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

Wyoming birding is about big country and sharp contrasts. The western meadowlark — the state bird — sings from fence posts across the sagebrush, a bright yellow chest with a black V and a rich, tumbling song that carries a surprising distance over open ground. Then the landscape changes completely: Seedskadee's green river-bottom cuts through high desert and pulls in ducks, herons, and sandhill cranes, while Grand Teton's forests hold mountain species. Wyoming is also one of the best places in the country to see large raptors — golden eagles over the plains, ospreys on the rivers, and bald eagles concentrating below the dams in winter.

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

Best Spots for Birding in Wyoming

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

1. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Green River — Green River wetlands cutting through high desert — a magnet for waterfowl, herons, and cranes.
2. Grand Teton National Park, Moose — Sagebrush flats, lakes, and forest beneath the peaks, with ospreys and eagles on the rivers.
3. Lions Park, Cheyenne — An easy city park with ponds and mature trees — a good first birding stop with young kids.
4. Thunder Basin National Grassland, Douglas — Wide-open shortgrass prairie, home turf of the western meadowlark, Wyoming's state bird.
5. Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Laramie — A cluster of shallow prairie lakes that fill with ducks and shorebirds.
6. Vedauwoo Recreation Area, Laramie — Granite outcrops and ponderosa pine between Cheyenne and Laramie.
7. Medicine Bow National Forest, Laramie — Cool spruce-and-pine forest where mountain songbirds nest through the summer.
8. Buffalo Bill State Park, Cody — Reservoir shoreline and sagebrush, good for open-country birds and raptors.
9. Wind River Canyon, Thermopolis — A dramatic river canyon with cliffs, water, and canyon-nesting species.
10. Platte River Wildlife Habitat Management Area — Riverside cottonwoods and grassland drawing a broad mix of species.

Make the Adventure Real The Birds of Wyoming 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 WY Set

Family Tips for Birding in Wyoming

• Go in late May and June. The nesting window on the high plains is short and loud. This is also when meadowlarks sing hardest from the fence posts.
• Learn the meadowlark's song first. It carries a long way over open ground and is the sound of Wyoming. Once a child knows it, every roadside stop becomes a sighting.
• Scan the sky as much as the ground. Wyoming is raptor country — golden eagles, ospreys, and red-tailed hawks. Big, slow birds are easier for young kids than small songbirds.
• Bring binoculars, and expect distance. Birds here are often far off across open country, so binoculars are not optional. The free Merlin Bird ID app helps with songs.

Frequently Asked Questions: Birds of Wyoming with Kids

What is the state bird of Wyoming?

The western meadowlark, adopted in 1927. It has a bright yellow chest crossed by a black V, nests hidden on the ground in grassland, and sings a rich, flute-like tumbling song that carries a long way over open country.

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

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is the standout, where a green river corridor cuts through high desert and concentrates birds dramatically. Grand Teton offers the best mix of scenery and species, and Lions Park in Cheyenne is the easiest first stop.

When is the best time for birding in Wyoming?

Late May and June, when the nesting season peaks and meadowlarks sing all day. Spring and fall bring migration through the river corridors, and winter concentrates eagles below the dams where water stays open.

Are there really that many eagles in Wyoming?

Yes. Wyoming has one of the higher golden eagle densities in the country, favoring open sagebrush and grassland with cliffs and rock outcrops for nesting. Bald eagles concentrate along the rivers and below dams, especially in winter.

What makes Wyoming birding special?

Sagebrush country. Species like the greater sage-grouse and sage thrasher depend on intact sagebrush that has been lost across much of the West, and Wyoming holds some of the best remaining habitat for them.

Turn Your Wyoming Adventure Into a Real Birding Experience

Give your kids a mission before you go. Our Birds of Wyoming 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 Wyoming nature books together — the Wyoming Nature Explorer Series bundles the Birds, Butterflies, Leaves, and Wildflowers of Wyoming activity books.

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