While each state in America has plenty of birdwatching places for bird watchers to indulge their hobby, below you can read about the most popular spots to birdwatch in each U.S. state.
To identify the most popular places to birdwatch in each US state, CEOWORLD magazine reviewed numerous national and international media reports. Each location was ranked by the number of different bird species that have been seen at the site. The place with the most birds seen was determined to be the most popular place to birdwatch in the state.
Most popular places to birdwatch in each US state
| US State | Most Popular Place | Most Seen Bird |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Dauphin Island | Black Tern |
| Alaska | St. Paul Island | Northern Fulmar |
| Arizona | Patagonia Lake State Park | Red-winged Blackbird |
| Arkansas | Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge | Mallard |
| California | Hayward Regional Shoreline | Western Sandpiper |
| Colorado | Barr Lake State Park | Cackling Goose |
| Connecticut | Sherwood Island State Park | Common Grackle |
| Delaware | Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge | Red-winged Blackbird |
| Florida | Fort De Soto Park | Redhead |
| Georgia | Jekyll Island | Tree Swallow |
| Hawaii | James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge | Cattle Egret |
| Idaho | Camas National Wildlife Preserve | European Starling |
| Illinois | Montrose Point Lincoln Park | Red-breasted Merganser |
| Indiana | Indiana Dunes State Park | Long-tailed Duck |
| Iowa | Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area | Snow Goose |
| Kansas | Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area | Red-winged Blackbird |
| Kentucky | Sloughs Wildlife Management Area | Snow Goose |
| Louisiana | Grand Isle | Lesser Scaup |
| Maine | Monhegan Island | Common Eider |
| Maryland | Sandy Point State Park | Canvasback |
| Massachusetts | Plum Island | Tree Swallow |
| Michigan | Whitefish Point | Long-tailed Duck |
| Minnesota | Park Point Recreation Area | Ring-billed Gull |
| Mississippi | Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons | American Coot |
| Missouri | Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary | Common Grackle |
| Montana | Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge | Wilson's Phalarope |
| Nebraska | Branched Oak State Recreation Area | Snow Goose |
| Nevada | Desert National Wildlife Refuge Corn Creek Field Station | Yellow-rumped Warbler |
| New Hampshire | Odiorne Point State Park | Double-crested Cormorant |
| New Jersey | Cape May Point | American Robin |
| New Mexico | Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge | Snow Goose |
| New York | Jones Beach State Park | Surf Scoter |
| North Carolina | Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge | Redhead |
| North Dakota | Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge | Franklin’s Gull |
| Ohio | Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area | Mallard |
| Oklahoma | Red Slough Wildlife Management Area | Common Grackle |
| Oregon | Malheur National Wildlife Refuge | Wilson’s Phalarope |
| Pennsylvania | Presque Isle State Park | Ring-billed Gull |
| Rhode Island | Block Island | Common Eider |
| South Carolina | Huntington Beach State Park | Tree Swallow |
| South Dakota | Farm Island | Canada Goose |
| Tennessee | Ensley Bottoms Complex | Tree Swallow |
| Texas | Aransas National Wildlife Refuge | Lesser Scaup |
| Utah | Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge | American Coot |
| Vermont | Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area | Snow Goose, Red-winged Blackbird |
| Virginia | Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | Semipalmated Sandpiper |
| Washington | Neah Bay | Common Murre |
| West Virginia | Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area | European Starling |
| Wisconsin | Manitowoc Lakefront | Greater Scaup |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Hereford Ranch | European Starling |
- Alabama
Most popular place to birdwatch: Dauphin Island
All-time bird sightings in Dauphin Island: 326 species
Most seen bird in Dauphin Island: Black Tern (12,400 sightings)
Most seen bird in Alabama last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (95,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Flicker, Eastern Wild Turkey - Alaska
Most popular place to birdwatch: St. Paul Island
All-time bird sightings in St. Paul Island: 303 species
Most seen bird in Dauphin Island: Northern Fulmar (150,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Alaska last 10 yrs.: Crested Auklet (2,000,000 sightings)
State bird: Willow Ptarmigan - Arizona
Most popular place to birdwatch: Patagonia Lake State Park
All-time bird sightings in Patagonia Lake State Park: 314 species
Most seen bird in Patagonia Lake State Park: Red-winged Blackbird (2,500 sightings)
Most seen bird in Arizona last 10 yrs.: Tree Swallow (1,200,000 sightings)
State bird: Cactus Wren - Arkansas
Most popular place to birdwatch: Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge: 281 species
Most seen bird in Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge: Mallard (245,961 sightings)
Most seen bird in Arkansas last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (250,000 sightings)
State bird: Mockingbird
- California
Most popular place to birdwatch: Hayward Regional Shoreline
All-time bird sightings in Hayward Regional Shoreline: 363 species
Most seen bird in Hayward Regional Shoreline: Western Sandpiper (35,631 sightings)
