Snowy Owl—Uncommon and irregular winter visitor to open country throughout. A few of these large arctic wanderers are present every winter. However, in some winters it may be hard to find while in others it seems to be almost common. There are no specific spots. Just drive the back-country roads any time from December through March. A few can usually be found every winter in [Cass] County, often right along the roads.
Burrowing Owl—Uncommon summer resident of heavily-grazed prairie throughout the western three-fourths of the state. Look for it on Arrowwood, Long Lake, Audubon, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer, Chase Lake, Lake Ilo, Bowman-Haley, and Stewart Lake Refuges; Salt Alkaline Lake; prairie-dog towns in both units of the Roosevelt Memorial; and south of Marmarth.
Barred Owl—Rare resident of Sheyenne River bottomlands in [Ransom] and [Richland] Counties. Occasionally recorded in winter elsewhere in the eastern half, particularly along the Red River.
Short-eared Owl—Uncommon and cyclic resident of grasslands, wet meadows, and fallow fields throughout. In some years fairly common, in others hard to find. An influx of migrants from the north sometimes appears in November. Look at Bowman-Haley, Lake Ilo, Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, Arrowwood, Long Lake, and Tewaukon Refuges.
Saw-whet Owl—Rare winter visitor to conifer stands, alder thickets, and residential areas throughout the eastern half. May be an occasional summer resident in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills, and on the south side of Devils Lake (Sully’s Hill Game Preserve).
Poor-will—Uncommon summer resident of brushy slopes and ravines in the badlands and pine forests of [Slope] County. Rare in the south unit of the Roosevelt Memorial. Listen for it near the Columnar Juniper Area.
Chimney Swift—Uncommon to fairly common summer resident of towns and cities throughout. More common in the eastern half. Look for it in Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Wahpeton, Valley City, Jamestown, Bismarck-Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, and Williston. Should be fairly easy to find in most towns and cities along the Red and Sheyenne Rivers.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird—Uncommon summer resident of deciduous-woods margins in the Turtle Mountains, Pembina Hills, south side of Devils Lake, and along the Souris (J. Clark Salyer), James (Jamestown), and Sheyenne (Valley City to Baldhill Dam) Rivers. Occurs elsewhere throughout the central and eastern portions as an uncommon to fairly common migrant.
Common Flicker—Common summer resident (a few winter) of open woodlands throughout. Both races are found, and many interesting and confusing hybrids occur. The predominant race is the Yellow-shafted. The Red-shafted race occurs throughout the western half, but is common only in the Little Missouri badlands.
Pileated Woodpecker—Uncommon to rare resident of mature woodlands along the Red River in [Cass] County (and possibly in [Grand Forks]) and along the Sheyenne River in [Ransom] and [Richland] Counties. More common along the Red River at Fargo in winter.