Herons in Montana in May
Yes, May is one of the best months to see herons in Montana. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 107 of the 680 sightings logged across the year (15.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Peak month for herons in Montana
15.7%
of yearly sightings
107
records in May
#1
busiest month of 12
680
verified records a year
April 11.2%, May 15.7%, June 15.6%. Busiest month is May at 15.7%.
680 verified observations of herons in Montana, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When herons are recorded in Montana
Peak month
May
107 records (15.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 2.9% |
| February | 22 | 3.2% |
| March | 36 | 5.3% |
| April | 76 | 11.2% |
| Maypeak | 107 | 15.7% |
| Junepeak | 106 | 15.6% |
| Julypeak | 94 | 13.8% |
| August | 88 | 12.9% |
| September | 51 | 7.5% |
| October | 30 | 4.4% |
| November | 19 | 2.8% |
| December | 31 | 4.6% |
Herons you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Great Blue Heron | 588 |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | 55 |
| American Bittern | 13 |
| Great Egret | 11 |
| Western Cattle-Egret | 7 |
| Snowy Egret | 2 |
| Little Blue Heron | 1 |
| Tricolored Heron | 1 |
In Montana, May carries 15.7% of the year's herons sightings, about 7.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (11.2%) into May, and it heads toward June (15.6%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so May is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The herons most often recorded in Montana are Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and American Bittern. Those counts are annual totals rather than a May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May itself.
Which herons you are most likely to see
- Great Blue Heron588 records
- Black-crowned Night Heron55 records
- American Bittern13 records
- Great Egret11 records
- Western Cattle-Egret7 records
- Snowy Egret2 records
Plan your heron trip in Montana
Start with live tours near Big Hole National Battlefield, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Big Hole National Battlefield
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main heron viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Big Hole National Battlefield
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best heron viewing area in Montana.
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Broader backupBook a heron tour in Montana
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see herons in Montana in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 107 of the 680 verified herons sightings logged in Montana across the year, which is 15.7% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see herons in Montana?+
May is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of May, June and July.
What month is best for herons in Montana?+
May is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through May, June and July, based on 680 verified observations.
Which herons are you most likely to see in Montana?+
The most-recorded species in Montana are Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron and American Bittern, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See herons in Montana in other months
More places to see herons
More wildlife in Montana