Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular. If you can’t make it to one of our many Eagle Days events (check out the calendar below), browse our best-places list for locations to enjoy eagle-viewing on your own. From late December through early February, watch for eagles perched in large trees along the water’s edge. Get out early in the morning to see the eagles flying and fishing.
Best places for winter eagle viewing
- Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access, east of Bagnell
- Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K, southwest of Columbia
- Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
- Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
- Old Chain of Rocks Bridge south of I-270, off of Riverview Drive, St. Louis
- Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary east of West Alton
- Schell-Osage Conservation Area north of El Dorado Springs
- Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
- Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
- Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner
- Table Rock Lake and Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery southwest of Branson
- Truman Reservoir west of Warsaw
Eagle Days Events
This virtual program will explain the natural history of eagles and introduce students to specialized eagle adaptations with special guests from the World Bird Sanctuary. This program is designed for students in 3rd-8th grade.
Please register directly through the WebEx portal:
https://mdc.webex.com/webappng/sites/mdc/webinar/webinarSeries/register/fce6861c9a604fa3aa52bb9459cfb360
Programs will be the same both days, and will not be recorded.
This virtual program will explain the natural history of eagles and introduce students to specialized eagle adaptations with special guests from the World Bird Sanctuary. This program is designed for students in 3rd-8th grade.
Please register directly through the WebEx portal:
https://mdc.webex.com/webappng/sites/mdc/webinar/webinarSeries/register/fce6861c9a604fa3aa52bb9459cfb360
Programs will be the same both days, and will not be recorded.
We're celebrating the return of bald eagles to Mingo NWR, Duck Creek CA, and Wappapello Lake. This special event includes the indoor live bald eagle shows from our friends at the World Bird Sanctuary. Programs will be held at the Puxico Activity Center (FEMA building) at 9:00AM, 10:30AM, 12:30PM, and a special show at 2:00PM. Opportunities to view bald eagles in the wild, with the assistance of volunteers and spotting scopes, will be available from 8:00AM - 4:00PM at the Visitor Center at Wappapello Lake, 2 locations on Mingo NWR and 1 location at Duck Creek CA during event hours. Mingo Visitors Center will have presentations on the restoration project that took place on the refuge.
All ages are welcome. Participation is FREE! Registration is not required. However, eagle shows have a capacity of 400 people and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
Eagle lovers of all ages are invited to the Audubon Center at Riverlands in West Alton on February 7, 2026. No advance registration is required.
Visitors are welcome to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers, and explore activities related to bald eagles. The World Bird Sanctuary will be providing live Bald Eagle programs and chances to see Bald Eagles up close throughout the day.
Eagle presentations will be held at: 9:15 AM; 10:00 AM; 10:45 AM; 11:30 AM; 12:30 PM; and 1:15 PM. These eagle presentations have a capacity of 150 people and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
Did you know the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles? They are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The colder the weather, the better the chances of seeing them fish, ride ice floes, soar overhead and roost in nearby trees!