Most seen bird in California last 10 yrs.: Brewer’s Blackbird (500,000 sightings)
State bird: California Quail - Colorado
Most popular place to birdwatch: Barr Lake State Park
All-time bird sightings in Barr Lake State Park: 336 species
Most seen bird in Barr Lake State Park: Cackling Goose (35,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Colorado last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (175,000 sightings)
State bird: Lark Bunting - Connecticut
Most popular place to birdwatch: Sherwood Island State Park
All-time bird sightings in Sherwood Island State Park: 307 species
Most seen bird in Sherwood Island State Park: Common Grackle (40,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Connecticut last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (220,000 sightings)
State bird: American Robin - Delaware
Most popular place to birdwatch: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge: 322 species
Most seen bird in Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge: Red-winged Blackbird (250,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Delaware last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (700,000 sightings)
State bird: Blue Hen Chicken - Florida
Most popular place to birdwatch: Fort De Soto Park
All-time bird sightings in Fort De Soto Park: 339 species
Most seen bird in Fort De Soto Park: Redhead (10,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Florida last 10 yrs.: Tree Swallow (1,500,000 sightings)
State bird: Mockingbird - Georgia
Most popular place to birdwatch: Jekyll Island
All-time bird sightings in Jekyll Island: 303 species
Most seen bird in Jekyll Island: Tree Swallow (22,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Georgia last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (2,000,000 sightings)
State bird: Brown Thrasher, Bobwhite Quail - Hawaii
Most popular place to birdwatch: James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge: 114 species
Most seen bird in James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge: Cattle Egret (337 sightings)
Most seen bird in Hawaii last 10 yrs.: Sooty Shearwater (14,700 sightings)
State bird: Nene - Idaho
Most popular place to birdwatch: Camas National Wildlife Preserve
All-time bird sightings in Camas National Wildlife Preserve: 275 species
Most seen bird in Camas National Wildlife Preserve: European Starling (10,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Idaho last 10 yrs.: Mallard (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Mountain Bluebird, Peregrine Falcon - Illinois
Most popular place to birdwatch: Montrose Point Lincoln Park
All-time bird sightings in Montrose Point, Lincoln Park: 328 species
Most seen bird in Montrose Point Lincoln Park: Red-breasted Merganser (6,985 sightings)
Most seen bird in Illinois last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (500,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - Indiana
Most popular place to birdwatch: Indiana Dunes State Park
All-time bird sightings in Indiana Dunes State Park: 304 species
Most seen bird in Indiana Dunes State Park: Long-tailed Duck (20,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Indiana last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (250,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - Iowa
Most popular place to birdwatch: Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area
All-time bird sightings in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area: 276 species
Most seen bird in Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area: Snow Goose (11,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Iowa last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (400,000 sightings)
State bird: Eastern Goldfinch - Kansas
Most popular place to birdwatch: Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area
All-time bird sightings in Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area: 303 species
Most seen bird in Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area: Red-winged Blackbird (150,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Kansas last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (1,500,000 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark - Kentucky
Most popular place to birdwatch: Sloughs Wildlife Management Area
All-time bird sightings in Sloughs Wildlife Management Area: 249 species
Most seen bird in Sloughs Wildlife Management Area: Snow Goose (12,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Kentucky last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (50,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - Louisiana
Most popular place to birdwatch: Grand Isle
All-time bird sightings in Grand Isle: 315 species
Most seen bird in Grand Isle: Lesser Scaup (9,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Louisiana last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (1,000,000 sightings)
State bird: Brown Pelican - Maine
Most popular place to birdwatch: Monhegan Island
All-time bird sightings in Monhegan Island: 301 species
Most seen bird in Monhegan Island: Common Eider (15,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Maine last 10 yrs.: Atlantic Puffin (11,000 sightings)
State bird: Black-capped Chickadee - Maryland
Most popular place to birdwatch: Sandy Point State Park
All-time bird sightings in Sandy Point State Park: 293 species
Most seen bird in Sandy Point State Park: Canvasback (5,555 sightings)
