West Potomac Park - Tidal Basin
District of Columbia · Northeast
Easy
April-May, September-October
Free
Open 24 hours
About This Location
West Potomac Park - Tidal Basin is a productive birding destination in District of Columbia, with 205 species recorded on eBird. This estuary and urban park habitat attracts Canada Goose, Northern Shoveler, and Mallard among many others. Spring and fall migration bring waves of warblers and shorebirds through the area.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacilla
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Tennessee Warbler
Leiothlypis peregrina
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
American Crow
House Sparrow
Common Grackle
Black-and-white Warbler
Canada Goose
Mallard
Turkey Vulture
Blue Jay
Fish Crow
Tufted Titmouse
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Cedar Waxwing
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
House Finch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Birding Tips
- 1
Time your visit around low tide for the best shorebird viewing.
- 2
Scan open mudflats and salt marsh edges for rails and herons.
- 3
Visit during mid-May for peak warbler migration.
- 4
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 5
Fall migration (September-October) brings waves of southbound warblers and raptors
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Jefferson Memorial
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
More in District of Columbia
Theodore Roosevelt Island
88-acre island preserve in the Potomac with breeding Prothonotary Warblers in the heart of DC.
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
DC's unique lotus garden and tidal marsh with breeding Least Bitterns and rich spring migration.
C&O Canal - Fletcher's Cove (Fletcher's Boathouse)
Coastal birding hotspot in District of Columbia with 208 recorded species.
District of Columbia Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in District of Columbia →