Bird Spring Migration Hotspots Across America
Updated: May 03, 2022
Spring means migrating birds are on the move! Find a bird spring migration hotspot near you to see them in all their glory.
Bird Spring Migration: Where to Go
The words bird spring migration are enough to bring a gleam to any birder’s eye. Spring birding is legendary. Birds are flaunting their very best and brightest feather colors as they prepare for mating season. Their journeys take them across hundreds and even thousands of miles, giving birders a chance to see a wider variety of birds. Though migratory birds can (and do) show up anywhere, some spots are better than others. Things that make an outstanding bird spring migration hotspot include:
- Resting places before or after water crossings. Areas on the edges of large lakes, gulfs, bays, or oceans draw migrants as they rest in anticipation of their crossing, or recover from their extended efforts. Some examples include Magee Marsh and Point Pelee on the shores of Lake Erie.
- Stands of trees or water in otherwise open spaces. When birds journey across places like the Great Plains, trees or bodies of water become an immediate draw. The same goes for parks in urban places like Central Park in New York.
- Food and fresh water. When you’re crossing a desert or a large body of salt water, there’s little food and fresh drinking water to be had. That makes places like the Dry Tortugas a real attraction for migrating birds.
We’ve gathered a list of some of the best bird spring migration hotspots across the United States. Before you go, be sure to research any fees or restrictions. Review recent eBird sightings to see what’s been showing up recently. Once you’re there, chat with other birders and find out where the action is. Finally, remember to be considerate to other birders, natural areas, and the birds.
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Great Lakes and Midwest Bird Migration Hotspots
Magee Marsh, Ohio
Magee Marsh along the shores of Lake Erie has become known as the “Warbler Capital of the World” and it’s the site of the Biggest Week in American Birding each May.
Nearby: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Openings Metropark, Pipe Creek Wildlife Area, Sheldon Marsh Preserve
We found more Great Lakes birding hotspots in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
Lake Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Birds & Blooms content director Kirsten Schrader says, “Lake Park has super easy walking paths that overlook Lake Michigan, and the spring birding is phenomenal!”
Nearby: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Horicon Marsh
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Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
Birds gather here on the shore of Lake Michigan before continuing on their way north to their breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada.
Nearby: Beverly Shores, Kankakee Sands, Miller Beach
Another lesser known birding hotspot is Goose Pond FWA in Indiana.
Point Pelee, Ontario, Canada
Across Lake Erie from Magee Marsh sits the world-famous Point Pelee. As migrants cross over the lake, this point is one of the first pieces of land that they see, and many of them stop here to feed.
Nearby: Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Rondeau Provincial Park, Pointe Mouillee SGA
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Tawas Point State Park, Michigan
Tawas Point offers some of the best birding on Lake Huron. The spot attracts many migrating songbirds in spring.
Nearby: Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area, Nayanquing Point SWA, Fish Point SWA
Check out coast to coast birding hotspots for every season.
Whitefish Point, Michigan
Whitefish Point is a well-known location for the incredible number of waterbirds that migrate past the point that sticks out into Lake Superior. Thousands of ducks, loons, grebes, geese, and shorebirds pass through each spring.
Nearby: Tahquamenon River Mouth, Seney NWR, Presque Isle Park
Gulf Coast and Southeast Bird Migration Hotspots
High Island, Texas
High Island is one of the most active spring bird migration hotspots on the Gulf coast. The whole High Island area is designed to be birder-friendly and is full of different hotspots.
Nearby: Anahuac NWR, Smith Point, Sabine Woods
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Dauphin Island, Alabama
Dauphin Island sits just off the the coast of Alabama. It’s one of the first places that migrants make landfall after flying over the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
Nearby: Fort Morgan, Grand Bay NWR, Gulf Island National Seashore – Fort Pickens
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South Padre Island, Texas
This is the place to go for early migrants, since it’s so far south. The best site on the island is the South Padre Island Convention Center trails.
Nearby: Laguna Atascosa NWR, Hugh Ramsey Park, Boca Chica NWR
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Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Remote Fort Jefferson is an amazing place to be when a fallout occurs. The only fresh water on the entire island is a small well, and since all of the birds need water, the well is the place to be!
Nearby: Fort Zachary Taylor (Key West), Bill Baggs Cape SP, Everglades National Park – Flamingo
Fort De Soto County Park, Florida
The special secret that brings all the birds to this park in spring? Mulberry bushes! The sweet fruit provides the sugar kick migratory birds need after crossing the Gulf of Mexico. The best spot is the fountain and bushes behind the Ranger’s House at East Beach.
