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Birds of Montana

The birds most often spotted in Montana, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

59,906
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 59,906 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Montana. The most frequently seen is the Common Raven, with 3,183 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Montana include Barrow's Goldeneye - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Barrow's Goldeneye

Most-observed birds in Montana

Common Raven
Corvus corax
3,183 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
2,675 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
2,572 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
2,416 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
2,139 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
2,130 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
2,031 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
2,010 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
1,918 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
1,649 observations
Sandhill Crane
Antigone canadensis
1,547 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
1,465 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,461 observations
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
1,228 observations
Dusky Grouse
Dendragapus obscurus
1,208 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
1,150 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
1,137 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
1,090 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
1,066 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
1,056 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
1,056 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
1,045 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
1,035 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
1,032 observations
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
1,019 observations
Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
1,007 observations
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
1,005 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
1,000 observations
Barrow's Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica
954 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
922 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
907 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
897 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
893 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
874 observations
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
850 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
846 observations
Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus
790 observations
Canada Jay
Perisoreus canadensis
788 observations
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
743 observations
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
725 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
701 observations
Violet-green Swallow
Tachycineta thalassina
697 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
693 observations
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
660 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
653 observations
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
613 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
601 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
592 observations
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
590 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
587 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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