Common bird species are easy to spot in the Catskills, including Northern cardinals (males are red, females brown), Black-capped chickadees, common sparrows, woodpeckers, swallows, Slate-colored Juncos, warblers and thrushes.
Game birds that a watchful bird watcher can spot (or hunt) in the Catskill Mountains include pheasant, wild turkey, several variety of ducks, Canada geese (also a migratory bird) and grouse.
Although beautiful, the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a common feature of the Catskill Mountains and considered to be encroaching upon other species. New York officials believe that Canada Geese have exceeded proper population limits.
Sighting endangered or "at-risk" species in the Catskills is a real treat. Audubon lists the following species found at the Catskills as at risk: American Black Duck, Osprey Eagle, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, American Woodcock, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Cerulean Warbler, and Canada Warbler.
Audubon lists several species of birds living in the Catskill peak areas over 3,000 feet. These include: Swainson's Thrush, Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Hermit Thrushes, Magnolia Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. Audubon also lists two species that live over 3,500 in elevation: Bicknell's Thrushes and Blackpoll Warblers.
