Many parks along the Hudson River, including Fort Tryon and Fort Washington Parks, provide rich habitat for birds and stunning views of the river and New Jersey Palisades. Photo: Eddie Crimmins
Below Inwood Hill Park, the wooded green oasis capping Manhattan’s northern end, a chain of preserved green spaces hugging the island’s western Hudson River shore provide stopovers for migrating birds. From Fort Tryon and Fort Washington Parks all the way down to The Battery at Manhattan’s southern tip, this series of waterside parks also provide excellent vantage points on the Hudson River: waterbirds may be found foraging on the open water and along the shoreline, while raptors soar high above.
A fall-migrating Magnolia Warbler stops through the flower borders of Fort Tryon Park. Photo: Paula Waldron
Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters
Birding Highlights by the Season
(no star = birding is not very productive, ✸ = somewhat productive, ✸✸ = productive, ✸✸✸ = very productive)
Spring Migration ✸✸
Flycatchers, thrushes, kinglets, warblers, tanagers, and other land birds; waterbirds and raptors over the Hudson
Summer ✸
Some breeding songbirds such as Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Baltimore Oriole; Chimney Swifts; occasional flyover waders and other water birds
Fall Migration ✸✸
Raptors; warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds
Winter ✸
Owls; mixed songbird feeding flocks including Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse
nuthatches
Year-Round Highlights
Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon; woodpeckers
"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> Established in 1935 on land donated to the City by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Fort Tryon Park is perched upon a tall formation of Manhattan bedrock—schist and Inwood marble—and enjoys a commanding view of the Hudson River. Designed by the Olmsted brothers, sons of the co-creator of Central Park, the park was beautifully designed with connecting terraces and eight miles of pathways, and includes 500 varieties of trees, shrubs, and plantings including the restored Heather Garden and the Cabrini Woods Nature Sanctuary. The park’s northern section is home to the Cloisters Museum, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. .
The woods, meadows, and gardens of Fort Tryon Park attract a large variety of migrant spring and fall and shelter birds over the winter, and the park’s position provides views of waterbirds and raptors on and over the Hudson River. eBirders have recorded 156 species here; sightings have included 29 kinds of warbler and unusual species such as Wild Turkey, Sandhill Crane, Black-headed Gull, Pileated Woodpecker, one Calliope Hummingbird (spotted here way back in 2001), Eastern Bluebird, and Blue Grosbeak.
"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> The main park entrance at Margaret Corbin Plaza leads to the terraced Heather Garden, which attracts Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during migration. Southwest of the Garden, and past the last remains of the Billings Mansion (which burned down before the park was established), lie the Cabrini Woods, between Cabrini Boulevard and the Henry Hudson Parkway. An excellent canopy / mid-level view of these woods can be had from the slate sidewalk that runs along Cabrini Blvd.
The northern section of these woods is accessible by foot from within Fort Tryon Park. The southern section is not open to the public. These woods host migrating songbirds and woodpeckers. Both Mourning and Hooded warblers have been seen here recently. In late winter and early spring, keep a lookout for American Woodcock, here and elsewhere in the park.
This areaalso includes the Palisades Overlook. Make sure to scan for soaring Bald Eagles, more common in winter but increasingly common year-round, and for waterbirds flying along or resting on the Hudson. During the warmer months, egrets and night-herons may be seen flying over from any point in the park, as they travel from nesting grounds on the East River Harbor Heron islands to foraging grounds in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Common Nighthawks also may be seen.
"}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> A web of connected pathways trace the rest of the park, which alternates between wooded areas and lawns, providing plenty of good “edge habitat” for migrants, as well as for hunting raptors, including year-round Red-tailed Hawk. Accipiters visit during migration and over the winter. This habitat also hosts some breeding land birds such as common woodpecker species, Gray Catbird, Carolina Wren, and Baltimore Oriole. The park’s elevation (the Heather Garden, at 240 ft, is 20 feet higher than the Inwood Hill Park Lookout) and placement make it a good fall raptor migration spot, including a good variety of buteos, vultures, and other birds of prey.
Fort Tryon Park is also a good spot for wintering owls: Barred, Long-eared, and Eastern Screech Owls have all been found here in recent winters. (Please be quiet near roosting owls. Not all owls survive the winter, and added stress may be harmful. Stay as far away as possible using a field telescope or binoculars. (If an owl is staring at you, you are probably too close.) Make all visits short. Do not linger to get better photographs and avoid planted areas. Visit our Birding Law & Ethics page to learn more about how to avoid disturbing owls and other birds.)
