Birding & Wildlife
A Naturalist’s Dream at Pine Terrace Resort
Pine Terrace Resort is a haven for birdwatchers. With nearly two miles of trails and a natural shoreline, you’ll have endless opportunities to spot eagles, loons, herons, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, and dozens of migratory species. The haunting call of the loon at dawn and dusk is a highlight of every guest’s stay.
Nearby, the Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area offers 110 acres of forest, lakes, and wetlands with guided nature walks led by a retired biology teacher—an experience our guests rave about.
The National Loon Center
A New Must-Visit for Nature Lovers
Just minutes from the resort—right in Crosslake—is the soon-to-open National Loon Center, a world-class facility dedicated to loon conservation, education, and habitat research:
- Construction has officially begun, with a public groundbreaking held June 2025. The new, three-level, 15,000 sq ft center is slated to open in fall 2026
- The Center will offer immersive, hands-on exhibits, accessible boardwalks with outdoor interpretive displays, shoreline restoration projects, and a zero-energy sustainable design
- Currently, visitors can explore The Nest, the Center’s temporary visitor hub in Crosslake’s Town Square. It hosts educational displays, programming, and “Loon Pontoon Tours” aboard the StewardShip, offering guided tours of Cross Lake for live loon observation and learning
** Insiders’ tip:** The pontoon tours operate May–September on Fridays and Saturdays and include life jackets, binoculars, and expert naturalist guidance—perfect for families or serious birdwatchers
Birding at the Resort
Pine Terrace Resort sits within a rich migratory and nesting corridor where guests regularly spot a variety of feathered friends—sometimes right from their cabin deck or lawn chair!
Comprehensive Bird List
Names with an asterisk were spotted on resort trails; others have been seen on resort grounds.
- American Goldfinch
- American Redstart*
- American Robin
- Bald Eagle
- Baltimore Oriole
- Barred Owl
- Belted Kingfisher
- Black and White Warbler*
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Blue Jay
- Broad-Wing Hawk
- Canada Goose
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chestnut-sided Warbler*
- Chimney Swift
- Chipping Sparrow
- Common Grackle
- Common Loon
- Common Merganser
- Common Redpoll
- Common Yellowthroat*
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Bluebird
- Eastern Phoebe
- Golden-winged Warbler*
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Green Heron
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Hooded Merganser
- House Finch
- Indigo Bunting
- Least Flycatcher*
- Mallard
- Mourning Dove
- Nashville Warbler*
- Northern Cardinal
- Northern Flicker
- Osprey
- Ovenbird*
- Pine Siskin
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Purple Finch
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-eyed Vireo*
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Ring-billed Gull
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Rufous-sided Towhee
- Sandhill Crane
- Scarlet Tanager
- Song Sparrow
- Trumpeter Swan
- Turkey Vulture
- Warbling Vireo*
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Wild Turkey
- Wood Duck
- Wood Thrush
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Yellow Warbler*
- Yellow-throated Vireo*
Nearby:
Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area
Just a short drive from Pine Terrace, the Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area spans 110 acres of forest, wetlands, meadows, and two small lakes—habitats rich with deer, turtles, grouse, blue herons, hawks, butterflies, and, of course, a wide variety of birds. Weekly guided tours, led by a retired biology teacher, are an absolute guest favorite—be sure to ask us for the schedule!
Stay Current with Birding Reports
For the most up-to-date birding news and recent sightings, check the Whitefish Area Lodging Association’s weekly birding reports, available March through November. It’s a great way to anticipate what you might see during your stay.
Plan Your Stay Today
It’s the perfect place for your family reunion, fishing resort vacation, or just a quiet Minnesota getaway with your family in your secluded cabin.