BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 11

Virgelle Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 98 species recorded across 42 survey years, still active.

98Species 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 →
42Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1979–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Virgelle

Top 40 of 98 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
Franklin's GullLaridae3692024+969%1980
Horned LarkAlaudidae3032024+8%1981
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae932024+93%1981
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae542024+4%1981
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae53202412×1981
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae442024+139%1981
Northern PintailAnatidae382024+235%1989
Mourning DoveColumbidae362024+84%1981
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae352024+14%1981
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae312024+400%1983
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae222024+162%1981
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae122024+440%1984
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae112024-72%1981
Marbled GodwitScolopacidae112024+400%1991
Lesser ScaupAnatidae101979n/an/a
Lark SparrowPasserellidae102011+220%1981
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae92024+125%1992
European StarlingSturnidae82024+85%1981
Eared GrebePodicipedidae62018-40%1979
Canada GooseAnatidae62024-14%2002
WilletScolopacidae62024+27%1986
KilldeerCharadriidae62024-74%1981
Western KingbirdTyrannidae62024+733%1982
Northern ShovelerAnatidae52024+15%1986
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae52024+44%1981
American RobinTurdidae52024+317%1985
Common RavenCorvidae52024+57%2021
BuffleheadAnatidae52023n/an/a
GadwallAnatidae42024-10%1982
Gray PartridgePhasianidae42024-53%1981
Northern HarrierAccipitridae42024-56%1981
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae42024+38%1981
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIcteridae42024-39%1986
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae42024+17%1981
Song SparrowPasserellidae41992-74%1981
American White PelicanPelecanidae42019n/an/a
American WigeonAnatidae32024+80%1989
Blue-winged TealAnatidae32024-6%1986
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae32024+32%1989
American CrowCorvidae32024+200%1986

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