Central Park is considered New York City’s best bird watching hotspot and is one of North America’s most popular destinations. It is home to an abundance of native species and serves as an important stopover for visiting migrants. The park has many micro-habitats including lush woods, open grass areas, brush and streams and ponds.
Print Checklist
Central Park – Birding Checklist
R = Rarely Seen
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae |
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Cooper’s Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ☐ | |
Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ☐ | |
Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ☐ | |
Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ☐ | |
Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ☐ | |
Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ☐ | |
Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | ☐ | |
Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ☐ | |
Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ☐ | |
Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ☐ | |
Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | R | ☐ |
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Cathartidae |
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Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ☐ | |
Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | ☐ | |
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Pandionidae |
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Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ☐ | |
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae |
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Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ☐ | |
Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ☐ | |
American wigeon | Anas americana | R | ☐ |
Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ☐ | |
Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ☐ | |
Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ☐ | |
American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | ☐ | |
Gadwall | Anas strepera | ☐ | |
Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ☐ | |
Redhead | Aythya americana | R | ☐ |
Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ☐ | |
Tufted Duck | Aythya fuligula | R | ☐ |
Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ☐ | |
Brant | Branta bernicla | ☐ | |
Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ☐ | |
Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ☐ | |
Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | R | ☐ |
Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ☐ | |
Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | R | ☐ |
Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | ☐ | |
Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ☐ | |
Velvet Scoter / White-winged Scoter | Melanitta fusca | R | ☐ |
Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | R | ☐ |
Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ☐ | |
Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | ☐ | |
Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ☐ | |
Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | R | ☐ |
APODIFORMES: Apodidae |
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Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | ☐ | |
APODIFORMES: Trochilidae |
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Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ☐ | |
CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae |
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Chuck-will’s-widow | Caprimulgus carolinensis | ☐ | |
Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | ☐ | |
Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ☐ | |
CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae |
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Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | R | ☐ |
Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ☐ | |
Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | R | ☐ |
CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae |
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Bonaparte’s Gull | Chroicocephalus philadelphia | R | ☐ |
Black-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus ridibundus | R | ☐ |
Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | R | ☐ |
Eurasian Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | ☐ | |
Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ☐ | |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | R | ☐ |
Iceland Gull | Larus glaucoides | ☐ | |
Glaucous Gull | Larus hyperboreus | R | ☐ |
Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | ☐ | |
Laughing Gull | Leucophaeus atricilla | ☐ | |
Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | R | ☐ |
Forster’s Tern | Sterna forsteri | R | ☐ |
Common Tern | Sterna hirundo | R | ☐ |
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae |
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Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ☐ | |
Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | R | ☐ |
Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | R | ☐ |
Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ☐ | |
Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | R | ☐ |
Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | ☐ | |
Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | R | ☐ |
Red Phalarope | Phalaropus fulicarius | R | ☐ |
American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | ☐ | |
Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | R | ☐ |
Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ☐ | |
Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ☐ | |
COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae |
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Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | ☐ | |
Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ☐ | |
CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae |
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Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | ☐ | |
Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ☐ | |
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae |
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Merlin | Falco columbarius | ☐ | |
Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ☐ | |
American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ☐ | |
GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae |
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Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | R | ☐ |
Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | ☐ | |
GAVIIFORMES: Gaviidae |
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Common Loon | Gavia immer | ☐ | |
Red-throated Loon | Gavia stellata | ☐ | |
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae |
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American Coot | Fulica americana | ☐ | |
Sora | Porzana carolina | R | ☐ |
Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae |
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Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Calcariidae |
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Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | R | ☐ |
Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | R | ☐ |
Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ☐ | |
Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ☐ | |
Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | R | ☐ |
Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ☐ | |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ☐ | |
Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ☐ | |
Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ☐ | |
Dickcissel | Spiza americana | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Certhiidae |
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Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae |
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American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ☐ | |
Fish Crow | Corvus ossifragus | ☐ | |
Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae |
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Saltmarsh Sparrow | Ammodramus caudacutus | R | ☐ |
Henslow’s Sparrow | Ammodramus henslowii | R | ☐ |
Le Conte’s Sparrow | Ammodramus leconteii | R | ☐ |
Seaside Sparrow | Ammodramus maritimus | R | ☐ |
Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | R | ☐ |
Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | R | ☐ |
Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ☐ | |
Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | ☐ | |
Lincoln’s Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ☐ | |
Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ☐ | |
Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ☐ | |
Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ☐ | |
Rufous-sided Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | ☐ | |
Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ☐ | |
American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ☐ | |
Brewer’s Sparrow | Spizella breweri | R | ☐ |
Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | R | ☐ |
Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ☐ | |
Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ☐ | |
White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ☐ | |
White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae |
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Common Redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ☐ | |
Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ☐ | |
American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ☐ | |
House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ☐ | |
Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ☐ | |
Purple Finch | Haemorhous purpureus | ☐ | |
Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | R | ☐ |
White-winged Crossbill | Loxia leucoptera | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae |
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Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ☐ | |
Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ☐ | |
Purple Martin | Progne subis | R | ☐ |
Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ☐ | |
Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ☐ | |
Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae |
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Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ☐ | |
Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ☐ | |
Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ☐ | |
Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ☐ | |
Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ☐ | |
Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ☐ | |
Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ☐ | |
Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ☐ | |
Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae |
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Northern Shrike / Great Grey shrike | Lanius excubitor | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae |
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American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae |
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Northern Wheatear | Oenanthe oenanthe | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Paridae |
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Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophus bicolor | ☐ | |
Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ☐ | |
Boreal Chickadee | Poecile hudsonicus | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Parulidae |
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Wilson’s Warbler | Cardellina pusilla | ☐ | |
Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ☐ | |
Cerulean Warbler | Dendroica cerulea | ☐ | |
Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ☐ | |
Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | ☐ | |
Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ☐ | |
Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | ☐ | |
Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ☐ | |
Swainson’s Warbler | Limnothlypis swainsonii | R | ☐ |
Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ☐ | |
Connecticut Warbler | Oporornis agilis | ☐ | |
Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | ☐ | |
Mourning Warbler | Oporornis philadelphia | ☐ | |
Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ☐ | |
Louisiana Waterthrush | Seiurus motacilla | ☐ | |
Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ☐ | |
Pine Warbler | Setophaga pinus | ☐ | |
American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ☐ | |
Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora cyanoptera | R | ☐ |
Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | ☐ | |
Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae |
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House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Polioptilidae |
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Blue-grey Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Regulidae |
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Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ☐ | |
Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Sittidae |
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Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ☐ | |
White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Thraupidae |
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Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Troglodytidae |
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Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ☐ | |
Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | ☐ | |
House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ☐ | |
Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae |
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Bicknell’s Thrush | Catharus bicknelli | ☐ | |
Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ☐ | |
Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ☐ | |
grey-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | ☐ | |
Swainson’s Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ☐ | |
Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | ☐ | |
PASSERIFORMES: Tyrannidae |
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Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ☐ | |
Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | ☐ | |
Alder Flycatcher | Empidonax alnorum | ☐ | |
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | ☐ | |
Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ☐ | |
Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ☐ | |
Acadian Flycatcher | Empidonax virescens | ☐ | |
Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ☐ | |
Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ☐ | |
Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ☐ | |
Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | R | ☐ |
PASSERIFORMES: Vireonidae |
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Bell’s Vireo | Vireo bellii | R | ☐ |
Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ☐ | |
White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | ☐ | |
Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ☐ | |
Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ☐ | |
Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | ☐ | |
PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae |
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Great Egret | Ardea alba | ☐ | |
Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ☐ | |
American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ☐ | |
Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | R | ☐ |
Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ☐ | |
Tricolored Heron | Egretta bicolor | R | ☐ |
Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | R | ☐ |
Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ☐ | |
Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | R | ☐ |
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | R | ☐ |
Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ☐ | |
PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae |
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Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus | R | ☐ |
PICIFORMES: Picidae |
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Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ☐ | |
Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | ☐ | |
Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ☐ | |
Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ☐ | |
Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ☐ | |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ☐ | |
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae |
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Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | R | ☐ |
Red-necked Grebe | Podiceps grisegena | R | ☐ |
Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ☐ | |
STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae |
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Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ☐ | |
Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | R | ☐ |
Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ☐ | |
Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ☐ | |
Eastern Screech-Owl | Megascops asio | ☐ | |
Barred Owl | Strix varia | R | ☐ |
STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae |
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Barn Owl | Tyto alba | R | ☐ |
SULIFORMES: Anhingidae |
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Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | R | ☐ |
SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae |
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Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ☐ |
Last updated June 2016