Birds of Glacier National Park
Montana, United States, North America

Birds of Glacier National Park

Montana, United States, North America
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Overview

Sawwhet OwlSawwhet Owl
Trumpeter SwanTrumpeter Swan
Yellow WarblerYellow Warbler

Glacier National Park is rich in biodiversity. Most of us on SummitPost go to the mountains to get away from the stresses of everyday living. I for one very rarely notice the birds as I am climbing or hiking.

According to the Glacier National Park "Bird List" there are 285 different types of birds that spend all or part of their life within the boundaries of Glacier National Park. Some of these birds are quite rare but they have been seen there. Others are seen frequently.

Some like the American Dipper, also known as the Water Ouzel, are unique and are amazing to watch as they literally fly through Glacier's streams in search of food.

Included in the lists below are the names of the bird, it scientific name as well as which side of the Continental Divide the bird is found. Birds that are found in the alpine environments, like the Whitetailed Ptarmigan and Willow Ptarmigan, are frequently seen enroute to Glacier's summits.


Area:

E-occurs on east side of the Park (East of Continental Divide)
W-occurs on west side of the Park (West of Continental Divide)
A-occurs in alpine areas

Please Note: Most of these photos were not taken in Glacier National Park.

Loons

LOONS (Gaviidae) Scientific Name Area
Common Loon Gavia immer E
Arctic Loon Gavia arctica W
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata W

Mockingbirds and Catbirds

MOCKINGBIRD, CATBIRDS Scientific Name Area
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos W
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis EW









Pelicans and Cormorants

Pelicans
 


PELICANS, CORMORANTS Scientific Name Area
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos EW
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus EW









Herrons and Bitterns

Great Egret
 

HERONS, BITTERNS Scientific Name Area
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias EW
Great Egret Ardea alba W
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax W
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus EW










Swans, Geese and Ducks

Canada Goose
 
SWANS, GEESE, DUCKS Scientific Name Area
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus EW
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator EW
Canada Goose Branta canadensis EW
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons W
Snow Goose Chen caerulescens W
Ross' Goose Chen rossii EW
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos EW
Gadwall Anas strepera EW
Northern Pintail Anas acuta EW
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis W
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors W
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera W
European Wigeon Anas penelope W
American Wigeon Anas americana EW
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata EW
Wood Duck Aix sponsa EW
Redhead Aythya americana EW
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris EW
Canvasback Aythya valisineria EW
Greater Scaup Aythya marila W
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis EW
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula EW
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica EW
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola W
Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis W
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus EW
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca EW
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata W
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis EW
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus EW
Common Merganser Mergus merganser EW
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator EW
































Harlequin Duck
 

Vultures, Hawks and Eagles

Perigrine Falcon
 
VULTURES, HAWKS, EAGLESScientific Name Area
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura EW
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis EW
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus EW
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii EW
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis EW
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus W
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus W
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni EW
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus EW
Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis EW
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos EWA
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus EW
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus EW
Osprey Pandion haliaetus EW
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus EWA
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus EW
Merlin Falco columbarius EWA
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus A
American Kestrel Falco sparverius EW

Grouse and Ptarmigan

Ptarmigan
 

GROUSE, PTARMIGAN Scientific Name Area
Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus EWA
Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis EW
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus EW
Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus A
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura A
Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus E
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus W
Gray Partridge Perdix perdix W




Cranes

Sandhill Crane
 

CRANES Scientific Name Area
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis) W




Rails and Coots

RAILS, COOTS Scientific Name Area
Sora Porzana carolina EW
American Coot Fulica americana EW




Shorebirds

Spotted Sandpiper
 


SHOREBIRDS Scientific Name Area
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus EW
Semipalmated Plover Calidris pusilla E
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola EW
Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala E
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago EW
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus EW
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda E
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius EW
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria EW
Willet Tringa semipalmata W
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca EW
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes EW
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos EW
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii EW
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla W
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla W
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri W
Sanderling Calidris alba W
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus EW
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa EW
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana EW
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor EW
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus EW




Gulls and Terns

Herring Gull
 

GULLS, TERNS Scientific Name Area
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus W
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens W
Herring Gull Larus argentatus EW
California Gull Larus californicus EW
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis EW
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan EW
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia EW
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla W
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri EW
Common Tern Sterna hirundo E
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia E
Black Tern Chlidonias niger EW




Pigeons and Doves

PIGEONS, DOVES Scientific Name Area
Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata W
Rock Dove Columba livia EW
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura EW




Owls

Great Horned Owl
 

OWLS Scientific Name Area
Western Screech Owl Megascops kennicottii EW
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus EW
Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus W
Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula EW
Northern Pygmy Owl Glaucidium gnoma EW
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia W
Barred Owl Strix varia EW
Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa EW
Long-eared Owl Asio otus EW
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus EW
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus EW
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus EW




