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Birding in Kansas

Kansas lies at the crossroads of the Central Flyway, where millions of Sandhill Cranes and waterfowl pass through the Flint Hills and Cheyenne Bottoms each year.

105
Counties
2,674
Hotspots
992
Parks
234
Trails
Last updated: May 4, 2026
Resident pop.
Rare / 14dTotal obs
0
Rare / 14d
0
Species / 14d
2,674
Hotspots
992
Parks
234
Trails
105
Counties

Overview

Kansas may look flat and featureless from the interstate, but its tallgrass prairies, playas, and great wetlands make it one of the most important states for grassland and migrant birds on the continent. Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR together form the largest interior wetland complex in the U.S., hosting staggering shorebird concentrations. TrailBird is expanding to cover Kansas's birding hotspots with live eBird data, trail maps, and seasonal guides.

Seasonal Birding Guide

Hundreds of thousands of Sandhill Cranes stage along the Arkansas River. Shorebird migration peaks at Cheyenne Bottoms in May.

Greater Prairie-Chickens boom on Flint Hills leks. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are common across the south.

Shorebird migration is spectacular at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira. Sparrow diversity peaks in prairies.

Ferruginous Hawks and Prairie Falcons hunt the western plains. Bald Eagles gather at reservoirs.

Quick Facts

State Bird
Western Meadowlark
Species Recorded
470
Notable Birding Areas
Cheyenne Bottoms WMA, Quivira NWR, Flint Hills, Cimarron National Grassland
View Kansas on eBird →

🚨 Recent Rare Bird Alerts in Kansas

Notable sightings in the last 14 days

No rare alerts in the last 14 days.

🔥 Top Birding Hotspots in Kansas

Ranked by total species recorded

Cheyenne Bottoms WA
318 species
US-KS-009 County
Last observed: 2026-04-30 19:30
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Elkhart Cemetery, Shelterbelt, & WTP
317 species
US-KS-129 County
Last observed: 2026-04-29 19:25
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Tuttle Creek Lake (Riley Co.)
315 species
US-KS-161 County
Last observed: 2026-04-30 08:17
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Quivira NWR (Stafford Co.)
313 species
US-KS-185 County
Last observed: 2026-04-30 12:28
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Perry Lake
304 species
US-KS-087 County
Last observed: 2026-04-29 10:08
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Clinton Lake
302 species
US-KS-045 County
Last observed: 2026-04-29 12:23
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🪶 What's Being Seen in Kansas

Species spotted in the last 14 days

No recent species data available yet.

📍 Most Active Hotspots This Week

Where birders are reporting right now

Rice Woods
142 species
US-KS-045 County
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Hillsdale Lake
281 species
US-KS-121 County
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Hillsdale WA--Antioch Marsh (south)
233 species
US-KS-121 County
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John Redmond Res.
256 species
US-KS-031 County
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John Redmond Res.--Dam & Outlet Park
201 species
US-KS-031 County
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Cedar Creek--W 127th St.
165 species
US-KS-091 County
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🥾 Trails Near the Action

Hiking trails near recent rare sightings

Iron Horse Trail
US-KS-015 County
Iron Horse Trail
US-KS-049 County
Iron Horse Trail
US-KS-205 County
Flint Hills Trail
US-KS-059 County

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