Illustration
Illinoisspring migration
When does spring bird migration peak in Illinois?
Spring bird migration usually peaks from February to June.
Checked Sep 30.
Your guide to Illinois
Every place on this page
Plan from a town
Frost dates and what's in season nearby
Each place's usual timing in Illinois
In each source's own words: a usual peak where one is named, otherwise the place's season
- Chautauqua Refuge: Snow geese over the river valley
typically late February to early March
- Emiquon Refuge: Snow geese on the flooded Globes
typically late February to early March
- Meredosia Refuge: Snow geese over the river valley
typically late February to early March
- Chautauqua Refuge: Migrating warblers
April and May
- Emiquon Refuge: Migrating warblers
April and May
- Meredosia Refuge: Migrating warblers
April and May
- Each place's usual timing from its own source: a peak only where the source names one (not a forecast)
Places by state
Illinois
- Chautauqua RefugeStarts in ~5 months
Usually February and June
- Emiquon RefugeStarts in ~5 months
Usually February and June
- Meredosia RefugeStarts in ~5 months
Usually February and June
Official reports
Dated and linked
- Sep 30Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife: late-February snow geese, April-May warblers, summer ibis and shorebirds, October-November ducks with a November migration peakSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chautauqua NWR: Species in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceBluff-top trails and viewing platforms, the October 16 to January 31 waterfowl sanctuary, directions, hours and rulesSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chautauqua NWR: Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife: late-February snow geese, April-May warblers, summer ibis and shorebirds, October-November ducks with a November migration peakSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Emiquon NWR: Species in a new tab)
Show all 6
- Sep 30Park ServiceRoadside viewing of the North and South Globes, the Spoon River access, levee walking in low water, sanctuary closures, directions and restroomsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Emiquon NWR: Visit Us in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife: late-February snow geese, April-May warblers, spring frog chorus, rails and soras, July-September shorebirds, October-November ducks with a November migration peakSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Species in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceEvan's Prairie Nature Trail, the Shearl-Skinner and Kloker units, seasonal access (February 1 to October 15 and the October 16 to January 31 sanctuary), directions and rulesSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Meredosia NWR: Visit Us in a new tab)
Questions people ask
Where can I see spring migration in Illinois?
We track 3 places: Chautauqua Refuge, Emiquon Refuge and Meredosia Refuge.
How do you track spring migration?
Each place moves through 4 stages: Birds arriving, Numbers building, Peak numbers and Birds moving on. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.