Shenandoah Birds - Traveler @ Home

Bird Pictures

If you like birds, then Shenandoah National Park is the place to be, especially in the spring and fall during migration season. In the woods, you will find many warblers, vireos, towhees, buntings, and countless other birds. On higher ridges and peaks, such as Hawk's Bill and Stoney Man summits, when the conditions are right, you will also witness the mass migration of raptors.

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

I believe it was Scott Weidensaul (author of Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians which I highly recommend) who said that "warblers are the glory of the New World". How true. In the spring the forests in Shenandoah Nationarl Park are bursting with these colorful and melodious little spirits. They are one of my favorite birds, but they are also notoriously hard to capture (in picture, that is), for they are active, restless and full of energy. The American Redstart is probably one of the more common warblers in the park.

American Redstart

The Chestnut-sided Warblers are also easy to find.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

The Hooded Warbler is another often encountered warbler.

Hooded Warbler

The Canada Warbler is not as common, at least that is my experience, so seeing one is always a treat.

Canada Warbler

Besides warblers, vireos are another large group of migrating songbirds, among which are the Blue-headed Vireo.

Blue-headed Vireo

Other migrating birds.

Gray Catbird

Sparrows are not as colorful as warblers, but I like them too.

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Swallows are also neotropical migrants, and one of the best place to see them is at the Thornton Gap entrance station, where they nest under its rafters.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

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