BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 17

Circle Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 102 species recorded across 44 survey years, still active.

102Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
44Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1969–2023Span
10Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Circle

Top 40 of 102 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Circle route.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae2192023+27%1972
Horned LarkAlaudidae2162023-53%1972
Mourning DoveColumbidae1282023+158%1972
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae772023+296%1977
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae682023+49%1972
Western KingbirdTyrannidae372023+167%1973
Lark BuntingPasserellidae312023-73%1972
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae302023+33%1973
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae262023+150%1977
Clay-colored SparrowPasserellidae262018+540%2004
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae222023+32%1972
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae162023-84%1972
American RobinTurdidae112023+340%1973
Northern PintailAnatidae112019+280%1987
KilldeerCharadriidae102023+138%1972
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae102021+300%1978
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae102023+140%1972
Gray PartridgePhasianidae82013+71%1977
Lazuli BuntingCardinalidae81975n/an/a
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae72023+0%1980
Rock PigeonColumbidae62021-70%1972
BobolinkIcteridae62023+300%1979
Common GrackleIcteridae62023+375%1978
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae52023-36%1973
House SparrowPasseridae52023-31%1972
Lark SparrowPasserellidae52022-52%1973
Baird's SparrowPasserellidae52021+63%1975
Tree SwallowHirundinidae52023+100%1993
Bank SwallowHirundinidae52017-31%1977
Yellow WarblerParulidae52023+160%1980
Canada GooseAnatidae52023+155%1995
Blue-winged TealAnatidae42023+100%1973
Northern HarrierAccipitridae42023+125%1972
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae42023+35%1972
Barn SwallowHirundinidae42019+75%1972
Greater Sage-GrousePhasianidae41977+300%1972
Common YellowthroatParulidae42022-14%1979
American White PelicanPelecanidae42018+100%2015
Short-eared OwlStrigidae32015-55%1979
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae32023+18%1975

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. A route is a sample, not a census.