The NYC birding year, month by month

NYC birds by month: peak migration runs April–May and mid-August to mid-November, warblers fill May and September, and ducks hold the winter waters.

Seasons · 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

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOct119NovDec

119 species reported in October across the five boroughs.

  • 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

    commoncommon all year

    Long, pointed tail with white outer edges.

  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia

    commoncommon all year

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

  • Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata

    commoncommon all year

    Blue crest and bold black necklace.

  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis

    commoncommon all year

    Black neck and head with a broad white chinstrap.

  • Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

    commoncommon all year

    Blue wing patch bordered in white; breeding males have glossy green heads.

  • White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

    commoncommon Jan–May, uncommon Jun, rare Jul, uncommon 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–Apr, fairly common May–Jun, common Jul–Dec

    Black ring encircles the yellow bill near its tip.

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

  • Many warblers follow a two-peak year: Magnolia Warbler, for one, is common in NYC reports in May and September and not expected from November to April.
  • NYC Bird Alliance treats April 1 to May 31 and August 15 to November 15 as peak migration and asks for unneeded lights off from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Winter belongs to waterbirds: Bufflehead and Brant are common in NYC reports from November through March.
  • BirdCast says over 80 percent of North America's migratory species travel at night, and its forecasts show birds in the air, not on the ground.

How the NYC birding year works

New York City sits where the Atlantic Flyway, the coastal migration route of eastern North America, concentrates birds, according to NYC Bird Alliance. The group counts more than 200 species in the metro area each year and over 400 ever recorded here. A migrant is a bird that breeds in one region, winters in another and passes through on the way.

Migrants that cross the city land in the parks to rest and feed, so a few green blocks can hold dense flocks. Our seasonal data shows the rhythm. Magnolia Warbler is common in NYC reports in May and September, fairly common in October, and not expected from November to April or in June and July. Black-throated Blue, Cape May and Bay-breasted Warblers show the same spring-and-fall shape.

Every seasonal statement on this site comes from our index of the eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, via GBIF, CC BY 4.0, records from 2021 to 2025). It describes what birders reported, never a guarantee.

What each season brings

Spring, March to May. NYC Bird Alliance treats April 1 to May 31 as peak spring migration. Eastern Phoebe is common in reports in March, Yellow-rumped Warbler in April and May, Black-and-white Warbler in May.

Summer, June to August. Great Egret is common in reports from May to August, Snowy Egret in July and August, Osprey from June to September. The National Park Service notes that Osprey come back to Gateway each summer to nest, and it names Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge among its birding spots.

Fall, August to November. The fall peak window of NYC Bird Alliance runs August 15 to November 15. Ruby-throated Hummingbird is common in reports in September, Broad-winged Hawk uncommon in September, and Dark-eyed Junco and White-throated Sparrow common again from October.

Winter, December to February. Bufflehead and Brant are common in reports from November through March, Hooded Merganser from December through February. NYC Bird Alliance points to the city's fresh and salt waters, where ducks, geese, mergansers and loons spend the season. Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay and American Robin are common in reports in every month.

Night flights, weather and glass

Much of migration happens overhead in the dark: BirdCast notes that over 80 percent of North America's migratory species migrate at night. Its forecast maps come from weather radar and weather models and predict birds in active flight, not birds on the ground. Rain fronts can force migrants down. A fallout is that moment, when many tired migrants land at once, and NYC Bird Alliance calls such days memorable for city birders.

Night flight has a city cost. NYC Bird Alliance research puts collision deaths at 90,000 to 230,000 birds a year, and White-throated Sparrow has been the most frequent victim found by Project Safe Flight since 1997. Our guide to migration maps and radar shows how to read the forecasts.

Mistakes to avoid and where to go next

The first mistake is reading "common in reports" as a promise: the index follows where birders look and post, so it cannot tell you what is in a park today. Pair it with a forecast and an early walk; NYC Bird Alliance says the best birding is often between dawn and 11 a.m. The second is chasing birds. The group asks birders to stay on paths, keep their distance and not play recorded songs in NYC parks.

Open the NYC bird checklist to see what is reported for a month and borough, and tick what you find. For the exact peak weeks, read spring and fall migration timing. The winter birds guide covers ducks, gulls and owls, and hummingbird migration covers arrival and departure. To choose a park for the season, start with where to watch birds in NYC, and check hours with the park operator before you go.

Questions we get

When is bird migration season in New York City?

NYC Bird Alliance names April 1 to May 31 and August 15 to November 15 as the peak migration periods in its Lights Out appeal. In our report index many warblers are common only in May and September, while sparrows such as Dark-eyed Junco become common again from October.

Do birds migrate at night or during the day?

For most species, at night. BirdCast says over 80 percent of migratory species in North America migrate at night. NYC Bird Alliance explains that birds passing over the city land after a long flight to rest and refuel, which is why parks can fill with migrants by morning.

If a bird is common in reports this month, will I see it?

Not necessarily. Our index counts what birders reported in 2021–2025, so it shows what is usual for the month, not what is in a park today. Weather, time of day and where you stand all change the result. Use it to know what to look for, then check a forecast and go early.

All guides on this topic

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.