American Prairie staff member Scott Heidebrink reports that bird activity made a big leap over the weekend as the region's migratory species make their return for the breeding season.
One special species of note is the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia), which Scott just observed on one of American Prairie's prairie dog towns. Burrowing Owls make their home in the abandoned holes made by prairie dogs and will now be busy building and tending to their underground nests. Recent research conducted in the region has shown that these owls travel to Mexico each year to survive the winter months.
If you're planning a trip to American Prairie in the coming weeks, you might have a chance to see the birds in Scott's list of recent observations below. And regardless of the season, don't forget to download our full birding checklist before your next trip. Whether you're a beginner or an expert birder, the prairie is the perfect place to hone your identification skills. Learn more about each species on the Montana Field Guide website or from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Recent Observations - April 25, 2016
- Green-Winged Teal
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Cinnamon Teal
- Mallard
- Gadwall
- Northern Shoveler
- American Wigeon
- Northern Pintail
- Ring-Necked Duck
- Lesser Scaup
- Ruddy Duck
- Canada Goose
- American Coot
- Pied-Billed Grebe
- Common Loon
- American White Pelican
- Ring-Billed Gull
- Long-Billed Curlew
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Killdeer
- Marbled Godwit
- Willet
- Red-Winged Blackbird
- Yellow-Headed Blackbird
- Brewers Blackbird
- Common Grackle
- Western Meadowlark
- Horned Lark
- Brown-Headed Cowbird
- Says Phoebe
- American Robin
- Yellow-Rumped Warbler
- Orange-Crowned Warbler
- White-Throated Sparrow
- Lincolns Sparrow
- House Finch
- Mourning Dove
- Eurasian Collared Dove
- Sharp-Tailed Grouse
- Gray Partridge
- Rough-Legged Hawk
- Northern Harrier
- Great Horned Owl
- Burrowing Owl
