Meet 12 “Stopover” Birds to See During Spring and Fall Migration

Spring migration means the return of familiar summertime birds. But that’s not all—look closely and you’ll also find birds that are only passing through.

They’ll stop for a few days to refuel in your backyard or local park, then head on to their summer breeding sites in the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska. For many people, April to May and September to October are the only chance many of us get to see these beautiful birds.

Here’s an introduction to 12 “stopover birds” to keep an eye out for: Blackpoll Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Bay-breasted Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Palm Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Nashville Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Canada Warbler. Which other species do you get to see only as they pass through during migration? Let us know in the comments.