BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Sunburst Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 92 species recorded across 31 survey years, no longer active.

92Species 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 →
31Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1968–2007Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Sunburst

Top 40 of 92 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Sunburst 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
Horned LarkAlaudidae1472007+25%1971
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae792007+88%1974
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae622007-40%1972
Rock PigeonColumbidae562007+332%1972
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae412007-31%1971
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae232007+33%1971
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae222007-61%1971
House SparrowPasseridae162007+48%1971
Pine SiskinFringillidae131996n/an/a
GadwallAnatidae122007+44%1972
American CootRallidae122007-63%1978
American WigeonAnatidae102007+225%1976
Canada GooseAnatidae102006+100%1999
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae92007-38%1971
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae82006-83%1971
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae82007+61%1972
American RobinTurdidae72007+450%1986
Northern ShovelerAnatidae62007+91%1975
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae62007-36%1972
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae62005-60%1990
Clay-colored SparrowPasserellidae62007-44%1988
Bank SwallowHirundinidae62007-40%1989
Barrow's GoldeneyeAnatidae62000n/an/a
Northern HarrierAccipitridae52007+133%1971
Lark BuntingPasserellidae51993+158%1972
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae52006-39%1992
American AvocetRecurvirostridae42005+25%1971
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae42007+267%1975
KilldeerCharadriidae42007+64%1971
Mourning DoveColumbidae42007-79%1971
American CrowCorvidae42007-25%1971
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae42007+100%1972
Lark SparrowPasserellidae41991+300%1989
Ring-necked DuckAnatidae42000+100%1998
Northern PintailAnatidae32005-69%1972
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae32007-25%1975
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae32007+75%1974
Eared GrebePodicipedidae32006-86%1989
RedheadAnatidae32003-63%1989
Ruddy DuckAnatidae32002-57%1990

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