Our 15 Top U.S. Birdwatching Destinations

Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York

Prospect Park. Photo by Creativefamily, https://stock.adobe.com/

Why it’s special: Prospect Park holds a special place in our hearts. It’s where many of us at Bird Collective first discovered the joy of birding, and is the inspiration behind Prospect Patches, our embroidered series of bird patches. Biases aside, the nearly 300 species sighted in Prospect over the years speak for themselves. While the park incorporates the last surviving patches of the lush forest that once covered Lenape land, it is very much a human-made environment, designed by the 19th century landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Its 585 acres of green space and waterways may not be “natural,” but its location in the middle of a dense city along the Atlantic Flyway creates a magnet for migrating birds. Plus, Brooklyn’s birding community is big, welcoming, and active—expect free group outings year-round, many led by the Brooklyn Bird Club.

When to go: Spring and fall migration (May and October) bring peak diversity—think warblers, vireos, thrushes, and orioles. Winter draws ducks and gulls to the 55-acre lake. With so many birders watching, your chances of spotting rarities are high.

Where else to bird in the area: We hear there’s a pretty good park in Manhattan designed by the same guys who went on to design Prospect Park. Seriously, Central Park is another urban birding hotspot. And Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens is famous for fall shorebird migration and overwintering waterfowl, including thousands of Snow Geese. If you’re ambitious, try birding all five New York City boroughs, from the Bronx’s Pelham Bay Park to Staten Island’s beaches.

Local tips: Prospect Park is where Tina Alleva, one of the co-founders of Bird Collective, got her start birding; she now helps lead the weekly “Introduction to Birdwatching” outings that hooked her in the first place. For a good mix of birds in any season, Tina suggests checking out the Lullwater – a poetically-named water course that flows between the Boat House and the lake. During spring migration, early risers might want to head directly to the top of Lookout Hill. As the highest point in the park, that’s where many new arrivals land.

Website: Prospect Park Alliance

Cape May, southern New Jersey

Cape May Wetlands State Natural Area. Photo by Angie Co.

Why it’s special: Cape May is a one-stop destination for birders looking to experience migration along the Atlantic Flyway. Astonishing numbers of songbirds, wading birds, waterfowl and raptors pass by here each spring and fall. Located at the tip of a peninsula that acts as a migrant funnel, Cape May’s strategic location and varied habitats make it a natural base for ornithological and conservation research. Sure enough, the peninsula has been home to New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory since 1976. The town of Cape May itself is a charming seaside community with Victorian houses, tree-lined streets, and plenty of shopping and dining options.

When to go: Birding is great year-round, but spring and fall migration steal the show. Hawk watching peaks late September–mid-October, when raptors gather before crossing the Delaware Bay. Organized migration watches run March-May and August-December, with a calendar available here. Birding festivals take place each May and October; check with New Jersey Audubon for exact dates. (The 2025 spring festival is set for May 15-18.)

Where else to bird in the area: From the Pine Barrens in the interior to the sprawling Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge along the coast, southern New Jersey is one giant, loosely connected birding hotspot. If that’s not enough, Delaware’s Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge is across the bay, with ferry service between Cape May and Lewes, Delaware.

Local tips: The first place Adehl Schwaderer, program manager at the Cape May Bird Observatory, suggests to visitors is the Nature Conservancy’s South Cape May Meadows Preserve – a haven for birds year-round and designed with accessibility in mind. The half-mile boardwalk trail accommodates wheelchairs and mobility-assistive devices, and signage includes Braille and touch features.

Website: Cape May Bird Observatory

Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, outside Toledo, Ohio

Why it’s special: Magee Marsh, on Lake Erie’s southern shore, is legendary for spring migration, earning northwest Ohio its title as “Warbler Capital of the World.” Faced with the vast lake, birds drop down to rest and refuel before continuing to their breeding grounds. Blackburnian, Cape May and other colorful warblers that would typically stay high in the canopy can often be seen at eye level along Magee’s famous mile-long boardwalk. Beyond songbirds, Bald Eagles nest above the parking lot, Trumpeter Swans are common, and wetland dikes allow views of normally elusive rails and bitterns.

When to go: Spring migration (early–mid May) is the main event, drawing thousands of birders for the “Biggest Week in American Birding” at nearby Maumee Bay State Park. Fall migration is equally birdy but far less crowded. Winter brings waterfowl, including Tundra Swans that sometimes gather in the hundreds, and the chance to spot Short-eared and Snowy Owls.

Where else to bird in the area: Route 2 east of Toledo is packed with hotspots, including Maumee Bay State Park, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, and Howard and Metzger Marshes. The Black Swamp Bird Observatory has compiled a list of Lake Erie birding hotspots within an hour’s drive of Magee Marsh, available here. Birders who venture to the west, away from the lake, will discover a totally different habitat at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark. That park’s unusual mix of oak woodlands, savannah, sedge meadows, and sand barrens hosts resident Pileated and Red-headed Woodpeckers and nesting Hooded Warblers and Lark Sparrows.

