Birding spots · Illinois
Best Birding Spots in Union County, Illinois
Larue-Pine Hills National Natural Landmark leads Union County's birding spots with 152 species reported, best in spring. 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larue-Pine Hills National Natural Landmark | 152 | 47 | 137 | 52 | 106 |
| Shawnee National Forest (south) | 86 | 0 | 73 | 35 | 44 |
| Bluff Lake | 84 | 58 | 47 | 9 | 25 |
| Birding spot near Jonesboro (south) | 112 | 64 | 59 | 54 | 16 |
| Birding spot near Jonesboro (Pottsville) | 111 | 62 | 71 | 23 | 27 |
| Birding spot near Jonesboro | 101 | 6 | 63 | 48 | 64 |
| Birding spot near Makanda | 67 | 18 | 54 | 36 | 22 |
| Birding spot near Makanda (north) | 61 | 12 | 44 | 33 | 30 |