General
Spring Migration: During March, Nebraska hosts one of the most spectacular examples of migration, the Sandhill Crane, along the Platte River between Grand Island and Lexington. The waterfowl migration is also an exciting natural event, particularly the concentrations of a half million Snow Geese and 100,000 Greater White-fronted Geese in the Rainwater Basins.
Fall Migration: Fall migration begins in July with shorebirds (numbers peak in August). Hawk migration begins in mid-September and continues through October. Warbler migration begins in late August and peaks in early September.
Calendar
The following calendar includes information about bird migration. Data is included for the months of peak migration: March, April, May, September, October, November. Please note that arrival times can be affected by weather patterns.
For the latest sightings and locations by county, please click here
November Bird Migration
The following is a partial list of birds that migrate through our area and good locations to see and hear them. Arrival times can be affected by weather patterns. November brings concentrations of waterfowl and, possibly, some of the rarer gulls.
• Waterfowl: Look for Ross's Goose among large flocks of Snow Geese at DeSoto NWR. The more unusual species of ducks, such as Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Black, Surf and White-winged Scoters. Loons: Common; Red-throated (rare), Pacific (rare). (All month until lakes freeze - Lake Manawa & Carter Lake, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; DeSoto NWR - Missouri Valley IA)
• Bald Eagles: Eagles can be found near concentrations of ducks and geese until lakes freeze. (Lake Manawa & Carter Lake, Iowa; Papio Damsite Lakes - Douglas & Sarpy Counties; DeSoto NWR - Missouri Valley IA; some remain around the Platte and Missouri Rivers all winter.)
• Gulls: Bonaparte's, Ring-billed & Herring Gulls. More unusual: Thayer's, Iceland & California (Great & Lesser Black-backed, Sabine's, or even Ross's Gull are possible). (Lake Manawa & Carter Lake in Iowa are the best places for gulls in the Omaha area, and Branched Oak Lake near Lincoln is also good.)
• Sparrows: American Tree Sparrow and Harris’s Sparrow. (Brushy fencerows and hedges at the edges of fields, parks, and backyards.)
• Winter finches: These species occasionally appear when changes in their food resources lead to migrations further south from their typical northern ranges. Be on the lookout for Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Evening Grosbeak and Pine Grosbeak. This could be the year! Check this season’s Winter Finch Forecast for up-to-date predictions and to learn which tree species and types of birdseed attract these finches.
