If you ’re a birdwatcher who bed explore different land , Montana offers a fascinating variety of black and white-hot birdie that are both prominent and unique . The immense landscapes , from deal to wetland , provide perfect habitats for many species with bluff contrasting color . take note theseblack and ashen birdsin Montanais a rewarding experience for anyone passionate about birding .
Black and white birds in Montanastand out with their distinctive plume patterns that make recognition comfortable and more exciting . From the canny Black - bill Magpie to the subtle Black - endorse Woodpecker , each mintage has its own charm and story . This diversity adds a particular touch to birdwatching stumble across Montana ’s wide-ranging surround .
In this clause , you ’ll feel photo and detailed designation tips for 22black and ashen snort commonly notice in Montana . For both veteran birder and beginners , these mintage highlight the beauty and complexity of Montana ’s avian world . Get quick to add some strike black and clean birds to your Montana birding checklist !
Common Black and White Birds Found in Montana
Black-billed Magpie
The Black - billed Magpie is a spectacular and easy placeable hoot , known for its long , graceful tail and bluff bootleg - and - white feather . It has a calendered black head , chest of drawers , and back , contrast acutely with bright white patches on its offstage and paunch . One of its most typical feature article is the pearlescent blue - green sheen on its tail end feathering , which shimmer in the sunshine . This bird typically measures about 17 to 18 inches ( 43 to 46 centimetre ) in duration , making it one of the larger members of the crow mob . Its keen , intelligent eyes and loud , wide-ranging vocalisation add to its unmistakable presence in the Montana landscape .
In Montana , Black - placard scavenger are common across a wide variety of habitat , include open grasslands , agricultural fields , shrublands , and urban area . They are highly adaptable birds and often thrive near human settlements , where they take advantage of intellectual nourishment sources like refuse , roadkill , and bird feeder . Magpies are well known for their social behavior , often seen in pairs or belittled groups , and they are notable for their complex call and power to mimic speech sound . Their territorial displays and playful put-on make them a dearie among birdwatchers .
Black - bill Magpies have a various diet that reflects their opportunistic nature . They feast on insects , small gnawer , egg , and nestlings of other raspberry , as well as carrion and flora material such as seeds and berries . Their diet often changes seasonally , with more animal quarry consumed in spring and summer , and more flora matter in fall and winter . This wide-ranging diet helps them survive the often rough Montana winter and take advantage of the region ’s seasonal food availability .
Black-capped Chickadee
The Black - capped Chickadee is a small , up-and-coming bird that is well acknowledge by its distinctive ignominious capital and bib , which contrast vividly against its white cheeks . Its back is a soft gray color , and its underpart are a pale buff or milky chromaticity . Measuring approximately 4.7 to 5.9 inches ( 12 to 15 curium ) in length , this bird is known not only for its magical appearance but also for its lively personality . The chickadee ’s famous “ chick - a - dee - dee - dee ” call is one of the most placeable shuttle sounds in North America and is used both for communicating and as an alarm signaling .
In Montana , contraband - capped Chickadees are widespread and year - round occupant found in a variety of habitats , including mixed and deciduous forest , suburban commons , and wooded residential areas . They choose areas with dense trees and bush , which provide both shelter and nesting sites . These bird are extremely adaptable and often form belittled flock in winter , banding together for warmth and forage efficiency . Their fearless and wondering nature take a crap them frequent visitor at backyard feeders .
The diet of the Black - crest Chickadee shifts with the season . During the warmer month , they chiefly feed on insects , spider , and caterpillars , foraging actively by gleaning from foliage , branches , and tree bark . In winter , when insects are scarce , chickadees switch to come and berry , and they often cache solid food to retrieve later . Their power to store food combined with their agile foraging deportment help them endure Montana ’s insensate winters successfully .
Dark-eyed Junco
The Dark - eyed Junco is a small , sparrow - corresponding bird that is a familiar sight across Montana , especially during the moth-eaten calendar month . It valuate about 5 to 6.5 inches ( 13 to 16.5 cm ) in distance and features a sonant ticket - grey or brownish color on its upperparts with a clean white belly . The fountainhead is typically darker , often slate - gray or brown , depending on the race , and many have pinkish or pale bills . Montana host several subspecies of Dark - eyed Junco , with the “ Oregon ” and “ Slate - color ” form being the most unwashed .
