A Beginner’s Guide to Birding in New York City

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New York City is home to nearly 500 species of birds, making it a destination for birders all over the world. For that, you can thank the city’s location on the East Coast — a major bird migration route — and the density of the city’s parks. 

With such an abundance of avians, it might be hard to figure out where to start if you’re looking to bird. Where are the best spots? Do you need special equipment? And what birds should you look for? 

Whether you’re a beginner or tried-and-true birder, here’s what to know about how to appreciate our feathered friends in the Concrete Jungle.

Safety First

Before you embark on any hikes or traverse through city parks to spot birds, make sure you stick to defined trails and walking paths. Off-roading can damage local vegetation and disrupt animals’ nesting places. 

Don’t take nests, eggs or feathers: Native birds are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. And always keep a respectful distance. If your presence is affecting the bird’s behavior — so it’s changing its posture, stopping its feeding or making alarm calls — you’re too close. Pigeons and other city-slicking birds might be accustomed to dealing with New Yorkers, but this isn’t true of all the city’s bird species. 

Take extra caution while owl watching: If you’re lucky enough to come across one and it’s staring at you, you’re probably too near, according to the nonprofit NYC Bird Alliance, a conservation and advocacy organization. Owls are nocturnal, too, so keep quiet. It’s probably after-hours for them.

The Bird Alliance also advises birders in local parks to refrain from playing bird call-and-song recordings, which have become commonly available on popular bird identification apps. Scientists don’t universally agree on whether these “playback” recordings are harmful, but they may cause birds stress, especially in dense urban parks.

If you see an injured or distressed bird in a city park — including those with broken wings or legs, lethargy or signs of struggling to fly — you can report it to 311. Urban Park Rangers from the city’s Parks Department will respond to the incident. You can also place the bird in a soft box or bag and transport it to the Wild Bird Fund, a Manhattan-based nonprofit that rehabilitates sick and injured birds. Make sure the bird can’t see out of the bag or box, as this will help it calm down. 

The Bird Alliance has a full list of avian rehabilitation centers across the city, Long Island and New Jersey, as well as more information on what to do if you encounter an injured bird. The nonprofit Animal Care Centers of NYC says it accepts sick and injured birds at its drop-off locations.

Just Show Up!

The Bird Alliance and Urban Park Rangers host lots of beginner-friendly and free events throughout the city. 

The Alliance has more than 300 programs in all five boroughs, with a focus in birding hotspots such as Central, Prospect and Marine parks. Check out their full list of outings and classes here. Upcoming events include tours on Governors Island and Rockaway Beach and a field-sketching class in Brooklyn Bridge Park, where beginner birders can practice drawing their surroundings. 

With fall migration season approaching, the Parks Department’s upcoming events include a shorebird migration tour along Rockaway Beach, where you can learn from Urban Park Rangers about the best bird-viewing spots in the city. See the full list of the agency’s birding events here. 

Tasha Naula, the Alliance’s public programs manager, recommends beginner birders start by familiarizing themselves with neighborhood birds and birds that live in the city year-round.

“We have a lot of great residential birds that you’ll see throughout the year. Other than pigeons, you’ll see red robins a lot, cardinals,” Naula said. “I think a lot of times we want to jump right into some of the warblers we’ll see, or the different sparrows — birds that migrate through.”

But there are plenty of birds to learn about during the rest of the year, too. Among the full-time residents of New York City: a colony of Monk Parakeets who live in Brooklyn’s Green-Wood Cemetery.

Birding by Borough

Local birding clubs also put on community events, so you can find one near where you live.

Ian Resnick, president of the Queens County Bird Club, said the city has experienced a huge influx of new birders over the last few years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing until I joined a bird club. I learned a lot from being out with other birders,” said Resnick, who’s been birding for 40 years. His go-to birding spot is Oakland Lake in Bayside. 

To join QCBC, register here. An annual membership costs $27, or $33 for two or more people at the same address. The club’s calendar includes a trip to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in August.

The Brooklyn Bird Club has upcoming field trips to Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery. The McGolrick Bird Club meets weekly on the corner of Russell Street and Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint at 9 a.m. on Saturdays, rain or shine. 

Bird clubs appear to be rarer in The Bronx and Staten Island, based on publicly available information, but Bird Alliance and Parks Department programming spans all five boroughs and Van Cortlandt, Pelham Bay and Great Kills parks are all excellent places to start birding, experts said. The Staten Island Museum also hosts bird and nature walks. 

Manhattanites have Central Park, of course — one of the city’s best spots for birding. Notable birding areas include the North Woods (midpark from 101st to 110th streets), the Ramble (midpark from 73rd to 79th streets) and Hallett Nature Sanctuary (on the east side from 60th to 62nd streets).

Do I Need Binoculars?

Naula of the Bird Alliance noted you don’t need binoculars to go birding, but the group’s events often provide binoculars for borrowing on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Athen Murray, an Urban Park Ranger in The Bronx, suggested getting a decent pair of binoculars, or using eBird, a Cornell Lab of Ornithology-managed app for bird sightings in parks. (Resnick of QCBC said he prefers packing an old-fashioned Peterson Field Guide on his birding adventures.) 

If you want to buy binoculars, 7×35 or 8×42 are best, according to the Alliance. The first number denotes magnification, while the second is your field of view. The Alliance recommends B&H Photo Video in Manhattan if you prefer in-person shopping to online retail. You can find more information on binocular shopping here.

Riding Solo?

The eBird and Merlin Bird ID apps, both from Cornell University’s ornithology school, can help you identify birds by both sight and sound. 

The city has many hiking trails where you can spot birds on your lonesome, no club needed, year-round. Pack long socks and bug spray to avoid ticks! 

The Bird Alliance also has a birding-by-subway guide, complete with 30 birding spots accessible via public transit.

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