Birding in Delaware
Tiny Delaware punches well above its weight in birding, with Bombay Hook and the Delaware Bay shorebird spectacle drawing visitors from around the world.
Overview
Delaware's position along the Atlantic Flyway and its extensive tidal marshes make it one of the best small states for birding in America. The Delaware Bay horseshoe crab spawn each May draws hundreds of thousands of Red Knots and other shorebirds in one of nature's great wildlife spectacles. Bombay Hook NWR is a premier mid-Atlantic birding site. TrailBird is expanding to cover Delaware's birding hotspots with live eBird data, trail maps, and seasonal guides.
Seasonal Birding Guide
The horseshoe crab spawn in late May brings massive shorebird concentrations to Delaware Bay beaches.
Saltmarsh Sparrows and Seaside Sparrows breed in coastal marshes. Black-necked Stilts nest at impoundments.
Hawk migration is visible along the coast. Waterfowl numbers build at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook by November.
Snow Geese by the tens of thousands fill Bombay Hook. Sea ducks and loons gather offshore.
Quick Facts
🚨 Recent Rare Bird Alerts in Delaware
Notable sightings in the last 14 days
🔥 Top Birding Hotspots in Delaware
Ranked by total species recorded
🪶 What's Being Seen in Delaware
Species spotted in the last 14 days
No recent species data available yet.
📍 Most Active Hotspots This Week
Where birders are reporting right now
🥾 Trails Near the Action
Hiking trails near recent rare sightings