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
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscus
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Common Loon
Gavia immer
Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Killdeer
Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Blue Jay
Northern House Wren
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Indigo Bunting
Canada Goose
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Semipalmated Plover
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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