Fresh Pond, Cambridge
Massachusetts · Northeast
Moderate
April-May, September-October
Free
Open daily, dawn to dusk
About This Location
Fresh Pond, Cambridge is a productive birding destination in Massachusetts, with 240 species recorded on eBird. This lake habitat attracts Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, and Blue Jay 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
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Purple Martin
Progne subis
Wilson's Storm-Petrel
Oceanites oceanicus
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Great Cormorant (North Atlantic)
Phalacrocorax carbo
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
Razorbill
Alca torda
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Gray Catbird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Yellow Warbler
Canada Goose
European Starling
Peregrine Falcon
House Sparrow
Mallard
Birding Tips
- 1
Scan the water surface methodically for diving ducks, loons, and grebes.
- 2
Check the shoreline and mudflats for shorebirds and wading birds.
- 3
Visit during mid-May for peak warbler migration.
- 4
This urban green space acts as a migrant trap — birds concentrate here during migration, especially after overnight flights.
- 5
A spotting scope is essential here — many waterbirds stay far from shore and are difficult to identify with binoculars alone.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Mount Auburn Cemetery
- Alewife Reservation
- Lusitania Meadow
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.
Arnold Arboretum
Harvard's 281-acre living tree museum in Boston with 200+ bird species and outstanding warbler migration.
Massachusetts Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Massachusetts →