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Cerulean Warbler A resident of the upper canopy of the forest, cerulean warblers hunt caterpillars that live on trees to feed their young. © TNC
A cerulean warbler perched in an oak tree.

Stories in Wisconsin

Watching Wisconsin’s Birds

Rich with native bird species and an important place for migratory birds, Wisconsin is a bird watcher’s dream.

April 18, 2023

Keep Up with Wisconsin’s Nature

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Wisconsin is not only rich with diverse native bird species, but our state is an important spot for migratory species as well. From strutting, multicolored city pigeons to the soaring silhouettes of hawks circling, birds can be found just about everywhere people are.

And, birding (or bird watching) is an easy way to connect with nature because all you really need is a sense of curiosity, maybe a field guide or app, inexpensive binoculars and some patience. And, as you begin to watch birds, you’ll not only find yourself spotting more birds than you likely realized were around you, but you’ll find yourself more tuned into the natural world.

Tips for Beginning Birders (2:11) Are you bird-curious? We asked some local birders for their best beginner tips to help get you started birding in your backyard, local park, preserve, or anywhere birds are found!

What You Need to Begin Bird Watching

  • Field Guide or Mobile Bird ID App: Field guides and bird ID apps help you identify birds and give you basic information on their life histories, range, seasonality and more. Plus, some mobile apps, like Merlin BirdID from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, give you the opportunity to identify birds by their songs and calls, too!
  • Binoculars: Having a pair of binoculars to help you see birds up close is important as you’re learning how to identify bird species. The good news is you don’t need to spend a ton of money on binoculars. Any kind will do, as long as they make far away things look closer and work for your needs.
  • Journal or Notepad: Writing down the birds you’re seeing and hearing each day can help you learn birds faster and help you get a sense of when to expect which types of birds. You can also record any other nature observations you make each day, giving you a picture of what the natural world does around you from season to season and year to year.
A great horned owl sitting in a tree.
©

Birds in Wisconsin

Now that we’ve covered the basics of birding, let’s go over what you might see in Wisconsin throughout the year.

Backyard Birds

Wisconsin is a year-round home to many vibrant bird species that you can see around your home, neighborhood or local parks and natural areas. Winter is an especially good time to watch for these birds, as they’ll often come to feeders and are easier to see with the leaves off the trees.

Learn More about Backyard Birds
A male ruby-throated hummingbird sips from a red flower.
A robin pulling an earthworm out of the ground.
A male Northern cardinal perched in a tree with a caterpillar in his bill.
A tufted titmouse perched on a slender twig among red berries.
A downy woodpecker perched on a tree.
A male American goldfinch taking to flight off of a tall weed with red seed heads.
An American crow perched in a tree.
A male indigo bunting perched at a tube bird feeder.
A white-breasted nuthatch perched head-down on a tree trunk.
A black-capped chickadee sitting on an iron arch in the snow.
A male ruby-throated hummingbird sips from a red flower.
A robin pulling an earthworm out of the ground.
A male Northern cardinal perched in a tree with a caterpillar in his bill.
A tufted titmouse perched on a slender twig among red berries.
A downy woodpecker perched on a tree.
A male American goldfinch taking to flight off of a tall weed with red seed heads.
An American crow perched in a tree.
A male indigo bunting perched at a tube bird feeder.
A white-breasted nuthatch perched head-down on a tree trunk.
A black-capped chickadee sitting on an iron arch in the snow.

Prairie Birds

Birds that live in and depend on grasslands and prairies face some of the most sustained declines due to habitat loss and fragmentation. TNC’s work to restore, protect and maintain Wisconsin’s native prairies, such as Spring Green Preserve and the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area, ensures that these birds have the habitat necessary to thrive. 

A dickcissel perched in a tree.
A male and female bobolink pair sitting on tall grasses.
A male Eastern meadowlark singing while perched in a tree.
An upland sandpiper in tall grass.
A dickcissel perched in a tree.
A male and female bobolink pair sitting on tall grasses.
A male Eastern meadowlark singing while perched in a tree.
An upland sandpiper in tall grass.

