So let’s get this out of the way – I’m NOT a bird expert. Or a birdwatcher.

That’s not to say I don’t like birds. If I see an osprey or a red-tailed hawk, I get pretty excited. In the winter, there may be nothing more beautiful than a red cardinal against a snowy backdrop. And I’m convinced that no feathered friend is cooler than the hummingbird.

But if you were to ask me where to find birds on Cape Cod, I’d probably give you a generic answer – the woods. Or the beach. No real specifics.

So when asked to write about this exact topic, I reached out to someone who could give a much better answer than I could – Bob Prescott, former director of Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

He started with Falmouth (more specific) and quickly mentioned a rarity, a mountain bluebird, which has been spotted over the last month at Crane Wildlife Management Area (even more specific) off Route 151. The sighting was mentioned in the Boston Globe, along with a yellow-billed loon in Provincetown that has brought birders from around the country to Cape Cod.

Falmouth: Duck and Osprey Lovers Unite
According to Prescott, Falmouth represents a great opportunity for birdwatchers to find ducks. “It’s one of the duck hotspots all winter long,” he told me.

They can be found in any number of locations, including Siders Pond, behind Town Hall, as well as Falmouth’s many ponds – Salt Pond, Bournes Pond, Green Pond, Great Pond, Eel Pond and Waquoit Bay. While they are partial to Falmouth, ducks also go daffy for Mill Pond in Marstons Mills.

Not only is Falmouth a duck haven, it’s an osprey lover’s paradise. “The Falmouth area has more ospreys than any other town,” Prescott said. “It’s osprey central.” The impressive birds, which are making their return to Cape Cod, can often be found perched on the easy-to-spot osprey poles located throughout the region.

Crane WMA is another well-known spot in Falmouth for birdwatchers as it is home to quails, pheasants, robins, sparrows, finches and more.

Birds from Chatham to Provincetown
Not only do tourists love the Cape Cod National Seashore, but birds do as well. Check out Fort Hill in Eastham to find piping plovers along the beaches and willets in the salt marshes.

Of course, you’ll want to stop and say hello to Prescott at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary where he and his fellow colleagues will eagerly share tips on what birds of interest are in the area. The sanctuary has a banding station that allows visitors to get an up-close look at birds stopping through. “We’ve caught warblers and other songbirds and had hawks in the net,” Prescott said. “Almost every year we get something we didn’t know was here and were surprised that it was coming through.”

In late May, Prescott said Chatham’s Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge and Nauset Marsh are ideal for those interested in watching the shorebird migration, as long as the winds are favorable.

Heading further east, Truro’s Pilgrim Heights is one of the best places to see migrating hawks, from April to the early part of June.

Finally, Provincetown’s Race Point Beach has a diversity of feathered friends including loons, razorbills and murres. While there, you’ll want to also make sure to keep your eyes on the water as it’s a great place to see whales, including finbacks and right whales.

If you want even more information, visit the Cape Cod Bird Club and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary websites. Both organizations offer bird walks throughout the year that are free and open to the public.