Birds are an important part of a healthy functioning ecosystem. That holds true not only in remote protected forests or restored prairies but in urban and suburban environments as well. Besides being essential, birds are also beautiful and accessible. For many urban residents, enjoying nature often means watching birds.

Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri are located on the Mississippi Flyway – a key migration flyway for millions of birds and hundreds of species. Our lands and waters are especially important to a number of species. For example, in Minnesota, we identified Stewardship Birds like the Golden-winged Warbler. Minnesota's northern forest region encompasses only 12% of the species’ entire breeding range but 42% of its global population. Explore other birds in our region with Audubon's Guide to North American Birds.