
Explore Kansas City’s top birdwatching locations, from lakes and rivers to forests and prairies. Spot bald eagles at Wyandotte County Lake Park, waterfowl at Minor Park, and songbirds at Lakeside Nature Center.
Whether you're a beginner or an avid birder, these scenic spots offer incredible wildlife viewing year-round!
Minor Park, Kansas City, Mo.—
Minor Park is a major birdwatching hotspot! Its Blue River Greenway Trail runs alongside the Blue River and provides an ideal environment for waterfowl, including the trumpeter swan and mallard. The park also has an arboretum, which shelters migrant birds such as the dark-eyed junco and American tree sparrow.
Lakeside Nature Center at Swope Park, Kansas City, Mo.—
This location has a natural area with a bird blind and feeders. It also contains birding trails that wind through multiple habitats, such as forests, wetlands, limestone bluffs and a tall-grass prairie. To get a closer look at your favorite species, visit the nature center’s ambassador birds, which include a bald eagle, great horned owl and peregrine falcon.
Little Blue Trace Park, Jackson County, Mo.—
This expansive park features the Little Blue Trace Trail, which extends from Independence to Kansas City. The trail borders the Little Blue River and travels through various environments, including woods, marshes and open fields. During our visits, we have spotted nesting bald eagles and herons. The park also contains many other species, such as the pileated woodpecker and ring-billed gull.
Black Hoof Park, Lenexa—
This park is home to the beautiful Lake Lenexa. Scenic woods, trails and grasslands encompass the lake, but its most unique feature is its dam. The spillway resembles a stepped fountain pool and provides a picturesque bathing spot for avian visitors. Some species that frequent the park include the wood duck, barred owl and red-tailed hawk.
Wyandotte County Lake Park, Kansas City, Kan.—
The winter is the best time to see bald eagles, and this park is one of Kansas City’s prime viewing places! With its 1,500-acre wooded area and 400-acre lake, Wyandotte County Lake Park provides plenty of space for migrating and nesting eagles. In addition to its eight miles of hiking trails, it features a feeding area where you can spot American goldfinches, flickers, chickadees and more.
Kansas City’s diverse parks and trails offer amazing birdwatching year-round. Grab your binoculars and enjoy spotting eagles, songbirds, and more!