Water Birds

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of water, from lakes and rivers to the wetlands and streams. The abundant bodies of water in the state host diverse birdlife, many of which are migratory. Mink River and North Bay-Mud Lake preserve in Door County are excellent places to spot water-loving birds.

A common loon with a chick in the water.
A flock of fluffy wood duck ducklings hanging out on lily pads with a water lily bud in front.
A green heron with a newt in its beak.
An adult sandhill crane carefully watching two sandhill crane chicks swimming.
A trumpeter swan running across the surface of an icy pond with its wing outstretched.
A marsh wren calling while perched on dried marsh grass.
A least bittern perched on marsh grass.
A white pelican in flight.
A great blue heron with a fish in its bill.
A group of juvenile piping plovers huddled together in the sand.
A common loon with a chick in the water.
A flock of fluffy wood duck ducklings hanging out on lily pads with a water lily bud in front.
A green heron with a newt in its beak.
An adult sandhill crane carefully watching two sandhill crane chicks swimming.
A trumpeter swan running across the surface of an icy pond with its wing outstretched.
A marsh wren calling while perched on dried marsh grass.
A least bittern perched on marsh grass.
A white pelican in flight.
A great blue heron with a fish in its bill.
A group of juvenile piping plovers huddled together in the sand.

Forest Birds

Throughout the year, Wisconsin’s forests are alive with birds, from majestic owls to tiny migratory warblers. However, birds in forests suffer from habitat loss, as forests are harvested for timber or cleared for development. TNC-managed forests like the Baraboo Hills or the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area provide vital homes for these birds.

Learn about birds in the Baraboo Hills
A yellow-rumped warbler seemingly staring at its reflection in a pond.
A Northern parula perched in a tree.
A male ruby-crowned kinglet perched on a slender twig, facing directly into the camera.
An ovenbird on the ground.
A male Blackburnian warbler in a tree.
A yellow-rumped warbler seemingly staring at its reflection in a pond.
A Northern parula perched in a tree.
A male ruby-crowned kinglet perched on a slender twig, facing directly into the camera.
An ovenbird on the ground.
A male Blackburnian warbler in a tree.

Migratory Birds

During spring, Wisconsin welcomes migrating birds from Colombia and other states and countries, as they arrive at our lush prairies and deep forests to breed and raise their young before heading home in the fall. The Baraboo Hills are a great place to see these travelers, with as many as 250 different species passing through or staying in the area.

The Top 3 Migrations in Wisconsin
A bright red male scarlet tanager perched in a tree.
A common nighthawk sitting in a tree.
A pair of prothonotary warblers around their nest cavity in a tree.
A male American redstart in a tree.
A barn swallow perched on a fence wire while another barn swallow flies off.
A pair of juvenile peregrine falcons grooming each other.
A common tern landing in water with splashes of water all around it.
A male cerulean warbler singing in a tree.
A male and female pair of blue-winged teals floating in a pond.
A male rose-breasted grosbeak.
A bright red male scarlet tanager perched in a tree.
A common nighthawk sitting in a tree.
A pair of prothonotary warblers around their nest cavity in a tree.
A male American redstart in a tree.
A barn swallow perched on a fence wire while another barn swallow flies off.
A pair of juvenile peregrine falcons grooming each other.
A common tern landing in water with splashes of water all around it.
A male cerulean warbler singing in a tree.
A male and female pair of blue-winged teals floating in a pond.
A male rose-breasted grosbeak.

Raptors

Raptors—also known as a bird of prey—are breathtaking birds to spot. Raptors are carnivores, hunting or scavenging other animals to eat. All raptors have at least three things in common: keen eyesight, a hooked beak and eight sharp talons. Wisconsin is home to about 29 species of raptor, some migratory and some living here year-round.

An osprey coming into land in a nest where another osprey sits.
A bald eagle soaring over a pond with its talon outstretched.
A saw-whet owl perched in a tree in the snow.
An American kestrel perched on a branch surrounded by red berries.
An osprey coming into land in a nest where another osprey sits.
A bald eagle soaring over a pond with its talon outstretched.

