Amazing Bird-Watching Destinations in the U.S.

If there was ever a time to spend time in the Great Outdoors, quietly and away from crowds, it is now. One of the most popular pastimes in America, birdwatching is enjoyed at least once a year by more than 70 million people!

Whether you are part of the 33 percent of people who take pleasure in seeking rarely-seen birds and spotting hints of color hiding in marshes, or are just looking to get out of the house, this hobby is worth pursuing.

Bring the binoculars and a camera, and hit the road to one of the best birding spots in the U.S.

The unique landscape of the Florida Everglades makes it one of the best national parks in the country and one of the best places to spot birds. 

You can follow a 38-mile road with ample spots for stopping and entryways into numerous trails, including the Anhinga Trail, Snake Bight Trail and a 15-mile road through Shark Valley.

Known as a “River of Grass,” expect to see wading and woodland birds, including Wood Stork, Black-whiskered Vireo, Snail Kite and Short-tailed Hawk.

The Audubon Society calls Monhegan Island a “bucket-list experience” for birders. Just 11 miles off the coast, the island welcomes migrating birds May through September for “a true birding spectacle.”

Practically any migrating bird in the U.S. makes a stop here, but you may spot Red-throated Loons, Atlantic Puffin and Iceland Gulls, as well as year-round residents like Black Guillemot.

Migrating birds can also be spotted at the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory overlooking Lake Superior. Counters at the sanctuary say the peak migration along East Skyline Parkway occurs from mid- to late-September, when Broad-winged Hawks are spotted by the thousands. (Now you can see why the ridge got its name!)

Other birds you’ll find here include Bald Eagles, Merlin and Peregrine Falcons. If you get really lucky, you’ll spot Mississippi Kite.

Visit the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve that borders Alabama. Here, you will find the Oak Grove Birding Trail that makes its way near a baoyou through hardwoods and a pine forest.

Expect to spot Black-necked Stilt, Red-headed Woodpeckers and Reddish Egrets among the mix of shore and woodland birds.