The second Saturday in May typically brings many warblers and other spring migratory birds through Inwood, and the 2025 spring iteration of World Migratory Bird Day was no exception. The morning brought a full chorus of bird sounds to accompany a walk in Inwood Hill Park. Actually spotting the birds in the dense spring canopy was another matter. Recent rains have brightened the old-growth forest here with abundant bright green foliage, so the birds of seasonal interest seem even more elusive than usual. I found an American Redstart.
Today was a day of high winds. The first birds I observed this morning struggled to maintain their lofty perches up in the leafed-out oaks, lindens, and tulip trees. I would soon find more birds wandering the forest floor, typically the thrushes.
My morning walk of recent weeks has taken me up to the highest southeast section of the park, a high ridge that has lately proved a good spot for Scarlet Tanagers and several Baltimore Orioles. I surmise that many migratory birds that catch the southern winds may alight there in their epic overnight journeys. It’s also one of the least traveled park locations by human residents because the winding trails do not lead to any suitable spot for popular forms of recreation. The birds have their own company up there.
A few rougher offshoot trails meander through the woods, with many outcroppings of glacial rock. I’ve located a couple of sweet spots on one of these lesser trails that provide good views of birds at various elevations, ones that don’t cause warbler neck.
This morning, a male American Redstart hit the sweet spot. It landed on a forlorn tree with no leaves. The rising sun was to my back. The morning sun highlighted a tree in the background, defining the bird’s profile amidst the dappled settling. Its orange and black colors positively glowed. Most joyously, it started to sing.
For more on how to locate an American Redstart from its high-pitch chirp, see the related post, Listening to the American Redstart.
Other birds of interest followed the American Redstart sighting, including a sweet Veery perched low near a major trail. A Turkey Vulture flying low over the Salt Marsh near the Henry Hudson Bridge instigated some vocal protests among the assembled birds. I saw and heard many Gray Catbirds as well as American Robins on this day.
An afternoon walk included an American Goldfinch and concluded with a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a veteran of the spring migrations here in Inwood. The familiar warbler looked at me as if we had met before but couldn’t quite remember my name.
Cover: American Redstart. May 10, 2025. 7:31 a.m. Inwood Hill Park, New York City.
May 2025 Sightings page
The May 2025 Sightings page includes more birds from today’s walks. The next few days of pleasant weather may bring more uncommon sightings and opportunities for close observations.
Study for an American Redstart by author. October 2024. Mixed media – graphite and watercolor on watercolor postcard. I painted the bird during its fall migration through the park.
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