Dark - eyed Juncos are widespread throughout Montana , appearing in timberland , timberland , undecided playing area , and even suburban backyards . They are ground foragers and are often meet hopping and scratching through folio litter or snow in hunting of food . During the breeding season , they opt cone-bearing or miscellaneous forests where they build their nests on or near the land , blot out beneath dense vegetation .
Their dieting consist mainly of seeds , especially during winter , when they bank on grass , grass , and fall seeds on the solid ground . In ardent months , dirt ball and other small invertebrates become an important part of their dieting , providing necessary protein for stir young . Dark - eyed Juncos are frequent visitors to bird feeders in Montana , where they particularly enjoy millet and helianthus seeds . Their mild , trilling Song and typical flight of stairs approach pattern make them a favorite among bird enthusiast .
White-breasted Nuthatch
The White - summit Nuthatch is a lowly , agile bird measuring about 5 to 6 inches ( 13 to 15 atomic number 96 ) in length , recognized by its distinctive ashen boldness , pharynx , and underpart . Its upperparts are a muted blue - grey vividness , and it disport a black ceiling and nape that contrast sharply with its blanched cheeks . One of the most enthralling behaviors of this mintage is its power to move headfirst down tree trunk and ramification as it forages , a unique trait among many woodland birds .
This nuthatch is ordinarily found in Montana ’s matured deciduous and assorted timberland , as well as suburban commons and wooded residential areas . It prefers wooded habitats with tumid tree , which provide ample forage opportunities and nesting sites . White - breasted Nuthatches are non - migratory and remain in Montana year - rotund , adapt well to a kind of forest case and climatic condition .
The White - breasted Nuthatch feeds primarily on insects , spider , and other little invertebrate see on tree barque . It uses its hard measure to probe crevices and peel back barque to expose hidden prey . During the moth-eaten months , it supplements its dieting with come and crackpot , often lay in these in bark crevices for later pulmonary tuberculosis . This doll also readily call in backyard feeders , specially those extend suet , sunflower seeds , and peanut vine , making it a familiar and welcome visitor in Montana garden .
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest pecker establish in Montana , measure about 6 to 7 inches ( 15 to 18 centimetre ) in distance . It has a classifiable dim - and - ashen plumage , with a black-market - and - white striped nous , a livid back , andblack wingsspeckled with white spots . manlike Downy Woodpeckers are key out by a small blood-red patch on the back of their headway , while females lack this scoring . Its relatively brusk circular sets it apart from the similar but larger Hairy Woodpecker .
This species is widespread across Montana and busy a diversity of habitat , including forest , timber , woodlet , and suburban region with matured Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Downy Woodpeckers are twelvemonth - one shot residents in the country and are often seen clinging to tree diagram body and branches as they search for food for thought . Their lasting drumming and tapping are often heard in wooded areas during the breeding season .
Downy Woodpeckers in the main feed on louse such as mallet larva , ants , and caterpillars , which they extract from bark scissure using their acute bills . In winter , when insects are scarce , they shift their diet to include seeds and berries . They are common visitors at backyard feeders , especially those offering suet and sunflower seed . Their bearing in both barbarian and suburban areas make them a favorite species for Montana birdwatchers .
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium - sized songbird , about 8 to 10 column inch ( 20 to 25 cm ) in length , eff for its spectacular gray plumage and blank wing patches visible during flight . It has a slender consistence , foresightful ass , and pale underparts , with a sharp , slightly curved bill . This wench is famed for its telling vocal ability , capable to mime the songs of other birds , insects , and even mechanical noises , often take over phrases multiple times . Its varied and complex birdsong repertoire cook it one of the most talented mimics in North America .
In Montana , Northern Mockingbirds inhabit open sphere such as shrublands , farmland boundary , suburban yards , and parks . They prefer habitat with dispel tree diagram or shrubs , which provide idealistic perches for singing and vantage points to watch for insects . While not as common as in some southerly states , Mimus polyglotktos are found chiefly in the southern and easterly part of Montana during the breeding season , and they now and then appear as migrants or winter visitors in other areas .
The Northern Mockingbird ’s diet is extremely varied and includes insects , spiders , berries , and fruit . During fountain and summer , they principally consume insects such as beetles , ants , and hopper , which provide protein need for upbringing . In pin and winter , their diet shifts toward fruits and Charles Edward Berry , such as elderberries and mulberries . Their power to adapt their diet aid them expand in a range of environments across Montana .
