Stopover wetlands are important refueling stations for numerous migratory waterbird species,and are ecologically significant in the annual cycle of birds. Recently, stopover wetlands located on flyways were faced with dramatic changes owing to global warming and increasing human activities. Previous studies have suggested that both habitat and environmental factors of these wetlands contributed to the habitat suitability of various species,and the key factors affecting the abundance and diversity of waterbird communities. Therefore, it would be helpful to understand the ecological effects of landscape changes at each stopover by analyzing the diverse habitats and environmental factors that affect various waterbird populations during migration. Furthermore, it would provide theoretical support necessary to formulate effective conservation strategies. In this review, we systematically analyzed how habitat factors such as water body, food resources, habitat configuration, and human disturbance affect the foraging and resting of waterbirds at a local scale. Then, we discussed various environmental contexts, including global warming, land use, and exotic species, that indirectly affect habitat suitability and bird migration at the landscape scale. Finally, on the basis of the coupling effects of various influencing factors that were related to stopover wetlands at different scales,we summarized some shortages based on the research of the present relationships between wetlands and waterbirds, and suggested some priorities for future studies and environmental conservation.