Harriman State Park is New York’s second-largest state park. Its more than 47,000 acres stretch across Rockland and Orange Counties, offering exceptional birding opportunities. Because of its size and varied habitats, birding experiences can differ dramatically from one area of the park to another.

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Harriman supports an impressive diversity of breeding birds thanks to its extensive forests, wetlands, lakes, streams, and early successional habitats. Approximately 250 birds have been documented in the park. Confirmed breeding species include (but are not limited to):

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Warblers:
• Hooded Warbler
• Worm-eating Warbler
• Ovenbird
• Chestnut-sided Warbler
• Northern Yellow Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• American Redstart
• Louisiana Waterthrush
• Blue-winged Warbler

 

Other notable confirmed breeding species:
• Acadian Flycatcher
• Eastern Wood-Pewee
• Eastern Phoebe
• Great Crested Flycatcher

• Eastern Kingbird
• Scarlet Tanager
• Eastern Whip-poor-will
• American Woodcock
• Black-billed Cuckoo (uncommon)
• Eastern Towhee
• Indigo Bunting

• Field Sparrow
• Broad-winged Hawk
• Great Horned Owl (including documented begging immature birds near Lake Sebago)

 

Additional likely breeding species:

• Cerulean Warbler — consistent summer presence suggests breeding, although additional confirmation would be valuable.
• Eastern Screech-Owl — year-round presence and documented courtship behavior suggest breeding.

 

Notable Birding Highlights

Harriman’s size, diverse habitats, and location along the Hudson Valley migration corridor make it capable of producing memorable birding moments throughout the year. In addition to its impressive breeding diversity, the park has hosted a variety of unexpected and noteworthy visitors.

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In August 2025, Lake Welch produced an exceptional Olive-sided Flycatcher migration event. Over the course of the season, multiple individuals were documented throughout Harriman, including an unusual gathering of four juvenile Olive-sided Flycatchers observed together at Lake Welch. Their behavior provided a rare glimpse into the poorly understood period after young birds leave the nest before journeying to their winter grounds.

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Other notable observations at Harriman include four immature Red-headed Woodpeckers at Lake Welch during the winter of 2023–2024, whose extended stay coincided with an exceptional acorn crop. One individual, nicknamed “Blaze,” was studied extensively throughout the winter, providing insight into territorial behavior, food caching, and seasonal changes in this species.

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Golden Eagles have also been observed at Harriman, including sightings at Lake Sebago and Lily Pond, and a Snowy Owl has been recorded at Lake Welch. These observations highlight the potential for unexpected discoveries throughout this large and diverse park.

 

Harriman is also an excellent location for migration, with a wide variety of habitats supporting numerous spring and fall migrants. Explore individual hotspots for more information.

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Note: Because of the park’s size and rugged terrain, many productive areas are remote or have limited parking availability. Some locations can require a longer walk or careful planning before visiting.

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Harriman can be very crowded on weekends during the warmer months. Plan your outing accordingly.