BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Virgelle Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 102 species recorded across 43 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 →
43Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1979–2025Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Virgelle

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

Species recorded on the Virgelle 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 LarkAlaudidae2862025+2%1981
Franklin's GullLaridae217202517×1980
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae652025+87%1981
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae58202513×1981
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae512025+0%1981
Mourning DoveColumbidae292025+69%1981
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae292025+3%1981
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae292025+139%1981
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae282025+135%1981
Canada GooseAnatidae252025-68%2002
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae232025+500%1983
European StarlingSturnidae202025-21%1981
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae152025-60%1981
Lark BuntingPasserellidae142025-33%1984
Lesser ScaupAnatidae101979n/an/a
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae102025+15%1986
Marbled GodwitScolopacidae102025+540%1991
RedheadAnatidae102025n/an/a
Northern PintailAnatidae92025+235%1989
Western KingbirdTyrannidae92025+633%1982
White-faced IbisThreskiornithidae92025n/an/a
GadwallAnatidae82025+60%1982
American CrowCorvidae82025+225%1986
Common GrackleIcteridae82025+140%2016
Barn SwallowHirundinidae72025-50%1981
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae72025+108%1992
Eared GrebePodicipedidae62018-40%1979
MallardAnatidae62025-26%1981
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae62025+440%1984
House SparrowPasseridae62025-57%1981
Common RavenCorvidae52025+86%2021
BuffleheadAnatidae52023n/an/a
KilldeerCharadriidae42025-69%1981
Gray PartridgePhasianidae42025-33%1981
Song SparrowPasserellidae41992-74%1981
American RobinTurdidae42025+183%1985
American White PelicanPelecanidae42019n/an/a
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae32025+17%1981
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae32025+0%1984
Brewer's SparrowPasserellidae32025+50%1990

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