List of birds of Montana

Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-two species have been recorded in Montana. • Snow goose, Anser caerulescens • Ross's goose, Anser rossii • Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons • Brant, Branta bernicla (R) • Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii • Canada goose, Branta canadensis • Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) • Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator • Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus • Wood duck, Aix sponsa • Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (R) • Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) • Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors • Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera • Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata • Gadwall, Mareca strepera • Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope • American wigeon, Mareca americana • Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos • Mexican duck, Anas diazi (R) • American black duck, Anas rubripes • Northern pintail, Anas acuta • Green-winged teal, Anas crecca • Canvasback, Aythya valisineria • Redhead, Aythya americana • Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris • Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (R) • Greater scaup, Aythya marila • Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis • Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus • Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata • White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi • Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (R) • Black scoter, Melanitta americana • Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis • Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola • Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula • Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica • Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus • Common merganser, Mergus merganser • Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator • Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis ==New World quail==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Montana. • California quail, Callipepla californica ==Pheasants, grouse, and allies==

Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Twelve species have been recorded in Montana. • Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo • Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus • Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis • Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (R) • White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus • Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus • Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus • Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus • Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (R) • Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (I) • Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) • Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I) ==Grebes==

Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Six species have been recorded in Montana. • Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps • Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus • Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena • Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis • Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis • Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii ==Pigeons and doves==

Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Seven species have been recorded in Montana. • Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) • Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata • Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) • Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (S) (R) • Inca dove, Columbina inca (R) • White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica • Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura ==Cuckoos==

Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Two species have been recorded in Montana. • Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus • Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus ==Nightjars and allies==

Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Three species have been recorded in Montana. • Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor • Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii • Eastern/Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus/arizonae (R) ==Swifts==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Four species have been recorded in Montana. • Black swift, Cypseloides niger • Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica • Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi • White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis ==Hummingbirds==

Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Eight species have been recorded in Montana. • Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (R) • Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (R) • Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri • Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R) • Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (R) • Calliope hummingbird, Selasphrus calliope • Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus • Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus ==Rails, gallinules, and coots==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Five species have been recorded in Montana. • Virginia rail, Rallus limicola • Sora, Porzana carolina • Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (R) • American coot, Fulica americana • Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) ==Cranes==

Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Three species have been recorded in Montana. • Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis • Common crane, Grus grus (S) (R) • Whooping crane, Grus americana (R) ==Stilts and avocets==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Montana. • Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus • American avocet, Recurvirostra americana ==Plovers and lapwings==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species have been recorded in Montana. • Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola • American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica • Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (S) (R) • Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus • Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus • Piping plover, Charadrius melodus • Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R) • Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus ==Sandpipers and allies==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-five species have been recorded in Montana. • Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda • Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus • Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus • Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica • Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa • Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres • Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala (R) • Red knot, Calidris canutus • Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) • Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (R) • Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus • Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) • Sanderling, Calidris alba • Dunlin, Calidris alpina • Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (R) • Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii • Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla • White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis • Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis • Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos • Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla • Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri • Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus • Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus • American woodcock, Scolopax minor (R) • Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata • Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius • Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria • Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes • Willet, Tringa semipalmata • Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca • Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola (R) • Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor • Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus • Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (R) ==Skuas and jaegers==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae Skuas and jaegers are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. Three species have been recorded in Montana. • Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (R) • Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (R) • Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (R) ==Auks, murres, and puffins==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short-winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding. Two species have been recorded in Montana. • Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (R) • Ancient murrelet, Synthliboarmphus antiquus (R) ==Gulls, terns, and skimmers==

Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet. Twenty-five species have been recorded in Montana. • Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (R) • Ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea (R) • Sabine's gull, Xema sabini • Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia • Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (R) • Ross's gull, Rhodostethia rosea (R) • Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (R) • Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan • Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni (R) • Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus (R) • Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis • Western gull, Larus occidentalis (R) • California gull, Larus californicus • Herring gull, Larus argentatus • Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides • Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus • Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens • Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus • Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (R) • Least tern, Sternula antillarum • Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia • Black tern, Chlidonias niger • Common tern, Sterna hirundo • Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (R) • Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri ==Loons==

Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body. Four species have been recorded in Montana. • Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata • Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica • Common loon, Gavia immer • Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (R) ==Shearwaters and petrels==

Order: ProcellariiformesFamily: Procellariidae The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterised by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary. One species has been recorded in Montana. • Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (R) ==Storks==

Order: CiconiiformesFamily: Ciconiidae Storks are large, heavy, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills and wide wingspans. They lack the powder down that other wading birds such as herons, spoonbills and ibises use to clean off fish slime. Storks lack a pharynx and are mute. One species has been recorded in Montana. • Wood stork, Mycteria americana (R) ==Cormorants and shags==