Grand Teton

National Park Service

Grand Teton National Park

Bird Finding Guide

The mountains, rivers and lakes of Grand Teton National Park provide a picturesque backdrop for
bird watching. Over 330 species of birds live in the various park communities including alpine, forests,
meadows, sagebrush flats and riparian. Use this guide to learn about the communities found here, places
to look for birds and some of the inhabitants. Pick up a park map and bird checklist at a visitor center to
assist your search. Please report any sightings of birds listed as rare or accidental on the checklist. With a
keen eye, you can discover some of the birds that grace this landscape.

Communities Birds inhabit a variety of communities throughout Later, abandoned woodpecker cavities provide
the park and parkway. They are searching for nesting opportunities for saw-whet owls, house
food, water, shelter and nesting sites. Some birds wrens, mountain and black-capped chickadees,
frequent only one community while others occupy tree swallows and violet-green swallows.
a variety.
Sagebrush Flats
Alpine Sagebrush thrives in rocky, well-drained soils
Elevation, harsh winters and brief summers limit in a semi-arid environment covering much of
vegetation to low-growing forms. Birds that nest the valley floor. Despite these harsh conditions
above treeline migrate south or to lower elevations many species flourish. Look for sage grouse,
for winter. Watch for golden eagles, ravens, vesper sparrows, western meadowlark, mountain
Clark’s nutcrackers, rosy finches, white-crowned bluebird, Brewer’s sparrows and sage thrashers.
sparrows and water pipits.
Aquatic and Riparian
Lodgepole Pine Forests Numerous rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds provide
Dense lodgepole pine forests cover glacial habitats where Canada geese and other waterfowl
moraines on the valley floor and the lower nest, while osprey and bald eagles hunt for fish.
mountain slopes. Look for olive-sided flycatchers, Common snipe, white-crowned and Lincoln
yellow-rumped warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, sparrows, yellow and MacGillivray’s warblers,
mountain chickadees, white-crowned and and common yellowthroats nest in adjacent wet
chipping sparrows and dark-eyed juncos. meadows. American dippers search for insects in
fast-moving mountain streams. Look for common
Aspen Forests mergansers, Barrow’s goldeneyes and mallards
Aspens often occur in pure stands on hillsides. in small ponds and rivers and American white
Trees with rotting trunks attract woodpeckers. pelicans on Jackson Lake and the Snake River.

