City Island Birds

Updated 6/29/26

City Island Birds

Since 2007

Welcome to City Island Birds. My name is Jack Rothman. I created this website and birding club because this area of New York City is little known and underutilized by birdwatchers and other nature lovers. Pelham Bay Park, with its woods and wetlands is a critical stopover and nesting area to many migratory species.

Our Mission

City Island Birds was created in 2007 to bring birders, and would be birders, to the park. Everyone has always been and always will be welcome. Our walks are always inclusive, friendly, non-competitive, fun and free. We all love to see great birds, but without each other, it's never as enjoyable.

Saul's Science Watch

My birding buddy Saul has been writing wonderful science articles for the Hudson River Audubon Society. You can link for years of wonderful insights and information. Just scroll to the bottom of the page for a complete list of the articles.

Tech Ready

Five Quick Beginning Birding Suggestions

1. Go out with a group or an experienced leader. You'll learn how to use binoculars, find birds, meet interesting and friendly people.

2. Wear appropriate clothes. Weather is always a little more extreme in open spaces. Don't wear your brand new $200 running shoes. It can be muddy.

3. Most leaders have binoculars to lend if you don't have your own. Opera glasses are pretty useless for birding. If you want to buy a pair, email me and I will make suggestions depending on your budget.

4. Bring a snack and water. Most walks are a few hours. You'll see that birding is not fast walking. Expect to be moving slowly.

5. Get a portable field guide to bring with you when you bird alone. Use it at home too. Look for the Peterson or Sibley guide.

Home Contact About

This is the Wilson's Warbler that was on the path over the City Island Bridge, see above. He was difficult to photograph as he moved quickly, high up in the foliage. You can easily ID the bird by the cap on top of it's head. He is sometimes jokingly referred to as the Jewish Warbler, because of the "yarmulke" on his head.

One of the many nesting Baltimore Orioles you can find on the path over the City Island Bridge along the shoreline.

Names Given To Groups of Birds

Based on History and Literature

From The Verb To Bird, Peter Cashwell (Paul Dry Pub. 2003)

A gaggle of geese ( in water)

A charm of finches

A tiding of magpies

A descent of woodpeckers

A mustering of storks

A parliament of owls

A host of sparrows

A siege of herons

An unkindness of ravens

A cast of hawks

An ostentation of peacocks

A murder of crows

A walk of snipe

From An Exaltation of Larks, James Lipton (Penguin pub. 1993)

A party of jays

A gatling of woodpeckers

A murmuration of starlings

(in air)

A clutter of starlings

(on ground)

A mutation of thrushes

A fall of woodcock

A skein of geese (in air)

An exaltation of larks

A shimmer of hummingbirds

A spring of teal ( ducks)

A sorde of mallards

A rafter of turkeys

A descent of woodpeckers

A convocation of eagles

A leash of merlins

Upcoming Birding Tours with Jack

At this time there are no planned walks. It's nesting time, most birds are trying not to be seen. It addition, they hunker down in the shade, trying to stay cool. In a few weeks the shorebird migration will begin. When it arives locally, we will have a walk.

Questions? Contact me, jack@cityislandbirds.com

One of the many nesting Yellow Warblers you can't help but see anywhere in the park. The reddish stripes help identfy it as a male.

Pete Dunne, in his book, Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How-to, Where-to and When-to of Birding:

"The difference between a beginning birder and an experienced one is that beginning birders have misidentified few birds. Experienced birders have misidentified thousands."

A terrific ABA blog post called "Birding is Hard" from April 22, 2015 can be found here.

The always singing Warbling Vireo is not so easy to find. They occupy the tops of the trees foraging for insects. It's also a very non-descript bird, especially when contracted with the Indigo Bunting pictured alongside it.

Tree Swallows are also easily found in the park.

A beautiful and noisy male Orchard Oriole. They nest all over Pelham Bay Park. Note the chestnut body which helps with identifying the bird.

I always check the shoreline as I walk over the City Island Bridge. This American Oystercatcher was foraging in the mud.

Lots of Barn Swallows to be found, mostly flying.

This Indigo Bunting was in the southern zone of the park about 3 weeks ago. He was very cooperative and gave us good views.

I haven't seen one here yet but Black Skimmers like this one have been arriving in the Orchard Beach Lagoon.

Summer Birding

Temperature extremes can make birding difficult, especially in the summer. On a sunny day, most birds will avoid the heat by laying low. They will hunker down in a cool spot and try to avoid being seen. In addition, most species are nesting or have recently finished nesting. There are predators everywhere and being hidden is one way to avoid being eaten. This combination makes summer birding difficult. In addition, the summer heat makes it difficult for us to be out. In mid-July, shorebirds will begin to migrate. That means coastal areas will begin to see the movement of shore birds as they move south. Our area is no exception. Mud flats are best places to find shorebirds and we can find them in Pelham Bay Park at low tide, as well as other nearby areas. Right now, there are no scheduled walks. Most birding clubs have few walks, or none at all at this time.

Nevertheless, on some cool mornings I find myself out birding. I usually park my car near the Dunkin' Donuts on City Island, walk over the bridge and amble along the path that hugs the shore. There are a variety of species that are fairly active in the early morning if you're patient. A week or so ago I managed 29 species. Had I continued onto Orchard Beach I would have had a few more. There are many Gray Catbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow Warblers and Red-winged Blackbirds. There are American Redstarts, Willow Flycatchers, and maybe a remaining Wilson's Warbler. I have seen it there many times earlier in the month. The path brings you to the south end of Orchard Beach. From there you can try for the Cliff Swallows that attach their nests on the pavilion walls and walk to Hunte Island if you're feeling energetic. To find the Cliff Swallows, scan the area to see them bringing food to their nestlings.

When you go out, avoid the grassy areas. There are many ticks in our woods. I've been quite careful myself and have sprayed my birding clothing with permethrin to keep them away. Have a great summer!