Birding in Nebraska

Explore 59 birding hotspots across wetland, grassland, river/riparian, lake, urban park, coastal, forest, mountain habitats in Nebraska.

59

Locations

67+

Notable Species

8

Habitat Types

2

Peak Seasons

Complete Nebraska Birding Guide

Top locations, species, seasonal tips, and more

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Birding Locations in Nebraska

Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River at dawn

Nebraska

Easy

Rowe Sanctuary — Platte River

Home to the world's largest Sandhill Crane gathering — 500,000+ each spring on the Platte River.

WetlandGrasslandSpring
River/Riparian birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Nebraska with 224 recorded species.

River/RiparianWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 226 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Branched Oak State Recreation Area

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 285 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Burchard Wildlife Management Area

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 207 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Cedar Point Biological Station

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 251 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Chalco Hills RA

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 227 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 252 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Urban Park birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Cottonmill Park

Urban Park birding hotspot in Nebraska with 202 recorded species.

Urban ParkSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Crane Trust - Nature and Visitor Center

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 201 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 255 recorded species.

LakeWetlandSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Crystal Cove Park

Coastal birding hotspot in Nebraska with 234 recorded species.

CoastalUrban ParkSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 228 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Flanagan Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 228 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Fontenelle Forest

Forest birding hotspot in Nebraska with 236 recorded species.

ForestSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 225 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 205 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Funk Waterfowl Production Area

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 226 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Glenn Cunningham Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 241 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Forest birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area

Forest birding hotspot in Nebraska with 209 recorded species.

ForestLakeWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Harlan County Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 214 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Holmes Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 234 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area - east

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 200 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Kramper Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 221 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake McConaughy

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 255 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake McConaughy - Cedar View

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 232 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Lake McConaughy - Spring Park

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 203 recorded species.

LakeUrban ParkSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake North/Babcock

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 247 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake Ogallala

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 275 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake Wanahoo

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 211 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake Wanahoo - Sand Creek Wetlands

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 213 recorded species.

LakeRiver/RiparianSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Lake Yankton (Cedar County NE)

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 225 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Urban Park birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Park

Urban Park birding hotspot in Nebraska with 243 recorded species.

Urban ParkSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Marsh Wren Community Wetlands

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 243 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Memphis Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 200 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Coastal birding habitat

Nebraska

Challenging

Mormon Island State Recreation Area

Coastal birding hotspot in Nebraska with 212 recorded species.

CoastalSpringFall
Urban Park birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

N. P. Dodge Park

Urban Park birding hotspot in Nebraska with 203 recorded species.

Urban ParkSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Niobrara State Park

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 225 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge - Lake Minatare

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 254 recorded species.

LakeWetlandSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

North Platte WTP

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 214 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Oliver Reservoir State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 286 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 277 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Urban Park birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Pioneers Park

Urban Park birding hotspot in Nebraska with 220 recorded species.

Urban ParkSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Easy

Ponca State Park

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 262 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Rock Creek State Recreation Area

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Nebraska with 224 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Rowe Sanctuary

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 241 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 200 recorded species.

LakeWetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Nebraska with 228 recorded species.

River/RiparianGrasslandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 234 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Standing Bear Lake

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 201 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Challenging

Summit Lake State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 238 recorded species.

LakeMountainSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 248 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 230 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Walnut Creek RA

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Nebraska with 221 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
Grassland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Wayne

Grassland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 232 recorded species.

GrasslandWetlandSpringFall
Lake birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Wehrspann Wetlands mitigation pond

Lake birding hotspot in Nebraska with 208 recorded species.

LakeSpringFall
River/Riparian birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Willow Creek State Recreation Area

River/Riparian birding hotspot in Nebraska with 247 recorded species.

River/RiparianSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Wood Duck Wildlife Management Area - ponds

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 205 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall
Wetland birding habitat

Nebraska

Moderate

Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area

Wetland birding hotspot in Nebraska with 205 recorded species.

WetlandSpringFall

Notable Species

Key species found across birding locations in Nebraska:

Sandhill CraneWhooping CraneGreater Prairie-ChickenLeast TernPiping PloverGreater White-fronted GooseKilldeerAmerican CrowEuropean StarlingAmerican RobinCanada GooseMallardNorthern PintailCommon MerganserRing-billed GullSnow GooseCackling GooseNorthern ShovelerBuffleheadCommon Goldeneye

Habitats & Best Seasons

Habitat Types:

WetlandGrasslandRiver/RiparianLakeUrban ParkCoastalForestMountain

Best Seasons:

SpringFall

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best birding spots in Nebraska?
The top birding locations in Nebraska include Rowe Sanctuary — Platte River, Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area, Bluestem Lake State Recreation Area, Branched Oak State Recreation Area, Burchard Wildlife Management Area, Cedar Point Biological Station, Chalco Hills RA, Conestoga Lake State Recreation Area, Cottonmill Park, Crane Trust - Nature and Visitor Center, Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Crystal Cove Park, DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Flanagan Lake, Fontenelle Forest, Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail, Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge, Funk Waterfowl Production Area, Glenn Cunningham Lake, Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area, Harlan County Lake, Holmes Lake, Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area - east, Kramper Lake, Lake McConaughy, Lake McConaughy - Cedar View, Lake McConaughy - Spring Park, Lake North/Babcock, Lake Ogallala, Lake Wanahoo, Lake Wanahoo - Sand Creek Wetlands, Lake Yankton (Cedar County NE), Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Park, Marsh Wren Community Wetlands, Memphis Lake, Mormon Island State Recreation Area, N. P. Dodge Park, Niobrara State Park, North Platte National Wildlife Refuge - Lake Minatare, North Platte WTP, Oliver Reservoir State Recreation Area, Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area, Pioneers Park, Ponca State Park, Rock Creek State Recreation Area, Rowe Sanctuary, Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area, Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Stagecoach Lake State Recreation Area, Standing Bear Lake, Summit Lake State Recreation Area, Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Walnut Creek RA, Wayne, Wehrspann Wetlands mitigation pond, Willow Creek State Recreation Area, Wood Duck Wildlife Management Area - ponds, Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area. Each offers unique habitats and species.
When is the best time to go birding in Nebraska?
The best seasons for birding in Nebraska are Spring and Fall. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area.
What birds can I see in Nebraska?
Notable species in Nebraska include Sandhill Crane, Whooping Crane, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Least Tern, Piping Plover, Greater White-fronted Goose, Killdeer, American Crow, and more. The state supports wetland, grassland, river/riparian, lake, urban park, coastal, forest, mountain habitats.

Plan Your Birding Trip

Get the most out of your birding adventure in Nebraska with our expert guides.