By Dan Casey
Rare and Notables – February/March 2026
See also: https://ebird.org/region/US-MT-029?yr=all
As late winter started to give way to early spring, several of the lingering “half-hardy” species seen during winter remained, including Spotted Towhees, Western Bluebirds and the continuing Anna’s Hummingbird near Creston. The female Harlequin Duck also continued at Bigfork, and Snow Geese were at scattered locations in the Mission Valley. Early arrivals included Eurasian Wigeon, American White Pelican, Say’s Phoebe, Williamson’s Sapsuckers, and American Pipit.
02/13– Western Bluebird (4) South of Columbia Falls (cont.) (Jake B.)
02/15 – Snow Goose (14) Moeise area (Avery S.)
02/15 – Spotted Towhee (2) Wayfarer’s SP (cont.) (Kathy R.) max. 3, 2/25 (Zackary S.)
02/16 – American White Pelican (1) Ninepipe NWR (Rex S.)
02/16 – Anna’s Hummingbird (1) Many Lakes (Margaret P.) (thru early 03/01, Michel T.)
02/18 – Snow Goose (1) Polson (James O.)
02/20 – Harlequin Duck (f) Bigfork (Roy M.) through 03/06 (Annie M., Sasha R.)
02/28 – Eurasian Wigeon (1) Creston Wetland (Craig H.)
02/28 – Say’s Phoebe (1) Arlee (Lauren S.)
03/02 – American Pipit (1) Ronan (Luis RCH.)
03/03 – Eurasian Wigeon (1) Dayton (Steve C.), (also 03/04, Luis RCH)
03/05 – Turkey Vulture (1) Dyer Rd, Creston (Michel T.)
03/06 – Greater White-fronted Goose (1) Dayton (Jed P.)
03/07 – Williamson’s Sapsucker (5, high early #) Lake Mary Ronan SP (Raylene W.)
03/07 – White-winged Crossbill (2) Creston Hatchery/Jessup Mill Pond (Paul R.)
03/07 – Tree Swallow (2, first of season) Lower Flathead River (N. Miller)
03/10 – Snowy Owl (1) Stillwater Rd (Nickie B.)
What to Expect – March/April 2026
The first insect-eaters arrive in earnest in late March (Tree and Violet-green Swallows, Mountain Bluebirds, Western Meadowlarks), and waterfowl flocks increase in both numbers and diversity. Eurasian Wigeon, Greater Scaup, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, and Northern Pintails are still present in good numbers, and are joined by increasing numbers of Snow Geese, Northern Shovelers, and more. Red-necked Grebes will appear on the more vegetated wetlands (e.g. Smith Lake). Sandhill Cranes will return; listen also for the first singing Marsh Wrens and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Yellow-headed Blackbirds will begin staking out their marsh territories, in some cases displacing Red-winged Blackbirds from prime sites. The first hummingbirds may arrive before mid-April.