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
Loading map...
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
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacilla
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
Vesper Sparrow
Pooecetes gramineus
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Canada Goose
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
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
More in Massachusetts
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Historic Cambridge cemetery renowned as a spring warbler migrant trap.
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge
Massachusetts barrier beach refuge vital for shorebirds and Piping Plovers.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation
Boston's last remaining salt marsh with 250+ species, secretive sparrows, and coastal wetland birds.
Massachusetts Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Massachusetts →