Illinoiswinter wildlife
When does migrating and wintering wildlife peak in Illinois?
Migrating and wintering wildlife usually peaks from September to March.
Checked Sep 30.
Your guide to Illinois
Plan from a town
Frost dates and what's in season nearby
Each place's usual timing in Illinois
- Two Rivers Refuge
Season: usually begin to arrive in October
- Chautauqua Refuge
Usual peak: Migration typically peaks in November
- Emiquon Refuge
Usual peak: migration typically peaks in November
- Meredosia Refuge
Usual peak: migration typically peaks in November
- Each place's usual timing from its own source: a peak only where the source names one (not a forecast)
Places by state
Illinois
- Two Rivers RefugeStarts soon
Local timing: usually begin to arrive in October
- Chautauqua RefugeStarts in ~5 weeks
Usually: Migration typically peaks in November
- Emiquon RefugeStarts in ~5 weeks
Usually: migration typically peaks in November
- Meredosia RefugeStarts in ~5 weeks
Usually: migration typically peaks in November
Official reports
- 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 8
- 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)
- Sep 30Park ServiceFall migration ducks; bald eagles usually arrive in October and stay until early springSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Two Rivers NWR: Species in a new tab)
- Sep 30Park ServiceDirections and ferries, divisions, fall closures, hours, tipsSource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Two Rivers NWR: Visit Us in a new tab)
Questions people ask
Where can I see winter wildlife in Illinois?
We track 4 places: Chautauqua Refuge, Emiquon Refuge, Meredosia Refuge and Two Rivers Refuge (its season: usually begin to arrive in October).
How do you track winter wildlife?
Each place moves through 4 stages: Birds arriving, Numbers building, Peak numbers and Birds departing. Every stage we show comes from a dated report with its source, and every forecast lists its sources.