New York is home to a wide variety of bird species, with a total of 503 being seen in the state from 67 different families.
While many of these species, 249 to be exact, do stop and breed in the state, many others use the state as a stopover on their way north to their breeding grounds or south on their way to their wintering grounds.
New York has a wide range of habitats throughout its range, from coniferous and deciduous forests, lakes, ponds, grasslands, marshes, swamps and ocean shores. With this variety of habitats, many species are able to survive, breed and make this state their home. From waterfowl, shorebirds, birds of prey, songbirds and everything in between. It is also in the path for so many species as they migrate.
These species can be as small as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird or as large as a Trumpeter Swan. As common as the introduced Rock Pigeon, or as elusive as the Long-eared Owl. Colorful as an American Goldfinch or cryptically colored like an Eastern Whip-poor-will.