A Birder's Guide to North Dakota

by Kevin J. Zimmer

Brewer’s Blackbird—Fairly common summer resident and uncommon to rare winter visitor of open country throughout. Least common in the south-central portion. Not hard to find.

Common Grackle—Common to fairly common summer resident and rare winter visitor of forest edges, farmlands, and residential areas throughout. Easy to find almost anywhere.

Scarlet Tanager—Uncommon summer resident of mature deciduous forests throughout the eastern quarter. Rare breeder in the bottomland forests along the Missouri River at Bismarck. Uncommon migrant throughout the eastern third. Look for it in the Pembina Hills, at Gunlogson Arboretum, Stump Lake Park, Turtle River Park, and along the bottomland forests of the Red, Pembina, Tongue, and Sheyenne (especially in [Ransom] and [Richland] Counties) Rivers.

Northern Cardinal—Uncommon permanent resident of brushy tangles in wooded areas along the Red River at Fargo. In summer it is easiest to see at Oak Grove Park. In winter it may be observed at feeding stations along the river.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak—Fairly common summer resident of mature deciduous forests throughout the eastern half. Commonly seen in migration west to Bismarck. Look for it at Oak Grove and Lindenwood Parks in Fargo, Turtle River and Stump Lake Parks, Sully’s Hill Game Preserve, in the Turtle Mountains and Pembina Hills, the Gunlogson Arboretum, J. Clark Salyer and Tewaukon Refuges, Clausen Springs, and in the bottomland forests of the James, Red, and Sheyenne Rivers.

Black-headed Grosbeak—Fairly common to uncommon summer resident of mature deciduous forests bordering the Missouri and Little Missouri Rivers in the western half. Fairly easy to find in the Sibley Island area at Bismarck, at Sully’s Creek and Little Missouri Parks, in the residential areas of Medora and Marmarth, and along the river in both units of the Roosevelt Memorial (especially Squaw Creek campgrounds/picnic grounds in the north unit).

Blue Grosbeak—Rare spring and summer visitor (and possible breeder) to forest edges, prairie thickets, shelterbelts, and agricultural areas throughout. Most likely in the Little Missouri badlands.

Indigo Bunting—Fairly common summer resident of deciduous forests throughout the eastern third. Uncommon breeder along the Missouri River at Bismarck. Look for this striking bird throughout the Pembina Hills, at Turtle River and Stump Lake Parks, Sully’s Hill Game Preserve, Oak Grove and Linden wood Parks in Fargo, along the Red River from [Pembina] County to [Richland] County, along the James River in [Stutsman] County, and in the Sibley Island area at Bismarck. The latter area overlaps the range of the Lazuli Bunting, and you may see mated pairs and hybrids.

Lazuli Bunting—Fairly common summer resident of deciduous forests throughout most of the western half. Like the Indigo Bunting, this species prefers forest edges and semi-open forests to the thickly wooded areas. Should be easy to find at Sully’s Creek and Little Missouri Parks, along the river and at the campgrounds and picnic grounds in both units of Roosevelt Memorial (especially at Squaw Creek campgrounds/picnic grounds in the north unit), along the river on Upper Souris Refuge, and along the Missouri River at Bismarck (try the Sibley Island area).

Dickcissel—Fairly common summer resident of prairie grasslands, alfalfa hayfields, and retired croplands over most of the state. Somewhat cyclic; common one year and hard to find the next. Much less common in the northern third. Look for it at Bowman-Haley, Lake Ilo, Long Lake, Des Lacs (uncommon to rare), J. Clark Salyer, Audubon, Arrowwood, Slade, Tewaukon, and Rose Lake Refuges; in alfalfa and weedy fields along the Missouri River at Bismarck-Mandan; around Lake Ashtabula; along the road to the North Fargo Sewage Lagoons; and along any back roads through open country in the southeast quarter.