Virginia Beach is many things. A beach town. A military hub. A retirement destination with a surprisingly good food scene. But here is something that often catches people off guard:
It is also a perfect place for birdwatching.
Thanks to its coastal location, diverse habitats, and prime spot along the Atlantic Flyway, Virginia Beach attracts an impressive variety of bird species throughout the year. From backyard feeders to wildlife refuges, the city has a lot to offer, whether you are a lifelong birder or someone who just noticed a particularly striking bird outside the window and thought, ” What on earth was that?
This guide covers the best birds of Virginia Beach, where to find them, and how to get started with one of the most rewarding and surprisingly addictive hobbies around.
Why Birdwatching Is a Perfect Hobby for Older Adults
It’s not a coincidence that birdwatching has become one of the most popular hobbies in the country. It’s cheap, calming, and requires no prior experience to enjoy.
For older adults, especially, it checks a lot of boxes:
- Low impact and adaptable: You can birdwatch from a park bench, a back porch, or a nature trail. It meets you exactly where you are.
- Gets you outside: Even a short walk with binoculars in hand counts as movement, fresh air, and a reason to leave the house.
- Mentally engaging: Identifying species sharpens observation skills, focus, and memory in a way that feels more like play than exercise.
- Social on your terms: Virginia Beach has an active birding community with group walks and local clubs for those who want company. But you can enjoy this activity solo, as well.
- Good for the soul: Research consistently links time in nature to reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and improved mood.
Not bad for a hobby that basically just requires you to look up once in a while.
Virginia Beach: A Birdwatcher’s Backyard
Most people come to Virginia Beach for the ocean. Birders come for everything else.
The city’s position along the Atlantic Flyway makes it a natural pit stop for migratory species moving up and down the East Coast. Add in the mix of habitats, from oceanfront and wetlands to forest trails and backyard feeders, and you have a location that supports an extraordinary range of bird life year-round.
The Virginia Society of Ornithology has documented 494 species across Virginia. A good number of them pass through, or take up permanent residence in, Virginia Beach. Some are easy to spot from a park bench. Others require a little more patience and a decent pair of binoculars.
Either way, you probably won’t have to travel far to find something worth stopping for.
Birds of Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach delivers a surprisingly diverse cast of characters depending on the season, the habitat, and how closely you’re paying attention.
Here’s a starting point.
Backyard and Feeder Birds
According to Project FeederWatch, a citizen science program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, these are among the most frequently spotted birds in Virginia Beach.
A feeder and a window seat will get you pretty far with this group of birds.
Northern Cardinal
Hard to miss, especially the male, who shows up at the feeder looking like he dressed for a special occasion. Brilliant red from head to tail, year-round resident, and one of the most reliably spotted birds in Virginia Beach backyards.
Carolina Chickadee
Small, quick, and completely unintimidated by humans. The Carolina Chickadee is one of the easiest birds to attract to a feeder and one of the most entertaining to watch. Its two-note whistle is a sound most Virginia Beach residents recognize without knowing what it belongs to.
American Goldfinch
Brilliant canary yellow in summer, understated olive in winter, which trips up a lot of newer birders who don’t realize they’re looking at the same bird. They’re big fans of Nyjer seed if you want to attract them to a feeder.
Carolina Wren
Tiny, round, and absurdly loud for its size. The Carolina Wren is a year-round resident in Virginia Beach with a territorial streak and a song that carries well beyond what you’d expect from a bird that fits in your palm.
Coastal and Waterbirds
Virginia Beach’s oceanfront and waterways bring a whole different cast of characters.
Brown Pelican
A Virginia Beach icon. Brown Pelicans cruise the coastline in formation and dive for fish with an accuracy that never quite gets old to watch. Spot them along the oceanfront or fishing piers throughout the warmer months.
Great Blue Heron
Tall, gray, and completely unbothered. The Great Blue Heron stands motionless near the water’s edge for what seems like an unreasonable amount of time before striking with impressive speed. Found near virtually any body of water in the area.
