Illinois Beach State Park
Illinois · Midwest
Easy
August-October
Free
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Illinois Beach State Park in Zion is the only remaining stretch of natural Lake Michigan shoreline in the state, protecting over 4,000 acres of beach, dune, wetland, and prairie habitats. The park has recorded more than 300 bird species, reflecting its diversity of habitats and strategic position along the western Lake Michigan migration corridor.
The Dead River mouth area and the North Unit beach are premier shorebird spots during fall migration, while the dune grasslands support nesting Grasshopper Sparrows and Dickcissels. Winter brings Snowy Owls, Snow Buntings, and Lapland Longspurs to the barren beach, and spring hawk migration can be observed from the lakeshore. The park is a reliable site for uncommon species that follow the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Location
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Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia
Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca
Neotropic Cormorant
Nannopterum brasilianum
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mallard
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tree Swallow
American Robin
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Dunlin
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
Blue Jay
Birding Tips
- 1
The Dead River area in the South Unit is the best spot for migrating shorebirds
- 2
Check the North Unit beach for Snowy Owls and longspurs in winter
- 3
The prairie trails in the Nature Preserve section host grassland breeding birds in summer
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Waukegan Harbor
- Chain O'Lakes State Park
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