United States Ramsar wetland
Horicon Marsh
271 bird species recorded; the most in May.
Allen C from Prairie du Sac, WI, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
This month here
58 species in January.87 species in February.118 species in March.187 species in April.245 species in May.184 species in June.170 species in July.197 species in August.206 species in September.181 species in October.126 species in November.80 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
VU
NT
NT
NT
NT
NTNT
NT
NTNTNT
NTNT
VU
NTVU
NT
VU
NT
VUVU- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
271 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 271Speciesrecorded more than once
- 212Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 12ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 263,212Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 259 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 13Raptors
- 5Owls
- 33Waders
- 10Gulls & seabirds
- 32Ducks & geese
- 20Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 130Songbirds
- 27Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 271 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusVU
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio
Waders33 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusVU
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- American AvocetRecurvirostra americana
- Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaVU
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisVU
- Bartram's SandpiperBartramia longicauda
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
Gulls & seabirds10 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
Ducks & geese32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- RedheadAythya americana
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- American Black DuckAnas rubripes
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Ross's GooseAnser rossii
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
Herons, ibises & grebes20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Plegadis chihiPlegadis chihi
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Phalacrocorax brasilianusPhalacrocorax brasilianus
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalis
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis
Songbirds130 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaNT
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusNT
- Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Grass WrenCistothorus platensis
- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebe
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Shore LarkEremophila alpestris
- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Junco hyemalisJunco hyemalis
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVU
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- House finchHaemorhous mexicanus
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Henslow's SparrowCentronyx henslowii
- Toxostoma rufumToxostoma rufum
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataNT
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalusNT
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Red Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Northern ShrikeLanius borealis
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Buff-bellied PipitAnthus rubescens
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraNT
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Blue-winged warblerVermivora cyanoptera
- Sturnella neglectaSturnella neglecta
- Grey-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Canada warblerCardellina canadensis
- Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Pine WarblerSetophaga pinus
- Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus
- Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
- Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- Bell's VireoVireo bellii
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- White-eyed VireoVireo griseus
- Quiscalus mexicanusQuiscalus mexicanus
- American Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilis
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querulaNT
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- LeConte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteii
- Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia
- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
Other birds27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- American CootFulica americana
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Yellow-shafted FlickerColaptes auratus
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígííMelanerpes carolinus
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVU
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufusNT
- Rallus elegansRallus elegans
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Colinus virginianusColinus virginianus
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensis
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan-4°/-13°36 mm
- Feb-2°/-12°39 mm
- Mar5°/-5°57 mm
- Apr13°/1°95 mm
- May19°/8°108 mm
- Jun25°/14°129 mm
- Jul28°/17°93 mm
- Aug27°/16°103 mm
- Sep23°/11°86 mm
- Oct14°/4°78 mm
- Nov6°/-2°53 mm
- Dec-1°/-9°49 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Horicon Marsh.
State Wildlife Area in Dodge and Fond du Lac counties, Wisconsin
Horicon Marsh is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United States, 259 m above the sea.
271 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 263,212 open records.
The most recorded are the Agelaius phoeniceus, the Canada Goose and the Sandhill Crane.
141 species come for the summer, 62 for the winter and 9 only pass through.
12 are threatened worldwide, including Lesser yellowlegs, Rusty Blackbird and Chimney Swift.
The most species are recorded in May.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Ledge County Park Campgroundcampsite · 11 km · 2 within 10 km
- Mayville Innplace to stay · 9.4 km · 4 within 10 km
- Mayvillenearest town · 11 km in a straight line
- Dane County Regional Truax Field (MSN)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 72 km in a straight lineCar hire at MSN airport (Madison)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 1viewpoints within 5 km
- 2car parks within 3 km
- 2campsites within 10 kmLedge County Park Campground, A
- 4places to stay within 10 kmMayville Inn, AmericInn by Wyndham Waupun, Boarders Inn and Suites and 1 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Horicon Marsh.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas2 mountains within 25 kmJuniper Hill · 11 kmShaw Hill · 18 km
Lakeyas1 lakes within 15 kmHoricon Marsh11 km² · 2.7 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Horicon Marsh
United States
- 88Birdyas Score
- 271Species
- 212Migrants
- 12Threatened
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
United States · 195 km
- 89Birdyas Score
- 354Species
- 261Migrants
- 14Threatened
The Ridges Sanctuary
United States · 209 km
- 87Birdyas Score
- 248Species
- 185Migrants
- 11Threatened
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
United States · 211 km
- 71Birdyas Score
- 177Species
- 124Migrants
- 3Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q5903214) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 263,212 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
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canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
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