See "Birding Highlights by the Season" above; the eBird links below also may be helpful. To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101 page.
For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.
Fort Washington Ave Entrance: Check the Fort Tyron Park Trust directions page for updates on park access from the 190th Street A station, which has been under construction.
Dyckman Street Entrance: The Dyckman Street A station gives direct access to the Northern park entrance.
Yellow Warblers breed along the Hudson River shore in Fort Washington Park. Photo: Joshua Parrott/Audubon Photography Awards
Fort Washington Park
Birding Highlights by the Season
(no star = birding is not very productive, ✸ = somewhat productive, ✸✸ = productive, ✸✸✸ = very productive)
Spring Migration ✸✸
Flycatchers, thrushes, kinglets, warblers, tanagers, and other land birds; waterbirds and raptors over the Hudson
Summer ✸
Some breeding land birds including common woodpeckers, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Barn and Tree Swallow, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole. Common gulls, dabbling waterfowl, Double-crested Cormorant
Fall Migration ✸✸
Waterbirds; raptors; warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds.
Winter ✸
Possible diving waterfowl such as scaup, scoters, and loons; Bald Eagles on the Hudson River; accipiters; mixed songbird feeding flocks, occasional late warblers such as Orange-crowned
Year-Round Highlights
Bald Eagle; Red-tailed Hawk and Peregrine Falcon; gulls, common dabbling waterfowl
Stretching from right below Inwood Hill park at the Dyckman Street Boat Marina all the way to 155th Street, 160-acre Fort Washington Park provides good perspectives on waterbirds and raptors (including Bald Eagles) on the Hudson River, as well as stopover areas for migrating land birds and breeding habitat for several songbird species. The park is divided in two parts by the George Washington Bridge and hosts the fabled Little Red Lighthouse at the bridge’s base. (The park’s namesake, Fort Washington, was the site of the Battle of Fort Washington during the Revolutionary War; the fort’s foundation, however, is actually located in nearby Bennett Park, the highest point in Manhattan).
eBirders have recorded over 135 species in Fort Washington park, including fly-over migrating raptors such as Red-shouldered Hawk and other buteos, accipiters, and vultures, as well as flocks of migrating waterfowl, including Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal. The waterside trails attract good numbers of migrating warblers, vireos, and other land birds, and the area is one of the few in Manhattan with nesting Yellow Warbler and Orchard Oriole.
At the end of Dyckman Streeet, just south of Inwood Hill Park, is one of the best Bald Eagle-spotting locations in New York City: Particularly in colder winters, Bald Eagles may be seen on ice floes on the Hudson River from the old ferry pier here, and have become more common year round. Also check for wintering waterfowl such as Red-breasted Merganser, scaup, grebes, and loons.
This spot provides a good vantage point on the river and open sky to see migrating birds, particularly on fall days with favorable (north or northwest) winds. Flocks of waterbirds, raptors, and many other land birds can travel through in good numbers. Local birders also know to come here after large storms, which may blow pelagic (deep-sea) birds and other uncommon species our way.
Between Dyckman Street and the George Washington Bridge, the birdiest portion of Fort Washington Park is sandwiched between the Metro North Train Line and the Hudson River. A “loop trail” provides access, reaching about 188th Street before the “loop” turn-around. (There is no public access to the portion of the park between 187th Street and the bridge; the section of the park below the bridge is accessed separately; see below.)
As you start south on the loop trail from Dyckman Street, stop at the canoe/kayak dock and boathouse (used by the Inwood Canoe Club). In the warmer months, both Barn and Tree swallows forage here. The loop trail habitat is also popular with nesting Yellow Warblers, as well as both oriole species and Cedar Waxwings. During spring and fall migration, large aspens and other large trees along the path may attract warblers and other songbirds, and low shrubs and trees also offer views of birds low down and at eye-level.
Another option is to walk a slightly more eastern route, along a section of the Hudson River Greenway that borders the Henry Hudson Parkway. (The greenway is actually between the parkway’s north and southbound lanes, within a wide, forested median strip.) This trail is continuous and leads into the southern section of the park, but in the section north of the bridge, only allows view at canopy and mid-level of the adjacent woods. Red-tailed Hawks have recently nested along this trail. See the “Directions and Visiting Info” section below for more details.