Nighthawks and Swifts

Nighthawk
 

NIGHTHAWKS, SWIFTS Scientific Name Area
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor EW
Black Swift Cypseloides niger EWA
Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi EW
White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis EWA










Hummingbirds

Rufous Hummingbird
 

HUMMINGBIRDS Scientific Name Area
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri W
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus EW
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus EWA
Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope EWA




Kingfishers

KINGFISHERS Scientific Name Area
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon EW




Woodpeckers

Pileated Woodpecker
 

WOODPECKERS Scientific Name Area
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus EW
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus EW
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus E
Lewis' Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis EW
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Melanerpes lewis EW
Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus EW
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus EW
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens EW
White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus W
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus EW
American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis EW










Buntings, Finches and Sparrows

Red Crossbill
 

BUNTINGS, FINCHES, SPARROWS Scientific Name Area
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea W
Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena EW
Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys EW
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis EW
Cassin's Finch Carpodacus cassinii EW
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus W
Rosy Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis EWA
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea EW
Hoary Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni W
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus EWA
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis EW
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra EW
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera EW
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus E
Rufous-sided Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus EW
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis EW
LeConte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii EW
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus EW
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus W
American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea EW
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina EW
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida E
Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri EW
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla W
Harris' Sparrow Zonotrichia querula EW
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys EWA
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis W
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca EW
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii EW
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia EW
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis EW
McCown's Longspur Calcarius mccownii EW
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus EW
Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus EW




Larks

LARKS Scientific Name Area
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris EWA




Swallows

Barn Swallow
 

SWALLOWS Scientific Name Area
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina EWA
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor EW
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia EW
Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis EW
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica EW
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota EWA




Jays, Magpies, Ravens and Crows

Raven
 

JAYS, MAGPIES, CROWS, RAVENS Scientific Name Area
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis EW
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata E
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri EW
Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia EW
Common Raven Corvus corax EWA
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos EW
Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana EWA




Chickadees

CHICKADEES Scientific Name Area
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus EW
Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli EW
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonica EW
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens EW




Nuthatches and Creepers

NUTHATCHES, CREEPERS Scientific Name Area
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis EW
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis EW
Brown Creeper Certhia americana EW




Dippers and Wrens

American Dipper
 


DIPPERS, WRENS Scientific Name Area
American Dipper (Water Ouzel) Cinclus mexicanus EW
House Wren Troglodytes aedon EW
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes EW
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris W
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus EW




Grebes

Clark's Grebe
 

GREBES (Podicipedidae) Scientific Name Area
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena E
Slavonian Grebe (Horned Grebe) Podiceps auritus EW
Black-necked Grebe (Eared Grebe) Podiceps nigricollis EW
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis EW
Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii EW
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps EW




Thrushes, Bluebirds and Solitaires

Western Bluebird
 

THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS, SOLITAIRES Scientific Name Area
American Robin Turdus migratorius EW
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius EW
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus EW
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus EW
Veery Catharus fuscescens EW
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis E
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana EW
Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides EWA
Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi EWA




Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing
 

WAXWINGS Scientific Name Area
Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus EW
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum EW




Kinglets

KINGLETS Scientific Name Area
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa EW
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula EW




Pipits

PIPITS Scientific Name Area
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta EWA
Sprague's Pipit Anthus spragueii E




Shrikes

SHRIKES Scientific Name Area
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor EW
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus EW




Starlings

European Starling
 

STARLINGS Scientific Name Area
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris EW




Vireos

VIREOS Scientific Name Area
Solitary Vireo Vireo solitarius EW
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus EW
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus EW




Weaver Finches

WEAVER FINCHES Scientific Name Area
House Sparrow Passer domesticus EW







Warblers

Yellow Warbler
 

WARBLERS Scientific Name Area
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia E
Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina EW
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata EW
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla EW
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia EW
Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina EW
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata EW
Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi EW
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea W
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla E
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis EW
MacGillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei EW
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas EW
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens W
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla EW
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla EW




Blackbirds and Orioles

Yellow-headed Blackbird
 

BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES Scientific Name Area
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus EW
Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta EW
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus EW
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus EW
Northern Oriole Icterus galbula EW
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus EW
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus EW
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula E
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater E




Tanagers and Grosbeaks

Western Tanager
 

TANAGERS, GROSBEAKS Scientific Name Area
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana EW
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus E
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus EW
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator EW




Flycatchers

FLYCATCHERS Scientific Name Area
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus EW
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis EW
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus W
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens W
Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya EW
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii EW
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus E
Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii EW
Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri EW
Western Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis EW
Western Wood Pewee Contopus sordidulus EW
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi EW






Images

View Birds of Glacier National Park Image Gallery - 8 Images

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Geography
Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.

Glacier National Park, MTLists