Arnold Arboretum
Massachusetts · Northeast
Easy
May
Free
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a 281-acre living museum of trees and shrubs in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, and one of New England's best urban birding sites. Over 200 species have been recorded among the arboretum's diverse plantings, which create a patchwork of habitats that attract migrant songbirds in impressive numbers during spring and fall.
The arboretum's varied tree collection, from native oaks and maples to exotic conifers and Asian flowering trees, provides food and shelter for waves of warblers, vireos, thrushes, and flycatchers during peak migration in May. The hemlock hill and conifer collection host wintering owls and finches, while the meadows and shrub borders support sparrows and resident woodpeckers. Peters Hill offers an elevated viewpoint for hawk watching during fall migration.
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
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Wilson's Storm-Petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Great Cormorant (North Atlantic)
Phalacrocorax carbo
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Great Blue Heron
Eastern Warbling Vireo
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
American Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
Common Raven
House Finch
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
Rock Pigeon
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
European Starling
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
Birding Tips
- 1
The hemlock hill and conifer collection are magnets for migrant warblers and wintering owls
- 2
Peters Hill is the best vantage point for fall hawk watching
- 3
Visit on a morning after overnight south winds in May for the best warbler fallouts
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Jamaica Pond
- Franklin Park Zoo
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Massachusetts Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Massachusetts →