Gray Partridge—Fairly common resident over most of the state, becoming less common in the northeast. Utilizes much the same habitat as the Ring-necked Pheasant, but is more often found in open prairie areas. Fairly easy to find, particularly in winter when it is often found in the open along the roads.
Wild Turkey—Has been introduced in many areas. Has taken hold in the wooded river bottoms of the Missouri and Sheyenne (locally—around Valley City) Rivers, and in the Little Missouri badlands, where it occupies an upland coniferous-forest habitat. In these areas it is a fairly common to uncommon resident.
Whooping Crane—Rare migrant on its way to and from the nesting grounds in Canada. At those times it may be seen on almost any of the refuges in the western and central portions.
Sandhill Crane—Common migrant throughout the western half; uncommon to rare through much of the eastern half. During migration, may be found in large concentrations on refuges, in grain fields, or simply flying through the air in long skeins.
Yellow Rail—Rare and local summer resident of spring-fed sedge fields in the northern (mostly north-central) portion. Scattered colonies have been reported in recent years from [McLean], [Mountrail], [Bottineau], and [Benson] Counties. Because of its accessibility, J. Clark Salyer Refuge may offer your best chance of finding it. Check appropriate habitat along the scenic tour.
Piping Plover—Uncommon summer resident of selected alkaline ponds and lakes, and occasionally of freshwater lakes, rivers, and impoundments with open sandy or gravel shores. Watch especially on sandbars along the Missouri River at Bismarck, and on the alkaline lakes and potholes of Lostwood Refuge. Other areas include Long Lake Refuge, J. Clark Salyer Refuge, and the shores of Devils Lake, Stump Lake, and Alkaline Lake.
Lesser Golden Plover—Fairly common migrant throughout, except in the southwest sector where it is uncommon to rare. In fall found in large numbers at places such as Stump Lake, Alkaline Lake, Kelly’s Slough, and the sewage ponds in Fargo, West Fargo, and Grand Forks. Numbers peak in September and October. In spring (mostly mid-April) seems to prefer flooded fields (and even some that are not flooded).
Ruddy Turnstone—Uncommon migrant in the eastern half; rare migrant throughout the western half. Frequently seen on plowed fields (especially flooded ones), and on artificial water impoundments such as sewage ponds, flood-control ponds, and fish-removal ponds. Look for it in [Cass] and [Grand Forks] Counties; at the Grand Forks, Fargo, and West Fargo sewage ponds; at Kelly’s Slough; Rush, Alkaline, and Stump Lakes; J. Clark Salyer Refuge; and at the fish hatchery in Valley City.
Long-billed Curlew—An uncommon to rare summer resident of scrub-prairie and short-grass areas in the extreme southwest corner. Most likely in [Bowman] and [Slope] Counties. Try the roads going south from Marmarth and Rhame, and the road going north from Marmarth to Amidon.
Upland Sandpiper—Fairly common summer resident of prairie grasslands and wet meadows throughout. Often seen sitting on fence posts in spring. Look for it at Bowman-Haley, Stewart Lake, Lake Ilo, Lostwood, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Long Lake, Arrowwood, and Tewaukon Refuges; in the Sheyenne Grasslands of [Ransom] and [Richland] Counties; and around Kelly’s Slough and the prairie-chicken areas in [Grand Forks] County. Should be easy to find.