Missouri is an awesome place to bird! Our state boasts a diverse array of beautiful birds and habitats. The second Missouri Birding Challenge offers new and experienced birders a fun way to meet birding challenges in a variety of different categories. We hope that people new to birdwatching will get outdoors and try it out.
Seasoned birders can explore new birding areas in the state with a bit of competition in the mix. To provide an avenue for all aspiring birders to participate, the challenge offers a variety of categories by age or experience level. Winners in each category will be drawn at random, so everyone has a chance to win one of our birdtastic prizes.
Learn about the Missouri Birding Challenge rules and prizes.
Missouri Birding Challenge webinar series
Between February and April 2026, Missouri bird conservation partners are offering a Missouri Birding Challenge webinar series. The webinars are geared to introduce you to birding and educate you on key issues around birds and bird conservation in our state. If you miss the live webinars, you can still watch them here.
Upcoming 2026 Webinars
Birdwatching: Introduction and Benefits with USFWS Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick
Feb. 11 from 6-7 p.m.
New to birding? No idea where to start? Wondering what all the fuss is about? No problem! Join Sarah to learn about the basics of birding, including how to get started, why birding is so beneficial to our health, why we need birds, why birds need us, and more. Register at short.mdc.mo.gov/o3P
Birding for (and with) Kids with MDC Naturalist Austin Lambert
March 12 from 6-7 p.m.
Birding has a reputation for being a “retirement hobby.” In reality, it’s one of the most kid-friendly, curiosity-fueling, low-cost outdoor activities out there. Children are naturally good birders! They are observant, energetic, and fascinated by small details adults often overlook. Join Austin for this child-friendly presentation that will break down what kids need to get started birding, lay the foundation for basic observation and bird identification skills, and discuss what parents can do to make the experience fun rather than frustrating. Register at short.mdc.mo.gov/o3M
Missouri Birds and Habitats with MDC Ornithologist Kristen Heath-Acre
April 16 from 6-7 p.m.
New to birding or need some new a refresher? Join Kristen for a primer on identification of Missouri’s common birds by sight and sound and their associated habitats. Whether new to birding or experienced, there are always tips and tricks to learn in the world of birds. Register at short.mdc.mo.gov/o3A
Popular birds to look for in Missouri
Dark-eyed junco: Look for this small sparrow-like bird on the ground under your bird feeder in winter. This little bird breeds in the boreal forest and spends the winter in our warmer Missouri temps.
Brown creeper: Listen for the high-pitched “tseet” of this teeny bird in forest foraging on trunks of deciduous trees in winter. Look for movement — its camouflage is on point as it spirals up the trunk!
Belted kingfisher: Check for the rattling call of this fish-eater along streams, rivers, or in wetlands. Females have the rusty red belt, and males do not.
Registration open: April 1, 2026, to April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT
Challenge dates: May 1 to 22, 2026
Deadline to submit Trip Reports: May 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT
If you are drawn for a prize, you will be contacted by June 15, 2026.
The inaugural 2025 Missouri Birding Challenge was a huge success with more than 630 participants forming 441 teams! Between May 1 and 15, these teams logged 160,600 individual birds of more than 300 bird species in 95 Missouri counties.
The challenge hosted 5 categories, and all categories’ teams were entered into drawings for prizes — here are our winners:
Nestling category: Chickadee Chicks, Binocular Bearers, and Little Brown Jobbers
Fledgling category: Ballwin Birds
Backyard Birder category: Tadpoles
Dabbler category: Patrick Warblers
Competitive Coot category: Slightly Hawkward and Nimble-witted Nuthatches
We also give bragging rights to the Chuck-Will’s-Winners team, which logged the most species — a whopping 244 species on 98 separate checklists all across the state!
The Best Team Name winner is awarded to A Nested Development for creativity and fun. Runners up were Fellowship of the Wing, Wingardium Birdiosa, and I’d Like to Speak to the Tanager.