Edgar Evins Birding

Great blue heron catching a fish by a blue water body.

large wooden overlook with a sign under it that says Edgar Evins State Park

Birding at Edgar Evins

Over 200 species of birds have been observed at Edgar Evins.

The largely forested 6,500-acre Edgar Evins State Park is located on the shores of Center Hill Lake in the steep, hilly Eastern Highland Rim.

Wildlife is abundant at nearly any time of the year. Visitors may find at least four species of owl: barred owl, eastern screech owl, barn owl, and great horned owl. Bald eagles, as well as many forest songbird species, including wood thrush and eastern wood pewee, can be found in the park.

The cerulean warbler, a summer resident of the park’s mixed hardwood forests, is uncommon across most of Tennessee but a common breeder at this park. The best opportunity for viewing this canopy top species is from the observation tower at the visitor’s center.

Featured Birds

Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Barred Owl
Scarlet Tanager
Summer Tanager
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Thrush
Acadian Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blackpoll Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Carolina Wren
Pileated Woodpecker
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Ovenbird
Pine Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
American Redstart
Carolina Wren
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Pileated Woodpecker
Brown Thrasher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Swamp Sparrow
Great Crested Flycatcher
Wintering Waterfowl
Bald Eagle
Osprey
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Prairie Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
White-eyed Vireo
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Kestrel
Northern Flicker
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Forster's Tern
Caspian Tern
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Belted Kingfisher
Spotted Sandpiper
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lesser Scaup
Chipping Sparrow
Northern Parula
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Acadian Flycatcher

Responsible Birding

Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
Silence is golden.
Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
Take extra care when in a nesting area.
Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
Do not trespass on private property.
Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.

Birding Locations

Explore Edgar Evins birding locations here as well as a few areas outside of the park.   

Visitor Center/Highland Rim Loop Trail

Featured birds: Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Merganser, Kentucky Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler

The observation tower provides views of the park's steep terrain and hardwood forest. The trail winds from the hilltop through the cove forest to the lakeshore. 
Park Road from Visitor Center

Featured birds: Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blackpoll Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The roadside between the visitor center and the marina road intersection runs along a ridge, affording ground to treetop level views of resident and migrant songbirds and occasional raptors, especially during migration. 
Millennium Trail

Featured birds: Vireos, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Ovenbird, Pine Warbler

An old roadbed follows the contour downhill through slope forest to the shoreline. The trail continues through lowland forest and loops below a sandstone ridge. 
Boat Ramps, Courtesy Dock, Peninsula

Featured birds: Wintering Waterfowl, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron

Two boat ramps provide the widest open views of Center Hill Lake, the best places to view waterfowl. A treed peninsula provides perches for songbirds, waders, and raptors. 
Catoosa Wildlife Management Area: Genesis Rd Entrance

Featured birds: White-eyed Vireo, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat

There are approximately 3000 acres of managed oak savanna, hardwood forest, and densely vegetated stream sides, with over 90 species of birds identified. The area provides habitat for uncommon birds on the Cumberland Plateau, including red-headed woodpecker and yellow-breasted chat. Stream sides may yield rare Swainson's warbler and Louisiana waterthrush. 

Birding Trails
Cane Creek Park

Featured birds: American Coot, Blue-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Common Nighthawk, Orchard Oriole

This municipal recreation area consists of open fields, small hardwood lots, and a 56-acre lake, an attraction for wintering and migrating waterfowl. A two-mile paved trail circles the lake, offering close-up viewing of aquatic species. American woodcock may be heard or seen in fields on the north side of the lake in mid-late February. 216 species of birds have been identified. 

About Cookeville
Roaring River Recreation Area

Featured birds: Northern Parula, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher

This compact U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park, situated at the confluence of the Roaring and Cumberland Rivers, contains a boat ramp, gravel walking path, grassy fields, and wooded edges. Thorough birding of all habitats should yield migrants and residents. 

Birding Trails