Rough-legged Hawk—Uncommon to fairly common migrant and winter visitor/resident, in prairies and agricultural areas throughout. Most often seen in November.
Ferruginous Hawk—Fairly common summer resident of open prairies throughout the western and southeast-central portions. Not hard to find. Many people confuse this species with juvenile or light-phase Red-tails. The best mark for separating the two is probably the large, white windows on the upper side of the Ferruginous’ wings. Also, when soaring, the Ferruginous flies with a dihedral (not as pronounced as with the Swainson’s), as opposed to the more flat-winged pattern of the Red-tailed.
Golden Eagle—Uncommon to fairly common permanent resident of the badlands along the Little Missouri River. Uncommon to rare winter visitor throughout. The best areas are the north and south units of the Roosevelt Memorial (including prairies in between) and on the sage-grasslands of [Slope] and [Bowman] Counties. The road going south from Marmarth can be especially good. In winter also check Lake Sakakawea, the Missouri River south of Bismarck, and Audubon Refuge.
Bald Eagle—Rare migrant and winter visitor throughout. A pair nested along the Missouri River ([McLean] County) in 1975, for the first nesting record in several years. In winter it may be found on almost any of the refuges (most likely Audubon), Lake Sakakawea, or along the Missouri River.
Prairie Falcon—Uncommon to rare resident of prairies and badlands in the western quarter. Rare visitor elsewhere. The best areas are the north and south units of the Roosevelt Memorial and Little Missouri and Sully’s Creek State Parks.
Ruffed Grouse—Fairly common to uncommon permanent resident of the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills. Can be found almost anywhere in mature deciduous forests throughout these areas. Try the nature trail at Lake Metigoshe State Park, the forest surrounding the Pelican-Sandy Lakes Primitive Recreation Area, the Wakopa and Tongue River Game Management Areas, and the Gunlogson Arboretum.
Greater Prairie Chicken—Rare permanent resident of remnant tracts of tall-grass prairie in [Grand Forks], [Ransom], and [Richland] Counties. The booming grounds in Ransom and Richland are on the Sheyenne National Grasslands. However, many of these spots are hard to find and hard to get to because of poor roads. Your best bet is on either of the two game management areas near Manvel in [Grand Forks] County.
Sharp-tailed Grouse—Common permanent resident over the western half. Fairly common in the central portion, and uncommon to rare across the eastern quarter. Found mostly in mixed-grass prairies and abandoned farm fields. Should be easy to find on the grasslands and sagebrush flats of both units of the Roosevelt Memorial, on the roads going south from Marmarth and Rhame, in the sandhills of [Ransom] and [Richland] Counties, in weedy fields along the Missouri River south of Bismarck, and on Des Lacs, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Long Lake, and Arrowwood Refuges.
Sage Grouse—Uncommon to fairly common resident of sagebrush prairies in [Bowman], [Slope], [Billings], and Golden Valley Counties. Most common in the western halves of [Slope] and [Bowman] Counties. Try the roads going south from Marmarth and Rhame, and the road going north from Marmarth to Amidon. Activity on the dancing grounds usually reaches its peak in April.
Ring-necked Pheasant—Generally uncommon to fairly common resident over most of the state. Prefers weedy fields and ditches, shelterbelts, dry sloughs, and brushy edges of wooded river bottoms. Look for it in [Barnes], [Ransom], [Richland], [Sargent], and Dickey Counties; in the sandhills on J. Clark Salyer Refuge; around Lake Ilo; along the Missouri River bottoms near Bismarck; and in the Little Missouri bottomlands of the Roosevelt Memorial.