American White Pelican—Hard-to-miss summer resident over most of the state. Apparently, the only known breeding colony is on Chase Lake, where there are about 4,000 pairs nesting. Individuals from this colony (and many others which nest in neighboring states) range far and wide all summer. Should be easy to find at Des Lacs, Lostwood, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Arrowwood, Long Lake, Lake Ilo, Bowman-Haley, and Tewaukon Refuges, as well as at Beaver Lake and Baldhill Dam (Lake Ashtabula).
Whistling Swan—Fairly common spring and fall migrant throughout. It can be found on almost any large marsh or lake, including places like Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Arrowwood, Long Lake, and Tewaukon Refuges. The best spot is Hobart Lake, where there are usually hundreds present for several weeks in fall.
Greater White-fronted Goose—Fairly common migrant throughout the western half; uncommon in the eastern half. Found on marshlands or grainfields with congregations of Canada and Snow Geese.
Cinnamon Teal—Rare spring-through-April visitor and probable breeder in marshlands throughout the central and western parts. Occasionally seen in the southeast corner (Tewaukon).
Wood Duck—Fairly common summer resident of wooded streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes through the eastern half. Uncommon in the western half at places like Des Lacs, Upper Souris, and Audubon Refuges—except along the Missouri River below Bismarck, where it is fairly common. Should be easy to find along the Wild Rice and Red (especially at Fargo) Rivers, along the Sheyenne River below Baldhill Dam, and at Arrowwood and J. Clark Salyer Refuges.
White-winged Scoter—Rare migrant on lakes and sewage ponds throughout. Occasionally nests on lakes in the Turtle Mountains and at Des Lacs Refuge.
Hooded Merganser—Rare migrant on water areas throughout. Fairly common summer resident along the woodland-bordered stretch of the Souris River in [Bottineau] and [McHenry] Counties (particularly on J. Clark Salyer Refuge). Uncommon to rare breeder at Arrowwood Refuge.
Northern Goshawk—Rare winter visitor/resident and migrant in wooded areas throughout. Some possible areas include the river bottoms of the James, Red, and Sheyenne Rivers in the southeast; Turtle River Park, the Pembina Hills, the Turtle Mountains, the Souris River bottomlands in J. Clark Salyer Refuge, and the forest surrounding Devils Lake in the northeast; and the Missouri and Little Missouri bottomlands and the wooded hills of the badlands in the western half. The Turtle Mountains are probably your best bet.
Broad-winged Hawk—Uncommon to fairly common summer resident of mature, deciduous forests in the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills. Rare breeder in other areas with similar habitat in the eastern half. Uncommon migrant through wooded areas of the western half.
Swainson’s Hawk—Common summer resident of prairies and agricultural areas throughout the western three-fourths of the state. Uncommon to rare in the eastern one-fourth. Easy to find.