naturemt.com

Red-tailed Hawk
Dark face – Light bib – Dark belly

Redtails are very plastic- that is they have a lot of variation. There are lots of ‘morphs’ or variations of the Red-tailed hawk – Krider’s looks a bit like a Ferruginous; Harlan’s is an almost completely black-coffee colored bird; then there are Western. As if that weren’t enough, there are also light, intermediate, and dark morphs spread across the lot. The red tail is present on all of them to one degree or another. Probably the most common road-side raptor in Montana.

Size: 19 to 22 inches (48 to 56 cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana- open country, agricultural fields, woodlots, prairies, etc.
Seasons: Year Round

Merlin
dark cap/light eyebrow – mottled bib – mottled belly

Montana has several varieties of Merlin. Generally speaking, theya re all grey or brown on their backs, with rusty mottling on their fronts. They are not a lot bigger thn American Kestrels, but they are larger, bulkier and less colorful. Wingbeats are more powerful than Kestrel. I use the mnemonic device – More Massive Merlin – to remember. Slightly larger than an American Robin.

Size: 11 – 12 inches (28 – 31cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, except the more mountainous western areas. Open woodlots, open country, agricultural land, prairies, cliffs, marshes, neighborhoods.
Seasons: Year round

American Kestrel
dark cap – double moustache – mottled bib – mottled belly

Slimmer and smaller than a Merlin. Has a redish (rufous) back. Tail and wings are about equal in length in flight. Beautifully colored tail that flares open as it changes direction or hovers. Flaps and glides. Wing beats are quick and snappy. Grey/blue wings with warm Rusty back. Smaller than an American Robin. I use the mnemonic device Compact Colorful Kestrel to help differentiate from Merlins.

Size: 9 – 11 inches (22 – 26cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, open country, agricultural land, prairies, open woodlots, neighborhoods. Sometimes perches on wires.
Seasons: Year round

Swainson’s Hawk
Dark face – Dark bib – Dark belly

Swainson’s hawks look to me like a Red-tail that’s been on diet. That is, about the same height, but slimmer and lankier. The Swainson’s has thinner wings (front to back_ than a Red-tail and exhibit no red tail. The Swainson’s wingtips are also long enough that they almost reach the end of the tail when perched.

Size: 19 – 21 inches (48 – 53 cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, open Country, plains, grasslands, woodlots.
Seasons: Warmer months

Rough-legged Hawk
Light face – Light bib – Dark belly

Rough-legged hawks are happier where it is cold, so we only get them in the late fall and winter. Once the light is creeping back into the world and they can see their prey, they begin heading north to the tundra. Stunningly beuatiful birds (in my opinion) and somewhat common across the open country of Montana in the cool months. Can often bee seen ‘hovering’ above a field. In flight, they all exhibit a dark ‘wrist patch’ on the underwing and a dark belly.

Size: 21 – 22 inches (53 – 55 cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, open counrty, agricultural fields, grasslands, marshy areas.
Seasons: Winter

Bald Eagle
White face – Dark bib – Dark belly

Mature Bald Eagles are nearly impossible to misidentify. Huge birds with wingspans that can be up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), snow-white head and tail, nearly black body.

Size: 31 to 37 inches (79 to 94 cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana- open country, agricultural fields, woodlots, prairies, almost always somewhat close to rivers or streams.
Seasons: Generally year-round, more common in the spring, summer, and fall.

Osprey
Masked face – Light bib – Light belly

Osprey are pretty distinctive. They have a smaller head and strong mask across the eyes. Often seen hovering over water or perched on poles near water, they are initially remniscent of Bald Eagles because of the white head. However, they are smaller and the mask quickly gives them away.

Size: 23 – 25 inches (58 – 63 cm)
Habitat: Almost alway very close to rivers, lakes, streams, etc.
Seasons: Warmer months.

Turkey Vulture
Red face – Dark bib – Dark belly

The large bird has a smallish head as compared to its body. The head is light grey in immature vultures. In flight, this bird can often be seen rocking back and forth and mostly soars- not a lot of flapping. Nearly as large as both Bald and Golden eagles. Can sometimes be seen in groups soaring or percehd on the ground.

Size:26-27 inches (66 – 69cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana- open country, grasslands, agricultural fields
Seasons: Warmer months

Northern Harrier
Dished, owl-like face – Mottled bib – mottled belly

In flight, this bird goes from unsteady looking as it rocks back and forth flying low over fields or marches listening and looking for food, to balerina like with sudden hovering, amazing pirouettes, and graceful barrel-rolls as it drops to capture prey. When perched, Harriers look similar in stature to a small Red-tailed Hawk, but the tail is much longer and the head and face are noticeably different. Females present a brown back, males are grey. All Harriers exhibit a ‘white rump’ in flight.

Size: 16 – 20 inches (41 – 53cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, open country, marshy areas
Seasons: Year round

Prairie Falcon
Mustache/angry eyebrows – Light bib – Light belly

This is one my favorites. Fast, steady flight. Stiff wingbeats. When perched, Prairies look similar in stature to a Peregrine. The Peregrine, however, has a much darker , almost hooded, head and face. Prairies tend to be a warm brown on their back. Narrow, pointed wings with a tail almost as long as the body.

Size: 16 – 19 inches (41 – 50cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana, open country, agricultural land, prairies, desert badlands.
Seasons: Year round

Ferruginous Hawk
Light/mottled face – Light bib – Light belly

The beautiful bird has a very large bill and often has light ‘cheeks’. The head can be light or mottled. To make things a bit more complicated (birds do that) there can be a light or a dark morph of the Fegguginous hawk. The dark morph may look a lot like a Red-tailed Hawk at first glance, but the underside of the tail and the trailing edge of the wings are almost aways white on a Ferruginous.

Size:23-25 inches (58 – 64cm)
Habitat: Most of Montana- open country, grasslands, agricultural fields
Seasons: Warmer months

Burrowing Owl
Dished face – white collar – mottled bib – mottled belly

If you see Prairie Dogs, you may see Burrow Owls mixed in. These small small, diurnal owls can be seen running around on the ground where Prairie Dogs have established large colonies.

Size: 9 – 10 inches (22 – 24cm)
Habitat: Central and Eastern Montana, open country, prairies. Sometimes perches on fence posts.
Seasons: warmer months

Cooper’s Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk