The 24th Kalispell Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, January 1, 2023.  

A total of 75 species was recorded, a number which is about average for this count.   

Highlights included the 2nd ever Yellow-headed Blackbird (Craig Hohenberger et. al.), the 2nd ever Pied-billed Grebe (Elaine Snyder et al.), the 3rd ever Northern Saw-whet Owl (Dick Walker), and the 3rd ever Varied Thrush (Karen Nichols/Jane Adams). No new species were added this year, so the overall species list holds steady at 132.

Species that were found in record numbers included Great Blue Heron (15), Prairie Falcon (3), Northern Shrike (11), Blue Jay (91), Red-breasted Nuthatch (211), White-breasted Nuthatch (32), Golden-crowned Kinglet (24), Townsend’s Solitaire (25) and Red-winged Blackbird (350).

Thirty-six field observers and 8 feeder watchers contributed data. Thanks to all for a fun day!

  1. Pied-billed Grebe 1
  2. Great Blue Heron 15
  3. Trumpeter Swan 2
  4. Canada Goose 257
  5. Mallard 889
  6. Gadwall 1
  7. Ring-necked Duck 2
  8. Common Goldeneye 69
  9. Barrow’s Goldeneye 2
  10. Bufflehead 35
  11. Hooded Merganser 2
  12. Common Merganser 1
  13. Bald Eagle 97
  14. Northern Harrier 2
  15. Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
  16. Cooper’s Hawk 5
  17. Northern Goshawk 2
  18. Red-tailed Hawk 46
    Harlan’s Hawk 3
  19. Rough-legged Hawk 29
  20. Golden Eagle 1
  21. Merlin 12
  22. Prairie Falcon 3
  23. Gray Partridge 41
  24. Ring-necked Pheasant 224
  25. Wild Turkey 197
  26. American Coot 2
  27. Killdeer 1
  28. Ring-billed Gull 27
  29. Herring Gull 36
  30. Rock Pigeon 532
  31. Eurasian Collared Dove 461
  32. Mourning Dove 231
  33. Great Horned Owl 5
  34. Northern Pygmy Owl 1
  35. Northern Saw-whet Owl 1
  36. Snowy Owl 1
  37. Belted Kingfisher 5
  38. Downy Woodpecker 43
  39. Hairy Woodpecker 16
  40. Pileated Woodpecker 4
  1. Northern Flicker 100
    Red-shafted 175
    Yellow-shafted 0
  2. Blue Jay 91
  3. Clark’s Nutcracker 6
  4. Black-billed Magpie 352
  5. American Crow 152
  6. Common Raven 179
  7. Black-capped Chickadee 693
  8. Mountain Chickadee 167
  9. Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1
  10. Red-breasted Nuthatch 211
  11. White-breasted Nuthatch 32
  12. Pygmy Nuthatch 73
  13. Brown Creeper 3
  14. Golden-crowned Kinglet 24
  15. Townsend’s Solitaire 25
  16. Varied Thrush 1
  17. American Robin 28
  18. Bohemian Waxwing 2,123
  19. Cedar Waxwing 59
  20. Northern Shrike 11
  21. European Starling 453
  22. American Tree Sparrow 39
  23. Song Sparrow 31
  24. Dark-eyed Junco 206
    Slate-colored 27
    Oregon 68
    Pink-sided 0
  25. Red-winged Blackbird 350
  26. Yellow-headed Blackbird 1
  27. Snow Bunting 45
  28. Cassin’s Finch 19
  29. House Finch 870
  30. Purple Finch 2
  31. Red Crossbill 64
  32. Common Redpoll 18
  33. Pine Siskin 4
  34. American Goldfinch 23
  35. House Sparrow 352

Count week only:

  • Gray-crowned Rosy Finch

Other data:

  • Duck species 79
  • Woodpecker species 1
  • Chickadee species 11

Participants

  • Pete Fisher
  • Kurt Lindsey
  • Dan Casey
  • Elaine Snyder
  • Mary Knotts
  • Donna Pridmore
  • Jake Bramante
  • Lisa Flowers
  • Jan Metzmaker
  • Karen Nichols
  • Jane Adams
  • Tony Lloyd
  • Mallori Lloyd
  • Kalea Lloyd
  • Ralph Lloyd
  • Denny Olsen
  • Lynda Saul
  • Chris Holdhusen
  • Devin Harshbarger
  • Brent Mitchell
  • Kay Mitchell
  • Darcy Thomas
  • Craig Hohenberger
  • Rod Wallete
  • Elliot Ross
  • Brad Ross
  • Leslie Kehoe
  • Bob Lee
  • Linette David
  • Ser Anderson
  • Carla Belski
  • Kim Corette
  • Linda deKort
  • Pat Jaquith
  • Linda Winnie
  • Dick Walker
  • Cynthia Snyder
  • Kristin Bruninga
  • Lynne Brett
  • Pat Allick
  • Roger Allick
  • Jeanine Buettner
  • Justine Gavagan
  • Cory Davis