Nearby: Sawgrass Lake Park, Lettuce Lake County Park, Circle B Bar Reserve
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Northeast and Atlantic Coast Bird Migration Hotspots
Cape May, New Jersey
When a warbler species is named after an area, you know the birding is good! There are variety of different spots in the area for bird-watching, all with high tallies.
Nearby: Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, Island Beach State Park, Jake’s Landing
Central Park, New York City
The “Central Park Effect” is real. Migratory birds see one oasis of green in a landscape of pavement, and head straight for it. Insiders say climbing Summit Rock near The Ramble is ideal for spotting migrants.
Nearby: Richard W. DeKorte Park, Liberty State Park, Prospect Park
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware
On the other side of Delaware Bay from Cape May, NJ, this is another important stop for migratory shorebirds. Go at low tide to see them foraging in the shallows by the thousands.
Nearby: Prime Hook NWR, Little Creek Wildlife Area, Eastern Neck NWR
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Monhegan Island, Maine
You’ll need a boat to get to this small island, but the payoff is incredible. Migrants land here later in the season since it’s so far north. During the month of May, the entire island is a migratory birds hotspot.
Nearby: Hog Island, Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Scarborough Marsh
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Pea Island NWR, North Carolina
Specially-managed impoundments here support migratory, wintering, and breeding waterfowl. So it’s no surprise that shorebirds like American avocets and piping plovers are a specialty of this locale.
Nearby: Cape Hatteras, Alligator River NWR, Bodie Island Lighthouse & Pond
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West Coast and Southwest Bird Migration Hotspots
Point Reyes National Seashore, California
This national seashore is large and you’ll need several days to really do it justice. It’s a renowned place to see Pacific Flyway migrants, especially on the outer peninsula that projects 10 miles into the ocean.
Nearby: Bodega Bay, Rodeo Lagoon, Hayward Regional Shoreline
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San Pedro RNCA, Arizona
Arizona is known as a birder’s paradise, and the San Pedro valley in spring helps prove that point. In addition to migrants, keep an eye out for area specialties like the elegant trogon.
Nearby: Patagonia Lake State Park, Whitewater Draw, De Anza Trail
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Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico
In winter, the thousands of snow geese and sandhill cranes are the draw for birders here. In the spring, as the water dries up, migrating shorebirds take their place, joined by warblers, vireos, and flycatchers.
Nearby: Rio Grande Nature Center, La Joya WMA, Caballo Lake State Park
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Grays Harbor NWR, Washington
Migrating shorebirds pass through Grays Harbor in enormous numbers each spring. Look for species like red knots, which spend the winter in southern South America, then fly all the way north to the Arctic Circle to breed each year.
Nearby: Ocean Shores, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Pt. Brown Jetty
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Butterbredt Spring, California
This is the place to go for warbler fans, with more than 20 species regularly spotted during migration in late April to early June. The spring is a little tricky to find for newcomers, so check out these directions first.
Nearby: Kern River County Park, California City Central Park, Kern River Preserve
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Rocky Mountains and Great Plains Migratory Birds Hotspots
Chico Basin Ranch, Colorado
This privately-run ranch charges a small fee for entry, which most birders willingly pay for a chance to check out one of the best places to view migratory birds in the state. Check in at the ranch HQ and then follow the birding trail.
Nearby: Fountain Creek Regional Park, Pueblo Reservoir, Lake Henry
Rowe Sanctuary, Nebraska
The main draw here is the migrating sandhill cranes, which stop to rest and feed in the Platte River in the tens of thousands. This amazing sight takes place from mid-February to April each year.
Nearby: Kirwin NWR, Branched Oak SRA, Pawnee Lake SRA
Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Kansas
This 20,000 acre marsh is one of the most important areas in the U.S. for migratory shorebirds like sandpipers and terns. Sandhill cranes also pass through in huge numbers, as well as the occasional whooping crane flock.
Nearby: Quivira NWR, Kanopolis Lake, Wilson Lake
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Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah
On the northern end of Great Salt Lake, Bear River is a vital stopover for migrating shorebirds like black-necked stilts. A 12-mile auto loop allows for easy access to the wide array of birding sites in the refuge.
Nearby: Antelope Island SP, Willard Bay, Farmington Bay WMA
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Camas National Wildlife Refuge, Idaho
Like many areas in the west, Camas is an ideal place to view migratory shorebirds, but it draws plenty of songbirds passing through as well. The vegetation around the refuge office is an excellent place to start.
Nearby: Market Lake WMA, Mud Lake WMA, Chester Wetlands
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Originally Published: May 03, 2022
