Birding in Delaware

Explore 38 birding hotspots across marsh, wetland, coastal, forest, river/riparian, lake habitats in Delaware.

38

Locations

85+

Notable Species

6

Habitat Types

2

Peak Seasons

Complete Delaware Birding Guide

Top locations, species, seasonal tips, and more

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Birding Locations in Delaware

Tidal salt marsh and waterfowl at Bombay Hook NWR

Delaware

Easy

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Delaware Bay salt marsh refuge with spectacular shorebird and waterfowl migrations.

MarshWetlandCoastalFallSpring
a man standing on top of a mountain next to a lake

Delaware

Easy

Ashland Nature Center and Hawk Watch

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 229 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Assawoman Wildlife Area

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 260 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Augustine Wildlife Area - Ashton Tract

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 256 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Bennetts Pier Road

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 232 recorded species.

CoastalSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Big Stone Beach

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 234 recorded species.

CoastalSpringFall
a large body of water surrounded by land

Delaware

Moderate

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 335 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Bear Swamp Pool

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 265 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

Brandywine Creek State Park

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Delaware with 210 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 312 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
A green wave crests in the ocean

Delaware

Easy

Cape Henlopen State Park

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 324 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

Cape Henlopen State Park - Gordon's Pond

Lake birding hotspot in Delaware with 285 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

Cape Henlopen State Park - Nature Center area

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 252 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

Cape Henlopen State Park - The Point

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 287 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 221 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Dragon Run Marsh

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 204 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

DuPont Nature Center and Lighthouse Road

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 238 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
white clouds and seashore

Delaware

Moderate

Indian River Inlet

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 254 recorded species.

CoastalRiver/RiparianSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

James Farm Ecological Preserve

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 226 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Little Creek WA - Mahon Impoundment

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Delaware with 258 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Little Creek Wildlife Area - Main Tract

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Delaware with 263 recorded species.

River/RiparianWetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Middle Run Natural Area

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 226 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Milford Neck

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 215 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Milford Neck Wildlife Area - Big Stone Beach Road

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 265 recorded species.

CoastalWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Newark Reservoir

Lake birding hotspot in Delaware with 208 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Oyster Rocks Road

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 243 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Port Mahon Road

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 274 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 302 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Broadkill Marsh

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 261 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Fowler Beach Road/Fowler Beach

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 292 recorded species.

CoastalWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Turkle Pond - pinewoods - Fleetwood Pond

Lake birding hotspot in Delaware with 225 recorded species.

LakeWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Silver Lake, Rehoboth

Lake birding hotspot in Delaware with 200 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Ted Harvey Wildlife Management Area

Wetland birding hotspot in Delaware with 259 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

University of Delaware Farm

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 208 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Delaware

Easy

White Clay Creek State Park

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Delaware with 209 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Whitehall Neck Road

Forest birding hotspot in Delaware with 224 recorded species.

ForestWetlandSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Woodland Beach

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 208 recorded species.

CoastalForestSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Delaware

Moderate

Woodland Beach WA - Taylor's Gut

Coastal birding hotspot in Delaware with 224 recorded species.

CoastalForestSpringFall

Notable Species

Key species found across birding locations in Delaware:

Snow GooseRed KnotBald EagleBlue-winged TealDunlinCanada GooseTundra SwanNorthern ShovelerGadwallAmerican WigeonMourning DoveTurkey VultureRed-shouldered HawkAmerican WoodcockDowny WoodpeckerPileated WoodpeckerCarolina ChickadeeAmerican RobinHouse SparrowKilldeer

Habitats & Best Seasons

Habitat Types:

MarshWetlandCoastalForestRiver/RiparianLake

Best Seasons:

SpringFall

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best birding spots in Delaware?
The top birding locations in Delaware include Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Ashland Nature Center and Hawk Watch, Assawoman Wildlife Area, Augustine Wildlife Area - Ashton Tract, Bennetts Pier Road, Big Stone Beach, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Bear Swamp Pool, Brandywine Creek State Park, Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch, Cape Henlopen State Park, Cape Henlopen State Park - Gordon's Pond, Cape Henlopen State Park - Nature Center area, Cape Henlopen State Park - The Point, Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area, Dragon Run Marsh, DuPont Nature Center and Lighthouse Road, Indian River Inlet, James Farm Ecological Preserve, Little Creek WA - Mahon Impoundment, Little Creek Wildlife Area - Main Tract, Middle Run Natural Area, Milford Neck, Milford Neck Wildlife Area - Big Stone Beach Road, Newark Reservoir, Oyster Rocks Road, Port Mahon Road, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Broadkill Marsh, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Fowler Beach Road/Fowler Beach, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge - Turkle Pond - pinewoods - Fleetwood Pond, Silver Lake, Rehoboth, Ted Harvey Wildlife Management Area, University of Delaware Farm, White Clay Creek State Park, Whitehall Neck Road, Woodland Beach, Woodland Beach WA - Taylor's Gut. Each offers unique habitats and species.
When is the best time to go birding in Delaware?
The best seasons for birding in Delaware are Spring and Fall. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area.
What birds can I see in Delaware?
Notable species in Delaware include Snow Goose, Red Knot, Bald Eagle, Blue-winged Teal, Dunlin, Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, Northern Shoveler, and more. The state supports marsh, wetland, coastal, forest, river/riparian, lake habitats.

Plan Your Birding Trip

Get the most out of your birding adventure in Delaware with our expert guides.