C&O Canal - Violette's Lock
Maryland · Northeast
Moderate
April-May, September-October
Free
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
About This Location
C&O Canal - Violette's Lock is a productive birding destination in Maryland, with 279 species recorded on eBird. This forest and wetland habitat attracts Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, and Wood Duck 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
Least Bittern
Botaurus exilis
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Trumpeter Swan
Cygnus buccinator
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Black-throated Green Warbler
Setophaga virens
Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
Swainson's Thrush
Catharus ustulatus
Alder Flycatcher
Empidonax alnorum
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Double-crested Cormorant
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-headed Woodpecker
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Birding Tips
- 1
Listen for vocalizations to locate canopy-dwelling warblers and vireos.
- 2
Check forest edges and clearings for flycatchers and thrushes.
- 3
Visit during mid-May for peak warbler migration.
- 4
Bring insect repellent — wetland areas can have significant mosquito activity, especially in warmer months.
- 5
Waterproof boots are recommended as trails near marshes can be muddy, especially after rain.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- C&O Canal towpath
- Riley's Lock
- Seneca Creek State Park
More in Maryland
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Maryland's premier birding refuge with nesting Bald Eagles and vast tidal marshes.
Rock Creek Park
DC's largest urban forest with spring warbler migration, breeding owls, and Pileated Woodpeckers.
C&O Canal National Historical Park
184-mile riparian corridor along the Potomac with exceptional spring warbler diversity and Bald Eagles.
Maryland Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Maryland →