Cypseloides Niger – Black Swift

Grus Americana – Whooping Crane

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Plegadis Chihi – White-faced Ibis

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

Coragyps Atratus – Black Vulture

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Falco Mexicanus – Prairie Falcon

Falco Peregrinus – Peregrine Falcon

Falco columbarius – Merlin

Lanius Borealis – Northern Shrike

Lanius Ludovicianus – Loggerhead Shrike

Baeolophus Ridgwayi – Juniper Titmouse

Poecile Gambeli – Mountain Chickadee

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla Garrulus – Bohemian Waxwing

Sitta Pygmaea – Pygmy Nuthatch

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Selasphorus Calliope – Calliope Hummingbird

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Spizelloides Arborea – American Tree Sparrow

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Chondestes Grammacus – Lark Sparrow

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Ammodramus Savannarum – Grasshopper Sparrow

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Amphispiza Bilineata – Black-Throated Sparrow

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Catherpes Mexicanus – Canyon Wren

Salpinctes Obsoletus – Rock Wren

Oreoscoptes Montanus – Sage Thrashe

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Peucedramus Taeniatus – Olive Warbler

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Anthus Spragueii – Sprague’s Pipit

Rhynchophanes Mccownii – Thick-Billed Longspur

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Pheucticus Melanocephalus – Black-Headed Grosbeak

If you have encountered a bird in Montana that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our bird identification page.