Birds of Indiana with Kids: A Nature Explorer Guide (+ Free Map)

Indiana is a wonderful birding state, where the Lake Michigan shoreline, restored prairies, wetlands, and hardwood forests create habitat for an amazing variety of birds. At Jasper-Pulaski, tens of thousands of sandhill cranes gather each fall in one of the great wildlife spectacles of the Midwest, their bugling calls carrying for miles. Along the Indiana Dunes, migration funnels warblers and songbirds down the lakeshore each spring. And in backyards across the state, brilliant Northern Cardinals — the state bird — chatty chickadees, and Blue Jays brighten every season.

This guide maps the best spots to find birds in Indiana with kids. Give your young explorer a mission before you go with Nature Explorer Club's Birds of Indiana Activity Book to track every bird your family discovers.

Best Spots for Birding in Indiana

We mapped the best birding locations in Indiana so you can plan your adventure before you go.

1. Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area — Famous for its spectacular fall gathering of tens of thousands of sandhill cranes — one of the great wildlife spectacles in the Midwest.
2. Indiana Dunes National Park — A stunning stretch of Lake Michigan dunes, beaches, and woods that concentrates migrating songbirds and shorebirds.
3. Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area — A vast restored wetland that draws enormous numbers of waterfowl, cranes, herons, and shorebirds.
4. Kankakee Sands, Morocco — A restored prairie and wetland where bison graze and grassland birds like meadowlarks and harriers thrive.
5. Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis — One of the largest city parks in the country, with a reservoir and woods excellent for warblers, waterfowl, and eagles.
6. Fort Harrison State Park — A wooded park near Indianapolis with easy trails good for woodpeckers and woodland songbirds.
7. Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve, Fort Wayne — A large restored wetland alive with herons, waterfowl, and marsh birds.
8. Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary — An Audubon sanctuary of woods and meadows, wonderful for family birding walks.
9. Celery Bog Nature Area, West Lafayette — A wetland and woodland preserve with a boardwalk, great for waterfowl and songbirds.
10. Watson Road Bird Preserve — A preserve managed for birds, with varied habitat drawing a nice mix of species.

Make the Adventure Real The Birds of Indiana Activity Book turns your trip into a hands-on mission for ages 7–12 — with a species tracker, fun facts, drawing pages, games, and puzzles. Shop the Book Get the Full IN Set

Family Tips for Birding in Indiana

• See the sandhill cranes at Jasper-Pulaski in fall. From October through November, tens of thousands of cranes gather — go at dawn or dusk from the viewing platform for the most spectacular show.
• Bird the Indiana Dunes in spring. Migrating warblers funnel along the Lake Michigan shore, and the beaches and woods make for a fun, varied family day.
• Visit Kankakee Sands to see bison and birds. The restored prairie has both — a memorable combination for kids.
• Bring binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app. Binoculars bring distant cranes and marsh birds into focus, and the free Merlin app names birds from photos and songs in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions: Birds of Indiana with Kids

What is the state bird of Indiana?

The Northern Cardinal is Indiana's state bird — the brilliant red songbird with a crest and orange beak that's a favorite at feeders year-round. Males are vivid red while females are warm tan with red highlights, and pairs often mate for life and sing together. Indiana adopted the cardinal in 1933.

Where is the best place for birding in Indiana with kids?

Jasper-Pulaski is spectacular in fall for its sandhill crane gathering. The Indiana Dunes National Park is wonderful for spring migration and a fun family day, and Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis is a great, easy urban option.

When is the best time for birding in Indiana?

Fall (October–November) is the peak for the sandhill crane spectacle at Jasper-Pulaski. Spring migration brings warblers and songbirds to the Indiana Dunes. Summer fills the prairies and wetlands with nesting birds, and winter brings waterfowl and eagles. Backyard birds are present all year.

Why do so many sandhill cranes gather in Indiana?

Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area sits right along the sandhill cranes' migration route, and its marshes provide a safe place to roost while nearby fields offer food. Each fall tens of thousands of cranes stop here to rest before continuing south — their loud, rattling bugle calls can be heard from miles away.

What makes Indiana birding special?

Indiana combines Lake Michigan shoreline, restored tallgrass prairie, vast wetlands, and hardwood forest, so families can see a crane spectacle, migrating warblers, grassland birds, and colorful backyard favorites within one state. That variety makes for an unforgettable birding adventure.

Turn Your Indiana Adventure Into a Real Bird Watching Experience

Give your kids a mission before you go. Our Birds of Indiana Activity Book is a nature journal for ages 7 to 12 — with a bird tracker, fun facts about each species, bird category guides, drawing pages, games, and puzzles.

Or get all four Indiana nature books together — the Indiana Nature Explorer Series bundles the Birds, Butterflies, Leaves, and Wildflowers of Indiana activity books.

Also exploring Indiana's nature? Read our family guides to Butterflies of Indiana with Kids, Wildflowers of Indiana with Kids, and Leaves of Indiana with Kids.