Spring Migration 2023
Black-throated Blue Warbler
American Redstart
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Featured stories from Spring Migration 2023
An Early Spring Preview of the Birds of Inwood
A burst of spring weather and unseasonably warm days brought a variety of birds to Inwood Hill Park in Northern Manhattan this week. The three days in early March— March 9 through March 11— felt like a gift, especially after a long winter of cold temperatures and abundant snow. Many New Yorkers talked about how…
The Snowiest of Snows, and a Bald Eagle Appears
On Monday, February 23, the snow fell across New York City in steady downfalls over many hours, embedded in a winter storm that arrived late afternoon on Sunday and continued well into the afternoon. By the end, Central Park experienced one of the largest snowstorms in the city’s history. * Up here in Northern Manhattan,…
It’s June, so these must be Cedar Waxwings
Cedar Waxwings, the birds seemingly from outer space, show up here in June to eat our earthly mulberry trees.
A Common Yellowthroat Explores the Blooming Hawthorn Trees
Cute pictures of the cute Common Yellowthroat.
A Yellow Warbler’s Epic Journey, and Watching the Tides
The little yellow bird that flies a long way.
Spotting the Spotted Sandpiper, or the Teeter-Peep
Amidst all the excitement of spring migratory birds arriving in the high canopies of Inwood Hill Park, it is sometimes easy to overlook the Salt Marsh. While walking along the marsh path on Tuesday, several vocal Baltimore Orioles in the nearby trees demanded attention. Following their movements, I glanced over to the sandy little island…
An American Redstart Hits the Sweet Spot on World Migratory Bird Day
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…
Scarlet Tanagers: Wear Red to Steal the Show
A breeding male Scarlet Tanager is impossible to miss. In a mature old-growth forest, at the top of the tallest tree, the bird’s brilliant red coloring with contrasting black wings broadcasts its location. A Scarlet Tanager is a memorable sight during spring migration. Spotting a Scarlet Tanager can be elusive. They tend to perch high…
Swan Lake at the Salt Marsh
Just when you expect to see tiny warblers, a large waterfowl pirouettes into the Salt Marsh of Inwood Hill Park. A Mute Swan, a native to Eurasia, was visiting the main inlet early this week. It was sleeping when I first saw it, a pile of white feathers floating in the water. Then it raised…
Birds of Inwood 