Birding

Staunton River State Park

434-572-4623, StauntonRiver@dcr.virginia.gov

Staunton River State Park offers outstanding birding opportunities thanks to its location at the confluence of the Dan and Staunton Rivers, where expansive open water, riparian forests and surrounding fields create a rich blend of habitats. These varied landscapes support year-round bird activity and attract numerous migratory species, making the park an inviting destination for birdwatchers of all experience levels.

Type of birds

Popular sightings within the park span a wide range of groups, including wading and shoreline birds such as herons, egrets and cormorants; waterfowl like geese, ducks and mergansers and powerful raptors including eagles, osprey, hawks and falcons. Owls, from barn and screech to great horned, barred, and saw-whet, are also well represented. The park's forests and fields host a variety of woodpeckers, along with an extensive mix of songbirds including vireos, swallows, nuthatches, wrens, bluebirds, robins, waxwings, sparrows, warblers, tanagers, buntings and mockingbirds. Ground-dwelling species such as wild turkey and bobwhite appear regularly, as do night birds like the whip-poor-will and scavengers including turkey and black vultures.

Best time of year to observe

While many birds can be seen throughout the year, fall and spring offer the most dynamic viewing experiences. During these peak migration periods, a wider variety of species move through the area, making sightings more frequent and often more exciting. Year-round residents remain active in every season, but the transitional months bring an added burst of activity that makes birdwatching especially rewarding.

Best places in the park to observe

The park has several overlooks on the Staunton River and Dan River. These overlooks provide sweeping views where waterfowl can often by spotted. If you are up for a hike, the River Bank Trail is a great place to encounter many different species in their native habitat. Many songbirds frequent the park's pollinator fields, and if you are lucky you may even see a hawk hunting over one of these fields.

Special birding programs and events

The park offers wildlife viewing programs throughout the year, many focus specifically on birds. Often some of the best encounters occur while on one of our many guided hikes.

See all Birding Events

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