BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 17

Wheat Basin Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 91 species recorded across 7 survey years, still active.

91Species 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 →
7Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
2017–2024Span
1Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Wheat Basin

Top 40 of 91 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Wheat Basin 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae4232024-7%2019
Horned LarkAlaudidae772024-28%2019
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae722024+48%2019
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae502024-21%2019
Mourning DoveColumbidae442024+139%2019
American White PelicanPelecanidae242024+300%2021
American CootRallidae232019n/an/a
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae222024+90%2019
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae182024-12%2019
Canada GooseAnatidae172024-43%2019
European StarlingSturnidae172024-60%2019
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae172024-10%2021
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae162024-79%2019
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae152024+9%2019
KilldeerCharadriidae142024+29%2019
Eared GrebePodicipedidae142024-83%2019
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae132024+520%2019
Common RavenCorvidae132024+28%2019
American RobinTurdidae112024+38%2019
Northern ShovelerAnatidae112024-61%2021
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae92024-30%2019
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae92024-48%2019
Cinnamon TealAnatidae92023n/an/a
Western KingbirdTyrannidae82024+233%2018
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae82024-49%2019
Common GrackleIcteridae82024+700%2021
House SparrowPasseridae72024-53%2017
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae62024-17%2019
Lark SparrowPasserellidae62024-43%2019
Barn SwallowHirundinidae62024+77%2019
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae62024+20%2019
Rock WrenTroglodytidae62024+25%2019
Short-eared OwlStrigidae62024+500%2018
Franklin's GullLaridae62023n/an/a
Rock PigeonColumbidae42024-17%2021
Northern HarrierAccipitridae42024-71%2019
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae42017n/an/a
Spotted TowheePasserellidae42023+233%2019
American WigeonAnatidae32023-29%2019
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae32024-68%2019

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