Birds of Inwood

The last two weeks brought some volatile weather, including a big Nor’easter and high wind events, to the Salt Marsh and to the forest of Inwood Hill Park. The pace of fall migration sped up and then died down. Sometimes, on an average morning, there were many birds, and on other days, nothing much to report. Yet, the autumn foliage continues to deepen in color. The sight of brilliant gold and red leaves from the top of the forest provides enough motivation to get out for a walk.   

On many days of this mid-October, throughout the variable winds and weather, several species of birds foraged for food around the park. I saw many Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Hermit Thrushes. The high migration numbers on a few days included a large influx of White-throated Sparrows, easily identifiable by their yellow lores and defined white throat. 

Over the past weeks, I enjoyed seeing several Eastern Towhees making their way through the underbrush near the forest trails. I also observed several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a few Eastern Phoebes. High on the hill, I came across a Brown Creeper. Look for more pictures on the October 2025 Sightings page.  

Several birds of note returned to fishing and foraging at the Salt Marsh after the Nor’easter, including a Belted Kingfisher, a Great Blue Heron, a juvenile Double-crested Cormorant, and a Green Heron. Daily arrivals and departures of geese and ducks made the marsh feel like LaGuardia Airport.  

Coming home from a recent morning walk, one bereft of notable birds, an adolescent Red-tailed Hawk suddenly flew low in front of me. It then swept up into a tree in the open area of the hill above the W. 207th Street steps. It took me a little while to find it, because hawks tend to blend in well with autumn colors and the barks of trees. I located the hawk on a low, short branch of a nearby tree. 

The hawk had lost track of a squirrel it was pursuing. I decided to sit on a log and to stay there until the hawk moved. The presence of the hawk reminded me that at this time of year, while we wait for more winter birds to fill out the park and more leaves to drop, the local bird scene for fall and winter has been cast.   

We had a good fifteen minutes together, both of us just perched perfectly still.

Cover: Red-bellied Woodpecker. October 21, 2025. 11:02 a.m. Inwood Hill Park.

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