Thank you for visiting my gallery of the wild birds of the New York region. It’s not meant to be a complete gallery of New York birds, but is a dynamic photo record of birds I’ve personally observed in the region. All photos are taken by me, Betsy McCully, unless otherwise stated.

I’ve arranged the birds according to the habitats in which they’re typically found. In breeding season, their habitat is where they nest; in non-breeding season or in migration, it’s where they find food. For example, downy woodpeckers nest in tree cavities and therefore require a woodland habitat; in winter, however, they may come to your backyard feeder. In addition to arranging birds according to their typical habitats, I’ve grouped them into categories, such as shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, etc., and within each category listed them alphabetically by common name, usually the second part of the name, such as plover, sandpiper, turnstone, willet, etc. Beneath the photo’s caption you’ll find a few details about where and when the bird was observed, its habitat, and its conservation status if declining or threatened. I use the data from Cornell’s excellent site, allaboutbirds.org.

All photos are of birds that can be seen in the New York region, whether year-round, in migration, as occasional visitors, winter residents, or breeders.  I’ve been birding the New York area for 20-plus years, but I am human and make mistakes. I welcome your feedback by contacting me at the email address below.

I hope my gallery may help you identify some of the birds you find in the New York region. See the New York Birds page for a list of suggested print guides and websites. The gallery will be updated regularly, so check back for more. Also take a look at my Flickr photo site, https://www.flickr.com/people/betsymccully.

If you wish to use any of the photos, please see the Terms of Use page before contacting me at the email address below.

–Betsy McCully

Birds of Coastal Waters, Wetlands, Shores

Shorebirds

Wading Birds: Egrets, Herons, and Ibis

Waterfowl: Loons, Ducks, Geese, Swans

Seabirds: Gulls, Terns, and Skimmer

Waters, wetlands, shores: Belted Kingfisher

We have only one kingfisher species.

Waters, wetlands, shores: raptors and an owl

Waters, wetlands, shores: Blackbirds and crow

Waters, wetlands, shores: Flycatcher

Waters, wetlands, shores: Sparrows

Waters, wetlands, shores: Swallows

Birds of Grasslands and Scrub

Bobolink (blackbird family)

Grassland Birds: Bunting, Dickcissel, Horned Lark, Sparrows

Grassland Birds: Kingbirds (Flycatchers)

Grassland Birds: Game Birds

Grassland Birds: Raptors

Grassland Birds: Sandpipers, Plovers, Egret, Crane

Grassland Birds: Barn Swallow

Grassland Birds: Brown Thrasher (Mimidae)

Grassland Birds: Eastern Bluebird (Thrushes)

Grassland Birds: Warblers

Birds of Woodlands and Forests

Woodland Birds: Cardinals and Allies (Bunting, Grosbeak, Tanager)

Woodland Birds: Gray Catbird (Mimidae family)

Woodland Birds: Chickadee, Titmouse, Nuthatches

Woodland Birds: Crow and Blue Jay (Corvids)

We have one jay, the Blue Jay.

Woodland Birds: Cuckoos

Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Black-billed Cuckoo are breeders

Woodland Birds: Dove

Our only dove is the Mourning Dove.

Woodland Birds: Finches

Woodland Birds: Flycatchers

Woodland Birds: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Kinglets

We have two kinglets, the Golden-crowned (not Illustrated) and the Ruby-crowned.

Woodland Birds: Orioles

Our only orioles are the Baltimore and Orchard orioles (latter not illustrated).

Woodland Birds: Raptors (Hawks and Owls)

Woodland Birds: Sparrows and Allies (Junco, Towhee)

Woodland Birds: Thrushes

Woodland Game Birds: Turkey

Woodland Birds: Vireos

Woodland Birds: Waxwing

Woodland Birds: Wood-Warblers

Woodland Birds: Woodpeckers

Woodland Birds: Wrens

c. Betsy McCully 2018-2020