Bald Eagle: Reflection // I was photographing Bald Eagles in Prairie du Chien on 3/8/2022. An Eagle was coming in for a fish when I was able to capture the bird and its reflection. © Marci Lanois/TNC Photo Contest 2022

A saw-whet owl perched in a tree in the snow.
An American kestrel perched on a branch surrounded by red berries.

Climate Change and Birds

Thanks to rich habitats from wetlands to dry prairies, and deep forests to lakeshores, Wisconsin has abundant bird life year-round.

But, development and habitat fragmentation impact birds throughout our state and North America. Year-round birds face loss of the habitats they need to live, breed and thrive. Migratory birds have fewer places to stop, rest and eat on their journeys.

Climate change is making life even more challenging for birds in Wisconsin and elsewhere. According to the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts, “climate change is leading to earlier springs, milder winters and delayed falls. Many species are shifting their historic ranges and migration patterns in response to these changes. Not all species are able to adapt, however, leading to a mismatch between habitats and the migratory species that depend on them.”

Due to these challenges, more than 30% of America's bird species need immediate conservation attention, and some populations of migratory birds have declined drastically over the last 30 years. Worldwide, scientists predict that 10% of all bird species will become extinct by the end of this century.

But there is hope.

A red-eyed vireo perched in a tree.
Red-eyed Vireo Migratory birds like red-eyed vireos rely on undisturbed forests like those in Wisconsin for breeding each year.
A young girl looks through binoculars into a field of fall wildflowers.
Red-eyed Vireo Migratory birds like red-eyed vireos rely on undisturbed forests like those in Wisconsin for breeding each year.

Preserving Land and Water

While climate change and habitat loss threaten the future for both native and migratory birds around the world, The Nature Conservancy is addressing these interconnected issues by conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends around the world.

In Wisconsin, TNC is using a new resilience mapping tool, created by TNC scientists in collaboration with partners, to ensure we are protecting and restoring the places we know will continue to be resilient and provide habitat for wildlife and plant species as the climate changes. We are also taking other actions that will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people and nature adapt to climate change.

A greater yellowlegs wading in a body of water.
A hermit thrush foraging along the ground.
Often hiding in the brush along forest floors, hermit thrushes migrate to Wisconsin's northern forests each year to breed.
Often hiding in the brush along forest floors, hermit thrushes migrate to Wisconsin's northern forests each year to breed.

Five Ways You Can Help Birds

While climate change and crises it’s causing for birds seem overwhelming, there are lots of things you can do right at home to help birds thrive.

  • A man looks through binoculars to watch birds.

    Bird Watch and Share Your Observations

    Monitoring bird populations is crucial to protecting them. Community bird watchers—like you—can record the birds you see and submit them to organizations like eBird or the Great Backyard Bird Count.

  • A ruby-throated hummingbird hovers next to a red cardinal flower.

    Plant Native

    Birds depend on native plants for food, both for the insects on the plants and the plants’ nectar, seeds or fruits. Planting native plants can help birds find respite and food throughout the year.

  • A male Eastern bluebird perches on a branch with three insect larvae in his bill.

    Stop Using Pesticides

    Many birds depend on insects for food and to feed their young during the summer. By avoiding the use of pesticides, you can help ensure there are plenty of caterpillars, beetles and other insects for birds to eat.

  • Closeup of decals placed on a window to help stop birds from colliding into it.

    Make Windows Bird-safe

    It’s estimated that more than one billion birds die each year due to window collisions. You can make sure your windows are safe by adding screens, strings or decals on the outside of your windows to break up their reflective surfaces.

  • An adult with their finger on a light switch.

    Turn Off Outside Lights

    Many species of birds migrate by night, using the stars to navigate. Outside lights, like porch lights or floodlights, can disorient these birds and throw them off course. Turning off outside lights can help migrating birds stay safely on course.

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