Find Birding Guides by Region

Acadia National Park in coastal Maine is a premier birding destination with 362 recorded bird species. This jewel of the Atlantic coast offers diverse habitats from spruce-fir forests to rocky coastlines, hosting boreal specialties, spectacular warbler migrations, nesting Peregrine Falcons, and iconic Atlantic Puffins on offshore islands.

Best months: May through early June for spring migration; June through August for breeding season and puffins

View Guides

Cape May, New Jersey is legendary among birders as one of North America's top migration hotspots. Positioned at the southern tip of New Jersey where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Cape May funnels millions of migrating birds each spring and fall, offering unparalleled raptor migration viewing.

Best months: September to November, Late April to early June

View Guides

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's premier birding destinations. The Everglades encompasses 1.5 million acres of wetlands, mangroves, and sawgrass prairies, hosting over 360 bird species including spectacular wading birds, raptors, and tropical specialties.

Best months: December to March

View Guides

Greater Austin and the Texas Hill Country host over 420 bird species and are the only place in the world to see the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler, which breeds exclusively in the juniper-oak woodlands of Central Texas. This region is a critical stopover for migrating birds along the Central Flyway and features exceptional year-round birding at world-class locations like Hornsby Bend.

Best months: March to May, September to November

View Guides

Greater Boston and the Massachusetts North Shore offer world-class birding with exceptional diversity from urban hotspots to coastal refuges. The region hosts over 250 species annually, featuring spectacular spring warbler migration at Mount Auburn Cemetery, abundant shorebirds and seabirds at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, and excellent year-round urban birding opportunities.

Best months: Late April to May, Year-round

View Guides

Greater Chicago is one of the premier birding destinations in the Midwest, with over 300 bird species recorded. Positioned on Lake Michigan, Chicago serves as a critical stopover for millions of migrating birds. Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is renowned as one of the best urban birding locations in North America, especially during spring and fall migration when up to 36 warbler species pass through.

Best months: April to May, August to October

View Guides

The Greater Denver and Boulder region offers exceptional birding diversity where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. From alpine tundra at 14,000 feet to shortgrass prairie, this area provides access to remarkable species variety with over 350 documented species, including high-elevation specialists, grassland birds, and abundant waterfowl. Rocky Mountain National Park, Pawnee National Grassland, and numerous Front Range reservoirs provide world-class birding year-round.

Best months: April to June (spring migration), August to October (fall migration), December to February (winter specialties)

View Guides

Greater Los Angeles offers exceptional coastal and montane birding with diverse habitats from Pacific wetlands to chaparral-covered mountains. Home to California specialties like the threatened California Gnatcatcher and Allen's Hummingbird, the region features premier locations including Ballona Wetlands, Malibu Lagoon, and the San Gabriel Mountains. Positioned along the Pacific Flyway, spring and fall migrations bring abundant warblers, shorebirds, and seabirds.

Best months: September to May

View Guides

Greater New Orleans offers exceptional year-round birding in coastal wetlands, urban wildlife refuges, and bayou ecosystems along the Mississippi River Delta. Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, one of the nation's largest urban refuges at nearly 30,000 acres, hosts over 340 bird species, while nearby marshlands showcase spectacular wading birds, waterbirds, and neotropical migrants during spring and fall migration.

Best months: April, October, December to February

View Guides

The Greater Philadelphia region in southeastern Pennsylvania offers exceptional birding along a major north-south migration corridor. Home to world-class birding sites including John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge with over 300 species, historic Valley Forge, and legendary Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. The region features diverse habitats from freshwater wetlands to deciduous forests.

Best months: April to May, August to November

View Guides

Greater Tampa Bay is an internationally recognized premier birding destination, with Fort De Soto Park serving as one of the most famous migration traps in the eastern United States. Over 250 bird species have been recorded in the area, with exceptional diversity from coastal wading birds to migrant warblers. The region's position along the Gulf migration route makes it ideal for observing spring and fall migrations, while winter months offer outstanding opportunities to see resident specialties.

Best months: November to April

View Guides

The Greater Washington DC region encompasses the nation's capital and surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia, offering exceptional year-round birding opportunities. With over 200 bird species recorded annually, the region features diverse habitats from urban parks like Rock Creek Park to pristine wetlands at Huntley Meadows and Jug Bay. The area lies within the Atlantic Flyway, making it a premier destination for spring and fall migration, while the Chesapeake Bay provides critical habitat for waterfowl and wading birds.

