From Helena to Yellowstone, Big Sky Country is home to some amazing birds. With 431 species observed on ebird, Montana’s changing seasons and vast geography provide for a diverse habitat. In this post we’ll review 30 of the most common and colorful birds in Montana along with some helpful data on when and where to find them.
We even sampled 5 years of aggregate data from ebird’s Montana checklists to compile easy-to-use statistics and graphs to help identify each bird species. So whether you’re just watching the backyard bird feeder or venturing to birding hotspots like Bowdoin or Freezout Lake – we’ll have you ready to start bird watching like a professional. But enough chirping, let’s get to it!
American Goldfinch
The American Goldfinch is a small finch with a short tail, widespread throughout North America.
- Carduelis tristis
- Size: 5″ (13cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 25% in August
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 6% in March
Identification and Color: A fan favorite at backyard feeders for its brilliant yellow color. A small, slim finch with a small bill and rounded wings. The back is black with white wing bars. Underparts are yellow with a black bill. The tail is white with black markings on the outer feathers.
Habitat and Behavior: The American Goldfinch nests and breeds in open woodlands, meadows, and fields. Commonly seen in gardens and parks. During the breeding season, the American Goldfinch is often seen in flocks. Known to hang upside down from branches while feeding. Typically nests late in the summer.
Diet: Strict vegetarian. The American Goldfinch feeds on tiny seeds, weeds and grasses. Enjoys nyjer and sunflower seeds. Rarely consumes insects.
American Robin
Abundant throughout the entire country and commonly a welcome indicator of spring in northern states. The American Robin is a common sight in Montana.
- Turdus migratorius
- Size: 9-11″ (22.5-28cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 64% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 6% in February
Identification and Color: Reddish-brown breast (almost looks pot-bellied) and grey back. The female usually has a lighter plumage than the male. Males have a darker black head.
Habitat and Behavior: The American Robin is found in open woodlands, gardens, and parks. It often forages for food on the ground cocking its head to the side in an effort to find worms. When it’s not eating, the American Robin can often be seen perched on a branch singing its cheerful song.
Diet: The American Robin feeds on insects, worms, berries, and fruits.
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is a small common songbird that is often seen swooping in flight. Typically found in Montana during the summer months.
- Hirundo rustica
- Size: 7″ (17 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 18% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: Easily identified by its long forked tail. Has a shiny blue hood and back with orange underparts.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in fields and meadows, specifically for foraging. Can also be seen near lakes and ponds. These birds are attracted to barns and other buildings because they provide a safe place to build their nests. These birds are known for their aerial acrobatics and often perform flips and twists while flying.
Diet: The Barn Swallow feeds on insects, which it often catches in mid-air. Can also be seen skimming the water’s surface for a drink.
Black-billed Magpie
The Black-billed magpie can be seen year-round in Montana.
- Pica hudsonia
- Size: 24″ (61 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 59% in December
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 20% in August
Identification and Color: Black-billed magpies have black heads with two white patches along the body and blue-green iridescent wings. In flight, the white tips and blue-green colors make a striking image. Very long tail feathers and thick short bills. Fairly large bird between 17 and 24 inches in length.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in the upper northwest and into Canada. A social bird that can be found in large groups. Likes farmland, forest edges, and other semi-open areas. Generally does not migrate far if at all. Will forage on the ground.
Diet: The Black-billed magpie is omnivorous with a varied diet. Enjoys insects, carrion, berries, and seeds.
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadees are small songbirds commonly found at feeders and nest boxes. Year-round residents of Montana.
- Poecile atricapillus
- Size: 5.5″ (14 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 48% in November
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 19% in June
Identification and Color: Easily distinguished by their black caps and white cheeks. They have grey bodies with light grey wings and tail feathers.
Habitat and Behavior: Typically inhabit woodlands where there are plenty of trees for them to nest and forage in. Commonly found in suburban areas and parks. Has no issue with harsh winters. Black-capped Chickadees are not timid birds and can easily be attracted to backyard bird feeders
Diet: Consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates like caterpillars. Chickadees will also eat seeds and berries, especially in the winter months when food is scarce.
