I guess I’ve had this stereotype of birdwatchers tucked in the back of my brain as older folks with a multitude of binoculars hanging around their necks and wearing funny plaid shorts. Over recent years, I have learned that I was wrong. Not only are birdwatchers, dedicated and intelligent, fit enough to hike and patient enough to sit, but they also understand the true spirit of Yellowstone Park.

Yellowstone’s true beauty comes from taking the time to get out of your car, get off the beaten path, sit quietly and listen, and concentrate on more than just the scene in front of you. You learn to look for the details like a nest in a tree or a quicksilver flash of motion. You stop talking and start listening. You move from being an observer to being engaged in all that goes on around you.

Over 311 species of birds have been documented in Yellowstone since it was first established in 1872. However, “contrary to popular belief, Yellowstone National Park is not one of the hotspots in North America for watching a great diversity of birdlife. What it does offer is an array of birds unique to this area of North America.” according to Terry McEneaney, former Yellowstone National Park Ornithologist. Arm yourself with binoculars, a Yellowstone Bird Field Checklist , a camera with a good zoom, and a good illustrated guide, and you are ready to go birding.

One of our favorites is the Bald Eagles throughout all four seasons. Perhaps the most famous bird nest in the Park is located six miles east of the West Entrance on the south side of the road in a large dead fir. Look for the large snag supporting a big stick nest near the top approximately 100 yards from the road.

This nest actually replaced a larger nest located in an adjacent tree that blew down last fall. Locals claimed that there have been eagles nesting here for well over 50 years. Canadian geese and even osprey had shared the old nest.  

As the largest North American waterfowl and the world’s heaviest flying bird, the trumpeter swan is also fun to watch. The swans struggle to reach altitude and then rather clumsily descend much like a large military aircraft carrier.

Yellowstone is home to the largest population of trumpeter swans in the Lower 48 states. There are basically two trumpeter swan flocks in Yellowstone, a resident year-round population and a migratory winter population.  The resident population can vary from 28-55 swans, whereas the winter population varies from 75-119 swans.

Seven miles in from the West Entrance is an area called ‘Seven Mile Bridge.’ There are turnouts on either side of this bridge, which over looks the Madison River. Nesting trumpeter swans, soras and common snipe can all be seen there.

For the past year, we have also been watching a Great Blue Heron in the Seven Mile Bridge area. These birds always appear to be defying gravity as they balance on long, pencil-thin legs across the strong Madison River current. Hayden Valley is another location for heron sightings.

Migratory birds are back and can be seen at the Madison Junction picnic area. Watch for savannah sparrows, ruby-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers, and mountain bluebirds. One spring morning, we spotted a sight we had never seen before along the Gibbon River.  

Perched on a burnt old snag was a large turkey vulture, stretching its wings in a stance that resembled the shadowy Batman seen in Gotham City’s signal light. Turkey vultures have to spread their wings to dry and warm them before being able to fly. We watched him perform for several minutes before taking flight.

Ravens are fun to watch just for their mischievous antics. Many visitors confuse ravens in the park with crows. Crows however are generally smaller, have a more rounded fanned tail, and make a light "caw" sound while the ravens hoarse croaking "kraak" and  "kloo-klok is very distinctive.

While smaller than eagles, ravens seem to be fearless as we have observed them harassing both bald and gold eagles. And, in the winter, both Velcro and zippers on backpacks and snowmobiles carriers prove no challenge to ravens. Even with countless warnings, visitors often leave food or valuables in their carriers. This winter, at Old Faithful we witnessed one snowmobiler come back after lunch only to find his wallet pulled out with his cash and credit cards scattered over the parking lot.  

Near Fishing Bridge, look for White Pelican and both Barrow's and Common Goldeneye, as well as Bald Eagles and Osprey. Watch for Sandhill Cranes that have returned to the Fountain Flats area.

Some of the park’s best birding can be found by driving from West Thumb, on Yellowstone Lake, east and north to Tower and west to Mammoth Hot Springs. As you skirt Yellowstone Lake to Fishing Bridge, stop where you can to scan for Common Loon, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, California Gull, and other water birds, as well as Osprey and Bald Eagle.
Along the Yellowstone River, watch for the White-throated Swift flying through canyons or the American Dipper among the rocks in the rapids areas.  This area is also home to the rare Harlequin Duck.

At Mammoth, watch for the Black-billed Magpie, Mountain Bluebird and Townsend's Solitaire. American Dippers should be active along the rushing stream, and with luck you may see a Lazuli Bunting above on the rugged cliffs of McMinn Bench (already spotted this year.)

If you are lucky enough to make it to Beartooth Pass (on the Beartooth Scenic Highway), watch for Peregrine Falcons and Golden Eagles, as well as migrant summer visitors, American Pipits and Black Rosy-finches.

General Rules-of-Thumb for Bird-watching Habitats:
• Aspen groves are an excellent habitat for a variety of birds. Aspen generally grow in large stands and provide excellent foraging for insect-gleaning songbirds such as the Warbling Vireo and the Western Tanager.
• Woodpeckers take advantage of older aspens whose trunks are often weakened by heart rot. Look for secondary cavity nesters in old woodpecker holes. Recently burned forests support woodpeckers (northern three-toed and black-backed).
• Pure stands of lodgepole pine have a low diversity of bird species.  Instead, look for a mix (Lodgepole, Douglas fir & Engelmann spruce) to find Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, Red-breasted Nuthatch. Plus, seed-eating specialties such as Pine Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch and Pine Siskin.
• Streams, rivers, ponds and lakes attract a great variety of different birds.
• Willows and Cottonwoods trees next to these aquatic areas offer nest sites for songbirds.
• Where roads cross meadows, stop to check surrounding trees for a Great Gray Owl, Sandhill Cranes or Mountain Bluebird.
• In sagebrush areas, look for Sage Thrasher and Brewer’s Sparrow.