Best Birding Destinations in the USA

Check out some of our favorite birding destinations in the USA!

[Updated April 2020]

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The U.S. is a big country, and we want to share with you our top birding destinations in the USA!

My love for bird watching and career in bird science started in 2012 in Loogootee, Indiana. It was there that I trained to survey all birds by sight and sound for a friend’s PhD field work. This opportunity opened the door of birdlife wide open, and I was determined to check even more birds off my list.

The United States offers a wide variety of habitats to host many species of birds – over 900, in fact. Sweeping from one ocean coast to the next, you’ll find farmland, cities, forests, grasslands, mountains, lakes, and more. Each place has a special set of birds found in each location.

Dive in with us to some of the extraordinary birding places in the United States!

Best Birding Destinations in the USA: Eastern United States

West Boggs Park, Indiana

West Boggs Lake at Sunset. Note that West Boggs has a variety of habitat types, such as forests, parks, prairie fields, and streams that attract many kinds of birds. Photo by Christa Rolls

Starting with the place where it all began for me, West Boggs Park has a stunning lake and forest trails perfect for birding. Many species of birds move through during spring or fall migration (warblers galore!).

If you’re lucky, you’ll arrive during one of the many Amish markets in town. Here, you can purchase wonderful, homemade apple butter and bread. Yum…

Check out nearby Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area and Fairfax State Recreation Area for more birding in the area!

Everglades National Park, Florida

The Everglades is home to a wide array of wading birds, such as Cattle Egret. Many can be seen in large rookeries, or nesting colonies. Photo by Nathan Rolls

You can’t have a list of the best birding destinations in the USA without the Everglades!

Dubbed a “subtropical wilderness,” the Everglades National Park is a well-known birding hotspot that provides important habitat for many species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Spring is one of the best times to spot birds, before it gets unbearably hot and humid. In some cases, you may still have to plan on starting your birding day extra early. Then, after a daytime siesta, head back out in the evening.

Spoonbills and wood storks, among many other wading birds, can be found in this oasis. If you want to try for a more elusive bird, walk along the mangrove trails in search of the Mangrove Cuckoo.

Leisurely airboat tours are a great way to see birds and other wildlife, as are kayak tours!

Jet up to J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge for more birdwatching splendor.

Cape May Bird Observatory, New Jersey

Just a few hours’ drive from big cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City, is Cape May. This seaside New Jersey town is a refuge for hundreds of bird species. It’s also been named one of the world’s best birding destinations by National Geographic.

The most impressive time to visit is during spring and fall migration. This is when thousands of birds travel to their breeding and wintering grounds, respectively, in one of the largest bird migration routes in the U.S.

The Cape May Bird Observatory hosts a spring and fall Migration Festival, where thousands of people celebrate our feathered friends.

If you are into birding bonanzas, don’t miss the World Series of Birding, which typically takes place in May. For a whole 24-hours, birders all over the state of New Jersey record as many birds as possible!

The adjacent South Cape May Meadows also has wonderful self-guided trails for you to explore year-round.

Best Birding Destinations in the USA: Western United States

“BillyFrank Jr” Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington

Golden hour at sunset looking out over the marshes at Nisqually. The Olympic mountains can be seen in the distance on the right horizon. Photo by Christa Rolls

Nisqually is easily one of our favorite places to go birding in the USA. Birdwatching any time of the year is fabulous at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Of course, in spring and fall you will get some of those migrants that you might not usually see at other times of the year. But, the variety in habitat means bird viewing opportunities are great in the summer and winter as well.

As the tide fluctuates throughout the day, you’ll spot a variety of birds. Greater Yellowlegs can be seen when the tide goes out and all variety of waterbirds when the tide comes back in. Bald Eagles dive for fish in the Sound, with the Olympic Mountains as their backdrop. Meanwhile, the forest boardwalk gives you some great owl-viewing opportunities in the evenings.

After you’ve spent the day walking around this stunning hotspot, go for a burger and milkshake at Norma’s Burgers or go just two minutes further up the road to Curry Corner for some spectacular tikka masala or navratan korma.

If time permits, head up to the Skagit Valley to see hundreds of snow geese, and many Bald Eagles and owls.

Interested in more places to see wildlife in Washington? Check out our blog on the best wildlife-watching destinations in western Washington.

Lucky Peak (Shaw Mountain) State Park, Idaho

Raptors of all kinds, including short-eared owls, can be readily seen throughout the year at Lucky Peak, especially Autumn. Photo by Nathan Rolls

Surrounded by a beautiful lake and numerous mountains, Lucky Peak is a prime spot any time of the year for some great birding opportunities. It’s also a quick drive from downtown Boise.