Brown-headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is commonly seen in Montana during warmer months.
- Molothrus ater
- Size: 7.5″ (19 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 36% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in Winter
Identification and Color: Males have a chocolate brown head and glossy black body. Females are duller in color with a streaked brown head and body.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in open areas like fields and meadows. Will also frequent forest edges. This bird gets its name from its habit of following cattle around and eating the insects they stir up. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a parasitic nester, meaning it will lay its eggs in other birds’ nests and let them raise its young.
Diet: Mainly insects and seeds. Will visit seed feeders.
Cedar Waxwing
The Cedar Waxwing can be seen in Montana year-round.
- Bombycilla cedrorum
- Size: 7.5″ (19 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 34% in August
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in May
Identification and Color: These birds truly have a variety of colors. A brown head, but with a black line across the eyes outlined in white. A dark grey top meets darker colors on the wings and tail feathers. Pale yellow belly. Red tips on their wings and bright yellow tip at the end of their tails. A short square tail and short wide bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in many different areas and moves around irregularly. Likes to be around woodlands, especially fruiting trees or farm orchards. Very social and can be seen in large flocks.
Diet: The Cedar Waxwing prefers berries and small fruits but will also eat some insects.
Chipping Sparrow
The Chipping Sparrow is a small bird native to North America and seen during warmer months in Montana.
- Spizella passerina
- Size: 5.5″ (14 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 27% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: Small and slender bird, measuring only about five and a half inches in length. Its body is brown and white, with a dark eye line extending from the beak past the eye.
Habitat and Behavior: The Chipping Sparrow can be found in open woodlands, suburbs, parks, farmland and backyards. Known to forage on the ground for seeds. Easy to mix up with other sparrows, the Chipping Sparrow loves open areas with scattered trees making it a common sight at feeders.
Diet: Primarily insects when available (mainly summer months). Enjoys finding seeds in the grass.
Common Grackle
The Common Grackle is abundant throughout most of central and eastern North America. A common backyard bird in Montana.
- Quiscalus quiscula
- Size: 12.5″ (32 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 20% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in Winter
Identification and Color: Easily identified by their glossy black feathers and yellow eyes, the Common Grackle also has a curved beak. Female is a bit smaller and less shiny than the male.
Habitat and Behavior: Common grackles typically live in open areas such as fields and marshes. Usually forages in flocks. Very common in towns and cities. Known for being aggressive towards other birds.
Diet: The Common Grackles is omnivorous. Grains, seed, and insects are all favorites. Will also scavenge through garbage for food.
Common Yellowthroat
The Common Yellowthroat is a small songbird commonly seen in Montana during the summer months.
- Geothlypis trichas
- Size: 5″ (13 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 17% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: Distinctive yellow throat patch and black mask. Pointy long thinned bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Often found in open woodlands and wetlands. The Common Yellowthroat is a fairly secretive bird, making it difficult to spot. However, the males are often heard singing their distinctive “witchity-witchity-witchity” song.
Diet: The Common Yellowthroat enjoys a variety of insects.
Dark-eyed Junco
The Dark-eyed Junco is a small, sparrow-like bird that is one of Montana’s most common winter birds.
- Junco hyemalis
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 30% in April
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 7% in August
Identification and Color: Rounded dark head and eyes. Charcoal back and white breast.
Habitat and Behavior: Enjoys a variety of wooded habitats throughout Canada and the northern United States. Dark-eyed Juncos are typically found in open woods, forest edges, weedy fields, and backyards. In winter they often form flocks and can be seen feeding on the ground beneath bird feeders.
Diet: Dark-eyed Juncos eat mostly insects and seeds.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker can be seen year-round in Montana.
- Picoides pubescens
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 21% in February
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 5% in June
Identification and Color: Adult Downies are black and white, with a black back, white belly, and a small patch of red on the back of the head. They have a short bill and a barred tail.
Habitat and Behavior: Downy Woodpeckers live in forests, woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas. They are year-round residents in most of their range. They forage on tree trunks and branches, using their bills and barbed tongue to peck at bark to find food.
