LaBagh Woods

LaBagh Woods is a 73-acre Cook County Forest Preserve on the North Branch of the Chicago River that serves as one of the city's most reliable spring migrant traps. The preserve's mature floodplain forest, with its towering cottonwoods and oaks along the river, concentrates neotropical migrants moving along the river corridor.

During peak spring migration in May, the woods can rival Montrose Point for warbler diversity. The understory is excellent for skulking species like Connecticut and Mourning Warblers, while the canopy hosts Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Baltimore Orioles. The North Branch Trail runs through the preserve, providing easy access. Birders particularly value LaBagh for its quieter, less crowded atmosphere compared to the lakefront parks.