Idaho, renowned for its rugged beauty and impressive landscapes, offers an abundant display of water bird species. Its extensive network of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, provides diverse habitats that attract a multitude of water birds.
Idaho water birds
| Water Bird Species | Frequency in Idaho | Specific Locations in Idaho |
|---|---|---|
| American White Pelican | Common | Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
| Brown Pelican | Rare | Occasionally seen at Bear Lake |
| Double-Crested Cormorant | Common | Along rivers and in large lakes |
| Great Blue Heron | Very Common | Lakes, ponds, and riverbanks statewide |
| Great Egret | Common | Along larger rivers and lakes |
| Snowy Egret | Rare | Occasionally in the Snake River area |
| Green Heron | Uncommon | Along rivers and large ponds |
| Black-Crowned Night-Heron | Common | Snake River area and other wetlands |
| White-faced Ibis | Common | Snake River area and other wetlands |
| American Coot | Very Common | Lakes, ponds, and wetlands statewide |
| Mallard | Very Common | Lakes, ponds, and rivers statewide |
| Wood Duck | Common | Wooded areas along rivers and ponds |
| Northern Pintail | Common | Wetlands and large bodies of water |
| Green-Winged Teal | Common | Wetlands and large bodies of water |
| Ring-Necked Duck | Common | Forested lakes and ponds |
| Redhead | Common | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs |
| Lesser Scaup | Common | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs |
| Bufflehead | Common | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs |
| Common Goldeneye | Common | Rivers and lakes statewide |
| Hooded Merganser | Common | Wooded rivers and ponds |
| Common Merganser | Common | Rivers and lakes statewide |
| Ruddy Duck | Common | Lakes, ponds, and reservoirs |
| American Avocet | Common | Mudflats and saline lakes like Lake Lowell |
| Black-necked Stilt | Common | Mudflats and saline lakes like Lake Lowell |
| Sandhill Crane | Common | Eastern Idaho, especially Island Park area |
| American Wigeon | Common | Wetlands, ponds, and reservoirs |
| Canvasback | Common | Wetlands, ponds, and reservoirs |
| Osprey | Common | Near large bodies of water, especially in North Idaho |
Water Bird Species Found in Idaho
Where to Spot Idaho’s Water Birds
Coeur d’Alene River Wildlife Management Area: Known for its beautiful landscape, the area attracts a variety of waterfowl such as Common Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, and Tundra Swans, especially during migration seasons.
Camas National Wildlife Refuge: Located in southeastern Idaho, this refuge is home to many species of water birds. During spring and fall, you can see large flocks of migrating waterfowl like Sandhill Cranes, Northern Pintails, and Buffleheads.
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge: Nestled around Lake Lowell, this wildlife refuge attracts a large diversity of bird species, including several types of ducks, grebes, and gulls.
Market Lake Wildlife Management Area: Located in the Upper Snake River Valley, this area is a significant breeding and staging area for water birds. Species you might encounter here include White-faced Ibis, American Avocets, and Black-necked Stilts.
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge is home to a variety of water birds, with large numbers of White-faced Ibis, Franklin’s Gulls, and various species of ducks seen in the wetlands surrounding the lake.
| Neighboring State | Best Spots for Birdwatching |
|---|---|
| Montana Water Birds | Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area, Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge |
| Wyoming Water Birds | Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Jackson Lake, Keyhole State Park |
| Utah Water Birds | Great Salt Lake, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge |
| Nevada Water Birds | Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Lahontan State Recreation Area, Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
| Oregon Water Birds | Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex |
| Washington Water Birds | Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge |
FAQs on Waterbirds in Idaho
What breeding species are in Idaho?
Breeding birds and nesting birds in Idao include the Herons, the Canada goose, the blue winged teal, the eared grebe and many more. Idaho birds love the wetland habitat both in Northern idaho and Southern Idaho. Harriman state park has over sixteen species of water birds. Although the state bird is not a waterbird, tere are plenty of shore and marsh birds in the state.
How many birds are in Idaho?
There are over 400 species of birds in Idaho from birds of prey like the northern harrier, the short eared owl and bald eagles to sagebrush birds to the ruffed grouse and the caspian tern. The mountain bluebird is the state bird and there are a wide variety of ducks in Idaho and backyard birds in Idao.