Montana is a duck-watcher’s dream. From prairie potholes to mountain lakes, the state’s waters are alive with color and motion year-round.
Whether you’re into watching birds in your backyard or exploring remote marshes, Montana offers a front-row seat to some of North America’s most fascinating waterfowl.
This guide breaks down the common dabbling and diving duck species you’ll see across the state, plus where and when to find them.
You’ll also get tips for identifying them in the wild. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been birding for years, this is your go-to for ducks in Big Sky Country.
Dabbling Ducks of Montana
Dabblers feed in shallow water, usually tipping their heads underwater with their tails sticking up like little buoys.
They’re easier to spot since they don’t fully submerge and are often seen paddling around the edges of ponds, sloughs, and fields.
Mallard
The mallard is everywhere in Montana: big cities, quiet ponds, remote wetlands. Males are unmistakable with green heads, yellow bills, and gray bodies, while females wear mottled brown.
Their adaptability is unmatched, thriving in everything from roadside ditches to sprawling marshes. You’ll likely see them anywhere water meets land.
Northern Pintail
Pintails are sleek, long-necked ducks with sharp tails and smooth, graceful movements. Males stand out with their chocolate-brown heads and white necks. They favor shallow wetlands in open prairies and are often seen in ag fields with standing water.
Their migrations stretch from Alaska to Central America…pretty wild for a bird you might see near Lewistown.
Northern Shoveler
These ducks look a little odd at first: wide, spoon-shaped bills set them apart. Males have shiny green heads and bold rust-colored sides.
They feed in nutrient-rich wetlands where invertebrates are plentiful. You’ll often spot them circling slowly in groups, sifting water through their bill like a strainer.
American Wigeon
With round heads and short bills, wigeons are easy to recognize. Males have a white crown and a bold green patch behind the eyes.
They love shallow marshes and wet meadows, especially those with grassy edges. Unlike most ducks, they often feed on land, nibbling grass like small geese.
Wood Duck
Wood ducks are showstoppers. Males sport a patchwork of green, chestnut, and white, and both sexes have a unique boxy shape.
Unlike most ducks, they nest in tree cavities. Look for them near wooded streams or ponds where big cottonwoods or willows lean over the water.
Blue-winged Teal
These small, early-migrating ducks are common in spring and late summer. Males have bluish heads with a white crescent in front of the eye. They favor prairie potholes and shallow, warm wetlands. Their migration starts early, and many leave Montana by the end of August.
Gadwall
Gadwalls aren’t flashy. Males wear shades of brown and gray, with a splash of white and rust on the wing.
They’re often mistaken for female mallards, but their subtle patterns and stockier build set them apart. You’ll find them in the same areas as teal and wigeon, and their numbers in Montana are steadily growing.
Green-winged Teal
Our smallest dabbling duck, the green-winged teal zips around like a feathered rocket.
Males have chestnut heads with a bold green ear stripe, and both sexes show a green patch on the wings. They prefer small, brushy wetlands and ponds, often flushing quickly when approached.
Cinnamon Teal
True to their name, males are a warm, rusty red with a striking blue shoulder patch. Even the females have some color.
Cinnamon teal are mostly found in western Montana, especially in shallow wetlands with lots of emergent vegetation. They’re more common here than in much of the country.
Diving Ducks of Montana
Diving ducks are built for deeper water. Unlike dabblers, they disappear completely underwater as they chase fish, invertebrates, or aquatic plants.
They prefer larger lakes, reservoirs, and rivers and need a little space to get airborne. Watch how they run along the water before lifting off.
Canvasback
Canvasbacks are big, bold, and built for speed. Males have sloped foreheads, red eyes, black chests, and pale backs.
You’ll often find them on open water like Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge or Benton Lake. Their powerful wings make them one of the fastest flyers among North American ducks.
Redhead
Stockier than canvasbacks, redheads are named for their bright coppery heads. Males also have blue bills and black chests.
They’re often found in the same spots as canvasbacks but tend to be more social. It’s not unusual to see mixed flocks in prairie lakes and reservoirs.
Ring-necked Duck
Despite the name, the ring on the neck is hard to spot. Look instead for the peaked head and the bold white ring around the blue-gray bill. Ring-necks like smaller marshes and ponds with submerged vegetation. They’re quick divers and surprisingly nimble for their size.
Lesser Scaup
Sometimes called “bluebills,” these medium-sized divers have dark heads and bright yellow eyes.
Males show white sides and blue-gray bills. You’ll find them in larger open waters…Fort Peck, Canyon Ferry, and other big lakes draw large flocks in the fall. They often raft up in big groups.
Common Merganser
Sleek and long-bodied, common mergansers are fish specialists. Males have glossy green heads while both sexes share that sharp, red, toothy bill perfect for catching fish. They’re most often found on clear rivers and large lakes. Look for them swimming in groups, scanning the water below.
