Nesting Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Prothonotary Warbler. Additionally, this area serves as a major migration corridor for many passerine and non-passerine species. This site meets the significant species concentration thresholds for all avian categories. Perhaps just as importantly however, is the fact that this site hosts a myriad of migratory songbird species each spring and fall, as well as large breeding populations of numerous songbird species. This site provides critical avian habitat during literally all seasons of the year.

The refuge extends along the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa. There are various access points. The McGregor Unit office is in McGregor.