BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 17

Locate Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 99 species recorded across 39 survey years, still active.

99Species 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 →
39Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1981–2025Span
9Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Locate

Top 40 of 99 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Locate 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae2872025+46%1983
Mourning DoveColumbidae1662025+240%1983
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae382025+199%1983
Lark BuntingPasserellidae302025-54%1983
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae282025+467%1983
Barn SwallowHirundinidae282025-24%1983
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae242025+16%1983
European StarlingSturnidae202021+170%1984
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae142025-68%1983
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae132025+225%1983
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae122025+67%1983
Yellow WarblerParulidae62025+50%1983
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteriidae62025+50%1984
Blue-winged TealAnatidae62024+0%2005
Rock PigeonColumbidae62021-18%2012
GadwallAnatidae52022+100%1992
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae52024+125%1984
American CrowCorvidae52025-36%1992
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae42025-29%1983
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae42017+0%1983
Common GrackleIcteridae42025+14%1983
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae42025+33%1983
House SparrowPasseridae42012+7%1990
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae42004+225%1993
Brewer's SparrowPasserellidae42021-75%1992
American White PelicanPelecanidae42014n/an/a
KilldeerCharadriidae32025-50%1983
Horned LarkAlaudidae32024-95%1983
Brown ThrasherMimidae32022-11%1983
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae32022-33%2013
Tree SwallowHirundinidae32013n/an/a
Northern HarrierAccipitridae22024-30%1983
Great Horned OwlStrigidae22016+100%1999
Lark SparrowPasserellidae22024-14%1983
American WigeonAnatidae22013+25%1995
American CootRallidae22014+50%1997
Western KingbirdTyrannidae22025-39%1984
Bullock's OrioleIcteridae22025+0%1992
Baird's SparrowPasserellidae22022+0%1982
Spotted SandpiperScolopacidae21986n/an/a

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