Diet: Downies feed on insects, spiders, berries, and nuts. Downies sometimes store food by caching it in cracks in trees or other hidden spots. Can be spotted at seed and suet feeders.
Eurasian Collared-Dove
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is most often seen during the summer months in Montana.
- Streptopelia decaocto
- Size: 13″ (33 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 26% in December
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 13% in June
Identification and Color: The Eurasian Collared-Dove has a light grey to brown head and a light brown body. They have a distinct black mark around the back of their neck and some white patches on their tail. They have rounded bodies and small heads. Rounded wings and squared tails. Their bills are slender with a slight curve.
Habitat and Behavior: Found all over the United States with no consistent migration. Can be found in urban areas and open farmland as well. When walking they can be seen bobbing their heads and flicking their tails. Will mainly forage on the ground.
Diet: The Eurasian Collared-Dove enjoys seeds from plants and waste grain. Will also eat some berries or insects.
European Starling
The European Starling is native to Europe but was introduced to North America in the late 1800’s. Considered an invasive species, they are a common backyard bird in Montana.
- Sturnus vulgaris
- Size: 8.5″ (22 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 43% in March
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 12% in December
Identification and Color: Small, stocky black birds with glossy feathers and a slender pointed bill. Speckled with white spots.
Habitat and Behavior: European starlings can be found in woods, fields, and other open areas. They often build their nests in trees or holes in buildings. European starlings are also known for their elaborate vocalizations, often imitating the sounds of other birds.
Diet: European starlings are opportunistic eaters and will feed on a variety of insects, fruits and seeds.
Gray Catbird
The Gray Catbird is a small songbird commonly seen in Montana during the summer months.
- Dumetella carolinensis
- Size: 8.5″ (22 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 22% in September
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: A slender gray bird with a black cap and tail. Gray Catbirds are named for their call, which sounds like a cat meowing.
Habitat and Behavior: Gray Catbirds are found in wooded areas, often near streams or wetlands. Likes thickets and brushy shrubs. They are shy birds that do not often come into contact with humans. Gray Catbirds build cup-shaped nests out of leaves, twigs, and grasses.
Diet: Mainly insects in the spring and summer. Primarily berries and seed in the winter.
House Finch
The House Finch is a common bird across North America, seen year-round in Montana.
- Carpodacus mexicanus
- Size: 5″ (13 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 31% in December
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 13% in June
Identification and Color: Fairly small, measuring only about 5-6 inches long. House Finches are relatively easy to identify thanks to their characteristic red plumage near the eyes and throat. Males are typically redder than females, but both genders have distinctive streaks on their breast and belly.
Habitat and Behavior: House Finches are found in a variety of habitats, including woods, gardens, and open fields. A rather social bird that often travels in flocks. Can often be seen perching on power lines or fences in suburban areas.
Diet: House Finches are primarily seed eaters, but they will also consume insects and fruit on occasion.
House Sparrow
One of the most common backyard birds in Montana. The House Sparrow is seen year-round.
- Passer domesticus
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 27% in February
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 14% in June
Identification and Color: A small plump bird with brown feathers and a grayish-plain breast. They have a black stripe on their face that extends from their bill to their throat. Wings are streaked with black and white.
Habitat and Behavior: Found in open areas with some trees nearby, such as farmland, parks, and suburban neighborhoods. They build their nests in holes in tree trunks or in man-made structures such as gutters, light fixtures, and nest boxes. House Sparrows are social birds that often form large flocks. You won’t be surprised to see them downtown near restaurants with outdoor seating!
Diet: House Sparrows eat mostly seeds and grains, but will also eat insects, berries, and other fruits. Happy to pick up crumbs and left over human food where available.
Killdeer
The Killdeer is typically seen in Montana during the warmer months.
- Charadrius vociferous
- Size: 10″ (25 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 24% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in February
Identification and Color: Mostly brown on the head and top of the body. The head is marked with black and white patches. A white underpart with two black stripes across it. An orange tail part can be seen when in flight. The Killdeer has a long tail and long wings. A small and short bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Located throughout North America. Southern birds are mostly permanent residents and northern birds will migrate. Killdeer like to be in very open areas of lawns, fields, and coastline. Spends the majority of time on the ground running around.
