Bird Watchers Flock to These Spots Across America

For many, bird-watching is a casual backyard diversion; for others, it’s a hobby that demands top-notch binoculars and a good travel-rewards card. If you’re the latter kind of birder — or you aspire to be — there are plenty of places across the country to find a dazzling array of species. We consulted bird-watching experts and publications to land on some of the very best.

Cape Canaveral, Florida

For most folks, Cape Canaveral means historic rocket launches and cruise ships; for bird watchers and birders, it’s an ideal spot to spy rare birds all year long. “During spring and fall migration, shorebird numbers and diversity can be spectacular, but throughout the year, long-legged waders are abundant, showy, and easy to find,” said Dawn Hewitt, editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest.

Cape Canaveral, Florida: Where to Go

The crown jewel of the area is Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, where 358 species have been identified. Hewitt recommends its 7-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive for both serious and casual bird watchers. Close by, Canaveral National Seashore offers yet more chances to spy shorebirds.

Cape May, New Jersey

If you only knew this seaside town for its charming Victorian architecture and pristine beaches, you’re missing out. On your next visit, look to the skies, too. “It’s a year-round destination for birders and is home to important nature reserves as well as a pioneering hawk watch and a nearby watch site for seabirds,” said Matt Mendenhall, editor of BirdWatching magazine. “And arguably no other place in the Americas is as steeped in the history of ornithology as Cape May is.”

Cape May, New Jersey: Where to Go

Higbee Beach on Delaware Bay is a fall hotspot for warblers and hawks. Nearby Cape May National Wildlife Refuge offers similar variety and has become a home to nesting piping plovers, a threatened shorebird.