WhenToBird

Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in New Jersey

By species reported, the top birding spots in New Jersey are Cape May Point State Park, Cape May Point Beach, and Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge. Cape May Point State Park has the longest list (318 species), and its best season is fall.

Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.

SpotCountySpeciesChecklistsWinterSpringSummerFall
Cape May Point State ParkCape May County31813,012166255203286
Cape May Point BeachCape May County3065,796133245164258
Cape May Migratory Bird RefugeCape May County30415,664144241200264
Gateway National Recreation AreaMonmouth County2944,184132236169253
Cape May Point State Park (southwest)Cape May County2919,860120195132276
Lake Lily (Cape May Point)Cape May County2821,952134229123229
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management AreaCape May County2709,268116228175237
Spruce Run Recreation AreaHunterdon County2697,795123228183230
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area (north)Cape May County2661,49219103174248
Richard W de Korte ParkBergen County26110,095127219169205
Barnegat Lighthouse State ParkOcean County2606,257152208138196
Lily LakeAtlantic County2582,057128218163212
Liberty State ParkHudson County2543,747117214137206
Gateway National Recreation Area (Sandy Hook Channel)Monmouth County2451,40680187141202
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife RefugeAtlantic County2451,233113184156206
Two Mile BeachCape May County2412,534111166120205
Island Beach State ParkOcean County2361,19095195116181
Lake LilyCape May County2332,746104171100184
Palmyra Cove Nature ParkBurlington County2306,056105196136197
Cedar BonnetOcean County2282,50683195124186
Heislerville Wildlife Management AreaCumberland County2281,55491197101141
Round Valley Recreation AreaHunterdon County2233,877114178107190
Lily Lake (west)Atlantic County2211,69310218798169
Northwood CenterCape May County2194,5867617791182
Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management AreaCape May County2173,316105184104169
Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area (Lake Lily)Cape May County21478193139102163
Wallkill River National Wildlife RefugeSussex County2132,36290169152176
Corsons Inlet State ParkCape May County2121,51296170110156
The Wetlands Institute PreserveCape May County2113,67962157110178
Manasquan ReservoirMonmouth County2111,468105159116159

By county