Van Cortlandt Park
New York · Northeast
Moderate
April-May
Free
6:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
About This Location
Van Cortlandt Park is the Bronx's largest park at over 1,100 acres, encompassing mature forest, freshwater marsh, open meadows, and a large lake that together support more than 250 bird species. The park's Northwest Forest is the largest remaining tract of old-growth woodland in New York City and provides critical stopover habitat for migrating songbirds.
The Van Cortlandt Lake and adjacent marsh attract migrating shorebirds, herons, and waterfowl, while the ridgeline above the Croton Aqueduct trail offers excellent hawk watching during fall migration. Breeding birds include Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-shouldered Hawk, and various woodpecker species in the forest interior.
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
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Empidonax flaviventris
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Baird's Sandpiper
Calidris bairdii
Louisiana Waterthrush
Parkesia motacilla
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Nashville Warbler
Leiothlypis ruficapilla
Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireo flavifrons
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Contopus cooperi
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Great Blue Heron
Blue Jay
Gray Catbird
Common Grackle
Ovenbird
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Great Crested Flycatcher
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Birding Tips
- 1
The Northwest Forest old-growth section is best for breeding warblers and woodpeckers
- 2
Check the lake and marsh early morning for herons and waterfowl
- 3
Fall hawk migration can be observed from ridgeline trails above the Croton Aqueduct
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Wave Hill
- New York Botanical Garden
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