Local tips: Even though the birding at Magee is good throughout the day, Ryan Jacob, who directs banding projects at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory, encourages visitors there for spring migration to experience the dawn chorus at least once - it’s magical. For a directory of hotels, restaurants and other business supporters of the Birds & Business Alliance check out the “Area Info” tab on The Biggest Week In American Birding website. Bonus tip, from the Toledo-born author of this article: no trip to Magee Marsh is complete without fried lake perch and lifer pie at Blackberry Corner Tavern.

Website: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Barton County, Kansas

Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. Photo by Designatednaphour, CC BY 2.0.

Why it’s special: Once one of many large Kansas marshes, Cheyenne Bottoms is now one of just three remaining—and the largest wetland in the interior U.S. Spanning 41,000 acres, it’s a critical stopover for tens of thousands of shorebirds each year, with some species seeing over half their global population pass through. Eastern and western shorebirds mingle here, ducks and geese abound, and migrating Whooping Cranes occasionally join the Sandhills. Areas surrounding the marsh provide habitat for grassland birds, including Greater Prairie Chickens.

When to go: Spring and fall migration is the best time to marvel at the variety and abundance of shorebirds and waterfowl. Late March and early April bring peak numbers of ducks and cranes, while shorebird migration peaks between late April and the end of May. Fall migration (July-November) is more gradual.

Where else to bird in the area: Nearby Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, part of the same wetlands complex as Cheyenne, has an observation tower and a 14-mile wildlife drive.

Local tips: Curtis Wolf, the director of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Fort Hays State University, emphasizes that the state wildlife area, despite its size, is highly accessible. He recommends visitors drive the interior dike roads, using their vehicles as mobile blinds.

Website: Bird Watching - Kansas Wetlands Education Center

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Why it’s special: Rocky Mountain National Park offers breathtaking landscapes and diverse habitats, from alpine tundra to montane forests. It’s perfect for birders looking to immerse themselves in nature, hopefully picking up a few lifers along the way. A great day here might include an American Dipper and American Three-toed Woodpecker along a trail, raucous Stellar’s Jays and Clark’s Nutcrackers by a picnic area, a soaring Golden Eagle, and, with luck, White-tailed Ptarmigans above the tree line.

When to go: If the park’s 415 square miles aren’t enough birding territory for you, the gateway cities of Estes Park (on the park’s east side) and Grand Lake (on the west) offer additional opportunities. In Estes Park, omnipresent bird feeders draw Broad-tailed, Rufous and Calliope hummingbirds in the summer, and flocks of finches in the winter. In and around Grand Lake, the namesake lake and two even grander reservoirs are home to a variety of waterfowl, including American White Pelicans in the summer and Barrow’s Goldeneye in the fall and winter.

Local tips: Jacob Job, communications director at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, advises focusing on quality over quantity—it’s not a migration hotspot, but it’s home to special birds. Visitors hoping to see White-tailed Ptarmigan should check out Medicine Bow Curve (adjacent to the Alpine Visitor Center) and Lava Cliffs Overlook. Scanning the cliffs at the latter can sometimes turn up Rosy-finches as well. For a bite to eat, he recommends Bird & Jim (fancier) and Bird’s Nest (more informal) in Estes Park. Both, he notes, carry “bird” in their names.

Website: Rocky Mountain National Park

Cape Flattery, Olympic Peninsula, Washington

Why it’s special: After walking through lush coastal forest to reach a clifftop platform looking out at the ocean, you may feel as though you’ve come to the very edge of the earth. In a way, you have: Cape Flattery is the northwesternmost point in the lower 48 states. Located on the land of the Makah people and administered by the tribe, Cape Flattery offers unparalleled looks at marine and cliff-nesting birds. In the summer, Tufted Puffins paddle in the surf below, Black Swifts glide overhead and Black Oystercatchers work the rocks. Spring and fall bring Leach’s Storm Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, Marbled Murrelets, and Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklets. Additionally, Gray whales migrate through in April, while seals, sea lions, dolphins and sea otters can be seen year-round.

When to go: Anytime from early spring to late fall is your best bet. Winter brings wind, rain and fog, which heighten the Cape’s edge-of-the-earth appeal but make birding challenging.

Where else to bird in the area: Cape Flattery is remote (a 5-hour drive from Seattle), so most birders combine it with other Olympic Peninsula sites. Fortunately, that’s easy to do. The Olympic Loop of the Great Washington State Birding Trail includes more than 50 other birding destinations, described in detail in Washington Audubon’s helpful booklet.

Local tips: Deon Cooke, who works the front desk at the Makah Museum, encourages visitors to take the opportunity to learn more about Makah history and culture when they stop by to pick up their recreational permits. In addition to artifacts, the museum includes interactive exhibits on sealing and whaling and a reenactment of a traditional longhouse. As for food, try Warmhouse (tribally-owned), Pat’s Place for fry bread tacos and pie, or one of the food trucks that dish up fresh seafood.

Website: Cape Flattery Trail Info

Sky Islands of Southeast Arizona

Sycamore Canyon near Nogales. Photo by Angie Co.

