Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park is the Bronx's largest park at over 1,100 acres, encompassing mature forest, freshwater marsh, open meadows, and a large lake that together support more than 250 bird species. The park's Northwest Forest is the largest remaining tract of old-growth woodland in New York City and provides critical stopover habitat for migrating songbirds.

The Van Cortlandt Lake and adjacent marsh attract migrating shorebirds, herons, and waterfowl, while the ridgeline above the Croton Aqueduct trail offers excellent hawk watching during fall migration. Breeding birds include Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-shouldered Hawk, and various woodpecker species in the forest interior.