Most seen bird in Maryland last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (50,000 sightings)
State bird: Baltimore Oriole - Massachusetts
Most popular place to birdwatch: Plum Island
All-time bird sightings in Plum Island: 363 species
Most seen bird in Plum Island: Tree Swallow (200,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Massachusetts last 10 yrs.: Tree Swallow (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Black-capped Chickadee, Wild Turkey - Michigan
Most popular place to birdwatch: Whitefish Point
All-time bird sightings in Whitefish Point: 332 species
Most seen bird in Whitefish Point: Long-tailed Duck (11,861 sightings)
Most seen bird in Michigan last 10 yrs.: Broad-winged Hawk (190,000 sightings)
State bird: Robin Redbreast - Minnesota
Most popular place to birdwatch: Park Point Recreation Area
All-time bird sightings in Park Point Recreation Area: 278 species
Most seen bird in Park Point Recreation Area: Ring-billed Gull (7,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Minnesota last 10 yrs.: Broad-winged Hawk (26,270 sightings)
State bird: Common Loon - Mississippi
Most popular place to birdwatch: Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons
All-time bird sightings in Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons: 270 species
Most seen bird in Seaman Road Sewage Lagoons: American Coot (4,653 sightings)
Most seen bird in Mississippi last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Wood Duck, Mockingbird - Missouri
Most popular place to birdwatch: Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
All-time bird sightings in Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary: 313 species
Most seen bird in Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary: Common Grackle (197,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Missouri last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (7,200,000 sightings)
State bird: Eastern Bluebird, Bobwhite Quail - Montana
Most popular place to birdwatch: Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge: 254 species
Most seen bird in Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge: Wilson’s Phalarope (13,826 sightings)
Most seen bird in Montana last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (250,000 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark - Nebraska
Most popular place to birdwatch: Branched Oak State Recreation Area
All-time bird sightings in Branched Oak State Recreation Area: 269 species
Most seen bird in Branched Oak State Recreation Area: Snow Goose (260,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Nebraska last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (750,000 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark - Nevada
Most popular place to birdwatch: Desert National Wildlife Refuge Corn Creek Field Station
All-time bird sightings in Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Corn Creek Field Station: 291 species
Most seen bird in Desert National Wildlife Refuge Corn Creek Field Station: Yellow-rumped Warbler (700 sightings)
Most seen bird in Nevada last 10 yrs.: Wilson’s Phalarope (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Mountain Bluebird - New Hampshire
Most popular place to birdwatch: Odiorne Point State Park
All-time bird sightings in Odiorne Point State Park: 289 species
Most seen bird in Odiorne Point State Park: Double-crested Cormorant (3,800 sightings)
Most seen bird in New Hampshire last 10 yrs.: Herring Gull (14,000 sightings)
State bird: Purple Finch - New Jersey
Most popular place to birdwatch: Cape May Point
All-time bird sightings in Cape May Point: 367 species
Most seen bird in Cape May Point: American Robin (80,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in New Jersey last 10 yrs.: American Robin (250,000 sightings)
State bird: Eastern Goldfinch - New Mexico
Most popular place to birdwatch: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge: 360 species
Most seen bird in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge: Snow Goose (60,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in New Mexico last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (60,000 sightings)
State bird: Greater Roadrunner - New York
Most popular place to birdwatch: Jones Beach State Park
All-time bird sightings in Jones Beach State Park: 308 species
Most seen bird in Jones Beach State Park: Surf Scoter (12,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in New York last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (750,000 sightings)
State bird: Eastern Bluebird - North Carolina
Most popular place to birdwatch: Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge: 326 species
Most seen bird in Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge: Redhead (11,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in North Carolina last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (70,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - North Dakota
Most popular place to birdwatch: Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge: 250 species
Most seen bird in Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge: Snow Goose (200,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in North Dakota last 10 yrs.: Franklin’s Gull (340,000 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark - Ohio
Most popular place to birdwatch: Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area
All-time bird sightings in Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: 282 species
