Long Island, located east of New York City, is well known for its beaches, wineries, and vibrant suburbs. However, the island is also home to a remarkable diversity of bird species due to its varied habitats which include woods, wetlands, beaches, and bays. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded on Long Island. From majestic birds of prey to tiny songbirds, there is an abundance of avian life to observe.
Why does Long Island have so many birds?
There are a few key reasons why Long Island has such a wide variety of birds:
- Location along the Atlantic Flyway – Long Island sits within the Atlantic Flyway, a major bird migration route along the Atlantic Coast. Many migratory species stop over on the island in spring and fall.
- Diverse habitats – The island contains various habitats attractive to different types of birds including forests, meadows, freshwater and saltwater wetlands, beaches, and coastal waters.
- Abundant food sources – Fish, seeds, berries, insects, and other food sources are plentiful to sustain large numbers of birds.
- Breeding grounds – Many species nest and breed on the island due to the availability of nesting sites and a relatively mild climate.
- Reduced development – Parts of eastern Long Island are still relatively rural and undeveloped, providing good bird habitat.
The combination of these factors makes Long Island a prime location for abundant and diverse bird populations throughout the year. The island attracts both migrating species as well as year-round breeding residents.
Waterfowl
Long Island’s wetland habitats support a wealth of waterfowl species. Some of the key waterfowl that can be found on the island include:
Ducks
- Mallard – Abundant year-round residents often seen on ponds and wetlands. The males have iridescent green heads.
- Black Duck – A common year-round duck known for its black/brown plumage. Often found dabbling in shallow waters.
- Wood Duck – A small, colorful duck seen in wooded wetlands and streams. The males have ornate multi-colored plumage.
- Gadwall – A gray-brown duck found on freshwater ponds and marshes from fall through spring.
- American Wigeon – A dabbling duck identified by the white crown and green eye patch on the males. Widespread in migration.
- Green-winged Teal – A small duck with green patches on its wings. Often seen in marshy ponds.
- Blue-winged Teal – A small dabbling duck with sky-blue wing patches on the males. Found during spring/fall migration.
Geese & Swans
- Canada Goose – Abundant and widespread year-round. Often seen in fields, golf courses, marshes.
- Snow Goose – A white goose with black wingtips seen migrating over Long Island in spring and fall.
- Mute Swan – A large white swan introduced from Europe that is now common year-round, especially on coastal ponds.
Loons
- Common Loon – Known for its eerie call, this species can be seen on lakes, bays, and ocean waters during migration.
- Red-throated Loon – A small loon with a reddish throat patch. Rarely seen from land on migration offshore.
Grebes
- Pied-billed Grebe – A common, duck-like water bird on ponds and lakes. It has a thick chicken-like bill.
- Horned Grebe – A small diving grebe with yellow tufts on its head in breeding plumage. Winters along the coast.
Shorebirds
Long Island’s beaches and wetlands provide critical habitat for a variety of migrating shorebirds in spring and fall. Some of the shorebirds to watch for include:
Sandpipers
- Dunlin – A small sandpiper with a long drooping bill. Often seen foraging in huge flocks on beaches.
- Sanderling – A hyperactive sandpiper that frantically chases waves on beaches.
- Semipalmated Sandpiper – Abundant small shorebird with partially webbed feet. Seen probing for food on tidal flats.
- Least Sandpiper – The smallest sandpiper in North America. Abundant migrant favoring grassy pools and mudflats.
- Short-billed Dowitcher – Stocky, long-billed shorebird foraging in shallow marshes and mudflats.
Plovers
- Piping Plover – Small, pale plover nesting on beaches in summer. Federally threatened species.
- Semipalmated Plover – Plump small plover with a single black neck band. Nests in the Arctic.
- Killdeer – Distinctive shorebird that breeds locally. Identified by its loud “kill-dee” call.
Oystercatchers
- American Oystercatcher – Large black and white shorebird with a long, bright orange bill. Breeds locally on beaches.
Seabirds
Long Island juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, positioning it along the migratory path of many seabirds. Pelagic bird watching trips offshore of Long Island are extremely popular with birders seeking these species:
Shearwaters & Petrels
- Northern Gannet – Large seabirds with yellow crowns often seen plunge diving for fish.
- Great Shearwater – Abundant large shearwater with dark cap and white throat. Common offshore.
- Sooty Shearwater – All dark shearwater sometimes seen in feeding frenzies offshore.
- Wilson’s Storm Petrel – Small seabird that patter-walks on water surface. Seen on whale watching trips.
Gulls & Terns
- Herring Gull – Abundant large gull often seen scavenging. Identified by pink legs and yellow eyes.
- Great Black-backed Gull – The largest gull in the world. Seen along the coast and at landfills.
- Laughing Gull – Medium-sized gull with dark hood and bold black markings on wings.
- Common Tern – Medium-sized tern with gray back/wings and black cap on its head. Often seen plunge diving.
- Forster’s Tern – Large tern with very long, forked orange and black tail. Found along beaches and marshes.
Raptors
A variety of hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls are attracted to Long Island’s diverse habitats. Some raptors live here year-round while others pass through during spring and fall migration. Notable raptors of Long Island include:
Hawks & Eagles
- Red-tailed Hawk – Common large soaring hawk and year-round resident. Often seen perched or hovering over roadsides.
- Cooper’s Hawk – Crow-sized woodland hawk specializing in capturing smaller birds while hidden in foliage.
- Osprey – Large fish-hawk that plunges feet first to catch fish. Nests atop poles and dead trees near water.
- Bald Eagle – National bird and conservation success story. Found along coasts and wetlands.
Falcons
- American Kestrel – Colorful small falcon that hovers while hunting for rodents and insects in open country.
