Whether there are the prairies, hills, or wildernesses in Montana, a huge range of migratory birds pass through and spread melodious songs in the air. They colour the landscape with their vibrant hues. At the end of the winter in southeast Montana, the migratory birds give the call of spring.
Well, it has been estimated that thee re more ha 30 species of birds that you can observe in Montana. Various spots in west and southeast part of Montana are the prime habitats of birds. Here is the list of some best birds of Montana.
6 Best Birds Of Montana
There is a very big list of birds seen in Montana. Some of these are discussed well in the stories. So, let’s have some explanation about these.
1. White Pelicans:
There are two types of pelicans the white and brown. The white pelicans are present in the vast area of Montana. Most of the times they use to live as transient colonies during summer.
In Montana, they live mostly in four sites including Northeast Montana, East of Helena, Malta, and Arod Lakes. These white birds of Montana are large. You can see black rambling flanks on wings during flight. The beak is very large and orange-yellow. Such birds tilt down their bills during swimming.
Birds Of Montana – White Pelican
The average wing spread is 9.5 feet that help in fast flying. Wings beat with gliding movement to resist gravity. Mostly they use to fly in herds. Interestingly, they form a shape of V while flying in flocks.
2. Birds Of Montana – Gyrfalcons:
Out of nine species of falcon six are existing in Montana. Among these gyrfalcons is a most demanded bird as prey in Montana. Well, it is the visitor bird to the valley of Clark Fork River in Montana during winters.
According to Montana heritage, almost 272 gyrfalcons migrate towards Montana. This one is the largest falcon among all. The powerful gyrfalcon is very swift in attacking mallards during flying. The wingspan is 47 inches. Its wings have pointed tips and flies very fast.
Gyrfalcons look very mighty in appearance because of the heavy streamlined body with sharp wings. They have very attractive features. Adults show eye-ring yellow-orange. The yellow cere is absent in young ones. they have bluish-grey legs and eye rings. They have a long tail that can extend as far as the wings.
Birds Of Montana – Gyrfalcon
3. Great Horned Owl:
Out of 15 species, 5 are mostly seen in Montana. The great horned owl is one of the biggest owls. They mostly exist in grey o light brown colours. The dark banding patterns appear on the stomach.
These owls love to eat snakes, rabbits, squirrels, mice, insects, and other small birds. These are approximately 25 inches tall, with 44 inches of wingspan. The face is scowling round with yellow coloured eyes and large horny ears.
Birds Of Montana – Horned Owl
4. White-Throated Sparrow:
Some birds do exist in Montana for a temporary time. These are the migratory birds, so find habitats in Montana during a specific season. These birds of Montana usually live in Canada but during spring and fall, they migrate to Montana.
These white-throated sparrows look like white crown sparrows. This sparrow has black and white streaks on the head. Throat region is white so named as a white-throated sparrow. It has a darker bill and yellowish feathers between its eyes and beak.
Birds Of Montana – White-Throated Sparrow
5. Waxwings In Montana:
The cedar waxwings in abundantly present in Montana. They breed in Montana and migrate to California during winters. Some of these adjust to living in Clark Fork valley. This cedar waxwing is 7 inches small and weighs about 1.1 ounces.
It has a tail with a yellow tip. Feathers are silky and have a yellowish belly. Wings show bluish-black mix colours. The young birds have dark streaking patterns.
6. Birds Of Montana – Goldeneye:
These are the diving ducks have a medium size. The round body and short neck have a chunky appearance. The bill is short and greyish black. Male members of these ducks have green blackheads. There is the whitish oval-shaped patch rear the beak.
Birds Of Montana – Golden Eye
Females have brownish head, wings and tail are greyish blacks in colour. Wings whip swiftly with a deep curve.
Characteristics Of Common Birds Of Montana
In Montana, you can easily observe some common birds. Each bird has its mark of identification. Thus, we are discussing characteristics of some known birds of Montana that will enable you to identify them.
1. California Scrub-Jay Of Montana:
This is the crestless jay bird of Montana. Its size is medium. The blue-headed bird with the same wings and tail. The underparts are grey. It has the white colour of throat line having streaked pattern dark in tint. Feet, bill and legs are black.