The area south of the George Washington Bridge is under-birded and may hold birding surprises for those who explore it. This is one of the best places to view the Peregrine Falcons that make the bridge their home. The Little Red Lighthouse is located just south of the bridge, and the area under and around the bridge offers expansive views. You can also get right to the river’s rocky edge here; during migration, look for shorebirds such as Spotted Sandpiper, and in the colder months, wintering waterfowl such as Red-breasted Merganser.
Further south, several sports fields that lie along the river between 167th and 164th Street may provide stopover for migrating grassland birds; the soccer field here is fenced (and locked when not in use), providing a protected area for ground-foragers.
Just inland of Fort Washington Park (and across from an entrance to the park at 155th Street) lies Trinity Cemetery. The grave of John James Audubon is here; the cemetery is located on the site of Audubon’s former estate. During migration, you may find migrant songbirds and flycatchers here, as well.
The surrounding Washington Heights neighborhood is also the canvas for the Audubon Mural Project, a public art initiative of the National Audubon Society, in partnership with the Harlem-based Gitler & _____ Gallery. Learn more about the project, and about NYC Bird Alliance-led tours.
See "Birding Highlights by the Season" above; the eBird links below also may be helpful. To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101 page.
For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.
While Fort Washington Park is well frequented, some areas are remote and/or out of public view, and birding with a companion is recommended. Be mindful of joggers and cyclists using the Hudson River Greenway and other trails.
Northern “Loop Trail”: View Google maps to the Dyckman Marina; you can access the “loop trail” here to explore the northern section of Fort Washington Park.
Southern Section: There are several additional ways to access the Hudson River Greenway in the southern section of the Park. Just north of 180th Street, a footbridge crosses the Henry Hudson Parkway. A second footbridge is at 155th Street (across from Trinity Church Cemetery), while the new Denny Farrell Greenway Bridge crosses at 151st Street.
A surprising variety of species have been documented in green spaces along Hudson River Park, including over two dozen warbler species such as the Chestnut-sided Warbler. Photo: François Portmann
Hudson River Park/Hudson River Greenway
Birding Highlights by the Season
(no star = birding is not very productive, ✸ = somewhat productive, ✸✸ = productive, ✸✸✸ = very productive)
Spring Migration ✸
Warblers, vireos, tanagers, other land birds; some waterbirds
Summer
Gulls and common waterbirds; a few breeding species such as Barn Swallow, American Robin, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird
Fall Migration ✸✸
Waterbirds; raptors; flycatchers, warblers, thrushes, sparrows and other land birds
Winter ✸✸
Possible diving ducks, loons, wintering gulls
Year-Round Highlights
Peregrine Falcon, American Kestrel, Double-crested Cormorant, gulls
Stretching all the way from 59th Street to Battery Park City along Manhattan’s western Hudson River shore, Hudson River Park is a city-state collaboration that has revitalized the island’s waterfront over the last few decades. The 4.5-mile-long park came to be after the 1985 cancellation of the Westway project, a long-disputed plan for a massive new highway opposed by NYC Bird Alliance activists. (The project, which would have involved massive filling along the Hudson River shore to support the new highway, was finally cancelled in large part because of a court ruling to protect habitat for Striped Bass.)
The new Hudson River Park, built alongside a renovated West Side Highway, has provided access to the river for communities along its length, and includes many recreational facilities. Though in many parts the park is quite narrow, in several spots wider green spaces, including planted piers, have created upland habitat visited by migrating birds. Local birders who watch their “patches” have found a surprising variety of species in these small green spaces, particularly after heavy migrations.
Several larger green spaces along Hudson River Park are particularly attractive to birds migrating along the Hudson. Clinton Cove (54th-59th Streets) is a tapered, ovular greensward with trees that occasionally attracts a surprising variety of species during spring and fall migration; over 100 species have been documented here and sightings have included Seaside Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, and 17 warbler species.
Raptors and waterfowl may also be seen on the river or flying along it from this spot. Good numbers of waterfowl are sometimes seen in the winter, finding shelter in the quieter water among the piers. Sightings have included Bufflehead, American Coot, both Red-breasted and Common Mergansers, Red-throated Loon, and Canvasback.
