Wisconsin’s Great Lakes shoreline, northern boreal forests, and central farmland support a strong variety of orange-plumaged birds. The state sits on the Mississippi Flyway and has some of the best freshwater marsh habitat in the country at Horicon Marsh.
Orange Birds Found in Wisconsin
| Species | Orange feature | When to see | Habitat |
|---|
| Baltimore Oriole | Bright orange breast, belly, and shoulders | Spring and summer | Forest edges, parks, suburbs |
| Orchard Oriole | Deep rusty-orange underparts (male) | Spring and summer | Open woodlands, orchards |
| Scarlet Tanager | Males bright red (can appear orange) | Spring and summer | Mature deciduous forests |
| American Robin | Orange-red breast | Year-round | Lawns, parks, woodlands |
| Eastern Towhee | Rufous-orange flanks | Year-round | Dense undergrowth, thickets |
| American Redstart | Orange patches on wings and tail (male) | Spring and summer | Moist deciduous woods |
| Blackburnian Warbler | Fiery orange throat (male) | Spring and summer | Coniferous and mixed forests |
| Barn Swallow | Orange-buff underparts | Spring and summer | Open fields, near structures |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Rusty-orange underparts | Year-round | Coniferous and mixed forests |
| Northern Flicker | Orange under wings (yellow-shafted) | Year-round | Open woodlands, suburbs |
| American Kestrel | Rusty-orange back and tail (male) | Year-round | Open country, grasslands |
Best Birding Spots
| Location | Best species |
|---|
| Horicon Marsh NWR | 300+ species, largest freshwater cattail marsh in US |
| Crex Meadows Wildlife Area | Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, songbirds |
| Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | Lake Superior species, migrants |
| Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest | Deep forest birds, warblers, woodpeckers |
| Devil’s Lake State Park | Bluff habitat, raptors, orioles |
Seasonal Guide
| Season | What to expect |
|---|
| Spring | Orioles arrive May, warbler migration peaks |
| Summer | Breeding season, all orange species present |
| Autumn | Sandhill Crane staging at Crex Meadows, hawk migration |
| Winter | Nuthatches, flickers, kestrels, winter finches |
Horicon Marsh is the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, with over 300 bird species recorded. The autumn Sandhill Crane staging at Crex Meadows draws thousands of cranes and is one of Wisconsin’s great wildlife spectacles.
