United States
The United States spans an extraordinary range of landscapes, from Arctic tundra and boreal forest in Alaska to subtropical wetlands and tropical islands. The Rocky Mountains, Appalachians and western mountain ranges create strong elevation and climate gradients, while the Great Plains form a vast transition between eastern forests and western drylands. Major river systems, including the Mississippi, connect extensive wetlands and floodplains, while the Pacific and Atlantic coasts provide very different marine environments. Florida has a distinctly subtropical character, whereas the deserts of the Southwest are among the country's most specialised landscapes. Hawaii is geographically separate from the mainland and has an entirely different tropical environment. This combination of continental scale, varied terrain and extensive coastlines makes the United States one of the world's most geographically diverse countries.
Overview
The United States offers an exceptional range of North American birding, from Arctic breeders in Alaska to subtropical species in Florida and endemic island birds in Hawaii. Texas is particularly famous for migration and its mix of eastern, western and Mexican species, while Arizona is renowned for hummingbirds and other southwestern specialties. The Great Plains are important for grassland birds, and the Gulf Coast is a major migration corridor. California combines Pacific seabirds, wetlands, deserts and mountain habitats, while Florida is excellent for waders, shorebirds and subtropical species. Hawaii supports a highly distinctive endemic avifauna, including Hawaiian honeycreepers. The country's extensive road network and huge number of established birding sites make independent travel relatively easy, although Alaska, Hawaii and some remote western areas require substantially more planning and travel time.
Top 10 target species
| Species | Annual frequency | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis | 36.2% | 31.3% | 38.0% | 39.6% | 44.9% | 44.0% | 34.9% | 35.6% | 33.8% | 34.8% | 34.5% | 30.7% | 32.2% |
| Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura | 34.6% | 25.8% | 31.5% | 34.8% | 39.9% | 42.3% | 39.3% | 42.1% | 42.7% | 37.0% | 28.4% | 25.1% | 26.5% |
| American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos | 33.9% | 31.1% | 33.1% | 37.5% | 34.2% | 33.2% | 30.1% | 30.1% | 31.0% | 36.0% | 39.2% | 36.5% | 34.3% |
| American Robin Turdus migratorius | 33.8% | 20.5% | 24.7% | 37.6% | 46.6% | 52.6% | 48.7% | 43.6% | 28.6% | 26.6% | 30.1% | 25.0% | 21.4% |
| Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata | 30.7% | 24.2% | 26.6% | 26.3% | 31.5% | 35.1% | 26.0% | 26.2% | 29.2% | 41.4% | 42.5% | 31.9% | 27.9% |
| House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus | 26.3% | 24.3% | 28.3% | 27.1% | 27.4% | 26.3% | 24.5% | 27.0% | 25.3% | 24.3% | 27.6% | 26.9% | 26.5% |
| Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia | 26.1% | 20.2% | 20.2% | 28.6% | 32.5% | 33.9% | 31.9% | 31.2% | 22.5% | 19.6% | 26.6% | 23.3% | 22.2% |
| American Goldfinch Spinus tristis | 24.4% | 17.8% | 18.9% | 16.0% | 24.9% | 31.7% | 26.0% | 32.0% | 34.5% | 27.6% | 20.4% | 22.2% | 20.7% |
| Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens | 23.9% | 24.0% | 26.1% | 23.8% | 25.4% | 23.1% | 17.2% | 19.5% | 21.0% | 28.4% | 27.6% | 25.0% | 26.3% |
| Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus | 23.2% | 11.0% | 16.8% | 33.3% | 40.8% | 43.2% | 35.2% | 29.0% | 15.2% | 11.3% | 17.9% | 14.3% | 10.5% |