Pictures of Brown Birds at Rockefeller State Park Preserve

This gallery features many different bird species I’ve photographed in Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pleasantville, NY. These include carolina wrens, cedar waxwings, mourning doves, northern flickers, brown-headed cowbirds, and more. Folks who have viewed this gallery comment that they were unaware of all the bird species in the park. This may be because brown-colored birds blend more easily into the surroundings and are not always easily seen or recognized.

I like photographing all birds, but some of my favorites in this category are northern flickers and cedar waxwings. Northern flickers are migratory birds at the park, and their loud calls are easy to recognize in the spring and fall. In 2024, I photographed northern flickers building a nest over several weeks. These pictures are available in this gallery. Flickers seem to prefer being high up in trees, and I’m happy when I can get a clear shot of one.

Cedar waxwings are also migratory birds and often travel in flocks as they forage for food during fall and winter. I’ve photographed some of these flocks and have some great pictures of how waxwings descend on a berry bush and quickly devour the berries. I find they sometimes travel with american robins as they move in flocks, which makes photographing these birds even more interesting.

Since there are so many bird species in this gallery, there are no specific trails at Rockefeller State Park Preserve, where I’ve seen more than other trails. I’ve photographed cedar waxwings on the Pocantico River Trail, Farm Meadow, and Cantor Alley. I’ve found northern flickers in the trees near the park office, Farm to Meadow Trail, and Douglas Hill Trail.

Click on a picture below to open the full-size gallery. Controls at the bottom center of the photos let you navigate through the gallery, start a slide show, or close the gallery. Enjoy the pictures!

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A small brown and white songbird perched on a tree branch with a blurred background of trees.

A small bird perches on a tree stump surrounded by bare branches in a natural setting.

A mourning dove perched on a tree branch with a blurred sky in the background.

A small brown-headed blackbird perched on a branch with a blurred background.

Two mourning doves perched on a branch in a bare, wooded area.

A small bird perches on a branch with budding red flowers, looking upward against a clear blue sky.

A small bird with brown and white feathers perches on a thorny branch against a blurred background.

Four birds perched on branches of a leafless tree with small berries against a light sky background.

Bird perched in a tree's bark, surrounded by dried leaves and vines.

A small brown bird with a white belly and striped head sits on a branch surrounded by twigs against a blurred background.

A small bird perches on a tangled, grassy nest attached to a tree branch against an overcast sky.

A small bird with brown and white plumage perches on a wire next to a wooden post, set against a blurred green background.

Two small birds perched on a wire fence, against a blurred natural background.

A northern flicker perched on a lichen-covered tree branch with a blurred background of fall foliage.

A northern flicker with a gray head and spotted body clings to the side of a tree trunk in a forest.

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