BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Sun River Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 81 species recorded across 9 survey years, still active.

81Species 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 →
9Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
2015–2025Span
1Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Sun River

Top 40 of 81 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Sun River 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
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae872025+21%2017
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae602025-29%2017
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae422025-35%2017
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae402025+197%2017
Horned LarkAlaudidae272025-19%2017
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae252025-63%2017
American RobinTurdidae242025-15%2017
House SparrowPasseridae212025-3%2017
Franklin's GullLaridae202025-41%2022
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae182025+42%2017
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae172025-5%2017
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae152025-47%2017
Common GrackleIcteridae152019+50%2016
Green-winged TealAnatidae92024n/an/a
European StarlingSturnidae82025-59%2018
KilldeerCharadriidae72025-22%2017
Mourning DoveColumbidae72025-33%2017
GadwallAnatidae62023+200%2017
Western KingbirdTyrannidae52025-20%2017
Western Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52025-26%2018
Black-billed MagpieCorvidae52025-21%2017
Yellow WarblerParulidae52025-55%2017
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae52025-55%2017
Lesser ScaupAnatidae52019n/an/a
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae52024n/an/a
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae42025-47%2017
Lark BuntingPasserellidae42015n/an/a
American WigeonAnatidae42019n/an/a
Song SparrowPasserellidae42023n/an/a
Ring-billed GullLaridae32025-96%2017
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae32025+320%2018
Rock PigeonColumbidae32025+57%2017
American White PelicanPelecanidae32017n/an/a
Canada GooseAnatidae32017n/an/a
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae32017n/an/a
Bank SwallowHirundinidae32025+0%2018
Northern PintailAnatidae32019n/an/a
American AvocetRecurvirostridae22019-33%2015
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae22024+50%2017
BobolinkIcteridae22025-40%2018

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