- Merlin – Speedy small falcon quite adept at catching other birds on the wing.
- Peregrine Falcon – The fastest animal on earth. Migrates through while preying on shorebirds and waterfowl.
Owls
- Eastern Screech Owl – Tiny owl with ear tufts often found in wooded suburban parks and backyards.
- Great Horned Owl – Large, ear-tufted owl that often nests in abandoned hawk or crow nests.
- Snowy Owl – Massive white owl of the far north that sometimes reaches Long Island in winter during irruption years.
- Long-eared Owl – Slender owl often detected by its low hooting calls at dawn and dusk.
- Northern Saw-whet Owl – Cute and tiny forest owl. Sometimes flies by day during migration.
Woodland Birds
Long Island has many pockets of high quality forest habitat harboring typical eastern woodland species:
Woodpeckers
- Downy Woodpecker – The smallest woodpecker in the eastern US. Common at feeders and in woodlots.
- Red-bellied Woodpecker – Plump black and white woodpecker with a reddish belly patch.
- Northern Flicker – Uniquely patterned woodpecker often seen hopping along the ground eating ants.
- Pileated Woodpecker – Crow-sized woodpecker that excavates very large, rectangular cavities in trees.
Passerines
- Blue Jay – Intelligent and colorful jay often engaged in raucous behavior.
- Black-capped Chickadee – Tiny acrobatic bird with a big voice. Easily attracted to feeders.
- Tufted Titmouse – Gray songbird with a crest that often flocks with chickadees.
- White-breasted Nuthatch – Active little climber often descending head-first down tree trunks.
- Brown Creeper – Well-camouflaged bark insect-eater that spirals up the trunks of trees.
- Winter Wren – Tiny brown wren with an incredibly loud and complex song.
- Golden-crowned Kinglet – Tiny olive-gray songbird often found with chickadees and titmice.
- Eastern Bluebird – Bright blue and rust-colored thrush that favors open country with scattered trees.
Backyard Birds
Many species of birds are regular visitors to backyard bird feeders and gardens on Long Island. Here are some of the most likely backyard birds:
Bird | Description |
---|---|
Northern Cardinal | Red songbird with a crest and thick orange bill. The state bird of New York. |
Carolina Wren | Reddish brown wren with white eyebrow stripe. Loud teakettle call. |
Song Sparrow | Common streaky brown sparrow with dark breast spot. Often sings from hedges and bushes. |
Mourning Dove | Plump pale brown dove often seen pecking seeds on the ground. |
House Finch | Sparrow-sized finch with streaky brown body and red head in males. |
American Goldfinch | Bright yellow finch that visits feeders. Dramatic seasonal plumage changes. |
House Sparrow | Introduced species flocks around human settlements scavenging for food. |
Providing feeders with black oil sunflower seeds is a reliable way to attract cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, sparrows, finches, and more. Fruit and jelly feeders will pull in orioles and catbirds. And fresh water will draw in birds for bathing and drinking.
Rare Vagrant Birds
Given its location along the Atlantic Flyway migratory route, occasionally Long Island will experience rare and unexpected birds that wander off their normal course. These vagrant birds generate a lot of excitement among the birding community. Some recent rare vagrant birds seen on Long Island include:
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – A western species with a fantastically long tail.
- Brown Booby – A tropical seabird species normally found far offshore.
- Eurasian Wigeon – A rare vagrant from Europe confusingly similar to American Wigeon.
- Cave Swallow – A diminutive southwestern species rarely found in the east.
- Crested Caracara – this tropical raptor likely wandered north post-hurricane.
- Bullock’s Oriole – A striking orange and black oriole normally found out west.
Part of the fun of birding on Long Island is staying alert for the possibility of stumbling onto the next wayward vagrant visiting the area. Checking birding hotspots after storms can increase the odds of finding a lost and wandering bird. Joining a local rare bird alert listserv is also a good way to stay informed.
Best Spots for Birding on Long Island
While birds can be found across all of Long Island, some notable hotspots include:
- Jones Beach State Park – This coastal park offers a mix of habitats good for seabirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and songbirds.
- Caumsett State Historic Park – Woodlands, saltmarsh, and shoreline attract both migratory and resident birds.
- Montauk Point State Park – Excellent migratory landfall site with open grasslands and coastal woods.
- Connetquot River State Park – Known for excellent spring warbler migration along the wooded river corridor.
- Hempstead Lake State Park – Freshwater lake, ponds and wetlands attract a variety of waterfowl and waders.
- Target Rock NWR – This refuge near Lloyd Harbor contains forest, thickets, and meadows on the Long Island Sound.
Some other top county and town parks worth exploring include Sunken Meadow SP, Bethpage SP, Heckscher Park, Avalon Park & Preserve, Massapequa Preserve, and Robert Moses State Park.
Best Times to Go Birding on Long Island
While interesting birds can be found year-round, the peak times to go birding on Long Island include:
- Early May – The height of spring songbird migration along the coast.
- Mid-May – Prime time for lingering migratory warblers in woodlands.
- Late July through August – Shorebird migration picks up along beaches and marshes.
- September through November – Fall songbird migration along with raptors and waterfowl.
- December through February – Winter ducks, gulls, owls and finches. Also best time for rarities.
The weekends around both Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June also tend to be active spring migration periods on Long Island.
Conclusion
In summary, Long Island provides remarkable birding opportunities with the potential to find over 400 species due to its location on the Atlantic Flyway and diversity of well-preserved habitats. Waterfowl, shorebirds, woodland species, back yard feeder birds, and rare vagrants highlight the impressive avian biodiversity of the area. Birders of all levels should be sure to explore the parks, beaches, and nature trails on Long Island to observe its wonderful array of feathered residents and visitors.