United States Ramsar wetland
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
177 bird species recorded; the most in May.
Royalbroil · CC BY-SA 3.0
This month here
40 species in January.46 species in February.80 species in March.105 species in April.139 species in May.101 species in June.90 species in July.95 species in August.84 species in September.64 species in October.37 species in November.43 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
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
177 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).
- 177Speciesrecorded more than once
- 124Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 3ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 11,078Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 184 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 12Raptors
- 3Owls
- 12Waders
- 5Gulls & seabirds
- 24Ducks & geese
- 6Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 95Songbirds
- 19Other 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 177 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors12 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
Owls3 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio
Waders12 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- WilletTringa semipalmata
Gulls & seabirds5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
Ducks & geese24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- American WigeonMareca americana
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- RedheadAythya americana
- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- American Black DuckAnas rubripes
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
Herons, ibises & grebes6 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis
Songbirds95 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaNT
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- House finchHaemorhous mexicanus
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Junco hyemalisJunco hyemalis
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebe
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Cerulean WarblerSetophaga ceruleaNT
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- Shore LarkEremophila alpestris
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVU
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- Blue-winged warblerVermivora cyanoptera
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- Toxostoma rufumToxostoma rufum
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus
- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataNT
- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusNT
- Red Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla
- Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
- Sturnella neglectaSturnella neglecta
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Grass WrenCistothorus platensis
- Canada warblerCardellina canadensis
- Northern ShrikeLanius borealis
- Pipilo maculatusPipilo maculatus
Other birds19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígííMelanerpes carolinus
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Yellow-shafted FlickerColaptes auratus
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- American CootFulica americana
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVU
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- 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 May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan-4°/-13°28 mm
- Feb-2°/-12°33 mm
- Mar6°/-4°51 mm
- Apr14°/2°96 mm
- May20°/9°116 mm
- Jun25°/15°144 mm
- Jul28°/18°110 mm
- Aug27°/16°103 mm
- Sep23°/11°102 mm
- Oct15°/4°76 mm
- Nov6°/-3°48 mm
- Dec-1°/-9°46 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
National wildlife refuge in Minnesota, United States
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United States.
177 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 11,078 open records.
The most recorded are the Agelaius phoeniceus, the American Robin and the Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígíí.
71 species come for the summer, 44 for the winter and 9 only pass through.
3 are threatened worldwide, including Lesser yellowlegs, Chimney Swift and Rusty Blackbird.
The most species are recorded in May.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- River of Lakes Riverfront Campgroundcampsite · 1.8 km · 5 within 10 km
- Bagley Hotelplace to stay · 2.4 km · 1 within 10 km
- Guttenbergnearest town · 11 km in a straight line
- Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 62 km in a straight lineCar hire at LSE airport (La Crosse)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
- 5campsites within 10 kmRiver of Lakes Riverfront Campground, Bolder Creek Campground, Frenchtown Park and 2 more
- 1places to stay within 10 kmBagley Hotel
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
- car parks within 3 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 Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas3 mountains within 25 kmMondell Hill · 20 kmPine Knob · 22 kmHefel Ridge · 25 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.
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
United States
- 71Birdyas Score
- 177Species
- 124Migrants
- 3Threatened
Dixon Waterfowl Refuge
United States · 235 km
- 88Birdyas Score
- 286Species
- 207Migrants
- 11Threatened
Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
United States · 297 km
- 89Birdyas Score
- 302Species
- 222Migrants
- 13Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q7898801) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 11,078 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, Riveryas |
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
Find your beach: sea temperature, sun and swimming month by month.Visit 
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 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
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