The Hudson River Greenway from 22nd to 29th Streets provides another green refuge for migrating birds, as well as good vantage points to view birds on the river. This area includes the refurbished Piers 62, 63, and 64, all of which included green spaces with trees, as well as the Habitat Garden at Hudson River Park (26th-29th Streets), planted with native tree, shrub, and flower species for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Over 140 species have been seen here by eBirders, including 24 warbler species and rarities including Eurasian Collared Dove, Glaucous Gull, Dickcissel, and Clay-colored Sparrow. This is a good fall spot for migrating sparrows, including Swamp, Lincoln’s, and White-crowned.
From Houston Street to Chambers Street, the southernmost section of Hudson River Park includes a mosaic of lawns and planted beds of trees and shrubs, a wood boardwalk that winds through a landscape of native grasses and Eastern Red Cedar trees, and several piers stretching into the Hudson. Pier 26, several block north of Chambers Street, opened in fall 2020 and features pathways through native plantings as well as a tidally flooded “Tide Deck.” While this southernmost section of Hudson River Park can be quite busy with the non-birding public, it also has attracted a good variety of migrants (over 100 species on eBird), including over 20 warbler species.
See "Birding Highlights by the Season" above; the eBird links below also may be helpful. To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101 page.
For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.
eBird
To explore recent bird sightings, species bar charts, a map of nearby hotspots, and more for Hudson River park, view eBird hotspot records:
The Battery, named after the artillery batteries built here in the late 1600s to protect the City (recently renamed New York by the conquering British), has been reborn over the last few decades. Thanks to several large-scale restorations and the ongoing stewardship of the The Battery Conservancy, the dusty and neglected Battery Park that many New Yorkers remember from the late 20th century has been replaced with a group of connected, lushly planted green spaces. This oasis at the tip of Manhattan is a welcome resting spot for both birds and people, and also offers an excellent vantage point on the waters of New York Harbor.
The Battery’s woodland, extensive perennial gardens, and urban farm, as well as the sheltered waters around The Battery’s piers, all offer habitat to birds. Migrants frequently alight here in the spring after flying across New York Harbor, or gather their strength in the fall before taking off south across the water. eBirders have documented over 170 species either in The Battery or flying over the area, including 27 kinds of warbler. Among the more unusual bird species spotted here are Tundra Swan, Red-necked Phalarope, Brown Pelican, LeConte’s Sparrow, and Wild Turkey. (One Wild Turkey, affectionately known to locals as Zelda, took up residence in the area in 2003, and stayed till she was hit by a car in 2011.) This also is a good spot to bird after hurricanes or tropical storms, when unusual species may be spotted over the water.
During spring and fall migration, check The Battery Woodland and gardens for migrating woodpeckers, flycatchers, tanagers, vireos, warblers, and other songbirds. The wide perspective on the skies over the lower harbor and Manhattan may net migrating raptors or waterbirds as well. Bald Eagles, now year-round residents on Staten Island, are sometimes seen soaring from here. Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and American Kestrel may also be spotted. Common Terns and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons that nest on nearby Governor’s Island may visit during the warmer months. A few common songbirds such as Gray Catbird and American Robin nest in the park. Fish Crow is also a common sighting here.
In the wintertime, dabblers such as Mallards, American Black Duck, and Brant may be joined by diving ducks such as Bufflehead and Red-breasted Merganser, and occasionally less common species such as Common Goldeneye or Canvasback. The common gull species stay year round and careful observation may always reveal a rarity, such as Iceland Gull.
See "Birding Highlights by the Season" above; the eBird links below also may be helpful. To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101 page.
For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.
The Battery is a well-frequented park and is generally a safe location to bird.
Guided Bird Walks
NYC Bird Alliance leads regular walks in The Battery in partnership with The Battery Conservancy. Visit our Local Trips page for information on upcoming walks.
Thanks to those who provided local birding expertise for this page: Karen Fung, Linda Labella, Robert Paxton and Sarah Plimpton, Michael and Paula Waldron (2020); Geoffrey Nulle (2012, 2001); Christopher Nadareski, Norman Stotz (2001)
EXPLORE BIRDING IN:
Join our flock. Become a member of NYC Bird Alliance today.
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