Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink

How Climate Change Will Affect Birds in Montana

Vulnerable Birds in Montana

Highly and moderately vulnerable birds may lose more than half of their current range—the geographic area where they live—as they are forced to search for suitable habitat and climate conditions elsewhere.

Montana

Flyway	Central Flyway
State Brief	Download [PDF]

Below, find out which of the birds that nest or spend the winter in your area are most vulnerable across their entire range. Some birds may lose range outside of your state, making the protection of their current habitat in your area even more important.

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How will the Yellow Warbler's range be affected in Montana?

Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns affect birds' ability to find food and reproduce, which over time impacts local populations, and ultimately continent-wide populations, too. Some species may even go extinct in your state if they cannot find the conditions they need to survive and raise their young.

Select a warming scenario to see how this species’ range will change under increased global temperatures.

Reducing warming makes many types of birds found in Montana less vulnerable.

In order to hold warming steady, we must act now to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere and limit warming to 1.5 degrees. We must reduce our carbon emissions and also absorb what is produced through natural solutions like reforestation or with technology that removes carbon from the air.

Click the three different warming scenarios to explore how increased warming puts more species in Montana at risk.

Montana's Birds and Habitats

The alpine tundra, glaciers, and peaks of Glacier National Park support more than 275 bird species, including Canada Jays, American Dippers, and Harlequin Ducks. The prairie potholes of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge attract grassland and wetland birds, including great flocks of geese and ducks as well as Greater Sage-Grouse, Chestnut-collared Longspurs, and Baird’s Sparrows. Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, set in the Bitterroot Valley, is known for its bird diversity including Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, and Bobolinks.

Climate Policy in Montana

Electricity Generation Breakdown

46.5%
RENEWABLE

7.6 % Wind
.1 % Biomass
38.8 % Hydro

52.2%
FOSSIL FUEL

1.5 % Natural Gas
49.1 % Coal
1.6 % Petroleum

1.2%
OTHER

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets

None

Renewable Portfolio Standard

15%
BY 2015

Member of the US
Climate Alliance?

(Data: U.S. EIA)

Montana’s landscape is the fifth-best wind resource in the nation but ranks only 22nd in installed capacity. The state government offers several clean energy tax incentives and loan programs for individuals and businesses to promote renewable energy development. Several cities have adopted climate action plans, including Whitefish, Bozeman, and Missoula.

Climate Threats Facing Birds and People in Montana

Montana’s snowpack levels have diminished throughout the state, and in time will lead to decreased surface water supplies, a shorter winter recreation season, and changes in alpine ecosystems. Temperatures have increased 2 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century and droughts have become more severe; in the coming decades, these factors could reduce crop yields and exacerbate wildfires.

The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk harm people, too. Hover over or tap an area on the map to see specific threats that will affect that area as warming increases.