America has a great variety of birds for you if you are thinking of setting out for bird watching. Whooping Cranes, Great Egret, California Condor, Elf Owl, Blue-Footed Buby, Wild Turkey, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Green Jay are some of the noteworthy ones that you can consider birding.
Bird watching can be an amazing option to take a break from your dull and monotonous life. The beautiful birds will work like magic to calm your mind and to heal your soul. It’s also a great distraction from your busy life.
List of Famous Birds Of USA for Bird Watching
Before going out for bird watching, you need to figure out which birds you want to watch next.
Whooping Crane
The whooping crane is the tallest bird of North America. Its name comes from the whooping sound it makes. Throughout the world, it is the fifth-largest living species of crane. The sad part is this beautiful species is endangered due to habitat loss.
The whooping crane happens to be the tallest and rarest bird in North America. With a wingspan of almost 7 feet and a weight of 15 pounds, the Whooping Crane is taller than most humans. Stunning white feathers, crimson red hat, and bright golden eyes make this one of the most striking birds in the United States.
You know a bird is famous when it has a festival dedicated to it. This festival has been celebrating the annual return of this bird to their migratory habitat since 1966. Unfortunately, only about 300 whooping cranes survived in the wild at the turn of this century. However, if you’re looking for Whooping Cranes, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is the best spot to go!
Range: Louisiana, Wood Buffalo National Park, Wisconsin, Texas, Alberta and Northwest, and Florida.
An adult white whooping crane possesses a red crown along with a long, dark, pointed bill. On the other hand, immature whooping cranes are cinnamon-brown. During flying, their long necks remain straight. Every year since 1966, the whooping crane festival has been celebrated. It marks the return of the crane to their wintering habitat at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
Best Locations to Watch Whooping Crane
You might be excited to go birding to have a sight of this magnificent whooping crane. For bird watching you can choose from the following options:
- Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
- Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Tennessee.
- Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida.
- International Crane Foundation, Baraboo, Wisconsin
- Welder Flats Wildlife Management Area, Texas
- Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama.
Green Jay
The Green Jay is a beautiful American species of jay. It is found in Central America. Even if you are not a birdwatcher, this colorful bird is sure to appeal to you for birding. In addition, the green jay has an extensive voice. Its most common call resembles the sound of an alarm bell.
It has a blue crown along with a black throat and breast. Moreover, it possesses a yellow-green belly, emerald back, and yellowish outer tail surfaces. Be it a bird enthusiast or not, its colorful shape attracts everyone. Often, it is very tame in a few refuges and parks.
Although in the northern regions they are considered uncommon, these tropical birds are mostly found in southern Texas. If you are in luck, you can also spot them looking for food in parks and yards!
A huge body with a vivid hue all over it, makes this bird stand out from the crowd. And, a long yellow tail complements its look in the best possible way, especially when in flight!
There are bird watching parks all across the United States where you can spot green jays. Mealworms and sunflower seeds will come in handy if you want to catch their attraction while in the park!
Range: Guatemala, Belize, Texas, Honduras, and Mexico.
Best Locations to Spot Green Jay
Maybe, you are already planning to spot this beautiful Green Jay. If so, you can pick a location from the following options:
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley.
- Estero Llano Grande.
- Falcon State Parks.
- Hazel Bazemore County Park.
- Aransas NWRs.
- Santa Ana Sanctuary.
- Sabal Palm Sanctuary.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
During the fall season, a huge number of these beautiful birds migrate into the regions of North America. However, in the summer you will be able to find these birds in the north woods or the middle elevation conifer forests in the West.
After molting in the summer, these birds turn a beautiful shade of gray, with a few flashes of white on their wings, despite having a pale brown color in the winter.
Range: Central, and northern South America.
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged blackbirds are the most popular bird in North America. About 150 million birds live across the continent, making them a familiar sight. However, you are most likely to spot a male one if you happen to live in North America!
In addition to their black bodies, male blackbirds also have a vivid red and yellow patch on their shoulder. Unlike the males, female birds have a brownish hue and prefer to hide in the bushes.