March and April see an incredible swath of snow geese and greater white-fronted geese, while May is a fabulous time to see songbirds abound, singing and displaying to gear up for the breeding season.

For a truly unique birding experience, however, check out Boise State’s Intermountain Bird Observatory to assist with banding and counting birds during various times of the year – just be sure to check for availability ahead of time!

Fall yields one of the largest raptor migrations in the country, easily spotted from the top of Lucky Peak. The nearby Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area also has fabulous hiking opportunities as well as raptor viewing.

Koke’e State Park, Hawaii

Hawaii’s unique bird life, and the incredible species diversity, makes every bird spotted something to marvel at. Photo by Nathan Rolls

When it comes to natural wonders and birdwatching, Hawaii is hard to beat. Nestled just off the Na Pali Coast, Koke’e State Park’s lush mountains and valleys and proximity to the Pacifc Ocean make this park draw-droppingly beautiful.

Hike the Pihea Trail, keeping an eye out for White-tailed Tropicbirds and the iconic I’iwi, or Scarlet Honeycreeper. Springtime and early summer is a great time to see the many forest birds the park has to offer.

To round out some incredible birding on Kauai, pop over to the other side of the island to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Nesting Laysan Albatross, frigatebirds, and boobies call this refuge home and you won’t be disappointed! On your way there, stop at one of the smoothie stands just up the road from Lihue to enjoy a fresh, Hawaiian fruit beverage.

Want even more to see? Continue to the end of the northern road to Ke’e State Beach Park. Don’t forget your swimsuit and snorkeling mask!

Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Shore and sea birds have some of the largest personalities in the bird world – check out the colonies of birds found in Alaska to see why! Photo by Nathan Rolls

Have you ever dreamed of seeing Asiatic vagrants flock to one place? What about experiencing being in the same place as tens of millions (that’s not a typo) of seabirds, with their cacophony of sounds? Then the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is the place for you!

This 3.4 million acre refuge encompasses the chain of volcanic islands in Alaska that string out into the Bering Sea. You’ll spot auklets, puffins, petrels, phalaropes, fulmars, shearwaters, and so much more! There’s also the possibility of spotting birds that breed nowhere else in the world, such as the Aleutian Tern.

Be sure to check out the Alaska Department of Transportation’s Marine Highway System, which services this chain of islands with boat crossings between islands twice monthly in the summertime.

Best Birding Destinations in the USA: Central United States

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Texas, especially Big Bend National Park, is known for its incredible bird watching opportunities. Photo by Sam Wolfe, Rock Wren

River trips through a canyon, hiking among juniper and shrub woodlands, horseback riding across the desert hills… there’s no shortage of things to do and incredible sights to see at Big Bend National Park, and birds are no exception.

The interface of various habitats, as well as the location near a major bird migration route, make Big Bend a hotspot for birdwatching. From Lucifer hummingbirds to the declining black-capped vireo to the unique Colima warbler, the opportunities for adding to your life list are many.

Migration boasts hundreds of species moving through, so you can’t go wrong no matter the time of year you visit.

Because of the Park’s isolated location, the stargazing can be out of this world (literally), so consider making a reservation at the campground or lodge. You can even secure a back country camping permit to enjoy this spectacle and see the desert come to life at night.

Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico

Bosque is a refuge for thousands of birds in wintertime; shown is a large overwintering colony of Snow Geese. Photo by Nathan Rolls

Wintertime might be quiet in some places, but not the oasis that is Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

Sandhill cranes choose this marshy wonder in the thousands for overwintering habitat, as well as snow geese, waterfowl, and many other marsh birds.

When early summer rolls around, you’ll be able to spot numerous hummingbird species, such as Calliope and Black-chinned. Make sure you do your bird spotting in the early morning or evening, though, as the rising temperatures can be unbearable for you and the birds!

The Refuge hosts nature walks and there are beautifully maintained trails for taking a stroll – riding your bike is also highly encouraged!

Nearby Caballo Lake State Park also boasts some wonderful birdwatching opportunities.

If you’re staying in the area an extra day (or night), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory offers some cool astronomy science opportunities, as well as night sky viewing on the first Saturday of every month!

Quick Note: Wildlife and habitat safety is of the upmost importance to us. When visiting these places, please be respectful of the distance from which you get to animals and practice Leave No Trace ethics. If the behavior of the animal changes because of your presence, you are too close! Be sure to read our Birding Ethics blog before heading out on your next trip.

Have you visited any of these top birding destinations in the USA? Where else would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

Happy Birding!

Christa and Nathan

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