Seven of the recorded species are now extinct or extirpated from their range in Arkansas. In addition to the bald eagles, winter brings to Arkansas a variety of other raptors, interesting sparrows and an assortment of loons, grebes, ducks, geese and gulls. Major concentrations of waterfowl occur in eastern Arkansas, which lies along the Mississippi River Flyway. That s when the majority of the 36 wood warblers recorded in the state are likely to be present, along with grosbeaks, tanagers, orioles, thrushes and buntings. Migrating northward through the state in early spring are shorebirds, particularly sandpipers and plovers, which can be seen in muddy fields along roadsides and in drained ponds at state fish hatcheries.
Shorebirds also migrate southward through Arkansas each fall.
Summer brings the opportunity to seek out the state s breeding birds, including the rare red-cockaded woodpecker. Additional breeders of interest are the colorful painted bunting, the hooded merganser and heron and egret species. Arkansas has available for birding enthusiasts vast amounts of public lands with generally open access, including the Ouachita, Ozark and St. Francis National Forests and numerous state wildlife management areas. Arkansans and state visitors seeking somewhat more targeted birding opportunities can avail themselves of such sites as state parks, national wildlife refuges, National Park Service lands and state fish hatcheries. In addition to popular eagle-watching events held each winter, various Arkansas state parks host other events of interest to birders during the remaining seasons.