May 24, 2026
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Photo attribution
(c) Whitney Brook Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Birding Guide
Birding Guide for Montana
Big skies, mountains, plains, and wildlife
Birding highlights, common sightings, and the best places to look for birds in Montana. Use the highlight list to start quickly, then work through the full guide for a broader local view.
Sightings
125
Species
62
Active Months
12
Category Overview
Birds across Montana
This guide focuses on birdlife within Montana's wider region guide, helping families explore common sightings, shoreline birds, forest species, and the places where birding is easier to begin.
Latest Sightings
Recent bird sightings in Montana
A recent look at bird sightings across Montana.
May 7, 2026
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Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 2, 2026
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Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Apr 23, 2026
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Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jul 17, 2025
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Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jul 17, 2025
i
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sightings Map
See where bird sightings cluster
Start wide, then zoom in to see where bird sightings cluster across Montana.
Loading map…
Top Highlights
Top 5 birds to see in Montana
These birds are snapped the most across this region.
Red-winged Blackbird
7 snaps
Dusky Grouse
6 snaps
Mountain Bluebird
5 snaps
Ruffed Grouse
5 snaps
Great Blue Heron
4 snaps
Places to Start
Best places for birding in Montana
These place guides connect well with the birds covered in this region.
Park30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
Lake Missoula
You might spot Western Ponderosa Pine and Great Horned Owl.
View place guide →
Zoo30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
ZooMontana
You might spot American Robin, Showy Milkweed, and Red-Winged Blackbird.
View place guide →
Zoo30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center
You might spot Common Raven, Lodgepole Pine, and Hoary Alyssum.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
St. Mary Utility Area Historic District
You might spot Sticky Geranium, Osprey, and Brown Bear.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
East Glacier Ranger Station Historic District
You might spot Black Bear, Moose, and Lodgepole Pine.
View place guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Montana, US
Kelly's Camp Historic District
You might spot Columbian Ground Squirrel, Mule Deer, and Western Redcedar.
View place guide →
Full Guide
Full Montana birds list
The complete ranked list for this guide, ordered by sightings count.
17 snaps26 snaps35 snaps45 snaps54 snaps64 snaps73 snaps83 snaps93 snaps103 snaps113 snaps123 snaps133 snaps143 snaps153 snaps162 snaps172 snaps182 snaps192 snaps202 snaps212 snaps222 snaps232 snaps242 snaps252 snaps262 snaps272 snaps282 snaps292 snaps302 snaps312 snaps322 snaps332 snaps342 snaps352 snaps361 snaps371 snaps381 snaps391 snaps401 snaps411 snaps421 snaps431 snaps441 snaps451 snaps461 snaps471 snaps481 snaps491 snaps501 snaps511 snaps521 snaps531 snaps541 snaps551 snaps561 snaps571 snaps581 snaps591 snaps601 snaps611 snaps621 snaps
Red-winged Blackbird
Dusky Grouse
Mountain Bluebird
Ruffed Grouse
Great Blue Heron
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Barrow's Goldeneye
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Common Merganser
House Finch
Violet-green Swallow
White-crowned Sparrow
American Avocet
American Goldfinch
Barn Swallow
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Canada Jay
Cedar Waxwing
Cliff Swallow
Common Loon
Common Raven
Duck
Harlequin Duck
Lazuli Bunting
Lewis's Woodpecker
Northern House Wren
Pileated Woodpecker
Ruddy Duck
Sandhill Crane
Swainson's Thrush
Trumpeter Swan
American Coot
American Crow
American Dipper
American White Pelican
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-headed Grosbeak
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Goldeneye
Evening Grosbeak
Hairy Woodpecker
Hammond's Flycatcher
House Sparrow
Killdeer
MacGillivray's Warbler
Mountain Chickadee
Northern Flicker
Northern Yellow Warbler
Pine Siskin
Red-naped Sapsucker
Red-tailed Hawk
Rufous Hummingbird
Spotted Sandpiper
Spruce Grouse
Steller's Jay
Western Grebe
Western Meadowlark
Western Wood-Pewee
Other Guides
Keep exploring Montana
Switch from birding to flowers and bugs for a broader view of Montana's wildlife and nature.
