Birding

New York City parks boast a wide variety of bird species throughout the year, and the Urban Park Rangers host the guided tours you need to locate and identify them. Come learn what’s flying through your neighborhood this season! Visit our Birding at NYC Parks page for a list of some of the best places to go birding in New York City.

Fall Migration
Fall migration has begun! Learn about migratory birds passing through NYC on their journey south and listen to our Good Migrations playlist while you're out birding!

Raptor Fest
Meet owls, hawks, and falcons up close at Raptor Fest with the Urban Park Rangers at Prospect Park on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Birding Events
Saturday, December 6, 2025
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Brookville Boulevard and 144 Avenue (in Brookville Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see winter waterfowl. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.
Free!
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Parking Lot (in Manhattan Beach Park), Brooklyn 
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Saturday, December 13, 2025
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Birding: Christmas Bird Count
at Nevada Avenue Parking Lot (in High Rock Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers for this annual community science project counting and identifying birds while we hike in the park.
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.
Free!
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Christmas Bird Count
at Icahn Stadium (in Randall's Island Park), Manhattan
9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
The 126th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count—the nation’s longest-running Community-Science bird project—will soon be underway nationwide, and in all five boroughs of New York City.
Free!
Christmas Bird Count-Highland Park
at Vermont Place Parking Lot (in Highland Park), Queens 
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the nation’s longest running community science project and help collect data for the Christmas Bird Count in Queens.
Free!
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Oakland Lake (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.
Free!
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Birding: Winter Waterfowl - Solstice Edition
at 43rd Street and 1st Avenue (in Bush Terminal Park), Brooklyn
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on winter solstice to peep those rare winter birds! Fluff up your feathers and learn all about how to identify winter waterfowl.
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Entrance - East 90th Street and Fifth Avenue (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Saturday, December 27, 2025
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Birding: All About Crows
at Van Cortlandt Nature Center (in Van Cortlandt Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers to learn more about crows, a highly intelligent and sociable bird species.
Free!
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Birding: Winter Birds
at Forest Avenue and Silver Lake Park Road (in Silver Lake Park), Staten Island
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join us on this Ranger led walk along the trails identifying various woodland birds and winter waterfowl.
Free!
Saturday, January 3, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Sunday, January 4, 2026
Birding: Bald Eagle Watch
at Seaman Avenue and Isham Street (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Winter is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Please dress warmly.
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at Springfield Blvd and 146th Avenue Entrance (in Springfield Park), Queens
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. Discover which waterfowl have returned for the winter season.
Free!
Saturday, January 10, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Saturday, January 17, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Birding: Winter Birds
at Salt Marsh Nature Center (in Marine Park), Brooklyn 
11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join us on this Ranger led walk along the park identifying various marshland birds and winter waterfowl.
Free!
Saturday, January 24, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Birding: Bald Eagle Watch
at Payson Park House (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Winter is a spectacular time for observing bald eagles in New York City parks. See if you can spot any on this adventure with our Urban Park Rangers. Please dress warmly.
Free!
Birding: Winter Birds
at Beach 54th and Almeda Avenue (in Rockaway Community Park), Queens
10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Join the Urban Park Rangers on an exclusive tour of the closed Edgemere Landfill to find bird species in this grassland ecosystem. Registration required. Registration begins on Jan 12.
Free!
Sunday, January 25, 2026
Birding: Winter Birds
at Rose Avenue and Oak Avenue (in Kissena Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Our Urban Park Rangers will guide you to the best viewing spots in New York City to see migratory winter birds.
Free!
Birding: Winter Waterfowl
at West 90th Street and Central Park West (in Central Park), Manhattan
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Birding programs are an all-inclusive safe space and appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome.
Free!
Saturday, January 31, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Saturday, February 7, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Saturday, February 14, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Saturday, February 21, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!
Saturday, February 28, 2026
McGolrick Bird Club
at Monsignor McGolrick Park (in Msgr. McGolrick Park), Brooklyn 
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Free birding walks are held every Saturday at 9am, year-round. Meet at the Russell & Driggs entrance to McGolrick park.
Free!