North America is home to a fantastic diversity of bird life, and birders have an abundance of spectacular destinations to explore. The continent’s finest bird watching hotspots might be subjects of debate, but five locations consistently top a short list of rewarding opportunities. Birders should research the habits and flight patterns of any migratory species before making plans to visit North America’s bird paradises. Fortunately, most migrations can be effectively predicted down to the month, week or even day. Here are the 5 best places for bird watching in North America.
1. Everglades National Park, Florida
Everglades National Park reminds even the most jaded of bird-watchers of the joys of the hobby. The world-famous Anhinga Trail regularly features views of flamingos, short-tailed hawks, gray kingbirds, and scores of other species. Birders have also recorded views of the rare snail kite in its only known North American habitat. Another favorite from the bucket list is the white-crowned pigeon, a species not found anywhere else in the U.S.
2. Olympic National Park, Washington
This magnificent swath of parkland attracts wildlife enthusiasts with its compact collection of four distinct habitats. Park visitors have their choice of alpine vistas, rocky seashores, temperate rainforests and old-growth forests, and so do the many bird species known to frequent the area. Highlights include red-breasted sapsuckers, bald eagles, and endangered marbled murrelets.
Related article: 3 Best Places for Birdwatching in the Southern US
3. Big Bend National Park, Texas
Birding is a joy at Big Bend, a captivating spot located on one of the continent’s top avian highways. Northern bird species use this route for wintering in warmer climes; tropical species arrive for breeding in spring. Of particular interest is the Colima warbler, a species which enters the U.S. only to spend spring and summer in Big Bend’s Chisos Mountains.
4. Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Nearly 500 bird species have been recorded here, among them threatened snowy plovers and northern spotted owls. Few locations are better built for birding. The park is ideally situated on the Pacific Flyway, and its peninsular shape is a natural attraction for migratory birds. Birders don’t have to trek far into the hinterlands to appreciate this gem and it’s just a short jaunt from San Francisco.
5. Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Point Reyes National Seashore’s Texas counterpart is Padre Island, located along the Central Flyway. Migratory birds take this course for travels between the Americas, and more than 380 species visit the island annually. The park is also a choice destination for spotting the impossibly pink roseate spoonbill, a species often associated only with Florida.
For more on bird watching in North America, check out: Top 3 Birdwatching Destinations in the US!
Featured Image from Adan Guerrero/Unsplash
