BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 17

Highwood Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 133 species recorded across 45 survey years, still active.

133Species 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 →
45Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1968–2025Span
8Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Highwood

Top 40 of 133 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Highwood 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae712025+42%1970
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae632025+238%1970
European StarlingSturnidae612025+585%1974
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae502025+99%1970
Herring GullLaridae48197616×1969
American RobinTurdidae442025+64%1970
Mourning DoveColumbidae302025+42%1970
Yellow WarblerParulidae302025+342%1970
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae27202517×1970
Black-billed MagpieCorvidae182025-5%1970
Eared GrebePodicipedidae182013+119%1995
Canada GooseAnatidae172024+74%2007
Green-winged TealAnatidae142016+107%1974
Western Wood-PeweeTyrannidae142025+590%1992
American GoldfinchFringillidae132025+39%1970
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae12202512×1973
Least FlycatcherTyrannidae112025+450%1976
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae112025+257%2010
Rock PigeonColumbidae102025+67%1974
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae102025-88%1970
Sandhill CraneGruidae102025+267%2012
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae92025+47%1970
Spotted TowheePasserellidae92025+136%1970
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae92025+167%1971
Ring-necked DuckAnatidae91971n/an/a
WilletScolopacidae92017+475%2006
American AvocetRecurvirostridae82024+59%1996
CanvasbackAnatidae82014-16%2008
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae72018+131%1976
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae62025+62%1980
Ring-billed GullLaridae62017+550%1990
MallardAnatidae52023-64%1970
KilldeerCharadriidae52025-61%1970
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae52025+129%1979
Lesser ScaupAnatidae52011-44%1979
Black-headed GrosbeakCardinalidae52025+133%1994
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae42024+33%1970
Song SparrowPasserellidae42025+111%1970
Gray CatbirdMimidae42025+0%1970
Common GrackleIcteridae42024+83%1975

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. A route is a sample, not a census.