Blackbirds can survive in a wide range of places but they prefer wetlands the most. Their diet mostly consists of seeds and insects. It makes it easier for them to live across North America.
Range: The Southern United States and Canada.
Great Egret
Great Egret, a large kind of heron, is a tall white wader of quiet water. All white plumage covers its body. In the 19th century, it was almost on the verge of eradication due to killing in huge numbers. But thanks to the proper conservation measures, this bird increased in range significantly. Moreover, the Great Egret is the symbol of the National Audubon Society.
If you are a bird enthusiast, you will love watching this glorious bird. In addition, they are widespread aquatic birds in the southern United States. They are found specifically in the Gulf of Mexico and the south of the Atlantic coast. But they also move as far north as the Great Lakes in summer.
Best Locations to Spot Great Egrets
Great Egrets can be among your picks for bird watching. So to make your birding, easier the following is a list of national parks where you can spot Great Egrets:
- Big Bend National Park, Texas.
- Biscayne National Park, Florida.
- Congaree National Park, South Carolina.
- Everglades National Park, Florida.
- Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana.
California Condor
California Condor is the largest flying bird in North America. In 1987, these rare birds became extinct in the wild. So, the authority took the remaining surviving bird for a breeding program. They used San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo for captive breeding. Soon, the program was successful in increasing the number of species.
The Condors were reintroduced in the wild in 1991. At present, around 518 California Condors are living free or captive. Even then, condors are one of the rarest species. In addition, this bird holds a significant position for Native Americans. So if you are a birder, don’t miss putting this species on your list.
The body of this bird is so large that the head appears to be relatively tiny. Both the wings and tail are broad in size which adds to its bulky appearance. Weighing more than 10 lbs., California Condor also happens to be the heaviest bird of North America.
But what sets it apart from other birds is its long uniform black feathers. On average, its wingspan is about 10 feet, which makes it the biggest flying bird in America. However, this majestic bird is now on the verge of extinction.
Range: Central California, Grand Canyon, and Utah.
Best Locations to Spot California Candor:
If you are a bird watcher and looking for sites to find California Candor, then you choose from the following options:
- Los Padres National Forest, California.
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Northern Arizona.
- Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park, Mexico.
- World Center for Birds of Prey, Idaho.
- Zion National Park, Utah.
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping sparrows are one of the smallest birds in North America. With dark streaks on their wings and a reddish crown on their heads, these birds look a lot different from regular sparrows.
Chipping sparrows mostly reside in woodlands and forests throughout North America. They also don’t mind living in parks and backyards as long as you have a bird feeder. Because of their capacity to thrive almost anywhere, North America is now home to around 230 million chipping sparrows!
Range: Central and southern America.
A total of 130 million red-eyed vireos live in Canada and the eastern United States, which makes them one of the most common birds in North America. As the name implies, these birds have red eyes, unlike regular birds. As for the rest of their body, they resemble a lot like sparrows.
However, they are not born with red eyes as one might assume. After being born, it takes around one year for their eyes to turn red. These songbirds prefer to live in forests, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. This is why South America is the ideal location for them to thrive.
Range: The Amazon forest of South America.
Elf Owl
Elf owl is the smallest and lightest owl in the world. The average weight of their body is 40 gm. However, they remain in the most active state in the dusk and just before dawn. Often they keep calling each other during this time. They’re around the same size as a sparrow. And, it is their tiny size that draws the attention of bird watchers!
Mostly, the elf owl migrates in large groups. Some migrate to the southwest United States, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas for breeding during the summer and spring. Furthermore, in the winter, they are found in central and southern Mexico. On the other hand, in mid-April to early May, the migrants return north. They are found near the Mexican border.
The adult elf owl has a wingspan of 9 inches and can grow up to 5 inches in length. The Elf owl migrates into Southern Mexico throughout the winter. Despite their tiny size, they can be quite feisty! A majority of their diet consists of insects that they hunt at night.
Range: Arizona, Eastern California, Colorado River, Davis Mountains, Western Mexico, Rio Grande River, Southern Nevada, and Texas.
