Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Breeding Birds of North Dakota
Wetland Communities
Wetland habitats in North Dakota include natural ponds and lakes, man-made ponds,
reservoirs, natural fluviatile wetlands, and road ditches and drainage channels.
These wetlands in combination occupied about 9 percent of the state in 1967.
Natural ponds and lakes accounted for 7 percent of the state area, with proportions
ranging from less than 1 percent of the Little Missouri Slope and Missouri Slope
to a high of 16 percent on the Missouri Coteau. Fairly high proportions also
were found on other subregions of the Prairie Pothole Region: 13 percent on
the Southern Drift Plain, 9 percent on the Northwestern Drift Plain, and 8 percent
on the Northeastern Drift Plain.
Shallow ponds and lakes were especially numerous within the Prairie Pothole
Region, where densities up to 160 per square mile have been recorded. The
great majority of these are less than 15 acres in area, although larger ponds
and lakes ranging up to 100 acres or more are by no means rare. The greater
acreage of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region accounts for the fact that
it is generally regarded as being the principal waterfowl-producing area in
the state.
On the basis of differences in wetland vegetation as related to variable
environmental conditions, a considerable number of distinct classes of ponds
and lakes in the glaciated prairie region have been recognized (Stewart and
Kantrud 1971). The occurrence, abundance, and diversity of aquatic plant species
may be correlated with such factors as water permanence, water depth, degree
of salinity, and land use (Stewart and Kantrud 1972a).
Wet-meadow Swales
Wet-meadow vegetation may be considered to be a distinct biotic community when
it occurs as temporary (Class 2) basin wetlands or as bands of varying widths
along intermittent streams. Surface water in this habitat usually persists for
only a few weeks following the early spring snowmelt and occasionally for several
days following heavy rainstorms during the late spring, summer, and fall. This
community occurs in valleys or in shallow basin depressions that have not been
altered by the plow. It is especially common in the Prairie Pothole Region and
also occurs locally elsewhere.
Wet-meadow vegetation consists principally of fine-textured grasses, rushes,
and sedges in association with a considerable variety of forbs. Occasional
trees of peachleaf willow occur as well as patches of shrub willows. Variation
in species composition may be related to certain land-use factors and to slight
variations in salt content of soil and surface water, ranging from fresh to
slightly brackish. The primary plant species include fowl bluegrass, wild
barley, northern reedgrass, prairie cordgrass, slender sedge, woolly sedge,
Baltic rush, false aster, and lowland white aster. Common forbs are frequently
represented also by narrowleaf dock, western dock, orach, marsh cress, silverweed,
rough cinquefoil, lanceleaf loosestrife, claspingleaf dogbane, germander,
marsh hedge-nettle, western waterhorehound, wild mint, western ironweed, and
biennial wormwood. Many other plant species are of regular occurrence and
occasionally are quite common.
Characteristics of Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Red-winged Blackbird, Savannah Sparrow.
Secondary intraneous species:
Marsh Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Wilson's Phalarope, Short-billed Marsh Wren,
Sprague's Pipit, Common Yellowthroat, Bobolink, Western Meadowlark, Le Conte's
Sparrow.
Extraneous species (including well-marked sub-species):
American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged
Teal, Northern Shoveler, Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Willet, Marbled
Godwit, Common Crow, Brown-headed Cowbird.
Seasonal Ponds And Lakes
Seasonal (Class 3) ponds and lakes represent one of the more prevalent natural
basin wetland habitats throughout the Prairie Pothole Region. They also are
fairly common in the Turtle Mountain Region and occur occasionally in the Agassiz
Lake Plain and Southwestern Slope Regions. Surface water, ranging from fresh
to moderately brackish, is usually maintained for an extended period in spring
and early summer but often disappears during the late summer and fall.
In wetland communities of this type, two distinct vegetative zones normally
occur, a peripheral wet-meadow zone and a central shallow-marsh zone. The
wet-meadow zone is composed predominantly of fine-textured grasses, sedges,
and rushes, while most of the predominant plant species in shallow-marsh zones
are grasses, sedges, and other grass-like plant species that are coarser and
of greater stature. Variation in species composition of both zones may be
related to certain land-use factors and to variations in the salinity of surface
water.
