BILLINGS (AP) — Montana leads the nation in the percentage of residents who are bird watchers, a federal report shows.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analysis found that, in 2001, the states with the largest percentage of birders were Montana, with 44 percent, Vermont with 43 percent and Wisconsin with 41 percent. They were followed by Washington, Minnesota, Maine and Alaska at 36 percent.

‘‘Montana has such a strong outdoor tradition and that's obvious through the numbers leading the nation in birding participation,'' said Nicholas Throckmorton, FWS spokesman.

On average, 22 percent of the nation's population watches birds, the report said. The report found that 46 million bird watchers across the country spent $32 billion in 2001 and supported more than 863,000 jobs.

Hawaii, which has bird species not found on the continental United States, came in last with just 9 percent of that state's people classified as bird watchers.

The report, ‘‘Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis,'' analyzed information from the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

‘‘Nearly one in five Americans is a bird watcher,'' FWS Director Steve Williams said on Tuesday. ‘‘Bird watching is very popular and contributes greatly to our economy, so it is important that we continue to work with our partners to restore and protect habitat to ensure healthy bird populations.''

Throckmorton said the agency, through the U.S. Census Bureau, conducts the national survey every five years.