Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies Habitats

The Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies have seven major habitat categories. Here are the descriptions for five of the habitats:

Coniferous Forests
From majestic ponderosa pine-studded foothills to mountain top stands of whitebark pine and subalpine fir, this habitat offers incredible bird viewing diversity. Our national forests, Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and Craters of the Moon National Monument offer opportunities to see Dusky Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Great Gray Owl, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Varied Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, and White-winged Crossbill.

Farmland and Pastures
These variable, man-made habitats may not support many nesting species, but often provide food or resting areas for resident and migrating birds. When in farmland habitats watch for Greater White-fronted Goose, Gray Partridge, Ring-necked Pheasant, Northern Harrier, Swainson’s Hawk, American Kestrel, Franklin’s Gull, American Crow, Horned Lark, Barn Swallow, Savannah Sparrow and Snow Bunting.

Riparian Areas
Riparian areas are unique, essential habitats visited by nearly all of our resident species, as well as many transient, migrating songbirds. These complex and variable seasonal wetlands exist along streams and rivers. They support a mixture of trees, shrubs, and grasses that sustain birds such as Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Osprey, Western Screech-Owl, Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, American Dipper, Veery, and Yellow-breasted Chat.

Sagebrush Desert and Grasslands
Our driest and most open habitats, sagebrush deserts and grasslands consist of interesting mixtures of drought-adapted grasses, forbs, and shrubs. These areas host a variety of birds including Chukar, Greater Sage-Grouse, Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Prairie Falcon, Long-billed Curlew, Common Poorwill, White-throated Swift, Loggerhead Shrike, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow, and Western Meadowlark.

Subalpine Parkland and Alpine Meadows
Often nearly inaccessible, these high-elevation open forests and meadows can be sampled atop Oregon’s Steens Mountain or Logan Pass in Montana’s Glacier National Park. Species seen in this habitat might include Olive-sided Flycatcher, American Pipit, Lincoln’s and White-crowned Sparrows, Gray-crowned and Black Rosy-Finches.

To learn more about the Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies habitats, order the book,
Birds of the Inland Northwest and Northern Rockies.