Kylie Whitcomb Discover the top species in four popular birdwatching locations across the continental United States. They’ll be sure to amaze.
While there’s nothing wrong with getting to know the birds in your proverbial backyard, finding new species offers a different kind of thrill. Why not plan a road trip to see some of the nation’s best birding locations? There’s plenty to enjoy from Amarillo, TX, to Sedona, AZ.
We’ll look at just four crucial species: the Prothonotary Warbler, Lesser-Prairie Chicken, Marbled Godwit, and Rufous Hummingbird.
Prothonotary Warblers in Barataria Preserve, LA
Prothonotary Warblers are small songbirds that pack some prominent color. Though they appear similar to blue-winged and yellow warblers, they are larger than their tiny cousins. Detail-oriented birders will also note that they have heavier, longer bills, shorter legs, and a shorter tail.
This unique warbler forages above standing or slow-moving water. Birders will likely find them low to the ground, searching for food, flying between trees and shrubs, or slowly hopping along branches. The Prothonotary Warblers breed in wet forests, which makes Barataria Preserve the perfect place to catch them.
Lesser Prairie-Chickens in Amarillo, TX
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken may not have a very exotic-sounding name, but they are unique birds. These grouse get their name from the chickenlike appearance of the barred brown-and-white males, who have bare patches of red skin that they can inflate to produce sound.
Lesser prairie chickens forage in grasslands and brush, strolling along the ground, hunting insects, and eating seeds. While they are primarily terrestrial, they can fly considerable distances. Birders will likely find these unique animals outside Amarillo, TX, in shortgrass prairies on sandy soils with prominent sagebrush and bluestem grass.
Marbled Godwits on California’s Central Coast
Godwits are large, long-legged shorebirds that are distinctive as a species thanks to their extremely long, bi-colored, and slightly upturned bills. The Marbled Godwit is no exception. Barred in brown, white, and cinnamon, they appear similar to the Bar-Tailed Godwit.
Because Marbled Godwits eat aquatic invertebrates, birders are most likely to find them at the beach, where they use their long bills to hunt for insects in the sand.
They are social animals outside the breeding season and may be seen foraging in groups that include other Godwits and Willets, Whimbrels, or Long-billed Curlews. They breed in shortgrass prairies close to wetlands.
Rufous Hummingbirds in Sedona, AZ
The Rufous Hummingbird has a slender, straight bill and a tail that tapers when folded. Its short wings don’t reach the end of its tail when it’s perched. For coloring, look for bright orange on the male Rufous Hummingbird’s back, belly, and red throat.
Female Rufous Hummingbirds are green above, with rufous-washed flanks and patches in their green tails. Like all hummingbirds, they are known for fast, darting flight.
This small hummingbird tends to take over territories, chasing away other hummingbirds even while they’re on migration. The Rufous Hummingbird breeds in open areas and passes through Sedona, AZ, on migration.
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