Iowa Birding Resources

Historically, north-central and northwest Iowa were part of the large prairie-wetlands mosaic known as the prairie pothole region which extended into Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Canada. The prairie pothole region is the continent’s most productive waterfowl area, where most ducks and geese are born and return to nest.

The Nifty Fifty

The Nifty Fifty is a mini-guide to the birds of Iowa. It includes descriptions, images, video and songs of 50 of the most often observed birds of Iowa. View the guide by clicking here or on the Nifty Fifty link on the left.

You will need the free Flash player to view the guide.

Some birds prefer to stay near the ground, while others are almost always seen high in a tree. Look for the following notations in the species descriptions to determine where the species is most likely to be seen. If a note is not present, the bird does not have a strong affinity for a particular region.

• Look high.
• Look mid-story.
• Look low.

State Information

Iowa Ornithologists' Union

Iowa Bird Checklist

Recent Bird Sightings

IA-BIRD Listserv

Birding Locations

Cone Marsh State Wildlife Management

Coralville Reservoir

Iowa State Bird - American Goldfinch

Iowa Birding Events

Keokuk Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
Usually in January
Keokuk, Iowa
Phone: 800-383-1219
Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River with live eagle demonstrations and information booths

Annual Rivers & Bluffs Fall Birding Festival
Usuallly in November
Lansing, Iowa
E-mail: Ric.Zarwell@mchsi.com
Field trips on land and by heated excursion boat to gain close-up views of 20,000 elegant Tundra Swans, half a million+ other waterfowl, plus scores of Bald Eagles and numerous other species. Explore best local habitats in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa, with expert field trip leaders providing on-site education and interpretation of birds and Mississippi River ecology.

Other resources and locations

If you have suggestions for additional birding resources in Iowa, from web sites to your favorite birding location, submit your information using the following form. You can cut and paste large amounts if text into the information field. Birding locations are the most desired, but any good resource on Iowa birds is welcomed.

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