This list of birds of Montana includes species documented in the U.S. state of Montana and accepted by the Montana Bird Records Committee (MBRC). As of July 2021, there are 442 species included in the official list. Of them, 104 are on the review list (see below) and eight have been introduced to North America. An additional 10 species are on a separate supplemental list.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Montana as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(R) Review list - birds with 20 or fewer records require that a rare bird report be submitted per the MBRC (S) Supplemental list - species of uncertain origin or species with only sight records. (I) Introduced - a species established in North America as a result of human action
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-two species have been recorded in Montana.
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (R) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Mexican duck, Anas diazi (R) American black duck, Anas rubripes Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (R) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (R) Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Montana.
California quail, Callipepla californica
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Twelve species have been recorded in Montana.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (R) White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (R) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)
Grebes
Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Six species have been recorded in Montana.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Seven species have been recorded in Montana.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (S) (R) Inca dove, Columbina inca (R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Two species have been recorded in Montana.
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies
Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Three species have been recorded in Montana.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Eastern/Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus/arizonae (R)
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Four species have been recorded in Montana.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Eight species have been recorded in Montana.
Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (R) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (R) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R) Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphrus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Five species have been recorded in Montana.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (R) American coot, Fulica americana Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Three species have been recorded in Montana.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Common crane, Grus grus (S) (R) Whooping crane, Grus americana (R)
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Montana.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species have been recorded in Montana.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (S) (R) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R) Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-five species have been recorded in Montana.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala (R) Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (R) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock, Scolopax minor (R) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes Willet, Tringa semipalmata Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (R) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (R)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. Three species have been recorded in Montana.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (R) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (R) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (R)
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae