Birding Floyd Bennett Field and Marine Park

Plan Floyd Bennett Field birding and Marine Park walks with seasonal reports, public-access guidance, Q35 transit details, and regional radar context.

Places · Updated October 23, 2026 · Editorial team Sparrow Line

NYC bird checklist by month

235 species reported in the five boroughs. Pick a month and a place; tick what you see (your ticks stay in this browser).

Species reported here, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct85NovDec

85 species reported in October at Floyd Bennett Field.

  • American Robin Turdus migratorius

    commoncommon all year

    Orange breast below gray back, with broken white eye-ring.

  • European Starling Sturnus vulgaris

    commoncommon all year

    Short-tailed, pointed-winged blackbird with iridescent plumage, heavily pale-spotted in winter.

  • Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

    commoncommon all year

    Pointed crest and thick orange-red bill in both sexes.

  • Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

    commonfairly common Jan, common Feb–Dec

    Long, pointed tail with white outer edges.

  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia

    commonfairly common Jan–Feb, common Mar–Jun, fairly common Jul, common Aug–Dec

    Stocky city pigeon, typically gray with two black wing bars.

  • Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata

    commonrare Jan, uncommon Feb, fairly common Mar, uncommon Apr, fairly common May, uncommon Jun–Jul, not expected Aug, fairly common Sep, common Oct, fairly common Nov, uncommon Dec

    Blue crest and bold black necklace.

  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis

    commoncommon all year

    Black neck and head with a broad white chinstrap.

  • White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

    commoncommon Jan–May, not expected Jun–Aug, fairly common Sep, common Oct–Dec

    White throat patch and yellow spots between bill and eyes.

  • American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus

    commoncommon all year

    Large pale gray gull with pink legs and black wingtips.

  • Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

    commoncommon all year

    Bold breast streaks usually converge into a dark central spot.

  • Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

    commoncommon Jan–May, fairly common Jun–Jul, common Aug–Dec

    Black ring encircles the yellow bill near its tip.

  • Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

    commoncommon all year

    Large white wing patches flash conspicuously in flight.

Seasonal data: eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0, 2021–2025. Status is our own index: how often a bird is reported, relative to the most-reported bird that month (reports, not a promise of a sighting).

In short

  • April to May and September to October offer migration context; December to February reports point to waterfowl at both parks.
  • Compare Floyd Bennett Field's grasslands and North Forty woodland with Marine Park's salt marsh and Gerritsen Creek viewpoints.
  • Brant and Bufflehead are among Floyd Bennett Field's most-reported winter birds; Marine Park's winter reports include Ruddy Duck.
  • NPS directions connect the 2 train at Flatbush/Nostrand Avenue with the Q35 to the Floyd Bennett Field entrance.

What is reported at Floyd Bennett Field

Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn. Most species are reported in May (121, rare ones not counted).

Species reported here, month by month

JanFebMarAprMay121JunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Stand-outs by season

Birds reported often here in that season, and more often than in the rest of the year.

Winter Dec, Jan, Feb

  1. Buffleheadcommon
  2. Red-breasted Mergansercommon
  3. Brantcommon
  4. Ring-billed Gullcommon
  5. Canada Goosecommon
  6. Common Looncommon

Spring Mar, Apr, May

  1. Red-winged Blackbirdcommon
  2. American Robincommon
  3. Brantcommon
  4. Mallardcommon
  5. Brown-headed Cowbirdcommon
  6. Common Gracklecommon

Summer Jun, Jul, Aug

  1. Barn Swallowcommon
  2. Laughing Gullcommon
  3. Yellow Warblercommon
  4. Common Terncommon
  5. Cedar Waxwingcommon
  6. Gray Catbirdcommon

Fall Sep, Oct, Nov

  1. Yellow-rumped Warblercommon
  2. Savannah Sparrowcommon
  3. Mourning Dovecommon
  4. Northern Flickercommon
  5. Double-crested Cormorantcommon
  6. American Herring Gullcommon

Seasonal data: eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0, 2021–2025. Status is our own index: how often a bird is reported, relative to the most-reported bird that month (reports, not a promise of a sighting).

What is reported at Marine Park

Marine Park, Brooklyn. Most species are reported in May (108, rare ones not counted).

Species reported here, month by month

JanFebMarAprMay108JunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Stand-outs by season

Birds reported often here in that season, and more often than in the rest of the year.

Winter Dec, Jan, Feb

  1. Ruddy Duckcommon
  2. Northern Shovelercommon
  3. Buffleheadcommon
  4. American Wigeoncommon
  5. Canada Goosecommon
  6. Mallardcommon

Spring Mar, Apr, May

  1. Mute Swancommon
  2. Red-winged Blackbirdcommon
  3. Ospreycommon
  4. American Robincommon
  5. Brantcommon
  6. Common Gracklecommon

Summer Jun, Jul, Aug

  1. Barn Swallowcommon
  2. Ospreycommon
  3. Laughing Gullcommon
  4. Yellow-crowned Night Heroncommon
  5. Forster's Terncommon
  6. Great Egretcommon

Fall Sep, Oct, Nov

  1. Yellow-rumped Warblercommon
  2. Great Blue Heroncommon
  3. Double-crested Cormorantcommon
  4. Palm Warblercommon
  5. Blue Jaycommon
  6. Northern Mockingbirdcommon

Seasonal data: eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0, 2021–2025. Status is our own index: how often a bird is reported, relative to the most-reported bird that month (reports, not a promise of a sighting).

Floyd Bennett Field birding combines grassland, woodland, and bay views, while Marine Park adds salt-marsh trails and creek overlooks. Use spring and fall radar for regional flight context rather than as a promise of birds on your path. Winter reports make both parks worth visiting for waterfowl.

What the place is like

Floyd Bennett Field is part of Gateway National Recreation Area, managed by the National Park Service. NPS describes over 1,300 acres of grassland, salt marshes, tidal mudflats, a marina, and the former airfield.

Marine Park is a separate NYC Parks property across Flatbush Avenue. Its Gerritsen Creek trails and raised lookouts differ from the open, windswept ground of the airfield. These habitat descriptions follow NPS and NYC Parks information current as of October 23, 2026.

Choose woodland edges for shelter on windy mornings, runway borders for scanning, or creek platforms for watching waterbirds. Keep in mind that habitat alone never guarantees that a particular species will appear.

Season by season

These expectations draw from Sparrow Line's report index from the eBird Observation Dataset, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, via GBIF, 2021 to 2025. They describe reported birds, not a current sighting or forecast. The monthly NYC checklist helps you explore a specific month.

Spring, April to May. Floyd Bennett Field's most-reported birds include American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Mockingbird. Marine Park reports frequently list Osprey, Song Sparrow, and Double-crested Cormorant. Scan woodland edges, runway borders, and water instead of expecting one migrant wave.

Summer, June to July. Floyd Bennett Field reports commonly include Laughing Gull, Yellow Warbler, and Barn Swallow. Marine Park reports list Great Egret and Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Stay on established paths so you do not trample nesting cover.

Fall, September to October. Northern Mockingbird, American Herring Gull, and Song Sparrow appear regularly in Floyd Bennett Field reports. Marine Park reports include Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, and Northern Flicker. Citywide reports show Savannah Sparrow as fairly common in October, but presence varies across open fields.

Winter, December to February. Floyd Bennett Field reports regularly include Brant, Bufflehead, and Red-breasted Merganser. Marine Park reports include Mallard, Ruddy Duck, and American Wigeon. Plan a water-focused visit, keeping in mind that flocks move as wind, tide, and ice shift.

Where to walk

Start with North Forty Natural Area for woodland and freshwater habitat. NPS describes this northernmost corner as a haven for wildlife, with mixed woodland and the groundwater-fed Return-A-Gift pond. Use established public paths and check posted access signs before extending your walk.

At Marine Park, choose the Salt Marsh Nature Trail, which NYC Parks starts behind the Salt Marsh Nature Center near Avenue U. Its trail page lists raised lookouts over Gerritsen Creek and the restored marsh. Scan from the lookouts instead of walking into sensitive marsh vegetation.

Public access and restricted areas

This table distinguishes public visitor areas from closed or conditional facilities, using information current October 23, 2026. It is not a live closure map.

Area Public-access category Planning boundary
North Forty Natural Area Public natural area Use established paths; obey local closures.
Airfield grassland edges View from public routes Do not treat meadow interiors or runways as public routes.
Ryan Visitor Center Public facility with separate schedule Confirm building hours; park hours do not guarantee indoor access.
Raptor Point and Hangar B Apron Conditional after-hours access NPS requires a Fishing Access Pass for parking and access from 9 pm to 6 am.
Campsite and campstore Closed Do not plan services or overnight stays here.
Youth camping Closed through 2026 NPS accepts no overnight stays here.
Fenced or signed operational areas Restricted Stay outside barriers and security boundaries.
Marine Park nature trail and platforms NYC Parks public viewing areas Follow posted rules; NPS hours do not apply.

What migration radar shows over the region

BirdCast uses weather-surveillance radar to describe migration aloft, meaning birds moving through the air above the landscape. Its dashboard provides regional flight analysis rather than a ground-level bird census on your path.

Distinguish a forecast from an observation. A forecast estimates upcoming movement; radar analysis describes detected flight. A dated bird report documents an observation, but cannot prove that the bird remains.

Why radar cannot promise birds at Floyd Bennett Field

Radar samples airspace over a wide area rather than individual tree lines or runways. The BirdCast dashboard summarizes nocturnal migration for a county or state, with estimated numbers, directions, speeds, and altitudes.

A high count aloft does not show where birds land or which species are waiting at North Forty. BirdCast also notes that rain can interfere with detecting birds, which can leave gaps in the data.

Radar-to-ground-check worksheet

Check Write down Ground decision
Identify the product Forecast or observed analysis, date, and region Avoid treating predicted movement as completed migration.
Read the regional context Movement timing and direction Treat activity as a reason to look, not a sighting promise.
Check local conditions Wind, rain, visibility, and closures Choose a safe, manageable public route.
Compare habitats Woodland edge, grassland edge, or creek viewpoint Search suitable habitat without entering restricted ground.
Record your result Time, effort, habitat, and birds observed Keep your morning observations separate from the radar estimate.

The migration maps guide explains these distinctions in more detail.

Getting there and rules

NPS lists Floyd Bennett Field's general hours as 6:00 am to 9:00 pm daily, based on information current October 23, 2026. Check before you go for temporary closures and indoor building schedules.

Follow NPS transit directions: take the 2 train, or the 5 at rush hour, to Flatbush/Nostrand Avenue. Transfer to the Q35 bus for the Floyd Bennett Field entrance. Allow time to walk from the bus stop, and confirm your return bus connection before starting.

Pack water, food, sun protection, and wind-resistant clothing for an exposed visit. Never assume visitor buildings or concession stands will be open. Shorten your walk whenever cold, wind, or rain exceeds your comfort.

Birding etiquette here

Stay on established paths and public pavement. NYC Bird Alliance describes the grassland restoration project here and advises viewing beach birds at Raptor Point from the bulkhead rather than walking the beach, so you do not disturb them.

Give birds space, skip playback, and never approach nests or resting owls. Keep dogs leashed. If a bird changes its behavior as you approach, step back to increase your distance instead of pursuing a photograph.

  • Check NPS access notices, facility schedules, and your return transit before leaving.
  • Pack water, food, sun protection, and a wind-resistant layer.
  • Save a park map and identify your entrance and return bus stop.
  • Record the date and geographic coverage of any migration radar information.
  • Keep dogs leashed and stay outside closed areas and grassland interiors.

Questions we get

Do I need a spotting scope?

Start with binoculars. A scope can help you watch distant waterbirds without approaching them, but it adds weight on exposed walks. Choose your route before deciding what to carry.

Can I camp after an evening birding visit?

Do not plan an overnight stay. NPS says the Floyd Bennett Field campsite and campstore remain closed, and youth camping is closed through 2026. General visitor hours are not overnight access permission.

Should I visit both parks on my first trip?

Choose one first. Allow time to learn its public paths, check the water, and return comfortably. Add the second park only after checking the transfer and your remaining daylight.

Keep reading

How we know

Seasonal patterns are guides, not promises of a sighting. Check current access rules and conditions before heading out. Give birds space, stay on open paths and avoid disturbing nests or roosts.