Birding spots · Illinois
Best Birding Spots in Alexander County, Illinois
Horseshoe Lake leads Alexander County's birding spots with 125 species reported, best in spring. 7 spots in the county have enough data to rank.
Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.
| Spot | Species | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horseshoe Lake | 125 | 53 | 83 | 47 | 38 |
| Middle Mississippi Purchase Unit (Horse Creek) | 112 | 44 | 77 | 58 | 13 |
| Cape Bend State Fish and Wildlife Area | 109 | 37 | 67 | 61 | 18 |
| Horseshoe Lake (southwest) | 92 | 45 | 57 | 42 | 20 |
| Fort Defiance Park | 91 | 25 | 66 | 44 | 26 |
| Birding spot near East Cape Girardeau | 143 | 39 | 91 | 99 | 84 |
| Birding spot near Olive Branch | 86 | 3 | 52 | 50 | 0 |