The Best Spots for Bird Watching in the U.S.
As the pandemic has stripped away most forms of human interaction, an increasing number of people have been gravitating towards an entirely different life form altogether: birds. Ideal for maintaining social distance, birding allows partakers to find adventure as near as their local park or just out their window at a feeder, fastidiously plugging their sightings into online communities like eBird and raving about the painted bunting that appeared for one fleeting moment early that morning.
An added benefit to birding is the ease of entry: while it always helps to have some trusty equipment—like binoculars and a guide book—all that’s really required to get started is a nearby patch of wilderness (even a city park, like New York’s Central Park with its 200 different avian species). Whether you’re a card-carrying Audubon member or a newcomer that just spotted their first chickadee, birding offers a sense of closeness to nature that few other recreational activities can.
From Nebraska's Platte River Valley to the rainforests of Puerto Rico, here are eight of the very best birdwatching sites in the U.S.
GettyBombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware
Founded in 1937 as a haven for migratory birds, this vast expanse of tidal marshland along the Atlantic Flyway (a prominent north-south migration route) is one of the most heralded birding destinations on the Mid-Atlantic coast. While more than 300 different species have been spotted throughout the refuge over the past 20 years, bird sightings vary by season as migrating flocks come and go. Both March and November are peak months for waterfowl migration, with wood ducks and snow geese passing through the refuge, while May brings large concentrations of sandpipers, plovers, and other shorebirds to the water’s edge. Three observation decks open to the public promise truly magnificent views from above.
Bill Gozansky/AlamyEl Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico
With verdant rainforests and an abundance of tropical flora and fauna, the island of Puerto Rico is a paradise for birders, with some 300 species of birds, 17 of which are endemic. Just 40 minutes east of San Juan, the El Yunque National Forest is the place to see over 90 of them. For those hoping to spot birds while keeping physical exertion at a minimum, the Caimitillo Trail is a suitable option, while experienced outdoor adventurers can trek to Mount Britton Tower, an observation deck perfect for trying to spot the elusive and critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot mid-flight. As you hike through the forest, keep an eye out for bananaquits, Puerto Rican todies, and green mango hummingbirds.
Artur Apresyan/AlamyEverglades National Park, Florida
Given that it’s the largest national park in the eastern United States, it should come as no surprise that the Everglades are a spectacular birding destination. There have been 360 different bird species recorded across the park, though visitors are often drawn to the wealth of wading birds that hunt along the water’s edge, including the iconic great blue heron, the vibrant roseate spoonbill, and the once-endangered wood stork. Visitors can rent a canoe at the Flamingo Marina and paddle along Nine Mile Pond in search of snail kites, while Paurotis Pond is ideal for those who prefer a quicker stop, just off State Road 9336.
K.D. Leperi/AlamyPlatte River Valley, Nebraska
Though some may refer to Nebraska as a “flyover” state, seasoned birders know that this couldn’t be further from the truth—just ask the sandhill crane. From late February to early April, roughly 600,000 of the birds arrive in droves from the southern reaches of North America, convening to refuel their weary bodies before heading north, some ending up as far as Alaska and Siberia. The cities of North Platte, Grand Island, and Kearney offer amazing crane watching opportunities, but that’s not all that Nebraska has in store for birders. Visitors in April can book a tour with the North Platte–based tour group Dusty Trails to catch the mating dance of the prairie chicken, a noisy affair that involves frenzied stomping, jumping, and loud booming calls.
Rick and Nora Bowers/AlamyTucson, Arizona
Not all may realize it, but Tucson’s sun-baked deserts and gorges are absolutely brimming with wildlife. To encounter greater roadrunners, gilded flickers, and other desert birds in their natural habitat, head 20 minutes northwest of the city to Saguaro National Park’s Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive. Or, steer south to the forests of Madera Canyon, which are home to tanagers, flycatchers, and 15 different species of hummingbird. For those who wish to stick close to downtown Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands Park comes equipped with a wealth of songbirds, ducks, and wading birds scattered across artificial marshland, ranging from least sandpipers to great blue herons.
GettySanta Maria Valley, California
A well-kept secret of the Golden State, this idyllic region is lesser known than popular California birding destinations like the Salton Sea and Point Reyes National Seashore. But for those hoping to spot some of the Pacific coast's most endangered shorebirds, the Santa Maria Valley is the place to go. The Santa Maria Wastewater Treatment Plant specifically, unconventional as it may be, is a particularly valuable asset for visiting birders all throughout the year, with large numbers of shorebirds, ducks, and gulls mingling in the water, as peregrine falcons soar overhead. Of course, no visit to Santa Maria is complete without traveling 20 minutes west to Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, a pristine stretch of shoreline that’s home to over 200 bird varieties including the endangered California least tern.
GettyRio Grande Valley, Texas
Don’t let the name fool you—the Rio Grande Valley is no valley at all, but rather a lush floodplain that supports a variety of migratory and resident avian species throughout the year. When it comes to Texas birding, the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge is truly second to none, with over 400 different types of birds recorded within its borders. Songbirds are most prevalent in early May, while ruby-throated hummingbirds are most commonly spotted in September. After thoroughly exploring Santa Ana, head back north to Quinta Mazatlan, a 1930s-era estate that now serves as an urban wildlife sanctuary, with over 250 different types of birds recorded on the property.
John Brueske / Alamy Stock PhotoWisconsin Point, Wisconsin
Located at the westernmost edge of Lake Superior, this narrow 2.5-mile peninsula is home to old growth pine, idyllic beaches, and a huge number of migratory birds that stop here to rest in September and May. Warblers, sparrows, and even falcons are a common sight among Wisconsin Point’s trees and bushes, but one particular variety of bird can be spotted floating effortlessly atop the surface of the lake. For those visiting during peak migration season, seabirds are the main attraction, with eager birders arriving in search of Arctic terns, lesser black-backed gulls, and three different varieties of jaeger, a predatory seabird that’s infamous for its aggressive behavior (notably, attacking smaller species to steal their food instead of hunting for its own).
