United States Ramsar wetland
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
271 bird species recorded; the most in May and in October.
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain
This month here
144 species in January.132 species in February.124 species in March.161 species in April.185 species in May.129 species in June.128 species in July.157 species in August.162 species in September.182 species in October.135 species in November.144 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
VU
NT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
271 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 271Speciesrecorded more than once
- 173Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 12ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 51,695Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 15Raptors
- 5Owls
- 31Waders
- 20Gulls & seabirds
- 32Ducks & geese
- 19Herons, ibises & grebes
- 122Songbirds
- 27Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 271 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii
Owls5 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusVU
Waders31 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- WilletTringa semipalmata
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- American WoodcockScolopax minor
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Piping PloverCharadrius melodusNT
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaVU
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisVU
Gulls & seabirds20 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
- Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Black SkimmerRynchops niger
- Least TernSternula antillarum
- Royal TernThalasseus maximus
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Gull-billed TernGelochelidon nilotica
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
Ducks & geese32 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- American Black DuckAnas rubripes
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- RedheadAythya americana
- American ScoterMelanitta americanaNT
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Black-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
Herons, ibises & grebes19 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Green HeronButorides virescens
- Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea
- Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis
- Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
Songbirds122 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- House finchHaemorhous mexicanus
- Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis
- Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor
- Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus major
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaNT
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Junco hyemalisJunco hyemalis
- Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis
- Purple MartinProgne subis
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Seaside SparrowAmmospiza maritima
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Pine WarblerSetophaga pinus
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus
- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- Eastern phoebeSayornis phoebe
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- Saltmarsh SparrowAmmospiza caudacuta
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
- Toxostoma rufumToxostoma rufum
- Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula
- Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataNT
- Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum
- Red Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Field SparrowSpizella pusilla
- Northern ParulaSetophaga americana
- Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens
- Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor
- White-eyed VireoVireo griseus
- Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia
- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea
- Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens
- Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaNT
- Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea
- Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina
- Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius
- Shore LarkEremophila alpestris
- White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVU
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Buff-bellied PipitAnthus rubescens
- Nelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoni
- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- DickcisselSpiza americana
- Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
- Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons
- Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum
- Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens
- Summer TanagerPiranga rubra
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Grey-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus
- Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaVU
- Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca
- Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea
- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusNT
- Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Orchard orioleIcterus spurius
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- Canada warblerCardellina canadensis
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Hooded CrowCorvus cornix
- Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina
- Blue-winged warblerVermivora cyanoptera
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica
Other birds27 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Tsįįłkaałii bitłʼaaʼ halchíʼígííMelanerpes carolinus
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris
- Yellow-shafted FlickerColaptes auratus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Clapper RailRallus crepitans
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaVU
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- American CootFulica americana
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Allen's HummingbirdSelasphorus sasin
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus
- Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusNT
- Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis
- Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensisNT
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Black-billed cuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus
- Rallus longirostrisRallus longirostris
- Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliope
- Colinus virginianusColinus virginianus
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in May and in October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan5°/-1°81 mm
- Feb6°/-1°85 mm
- Mar9°/2°105 mm
- Apr14°/7°94 mm
- May19°/12°89 mm
- Jun24°/18°106 mm
- Jul27°/21°111 mm
- Aug27°/21°109 mm
- Sep24°/18°90 mm
- Oct19°/12°117 mm
- Nov13°/6°99 mm
- Dec8°/2°119 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey, United States
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United States.
271 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 51,695 open records.
The most recorded are the American Herring Gull, the Mourning Dove and the Mallard.
94 species come for the summer, 77 for the winter and 2 only pass through.
12 are threatened worldwide, including Grey Plover, Lesser yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitcher.
The most species are recorded in May and in October.
Get there and watch
- Official informationAccess, hours and rules from those who manage the place.Official site↗
- Sea Pirate Campgroundcampsite · 3.2 km · 6 within 10 km
- Amberviewplace to stay · 7.2 km · 32 within 10 km
- Tuckertonnearest town · 2.0 km in a straight line
- Atlantic City International Airport (ACY)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 27 km in a straight lineCar hire at PHL airport (Philadelphia)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 12car parks within 3 km
- 7restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 6campsites within 10 kmSea Pirate Campground, Baker's Acres Campground, Atlantic Shore Pines Campground and 3 more
- 32places to stay within 10 kmAmberview, Bayview, Shelter Harbor Condominiums and 29 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- observation towers within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- viewpoints within 5 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas1 mountains within 25 kmSpring Hill · 23 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
United States
- 88Birdyas Score
- 271Species
- 173Migrants
- 12Threatened
Cape May National Wildlife Refuge
United States · 66 km
- 90Birdyas Score
- 326Species
- 219Migrants
- 13Threatened
Connecticut River
United States · 251 km
- 89Birdyas Score
- 306Species
- 209Migrants
- 16Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q5346225) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 51,695 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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lakes
Every lake on Earth: water temperature, ice, depth and the shore.Visit mountains
Every summit in 3D: summit weather, the 0 °C line, huts and trails.Visit 
waterfalls
Every waterfall: height, flow month by month and when it roars.Visit 
islands
Every island from the sea up: size, sea temperature, ferries and 3D.Visit 
rivers
Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
Where the night is still dark: the sky of every place, the Milky Way month by month, the Moon, eclipses and auroras.Visit 
viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
Every bird sanctuary and wetland with the species recorded month by month: who is resident, who comes for the summer, who only passes through.You are here
forests
Every forest with its land-cover rings, what grows and lives in it, and the best months to walk it.Coming soonVisit