Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge
New York · Northeast
Easy
August-October
Free
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a remarkable urban wilderness within New York City, hosting over 330 bird species. The West Pond trail circles a freshwater pond surrounded by salt marsh, offering close views of shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors.
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
Bay-breasted Warbler
Setophaga castanea
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Pectoral Sandpiper
Calidris melanotos
Wilson's Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Mourning Warbler
Geothlypis philadelphia
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Setophaga pensylvanica
Nelson's Sparrow
Ammospiza nelsoni
Willow Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
Setophaga coronata
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mute Swan
Gadwall
Mallard
American Oystercatcher
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Osprey
Willow Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
White-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Eastern Towhee
Red-winged Blackbird
American Redstart
Northern Yellow Warbler
Birding Tips
- 1
Walk the West Pond trail for the best variety
- 2
Check the East Pond in late summer for shorebirds
- 3
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 4
Fall migration (September-October) brings waves of southbound warblers and raptors
- 5
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Gateway National Recreation Area
More in New York
Central Park
Manhattan's surprising migrant trap with 280+ species in the heart of NYC.
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
Finger Lakes wetland refuge with massive waterfowl concentrations during migration.
Prospect Park
Brooklyn's 585-acre birding gem with 280+ species, outstanding spring warbler migration, and lakeside waterfowl.
New York Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in New York →