Discover Oklahoma’s Best Birding Locations

Oklahoma’s diverse bird habitats range from vast tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies in the west and center to dense deciduous and pine forests in the east. The state also features wetlands, salt flats, and rivers that serve as vital stops along the Central Flyway. These varied landscapes support a convergence of Eastern and Western bird species, making the state a significant hub for both migratory and resident birds. Birders flock to Oklahoma during April and May for spring migration. This peak period offers the highest diversity of birds, including returning songbirds and species passing through the Central Flyway. Winter is a secondary peak, when birders travel to the state to view large concentrations of bald eagles and wintering sparrows. Continue reading to discover the best locations for bird watching in Oklahoma.

Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge

Located 20 miles north of the Oklahoma-Texas border, the 4,000-acre Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge is a premier destination for birders. Its centerpiece, the Cumberland Pool, offers exceptional opportunities for waterbird observation.

There are two main hiking trails within the refuge. These trails are close to the Cumberland pool, the center of birding activities in this wildlife refuge. There’s an observation platform as well as several other observation points located around the pool. 

There are a lot of waterbird activities in the area near the Cumberland Pool. There are many wading birds in the mudflats and other areas with low water. Several birds also nest within the refuge. Some bird species you’re likely to see include: 

• Roseate Spoonbill
• Northern Shoveler
• Yellow-Throated Warbler
• Bald Eagle 
• Barred Owl
• Summer Tanager
• Canada Goose
• Indigo Bunting
• Snow Goose
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Blue Grosbeak
• Greater Roadrunner

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a 60,000-acre protected area in Southwestern Oklahoma, located near Lawton and Cache. It features ancient granite mountains, mixed-grass prairies, and freshwater lakes. Established in 1901, the refuge is a crucial conservation site for a wide variety of resident species and a stop for migratory birds.

The black-capped vireo is the most popular resident bird species at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. It was formerly listed as an endangered species but was delisted in 2018 due to successful recovery efforts. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge remains one of the best places to observe this species. Some of the most notable finds at this refuge include: 

• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Burrowing Owl
• Wild Turkey
• Black-chinned Hummingbird
• Canyon Wren
• Mississippi Kite
• Common Poorwill
• Wild Turkey
• Rock Wren
• Greater Roadrunner
• Cave Swallow
• Painted Bunting

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is a major nesting site for resident birds as well as a major migration rest area for hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, including Western sandpipers, least sandpipers, dunlin, and the American white pelican.

The refuge contains approximately 11,000 to 12,000 acres of flat, salt-crusted plains, which are often described as the largest expanse of salt flats east of the Rocky Mountains. The salt flats are remnants of a prehistoric sea, where saline groundwater rises to the surface and evaporates, leaving behind a salt crust.

The Salt Plains of this refuge are an ideal habitat for hundreds of bird species, especially the American white pelican, which passes through the area. Resident species at the refuge include the greater roadrunner and wild turkey, but the area is especially notable for nesting shorebirds such as the American avocet, least tern, and snowy plover. Other notable bird species include: 

• White-faced Ibis
• Mississippi Kite
• Black-necked Stilt
• Painted Bunting
• Bald Eagle
• Western Kingbird
• Snowy Egret

Mohawk Park

Located on the northeastern edge of Tulsa, Mohawk Park a first-class birding destination. This 3,300-acre park contains a diverse range of habitats, including open prairie, marshes, deciduous woodlands, and floodplain forests, that support over 250 bird species throughout the year.

The Mary K. Oxley Nature Center provides a detailed map of the hiking trails and boardwalk within the park. There’s also an observation tower, a great vantage point from which to watch for different bird species. 

Lake Yahola, a man-made water reservoir within the park, attracts migratory bird species that come into the area from Canada and the Northern U.S. Some of the most notable bird species at this location include:

• Pileated Woodpecker
• Prothonotary Warbler
• Yellow-throated Warbler
• Summer Tanager
• Yellow-crowned night heron
• Mississippi Kite
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Great Horned Owl
• Barred Owl
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Painted Bunting

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is what remains of the 140 million acres of tallgrass prairie that covered most of North America millions of years ago. Although the 39,000-acre tract of prairie plains is only a small fraction of what it used to be, it is still a great place to visit and offers a diversity of bird species.

The nature preserve is located north of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. There are miles of roads for driving through the preserve, as well as several hiking trails that cross different parts of this pristine Oklahoma bird-watching location.

Beyond being a great bird watching location, every nature lover will enjoy exploring the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Numerous migratory and nesting bird species can be found across the grassland during various seasons. Some of the most notable bird species you’re likely to find here include: 

• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Upland Sandpiper
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Bell’s Vireo
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Henslow’s Sparrow
• Painted Bunting

Other incredible birding destinations in Oklahoma include: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge, Arcadia Lake, Martin Park Nature Center, Red Slough Wildlife Management Area, Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area, and Lake Hefner.