Iconic bird of New Jersey Usa Cape May

Common Birds of New Jersey Usa Cape May

Cape May, New Jersey is North America's premier migration watchpoint β€” thousands of raptors, shorebirds, and songbirds funnel along the Delaware Bay peninsula each spring and fall.

480+
Total species
0
Endemics
15
Threatened
May, Sep–Nov
Best months
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1. Red KnotNear Threatened
Calidris canutus

One of the world's great migration spectacles β€” tens of thousands fuel up on horseshoe crab eggs along Delaware Bay beaches in May before the final sprint to Arctic breeding grounds.

πŸ“ Delaware Bay beaches, May onlyπŸ—“ May
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2. Peregrine FalconLeast Concern
Falco peregrinus

Cape May Point is the USA's best inland Peregrine watchpoint β€” dozens fly south in October, resting on dune fences and stooping at migrating shorebirds on the beach.

πŸ“ Cape May Point SP, Higbee BeachπŸ—“ Sep–Oct
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3. Painted BuntingNear Threatened
Passerina ciris

Rare but regular in autumn at Cape May β€” the male's red, blue, and green plumage causes excited crowds to converge whenever one appears at the feeders at Cape May Bird Observatory.

πŸ“ Cape May Point, Higbee Beach WMAπŸ—“ Sep–Oct
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4. American OystercatcherLeast Concern
Haematopus palliatus

Nests on barrier island beaches along the Cape May shore β€” the bold black-and-white plumage and vivid orange-red bill make it unmistakable on the intertidal flats.

πŸ“ Stone Harbor, Avalon, Cape May beachesπŸ—“ Apr–Aug
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5. Broad-winged HawkLeast Concern
Buteo platypterus

The most spectacular Cape May hawk migration β€” on optimal Sept days, thousands of Broad-wings kettle in towering columns visible from the hawk-watch platform.

πŸ“ Cape May Point during southeast windsπŸ—“ Sep
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6. Piping PloverNear Threatened
Charadrius melodus

Nests on open sandy beaches along New Jersey's coast β€” small numbers are protected at managed sites throughout the Cape May peninsula during breeding season.

πŸ“ Brigantine beach, Cape May barrier islandsπŸ—“ Apr–Aug
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7. American WoodcockLeast Concern
Scolopax minor

Performs spectacular spiral sky-dance displays at dawn and dusk in March β€” Higbee Beach woodlands host dozens of displaying males audible from the parking lot at dusk.

πŸ“ Higbee Beach WMA, damp thicketsπŸ—“ Mar–Apr
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8. Black SkimmerLeast Concern
Rynchops niger

Skims the water surface with the elongated lower mandible slicing through to catch fish β€” large colonies nest on New Jersey barrier island beaches and feed in tidal channels.

πŸ“ Stone Harbor, Avalon beachesπŸ—“ Jun–Sep

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