Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
Oklahoma · Southwest
Easy
April-May, September-October
Free
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Salt Plains NWR in north-central Oklahoma protects a vast expanse of salt flats, marshes, and mixed-grass prairie surrounding the Great Salt Plains Reservoir. The stark white salt flats provide critical nesting habitat for Interior Least Terns and Snowy Plovers.
The refuge is an important stopover for migrating Whooping Cranes and shorebirds, and the mix of grassland and wetland habitats supports Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Mississippi Kites, and numerous waterfowl species throughout the year.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Hudsonian Whimbrel
Numenius hudsonicus
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's)
Setophaga coronata
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
American White Pelican
Cliff Swallow
Greater Roadrunner
American Avocet
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Turkey Vulture
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
House Finch
Chipping Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Cardinal
Blue-winged Teal
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Birding Tips
- 1
Visit the salt flats in summer to see nesting Least Terns and Snowy Plovers
- 2
Check the reservoir shoreline during fall migration for Whooping Cranes — they stop here on their way to Texas
- 3
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 4
Fall migration (September-October) brings waves of southbound warblers and raptors
- 5
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Great Salt Plains State Park
- Crystal digging area
More in Oklahoma
Oklahoma Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Oklahoma →