Birding in Minnesota

The top birding locations in Minnesota include Sax-Zim Bog, 140th Saint Marsh, 180th Saint Marsh (Marshall's Marsh), Afton State Park, Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge - Headquarters Trail, Agassiz Valley, Albany WTP, Baker Park Reserve, Big Marine Park Reserve, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge - Auto Tour Road, Black Rush Lake Waterfowl Production Area, Blue Mounds State Park, Brighton Beach, Buffalo River State Park, Camden State Park, Carleton College Cowling Arboretum - Lower Arb, Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, Carpenter Nature Center, Carver Park Reserve - Grimm Road Picnic/Rec. Area, Carver Park Reserve - Lowry Nature Center, Castle Danger WTP, Chester Woods, Clifton French Regional Park, County 9 Marsh, Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Crookston Sewage Lagoons, Crosby Farm Regional Park, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve, Deep Portage Learning Center, Duluth - 40th Ave West/Erie Pier, East Landfill Kalmar Reservoir, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Felton Prairie, Fish Lake Nature Trails, Fort Snelling State Park, French Lake, Frontenac State Park, Frontenac State Park - Sand Point, Glendalough State Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Grand Marais (town), Grey Cloud Dunes State Natural Area, Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge, Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, Hok-Si-La Park, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Itasca State Park, Izaak Walton Wetlands, Lac qui Parle State Park, Lake Bronson State Park, Lake Byllesby Regional Park, Lake Byllesby Regional Park - west end access, Lake Elmo Regional Park, Lake Harriet, Lake Hiawatha Park, Lake Rebecca Park Reserve, Lake Shetek State Park, Lake Waconia, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Lone Tree Lake, Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood State Park, Miedd Lake, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Bass Ponds, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Headquarters, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Louisville Swamp, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Rapids Lake, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Wilkie Unit, Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, Mississippi River Lock and Dam 2, Moose Lake WTP, Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve - Pet Trails, Myre Big Island State Park, New Germany Area, North Ottawa Impoundment, Oakdale Nature Preserve, Old Cedar Avenue Bridge, Orwell Wildlife Management Area, Park Point - ball fields & beach house area, Park Point - Dune Bridge near airport, Park Point - Lafayette Square, Park Point - Park Point Rec. Area, Pelican Lake, Pine City WTP, Powderhorn Park, Purgatory Creek Wetlands, Red Rock Rd, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Rice Lake State Park, Ritter Farm Park, Roseau River Wildlife Management Area, Rothsay Wildlife Management Area, Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, Saint Olaf College Natural Lands, Saint Paul Downtown Airport, Salt Lake, Sax-Zim Bog, Shakopee Lake, Sham Lake, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge - Blue Hill Trail, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive, Silver Creek Reservoir, Slag Point (Morgan Park Mudflats), Southwest Minnesota State University, Split Rock Creek State Park, Spring Lake Park Reserve - Camp Spring Lake, Spring Lake Park Reserve - Schaar's Bluff, St John's Abbey Arboretum, Stoney Point, Sucker Lake, Talcot Lake Wildlife Management Area, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Tamarack Nature Center, Theodore Wirth Park, Tony Schmidt Park, Two Harbors - Lighthouse Point, University of Minnesota - Saint Paul campus, Upper Sioux Agency State Park (Permanently Closed), Vadnais Lake, Veterans Memorial Park, Waabizheshikana Trail (Western Waterfront Trail), Westwood Hills Nature Center, Whitetail Woods Regional Park, Whitewater State Park, Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, Whitewater Wildlife Management Area, William O'Brien State Park, Willow Creek Reservoir, WLSSD, Wolf Creek Wetland & Wildlife Area, Wolf Lake Waterfowl Production Area, Wood Lake Nature Center. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in Minnesota are Spring and Fall and Winter. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area. Winter offers opportunities for cold-weather specialties and waterfowl.

Notable species in Minnesota include Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Pileated Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, and more. The state supports forest, wetland, grassland, urban park, lake, coastal, river/riparian, mountain habitats.