Welcome to the Essex County Birding Trail!

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About 425 species of birds visit or live in Essex County for all or part of the year. Nearly 130 of these species have nested in the county. The lure for birds of Essex County's varied habitats and unique geography also make the county a premier year-round birding destination for avid birders locally and from across the country. Bird enthusiasts marvel at the majestic flight of eagles, enjoy the flute-like call of a wood thrush, or thrill to the sight of a gannet diving headfirst into the ocean.

The Essex County Birding Trail provides specific information about bird viewing sites throughout the county, valuable to the beginning birdwatcher as well as the experienced "twitcher". Trail sites are owned or managed by municipal, state, federal and conservation organizations and most of the sites offer a variety of other recreation, historic, and cultural opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

The mixing of fresh and salt water along the Merrimack, Ipswich, Essex, Saugus, and other coastal rivers provides excellent salt marsh, dune, and beach habitats for a rich diversity of shorebird life. The exposed rocky headlands of Cape Ann jutting into the Atlantic offer excellent land-based views of sea-going birds. Opportunities abound to observe seabirds (and whales!) on Stellwagen Bank, offshore from Cape Ann, on whale-watch boats from May through October. Inland, Essex County features a mosaic of lakes and ponds, streams and wetlands, and hardwood forests interspersed with pastoral meadows, where a variety of waterfowl, songbirds, and raptors breed and nest.

We encourage you, with your family and friends, to explore the wide variety of birds, places and experiences of Essex County!