Common Goldeneye
Goldeneyes are chunky little ducks with amber eyes and snappy flight patterns. Males are white-bodied with dark heads and a circular cheek patch.
You’ll hear their wings whistle in flight before you even spot them. They nest in tree cavities, so they stick close to forested lakes and rivers.
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Similar to common goldeneyes but with a steeper forehead and a crescent-shaped cheek patch, Barrow’s goldeneyes prefer mountain lakes and rivers.
They’re mostly found in western Montana, especially places like Glacier National Park and the Swan Valley. They’re less common than their cousins but just as striking.
Ruddy Duck
Compact and stiff-tailed, ruddy ducks are easy to spot during breeding season. Males show off a blue bill, white cheeks, and a deep reddish body.
Outside the breeding months, they fade to gray-brown. They like shallow, weedy wetlands and often hold their tails upright like a little flag.
Where to Find Ducks in Montana
Montana’s wetlands, lakes, rivers, and remote wildlife areas offer some of the best duck-watching opportunities in the western U.S. Whether you’re spotting teal in spring or goldeneyes in mid-winter, there’s always somewhere worth checking out.
National Wildlife Refuges and Wetland Management Districts
Some of the best duck habitats in the state are protected public lands, where you can catch incredible migration events or find nesting birds in summer.
- Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area: Located northwest of Great Falls, this is the go-to spot in late March through early April. During migration, it fills with thousands of ducks, snow geese, and swans, often all at once.
- Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge: Set in north-central Montana, this 15,551-acre haven supports over 260 bird species. Watch for pintails, canvasbacks, teal, and wigeons in the grasslands and riparian wetlands that run through the area.
- Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Found in eastern Montana, this refuge mixes prairie ponds, shallow lakes, and cattail marshes. It’s great for birders and hunters alike, and supports a wide variety of dabblers and divers during both spring and fall.
- Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge: Covering massive stretches of central Montana, this refuge draws mallards, pintails, teal, and canvasbacks. Its mix of uplands, lakes, and backwater sloughs creates the ideal habitat for nesting and migrating birds.
- Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge: In the Bitterroot Valley of southwestern Montana, this is a reliable stopover for migratory ducks, cranes, raptors, and songbirds. Watch for mallards, wigeons, and shovelers during fall flights.
- Northwest Montana Wetland Management District: This region supports an impressive mix of dabblers and divers, from cinnamon teal and mallards to ruddy ducks and scaup. The district includes small ponds, forested lakes, and everything in between…great for a full day of birding.
Rivers and Lakes
Montana’s major rivers and reservoirs also pull in huge numbers of ducks, especially during migration or in winter when smaller waters freeze.
- Beaverhead River: This southwest Montana river winds through warm springs and ag land. Sections near Dillon are especially good for spotting mallards, pintails, and goldeneyes.
- Fort Peck Lake Reservoir: Located in northeastern Montana, this huge reservoir is a hotspot for ducks in early fall. Look for divers like scaup and redheads along with flocks of teal and wigeon. The open water also attracts herons and pelicans.
- Missouri River: From the Missouri Breaks to downstream sections, this river holds ducks nearly year-round. You’ll see mallards, mergansers, and goldeneyes alongside channels and oxbows.
- Yellowstone River: During Montana’s coldest months, ducks cluster along stretches of the Yellowstone where the water stays open. Look near Livingston, Billings, and Glendive for large rafts of mallards, goldeneyes, and occasional teal.
Seasonal Considerations
Ducks are on the move throughout the year, but some seasons offer better chances for big numbers or cool behavior.
- Spring and Summer: Wetlands and shallow lakes come alive with courtship displays and nesting hens. Look for drakes flaunting their brightest feathers and females guiding ducklings through cattails by late June.
- Early Fall (October): Juvenile ducks begin to look like adults, and local wetlands hold a rich mix of species before freezing sets in. It’s a great time for close-up observation and photography.
- Late October through November: This is peak migration. Thousands of ducks from Canada’s prairie potholes move south, often stopping overnight in Montana’s marshes. Expect sudden surges in numbers and variety, especially at refuges like Freezout and Bowdoin.
- Winter: Once smaller ponds freeze, ducks concentrate in open water along rivers and spring-fed creeks. Look for goldeneyes, mergansers, and mallards, and pay attention to plumage differences. Many birds sport muted colors in the colder months.
Conclusion
Ducks are more than just background scenery…they’re part of what makes Montana feel alive. Whether you’re scanning a marsh at sunrise or watching a goldeneye whistle past on a frozen river, there’s a thrill in every encounter.
Montana’s duck scene is worth exploring, and each season brings something new, so grab your binoculars, maybe a field guide, and head out. You don’t have to be a biologist to enjoy duck watching…you just need a little curiosity and some patience.