Cunningham Park

Located in eastern Queens, Cunningham Park is one of New York City’s larger and wilder green spaces. This extensive woodland is a hidden gem for bird enthusiasts, offering a diverse array of bird species throughout the year. With over 150 species documented, including 31 warbler species, the park is a prime destination for birding during spring and fall migrations.

Flycatchers, thrushes warblers, tanagers, and other land birds; freshwater waterbirds

 

Nesting woodpeckers including possible Hairy, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, possible Scarlet Tanager

 

Warblers, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds

 

Songbird feeding flocks, possible Great Horned Owl

 

Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch

View a Google map of Cunningham Park.

Cunningham Park, though not the best known of the City's parks due to its location in far eastern Queens, is among its largest and wildest. The park includes extensive woodland that attracts unusual nesting species and a good variety of land birds during migration.

Over 150 species have been documented by eBirders in the entire park (divided in practice into a northern section and a southern section, "Cunningham Park Southeast Preserve"), including 31 warbler species.

During nesting season, the park's forest hosts several species including:

The park's glacier-created knob and kettle terrain also includes several vernal pools that attract wetland wildlife including Spring Peepers. Freshwater waterfowl such as Mallards (which nest) and Wood Duck also visit, along with unusual visitors such as American Bittern. The park's woods are also a good spot to look and listen for Great Horned Owl.