In the central shallow-marsh zone, which is the key indicator zone for this
type of wetland community, the primary emergent species include giant burreed,
narrowleaf waterplantain, western waterplantain, tall mannagrass, whitetop,
sloughgrass, common spikerush, slough sedge, marsh smartweed, and water parsnip.
An open-water phase often occurs in the deeper portions of the shallow-marsh
zone and is frequently occupied by submerged aquatic plants, the more common
of which include variableleaf pondweed and common waterstarwort.
Plate 6. Seasonal Pond. Stutsman County, August 1975 (photo
by John T. Lokemoen). Predominant plants in the central shallow-marsh zone
of this pond include giant burreed, slough sedge, and variableleaf pondweed.
Breeding birds of frequent occurrence are represented by the Gadwall, Mallard,
Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Sora, American Coot, Wilson's
Phalarope, and Red-winged Blackbird.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Sora, American
Coot, Wilson's Phalarope, Red-winged Blackbird.
Secondary intraneous species (including well-marked subspecies):
Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, American Wigeon, American Green-winged
Teal, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Marsh Hawk, Virginia Rail, Willet, Marbled Godwit,
Black Tern, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Short-billed Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat,
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
Extraneous species:
Black-crowned Night Heron, Brown-headed Cowbird.
Semipermanent Ponds and Lakes
Natural basin wetlands designated as semipermanent ponds and lakes (Class 4)
are quite common throughout the Prairie Pothole and Turtle Mountain Regions
and also occur locally in the Agassiz Lake Plain and Southwestern Slope Regions.
Surface water, ranging from fresh to subsaline, is usually maintained throughout
the spring and summer and frequently into fall and winter. During drought years,
however, water in these basins may disappear as early as midsummer.
Three distinct vegetative zones are characteristic of these wetland communities:
A peripheral wet-meadow zone, a central deep-marsh zone, and an intervening
shallow-marsh zone. The wet-meadow zone is composed predominantly of fine-textured
grasses, sedges and rushes; the deep-marsh zone is dominated by bulrushes
and cattails which are generally coarser and taller than corresponding emergent
species in other zones; and the shallow-marsh zone is dominated by grasses
or grass-like plants that are intermediate in height and coarseness. Variation
in species composition of vegetation in these zones often is closely related
to differences in salinity of surface water and also is affected to some extent
by variations in landuse.
In the central deep-marsh zone, which is the key indicator zone for this
type of wetland community, the primary emergent species include common cattail,
hybrid cattail, hardstem bulrush, river bulrush, slender bulrush, and alkali
bulrush. An open-water phase often occurs in the deeper portions of the deep-marsh
zone and is frequently occupied by submerged aquatic plants, the more common
of which include muskgrass, horned pondweed, saltwater wigeongrass, claspingleaf
pondweed, sago pondweed, grassleaf pondweed, coontail, white watercrowfoot,
common watermilfoil and common bladderwort.
Plate 7. Semipermanent Pond. Stutsman County, August 1975
(photo by John T. Lokemoen). Predominant plants in the central deep-marsh
zone of this pond include hardstem bulrush, common cattail, hybrid cattail,
sago pondweed, common watermilfoil, and common bladderwort. Breeding birds
of frequent occurrence are represented by the Pied-billed Grebe, American
Bittern, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead,
Ruddy Duck, Sora, American Coot, Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Long-billed
Marsh Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, and Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Eared Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American Bittern, Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail,
Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Ruddy Duck, Sora, American Coot,
Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Red-winged Blackbird,
Yellow-headed Blackbird.
Secondary intraneous species (including well-marked subspecies):
Horned Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, American Wigeon, American Green-winged
Teal, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, Marsh Hawk, Virginia Rail, Willet, Marbled
Godwit, American Avocet, Franklin's Gull, Forster's Tern, Short-billed Marsh
Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
Extraneous species:
White Pelican, Brown-headed Cowbird.
Permanent Prairie Ponds and Lakes
These natural basin wetlands (Class 5) are comparatively deep and usually are
of large size. They appear to be restricted to the Prairie Pothole Region. Although
definitely limited in numbers compared with other wetland communities, they
are quite generally distributed throughout the Missouri Coteau and also are
of local occurrence in the Northeastern, Southern, and Northwestern Drift Plains.
The alkaline surface water ranges from slightly brackish to subsaline and is
normally maintained throughout the year.