However, the number of elf owls has been declining in recent years, specifically in California. The decline in number occurs due to the continued loss of native habitats. Moreover, they have been declared endangered in California. An elf owl named Gylfie is a significant character in the book series by Kathryn Lasky.
Best Locations to Spot Elf Owl
For your next bird watching tour you can include Elf Owl. So, you might like go through the following locations to choose one:
- Big bend National Park, Texas
- Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona.
- Catalina State Park, Arizona.
- Gila National Forest, New Mexico.
- Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, Texas.
- Saguaro National Park, Arizona.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Although these owls are quite common in the American tropics, it is quite rare in the regions of southern Texas, and Arizona. These five feet seven inches owls weigh about 133 pounds on average.
The owls show most of their activities during the day, especially near dawn, and dusk. At this time the birds prey on birds, insects, lizards, and rodents. The owls make a long chain of noises that irritate those who hear them due to the repeated hollow whistles.
To spot this common bird, all you have to do is keep an eye on the tropical lowlands during the daytime.
Range: Southern Arizona, Argentina, Mexico, and South Texas.
Eastern Bluebird
In the eastern North American region during summer, you will be able to observe these beautiful Eastern Bluebirds resting on top of phone wires. These mind-blowing birds range from 16-21 cm in length with their wings spanning from 25-32 cm.
Weighing about 27-35 grams the male birds have a beautiful bright head, back, and wings. Moreover, they also have a shade of brownish-red on their breast. On the other hand, the females have a lighter shade of gray on their heads and back and also on their wings.
Range: Western Manitoba, Texas, and Mexico.
Hermit Thrush
These songbirds with a crimson tail, a brown head, and smudged patches on the body easily stand out from others of their kind. Also known as the American nightingale, Hermit Thrush are best known for their melancholic singing voice.
You can spot these birds lurking around the far northern forests in the summer as it finds the prey with the aid of its bill. They are usually 9.8 to 11.8 inches in length with a weight of about 18 to 37 grams.
Range: North and Central America.
Blue-footed Booby
The blue-footed booby is a seabird native to the Pacific coast. It has its unique blue-colored foot. It has black beaks along with yellow eyes enabling binocular vision. If you are listing down amazing American birds for birding, then don’t forget to put down this species on your list.
These birds are of pure marine habitats. Their range includes the Pacific coast from Mexico to central Peru. It mainly covers the Gulf of California, Galapagos Islands, Honduras, and Panama. Half of the breeding pairs nest on the Galapagos Islands.
You can spot thousands of these blue birds in Mexico’s Gulf of California. They chase the fish from a great height. The scene of watching a bunch of these birds trying to catch a shoal of fish and jumping into the ocean at times makes them a treat for the eyes.
Their name translates to stupid in Spanish, these birds are normally very friendly to humans.
Range: The gulf of California, Galápagos Islands, Honduras, Panama, Mexico, and Peru.
Best Locations to Blue-footed Booby
This marine species nests mostly on the islands of tropical eastern pacific. You can consider the following options to spot Blue-Footed Booby:
- Gulf of California, coast of Mexico.
- Galapagos Islands.
- Western coasts of Central America.
American Robin
The American Robin is a common bird in towns and cities across the United States. They are mostly found in the regions of North America and also among the mountain forests and Alaskan wilderness.
American Robins are large singing birds with a big round body, long tail, and legs. Their wingspan is approximately 14 to 16 inches and their length ranges from 9-11 inches. These bright orange birds, which appear in the early winter, fascinate people with their melodious songs.
Range: Canada, southeastern United States, and Mexico.
Atlantic Puffin
These cute seabirds are mostly called the clown of the sea. The birds are about 12 inches in size which makes them absolutely adorable to look at. More precisely, these birds are about 12 inches in length with a wingspan that ranges from 20-14 inches.
The seabirds dressed in black and white are found on the islands in the North Atlantic. The black part is seen on the upper sides while the white is spotted on the chest and the lower regions of these cuties.
These birds eat fish and crustaceans as their main sources of nutrition. With the ability to dive up to 200 ft, these birds are often spotted hunting under the surface of the oceans. Newfoundland and Labrador have designated it as their official bird but the number of these birds is declining day by day.