Bird Notes Just a note about a few interesting species adapted • American Dipper: A small aquatic songbird
to thrive here. that frequents cascading streams. Known for
its up and down bobbing motion as it forages
• Greater Sage Grouse: In early spring, sage for aquatic insects.
grouse gather for courtship in areas called • Clark’s Nutcracker: Both males and females
“leks.” Males display for females at dawn. This tend a high-elevation nest. They gather large
species is in decline due to habitat loss. conifer seeds from whitebark and limber pines
• Trumpeter Swans: The largest waterfowl in and cache them for later.
North America is making a comeback after near • Red Crossbills and Pine Grosbeaks: Large
extinction in the early 1900s. Look for these red finches that inhabit mature, open pine
birds in ponds and rivers. forests. The crossbill beak prys apart pinecone
• Barrow’s Goldeneye: A cavity-nesting duck scales for the bird to gather the seeds.
that lives here year-round in rivers and lakes. • Western Tanager: These colorful birds winter
• Great Gray Owl: The tallest owl in North in southern Central America and nests in the
America with the largest wingspan. Males lodgepole forests. The redder the male’s
hunt during daylight making them visible in the feathers, the more fit he is.
lodgepole forest. • Calliope Hummingbird: The smallest bird
• Bald Eagle and Osprey: Fish loving raptors north of Mexico feeds on nectar from tubular
thrive along the Snake and Gros Ventre rivers wildflowers.
and the valley lakes.
Birding Hot Spots Grand View Point Cascade Canyon
Old growth Douglas firs support Williamson’s Cascade Creek carries snow melt through forests
and red-naped sapsuckers. Songbirds include and meadows of wildflowers. American dippers
mountain chickadees, red-breasted nuthatches, bob in the creek and secretive harlequin ducks
western tanagers, Townsend’s solitaires, and dark- sometimes nest nearby. Western tanagers, ruby-
eyed juncos. Dusky and ruffed grouse nest here. crowned kinglets and yellow-rumped warblers
nest near the trail. Look for golden eagles, Steller’s
Christian Pond jays, gray jays, golden-crowned kinglets, dark-eyed
Look for waterfowl such as ruddy ducks, ring- juncos and occasional Townsend’s warblers.
necked ducks, American wigeon, American coots,
and the occasional Trumpeter swan. Antelope Flats – Kelly Road
Large hayfields attract raptors such as American
Willow Flats kestrels, prairie falcons, red-tailed and
Extensive willow thickets merge with wet grassy Swainson’s hawks and northern harriers hunting
meadows crossed by small creeks and beaver small rodents. Check fence posts for western
dams. Cinnamon teal, green-winged teal and meadowlarks, western and eastern kingbirds and
American wigeon frequent ponds and creeks. mountain bluebirds. Scan the old pastures for
Sandhill cranes, northern harriers, American long-billed curlews and savannah sparrows.
bitterns, common snipes and soras nest here.
Calliope hummingbirds feed on scarlet gilia. Red­ Menors Ferry at Moose
naped sapsuckers and other woodpeckers abound. Follow the pathway to homesteader cabins along
Frequent songbirds include willow flycatchers; the Snake River. Violet-green, tree, cliff and barn
cliff swallows; yellow, MacGillivray’s and Wilson’s swallows scoop insects out of the air as western
warblers; common yellowthroats; fox and white- wood-pewees, dusky flycatchers and mountain
crowned sparrows; pine siskins; and yellow- bluebirds hawk for flying insects. Yellow warblers
headed blackbirds. Lazuli buntings and green- glean insects from cottonwood trees and shrubs.
tailed towhees use the drier hillsides adjacent to Calliope, broad-tailed and rufous hummingbirds
Willow Flats. seek wildflower nectar. Kingfishers, common
mergansers, ospreys and bald eagles catch fish.
Oxbow Bend
A meander of the Snake River, Oxbow Bend Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve
provides lush underwater plant growth and Several trails follow creeks and traverse a glacial
abundant fish for aquatic birds. Look for great moraine with mixed conifers and aspens. Look
blue herons, osprey, American white pelicans, for western tanagers, MacGillivray’s warblers,
double-crested cormorants, common mergansers northern flickers, Lazuli buntings, ruby-crowned
and bald eagles. kinglets and green-tailed towhees. Listen for the
sweet songs of hermit and Swainson’s thrushes.
Two Ocean Lake Calliope and broad-tailed hummingbirds feed on
Western grebes, trumpeter swans, common scarlet gilia.
mergansers and common loons summer on the
lake. Western tanagers, pine grosbeaks, Cassin’s Blacktail Ponds Overlook
finches abound in the open forests nearby. From this overlook north of Moose Junction view
many different communities. Wetlands are home
North Jenny Lake Trail to American wigeons, blue-winged teal, mallards,
In 1999 a lightning-caused wildland fire burned and goldeneyes. Up to six species of swallows
the area north and west of Jenny Lake. Insects zip by catching insects. Bald eagles and osprey
feeding on decaying trees attract black-backed roost in the cottonwoods. Yellow warblers, song
and three-toed woodpeckers. Insects also attract sparrows and willow flycatchers frequent the
mountain bluebirds, tree swallows, olive-sided willows.
and dusky flycatchers, western wood-pewees and
yellow-rumped warblers.

Bird Watching Etiquette Birding is a popular activity. In national parks, • Nesting birds are easily disturbed. If an
you have the opportunity to observe birds in BEARadult on a nest flies off at your approach or
responsible birder.
AWAREcircles
their natural environment. Enjoy birds but be a you and screams an alarm, you are too
close. Unattended nestlings quickly succumb to
predation or exposure to the elements.
• Do not feed birds or any wildlife.
• Do not play bird songs or use bird calls. Such
sounds disturb territorial males and nesting
pairs.
• Stay on trails to preserve delicate habitat.
• Obey all wildlife closures.
• Good birding areas often attract other wildlife.
BEAR Maintain a distance of at least 100 yards from
AWARE wolves and bears and 25 yards from other
animals. Do not position yourself between a
FOOD KEEP female andFOOD
her offspring.
STORAGE FOOD STORAGE
REQUIRED STORED REQUIRED

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™ rev. 2017