Southeast Alaska boasts more than 350 bird species, including the highest densities of Marbled Murrelets and Bald Eagles in the world. In spring, hundreds of thousands of shorebirds stop to feed in the Southeast on their way to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Tens of thousands of colonial seabirds dot the coast in the summer. Birds found nowhere else, such as Queen Charlotte Goshawks and Prince of Wales Spruce Grouse, inhabit the region’s ancient forests. 

In addition to the vibrant and prolific birdlife, Southeast Alaska is home to rugged mountains, thousands of maritime islands, spectacular glacial fjords, highly productive estuaries, and towering old-growth trees. Throughout the Tongass National Forest, Glacier Bay National Park, and other stellar public lands, visitors find abundant fish and wildlife including five salmon species, black and brown bears, and endemic mammals such as Sitka black-tailed deer and Alexander Archipelago wolves.

This region is an ideal backdrop for a birding trail. What is a birding trail? It is a virtual guide to birding hotspots within a specific geographic region. Explore the pages of this virtual guide and find maps highlighting key places across the archipelago for birdwatching. We'll provide information on the trail sites, including what you can expect to find. Plus, we will give you tips to make your trip safe, easy, and fun. Enjoy the Southeast Alaska Birding Trail!  

Birding Trail Map of Communities (click on community name to learn more).