According to the Saw Mill River Audubon Society, over 400 species of birds have been observed in Westchester County. For some they are a part of the visual and aural scenery, and for others, an endless source of information and inspiration. It’s easy to get started with birding, and there are many existing resources to help you figure out what you are seeing.

Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates with feathers and scaly feet. They lay eggs and typically provide parental care by sitting on the eggs and caring for hatchlings and nestlings.

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Community Science

Get started birding in your own backyard, or join others for special seasonal bird watches!

Resources, Events & Ideas

• It’s impossible to beat the Audubon Society when it comes to birding. Check out the Westchester County chapters: Bedford Audubon, Saw Mill River Audubon, Bronx River-Sound Shore Audubon Society, and the Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester. Just over the line in Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society also has some great programs.
• There are wonderful bird identification tools available from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You can also take online courses to improve your skills!
• The Feather Atlas is useful for identifying found feathers.
• Visit raptors and other birds at nature centers. Typically these birds have been injured and nursed back to health by a rehabilitator, but they cannot be returned successfully to the wild.
  Teatown Lake Reservation
  Greenburgh Nature Center
• Read H is for Hawk, a memoir about one woman’s grief and her relationship with a goshawk.
• Crows are smart, social creatures. Check out this quick video about them from PBS’ Deep Look.
• Visit Teatown’s EagleFest in February.