Urban Park birding habitat

Great Kills Park

New York · Northeast

Habitat
Urban Park
Best Seasons
Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

April-May, September-October

About This Location

Great Kills Park is a productive birding destination in New York, with 274 species recorded on eBird. This urban park habitat attracts Canada Goose, Mallard, and Greater Scaup 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

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

6/2/2026Great Kills Park--Mudflats1 observed

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

6/2/2026Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn1 observed

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

6/2/2026Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge--East Pond, south end1 observed

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

6/2/2026Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge--East Pond, south end2 observed

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

6/2/2026Prospect Park1 observed

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

6/2/2026Socrates Sculpture Park2 observed

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

6/2/2026Jamaica Bay, Yellow Bar Hassock1 observed

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

6/2/2026Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park1 observed

Canada Warbler

Cardellina canadensis

6/2/2026Central Park1 observed

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

6/2/2026Central Park1 observed

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

6/2/2026Bryant Park (5th-6th Ave. btwn 40th-42nd St.)1 observed

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

6/2/2026Richard W. DeKorte Park1 observed

Recent Observations

Species reported at this location in the last 14 days

Mallard

16/2/2026

Mourning Dove

16/2/2026

Ring-billed Gull

16/2/2026

American Herring Gull

56/2/2026

Double-crested Cormorant

256/2/2026

Glossy Ibis

16/2/2026

Little Blue Heron

16/2/2026

Osprey

46/2/2026

Bank Swallow

306/2/2026

Barn Swallow

26/2/2026

Northern House Wren

16/2/2026

Gray Catbird

16/2/2026

American Robin

16/2/2026

Song Sparrow

16/2/2026

Eastern Towhee

26/2/2026

Red-winged Blackbird

36/2/2026

Brown-headed Cowbird

16/2/2026

Boat-tailed Grackle

56/2/2026

Northern Yellow Warbler

16/2/2026

Northern Cardinal

16/2/2026

Birding Tips

  1. 1

    Visit at dawn for peak songbird activity before crowds arrive.

  2. 2

    Check flowering trees and berry-producing shrubs for seasonal migrants.

  3. 3

    Visit during mid-May for peak warbler migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Great Kills Park for birding?
The best months to visit Great Kills Park for birding are April-May, September-October. The best seasons are Spring and Fall.
What birds can I see at Great Kills Park?
Notable species at Great Kills Park include Canada Goose, Mallard, Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Merganser. The area supports urban park habitats.
How difficult is birding at Great Kills Park?
Birding at Great Kills Park is rated as Easy. The trails and viewing areas are accessible for birders of all experience levels.
What amenities are available at Great Kills Park?
Great Kills Park offers the following amenities: Parking, Restrooms, Trails.