Charlottesville & Albemarle Birding Guide: Top Spots, Seasonal Birds, and Tips

New to birding? No worries— Charlottesville and Albemarle County are excellent areas to get started. You don’t need fancy gear, just the essentials:

• Binoculars
• eBird app (for beginners, we also recommend the Merlin app as a helpful guide for identifying birds.
• Layers (fall/winter) and bug spray (spring/summer)
• *BONUS* more advanced birders may want to bring photography equipment to document their finds.

Most importantly, remember to practice proper birding etiquette by staying quiet, keeping a respectful distance, and sticking to the trails.

Ivy Creek Natural Area

Ivy Creek Natural Area is a 215-acre preserve bordering the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir with a mix of upland woods, pine stands, open fields, streams, and two miles of shoreline. Its rolling hills and diverse habitats make this a rich birding area year-round, with plenty of spring migrants, summer breeders, and permanent residents. Ivy Creek has a 7-mile network of walking trails, designed and maintained by the Ivy Creek Foundation, makes birding easy for all ages and experience levels.

• Winter: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Swamp Sparrow.
• Spring: Wood Duck, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Acadian Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Pine Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, and Scarlet Tanager.

Riverview Park

Riverview Park, located within Charlottesville city, consists of 26.6 acres bordering the Rivanna River. It contains a two-mile, paved portion of the Rivanna Trail, making it accessible for all birders.

• Fall: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned/Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, White-throated Sparrow, and Dark-eyed Junco.
• Winter: Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, European Starling, House Finch, and Rock Pigeon.
• Spring: Chimney Swift, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Spotted/Solitary Sandpiper, Green Heron, Osprey, Red-eyed/White-eyed Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush, American Redstart, Orchard/Baltimore Orioles, and Yellow-breasted Chat.
• Summer: Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting.

Lickinghole Creek Reservoir

Lickinghole Creek Reservoir, accessible from the Crozet Connector Trail, is one of the largest hotspots in Albemarle County with over 200 species recorded. It’s easy access to water makes it a popular destination with local birders.

• Fall: Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blue Jay, White-throated/Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and American Robin.
• Winter: Canada Goose, Mallard, Song/Field/White-throated Sparrow, European Starling, American Goldfinch.
• Spring: Tree/Barn Swallow, Rusty/Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Solitary/Spotted Sandpiper, and Ring-necked Duck.
• Year-round: Bald Eagle, Song/White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird.

Chris Greene Lake

Chris Greene Lake is a 239-acre park that contains a 53-acre lake and forested rolling hills, making it an excellent location for year-round birding. There are 3 miles of moderately difficult trails, but locals prefer the lake for bird watching. Spotting is easily done by walking the trails along the water, but the lake itself is accessible via boat, kayak or canoe.

• Year-round: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Great Blue Heron, Turkey/Black Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied/Downy/Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker and Tufted Titmouse.
• Fall/Winter: Hooded/Common Merganser, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned/Golden-crowned Kinglet, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, and Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Summer: Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Louisiana Waterthrush, Orchard/Baltimore Oriole, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Tree/Northern Rough-winged/Barn Swallow, Red-eyed/White-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbird, Great Crested/Acadian Flycatcher, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Ragged Mountain Natural Area

Ragged Mountain Natural Area is a 980-acree preserve located just southwest of Charlottesville. This area presents rich wildlife, especially winter ducks, as it is comprised of multiple different ecosystems, all of which can be explored using this interactive map. With 7 miles of well-maintained trails winding through the park, this area is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all experience levels.

• Fall: Migrant Blackpoll, Bay-Breasted Warblers, Hermit Thrush, Pine/Yellow-throated/yellow Warblers, Red/Yellow-throated Vireos, and Chipping/Field Sparrows.
• Winter: Canada Geese, Mallard, Ruddy Duck, Native Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Norther Flickers.
• Spring: Migrating Blue-winged/Tennessee Warblers

Observatory Hill

Observatory Hill, a small mountain on the University of Virginia campus and home to the McCormick Observatory, is a fantastic place to view spring migrants. Charlottesville locals recommend the clearing at the top of the mountain for the best birding, especially in the early morning hours before dawn.

• Spring: Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, Red-eyed/Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat and many warblers such as Nashville, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, and the Ovenbird.

McIntire Park

McIntire Park, centrally located in Charlottesville, is one of the city’s largest and most visited parks. Though it does not boast as many species as other birding spots, it is easily accessible by foot and car. According to locals, the early morning is best for spotting migrant birds and the hill is a prime vantage point for hawk watching.

• Fall: White-crowned Sparrow, Palm Warbler.
• Spring: Eastern Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Orchard Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Eastern Kingbirds.
• Year-round: Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied/Downy Woodpecker, and Cooper’s Hawk.

Saunders-Monticello Trail

The Saunders-Monticello Trail winds 2 miles up Carter Mountain to Monticello with a gentle, wheelchair-accessible incline (never exceeds a 5% incline). The trail is very productive for birdwatching with a variety of habitats, ranging from native plantings and a small pond to canopy-level boardwalks and an older growth forest of Thomas Jefferson’s era. With shifting vistas and rich biodiversity, this trail offers year-round bird-watching opportunities for beginners and experienced birders alike.

• Fall/Spring: American Redstart, Black-throated Green/Black-throated Blue Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Osprey, and Broad-winged Hawk.
• Summer: Green Heron and Wood Thrush
• Year-round: White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Pileated Woodpecker, and Bald Eagle.

Charlottesville and Albemarle County offer a welcoming birding community for all skill levels.

• Ivy Creek Natural Area hosts regular bird walks where beginners and experienced birders can explore local habitats together.
• Join seasonal events like the annual Great Backyard Bird Count in February to contribute to science while spotting favorite species!
• For more resources, workshops, and social outings, the Piedmont Virginia Bird Club provides opportunities to connect with fellow bird enthusiasts throughout the year. They also have a very active Facebook group, where birders can share recent sightings, tips, and photos.

Remember, birding starts small—even spotting a single bird is a victory. Each outing is part of a lifelong journey of discovery and connection with nature. Share your sightings and experiences with us on Instagram and start planning your trip to join the growing community of bird enthusiasts exploring Charlottesville and Albemarle County!