This type of habitat is composed of a large, centrally located, permanent,
open-water zone that is usually bordered by narrow, concentric bands of deep-marsh,
shallow-marsh, and wet-meadow zones. Within the deep-marsh and shallow-marsh
zones, both emergent and open-water phases are often present. Variation in
species composition of the vegetation of these zones may be correlated with
differences in surface water salinity.
The central permanent open-water zone is the key indicator zone for this
type of wetland community. Only two species of vascular plants, both pondweeds,
normally occur in this zone. Western wigeongrass is quite regular in occurrence,
and occasionally it is associated with big-sheath pondweed. In some lakes,
the deeper portions of this zone are devoid of submerged vegetation. Toward
shore the permanent open-water zone is frequently bordered by a band of open
water representing the open-water phase of the deep-marsh zone. Although superficially
similar in appearance, this shallower open-water band differs in species composition
of submerged plants.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Western Grebe, Eared Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, Common Tern.
Secondary intraneous species (including well-marked subspecies):
Pied-billed Grebe, White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, American Wigeon,
Gadwall, American Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern
Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, American Coot, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled
Godwit, American Avocet, Wilson's Phalarope, California Gull, Black Tern,
Red-winged Blackbird.
Extraneous species:
Black-crowned Night Heron, Franklin's Gull, Forster's Tern.
Permanent Wood-bordered Ponds and Lakes
These deep-water wetlands are restricted largely to the Turtle Mountain Region,
but a few also occur in the Prairie Pothole Region, particularly in the Northeastern
Drift Plain subregion. Surface water in these wetlands is usually circumneutral
and fresh and is normally maintained throughout the year.
A permanent open-water zone that is usually devoid of submerged aquatic
plants is characteristic of the central deeper portions of these natural basin
wetlands. Narrow concentric bands of deep-marsh and shallow-marsh zones are
normally present and these frequently contain emergent and submerged species
of aquatic plants. In these wetland habitats, wet-meadow zones apparently
are replaced by low woodland borders.
Plate 8. Wood-bordered Permanent Lake. Bottineau County,
August 1975 (photo by John T. Lokemoen). The woodland border of this lake
is composed chiefly of quaking aspen. Hardstem bulrush and common cattail
are the predominant emergent species in the peripheral deep-marsh zone. The
principal breeding birds include the Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested
Cormorant, Mallard, and Ring-necked Duck.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Ring-necked Duck.
Secondary intraneous species:
Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned
Night Heron, American Wigeon, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye,
Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Common Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Tree
Swallow, Rough-winged Swallow.
Alkali Ponds And Lakes
These large, shallow basin wetlands (Class 6) appear to be restricted to areas
of glacial outwash deposits in the Prairie Pothole Region. They are most numerous
on the Missouri Coteau, particularly in Kidder, McLean, Mountrail, and Divide
Counties.
The centrally located intermittent alkali zone occupies the greater part
of these communities. This zone is characterized by highly saline shallow
water that frequently alternates with exposed, glistening white, alkali salt
flats. Emergent plants do not develop in this zone, apparently because of
the high salt content, but one submerged aquatic species, saltwater wigeongrass,
is frequently abundant whenever surface water is maintained for a few weeks
during the summer.
Plate 9. Alkali Lake. Kidder County, August 1975 (photo by
John T. Lokemoen). Saltwater wigeongrass is a common submerged plant in this
lake. The peripheral wet-meadow zone is composed chiefly of alkaligrass, saltgrass,
and seablite. The principal breeding birds include the Piping Plover, Willet,
Marbled Godwit, American Avocet, and Wilson's Phalarope.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Secondary intraneous species:
Piping Plover, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Wilson's
Phalarope.
Extraneous species (including well-marked sub-species):
Gadwall, American Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler,
Franklin's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Common Tern.
Fens
In these wetland communities, surface water is sometimes lacking although the
bottom soils are normally saturated by alkaline ground-water seepage. Fens could
be characterized as quagmires with floating or quaking mats of emergent vegetation.
They are frequently located on gently sloping terrain with a perceptible flow
of ground water on or near the surface. Scattered fens occur throughout the
Prairie Pothole and Turtle Mountain Regions, and a few also may be found in
the Agassiz Lake Plain and Southwestern Slope Regions.
