Without question, the migration of passerines and other landbirds at Montrose is the most impressive of any group of birds.
Spring
Each spring thousands of warblers, thrushes, sparrows and other songbirds use the Montrose Point area for feeding and resting. Spring migration begins in March as the earliest and hardiest songbirds begin to return. The peak of spring migration for passerines at Montrose is in May. A warm front and accompanying south winds will bring hordes of hungry migrants seeking food and shelter. Occasionally a phenomenon known as a fallout occurs. This happens when a cold front hits a wave of migrants during the night and forces them to the nearest land. Because of the cold temperatures (and often wind and rain), many otherwise arboreal birds are forced to the ground to find food and shelter.
Whip-poor-wills are sometimes flushed from the shrubs and bushes in late April and early May; occasionally one will even be found roosting in a tree or on the ground. The open nature of Montrose makes it an excellent place to study flycatchers, particularily the Empidonax. Least, Willow, Alder, and Yellow-bellied are all regular in late May. Olive-sided Flycatchers are seen most springs, usually perched on a bare branch or snag. Of the vireos, Red-eyed, Warbling, Philadelphia, White-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated occur every spring. The open nature of Montrose makes looking for vireos and other arboreal passerines a pleasure. The grassy meadow at Montrose is an excellent place to find Marsh and Sedge Wrens. All of the Catharus thrushes and Wood Thrush are regular; large numbers of these thrushes can often be heard migrating overhead at night. American Pipits are regular at Montrose with two peaks, one in late March and early April the other in early May. Scarlet Tanagers begin to arrive in late April; after a night of south winds in May, small flocks of these neotropical migrants can be found adorning the tops of trees. Montrose is an excellent place to see warblers. Again, the scattered trees and open nature of the Point make for relatively easy warblering, though this fact won't prevent warbler neck. Mourning and Connecticut Warblers find the shrubs and hedges at Montrose particularly attractive. Without a doubt Montrose is the best place in Illinois and probably the best place in the entire Midwest for sparrows. Of the more uncommon species, Clay-colored is regular in May and Harris's Sparrow is seen in most springs as are Lark Sparrows. Montrose's main claim to sparrow fame however are the Ammodramus. LeConte's, Henslow's, Nelson's Sharp-tailed, and Grasshopper are regular visitors, the LeConte's,Henslow's, and Grasshopper in mid and late April, the Sharp-tailed in mid and late May. The Meadow is by far the best place to see these skulkers. Northern Orioles can be abundant in May and Orchard Orioles are regular in small numbers in May. Both species show a predilection for the newly-opened flowers of the Norway Maple.
Fall
The fall migration of passerines is also impressive, though more drawn out and less frenetic then in the spring. Many birds found commonly during the spring are uncommon or less noticeable in the fall, such as the colorful tanagers and orioles. The potential for vagrants is greater in the fall however and several birds are actually more frequent then.
Although large flights of Common Nighthawks seem to be a thing of the past, numbers can still be seen moving by the Point in August. When Northern Shrikes are around, the open areas of Montrose Point are an excellent place to see this species. Until recently, Montrose was a major staging area for southbound Purple Martins in August and September. Sadly, only a handful are seen anymore. Sparrows are better in the fall then in the spring at Montrose; on one day in October of 2000, an incredible 17 species were seen by several observers. Harris's Sparrow is recorded every October and Sharp-tailed and LeConte's Sparrows are more frequent in the fall then in the spring. In recent years, Sharp-taileds have been found with regularity in the foredune vegetation on the beach in September and October. Lapland Longspurs are regular visitors starting in mid-September. This species can be found in the more barren, open areas of the Point. Snow Buntings are also regular starting in late October and can be found in the same type of habitat as the longspur.