Missouri Department of Conservation
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Birding is popular because it’s easy to get started, and it offers increasingly greater rewards the more you learn. It’s also an inexpensive hobby—a field guide and pair of binoculars are all you need.

Best Missouri Birding Areas

Browse Missouri's top-ten best conservation areas for birding. More

Bird Behavior

Learning to recognize birds' many behaviors can help you identify and conserve them. More

Bird Habitats

Missouri birds use five general habitats: grasslands, towns and backyards, shrubby areas, forests and wetlands. More

Bird-ID Features

Birds are active and fast, and you often don't have much time to observe individuals. Learn to note key features that will help you identify species later. More

Birding Tools

To enjoy Missouri birding, all you need are binoculars and a good bird-ID field guide. More

Christmas Bird Count

Audubon Society bird clubs throughout the country conduct bird counts around Christmas time. Find a scheduled bird count near you. More

Eagle Days

Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular. Find places to view eagles on your own, or join us at some of the many Eagle Days events scheduled around the state. More

Missouri's Shorebirds

A photo of a black-necked stilt.
With its large areas of mudflats and shallow water, the northwest region is your best bet for seeing shorebirds in Missouri. More

Related Information

  • Birding by Canoe

    A quiet stream is like an aviary for wild birds.

  • Birding on Conservation Areas

    Public land invites both birds and birders.

  • Birds

    More than 390 birds are known to occur in Missouri. Learn which species live here year-round and which visit or pass through annually.

  • Field Guide

    What plant or animal is that? Identify and learn more about Missouri's plants, animals, and mushrooms.

  • Going South

    Missouri’s rain forest connection—our birds in the tropics

External Links

  • Audubon Missouri

    To conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

  • The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Home

    The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Use this site to identify birds by sight and sound, improve bird habitat in your yard and share your bird photos.

  • Partners in Flight

    An international nonprofit organization, Partners in Flight strives to combine, coordinate and increase public and private resources to conserve bird populations in the Western hemisphere.

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MDC's Mission, Vision, Priorities

MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.

We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.

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Serving Nature and You

MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources.
We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature.

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