Jones Beach State Park
New York · Northeast
Easy
November-March
$10 per vehicle (seasonal)
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Jones Beach State Park on Long Island's south shore barrier island is one of the premier coastal birding sites in the New York metropolitan area. The park's 6.5 miles of ocean beach, tidal marshes, dune habitat, and the nearby Coast Guard station attract an impressive diversity of shorebirds, terns, gulls, and raptors throughout the year.
The West End of Jones Beach is legendary among birders for wintering Snowy Owls and concentrations of sea ducks including Long-tailed Duck and all three scoter species. During fall migration, the dune crossings and bayberry thickets can hold impressive numbers of sparrows, warblers, and raptors. The Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center provides educational programs and easy birding access.
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
Prothonotary Warbler
Protonotaria citrea
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Willet (Eastern)
Tringa semipalmata
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Northern Parula
Setophaga americana
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus
Black-throated Green Warbler
Setophaga virens
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Tufted Titmouse
Brant
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
American Black Duck
Mourning Dove
American Coot
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
American Herring Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Black-crowned Night Heron
Great Egret
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Monk Parakeet
Blue Jay
Birding Tips
- 1
The West End is best for wintering Snowy Owls and sea ducks from November through March
- 2
Check the Coast Guard station jetty for Purple Sandpipers and Harlequin Ducks in winter
- 3
Bring a spotting scope for scanning offshore rafts of sea ducks and loons
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center
- Long Beach Boardwalk
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Complete guide to birding in New York →