Missouri hosts around 350 bird species along its streams and two major rivers and in many different habitat types across the state including prairie, woodland, forest, and wetlands. These diverse habitats and abundant public lands make our state a great place for you to bird. The Missouri Birding Trail helps new and experienced birders find the best birding locations in the state with an interactive map and educational content to learn more about birding, habitats for birds, and how you can help conserve our feathered friends.
So pick a Missouri Birding Trail site and get out there! We’ll help you get started.
Birding resources
Whether you’re new to birding or a pro, the Missouri Birding Trail has something for you.
For new birders
Check out the Birding Tools and Identifying Birds pages for tips and tricks on getting started. Knowing which Bird Habitat you’re in will help you with identification. Look over the Beginner Bird Checklist to start small with some more common birds that are easier to find and identify. MDC’s Enjoying Missouri’s Birds publication also provides an introduction to the birds of the state.
For pros
Check out the Interactive Missouri Birding Trail Map to find a trail site that you’ve never visited before. Or take your love of birds to the next level and through conservation action and trying some of the ideas below.
Birds need our help
Bird populations in the U.S. and Canada are experiencing steep declines. Watching birds is thrilling and fun, but getting involved in conservation is rewarding, and the birds need our help. Here are some ways we can all help birds at any scale.
- Consider planting native plants in a pot in your yard — or think large-scale if you have acreage. Not sure where to go? Missouri’s GrowNative Program has guidance. They even have a suggested native plant list for native birds.
- Prevent bird window strikes by making your windows visible to birds. Window strikes kill more than one billion wild birds per year, and treating windows immediately stops it — so why not?
- Consider buying bird-friendly coffee. What's that? Find out at the Smithsonian — and now there's bird-friendly cocoa, too.
- There are many other ways to help birds. Check out these "7 Simple Actions to Help Birds."