Range: Eastern Canada, Britain, Greenland, Coasts of Maine, northern Europe, and Iceland.
Gyrfalcon
The Gyrfalcon is the rarest falcon breed. When it comes to size, they are slightly bigger than Peregrine falcons. They have bushy underparts on their back, which adds to their unique appearance. Soaring at 50-68 mph in level flight, they are the worlds’ fastest bird!
These hunting experts come in a range of colors of white, gray, and dark brown. Gyrfalcons in North America are mostly gray in color. They look for places with open fields, dunes, and coastlines as their habitats.
Range: Canada, Northern United States, and Southern Canada.
Northern Cardinal
It’s no secret that they have a knack for singing.
Apart from their singing abilities, their vibrant red appearance draws the attention of the bird watcher the most. The birds are so pretty that they are considered the state bird in a total of seven states. Unlike the males, the females have a sharp crest with warm red accents.
While it is almost impossible to spot them as they don’t migrate, luckily, you can still get a sight of these songbirds at parks. Especially throughout eastern America.
Range: Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Atlantic provinces.
American Goldfinch
The beautiful small goldfinches can easily be spotted in the regions of North America in areas filled with thistle plants. It is the vivid colors of these birds that make them easy to spot.
The males have yellow and dark black bodies with a tinge of white. However, the female goldfinches are pale in color, with a conical bill, wing bars, and pointed notched tails,
There are so many things that set them apart from other birds! Unlike other birds, the American Goldfinches go through the process of molting their feathers about two times a year. Furthermore, these vegetarians adhere to a strict diet. They also do not reproduce at the same time as other North American birds do.
Range: Canada, North Carolina, and Mexico.
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The specialty of this beautiful bird is that it’s the only breeding hummingbird in all of Eastern North America. Flapping their wings about 53 times in a second, these birds are absolutely gorgeous with their bright red throats and shining emerald crown!
During summer you can spot them flying in a flock across the Gulf of Mexico on their way to Central America. These birds can also be found in flower gardens, moving from one tree to another as they search for food in early Fall.
Range: Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Siberia.
Purple Martin
The immense interest of the Native Americans in these birds proves the popularity of Purple Martins. Residents in eastern North America often build small Martin houses in their backyards to lure these birds. As a matter of fact, the purple martins in North America nest only in the miniature birdhouses made for them.
The male Martins have a bright bluish hue to them, while the females have a brown appearance. Keeping their majestic look aside, the aerial acrobatics that they show while catching their prey is really impressive. As they habitat in lakes, they look magical as they skim through the surface of the water as well!
Range: Gulf of Mexico, Texas, and Florida.
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird is a medium-sized mockingbird with a tiny head, tiny legs, and a long thin bill as in picture above. A majority of the American Continent as well as Canada and Mexico are now home to these migratory birds
Residing in the towns, backyards, parks, forest edges, and open lands, these birds do love their fair share of attention from the people nearby. With their flashy white outer tail feathers, they absolutely look beautiful during their flight.
In general, they are gray-brown in color with two white wing bars. In spite of their friendly looks, these birds don’t welcome intruders into their territory and try to chase them off!
Range: Northern United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey is a notable Native American species of upland ground bird. It is one of the only two existing species of Turkey. They are capable of flying strongly. Usually, they roost overnight in tall trees. This widespread American bird can get a special mention in your list of birding.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, there was a decline in the number of wild turkeys. But the sincere efforts for conservation increased the number of Wild Turkeys in most regions except Alaska. It’s one of the most widespread birds in the national park in current times.
Best Locations to Wild Turkey
You might be thinking of spotting Wild Turkey. The following options can be your destinations for finding Wild Turkey:
- Best National Parks to See Wild Turkeys.
- Acadia National Park, Maine.
- Everglades National Park, Florida.
- Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado.
- Zion National Park, Utah.
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Warblers are one of the most popular birds in North America. Among the warblers, Yellow-Rumped Warbler is the most widespread. The myrtle warbler and the Audubon’s warbler are noteworthy among its four different subspecies. One common thing in all the subspecies is the yellow rump on the body. The name of the species is derived from this rump.
