Birding in New Jersey

The top birding locations in New Jersey include Cape May, Abbott Marshlands - John A. Roebling Park, Allaire State Park, Amico Island Park, Assiscong Marsh, Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, Avalon - 7th Saint Seawall (Avalon Seawatch 1993-2014), Avalon Dunes (30th-60th streets), Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, Bayonne Golf Club, Bayshore Waterfront Park, BC Fairgrounds/Barker's Brook National Recreation Area (old Mercer Sod Farm), Belleplain State Forest, Bivalve - Strawberry Avenue, Black River Wildlife Management Area, Boonton Reservoir, Brigantine Island - Brigantine, Brigantine Island - North Brigantine Natural Area, Cape Island - CMP - Alexander Avenue dunes/beach, Cape Island - CMP - CMBO Northwood Center, Cape Island - CMP - Coral Avenue dune crossing, Cape Island - CMP (Cape May Point), Cape Island - CMPSP - Hawkwatch Platform, Cape Island - Garrett Family Preserve, Cape Island - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, Cape Island - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area - Dike/Morning Flight Songbird Count, Cape Island - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area - Hidden Valley, Cape Island - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area - Magnesite Plant, Cape Island - Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area - Morning Flight platform, Cape Island - SCMM - Cove Pool, Cape Island - Sea Grove Avenue, Cape Island - Sunset Beach/Concrete Ship, Cape Island (Cape May County south of the Cape May canal), Cape May Harbor, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge - Cedar Swamp Creek, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge - Songbird Trail, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge - Two Mile Unit, Cattus Island County Park, Cheesequake State Park, Chimney Rock Hawk Watch, Cloverdale Farm, CMBO Center for Research & Education, Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, Conaskonk Point, Corson's Inlet State Park, Culvers Lake, Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area - Conswell Road, Dividing Creek - Maple Avenue, Donaldson Park, Dorbrook Recreation Area, Double Trouble State Park, Duke Farms IBA, Duke Island Park, East Point Road, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Barnegat, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Cedar Bonnet Island, Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Holgate (Long Beach Island), Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive (8-mile auto tour loop only), Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area, Flood Gate, Fort Mott State Park & Finns Point NC, Franklin Parker Preserve - Main Section (includes Chatsworth Lake), Garret Mountain Reservation (Park), Glades Wildlife Refuge - Turkey Point, Glenhurst Meadows (Warren Green Acres), Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - Pleasant Plains Road, Hackensack Meadowlands Conservation and Wildlife Area, Halifax Road, Hamilton Veterans Park, Hartshorne Woods, Hatfield Swamp IBA - West Essex Park, Heislerville Wildlife Management Area, Higginsville Road area, Island Beach State Park, Island Beach State Park - Reed's Road, Island Beach State Park - Spizzle Creek Blind Trail, Jake's Landing, Johnson Park, Kittatinny Valley State Park, Lake of the Lilies, Liberty State Park, Lincoln Park West, Linden Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Lord Stirling Park, Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area, Manasquan Reservoir IBA, Manasquan River Wildlife Management Area (Ridge Rd Access, Ocean Co), Mannington Marsh, Meadowlands District IBA, Meadowlands IBA - Kearny Marsh, Meadowlands IBA - Losen Slote Creek Park, Meadowlands IBA - Mill Creek Marsh, Mercer Corporate Park, Robbinsville, Mercer County Park, Merrill Creek Reservoir, Mountain Lake, National Park - Dredge Spoils, Negri-Nepote Grasslands, Norbury's Landing, North Wildwood - Hereford Inlet/Seawall, Nummy Island, Ocean City Preserve, Ocean City Welcome Center, Ocean Terminal - The Peninsula, Old Bridge Waterfront Park, Old Mine Road IBA (Warren County only), Oradell Reservoir and Emerson Woods, Overpeck County Park, Palisades Park IBA - State Line Lookout, Paulinskill River Wildlife Management Area / Hyper Humus IBA, Pole Farm (Mercer County Park NW), Princeton Institute Woods & Charles Rogers Wildlife Refuge, Raccoon Creek, Raritan Bay Waterfront Park & Morgan Avenue Mudflats, Reed's Beach and Road, Richard W. DeKorte Park, Round Valley Recreation Area, Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook - Guardian Park & bike path, Sandy Hook - North End, Sandy Hook - Plum Island, Sayreville Marsh (Washington Canal), Scherman-Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Shark River, Shark River Inlet, Spruce Run Recreation Area, Stephen R. Gregg County Park, Stipson Island Road, Stone Harbor Blvd - The Wetlands Institute, Stone Harbor Point, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Preserve, Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Swartswood State Park - Swartswood Lake, The Celery Farm, Thompson Park, Thompson's Beach and Road, Troy Meadows Natural Area, Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area, Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area (Corbin City/Atlantic County), Tuckerton - Great Bay Bvld Wildlife Management Area Inlet, Tuckerton - Great Bay Bvld. Wildlife Management Area, Villas - Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area, Walker Avenue Wetlands, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge - Owens Station Road to Liberty Marsh, Wheelabrator Wildlife Refuge, Whitesbog (Burlington County), Wreck Pond. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in New Jersey are Spring and Fall. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area.

Notable species in New Jersey include Sharp-shinned Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Cape May Warbler, Black Skimmer, American Oystercatcher, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and more. The state supports coastal, wetland, forest, urban park, river/riparian, lake, mountain, boreal/taiga habitats.