Best months: March to May, September to October

View Guides

Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most visited national park and a premier birding destination. With over 240 documented bird species across diverse elevations from lowland coves to high-altitude spruce-fir forests, the park offers exceptional opportunities to observe both southern Appalachian specialties and neotropical migrants.

Best months: April to May, September to October

View Guides

Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park offer world-class birding in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. With over 340 documented bird species including sought-after specialties like Great Gray Owl and Calliope Hummingbird, this region combines stunning alpine scenery with exceptional wildlife viewing opportunities in sagebrush flats, wetlands, and conifer forests.

Best months: May to September

View Guides

Spanning Northeast Florida and coastal Georgia, this region sits at the confluence of major migratory flyways along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. The area features pristine barrier islands, maritime forests, and productive estuaries including the Altamaha River Delta, designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve. Over 300 species frequent these coastal habitats, including breeding Painted Buntings and large Wood Stork colonies.

Best months: September to May

View Guides

Metro Atlanta offers exceptional birding opportunities with diverse habitats ranging from the southern Appalachian foothills to Piedmont forests and urban wildlife corridors. The region is renowned for spectacular spring warbler migration, with Kennesaw Mountain hosting over 20 warbler species in a single day. The Chattahoochee River corridor and surrounding parks provide year-round birding for both resident species and seasonal migrants.

Best months: April to May, September to October

View Guides

New York City is one of the world's premier urban birding destinations, with over 400 documented bird species. Strategically positioned along the Atlantic Flyway, NYC's diverse parks and natural areas - including iconic Central Park, Prospect Park, and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge - provide critical habitat for migrating songbirds, raptors, and waterbirds. The city hosts the world's largest urban population of Peregrine Falcons and offers exceptional year-round birding with spectacular spring and fall migrations.

Best months: April to May, September to November

View Guides

Northern California's Bay Area and Monterey Bay regions offer exceptional birding with diverse habitats from coastal wetlands to redwood forests. The area is renowned for seabirds, shorebirds, raptors, and California specialty species found nowhere else.

Best months: September to May

View Guides

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a premier East Coast birding destination with nearly 400 documented bird species. This barrier island chain features world-class refuges including Pea Island NWR with over 370 species, exceptional pelagic birding in the nearby Gulf Stream, and massive concentrations of wintering waterfowl including thousands of snow geese and tundra swans.

Best months: December to February, September to November

View Guides

Located in northwest Arkansas, the Ozark National Forest spans 1.2 million acres of spectacular mountain scenery, clear streams, and lush hardwood forests. This premier birding destination is renowned for spring migration when forests ring with songs of vireos, thrushes, warblers, and tanagers. The region supports significant populations of interior forest birds and is a top choice for Arkansas birders.

Best months: April to June

View Guides

The Puget Sound and Olympic Peninsula region in Washington State offers world-class birding with over 350 recorded bird species. From ancient old-growth rainforests to rocky Pacific coastlines and the scenic San Juan Islands, this diverse landscape features seabirds, shorebirds, forest specialties, and incredible raptor migration. The area is famous for pelagic species, including Marbled Murrelets and Tufted Puffins.

Best months: April to October

View Guides

Southeast Arizona's Sky Island mountain ranges rising from the Sonoran Desert create one of North America's most unique birding destinations. Home to over 15 species of hummingbirds—the highest diversity in the United States—and sought-after Mexican specialties like Elegant Trogon, this region attracts birders worldwide. The area encompasses legendary locations including Madera Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, and Cave Creek Canyon.

Best months: April to May, July to August

View Guides

The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas is one of the most biodiverse regions in North America, with over 515 bird species documented in the four-county region. This subtropical paradise features rare Mexican specialties, abundant waterbirds, and exceptional year-round birding opportunities along the river corridor.

Best months: October to May

View Guides

Yellowstone National Park offers exceptional birding opportunities across its diverse ecosystems spanning Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. With nearly 300 documented bird species, the park features spectacular raptors, rare owls, and abundant waterfowl. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem provides pristine wilderness habitat for both resident and migratory birds, from Trumpeter Swans to Peregrine Falcons.

Best months: May to October

View Guides