The following charts include all species of wild birds occurring in North Dakota.

The bar-graphs are designed to give a conservative idea of your chances of finding a particular species rather than of its abundance. Thus a large bird such as the Red-tailed Hawk may be shown as “hard to miss” while a shy, hard-to-identify, or small bird such as the Sharp-tailed Sparrow may occur in greater numbers, but be shown as “may see.”

Many local birders and others who bird the area frequently were consulted in determining the status of each bird. Since these people are familiar with the birds, their songs, habits, and habitats, they are good at finding the more elusive species. On your first trip to the area, you may think that some birds are harder to find than is indicated here.

If you are in the RIGHT HABITAT and the RIGHT AREA at the RIGHT SEASON, you should be able to find the “hard to miss” birds on nearly every field trip; the “should see” on 3 out of 4 trips; the “may see” on 1 out of 4 trips; and the “lucky to find” on 1 out of 10 trips or even less frequently. The “how lucky can you get” species occur at very infrequent intervals or take an expert to identify.

Although “forget it” is the answer that you will probably receive when inquiring about your chances of seeing a very rare species, do not stop looking. Adding a rarity to your list is what puts the topping on a trip. If you are positive of your identification, take careful notes and report your find to the regional editor of American Birds: Esther M. Serr, 615 8th Street, Rapid City, S.D. 57701.