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

Short-billed Dowitcher (griseus)

Limnodromus griseus

7/20/2026Plumb Beach6 observed

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

7/20/2026Richard W. DeKorte Park

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

7/20/2026Richard W. DeKorte Park1 observed

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus fuscus

7/20/2026Beach in between Fort Tilden and Breezy Point1 observed

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

7/20/2026Lemon Creek Park1 observed

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

7/20/2026Richard W. DeKorte Park1 observed

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

7/20/20261001 Riegelmann Boardwalk, New York US-NY (40.5734,-73.9784)3 observed

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

7/20/2026Central Park1 observed

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

7/20/2026Governors Island (N.Y. County)1 observed

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

7/20/2026Calvert Vaux Park (Dreier-Offerman Park)1 observed

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

7/20/2026Calvert Vaux Park (Dreier-Offerman Park)1 observed

Sora

Porzana carolina

7/20/2026Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge--East Pond, south end1 observed

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

7/20/2026Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge--East Pond1 observed

Recent Observations

Species reported at this location in the last 14 days

Canada Goose

207/20/2026

Mallard

107/20/2026

Rock Pigeon

77/20/2026

Mourning Dove

57/20/2026

Chimney Swift

27/20/2026

American Oystercatcher

47/20/2026

Killdeer

17/20/2026

Semipalmated Plover

67/20/2026

Spotted Sandpiper

47/20/2026

White-rumped Sandpiper

17/20/2026

Least Sandpiper

47/20/2026

Semipalmated Sandpiper

307/20/2026

Laughing Gull

27/20/2026

American Herring Gull

107/20/2026

Great Black-backed Gull

17/20/2026

Double-crested Cormorant

17/20/2026

Glossy Ibis

37/20/2026

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

47/20/2026

Little Blue Heron

27/20/2026

Snowy Egret

67/20/2026

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.