Three visitors, an adult male and two children, using binoculars and looking out from a viewing platform within the DeSoto Visitor Center.

DeSoto National Wildlife refuge offers great birding year round. The visitor center viewing windows provide great birding of waterfowl and bald eagles during the spring, fall and winter season. Bird feeders are stocked daily at the visitor center and provide good “backyard” birding opportunities. The auto tour route, Bob Starr Wildlife Overlook and refuge trails are also great ways to explore the Missouri River floodplain habitat and the tremendous diversity of birds that utilize the refuge habitat.

 ALL waterfowl hunting is PROHIBITED on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.

DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Fall 2023 Bird Count
Date10/04/202310/11/202310/18/202310/25/2311/02/202311/15/202311/22/202311/29/2312/6/202312/13/202312/21/202312/27/202301/03/20241/10/20241/17/2024
MonthOctOctOctOctNovNovNovNovDecDecDecDecJan JanJan
Day41118252152229613212731017
Year202320232023202320232023202320232023202320232023202420242024
Canada Geese3821653451026122212642747402533995995388568851007779751412
Cackling Geese000001301322573232220
Greater White-fronted Geese0030901691961244756154656395064205800220510200
Snow Geese000005115251020410
Trumpeter Swan000000298471251754202135256
Ross' Geese000000000000000
Total Geese382165375111613913243520797568035995510488127211253691931668
Mallard353105072069843210074143481645810175112471313311767877565652930
American Black Duck000000000000000
Gadwall020435750000000002
American Wigeon575800013102848410
Northern Pintail1471050255122030761224511237200276109217320
Green-winged Teal8054010009303440520723453637161610020331286006610150
Blue-winged Teal445180423000000002000
Cinnamon Teal000000000000000
Northern Shoveler01510306935220000000
Wood Duck9620469772436500000000
Red Head000000000000000
Ring-necked Duck00001000003800120
Canvasback000000000000000
Greater Scaup000038000000000
Lesser Scaup000000943650614000
Common Goldeneye000000943650614310
Bufflehead000010000000000
Ruddy duck000002000000000
Hooded Merganser000016396164000000
Common Merganser0000027882971124885600
Red-breasted Merganser000000000000000
Unidentified000000000000000
Total Ducks80823261892439915146166901758821206120602151617009206391561666162932
American Coot45300502010100000120
American Avocet000010011000000
Great Blue Heron401101000000000
Pied-billed Grebe200230000000000
Red-necked Grebe000000000000000
Horned Grebe000021000000000
American White Pelican20815600153000000000
White-faced Ibis000410000000000
Double-crested Cormorant030410000000000
Bonaparte's Gull000080000000000
Franklin's Gull00000117861000000
Ring-billed Gull000000000000000
Greater Yellow Legs000000000000000
Great Egret000100000000000
Wilson's Snipe000051000000000
Eagles - Adults432137696685861
Eagles - Immatures120254131310222600
Golden Eagle000000000010000
Total Eagles552381119221681071261
Total Birds1454254423305580166011996122816310632017331604275073336728167158174601