Diet: Insects make up the bulk of their diet. Beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars are frequent favorites. They may also eat a small number of seeds.
Mountain Chickadee
The Mountain Chickadee can be seen year-round in Montana.
- Poecile gambeli
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 21% in November
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 10% in April
Identification and Color: The Mountain Chickadee has a black and white head with gray on top of the body and underparts. Males and females look similar. The main identifier of the Mountain Chickadee is the white strip above the eye. They have narrow tails and rounded wings with a small and pointed bill.
Habitat and Behavior: Permanent residents of the southwest and northwest. Prefers forests that are mostly dry and mountainous. They like evergreens and high areas but can move to the lower levels in the winter. Very active and will jump around in their trees. Will join flocks of other birds when foraging in trees.
Diet: Mountain Chickadees enjoy a diet of insects, seeds, and berries. They will usually eat the insect eggs and pupae.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are one of the most common birds in North America, and they can be found in a variety of habitats throughout Montana.
- Zenaida macroura
- Size: 12″ (30 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 28% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 2% in November
Identification and Color: These slender birds have long, pointed tails and a tiny head. Brown and pale gray plumage with darker streaks on the wings and back.
Habitat and Behavior: Mourning Doves are relatively quiet birds, but they can often be heard cooing softly. Mourning Doves typically nest in trees, but they will also use man-made structures such as window ledges and gutters.
Diet: The Mourning Dove primarily eat seeds, but they will also eat insects and berries
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is seen year-round in Montana.
- Colaptes auratus
- Size: 12″ (30 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 43% in September
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 22% in June
Identification and Color: A fairly common large woodpecker, but size is where the similarities to other woodpeckers end. The male Northern Flicker is unique with a brown back, black bars and spotted breast. All North American Flickers have white rumps. There are also two different color groups of Northern Flickers – Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted. Yellow-shafted flickers have yellow underwings. Red-shafted flickers have reddish pink underwings.
Habitat and Behavior: Northern Flickers are hole-nesting birds, often making a home in a dead tree. Can be seen hopping around the ground while foraging or latched onto a tree eyeing a spot to search for food.
Diet: Northern Flickers mainly eat insects off the ground, but will also eat berries and nuts.
Pine Siskin
The Pine Siskin is seen year-round in Montana.
- Spinus pinus
- Size: 5″ (13 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 28% in July
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 4% in January
Identification and Color: The Pine Siskin is brown with black streaks all over its body. They have some yellow edges on their wings and tails. Very small birds between 4 and 5 inches in length. They have short notched tails. Their bills are sharp, short, and pointed.
Habitat and Behavior: Pine Siskins have a very odd migration and residency. Some will breed in the very far north, some will winter throughout the United States, and some are permanent residents along the United States and Canada border. Will primarily be in evergreen forests but can be found in other areas of thickets or weedy areas. Will forage in large flocks.
Diet: Seeds, vegetable matter, and some insects. Will feed on the tree, grass, and weed seeds.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a year-round resident of Montana.
- Sitta canadensis
- Size: 4.5″ (11 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 25% in September
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 15% in June
Identification and Color: These birds have a black patch at the top of their head and a black stripe over their eyes, with white in between the black on the head. The top of their bodies is a blue grey. In males the underparts are a strong reddish brown, females are paler in their colors. They are small birds with short tails and short, broad wings. They have long and pointed bills.
Habitat and Behavior: Some remain permanent residents throughout Canada and some migrate south into the United States for winter. Can be found in either coniferous or deciduous forests along mountainous areas as well. Forages by quickly moving around trees.
Diet: The Red-breasted Nuthatch mainly eats insects during the summer and seeds in the winter.
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird is a year-round resident of Montana, especially near areas of water.
- Agelaius phoeniceus
- Size: 8.5″ (22 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 52% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 4% in January
Identification and Color: A small black bird with a striking appearance. The male has black feathers and a red patch on each wing, while the female is mostly dark brown with vertical streaks.
