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

Vermont birding starts with a sound rather than a sight. The hermit thrush — the state bird — sings at dusk from deep inside the woods, a clear rising note followed by a spiraling flute-like phrase that many people call the most beautiful song in North America. You will almost always hear it before you see it. Beyond the thrush, Vermont packs a remarkable range into a small state: red-winged blackbirds calling from the cattails along Lake Champlain, hawks riding the ridge lift at Mt. Philo each September, and chickadees and nuthatches working the sugar maples in every dooryard woodlot.

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

Best Spots for Birding in Vermont

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

1. Green Mountain National Forest, Rochester — Vermont's largest block of public forest, with quiet trails full of thrushes, woodpeckers, and warblers.
2. Mt. Philo State Park, Charlotte — A short climb to a wide Champlain Valley overlook — one of the state's best hawk-watching spots in September.
3. Shelburne Farms, Shelburne — Lakeside meadows, woods, and gardens with an easy mix of songbirds and a working farm to explore.
4. Camels Hump State Forest, Huntington — High-country trails where the hermit thrush, Vermont's state bird, sings at dusk.
5. Lake Champlain, Burlington — Vermont's inland sea — scan open water for waterfowl and the cattails for red-winged blackbirds.
6. Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, Swanton — Delta marshes at the top of Lake Champlain, one of the best waterfowl sites in Vermont.
7. Quechee State Park, Quechee — Trails along the rim of Quechee Gorge with a mix of river and forest birds.
8. Hildene, Manchester — Meadows and formal gardens that draw hummingbirds, bluebirds, and finches.
9. Mt. Ascutney State Park, Windsor — Forested slopes and an auto road that lets you bird several elevations in one visit.
10. Townshend State Park, Townshend — A small wooded park along the West River, good for a short family walk.

Make the Adventure Real The Birds of Vermont 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 VT Set

Family Tips for Birding in Vermont

• Go at dawn, and stay for dusk. Songbirds are loudest in the first hours after sunrise, but the hermit thrush sings at twilight. Two short outings beat one long one.
• Learn one song before you go. The hermit thrush and the red-winged blackbird's conk-la-ree are both easy to learn. Once a child can name a bird by ear, every walk turns into a sighting.
• Visit Mt. Philo in September. The ridge creates lift that migrating hawks ride south, and you watch them from above rather than below — a completely different experience for kids.
• Bring kid-sized binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app. Light binoculars a child can actually hold steady, plus the free Merlin app, which identifies birds from a recording of their song.

Frequently Asked Questions: Birds of Vermont with Kids

What is the state bird of Vermont?

The hermit thrush, adopted in 1941. It is a plain brown bird with a spotted breast that stays hidden in the forest understory, but its song — a clear held note followed by a spiraling flute-like phrase — is considered one of the most beautiful of any North American bird. Listen at dawn and dusk.

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

Shelburne Farms is the easiest all-round choice, with flat walking, a working farm, and a good mix of species. Mt. Philo is the standout in September for hawk migration, and Missisquoi is the best for ducks and marsh birds.

When is the best time for birding in Vermont?

Late May and June for nesting songbirds at their loudest. September brings hawk migration along the ridges, and winter feeders make backyard birding easy when the woods go quiet.

Why is Lake Champlain so good for birds?

It sits on a major migration corridor between the Green Mountains and the Adirondacks, so birds moving north and south funnel down the valley. The delta marshes at the northern end add habitat that is rare elsewhere in Vermont.

What makes Vermont birding special?

Elevation in a small space. You can go from lakeshore marsh to northern hardwood forest to near-boreal spruce on a single mountain, and each band holds different birds — so a short drive produces real variety.

Turn Your Vermont Adventure Into a Real Birding Experience

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

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

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