Seasonal Bird Watching Guide

Lake County's natural spaces create a perfect place for bird watching...

Spring: April - May

Forest Preserve/ State Park	Habitat	What you would see
Illinois Beach State Park	Wetland, Dunes / Beach, Lake Michigan	Common Loon, American Pipit, Broad-winged Hawk, Spring Migrants
Van Patten Woods	Lake	Dabbling Ducks, Common Loon, Horned Grebe
Wadsworth Savanna/Sedge Meadow	Savanna, Wetland	Least Bittern, Sedge Wren, Virginia Rail, Short-billed Dowitcher, Migrating warblers
Chain O'Lakes State Park	Woodland, Grassland, River	Sandhill Crane, Northern Harrier, American White Pelican
Independence Grove	Lake	Common Loon, grebe species, Orchard Oriole, Purple Martin, Snow Goose
Middlefork Savanna	Savanna, Wetland, Grassland	Red-headed Woodpecker, Bobolink, Rail species, Wood Duck, Baird's Sandpiper
Fort Sheridan	Savanna, Grassland, Lake	Migrating hawks, Red-headed Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Tufted Titmouse
Ryerson Woods	Woodland, River	Solitary Sandpiper, Migrating warblers, American Woodcock, Barred Owl
Cuba Marsh	Woodland, Wetland	American Woodcock, dabbling ducks, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Swamp Sparrow

Summer: June - September

Illinois Beach State Park	Wetland, Dunes/Beach, Lake Michigan	Yellow-breasted Chat, Grasshopper Sparrow, Indigo Bunting
Wadsworth Savanna/Sedge Meadow	Savanna, Wetland	American Bittern, Marsh Wren, Virginia Rail
Ryerson Woods	Woodland, River	Oriole Species, Great Crested Flycatcher, Prothonotary Warbler, Summer Tanager, Indigo Bunting
Rollins Savanna	Savanna, Wetland, Grassland	Henslow's Sparrow, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark
Prairie Wolf Slough	Wetland, Woodland	Sora, Blue-winged Teal
Middlefork Savanna	Savanna, Wetland, Grassland	Sora, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Yellow Warbler, Orchard Oriole
Chain O'Lakes State Park	Woodland, Grassland, River	Black Tern, Eastern Meadowlark

Fall: September - November

Illinois Beach State Park	Wetland, Dunes/Beach, Lake Michigan	Migrating raptors, Willet, Yellowlegs species, Henslow's Sparrow
Chain O'Lakes State Park	Woodland Grassland	Northern Shrike, Northern Harrier, Snow Goose, thrush species
Middlefork Savanna	Savanna, Wetland, Grassland	Yellowlegs species, Sandhill Crane, swallow species
Fort Sheridan	Savanna, Grassland, Lake Michigan	Duck species, migrating raptors, LeConte's Sparrow
Ryerson Woods	Woodland, River	Warbler species, thrush species, LeConte's Sparrow, Great Horned Owl

Winter: December - April

Illinois Beach State Park	Wetland, Dunes/Beach, Lake Michigan	Scoter species, Red-throated Loon, Long-tailed Duck
Waukegan Beach & Harbor	Lake Michigan	Purple Sandpiper
Lyons Woods	Woodland	White-winged Crossbill, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin
Chain O'Lakes State Park	Woodland, Grassland	Northern Harrier, Long-eared Owl, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane (late)
Rollins Savanna	Savanna, Wetland, Grassland	Long-eared Owl, Northern Harrier
Independence Grove	Lake, Woodland	Bald Eagle, Trumpeter Swan, gull species,
Fort Sheridan	Savanna, Grassland, Lake	Rough-legged Hawk, Redhead, duck species
North Point Marina	Lake Michigan	Scoter species, Red-throated Loon, Long-tailed Duck, Snow Bunting, merganser species

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