IBA Site Information

Saylorville Reservoir
State IBA
Polk County  
Saylorville Reservoir
Directions:  Saylorville Reservoir is located on the Des Moines River about 4 miles north of Interstate 80/35 north of Des Moines. Land on both sides of the reservoir is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and includes several access points on both sides of the lake. County owned Jester Park on the west shore of the northern part of the reservoir also offers good access to some important birding areas. Big Creek State Park and adjacent state wildlife areas provide important upland habitat.
Description:  Saylorville Reservoir is an extremely important stopover area for migrating waterfowl, gulls, terns, American White Pelicans, shorebirds, and other waterbirds. It supports nationally important concentrations of several species as well as smaller concentrations of many other species. The adjacent uplands support a variety of woodland species, both during the nesting season and in migration.
Criteria for this site
Rare or unique habitat
Significant species concentrations
Habitats found in this site
Wetland
Woodland
Riparian
Ownership
County
State
Federal
Iowa Audubon

Birds of Iowa

  • Eastern Kingbird
    © Doug Harr
  • American White Pelican
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Shoveler
    © Doug Harr
  • Ring-billed Gull
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Towhee
    © Doug Harr
  • Tufted Titmouse
    © Doug Harr
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    © Doug Harr
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
    © Doug Harr
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
    © Doug Harr
  • Turkey Vulture
    © Doug Harr
  • Mississippi Kite
    © Doug Harr
  • Hermit Thrush
    © Doug Harr
  • Western Meadowlark
    © Doug Harr
  • Gray Partridge
    © Doug Harr
  • American Goldfinch
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Cardinal
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Bluebird
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Yellowthroat
    © Doug Harr
  • Downy Woodpecker
    © Doug Harr
  • Ring-necked Pheasant
    © Doug Harr
  • Belted Kingfisher
    © Doug Harr
  • Black-billed Magpie
    © Doug Harr
  • Lesser Scaup
    © Doug Harr
  • Red-eyed Vireo
    © Doug Harr
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    © Doug Harr
  • Sora
    © Doug Harr
  • American Bittern
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue-winged Teal
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern Pintail
    © Doug Harr
  • Winter Wren
    © Doug Harr
  • Pine Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Nighthawk
    © Doug Harr
  • Fox Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • American Redstart
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Dickcissel
    © Doug Harr
  • Blue Jay
    © Doug Harr
  • Northern House Wren
    © Doug Harr
  • Mourning Dove
    © Doug Harr
  • Scarlet Tanager
    © Doug Harr
  • Least Sandpiper
    © Doug Harr
  • Indigo Bunting
    © Doug Harr
  • Pied-billed Grebe
    © Doug Harr
  • Trumpeter Swan
    © Doug Harr
  • Lark Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • House Finch
    © Doug Harr
  • Lesser Yellowlegs
    © Doug Harr
  • Song Sparrow
    © Doug Harr
  • Pine Siskin
    © Doug Harr
  • Barred Owl
    © Doug Harr
  • Tree Swallow
    © Doug Harr
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
    © Doug Harr
  • Common Gallinule
    © Doug Harr
  • Merlin
    © Doug Harr
  • Great Blue Heron
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird
    © Doug Harr
  • Broad-winged Hawk
    © Doug Harr
  • Yellow-breasted Chat
    © Doug Harr
  • Prairie Warbler
    © Doug Harr
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee
    © Doug Harr
  • Cedar Waxwing
    © Doug Harr

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