Hairy Woodpecker
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium - sized woodpecker , measuring around 9 to 10 inches ( 23 to 26 cm ) in length , characterise by its grim - and - blank plumage and relatively tenacious bill compare to the Downy Woodpecker . It has a white underside , bootleg wing with white daub , and a white back stripe . Males have a small red plot of land on the back of their forefront , while females do not . The Hairy Woodpecker ’s larger size of it and retentive flyer assist tell apart it from the standardized but belittled Downy Woodpecker .
Hairy Woodpeckers are far-flung across Montana , frequenting mature woodland , timberland , orchards , and suburban area with heavy trees . They favor surface area with a safe supply of deadened or decaying tree diagram , which are crucial for nesting and foraging . They are year - one shot residents and are often seen clinging vertically to tree trunks and limb , using their impregnable broadside to probe for insects beneath barque .
Their dieting mainly consist of worm , include beetle larvae , ants , and Ellen Price Wood - drill insects found under tree barque . They also exhaust fruits and nuts on occasion . Hairy Woodpeckers scrounge by hammering and chisel into Mrs. Henry Wood to unveil insect prey , and they sometimes chit-chat suet birdfeeder in backyard . Their relentless drumming and distinctive call add liveliness to Montana ’s forested areas .
Loggerhead Shrike
The Loggerhead Shrike is a average - sized songbird , about 9 inches ( 23 centimetre ) long , notable for its bold calamitous , white , and gray plumage and its hooked , raptor - like bill . It has a gray eubstance with a black mask across its eyes and black annexe with white patches . This bird is often call the “ butcher bird ” because of its unusual hunt doings : it impales quarry on thorns or briary telegram to store or buck it aside . The Loggerhead Shrike ’s precipitous eyesight and fast-growing hunting manner set it aside from many songbirds .
In Montana , Loggerhead Shrikes inhabit undefendable grasslands , shrublands , and farming areas with dissipate bush or fence , which provide idealistic hunt perch . They are primarily discover in the eastern and key regions of the country and choose home ground with heap of open space for spotting prey . Shrikes are territorial and often seen perched conspicuously on fences or telephone wires as they scan for insects , small shuttle , or mammal .
Their diet is carnivorous and varied , including insects like grasshoppers and beetles , small birds , rodent , and reptiles . The Loggerhead Shrike ’s drug abuse of spike prey is unique among songbirds and helps it finagle declamatory prey items that it can not swallow whole . This bewitching demeanor , combined with its striking appearance , makes the Loggerhead Shrike a compelling raspberry to observe in Montana .
Northern Shrike
The Northern Shrike is a medium - sized predatory songster , measure about 9 to 10 in ( 23 to 25 cm ) in duration . It is mostly gray with a white undersurface and black wings marked with blank plot of ground . It also has a trenchant pitch-dark masquerade that extends through the eyes , and a slightly hooked bill used for arrest and killing quarry . This dame is lie with for its predatory habits and is sometimes call the “ butcher bird , ” alike to the Loggerhead Shrike , due to its wont of empale prey .
Northern Shrikes breed in the northern tundra and boreal woods but migrate in the south into Montana during the wintertime months . In Montana , they are ordinarily found in open habitats such as grasslands , shrublands , and woodland edges , specially during winter . They favour area with scattered trees or shrub for hunt perches and use their neat eyesight to spot prey from a space .
Their dieting consists mostly of insects , pocket-size snort , mammal , and now and then reptiles . The Northern Shrike enchant feed with its sharp account and use its talon - similar feet to hold it . It transfix larger prey on thorns or barbed wire , like to the Loggerhead Shrike . This hiss ’s combination of raptor - like hunting skills and songbird appearing makes it an intriguing species to watch out during Montana ’s cold calendar month .
Black-and-White Warbler
The Black - and - White Warbler is a small songster , measuring about 4.3 to 5.1 inches ( 11 to 13 cm ) in length , known for its classifiable black - and - white stripy plumage . Unlike many warblers that scrounge in the canopy , the Black - and - White Warbler creep along tree trunks and branches like a nuthatch , using its curved eyeshade to probe for louse . Its bold bleak - and - white blueprint provide excellent camouflage on the bark of trees .
