Birds of the Valley

The Minnesota River Valley is located in a unique transition zone where east meets west in the middle of the continent. This east - west factor makes the Minnesota River basin an important wildlife area and a prime birding location where eastern woodland species interact with western and prairie species.

In fact, the river floodplain acts as an extension of the eastern forest, which provides an extension of the western limit of the nesting ranges of Scarlet Tanagers, Cerulean Warblers, Prothonotory Warblers, Wood Thrushes, Northern Cardinals, American Woodcocks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks and other species. At the same time, the adjoining grasslands provide habitat for the eastern-most populations of Swainson's Hawks, Upland Sandpipers, Marbled Godwits, American Avocets, Wilson's Phalaropes, Western Kingbirds, and other birds.

The Minnesota River basin is also a north - south meeting place for wintering birds that nest in the Arctic and northern boreal forests, and some neotropical migrants that nest in this region and winters in the American tropics. During winter, such dramatic species as Snowy Owls, Rough-legged Hawks, Snow Buntings and Lapland Longspurs can be found. During spring and summer, colorful songbirds from the neotropics invade the woodlands, including Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, Brown Thrashers, Indigo Buntings and many more. A diversity of birds migrate through this watershed each spring and fall, and many species rely on critical stopover locations here during their phenomenal journeys north and south. (For more information about bird migration in the Minnesota River Valley, click here.)

The importance of the remaining tracts of native habitats is underscored by the fact that this region hosts several of Audubon's WatchList species, birds considered in the balance that may be declining across their range. Such unique birds as Burrowing Owls, Long-billed Curlews, Whooping Cranes, and other species are former residents of the Minnesota River basin, but are no longer found in this watershed. Species such as Red-headed Woodpeckers and even meadowlarks, are becoming rarer in this area of intensive agriculture. The Minnesota River Valley Birding Trail has been designed to provide an increased conservation awareness to this region of Minnesota.

By including important natural habitats in the Birding Trail, we hope to emphasize the need to protect important habitat for populations of rare or declining species, and other species of concern. These "birds in the balance" include such exciting birds as Upland Sandpipers, Wood Thrushes, Loggerhead Shrikes, Cerulean Warblers, Prothonotary Warblers, Boblinks, Henslow's Sparrows, Red-headed Woodpeckers, American Bitterns, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Short-eared Owls, Purple Martins, and Scarlet Tanagers. These birds also happen to be species that birders search for and are considered watch species for biologists and citizen-scientists to monitor. The Birding Trail will also ensure that nesting, feeding, migration stop-over, and wintering habitats are available and secure for birds and birders.

We hope you will join forces with Audubon Minnesota to help protect important natural lands for birds. These lands in turn are the "playing field" for birders and for all nature enthusiasts who live in Minnesota or visit our great state.

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