Birding in Tennessee
Tennessee spans from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River, with outstanding warbler diversity and some of the best winter birding in the Southeast.
Overview
Tennessee's east-to-west orientation gives it remarkable habitat diversity, from the high-elevation spruce-fir forests of the Great Smoky Mountains to the cypress swamps and bottomland hardwoods along the Mississippi. The Smokies have the highest breeding warbler diversity in the eastern U.S., while the Reelfoot Lake area in the northwest is famous for wintering Bald Eagles. TrailBird is expanding to cover Tennessee's birding hotspots with live eBird data, trail maps, and seasonal guides.
Seasonal Birding Guide
Warbler migration peaks across the state. The Smokies are alive with breeding songbirds by late April.
High-elevation species like Red Crossbill and Golden-crowned Kinglet breed in the Smokies. Swainson's Warblers nest in lowland forests.
Hawk migration through the ridges. Waterfowl arrive at Tennessee NWR and Reelfoot Lake.
Bald Eagles concentrate at Reelfoot Lake. Ducks and geese fill the western Tennessee refuges.
Quick Facts
🚨 Recent Rare Bird Alerts in Tennessee
Notable sightings in the last 14 days
No rare alerts in the last 14 days.
🔥 Top Birding Hotspots in Tennessee
Ranked by total species recorded
🪶 What's Being Seen in Tennessee
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
No featured trail data available yet.