Birds of Inwood

Over the course of several busy and consequential days for New York City— a thrilling Halloween Parade, a photo finish for the NYC Marathon, and the city’s historic mayoral election— thousands of birds flew overhead. Some were late migrants en route to winter homes and springtime in the Southern Hemisphere. Other birds came here to stay for winter. Still others, like many Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals, grew up here and dined in their forest home. 

As New York City drew international attention for this dizzying sequence of seasonal events, nature gifted the city with a resplendent autumn. Oaks, elms, and maples in fiery reds and golden yellows provided the scenic backdrop. New York City looks good on TV during later October and early November. It looks even better in a forest.

What could possibly bring even more drama? The birds, of course, with headlines of their own. A Varied Thrush, native of the West Coast and the very colors of Halloween, alighted in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. A common cuckoo, blown off course from Europe, found itself on a golf course in Long Island. In Manhattan, a Barred Owl drew attention in Central Park.   

During this time, I spent several mornings climbing leaf-covered trails to the top of Inwood Hill Park.* (see note below.) I’ve been finding many birds of interest around the particular spot that we (birders in the park) call the “Parapet.” This high, small, walled section of the trail, with jagged stones like a rough medieval fortress, always provides good views of the forest canopy and a glimpse of the Salt Marsh below. The view in autumn is spectacular.

On the morning of November 1, just as I arrived, I found myself surrounded by more than a dozen Cedar Waxwings. If you’re going to invite birds to a costume party, I would put them at the top of the list. They were busy at the summit feasting on berries from wild plants, some of them invasive. A Hermit Thrush was nearby, too, and a Red-tailed Hawk soon flew up into this picture. 

The next morning, I repeated the climb. A few House Finches were feasting on the berries, and I saw a lone Cedar Waxwing. I climbed the same trail at the same time the next day, curious to observe any continuities of bird behavior in this one place. On Day 3, November 3, the morning of the mayoral election, a Red-tailed Hawk swooped into view, followed by a Yellow-rumped Warbler. I didn’t see any waxwings. 

I observed many woodpeckers during these days, including Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. This week, I saw a Northern Flicker halfway up the trail. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker explored a tree and crevice in a remote section of the woods. 

As the days shorten and the air grows colder, winter birds continue to arrive. Many White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos have settled into their frosty home, and the Tufted Titmice join them for collaborative food gathering.  

We had our first snow in NYC on November 11, 2025. It was Veterans Day, a day marked by stiff winds. Light snow flurries arrived in the early morning hours and appeared sporadically throughout the day. By the evening, enough clouds lifted to allow for some in the region to catch a hint of the Aurora Borealis. I missed the lights, but the next morning, I did enjoy the post-peak autumn foliage in the company of a Red-tailed Hawk.

Cover: A Cedar Waxwing at the Parapet. November 1, 2025.

* I’ve provided a guide to this particular walk. See the post An Autumn Walk in Inwood Hill Park.

November Sightings    

Consult the November 2025 Sightings page for additional birds mentioned in this post. Fall migration is coming to an end. Cornell’s BirdCast ends their seasonal forecasting on November 15. All this means is that we can see the birds here more clearly after the leaves fall. Winter birding is a fun adventure!

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