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
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia
Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Red-winged Blackbird
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Killdeer
Double-crested Cormorant
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
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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