WhenToBird

Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in New York

By species reported, the top birding spots in New York are West Pond, West End, and Braddock Bay State Park. West Pond has the longest list (275 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
West PondQueens County2755,856116221189225
West EndNassau County2645,580143194130215
Braddock Bay State ParkMonroe County2625,80292228177223
Prospect ParkKings County25631,425128226153210
Jones BayNassau County2526,605137179131203
Robert Moses State ParkSuffolk County2523,701104184143220
West Pond (Black Bank Marsh)Queens County2494,651106201173204
Barren IslandKings County2483,597123194138195
Heckscher State ParkSuffolk County2454,674117195143189
Central ParkNew York County24425,287128222141196
Braddock BayMonroe County2341,68482212118121
Croton Point County ParkWestchester County2339,735118206140192
Gateway National Recreation AreaQueens County2331,841105170138185
Hamlin Beach State ParkMonroe County2322,13360192147194
Montezuma National Wildlife RefugeSeneca County2317,12631207162184
Marine ParkKings County2315,105118199133188
Cupsoque County ParkSuffolk County2291,83774151146184
Wolfe's Pond ParkRichmond County2261,956111189123160
WESTCHESTER COUNTY LandWestchester County2256,110101201154188
Jones Beach State ParkNassau County2251,378126157114173
Turtle CoveBronx County2251,253109154130179
Sunken MeadowSuffolk County2232,403117180111175
Myers PointTompkins County2225,98993196141178
Upper Lisle County ParkBroome County2222,86976212149166
Sage CreekOswego County2222,1247520592150
Tifft Farms Nature PreserveErie County2216,40281200155177
Conference House ParkRichmond County2211,27388173115175
Point BreezeKings County2205,11887163135181
Bashakill Wildlife Management AreaSullivan County2185,91197202135174
Dreier-Offerman ParkKings County2181,849108185106168

By county