Pocahontas County is a birder’s paradise.  From Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks in our state parks to Wild Turkeys in our mountain vistas, we have some of the most isolated and beautiful birding sites in the state of West Virginia.

Birds are among the easiest wildlife to locate and study because they are relatively easy to find.  Many are colorful or have songs which alert you to where they might be settled on a tree branch. Some travel in large groups, are active during the day and can be studied from a reasonable distance, sometimes even without binoculars.

Bring along with you a good birding book such as “A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America” or “National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds”.   The books have range maps in the back which tell a birder if that bird is found in the area.  This is extremely helpful if you are trying to eliminate similar appearing species.  The Monongahela National Forest has an excellent list of birds and we can provide you with a detailed brochure which identifies what part of the county particular birds can be spotted.    Click for a downloadable Birding Brochure that includes maps and specific trails for birding.  Eight rivers have their source in Pocahontas County, so water fowl is well represented by mallards, Canada Geese, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals, wigeons, as well as egrets, bitterns, and both Blue and Green Herons. 

The Neo-tropical birds migrate to South and Central America for the winter but return in mid-spring.  A few birds such as the Pied-billed Grebe, American Black Duck, and several members of the hawk family, along with Common Snipe and American Woodcock, migrate from the north to Pocahontas County to spend the winter. 

Birders may wish to plan a trip to include the Greenbrier River Trail, Seneca State Forest, the Cranberry Glades, Cranberry Backcountry and the area around the West Fork Trail in the northern part of the county. 

Whether you are looking for an elusive Olive-sided Flycatcher or beginning your discovery into birding, Pocahontas County is an excellent place to discover the unexpected.