A hawk of the Black Hills

Bird Watching in the Black Hills

people with binoculars looking at birds in South DakotaWith more than 200 species of birds common to the Black Hills and Badlands, birders can glimpse birds native to western plains and mountains. The Black Hills is also home to more than 20 rare or endangered species, and it is a meeting ground for many eastern and western species.

Some of the best places to enjoy birding are in the national and state parks, such as Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis, Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs, Custer State Park, the Badlands, or Spearfish Canyon. A bird watching guide for South Dakota State Parks and Recreation Areas is available and can be picked up at many of the state parks.

Western South Dakota is a good place to spot some of the great raptors: bald eagles, golden eagles, turkey vultures, prairie falcons, and many types of hawks and owls. You may want to keep a checklist of your bird spottings.

A red winged black bird of the Black Hills of South DakotaVisiting birders seem to take special delight in finding our local mountain bluebirds, blackbilled magpies, fearless little nuthatches, busy water ouzels, flamboyant Western tanagers, or impudent jays.

Because this country is semi-arid, we don’t have a lot of waterfowl. An exception is Rapid City’s Canyon Lake, where more than 30 species of waterfowl have been observed. From wild turkeys to tiny wrens, the changing seasons bring new species of visiting and resident birds.

The South Dakota Ornithologists' Union is dedicated to increasing knowledge about bird life in South Dakota by publishing a quarterly journal and several books.





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