Discover Iowa’s Top Locations for Bird Watching

Bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River to the west, Iowa is an important stopover on the Mississippi Flyway, a major migration route for various waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks, and songbirds. In addition to hosting over 325 bird species during their seasonal migrations, at least 432 documented bird species inhabit the state’s wetlands, prairies, mountains, and forests. For bird watchers hoping to catch a glimpse of any of these native or migratory bird species, here are some of Iowa’s top locations for bird watching.

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park 

Nestled in a bend of the Des Moines River, Lacey-Keosauqua State Park is a popular destination for avid bird watchers, especially in the spring. Spring migrant warblers and other songbirds abound, with the highest numbers expected around the first week of May. Wooded bluffs and valleys along the river shelter a wide variety of nesting birds, including Baltimore orioles, northern parulas, and Kentucky warblers. During migration, waterfowl are abundant in nearby Lake Sugema, which is part of the Lake Sugema-Lacey-Keosauqua Bird Conservation Area (BCA).

Common birds that may be seen in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park include:

• Summer tanager
• Yellow-billed cuckoo
• Yellow-throated warbler
• Red-headed woodpecker
• Cerulean warbler
• Pileated woodpecker
• Kentucky warbler
• Scarlet tanager
• Baltimore oriole
• Warbling vireo
• Indigo bunting
• Northern parula

Saylorville Reservoir

The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project is located in the Des Moines River Valley. It was built by the Army Corps of Engineers and placed into operation in 1977. The area provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including bird watching. Songbirds, Cooper’s hawks, and barred owls nest in the surrounding wooded areas. During the spring and fall, the open waters are home to migrant loons, grebes, gulls, and a variety of waterfowl. Birders can see American white pelicans in late summer, while bald eagles gather around the dam in the winter.

Common bird species found at Saylorville Reservoir include:

• Acadian flycatcher
• Cooper’s hawk
• Cerulean warbler
• Barred owl
• Tufted titmouse
• American goldfinch
• Purple finch
• Bald eagle
• American white pelican
• Bonaparte’s gull
• Franklin’s gull
• Red-bellied woodpecker

Waubonsie State Park 

Located in southwestern Iowa in the Loess Hills area, Waubonsie State Park has an extensive trail system throughout its 2,000 acres of woodland valleys and ridgetop prairies. Stretching along the Missouri River, park visitors may see eagles, hawks, and ospreys flying along the Missouri River flyway in September and October. The hardwood forests, bluffs, and hills shelter many different migratory and resident bird species, making it a popular spot for birding in spring and summer.

Birds that may be seen in Waubonsie State Park include:

• Summer tanager
• Chuck-will’s-widow
• Barred owl
• Eastern whip-poor-will
• Wood thrush
• Blue-grey gnatcatcher
• Kentucky warbler
• Eastern towhee
• Yellow-billed cuckoo
• Louisiana waterthrush
• Scarlet tanager
• Ovenbird

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

The DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge sits on the border of Nebraska and Iowa, lying partly in both states. This 8,365-acre refuge is located on DeSoto Lake. The surrounding land includes a wide range of habitats, including forests, tall grasslands, and wetlands. Migratory birds flock to the refuge every spring and fall, with officials reporting populations of 50,000 or more ducks, primarily mallards, during the fall migration. The best times to see waterfowl are from late October through early December, with smaller numbers returning in March and early April. Bald eagles also winter in the area until March. Shorebirds, gulls, warblers, and other bird species can be seen in the refuge year-round.

Birds that have been recorded at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge include:

• Baltimore oriole
• Grasshopper sparrow
• Wood duck
• Red-headed woodpecker
• Red-bellied woodpecker
• American white pelican
• Dickcissel
• Snow goose
• Lark sparrow
• Orchard oriole
• Bald eagle
• Double-crested cormorant

Yellow River State Forest and Effigy Mounds National Monument

Located just a few miles apart in northeastern Iowa, Yellow River State Forest and Effigy Mounds National Monument are protected areas alongside the Mississippi River. The hardwood forests and wooded bluffs of the two parks protect nesting birds such as cerulean warblers, wood thrush, scarlet tanagers, and ovenbirds. Double-crested cormorants, great egrets, and prothonotary warblers nest in the Mississippi River backwaters. Bald eagles and other raptors can be seen gliding above the river in the spring and fall. Golden eagles are also known to winter in the nearby woods.

Common birds at Yellow River State Forest and Effigy Mounds National Monument include:

• Ruffed grouse
• Wild turkey
• Red-shouldered hawk
• Barred owl
• Red-headed woodpecker
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker
• Pileated woodpecker
• Acadian flycatcher
• Yellow-throated vireo
• Wood thrush
• Ovenbird
• Louisiana waterthrush
• Prothonotary warbler

Hitchcock Nature Center

The Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek, Iowa is one of the best places in the state to see migrating raptors. Updrafts from the westerly winds in the Missouri River Valley create a “hawk highway” that attracts raptors to the area. Birders gather each fall to watch for hawks, eagles, and other raptors as they migrate south for the winter. Red-headed woodpeckers, chimney swifts, and snow geese also use the hawk highway, while short-eared owls visit the area during winter.

The following birds can be seen at Hitchcock Nature Center:

• Red-tailed hawk
• Northern harrier
• Sharp-shinned hawk
• Swainson’s hawk
• Cooper’s hawk
• Broad-winged hawk
• Turkey vulture
• American kestrel
• Chimney swift
• Snow geese
• Red-headed woodpecker
• Short-eared owl