US Big Year Birding Tours

8 days, 7 nights

September 5-12, 2026

$3450 double occupancy

Experience an action-packed, species-rich week exploring central California at the peak of fall migration! This compact yet highly diverse tour covers everything from the San Francisco Bay marshlands and the striking oceanside cliffs of Santa Cruz to the rugged beauty of Big Sur and the Gabilan Range. We typically average 175 bird species during the week, with a focus on tracking down iconic regional specialties like California Condor, Yellow-billed Magpie, Tricolored Blackbird, Wrentit, and Ridgway’s Rail. The diversity of shorebirds migrating through the area can be spectacular, with 25+ species possible, including many potential rarities! The pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay is world class, often allowing excellent views of Black-footed Albatross, alcids, shearwaters, jaegers, and storm-petrels! In addition to the birds, the potential for other marine life is high! We often see Humpback Whales, Sea Otters, dolphins, and even rarer sightings like Orcas or Blue Whales are possible!

8 days, 7 nights

September 14-21, 2026

$3450 double occupancy

Starting and ending in Seattle, this 7-day birding tour loops the Olympic Peninsula, exploring old-growth rainforests, subalpine meadows, and rugged coastlines to seek out over 140 bird species during fall migration! Pacific Northwest specialties like Harlequin Duck, Sooty Grouse, Black Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden-Plover, Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pacific Wren, American Dipper, Varied Thrush, and Golden-crowned Sparrow will be top targets! This tour also features a world class pelagic seabirding trip out of Westport for Black-footed Albatross, jaegers, South Polar Skua, various alcids, and abundant marine mammals!

7 days, 6 nights

October 4-10, 2026

$3540 double occupancy

Cape May is a world-renowned birding destination where the peninsula's natural funnel creates spectacular bird congregations during fall migration allowing birders to see over 100 species in a single day - many of which are East Coast specialties! Based in one location, you will explore top New Jersey hotspots, take a ferry across the bay to Delaware refuges, and enjoy abundant photo opportunities of southbound migrants.

7 days, 6 nights

November 5-11, 2026

$3650 double occupancy

The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas is a world-class birding destination featuring over 40 species not easily found elsewhere in the United States! These unique subtropical specialties combined with a propensity for vagrant rarities, and South Texas' ideal positioning for congregations of fall migrants and wintering birds makes for very exciting birding! This tour is scheduled so that guests can also attend the annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival for extra opportunities to enjoy their visit to South Texas!

5 days, 4 nights

February 16-20, 2027

$2755 double occupancy

Based out of one hotel, we will explore northern Minnesota in winter for a variety of owls, winter finches, boreal specialties, gulls, and other notable species! 9 owl species have been seen previously including Snowy Owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, and Boreal Owl! A full suite of boreal specialties are possible including Spruce Grouse, Rough-legged Hawk, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, 8 different winter finches including Pine Grosbeak and Redpoll, and other songbirds like Snow Bunting and American Tree Sparrow! Stunning winter landscapes, special wildlife experiences, and Duluth’s cozy vibes fill out a really fun week birding northern Minnesota despite winter’s bitter cold!

5 days, 4 nights

February 21-25, 2027

$2755 double occupancy

Based out of one hotel, we will explore northern Minnesota in winter for a variety of owls, winter finches, boreal specialties, gulls, and other notable species! 9 owl species have been seen previously including Snowy Owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, and Boreal Owl! A full suite of boreal specialties are possible including Spruce Grouse, Rough-legged Hawk, Black-backed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Boreal Chickadee, Bohemian Waxwing, 8 different winter finches including Pine Grosbeak and Redpoll, and other songbirds like Snow Bunting and American Tree Sparrow! Stunning winter landscapes, special wildlife experiences, and Duluth’s cozy vibes fill out a really fun week birding northern Minnesota despite winter’s bitter cold!

4 days/3 nights

April 17-20, 2027

$3500 per person

4-day birding charter aboard the MV Makai for 5-8 birders at the peak of spring migration and seabird nesting season! The Dry Tortugas provide a nesting colony to 80,000 Sooty Terns, 5000 Brown Noddies, 200+ Magnificent Frigatebirds, 10+ Bridled Terns, and 20+ Masked Boobies! Occasionally, rarities like Black Noddy and Red-footed Booby have shown up too! Our charters are scheduled for the peak spring migration of neotropical migrants, with potential for notable fallouts! Cuckoos, nightjars, 20+ shorebird species, many eastern flycatchers, vireos, and thrush species, and over 30 warbler species are possible! The Dry Tortugas are a magnet for rare species, including Caribbean vagrants! Many South Florida specialties are possible as well including Gray Kingbird and Black-whiskered Vireo! Seabirds like Brown Booby, Sargasso Shearwater, jaegers, Northern Gannet, Roseate Tern, and rarities like tropicbirds, storm-petrels, and Black-capped Petrel are possible on the boat trip from Key West to the islands, and back! Flying fish, pelagic dolphin species, sharks, and sea turtles may be seen as well!

4 days/3 nights

April 20-23, 2027

$3500 per person

4-day birding charter aboard the MV Makai for 5-8 birders at the peak of spring migration and seabird nesting season! The Dry Tortugas provide a nesting colony to 80,000 Sooty Terns, 5000 Brown Noddies, 200+ Magnificent Frigatebirds, 10+ Bridled Terns, and 20+ Masked Boobies! Occasionally, rarities like Black Noddy and Red-footed Booby have shown up too! Our charters are scheduled for the peak spring migration of neotropical migrants, with potential for notable fallouts! Cuckoos, nightjars, 20+ shorebird species, many eastern flycatchers, vireos, and thrush species, and over 30 warbler species are possible! The Dry Tortugas are a magnet for rare species, including Caribbean vagrants! Many South Florida specialties are possible as well including Gray Kingbird and Black-whiskered Vireo! Seabirds like Brown Booby, Sargasso Shearwater, jaegers, Northern Gannet, Roseate Tern, and rarities like tropicbirds, storm-petrels, and Black-capped Petrel are possible on the boat trip from Key West to the islands, and back! Flying fish, pelagic dolphin species, sharks, and sea turtles may be seen as well!