Hastings Lake Forest Preserve
Illinois · Midwest
About This Location
Hastings Lake Forest Preserve is a productive birding destination in Illinois, with 201 species recorded on eBird. This forest and lake habitat attracts Canada Goose, Mute Swan, and Mallard among many others. Spring migration along the Mississippi and Central Flyways makes this a vital stopover for diverse species.
Location
Loading map...
Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Common Loon
Gavia immer
Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Neotropic Cormorant
Nannopterum brasilianum
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mourning Dove
Red-eyed Vireo
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Yellow-breasted Chat
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Yellowthroat
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Kingbird
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow
House Sparrow
Birding Tips
- 1
Listen for vocalizations to locate canopy-dwelling warblers and vireos.
- 2
Check forest edges and clearings for flycatchers and thrushes.
- 3
Time your visit during the first week of May for maximum species diversity.
Amenities
More in Illinois
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Chicago's top birding spot where the Magic Hedge traps migrating songbirds.
Jackson Park / Wooded Island
Chicago South Side migrant trap on a historic Wooded Island with 250+ species and outstanding warbler fallouts.
Illinois Beach State Park
Illinois' last natural Lake Michigan shore with 300+ species, shorebird migration, and grassland birds.
Illinois Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Illinois →