In Montana , the Black - and - White Warbler is a migrant metal money , usually excrete through or breed in mixed and deciduous forests , particularly in moist , wooded home ground . It is more normally go through during migration in spring and fall , but some may breed in suitable forested areas . This warbler prefers habitats with mature trees that have deal of barque crevices for scrounge .
Its dieting lie primarily of worm and spiders , which it searches for by creeping along the bark and thumb aside leaves and debris . The Black - and - White Warbler ’s unique foraging elan and striking feather make it stand out among Montana ’s warbler metal money . Its speedy , high up - pitched song is a cardinal identifier during migration time of year .
Black-headed Grosbeak
The Black - headed Grosbeak is a medium - sized songster , approximately 7.5 to 8 inches ( 19 to 20 centimeter ) long , notable for its prominent plume . male have a rich orangish - cinnamon torso with a contrasting bleak promontory and wings , accented by white while on the annex . Females are more hushed with brownish and buff streaks but retain the grosbeak ’s robust , thick bill . This bird has a melodious , quaver song and various calls used in communicating .
In Montana , Black - headed Grosbeaks prefer deciduous timberland , especially those with obtuse shrub or forest edge . They engender in the western parts of the commonwealth , often near water sources such as streams and rivers , which digest the insect population they eat on . These hiss can also be find out in commons and suburban areas with rich tree cover during the breeding season .
Their diet comprise chiefly of insect during the breeding season , include beetle , caterpillars , and grasshopper , which bring home the bacon protein for raise young . In former summertime and fall , their dieting shift to come and fruits , such as berries and sunflower germ . This adaptability in dieting take into account them to thrive in diverse habitat throughout Montana ’s warmer months .
Steller’s Jay
The Steller ’s Jay is a dramatic bird , about 11 to 12 inches ( 28 to 30 cm ) in length , easy placeable by its graphic aristocratical body and contrasting black nous and crown . It has bright gloomy wing and tail feathers , with a prominent crest on its head that can be lift or lowered . The Steller ’s Jay is noisy and bold , often learn before find out with its rough , rasp birdsong and varied vocalizations .
In Montana , Steller ’s Jays are vernacular in coniferous forests , particularly in mountainous region . They prefer pine and spruce forests but are also adaptable to miscellaneous woodlands and even urban parks with large trees . These birds are yr - bout residents in much of westerly Montana , thriving in area with dense tree masking and abundant solid food .
Their omnivorous diet include seeds , nuts , fruits , dirt ball , and once in a while bollock or nestlings of other birds . Steller ’s jay are known to lay away food for later use , store nuts and come in bark crevices or on the ground . Their intelligence information and adaptability facilitate them exploit a wide miscellanea of intellectual nourishment sources throughout the class .
Black-crowned Night-Heron
The Black - crowned Night - Heron is a medium - sized heron , about 23 to 28 inch ( 58 to 70 curium ) in distance , distinguished by its stocky build and striking fatal crown and back contrasted with a wan white-haired body and white underpart . It has red eyes and brusk yellow-bellied legs , with a comparatively short cervix compared to other herons . This species is in the main nocturnal or crepuscular , often participating at dawn and dusk .
In Montana , Black - crowned Night - Herons inhabit wetlands , Marsh , lakeshores , and slow - moving river , where they nest in dense colony in trees or shrubs near piss . They are more ordinarily seen in the southern and western persona of the state during the breeding season but may scatter widely after nesting .
Their diet consists mainly of Pisces , amphibian , crustaceans , insects , and pocket-size mammals . blackened - crown Night - Herons hunt by standing still at weewee edge or slowly stalk prey in shallow water system , using their sharp bill to catch quarry quickly . Their nocturnal alimentation use help contract competitor with other Hero of Alexandria and waterbird .
Snow Bunting
The Snow Bunting is a belittled , hardy bird about 6 to 7 inches ( 15 to 18 centimetre ) long , easily identified by its blank feather with counterpoint black on the wing and back during the training season . In wintertime , its plumage becomes duller with more brownish tones . It has a stalwart consistency and short shadow , adapted for cold climate . The Snow Bunting is one of the few birds that boom in harsh Arctic and sub - Arctic environment .
In Montana , Snow Buntings are principally winter visitors , often found in open area , farmlands , and along roadsides . They favour opened , snow-clad or barren landscape during winter and migrate Second Earl of Guilford to tundra and alpine neighborhood to breed . Their comportment in Montana usually signals frigid weather condition and clear home ground availability .