Habitat and Behavior: These birds are found in open areas such as marshes, meadows, and fields. Often seen near water, where they build their nests. Red-winged Blackbirds are social birds and often form large flocks.
Diet: The Red-winged Blackbird diet consists of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. Will also eat seeds, fruits, and berries.
Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow is a small bird commonly found during warmer months in Montana.
- Melospiza melodia
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 25% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 8% in January
Identification and Color: The Song Sparrow is brown and gray in color with streaks on its breast and a grayish-brown back. Gets its name from its loud melody.
Habitat and Behavior: Can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. The Song Sparrow is a relatively shy bird, but will happily visit bird feeders if food is available.
Diet: Song Sparrows primarily eat insects, but will also eat seeds and berries.
Tree Swallow
The Tree Swallow is a common resident of Montana during the summer.
- Tachycineta bicolor
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 40% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: Adult males have blue-green on top of their heads and on top of their bodies. They have a white throat and underparts. The edges of the wings are black. Females are similar but are brown whereas males are blue-green. They both have darker-colored areas around their eyes. Long, pointed wings, and a short, squared tail.
Habitat and Behavior: Spends the breeding season in the far north and winters in the south usually along a coastline. Prefers open areas in fields or wetlands. Forages in the air or over water.
Diet: Feeds on insects like flies, winged ants, and some spiders. Will also eat some berries.
Western Meadowlark
The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of Montana, commonly seen during the warmer months.
- Sturnella neglecta
- Size: 9″ (23 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 36% in June
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in Winter
Identification and Color: A bright yellow underpart that is marked with a black V in the summer and grey in the winter. Heavily streaked with brown, white, and black over their heads, top bodies, wings, and tails. They have short stiff tails and rounded wings. Bills are slender and long. They range about 6 to 9 inches in length.
Habitat and Behavior: The Western Meadowlark is a permanent resident in much of the west and midwest, the north-central states will see the birds migrate. Likes to be in open areas of grasslands and farms. Generally alone or in loose flocks. Will forage on the ground.
Diet: Insects and seeds make up the Western Meadowlarks’ diet.
White-breasted Nuthatch
The White-breasted Nuthatch can be found year-round in Montana.
- Sitta carolinensis
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 8% in November
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 2% in June
Identification and Color: A stocky short-tailed bird. Has a black cap above an all white face and breast. Blueish upper parts.
Habitat and Behavior: The White-breasted Nuthatch can be found in forests, woodlands, and parks. Known for its acrobatic abilities, it can easily move up, down, and sideways on trees.
Diet: The White-breasted Nuthatch feeds on insects, spiders, and small nuts. Relies on seeds in the winter and will often cache them in a crevice for a later date.
Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler calls Montana home from spring to fall before migrating for the winter.
- Dendroica petechia
- Size: 5″ (13 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 42% in May
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 0% in Winter
Identification and Color: A small warbler that is often mistaken for the American Goldfinch. Males have orange streaking on the chest area while females are a bit duller with a grayish yellow.
Habitat and Behavior: A common backyard bird during the summer months that likes gardens, shrubs, and thickets.
Diet: The Yellow Warbler enjoys a steady diet of insects.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
The Yellow-rumped Warbler is most commonly seen in Montana during the spring and fall.
- Dendroica coronata
- Size: 6″ (15 cm)
- MT Checklist Frequency High: 40% in September
- MT Checklist Frequency Low: 1% in Winter
Identification and Color: A small warbler with a soft song, all Yellow-rumped Warblers have a patch of yellow on their sides and rump (hence the name).
Habitat and Behavior: The Yellow-rumped Warbler is typically seen in large flocks during migration in the spring and fall. Enjoys larger open wooded areas as well as brush and thickets. Most often found in trees bearing needles and cones.
Diet: Enjoys insects and berries. Difficult to attract to feeders.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about some of the most common backyard birds in Montana. If you live close to a bordering state, be sure to check them out as well:
Remember to keep that feeder full and have your checklist ready! Before you go, take a moment to review some of our favorite Montana birding resources:
