A warbler with a distinctive fan-like tail that they use to flash and startle bugs into the open to catch them.  Most often seen in trees but can also be seen hunting for bugs in bushes.  Males are black and orange while females are gray and yellow.  

One of the most common birds that you will see year round in NYC.  Brick orange breast and dark gray back.  Sings often!

The American Woodcock, also known as a Timberdoodle, is a master at camouflage.  They blend perfectly with the leaves and they are very easy to miss.  They migrate to and from the Northern and Southern US twice a year and sometimes make a layover in NYC and specifically in McGolrick Park.  These birds are very secretive so if you do happen to see one, make sure to give it space and try to not scare it.

A handsome warbler with a slate blue back, white belly and black throat.  This bird likes to forage regularly in these bushes when they visit NYC.

Mostly seen foraging for bugs on tree bark, this zebra-like warbler is fan favorite.  

The park police.  Blue Jays often announce when there are hawks or other predators in the area with their loud calls.  Blue jays can be seen year round here and sometimes you can see them poking around these bushes. 

A very secretive large bird with a strong striped chest. This guy likes to think of this area as his thrash pad.

In case you didn't know, there are many different kinds of sparrows and a handful of them travel through NYC twice a year.  The Chipping Sparrow is a frequent visitor during this time.  Look for a very small sparrow with a brown cap and a stripe through the eye.

Common Grackles are one of the first signs of Spring in NYC!  They come in Spring, stay for the Summer and then go back South in the Winter.  Look for black birds with long tails compared to European Starlings.  They're usually around big leaf piles rooting around, looking for bugs.

A very charming warbler that likes to stay low.  Often seen jumping in and out of the bushes.  Just like its name implies, it has a bright yellow throat and an olive back.  Males have a black Zorro mask.

The Dark-eyed Junco is a kind of Sparrow that winters in most of the US and summers in Canada.  It has a charcoal gray back and a white belly.

The Eastern Towhee is a medium to large sized sparrow.  It has rusty sides and males have black backs.  A treat to see one.

As its name implies, this bird originated in Europe and was brought to the US.  It is now one of the most common birds you will see in the US and in NYC parks.  They also have many calls are quite noisy. They are black with speckles, iridescent green highlights and short tails.

One of the most unique sparrows that come to the park, the Fox Sparrow is a medium sized, rusty brown and heavily streaked chest. 

Fast and small, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is hard to get a good look at, but when you do, you will be charmed.  When agitated sometimes you will see a neon orange mohawk emerge from its crown.

Related to the Northern Mockingbird, the Gray Catbird is also able to mimic other birds calls and form their own songs.  Also, much like their name implies, they also make a call that sounds similar to a cat's meow.  It is medium sized, slate gray with a black cap and is often seen in bushes. 

The Magic Bushes are one of the Hermit Thrushes favorite places.  This bird travels from Mexico to Canada and usually takes a long break in NYC on both migratory journeys.  They are in the same family as Robins so you might notice they will stand upright and walk with a similar demeanor.  Distinguish the Hermit Thrush and Swainson's Thrush apart from each other by their tails.  Hermit Thrushes have reddish tails and Swainson's have brown tails.

The Hooded Warbler is a rare visitor to the park only stopping here for a day or two during their migration journeys.  These little birds travel from places like the Yucatan and Cuba up to the Northern US to breed in the Summer and then back down south to Winter.  They are one of the few warblers that forage on the ground so these bushes are an important stop on their journey.  They are bright yellow and males have black "hoods" around their face.  They are rad.

Like the European Starling, this bird originated in Europe and was brought to the US in 1851.  It is now one of the most common birds you will see in the US and in NYC parks.  

The Lincoln's Sparrow is a more secretive sparrow and a rare visitor to the park.  It has a Wren like song and thin chest stripes.  Excuse the poorly taken photo by the author.

OK, I know, a duck?!  But it's true a male and female Mallard were once seen here in these Magic Bushes. 

One of the most common species that you will find in the park.  Buffy, chubby bodies with a beautiful, haunting song.

No photos for this guy!  Probably the most secretive warbler and is rarely seen.  They have a dark gray head, a little black smudgey neckline and a bright yellow belly.  In Spring listen for their calls in late May.

This picture represents the female Cardinal.  You might be more familiar with the bright red males.  Cardinals can be found year round in McGolrick and can sometimes be seen in these bushes.

The Northern Flicker is a Woodpecker, but it mainly eats ants which is why they are often seen on the ground.  Look for a tan body with a polka dot chest and a red patch on the neck.  The Flicker also has bright yellow under feathers which you can see flash when it flies.

Northern Waterthrushes generally like swampy areas but it has on occasion visited the park and has ended up in these special bushes.  They have striped chests and a bold white stripe above the eye, with a bobbing walk.

The adorable Ovenbird!  It walks like a chicken, has a striped chest, an orange mohawk and loves these bushes!  Through the duration of Spring and Fall migration you will often see several Ovenbirds foraging in this area.  

It's easy to distinguish this warbler from the others because it is one of the few warblers that bobs its tail.  In Spring it is bright yellow with a brown cap.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker can be seen here for most of the year and can sometimes be seen foraging around these bushes.  It has a red skullcap  and a black and white patterned back. 

Vireos are migrating songbirds like warblers but they are a bit larger and have thicker beaks.  The Red-eyed Vireo has a bold stripe through the eye and an olive back.

I think it's safe to say you've seen a pigeon before.  These guys like this area too!

These are amazing looking birds and are sometimes called "cut-throats" due to the bright red feathers going down their necks.  Rose-breasted grosbeaks are long distance travelers, coming from Central and South America often in one night!  Usually found in trees but they sometimes forage on the ground, too.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are fast and small, like Golden-crowned Kinglets.  And they also have neon red mohawks that come out when agitated.

The Song Sparrow can be seen throughout the year in other NYC parks but they only make an appearance in McGolrick Park during migration.  Look for a striped head and a bold striped chest.

A Swainson's Thrush is almost identical to a Hermit Thrush (upright, brown and a striped chest)  however, Swainson's Thrushes have brown tails and Hermit Thrushes have reddish tails.  Interestingly, Swainson's winter in South America, as opposed to Hermit Thrushes that winter in Mexico.

Another sparrow visitor to the park during migration.  Look for a grayish head and brown flanks.

The Tufted Titmouse is a winter resident in McGolrick Park.  They are very social and often flock together, sometimes with other species like Nuthatches and Chickadees.  Looks for small gray birds with a distinctive peaked crest.

The Veery is in same family as the Hermit and Swainson's Thrushes. They have a distinctive chestnut color and very light speckles on their chests.  Like others in the Thrush family, they forage on the ground so the magic bushes are a hot spot for them.

The White-throated Sparrow is a Winter resident in the park.  Every fall, anywhere from 6-12 White-throats will come to McGolrick Park and frequently congregate around these bushes.  One of their calls sounds just like a human whistling.  So if you are around this area and hear something whistling a diddy it could be a White-throated Sparrow.  Look for a sparrow with a striped head, yellow eye lores and a white throat.

The White-crowned Sparrow has only been seen a handful of times in the park as it is mostly a West Coast bird.  This picture of a male was taken under these special magic bushes.

Tiny, brown and very fast!  If you're lucky you might see one tearing through this area.  Winter Wrens, unlike House Wrens, have a white eye stripe and small white speckles.

Yellow-rumped Warblers, affectionally called "butter-butts" have a bright yellow patch on the bottom part of their backs.  These warblers forage in the trees and the ground.