Bird Watching

In Arkansas, I can tell you that we truly experience all four seasons, and sometimes we get a taste of each one in a single day! This state’s unique geographical position makes it a hotspot for birds traveling along their migration routes, drawing feathered friends from both the eastern and western parts of the country.

Whether you’ve been a bird enthusiast for years, or just a casual birder hoping to spot something fascinating, Arkansas has a fantastic reputation in the birdwatching community. It’s a wonderful activity to enjoy on your own, soaking in the natural beauty, or with a group of fellow wildlife lovers. Plus, it’s something that can be shared across generations, making it the perfect family outing for everyone, from young children to grandparents.

Birding watching Hot Spots near Jasper Arkansas:

Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

Buffalo River Valley Areas

A quick search of “Arkansas bird watching” on Amazon will return a few books on birds in Arkansas. Also, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has several free publications. As with bird books, there are a variety of apps available to assist birders in the field. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s eBird app is a great tool for identifying and tracking birds. But I would start my search by visiting the Arkansas Audubon Society’s website to see their list of Arkansas birds, see a picture and grab a checklist of birds available.

Binoculars and spotting scopes are great for seeing birds at a distance, but they are not mandatory. If you are just starting, your eyes and ears are all you need.

Arkansas boasts an impressive list of around four hundred species, so you’ve probably already spotted many in the area.

Noteworthy Birds to start with:

Mockingbird

The mockingbird was declared the state bird of Arkansas in 1929. Known for their extensive library of calls and sounds, mockingbirds can make upwards of three hundred different sounds.

Cardinal

Although not a rare find, cardinals are one of the most recognizable birds and are frequently spotted throughout Arkansas.

Hawks

Arkansas is a year-round home to several species of hawks. Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks are the most common and can easily be spotted.

Bald Eagle

Once on the brink of extinction, Bald Eagles have made a tremendous comeback in the lower 48 states, especially on the state’s larger lakes and rivers of Arkansas.

Seasons:

Winter

Winter brings a variety of loons, grebes, gulls, ducks, geese, and sparrows to the state. Also a great time to spot Bald Eagle on the state’s larger lakes and rivers of Arkansas.

Spring

Springtime is always an exciting time for bird watching trips in Arkansas as hundreds of birds begin their annual migration north along the Mississippi Flyway to their northern breeding grounds. The first returning residents and migrants begin arriving around mid-March and peak the first week in May. During this time shorebirds, more than 35 species of warblers, vireos, orioles, thrushes, and buntings can be seen.

Late spring brings the opportunity to see the breeding birds in Arkansas, which include the colorful Painted Bunting, the elegant Mississippi Kite, and the reclusive Swainson’s Warbler. Several species of herons and egrets can be found nesting in colonies called “rookeries.”

Sandpipers, plovers and other shorebirds migrate north through the state in early spring and southward during late summer. Shorebirds and waders require shallow water and mudflats for resting and refueling during their long migration, they can be seen on wetlands, fallow agricultural fields, and drained fish hatchery ponds throughout the state.

Summer

Summer is also an excellent time to find post-breeding wanderers such as Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, White-faced and Glossy Ibis. It is also the breeding season for Wild Turkey, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-headed Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, and Prothonotary Warbler

Fall

Many of that state’s summer resident birds like Purple Martins, Barn and Cliff Swallows, and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, gather in flocks before heading south. As the state’s summer residents leave, winter resident birds begin to filter into the state and common ones include White-throated Sparrows and migrant Red-tailed Hawks.

As the leaves fall from the trees, it becomes easier to spot birds that glean insects from the branches, including our resident woodpecker species and the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.