BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Montana · BCR 17

Wheat Basin Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 93 species recorded across 8 survey years, still active.

93Species 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 →
8Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
2017–2025Span
1Observers

Bird Species Found on Montana Wheat Basin

Top 40 of 93 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae5642025+6%2019
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae662025-27%2019
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae642025+59%2019
Horned LarkAlaudidae382025-36%2019
Mourning DoveColumbidae362025+146%2019
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae322025-1%2019
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae302025-57%2019
American White PelicanPelecanidae242024+300%2021
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae232025+13%2019
American CootRallidae232019n/an/a
Canada GooseAnatidae182025-27%2019
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae172025-27%2021
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae162025+62%2019
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae162025-43%2019
European StarlingSturnidae142025-42%2019
Eared GrebePodicipedidae142024-83%2019
American AvocetRecurvirostridae122025+64%2019
Common RavenCorvidae102025+19%2019
Rock PigeonColumbidae92025+33%2021
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcariidae92025-55%2019
Cinnamon TealAnatidae92023n/an/a
KilldeerCharadriidae82025+41%2019
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae82025-46%2019
Brewer's SparrowPasserellidae72025+11%2018
Lark BuntingPasserellidae72025-98%2019
House SparrowPasseridae72024-53%2017
American RobinTurdidae72025+44%2019
Common GrackleIcteridae72025+150%2022
Barn SwallowHirundinidae62025+69%2019
Short-eared OwlStrigidae62024+500%2018
Franklin's GullLaridae62023n/an/a
Northern HarrierAccipitridae52025-58%2019
Say's PhoebeTyrannidae52025+0%2019
Spotted TowheePasserellidae52025+333%2019
GadwallAnatidae52025-33%2019
Northern ShovelerAnatidae42025-56%2021
American WigeonAnatidae32023-29%2019
Western KingbirdTyrannidae32025-13%2022
Thick-billed LongspurCalcariidae32025-25%2017
Sprague's PipitMotacillidae32019+200%2017

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