Do you see a flash of bright blue or yellow in the trees and get excited to see what kind of colorful feathered friend it may be? If you’re visiting Tennessee and love birds, or you want to discover birdwatching, but don’t know how or where to start, check out the new Guide to Birding in Tennessee. The guide has loads of current information on where and how to enjoy the great diversity of birds that live in, or migrate through, Tennessee. From the majesty of the Great Smoky Mountains in the east, to the one-of-a-kind magic of Reelfoot Lake in the west, this guide will introduce you to many highlights of birding in Tennessee, as well as some important information on conservation efforts, birding events and more.
2026 Birding Festivals in Tennessee
Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival - Birchwood
The Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival is a two-day event in Birchwood, Tennessee Jan. 17-18, 2026. Sandhill cranes are almost hard to believe in their incredible size, beauty and grace. You may be familiar with their far-carrying honking calls as they fly over on migration, but have you ever been enchanted by the sights and sounds of hundreds of them in one place? If not, this festival centered around the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge is a must-visit. It includes numerous speakers and family-friendly entertainment, in addition to the main event of birdwatching the migrating sandhill cranes.
Audubon Christmas Bird Counts - Statewide
Did you know there is an end-of-year birding event you can attend almost anywhere you may find yourself? Founded in 1900, The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is America’s longest running community science project. Observers come together to find and count birds within a specific count circle, and you contribute to 125 years of data on bird populations over time. From Bristol to Memphis, Chattanooga to Reelfoot, Tennessee has more than 35 count circles all over the state which are always looking for participants. Join one while you’re vacationing to volunteer your birding skills to this conservation project.
Hatchie Birdfest - Brownsville
Another event you don’t want to miss is the last weekend in April in Brownsville, Tennessee. The Hatchie Birdfest combines guided birding walks, expert talks, and live music into a widely popular festival in West Tennessee. The event is perfect for beginners and seasoned birders, with programming that caters to all experience levels. The Hatchie River and Wildlife Refuge host more than 200 species of birds during spring migration.
Warner Parks Hummingbird Celebration - Nashville
The Warner Park Nature Center in Nashville hosts the annual Warner Parks Hummingbird Celebration in September, which features live hummingbird banding, kid-friendly fun like face painting, and informative sessions on using native plants to attract hummingbirds to your garden. If you love hummingbirds, you should add this event to your next trip to Music City. Keep an eye out for this year's celebration details on Warner Parks' calendar of events.
Places to Go Birding in Tennessee
Reelfoot Lake - Tiptonville
Heralded as one of America’s great natural wonders, Reelfoot Lake was formed from earthquakes more than 200 years ago - when the ground sank and the Mississippi River literally flowed backwards to fill the basin. Today, it is a unique ecosystem that is home to more than 20 rare bird species like Swainson’s warblers and peregrine falcons, as well as the iconic bald eagle, which you can readily find here. You can stay right on the lake at the Reelfoot Lake Inn outside Tiptonville, in lodges around Samburg, or with plenty of hotel and restaurant options in nearby Union City.
Tennessee River National Wildlife Refuge - New Johnsonville
You’ll find a bird refuge gem for all kinds of bird life where the Duck River Flows into the Tennessee River in West Tennessee. At the Tennessee River National Wildlife Refuge, you can see thousands of ducks and geese in the winter. Indigo buntings, eastern meadowlarks, and yellow warblers are just a few of the colorful species you will see here.
Birding along the Tennessee River
The Tennessee River system is the backdrop for more than two dozen clean power-producing dams. You can visit these and many others which provide flood control and recreation all over the state, plus the river systems are magnets for migrating waterfowl, loons, gulls and raptors in the winter. In summer months, you can find hordes of swallows and other aerial insectivores, wood ducks, great blue herons, ospreys and more. Visit Pickwick Landing State Park, Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga, or Tims Ford State Park in Winchester. You may just add a few birds to your birding life list.
