Minnesota and North Dakota

The wonders of the breeding season in Minnesota and North Dakota could well be the best kept secret in all of birding—and with our small group size, we plan to keep it that way! June landscapes are as lush as the birds are conspicuous. From boreal forests to aspen parkland and the grasslands and prairie potholes of North Dakota, this trip covers some of the richest breeding locales in all of North America.

We’ve recorded over two dozen species of ducks and half a dozen grebes, often with adorable babies. Seventeen species of sparrows are possible, including many of the most difficult species to detect in all of North America. The subtle songs and muted plumages of Baird’s, Henslow’s, Nelson’s, and LeConte’s Sparrows are always among the highlights. But perhaps more than any other group, it is the wondrous warblers that draw us time and again to the region. We typically record at least twenty-five species, and unlike watching warblers during migration, our views are often leisurely and prolonged: imagine scope views of Golden-winged or Mourning Warbler, and Connecticut and Canada Warblers singing from near your feet! We are also on the southern boundary for nesting Great Gray Owls, and we’ll spend an evening or two driving the quiet roads in search of this enigmatic species. On another evening, we’ll visit an extensive sedge meadow to listen for what is certainly a good candidate for the most enigmatic species in the country: the nearly mythical Yellow Rail. With great luck, we may even see one.  Perhaps best of all, almost the entire tour takes place far from the hustle and bustle of the city, giving us ample time to enjoy the tranquility of the northern forests and prairie potholes and the tremendous birdlife that calls this region home.