From September to November, the species usually performs its fall migration. Again the spring migration takes place from April to May. They usually depart from their winter habitat from March to April. Their general route of migration is southwards during winter. If you are a bird watcher, then you must be fond of watching Yellow-Rumped Warbler.
Best Locations to Yellow-Rumped Warbler
You may have Yellow-Rumped Warbler in your next list for bird watching. If so, you can choose one from the following options to spot this bird:
- Western US and Central Appalachian Mountains.
- Near the Pacific Coast.
- Wintering ground of Mexico.
- Central America.
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List of places in North America for bird watching
You might often look for an ultimate destination for bird watching. Following is a list of places for birding to help you find your feathered friends:
Acadia National Park
Acadia national park is an American national park situated on the coast of Maine. All around the year, it provides an opportunity for bird watchers to enjoy the beauty and chirping of birds. James Bond was a famous ornithologist of the twentieth century. He stated in his biography that Mount Desert Island inspired him to be an ornithologist.
If you are up for bird watching, Acadia National Park can be your favorite pick. They have a total of 308 species of birds in and around the park. These include 20 species of warblers breeding on the island. Following is detailed information of birding locations in Acadia National Park.
- Birding Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the tallest point on the eastern seaboard, 1520 ft. above the coast of Maine. This unique nature of Cadillac is a great location to spot a huge variety of birds.
- While hiking through the mixed woods, you can often see Yellow-rumped Warbler and Golden-crowned Kinglet.
- Soon in your hiking track, you can find soaring Turkey Vulture and Bald Eagle in the distance.
- On your way towards the peak, you can often encounter Eastern Towhee and White-throated Sparrow flying around.
- Another great observation spot for birding is the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Round the year, you can spot flocks of Cedar Waxwing, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and White-winged Crossbill.
- In the fall, you can join park rangers and volunteer. This will offer you to watch the birds of prey flying overhead. Broad-wing Hawk, American Kestrel, and Sharp-shinned Hawk are pretty common to spot during fall.
- You can also go birding in winter in Cadillac. During this period, you can often spot a snowy owl.
A short walk towards Otter cliffs comes with various spots to look for passing or nesting seabirds. Moreover, you can find migrating songbirds at Otter Point’s dense spruce-fir forest. The ideal period to catch this activity is May or September.
You can spot the migrating songbirds like Blackburnian Warbler and Black-throated Blue Warbler. In addition, you can find Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Golden-crowned Kinglet singing or nesting near. During spring or fall, you can spot Red-necked Grebe, Bufflehead, and Red-breasted Merganser. Additionally, during the winter, Horned Grebe and Long-tailed Duck are present.
Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta & Northwest Territories
Wood Buffalo is the largest park in Canada. It offers a great variety of bird species. The park itself is larger than the whole of Switzerland. In addition, it is the second-largest one in the world. The large inland freshwater delta of Peace-Athabasca Delta is sure to excite the birdwatchers. During the spring and fall, migratory birds pass through this delta from all four flyways.
A few species of common birds are sandhill cranes, hawks, eagles, and owls. Apart from these, there is tundra swan, snow geese, snow buntings. There are also various types of grebes, horned larks, American coots, Lapland longspurs, phalaropes, and American avocets, among dozens of others.
It is the only remaining nesting ground of the rare species of crane, named whooping crane. UNESCO designated Wood Buffalo National Park as a World Heritage Site.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge of Texas is a must on your list for a bird-watching destination. The tallest bird of America, the whooping crane, finds their winter abode in Aransas Refugee. They are one of the rarest crane species throughout the world.
Whooping cranes have been endangered since 1967 due to lack of habitat and overhunting. Around 826 whooping cranes, captive and free, are alive today. These are all descendants of the 15 cranes which were found on the Aransas Refugee wintering in 1941.
The whooping cranes arrive on their winter abode around mid-October. Near the end of March, they leave for their summer home in Canada. So you can go to watch the cranes in Aransas from October to March.
