A Birder's Guide to North Dakota

by Kevin J. Zimmer

Mountain Bluebird—Fairly common summer resident of scrub prairie, dry slopes, and wooded coulees in the badlands of the western third. Uncommon to rare summer resident of forest-edge (usually near aspen stands) habitats in the Turtle Mountains and on J. Clark Salyer Refuge (sandhills area). Fairly common to uncommon migrant on prairies and agricultural areas throughout the remainder of the western half. Rare early-spring migrant over the rest of the state. Should be fairly easy to find in both units of the Roosevelt Memorial (especially along the Caprock Coulee Trail in the north unit), Little Missouri Park, the sandhills area of J. Clark Salyer Refuge, and throughout the Kenmare area during the second half of March.

Townsend’s Solitaire—Rare winter visitor/resident of wooded areas throughout the western half. Prefers deciduous river bottoms (Little Missouri River), coniferous slopes (badlands), and conifer stands in and around towns and cities. Look for it anywhere in the badlands or at the Northern Great Plains Research Station in Mandan.

Sprague’s Pipit—Fairly common but local summer resident of mixed-grass prairies and grassy lake borders throughout most of the western and central portions, but uncommon to rare in the eastern third. Uncommon migrant throughout. Should be easy to find at such places as Des Lacs, Lostwood, J. Clark Salyer (grasslands tour), Audubon, and Arrowwood Refuges; Longspur Pasture; and in appropriate habitat over much of [Mountrail], [Kidder], and [Stutsman] Counties.

Bohemian Waxwing—Fairly common but sporadic winter visitor to wooded habitats and residential areas throughout. In winters when present, often found in large flocks in bottomland forest, wood lots, city parks, crab-apple orchards, and residential areas. In fact it can be found anywhere where there are fruit-bearing trees or shrubs. During non-invasion years; can be impossible to find.

Northern Shrike—Uncommon winter visitor to prairies, agricultural areas, and open woodlands throughout. Often hangs out around feeding stations and picks off smaller birds. One of its favorite habitats is a dry slough with lots of willow growth. Here it can find an abundance of shrews, voles, and mice. Likes to perch in conspicuous places.

Bell’s Vireo—Rare and local summer resident of wooded bottomlands along the Missouri River at Bismarck. Try the Sibley Island area. Has a very distinctive “hurried-up” song, which is useful in locating this rather drab bird.

Yellow-throated Vireo—Fairly common to uncommon summer resident of mature deciduous forests throughout the eastern half. Look for it throughout the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills, on J. Clark Salyer Refuge, at Stump Lake and Turtle River Parks, Sully’s Hill Game Preserve, Lindenwood Park, and along bottomland forests of the James (in [Stutsman] County) and Sheyenne (in [Barnes], [Ransom], and [Richland] Counties) Rivers.

Red-eyed Vireo—Common summer resident of deciduous forests throughout. Should be easy to find at such places as Sully’s Creek and Turtle River Parks; along the river in both units of the Roosevelt Memorial; Des Lacs, Upper Souris, J. Clark Salyer, and Tewaukon Refuges; throughout the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills; Stump Lake Park; Sully’s Hill Game Preserve; the Sibley Island area at Bismarck; Lindenwood Park; and along stretches of the James ([Stutsman] County), Sheyenne ([Barnes], [Ransom], and [Richland] Counties), and Red Rivers.

Philadelphia Vireo—Uncommon summer resident of aspen forests of the Turtle Mountains. Look for it at Lake Metigoshe State Park and the Wakopa Game Management Area. Uncommon migrant through deciduous woodlands throughout the rest of the eastern half. In migration look for it at Turtle River and Stump Lake Parks, Sully’s Hill Game Preserve, J. Clark Salyer Refuge, Lindenwood Park, Icelandic Park, Gunlogson Arboretum, Tongue River Game Management Area, in all appropriate habitat in the Pembina Hills, and along the bottomland forests of the James, Sheyenne, and Red Rivers.

Migrant warblers—Occur in wooded habitats, shelterbelts, and residential areas throughout. More species and individuals can be found in the eastern half. The greatest diversity of migrant warblers usually occurs along the Red River at Fargo, where one may see as many as twenty species in one day. The species which regularly occur as migrants (some may nest) over the eastern half of the state include Black-and-white, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Magnolia, Cape May, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle), Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Palm, Connecticut, Mourning, Wilson’s, and Canada Warblers; Ovenbird; Northern Waterthrush; and American Redstart. Other species which can be seen in the east but with less regularity are Prothonotary, Golden-winged, Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue, and Cerulean Warblers. In addition, the Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Yellow-breasted Chat can be found in the western half. The peak movements of warblers usually occur in mid-May and September.