The birds’ feed includes grains, insects, fruits, lizards, and frogs. The flying movement of this bird is steady. These birds are of two types woodhouse and California scrub jay.
Birds Of Montana – Jay Scrub
2. Golden-Crowned Sparrow Of Montana:
This a large-sized sparrow with a streaky pattern on its body. Grey breast portion with plain feathers. This bird of Montana has a yellow crown with black cap lining. Collar and cheek portion are also blackish. The brown wings have white bands. The flying pattern is very amazing with alternating short flights and swift wings beating with a little stretching of wings away.
3. Birds Of Montana – Bewicks Wren:
This bird is a smaller one. Its body does not have a streaked pattern. The upper body is reddish-brown and grey, underparts are white. Such birds of Montana have vivid white eyebrows. Long-tail looks beautiful with white edges and darker bands. Decurved bill is longer. Feet are grey.
Bewick’s Wren Of Montana
4. Birds Of Montana – Lesser Goldfinch:
These birds are finches in nature and small. The back is dark blackish and underparts are bright yellow. They have a divine black crown that gives a very elegant look. Tail and wings are black with white spots.
Such beautiful birds are forages and find insects and seeds in shrubs, fields, and bushes. The flying pattern is somehow like the golden-crowned sparrow with alternating patterns.
5. Birds Of Montana – Purple Finch:
This a medium size finch. Body colour is rosy red having brownish strains on back and nape. While flanks, belly and sides are white with reddish hues. The sides have some thick patterns. They have brown wings with a rough pattern tail.
Female members of this family are brown overall. Caterpillars, insects, fruits, and seeds are the main food source of such birds of Montana. These also show the speedy flights with wings whipped aside.
Birds Of Montana – Purple Finch
6. Birds Of Montana – Dickcissel:
These birds of Montana are sparrow-like. The size lies in the medium range. The male members of this family have a greyish head and back and shoulders show black strains. The facial region is also black but eye strips are bright yellow.
Wings of such birds are highly attractive with brown patches on them. The female birds have brown streaks with no black spots.
7. Painted Bunting Birds:
As the name is showing the features. These are the colourful birds of Montana. The male birds are bronze-green with red underparts and eye rings. Nape and head zones are bluish. Shoulder have green patches and the same is the wings.
Female painted buntings look different with greenish upperparts and darker wings.
8. Birds Of Montana – Grosbeak:
These are the larger finches. The body has a captivating purple-blue colour and blackish hues on the face. Wings are wide enough. Both wings and tail are darker. Eating behaviour is foraging. They use to hop on the ground for this purpose.
Birds Of Montana – Grosbeak
They mostly find a food source in trees, weeds and bushes. Snails grains, insects, fruits and seeds are the primary food for grosbeak birds.
9. Virginia’s Warbler Of Montana:
The rump is yellow. Upperparts are greyish. These small warblers have white throat with the yellowish patch. The under tail is also yellow. The crown on the head has reddish-brown spots. Belly and sidelines are greyish white. Eye rings are bold white.
10. Cassin Sparrow Of Montana:
This is a grassland sparrow. It has grey-brown back and head. Brown stains are present. Touch sparrow is very lucrative in appearance. Long and the round tail has a white tip. Legs and feet are pinkish-orange in hue. They forage on the ground with multiple food sources.
The flight pattern is slightly different from others. They have a short period flight, wings blow swiftly and pull aside.
11. Blackburnian Warbler:
The blackburnians are yellow-orange headed having black caps and cheek spots. The throat line is orange in colour. White stripes are present on the upper black part of the body. The black flanking streaks are on the under white parts.
12. Flycatcher Scissor Tail:
The upper part of the body is grey with medium size. Head is pale grey and throat and underparts are white. Flanks and edges are pinkish. Brown wings show white corners. The tail looks like a scissor and very long. Moreover, it has the upper side of the tail is black and white edges. The below side is white and has inner edges black.
Conclusion
Thus, these are the most abundant birds existing in Montana. Whenever you visit there, you can easily recognize such birds. Here we have elaborated all the characteristic features of such birds. Read this whole guide to know about the behaviour of these birds of Montana.
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