Minnesota Duck Migration Report 2026

Duck observations in Minnesota usually climb from the week of Oct 12 and reach their fall high around the week of Oct 19; they stay above the halfway mark between their July level and that high through the week of Nov 23. That is from ten years of research grade iNaturalist observations, 2016 to 2025, counted as a share of all bird observations so the growth of the app does not skew it.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources runs the Minnesota Breeding Waterfowl Survey, spring breeding survey, last flown in May 2026 (678,914 ducks, 239,579 mallards). Each count links to the agency's own report.

In Minnesota, blue-winged teal climb first, from around the week of Aug 10, and common goldeneye come last, from around the week of Nov 16. That is the week each species' share of bird observations first passes the halfway mark between its July level and its fall high; the species chart shows all of them week by week.

Minnesota is in the Mississippi Flyway. The continent's busiest duck corridor, following the Mississippi River system. The freeze watch for Minnesota reads forecast lows at the Mississippi Flyway's northern staging areas: Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Green Bay, Alpena, Saginaw Bay.

The 2026 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service breeding survey estimated 33.4 ± 0.6 million birds, 6% below the long-term average of 35.4 ± 0.09 million. That is the fall flight's starting point for every state, Minnesota included.

Season dates, zones and bag limits for Minnesota are set by the state wildlife agency inside the federal frameworks and are listed on the Minnesota waterfowl season page, linked below.