Why it’s special: Madera Canyon . . . the Huachuca Mountains . . . the Chiricahuas: birders tend to get a little misty-eyed when they recall trips to Arizona’s “sky islands.” Southern Arizona occupies the northern end of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental range, and its scattered peaks are like cool, pine and-oak covered islands in a sea of desert and grassland. These habitats draw birds more typical of western Mexico: Red-cheeked and Olive Warblers, Rose-breasted Becards, Elegant Trogons, Mexican Whip-poor-wills, Whiskered Screech-Owls, and a ridiculous number of hummingbirds.

When to go: There’s no bad time. Spring starts early, with northbound migrants beginning to arrive as early as February. By May, as temperatures in the desert climb to frightening levels, the relative coolness of the sky islands becomes as important to birders as it is to nesting birds. Late summer monsoon rains bring some relief, and diversity peaks in August, when the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival is held. By the end of September, wintering birds have begun to arrive.

Where else to bird in the area: For visitors driving in from Phoenix, Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park is an easy stop off U.S. 10 and a great introduction to the area. Nearby Saguaro National Park is a prime place to see (if not learn to spell) Pyrrhuloxias. And don’t overlook the lower elevation areas that surround the sky islands. The Sonoita grasslands northeast of Patagonia, for example, teem with sparrows and meadowlarks.

Local tips: Luke Safford, Director of Engagement at the Tucson Bird Alliance, recommends driving the Catalina Highway to the top of Mount Lemmon. The road passes through multiple habitats, from desert scrub to oak woodland to pine forest, getting cooler as you climb. Time your visit to stop for lunch – and, hopefully, lifer pie – at the Iron Door restaurant, next to the ski lift in the tiny community of Summerhaven. And while Luke didn’t say it, we will: do yourself a favor and order a copy of the organization’s “Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona.” It’s an excellent guide to navigating this birding wonderland.

Websites: Sky Island Alliance, Tucson Bird Alliance

Rio Grande Valley, South Texas

Why it’s special: The lower Rio Grande Valley spans four Texas counties and more than 100 miles, from the point where the river empties into the Gulf of Mexico to the western edge of rural Starr County. The Valley’s unique mix of subtropical habitats provides a stopover for migratory birds, while its proximity to the border makes it ideal to see more southerly species found nowhere else in the U.S., like Green Jays, Great Kiskadees, Plain Chachalacas and Altamira Orioles. The region also boasts tropical mega-rarities and a well-developed birding infrastructure, including The World Birding Center, headquartered at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, with eight additional sites from South Padre Island to Roma Bluffs.

When to go: Winter and very early spring are the most popular seasons, especially for northern birders looking to escape the cold and impatient to get a jump on spring migration. Summer’s brutal heat limits birding to the early morning, when the birds are most active and temperatures marginally more tolerable. Fall brings large flocks of southbound migrants and a decent chance of seeing Mexican and Central American rarities. The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival is held in Harlingen in November.

Where else to bird in the area: While the Valley has plenty of territory to keep most birders occupied for weeks, we also recommend continuing up the Gulf Coast from South Padre to Galveston, passing through Corpus Christi (which bills itself as “the Birdiest City in America”) and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where endangered Whooping Cranes spend the winter.

Local tips: Jeffrey Ward, a Texas-based science communicator and naturalist, says: “Attend the festival!” The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival was his own introduction to the region. For rarities - like the Fan-tailed Warbler he saw at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Brownsville campus – Jeffrey advises being quick. They often vanish after just a few sightings, and if they do reappear, it may be weeks later.

No central website, but these links will get you started:
Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival - ABOUT US
Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Estero Llano Grande State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Gainesville, Florida

Why it’s special: The vast southeastern U.S. wetlands can feel overwhelming to new birders, but Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville is accessible and easy to explore, giving birders at every level an opportunity to see many iconic southern species. A circuit of its walkways and boardwalks brings views of Limpkins, Purple Gallinules, Glossy and White Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills, while Snail Kites hunt overhead.

When to go: Winter and early spring bring the highest bird diversity. Time your visit for a Wednesday between September and May to join one of Alachua Audubon’s 8:30 a.m. walks, led by some of the area’s top birders.

Where else to bird in the area: Paynes Prairie Preserve, a state park that’s contiguous with Sweetwater, has an observation tower that allows visitors to look for Sandhill and even Whooping Cranes, along with waterfowl, wading birds and raptors.

Local tips: Anne Casella, Alachua Audubon’s conservation chair, encourages visitors not to overlook the wooded service road just past the park entrance and bathrooms. The feeder placed there sometimes draws Painted Buntings, and the small woodland is your best bet for migrating songbirds, along with typical southern species like Yellow-throated Warblers and White-eyed Vireos. In Cell 1 of the wetlands, look for stands of Alligator Flag (Thalia geniculata), favored by Purple Gallinules. The path between Cells 2 and 3 is a great spot for King Rails and Soras. And while Gray-headed Swamphens are considered invasive in southern Florida, here they seem to co-existing with native species; look for them from the Cell 3 observation platform.

Website: Sweetwater Wetlands Park Welcome to the City of Gainesville