The primary emergent species of plants include:
common cattail, fowl mannagrass, phragmites, softstem bulrush, water sedge,
sandbar willow, slender willow, hoary willow, common waterhemlock, and rush
aster. Other species that are frequently common include common arrowgrass,
tufted hairgrass, marsh muhly, northern reedgrass, slender spikerush, narrowleaf
cottongrass, dark-green bulrush, beaked sedge, Torrey's rush, swamp buttercup,
bog star, tufted loosestrife, small fringed gentian, swamp milkweed, marsh
skullcap, Kalm's lobelia, Joe-pye weed, narrowleaf goldenrod, and clustered
sunflower.
Plate 10. Fen. Kidder County, August 1975 (photo by John
T. Lokemoen). Predominant plants in this fen include common cattail, fowl
mannagrass, water sedge, beaked sedge, narrowleaf cottongrass, hoary willow,
common waterhemlock, clustered sunflower, and rush aster. Breeding birds of
frequent occurrence are represented by the Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Snipe,
Short-billed Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Le Conte's
Sparrow, Sharp-tailed Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Sora, Common Snipe, Short-billed Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged
Blackbird, Le Conte's Sparrow.
Secondary intraneous species:
American Bittern, Marsh Hawk, Virginia Rail, Yellow Rail, Wilson's Phalarope,
Willow Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Yellow Warbler, Savannah Sparrow, Sharp-tailed
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Song Sparrow.
Extraneous species:
Gadwall, Mallard, Pintail, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Tree Swallow.
Cropland Ponds
These wetland communities occur in basins with soils that are frequently cultivated,
particularly during dry years. They are distributed throughout the Prairie Pothole
Region but are especially common on the Southern and Northwestern Drift Plains.
Small numbers also occur locally in the Agassiz Lake Plain and Southwestern
Slope Regions.
Vegetation in these communities, sometimes sparse, is composed of cropland
drawdown species in association with pioneering species that are representative
of early stages of secondary succession in wet meadow and shallow marsh. A
great variety of plants are found in these situations, the more common of
which include the following: western waterplantain, quackgrass, shortawn foxtail,
sloughgrass, wild millet, needle spikerush, Engelmann's spikerush, fox sedge,
Sartwell's sedge, Dudley's rush, Torrey's rush, narrow-leaf dock, marsh smartweed,
nodding smartweed, Macoun's buttercup, marsh cress, rough cinquefoil, hedge
hyssop, purslane speedwell, and biennial wormwood.
Characteristic Breading Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Secondary intraneous species (including well-marked subspecies):
American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Blue-winged
Teal, Northern Shoveler, Killdeer, Willet, Marbled Godwit, American Avocet.
Extraneous species:
Black-crowned Night Heron, Marsh Hawk, Franklin's Gull, Ring-billed Gull,
California Gull.
Permanent Streams And Oxbows
Permanent, wood-bordered streams and their associated oxbows are represented
by the Red River and its tributaries within the Agassiz Lake Plain Region; by
the Sheyenne, James, Mouse, and Des Lacs rivers within the Prairie Pothole Region;
and by the Missouri River and its larger tributaries within the Southwestern
Slope Region. Slow-moving water and mud bottoms are characteristic of the permanent
streams in the state and most of them contain fairly large populations of fish,
crayfish, and clams.
Characteristic Breeding Birds
Primary intraneous species:
Mallard, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Bank Swallow, Rough-winged
Swallow, Cliff Swallow.
Secondary intraneous species:
Great Blue Heron (local), Wood Duck (local), American Wigeon, Pintail, Blue-winged
Teal, Hooded Merganser (local), Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow,
Red-winged Blackbird.
Extraneous species:
Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Common Crow.
Man-made Wetlands
A considerable variety of man-made wetlands are found in North Dakota. These
include stock ponds, dugouts, large swallow river impoundments, reservoirs,
road ditches, drainage channels, and sewage lagoons. All of these vary greatly
in size, slope gradients of shorelines, depth of water, quality of water, and
degree of vegetative cover. Because of these variations in habitat conditions,
breeding bird populations often differ markedly from one wetland to another.
Most of the species of birds that are characteristic of natural basin wetlands
and permanent streams are represented in one or more of these artifical wetland
communities.
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