You can explore the 5000-acre wildlife refuge using car or by foot. However, to spot the amazing cranes, you will have to take one boat tour. Apart from the whooping cranes, you can also spot herons, egrets, and terns frequently.
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Balcones Canyonlands is a national wildlife refuge. Over the years, it has been doing a great job in conserving species. The two endangered songbird species Golden-Cheeked Warbler and the Black-Capped Vireo are conserved by them. If you are a nature lover along with being a bird watcher, then this is a perfect pick for you.
In addition, it is a friendly habitat for many wildlife, including birds. This refuge has a great diversity of more than 270 species of birds. A good number of the total birds are migratory in nature. Some of the notable birds present are Painted Bunting, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Bewick’s Wren, and Black-crested Titmouse, among many others.
In early March, the Golden-cheeked Warblers began arriving in central Texas. They stay over here till the end of July. If you want to catch them nesting, you can visit here during this period. Furthermore, you can also find Black-Capped Vireo singing. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge has been internationally identified as an important bird area.
Magee Marsh Wildlife Area
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, then Magee Marsh can be your place for birding. Magee Marsh is the habitat of a great variety of species. But it’s popular for watching the warblers and other migrants of spring. Every year during early May, a ten days long annual birding festival goes on.
Apart from these warblers, you can also spot swans, herons, egrets, thrushes, orioles, vireos, sparrows, and much more. Usually, there are around 255 different species of birds in Magee Marsh.
The best time to visit the warbler capital of the world is during late April and May. A huge number of birders and visitors come over during this period. More than 30 warblers are present during May, including Ceruleans, Cape Mays, and Black-throated Blues.
Cape May Point
Bird watchers in North America have been coming to this park the most in recent years. The southernmost point of Cape May is well-known for being a great place to observe migrating birds.
Being the key site in the Coastal Heritage Trail, it houses so many wild birds as well. The annual notice from the Cape May Bird Observatory specifies the time when you are most likely to spot your favorite birds. You can also keep track of the even schedules by visiting their website!
If you visit Cape May during October and September, you will get the opportunity to observe the wild birds including falcons, ospreys, and hawks. However, if you are into marine birds, consider visiting the place in summer!
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Situated in Eastern Pennsylvania, the hawk mountain sanctuary is the oldest wild bird sanctuary for the birds of prey. On average, the sanctuary experiences 20,000 hawks, eagles, and falcons passing the lookouts during the late summer and fall around the year. The annual count of the migrating raptors indicates the longest record of the raptors population.
Along with the several species of raptors, different other migrants pass through the mountain. According to reports, there are around 140 migratory species. Some of them include the Wood Thrush, Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and Northern Parula.
Sitting on the mountain ridge observing these charismatic birds fly over is something every birdwatcher dreams. If you are an adventurous birdwatcher, then the Hawk Mountain ridge is waiting for you. The hawk mountain sanctuary has a designation of National Natural Landmark.
There are 16 species of migratory raptors, most commonly passing the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. The peak migration period varies as per the species. Following is a list of their migration time on Hawk Mountain Sanctuary based on observation.
- Broad-winged hawk: late August to late September.
- American kestrel: late August to early October.
- Osprey: late August to early October.
- Bald eagle: early September.
- Northern harrier: early September to early November.
- Sharp-shinned hawk: early September to early November.
- Red-tailed hawk: early September to early December.
- Broad Winged Hawk: mid-September.
- Cooper’s hawk: late September to late October.
- Merlin: early October.
- Peregrine falcon: early October.
- Red-shouldered hawk: early October to early November.
- Black Vulture: October to November.
- Golden eagle: early November.
- Rough-legged hawk: early November to early December.
- Goshawk: late November.
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Do you wish to escape from your busy life running towards the peaceful islands along with watching birds? If yes then, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge can be your favorite option for birding. This national wildlife refuge of the US holds 2400 islands over an area of 4.9 million acres. It is famous all over the world for its great variety of seabirds.
Along the coast of Alaska, there are around 50 million seabirds. Eighty percent of these, almost 40 million seabirds, find their habitat on Alaska Refuge. This very number of seabirds is the largest number of that all over North America.
