From eastern oak woodlands to western pine forests, Nebraska is home to more than 400 species of birds, including more than 200 breeding species. Situated between wintering areas to the south and wintering areas to the north, Nebraska is a critically important stopover and staging area, primarily during spring migration, for millions of waterfowl, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds and half a million sandhill cranes.
Major issues and threats
Habitat loss and change is the most pressing challenge confronting many at-risk bird species. Find out more information about how habitat has changed and what we are doing about it.
Wind and energy development
Birds may be vulnerable to impacts from wind and energy development. Visit the UNL Wind and Wildlife page to find out our role in guiding and informing sensible energy development in Nebraska.
Wild birds, like all wildlife, are susceptible to certain diseases and in some instances these diseases may have implications for people. Avian influenza and West Nile Virus are just two diseases you may have questions about.
Nebraska Bird Library
The Nebraska Bird Library website is devoted to helping Nebraskans and visitors identify and learn about the more than 400 species of birds that can be found in our state.
Nebraska Birding Trails
An online bird-watching guide for the State of Nebraska, this site has information on statewide birding locations as well as pre-planned routes for the best birding opportunities.
eBird has specializes in showing bird sightings with state-of-the-art maps. You can now view global maps for any species or subspecies, refine the data to a specific season or date range, and then drill down to the individual sightings that make up the map.
Project Beak is an interactive, web-based curriculum that contains scientifically accurate information about avian conservation, avian form, function and other adaptations that help birds survive, Nebraska’s unique avian biodiversity, Nebraska’s threatened and endangered birds, plus video clips, interactive games, quizzes and diagrams, additional resources and links, and classroom lesson plans.