Grab your binoculars and get outside — Montana has more than 400 avian species to spot. The state’s diverse terrain offers plentiful opportunities to observe a rich variety of birds, those passing through along major migratory routes as well as year-round winged residents. Scan the skies from our highest peaks, the nearest riverbank, or simply as you travel to your next destination — every moment in Montana has the potential for a bird sighting.
In spring, witness the remarkable migration of snow geese and tundra swan at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, where hundreds of thousands of waterfowl rest before continuing on to their northern nesting grounds. Explore Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, the last known breeding area of trumpeter swans in the state and home to the largest wetland complex in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Visit Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,800-acre reserve where over 240 avian species have been recorded. The floodplain reserve is particularly active during the fall and spring migrations, but you can observe its 100 resident species throughout the year. In deep winter, look for cedar waxwings in mountain ash trees across the state or snowy owls at Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge in Charlo.
