United States Ramsar wetland
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
186 bird species recorded; the most in April.
US Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain
This month here
114 species in January.109 species in February.137 species in March.149 species in April.124 species in May.82 species in June.92 species in July.98 species in August.95 species in September.121 species in October.120 species in November.120 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.
NT
NT
NTNTNTNTNT
NT
NT
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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
186 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).
- 186Speciesrecorded more than once
- 106Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 4ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 45,940Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 14Raptors
- 4Owls
- 7Waders
- 2Gulls & seabirds
- 14Ducks & geese
- 18Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 100Songbirds
- 25Other 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 186 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
- Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio
- American Barn OwlTyto furcata
Waders7 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
Gulls & seabirds2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
Ducks & geese14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
Herons, ibises & grebes18 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- AnhingaAnhinga anhinga
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis
- Wood StorkMycteria americana
Songbirds100 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Pine WarblerSetophaga pinus
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaNT
- White-eyed VireoVireo griseus
- Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebe
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalisNT
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus
- Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Toxostoma rufumToxostoma rufum
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Grass WrenCistothorus platensis
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusNT
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus major
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataNT
- House finchHaemorhous mexicanus
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVU
- Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
- Junco hyemalisJunco hyemalis
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- Buff-bellied PipitAnthus rubescens
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens
- Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Painted BuntingPasserina ciris
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Scarlet FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinus
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- Shore LarkEremophila alpestris
Other birds25 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígííMelanerpes carolinus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Yellow-shafted FlickerColaptes auratus
- Leuconotopicus borealisLeuconotopicus borealis
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Colinus virginianusColinus virginianus
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Common Ground-DoveColumbina passerina
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVU
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensisNT
- American CootFulica americana
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Rallus elegansRallus elegans
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
- Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusNT
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 April.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan17°/5°73 mm
- Feb20°/7°81 mm
- Mar23°/10°82 mm
- Apr27°/14°76 mm
- May31°/18°90 mm
- Jun32°/22°187 mm
- Jul32°/23°158 mm
- Aug32°/23°176 mm
- Sep30°/21°147 mm
- Oct27°/16°82 mm
- Nov22°/11°53 mm
- Dec19°/8°80 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
Nature center in Folkston, Georgia, USA
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United States.
186 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 45,940 open records.
The most recorded are the Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígíí, the Turkey Vulture and the Red-shouldered Hawk.
51 species come for the summer, 55 for the winter and 0 only pass through.
4 are threatened worldwide, including Chimney Swift, Rusty Blackbird and Lesser yellowlegs.
The most species are recorded in April.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Okefenokee Pastimes Campgroundcampsite · 6.6 km · 1 within 10 km
- Folkstonnearest town · 16 km in a straight line
- Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 51 km in a straight lineCar hire at JAX airport (Jacksonville)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
- 1observation towers within 6 kmOwls Roost Tower
- 1visitor centres within 6 kmVisitor Center
- 4viewpoints within 5 km
- 4car parks within 3 km
- 1restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 1campsites within 10 kmOkefenokee Pastimes Campground
- bird hides within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- places to stay within 10 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 Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 kmStephen C. Foster State ParkBortle 3 · 24 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.
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
United States
- 73Birdyas Score
- 186Species
- 106Migrants
- 4Threatened
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
United States · 365 km
- 89Birdyas Score
- 305Species
- 180Migrants
- 12Threatened
Francis Beidler Forest
United States · 324 km
- 69Birdyas Score
- 190Species
- 133Migrants
- 2Threatened
Congaree National Park
United States · 362 km
- 74Birdyas Score
- 198Species
- 133Migrants
- 4Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q7081911) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 45,940 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 | Darkskyas |
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?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit 
mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
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Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
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Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
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
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit