The Winnebago County Birding Guide is a detailed guide to the best birding spots in this northern Illinois county. Despite having a rather large population and a city of over 150,000 people, Rockford, Winnebago provides over 18,000 acres of protected land to explore.

Winter
Winter brings northern finches, owls, and hardy species that can be encountered on a Christmas Bird Count.

Spring
Spring time is full of migrants and there is hardly a place not full of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, sparrows, and more.

Summer
Summers can be hot but with as the weather heats up, so does the birding. Many fascinating birds nest in the county including Cerulean, Yellow-throated, and Blue-winged Warblers. Henslow’s and Clay-colored Sparrows are a good find as well as Bobolinks, Dickcissels, White-eyed and Bell’s Vireos, and many more.

Fall
Autumn holds a lot of beauty as the leaves change and birds make their way back south. Ducks, geese, and raptors are all in good supply.

This guide is a work in progress by The Birdfreak Team, a brother and sister team working to promote birding and bird conservation.

Who We Are

Jennifer Outcalt
Full-time Geography major at Northern Illinois University, Jennifer is working towards a degree that will ensure she can fulfill her goals at habitat restoration and conservation. She is an avid birder, blogger, and mother of one son, a growing young naturalist, Dakota.

Eddie Callaway
Eddie works full time in the marketing department of a privately owned company that specializes in machine safeguarding. His goals are to promote birding and bird conservation through marketing and is an avid photographer and of course, birder.

We would love to hear from you! Please contact us.