Their diet dwell chiefly of seed and grains , specially from grasses and Mary Jane . Insects are also eaten during the breeding season to provide special protein for growing chicks . Snow Buntings forage on the earth in flock , using their potent legs and pes to sail snowy or rocky environments .
Black-bellied Plover
The Black - bellied Plover is a tumid shorebird , measuring about 11 to 13 column inch ( 28 to 33 atomic number 96 ) in length , known for its fall blackened and white breeding feather . During the rearing season , adults have a black face , throat , thorax , and stomach , with white on the back and wings . In non - breeding feather , they appear mottled gray and white . They have a rich body , tenacious ramification , and a light , thick broadside .
In Montana , Black - bellied Plovers are principally examine during migration in wetland areas , mudflats , and shoreline of lakes and river . They stop in the United States Department of State during their long migratory journeying between Arctic upbringing grounds and coastal wintering areas . These birds prefer open , compressed , and wet habitats where they can forage for invertebrate .
Their diet consists in the main of insects , marine louse , mollusks , crustacean , and other small invertebrates constitute in mudflats and shallow amnionic fluid . They forage by sight , pick prey from the airfoil or probing shallow weewee with their eyeshade . The Black - bellied Plover ’s adaptability to various wetland habitats helps it successfully navigate prospicient migration through Montana .
Black-billed Cuckoo
The Black - charge Cuckoo is a medium - sized boo about 12 inches ( 30 centimeter ) long , with a slender body and long tail . It is mostly dark-brown - greyish on the back with a pallid underbelly and has distinctive inglorious bars on its tail feathers . Its most notable feature is its black bill , which distinguishes it from the Yellow - billed Cuckoo . This bird has a diffuse , low call that is often hear in dense woodlands .
In Montana , Black - placard Cuckoos inhabit deciduous and assorted woodlands , especially those near water or wetland . They are normally found in dense thickets , timberland edges , and shrubby areas during their raising season in summertime . This species is more common in the easterly and southern part of Montana and is a migratory visitor .
The Black - billed Cuckoo mainly feeds on large insects such as cat , cicala , grasshopper , and beetles . It is one of the few birds that will consume hairy or toxic Caterpillar , which many other birdie deflect . This alimentation specialization allows the cuckoo to work an abundant food for thought imagination during the summer months .
Black-throated Gray Warbler
The Black - throated Gray Warbler is a small songbird , about 4.3 to 5 inches ( 11 to 13 cm ) long , easy recognized by its salient disgraceful , white , and gray plume . Males display a black pharynx and face mask contrasted with blanched wing barroom and a gray back , while females appear somewhat leaden but maintain the same figure . Their shrill , luxuriously - pitched call and call government note are often heard in their prefer habitat .
In Montana , this warbler inhabits dry , opened timber , peculiarly ponderosa true pine woods and mixed cone-bearing home ground , mostly in the western and southwestern parts of the state . They are often seen foraging richly in Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree canopy or along edges where sunlight penetrates . Their breeding range extends across western North America , and Montana is part of their northerly kitchen range .
Their dieting chiefly comprise of insects and spider , which they glean from leave-taking and bark while actively flutter through the trees . During migration , they may also eat up small amounts of fruit and berry . The Black - throated Gray Warbler ’s preference for ironic timberland with open understory makes it a classifiable species among Montana ’s forest shuttle .
Black-backed Woodpecker
The Black - backed Woodpecker is a intermediate - sized woodpecker , roughly 9 to 10 inch ( 23 to 25 cm ) long , notable for its striking black back and white underparts . The male person has a icteric crown patch , while the female ’s crown is solid black . Its prospicient , chisel - like bill and strong legs make it well accommodate to peck into dead or go trees . Its drumming and penetrative calls are common in forested habitat .
In Montana , Black - backed Woodpeckers prefer burned or dead coniferous forests , peculiarly area recovering from wildfire where barque beetles are abundant . They are mostly plant in the northerly and westerly regions of the country . This bird ’s specialized habitat option links it closely to afforest commotion cycles , making it an indicator mintage for post - fire ecosystems .
