Guild · Montana · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Wetland Birds In Montana

18 species in this guild. As a group they are +103% since 1970.

Guild Signals

No notable trend signals for wetland birds in Montana. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Wetland birds in Montana is projected to fall about 15% by 2029 — from 1.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.3 (95% range 0.00–2.5). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±31.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-15%Change by 2029
1.3Projected 2029 index
0.002.595% range
±31.3%Backtest error
19682029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20251.20.002.5
20261.20.002.5
20271.30.002.5
20281.30.002.5
20291.30.002.5

Member Species In Montana

Wetland birds species in Montana.
Common TernLaridae-83%
Red-necked GrebePodicipedidae-80%
Black TernLaridae-71%
Great Blue HeronArdeidae-57%
California GullLaridae-51%
SoraRallidae-36%
Pied-billed GrebePodicipedidae-27%
American BitternArdeidae-13%
Common LoonGaviidae-9%
Virginia RailRallidae+47%
Eared GrebePodicipedidae+49%
American CootRallidae+62%
Western GrebePodicipedidae+89%
Franklin's GullLaridae+184%
Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocoracidae+400%
Ring-billed GullLaridae11×
Sandhill CraneGruidae16×
American White PelicanPelecanidae18×

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22.