This island and the coast attract a bunch of seabirds whose only habitat is the ocean. In addition, migrating birds along Asian routes stop here for resting and finding food.You can come across auklets, puffins, petrels, phalaropes, fulmars, shearwaters, and a lot more. So hurry up and add this unique option to your list of places for bird watching.
Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park is one of the largest and most popular parks in America. Around 344 native species are living here to amaze you. If you are into bird watching, you should not miss out on exploring this delightful option. In the following list, we are mentioning several trails to spot your favorite birds:
- Anhinga trail: Winter is the best time for birding here. Most of the birds are concentrated around the water bodies during this time. Along this trail, you may observe anhingas, herons, egrets, and many other birds. This trail is very popular due to its abundance of wildlife.
- Paurotis Pond and Nine-Mile Pond: You will find a great variety of birds flocking around Paurotis Pond and Nine-Mile Pond by February. You can spot several birds like short-tailed hawks, osprey, herons, bald eagles, and so on.
- Mrazek Pond: This is often filled with birds of various species. It is a great spot for birding as well as bird photography. All around the year, there remain only a few ducks and wading birds. But in winters, several birds, including Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks, roam around.
- Bear Lake Trail: Stretch your legs again at the two-mile-long Bear Lake Trail. It passes through the tropical woodland. You may find white-crowned pigeons and numerous birds over here.
Estero Llano Grande State Park
It is a part of the world birding center. The Park has a massive variety of species which is around 350. The Park even arranges birding tours for bird watchers of all walks. If you are a birdwatcher, then make sure not to miss this adventurous avian tour.
The Wood Stork and colorful coastal species like the Roseate Spoonbill and Ibis are also present here. You may even spot rare Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets. Hundreds of waders and shorebirds flock here in late summer.
A large number of songbird migrants visit here. But the park also hosts local specialty birds, including rare Red-crowned Parrots, Green Parakeets, Green Jays, Long-billed Thrashers, Altamira Orioles, and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet.
It also attracts a wide variety of migrating ducks, wading birds, and shorebirds, in addition to the woodland species. As an added treat, a nightjar species called the Common Pauraque can be seen at dusk, dawn, and night.
Cape St. Mary’s Seabird Sanctuary
Given Newfoundland & Labrador is one of the most popular bird watching destinations, it’s no surprise that bird watchers visit here all year round! The Cape St. Mary’s Seabird Sanctuary is the most popular among all the parks in Canada. The sanctuary gained its popularity through the numerous seabirds that nest here in the summer.
In addition, due to its proximity to St. John’s, the sanctuary is more easily accessible for bird watchers. When it comes to the species of birds that nest and hatch here the list gets really exciting with the northern gannet, thick billed murre, whimbrel, lesser golden plover, willow ptarmigans, and black-legged kittiwake.
Fundy National Park
Located between the Bay of Fundy and Caledonia Highland plateau, Fundy National Park is home to 260 rare bird species. You can see a variety of birds in the park throughout the year, which sets it apart from other parks in this region.
Not only that, during the summer, many migratory birds migrate here, including juncos, white-winged crossbills, cormorants, warblers, and peregrine falcons. The Christmas Bird Count, a carnival event is held here, which the visitors can also participate in. That alone should be enough to tempt any major bird enthusiast to visit this spectacular park!
Rio Lagartos, Yucatan
For bird watchers, a trip to Rio Lagartor is an exciting opportunity to enjoy flamingos amid breathtaking nature. Though there are around 400 different species of birds, birders run there to spot a flock of pink flamingos.
The season of the flamingo is March- June, that is spring and early summer. Round the year, you will find flamingos here. But, during this season, you will find an abundance of them, especially in the thousands. In addition to the flamingos, there are many different herons, sea birds, and storks.
In Mexico, you can find flamingos in two regions, including Rio Lagartos. Rio Lagartos is situated on the Northern point of Yucatan. The other option is the Celestun Biosphere Reserve near Mérida. It is situated on the western coast of the Yucatan.
Nature offers a great variety of feathered friends. You can always pick your favorite ones from them to explore. Birds are the gift of nature that never disappoint you.
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