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Montana species & field knowledge

Identification, seasonality, range, and current signals — written for people in the field, not as a raw data dump.

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

Tall slate-blue wader with a long S-curved neck, dagger bill, and black crown stripe. In flight, the neck folds and legs trail past the tail.

Present year-round in milder western valleys; breeding colonies most active spring through late summer. Winter birds concentrate on open water.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Large raptor; adults show white head and tail with dark body. Immatures are mottled brown for several years. Broad wings and powerful direct flight.

Present year-round. Nesting peaks spring through early summer; post-breeding and winter concentrations form along productive rivers and open water.

Pandion haliaetus

Fish-eating raptor with white underside, dark eye stripe, and long angled wings. Often hovers before diving feet-first.

Arrives in spring; nests through summer; most birds depart by fall. Timing varies with elevation and water conditions.

Habitats drawn from the current species pages. County notes stay generalized — public maps never show nests or dens.

Great Blue Heron

Broadly reported across western valleys and major river systems. Public maps use watershed and county resolution only.

Bald Eagle

Strongest public signals along major river systems. Sensitive nest and roost points are never shown publicly.

Osprey

Strong presence in western and central lake country. Nest platforms may be restricted.