Sunset Beach
Virginia · Southeast
About This Location
Sunset Beach is a productive birding destination in Virginia, with 274 species recorded on eBird. This coastal habitat attracts Surf Scoter, Bufflehead, and Mourning Dove among many others. Mild winters attract waterfowl and sparrows, while spring and fall migration bring neotropical songbirds.
Location
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Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Cliff Swallow (pyrrhonota Group)
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Nelson's Sparrow
Ammospiza nelsoni
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Dunlin
Calidris alpina
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
Nelson's Sparrow (Atlantic Coast)
Ammospiza nelsoni
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Red Knot
Calidris canutus
Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
American Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Forster's Tern
Common Tern
Royal Tern
Double-crested Cormorant
White Ibis
Brown Pelican
Black Vulture
American Crow
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
Birding Tips
- 1
Check rocky shorelines and jetties at low tide for shorebirds.
- 2
Scan offshore waters with a spotting scope for seabirds and waterfowl.
- 3
Check for wintering sparrows in brushy edges from November through February.
Amenities
More in Virginia
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Virginia's iconic barrier island refuge with 320+ species, wild ponies, and Atlantic Flyway migrants.
Huntley Meadows Park
DC area's premier wetland with boardwalk access to nesting herons, rails, and diverse marsh birds.
Great Falls Park
Potomac gorge park with breeding Cerulean Warblers, dramatic river views, and rich spring migration.
Virginia Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Virginia →