Weather is one of the most important factors in finding birds. Storms, wind, temperature, humidity, and air pressure all affect bird behavior—and can discourage even the most devoted birder from leaving the house. That’s often a mistake, especially when the forecast calls for rain.
It’s true: few outdoor activities are enhanced by rain (singing in it being the possible exception). But a birder shouldn’t let a gloomy local forecast keep them from the field.
Why Go Birding in the Rain?
You’re often birding away from home. Don’t rely on your local forecast. Check the weather at your destination. I’ve left in a downpour only to arrive an hour later to fair winds and sunshine.
It rarely rains all day. Rain will keep birds down, but they’re still active on overcast days and between showers. Fog usually lifts. Thunderstorms are often short. Along shorelines and marshes, birds are often active despite the weather.
Bad weather can make for great birding. I often say, “Too nice out—no birds!” When the skies are calm and winds are favorable, migrants tend to keep moving. But a nighttime storm can force them down, grounding them low in search of insects—a perfect setup for a big birding day.
Forecasts aren’t prophecies. A 30% chance of rain means a 70% chance that it won’t rain meaningfully at your location. Don’t write off a day unless it’s truly unsafe to go out.
Field Notes: Mid-May, St. Clair Metropark, MI
I left home in a dark downpour. When I arrived at the park, skies were clearing after a night of storms. Puddles filled the parking lot and the field beyond. As I geared up, I spotted movement in the wet grass. House sparrows, I thought—but a closer look revealed dozens of migrants: warblers, tanagers, buntings, grosbeaks—on the lawn, just yards from sheltering woods.
Why were they there? Were they too exhausted to reach the trees? Chasing low-flying insects? Drying out? I’ll never know. But it was a once-in-a-lifetime fallout—bright migrants strewn across the grass like jewels.
When the Rain Comes
Rain can be annoying—even miserable—but rarely relentless. Here's how to approach birding in wet conditions:
Chance of showers: Go birding. Always.
Light sprinkles: Gear optional. You'll see birds.
Intermittent showers: Gear up. Avoid woods — head to shores, marshes, or plowed fields. Stay near your vehicle.
Downpour or thunderstorm: Seek shelter. Wait it out. Consider car birding (see below).
Hurricane: Before or after? Maybe. During? No. Big storms can bring rare birds — but safety comes first.
Car Birding: A Rainy-Day Ally
If you’re feeling washed out, try birding from your vehicle. It’s dry, mobile, and works well as a blind. It’s often a last resort — but a reliable one.
Safety first. The driver is the safety officer. Passengers do the spotting. Don’t stop or slow down on public roads. No bird is worth an accident or a ticket.
Look for lakes, marshes, beaches, or fields with wide views; overlooks, pull-outs, wildlife drives, or two-tracks; and legal spots to drive slowly or park.
Quick tips:
Use your flashers.
Don’t hang binoculars around your neck while driving.
Keep optics and cameras off the dash.
Mount your scope in the window if possible.
Always check your rear-view mirror.
Respect private property.
Ring-Necked Pheasant. (Taken from the passenger seat of a car.) Robert J. Huffman. Field Mark Publications.
Field Notes: Late April, Magee Marsh, OH
Storms loomed. We left rain gear in the car. A mistake. A short hike in, the wind picked up and we saw the rain approaching from the west. We began to hustle back. With the wind ahead of the storm gusting at 30 mph, we could smell rain and hear thunder — birding seemed over.
Then, a sudden commotion: large black birds racing eastward overhead, just above the treetops, wings pumping hard despite the tailwind.
Thirteen eagles. Not soaring. Not gliding. Flying in a tight, chaotic flock — a squadron. They were running the storm.
Getting soaked was worth it. We followed their lead and ran for shelter.
Checklist: Birding in Wet Weather
Even if the forecast looks fine, prep for surprises. Here’s your minimum kit:
Water-resistant outerwear: hat, jacket, pants, boots.
Non-cotton layers. Cotton chills and stays wet.
Extra socks.
Lens and gear protection: covers or bags.
Umbrella — clumsy but useful.
Towel for optics and hands.
Handkerchief.
Pack it in, wear it, or stash it in the car. You can always shed layers.
"Weather" or Not, Here I Come
Rain might ruin your picnic — but it doesn’t have to ruin your bird list. The next time clouds roll in, don’t cancel your plans — prepare. You might just stumble into one of the best birding days of your life.
Pectoral Sandpiper in the rain. Robert J. Huffman. Field Mark Publications.
Field Note Continued — Howard Marsh Metropark, OH
Later that afternoon. It was still raining hard. We were on our way home but pulled into the parking lot to scan the marsh without intending to leave the car. Through the spotted windshield and slapping wipers, a black blotch loomed in the distance. With wind gusting and rain pouring sideways we needed a plan. We pointed the vehicle into the wind and went around back to get our gear, relatively dry so far.
With jackets zipped and umbrellas nearly horizontal, we stepped into the storm and walked to the crest of the dike. (This is when you remember that birding in a downpour for any length of time is no fun.) The sight of two of us setting up a scope while holding umbrellas against the driving rain must have looked foolish, but no one else was out there.
Looking through rain at 300 yards in a scope is like looking through fog at dusk. After a minute or two, before discomfort forced a retreat, we confirmed the blotch was a Common Gallinule. It turned out to be our 85th species that day. Worth it, after all.
Sometimes, the reward for being out in weather is more than bird finding. Robert J. Huffman. Field Mark Publications.