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Birds of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

The birds most often spotted in Jamaica Bay, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

9,776
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 9,776 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Jamaica Bay. The most frequently seen is the Northern Yellow Warbler, with 481 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Jamaica Bay

Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
481 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
445 observations
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
387 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
377 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
371 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
341 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
333 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
332 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
288 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
281 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
276 observations
Brant
Branta bernicla
260 observations
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
259 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
259 observations
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
257 observations
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
254 observations
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
246 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
229 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
221 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
221 observations
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
202 observations
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
197 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
197 observations
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
189 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
172 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
152 observations
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
151 observations
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
151 observations
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
137 observations
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
129 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
126 observations
Northern House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
125 observations
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
124 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
119 observations
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
114 observations
Stilt Sandpiper
Calidris himantopus
106 observations
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
106 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
106 observations
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
105 observations
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
101 observations
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
101 observations
American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla
91 observations
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
88 observations
White-rumped Sandpiper
Calidris fuscicollis
87 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
83 observations
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
82 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
82 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
81 observations
Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca
77 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
77 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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