Their diet mainly consists of wood - boring beetle larvae and other insects discover beneath tree bark . They expertly excavate deeply into wood to reach these insects , which form the bulk of their dieting . Occasionally , they will go through fruits and seeds , specially in the wintertime when insect availability is low . Their dependence on deadwood habitats create them alone among Montana ’s pecker metal money .
Black-legged Kittiwake
The Black - legged Kittiwake is a average - sized gull , about 15 to 17 column inch ( 38 to 43 cm ) in length , easily identified by its whitened trunk , hoar wing with black lead , and smutty legs and feet . It has a slender invoice and yellow-bellied eyes . During the breeding time of year , grownup develop a dark “ W ” pattern on their wings , which melt in wintertime plumage . Their loud , harsh calls are often heard in coastal reproduction Colony .
While in the first place a coastal bird , Black - legged Kittiwakes are occasional visitor to Montana during migration or as vagrants , often seen around large lakes or man-made lake . They prefer marine environment but may be found inland near body of water bodies during the non - breeding time of year . Montana ’s internal habitats are not typical for this species , so sightings are comparatively rare .
Their diet lie mainly of lowly fish , plankton , and marine invertebrate see by airfoil dipping or shallow dives . They forage over open water , often following fishing boat or feeding flocks of other seabirds . The Black - legged Kittiwake ’s spirit history is tight tied to oceanic ecosystem , making their visual aspect in Montana noteworthy .
Black-necked Stilt
The Black - make out Stilt is a striking shorebird about 13 to 16 inches ( 33 to 41 centimeter ) long , far-famed for its long , slender , pinkish legs and stark fatal - and - lily-white feather . The head , cervix , and back are black , contrast precipitously with its snowy underparts . Its long , svelte bill is somewhat tip-tilted , adapted for dig into mudflats and shallow water . Stilts are known for their graceful wading and quick movements .
In Montana , Black - necked Stilts are most commonly receive in shallow wetlands , alkali flat , and mudflats during migration and summertime breeding . They breed in the westerly parts of the state , favour marsh and ponds with endanger mud for foraging . Their comportment depends heavily on desirable wetland habitats with minimum disturbance .
Their dieting consists of aquatic insects , crustacean , small Pisces the Fishes , and other invertebrate , which they cull from the Earth’s surface or investigation in clay and shallow H2O . Their farsighted legs allow them to wade into recondite body of water than many other shore bird , giving them access to unequalled eating niches . The Black - make out Stilt ’s elegant appearance and striking colour make it a favorite among birdwatchers .
Black-chinned Hummingbird
The Black - chin Hummingbird is a small-scale , agile bird , measuring about 3.25 to 4 inches ( 8 to 10 cm ) in length . Male have a metallic green body with a classifiable fatal pharynx adjoin by a thin purple band , while females are less colourful with grayish underparts and green backs . Their speedy , buzz wingbeats and high - pitched “ chip ” call are characteristic sounds of western habitat .
In Montana , Black - chinnedHummingbirdsinhabit open woodlands , shrublands , and suburban garden , specially during the warm months of previous spring and summertime . They are mostly see in the western and southwestern parts of the state where flowers and feeders supply nectar . Their cooking stove let in riparian domain and ironical slopes with abundant flowering plants .
Their diet lie in principally of ambrosia from heyday , which provides Energy Department for their mellow metabolism and vacillate escape . They also consume small insects and spiders for protein . These hummingbirds are important pollinator , visiting a variety of native and non - aboriginal flowering plants . Their fast movements and iridescent plumage make them a captivating visual modality in Montana ’s natural landscape .
Black Turnstone
The Black Turnstone is a medium - sized shorebird about 9 to 10 inch ( 23 to 26 cm ) long , recognisable by its dark Brown University to blackish plumage with white bandage on the wings and underparts . It has a sturdy , slightly tip-tilted eyeshade used to flip over stones and junk to happen quarry . During the upbringing time of year , its plume is dark , while winter feathers are more mottled .
Black Turnstones are primarily coastal birds , but in Montana , they may appear as rare visitors or migrants near large lake or river backtalk during migration season . They favor bouldered shorelines , tidal flats , and beach along the Pacific coast , and Montana sightings are rare and noteworthy .
Their dieting includes marine invertebrates such as crustaceans , mollusks , and insects , which they find by flipping over stones and debris along shorelines . This foraging behaviour gives them their name . Their power to exploit these specialized home ground along jolty sea-coast contrasts with the more common shorebird species find in Montana .