Most seen bird in Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area: Mallard (11,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Ohio last 10 yrs.: Ring-billed Gull (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - Oklahoma
Most popular place to birdwatch: Red Slough Wildlife Management Area
All-time bird sightings in Red Slough Wildlife Management Area: 314 species
Most seen bird in Red Slough Wildlife Management Area: Common Grackle (100,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Oklahoma last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (100,000 sightings)
State bird: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Oregon
Most popular place to birdwatch: Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: 301 species
Most seen bird in Malheur National Wildlife Refuge: Wilson’s Phalarope (13,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Oregon last 10 yrs.: Sooty Shearwater (350,000 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark - Pennsylvania
Most popular place to birdwatch: Presque Isle State Park
All-time bird sightings in Presque Isle State Park: 313 species
Most seen bird in Presque Isle State Park: Ring-billed Gull (330,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Pennsylvania last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (200,000 sightings)
State bird: Ruffed Grouse - Rhode Island
Most popular place to birdwatch: Block Island
All-time bird sightings in Block Island: 293 species
Most seen bird in Block Island: Common Eider (5,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Rhode Island last 10 yrs.: Tree Swallow (150,000 sightings)
State bird: Rhode Island Red - South Carolina
Most popular place to birdwatch: Huntington Beach State Park
All-time bird sightings in Huntington Beach State Park: 325 species
Most seen bird in Huntington Beach State Park: Tree Swallow (7,500 sightings)
Most seen bird in South Carolina, Wild Turkey last 10 yrs.: Tree Swallow (144,000 sightings)
State bird: Carolina Wren, Wild Turkey - South Dakota
Most popular place to birdwatch: Farm Island
All-time bird sightings in Farm Island: 268 species
Most seen bird in Farm Island: Canada Goose (4,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in South Dakota last 10 yrs.: Snow Goose (200,000 sightings)
State bird: Ring-Necked Pheasant - Tennessee
Most popular place to birdwatch: Ensley Bottoms Complex
All-time bird sightings in Ensley Bottoms Complex: 317 species
Most seen bird in Ensley Bottoms Complex: Tree Swallow (75,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Tennessee last 10 yrs.: American Robin (250,000 sightings)
State bird: Mockingbird, Bobwhite Quail - Texas
Most popular place to birdwatch: Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge: 368 species
Most seen bird in Aransas National Wildlife Refuge: Lesser Scaup (20,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Texas last 10 yrs.: Barn Swallow (3,500,000 sightings)
State bird: Mockingbird - Utah
Most popular place to birdwatch: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: 287 species
Most seen bird in Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge: American Coot (30,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Utah last 10 yrs.: Wilson’s Phalarope (600,000 sightings)
State bird: California Gull - Vermont
Most popular place to birdwatch: Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area
All-time bird sightings in Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area: 238 species
Most seen bird in Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area: Snow Goose, Red-winged Blackbird (15,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Vermont last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (32,000 sightings)
State bird: Hermit Thrush - Virginia
Most popular place to birdwatch: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
All-time bird sightings in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge: 340 species
Most seen bird in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge: Semipalmated Sandpiper (20,400 sightings)
Most seen bird in Virginia last 10 yrs.: Red-winged Blackbird (64,001 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal
- Washington
Most popular place to birdwatch: Neah Bay
All-time bird sightings in Neah Bay: 284 species
Most seen bird in Neah Bay: Common Murre (23,566 sightings)
Most seen bird in Washington last 10 yrs.: Sooty Shearwater (352,000 sightings)
State bird: Willow Goldfinch - West Virginia
Most popular place to birdwatch: Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area
All-time bird sightings in Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area: 249 species
Most seen bird in Greenbottom Wildlife Management Area: European Starling (1,125 sightings)
Most seen bird in West Virginia last 10 yrs.: Common Grackle (5,000 sightings)
State bird: Northern Cardinal - Wisconsin
Most popular place to birdwatch: Manitowoc Lakefront
All-time bird sightings in Manitowoc Lakefront: 298 species
Most seen bird in Manitowoc Lakefront: Greater Scaup (15,000 sightings)
Most seen bird in Wisconsin last 10 yrs.: Double-crested Cormorant (100,000 sightings)
State bird: American Robin, Mourning Dove - Wyoming
Most popular place to birdwatch: Wyoming Hereford Ranch
All-time bird sightings in Wyoming Hereford Ranch: 256 species
Most seen bird in Wyoming Hereford Ranch: European Starling (1,350 sightings)
Most seen bird in Wyoming last 10 yrs.: American Coot (6,225 sightings)
State bird: Western Meadowlark
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