Wisconsin Important Bird Areas

Conserving the most important places for birds

Central Northern Highlands

Central North Highlands, photo by Bob Queen

Central North Highlands, photo by Bob Queen

Site Description

On the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, this is an area of pitted outwash plain, ridges, and a high concentration of kettle lakes. It contains large tracts of old hemlock-hardwood forest, extensive conifer wetlands, muskeg, open bog, and numerous lakes. Small patches of old red pine forest, floodplain forest, and upland openings also exist.

 

Ornithological Importance

Breeding here in large numbers are common loon, bald eagle, osprey, yellow-bellied flycatcher, blue-headed vireo, Nashville warbler, Blackburnian warbler, purple finch, red crossbill and white-winged crossbill, among others.

Central Northern Highlands, photo by Thomas Meyer

Central Northern Highlands, photo by Thomas Meyer