This refuge is an oasis of wildlife habitat surrounded by agriculture. Bounded on the east side by the unique loess bluffs of eastern Mississippi, this 15,572-acre refuge was named to reflect its location at the base of the bluffs. The refuge was established in 1975 and provides important stop-over and nesting habitat for over 200 species of neotropical migratory birds. The refuge is also known for large numbers of wintering waterfowl, at times exceeding 125,000 birds. Mallards, American wigeon, gadwall, northern shoveler, teal, scaup, and ring-necked ducks traveling through the Mississippi Flyway stop by Hillside National Wildlife Refuge each winter. Breeding populations of wood ducks and hooded mergansers can be found throughout the refuge. Common shorebirds include killdeer, snipe, least and pectoral sandpipers, and greater and lesser yellowlegs. A wading bird rookery provides nesting and roosting habitat for several species of marsh and wading birds including white ibis; great, snowy, and cattle egrets; great blue, little blue, and green-backed herons; and yellow-crowned night herons. Raptors include the red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, and Mississippi kite.

Take Highway 49E approximately 16 miles north of Yazoo City to Thorton, MS. Turn right (east) on Thorton road and travel approximately 4 miles to the refuge. There is no staffed office on Hillside. For maps, please go to: http://hillside.fws.gov/directions.html