Most Sought Species

Most Sought Species

The following directory list specialty birds that are usually "must see" species for birders visiting the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Each species listed has direct links to the possible trail sites where one could find them, and the best time of year to look for each bird.

Least Bittern

Best Time to Visit:

May-October

Possible Sites:

Tricolored Heron

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Buccaneer State Park, Cedar Point Boat Launch, Fountain Bleu Trail, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Lake Mars Pier, Magnolia Birding Pier, McLeod State Park, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Sheppard State Park, Twelve Oaks,

Reddish Egret

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

Swallow-tailed Kite

Best Time to Visit:

April-October

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands

Beach Loops during Migration

Bethel Bike Trail, Boneyard Lake, Charles Deaton Preserve, Bethel Bike Trail, , Logtown, McLeod State Park, Napoleonville, Old River WMA, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Rines Lake, , Ward Bayou WMA

Mississippi Kite

Best Time to Visit:

April-September

Possible Sites:

Clapper Rail

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

Bethel Bike Trail, Boneyard Lake, Charles Deaton Preserve, Escatawpa River Observatory, Flint Creek Water Park, Fountain Bleu Trail, Logtown, McLeod State Park, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR. Napoleonville, Old River WMA, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Rines Lake,

Ward Bayou WMA

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Buccaneer State Park, Cedar Point Boat Launch, Fountain Bleu Trail, Grand Bay NERR, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Lake Mars Pier, Magnolia Birding Pier, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR. Ocean Springs Harbor, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Pointe Park, Shepard State Park, Twelve Oaks,

King Rail

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

Yellow Rail

Best Time to Visit:

November-Early March

Possible Sites:

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Gulf Islands National Seashore

Grand Bay NERR, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR,

Purple Gallinule

Best Time to Visit:

Mid April-Mid September

Possible Sites:

Mississippi Sandhill Crane

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

Boneyard Lake,

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR,

Black-necked Stilt

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

American Oystercatcher

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Grand Bay NERR,

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Clement Pier, Garfield Ladner Pier, Grand Bay NERR, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Gulfport Harbor, Lake Mars Pier, Ocean Springs Harbor,

Wilson's Plover

Best Time to Visit:

April-October

Possible Sites:

Red Knot

Best Time to Visit:

November-April

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Grand Bay NERR,

All Barrier Islands, Coliseum Pier, Grand Bay NERR,

Gulfport Harbor, Ken Comb Pier, Long Beach Harbor,

Pass Christian Harbor,

Least Tern

Best Time to Visit:

April-August

Possible Sites:

Gull-billed Tern

Best Time to Visit:

April-August

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, Buccaneer State Park, Cedar Point Boat Launch, Clement Pier, Clermont Harbor Pier, Coliseum Pier, Garfield Ladner Pier, Logtown Grand Bay NERR, Gulf Islands National Seashore,

Gulfport Harbor, Ken Comb Pier, Lake Mars Pier, Long Beach Harbor, Ocean Springs Harbor, Pass Christian Harbor,

Sandwich Tern

Best Time to Visit:

April-August

Possible Sites:

Black Skimmer

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Beach Park, Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, Buccaneer State Park, Cedar Point Boat Launch, Clement Pier, Clermont Harbor Pier, Coliseum Pier, Garfield Ladner Pier,

Grand Bay NERR, Gulf Islands National Seashore,

Gulfport Harbor, Ken Comb Pier, Lake Mars Pier,

Long Beach Harbor, Ocean Springs Harbor,

Pass Christian Harbor, Pointe Park,

Inca Dove

Best Time to Visit:

Year- Round

Possible Sites:

Chuck-will's-widow

Best Time to Visit:

Vocal Mid April- Mid June

Possible Sites:

RARE

Possible at most sites in Western Harrison county and Hancock county

Bethel Bike Trail, Boneyard Lake, Charles Deaton Preserve, Crosby Arboretum, Escatawpa River Observatory,

Flint Creek Water Park, Grand Bay NERR, Horn Island, Logtown, McLeod State Park, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville, Old River WMA, Rines Lake, Ward Bayou WMA

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

Acadian Flycatcher

Best Time to Visit:

May-August

Possible Sites:

Bethel Bike Trail

Boneyard Lake, Charles Deaton Preserve, McLeod State Park Napoleonville, Old River WMA, Rines Lake, Ward Bayou WMA

Vermilion Flycatcher

Best Time to Visit:

Fall - Winter

Possible Sites:

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

RARE

Ansley

Ansley, Bethel Bike Trail, Buccaneer State Park, Charles Deaton Preserve, Crosby Arboretum, Escatawpa River Observatory, Flint Creek Water Park, Fountain Bleu Trail,

Grand Bay NERR, Gulf Islands National Seashore,, McLeod State Park, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville, Shepard State Park, Ward Bayou WMA

Sedge Wren

Best Time to Visit:

November- March

Possible Sites:

Prothonotary Warbler

Best Time to Visit:

April-August

Possible Sites:

Ansley, Crosby Arboretum, Bethel Bike Trail

Escatawpa River Observatory, Fountain Bleu Trail,

Grand Bay NERR, Logtown,

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville,

Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Shepard State Park,

Boneyard Lake, Charles Deaton Preserve, Escatawpa River Observatory, Flint Creek Water Park, Logtown, McLeod State Park, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville, Old River WMA, Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Rines Lake, Ward Bayou WMA

Swainson's Warbler

Best Time to Visit:

April-August

Possible Sites:

Bachman's Sparrow

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round (vocal April-June

Possible Sites:

Boneyard Lake, Logtown, McLeod State Park, Napoleonville,

Old River WMA, Rines Lake, Ward Bayou WMA

Desoto National Forrest, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR,

Ward Bayou WMA

Henslow's Sparrow

Best Time to Visit:

December-March

Possible Sites:

Le Conte's Sparrow

Best Time to Visit:

November-Early March

Possible Sites:

Crosby Arboretum, Grand Bay NERR, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Ward Bayou WMA

Bethel Bike Trail, Crosby Arboretum, Grand Bay NERR, Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville, Ward Bayou WMA

Nelson's Sparrow

Best Time to Visit:

October-March

Possible Sites:

Seaside Sparrow

Best Time to Visit:

Year-Round

Possible Sites:

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Cedar Point Boat Launch ,

Clermont Harbor Pier Gulf Islands National Seashore, Grand Bay NERR Lake Mars Pier,

All Barrier Islands, Ansley, Gulf Islands National Seashore,

Grand Bay NERR Lake Mars Pier

Painted Bunting

Best Time to Visit:

April-October

Possible Sites:

Shiny Cowbird

Best Time to Visit:

Winter

Possible Sites:

RARE

Ansley, Charles Deaton Preserve, Bethel Bike Trail,

Escatawpa River Observatory, Flint Creek Water Park,

Grand Bay NERR, Logtown, McLeod State Park,

Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, Napoleonville,

Pascagoula River Audubon Center, Rines Lake,

Ward Bayou WMA

Ansley

Bronzed Cowbird

Best Time to Visit:

Winter

Possible Sites:

RARE

Ansley

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Updated: 9/17/2013