Laughing Gull
The soundtrack of summer on the Virginia Beach boardwalk. Named for its distinctive, unmistakable call, the Laughing Gull is as much a part of the oceanfront experience as sunscreen and sand.
Osprey
One of the most impressive fishers in the bird world. Ospreys dive feet-first into the water and almost always come up with something. Common along the coast and around Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge throughout the warmer months.
Migratory and Special Visitors
Virginia Beach’s position along the Atlantic Flyway means the roster changes with the seasons. These are worth keeping an eye out for, depending on the season.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
One of the most commonly spotted warblers in Virginia Beach during their autumn migration, and a good one to start with if warblers are new territory. Look for the distinctive yellow patch just above the tail.
American Oystercatcher
Striking black and white plumage with a vivid orange bill that looks almost cartoonishly bright in person. Found on beaches and mudflats, and one of those birds that stops you mid-walk. They live in the area year-round, but they’re easiest to spot between March and September.
Bald Eagle
Yes, they’re here. Bald Eagles are more common in Virginia Beach than most people realize, particularly near water and around Back Bay. Spotting one for the first time, even for seasoned birders, never really gets old. Your best chance at spotting one is between December and June.
Tundra Swan
A winter visitor worth waiting for. Tundra Swans arrive in the cooler months and can be spotted at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and nearby areas. Seeing a large flock in flight is one of those moments that reminds you why people get into birding in the first place.
Best Spots for Birdwatching in Virginia Beach
The good news is that some of the best birding in Virginia Beach requires nothing more than a walk you’d take anyway.
- First Landing State Park: Virginia’s most visited state park offers 20 miles of trails through forest and wetland habitat, making it one of the best spots in the area for woodland species.
- Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Widely considered one of the premier birding destinations on the East Coast. Shorebirds, waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors all pass through Back Bay, and the refuge’s remote, unhurried atmosphere makes it worth the trip to the southern end of the city.
- The Oceanfront and Boardwalk: Accessible, flat, and full of coastal activity. The boardwalk is an easy place to spot gulls, pelicans, terns, and migratory species without straying far from amenities.
- Mount Trashmore: Don’t let the name fool you. This beloved Virginia Beach park is a surprisingly solid spot for backyard species and open-area birds, and the wide, flat paths make for comfortable walking.
Best Spots for Birdwatching in Virginia Beach
The good news is that some of the best birding in Virginia Beach requires nothing more than a walk you’d take anyway.
- First Landing State Park: Virginia’s most visited state park offers 20 miles of trails through forest and wetland habitat, making it one of the best spots in the area for woodland species.
- Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Widely considered one of the premier birding destinations on the East Coast. Shorebirds, waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors all pass through Back Bay, and the refuge’s remote, unhurried atmosphere makes it worth the trip to the southern end of the city.
- The Oceanfront and Boardwalk: Accessible, flat, and full of coastal activity. The boardwalk is an easy place to spot gulls, pelicans, terns, and migratory species without straying far from amenities.
- Mount Trashmore: Don’t let the name fool you. This beloved Virginia Beach park is a surprisingly solid spot for backyard species and open-area birds, and the wide, flat paths make for comfortable walking.
| What You Need | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Binoculars | The one essential tool. A basic $30-$50 pair works fine for beginners |
| Merlin Bird ID App | Free app from Cornell Lab that identifies birds by photo, description, or sound |
| A Notebook | Optional, but keeping a life list is one of birding’s great traditions |
| Comfortable Shoes | Early morning trails are the best birding spots, dress for it |
| Patience | The most important tool of all, and the only one that’s completely free |
The Birds of Virginia Beach Are Waiting
Virginia Beach is one of those places where nature has a way of showing up, whether you’re looking for it or not. A pelican gliding past the pier. A cardinal at your backyard feeder. A Bald Eagle circling over Back Bay that stops everyone on the trail.
Birdwatching has a way of turning an ordinary walk into something a little more interesting. It sharpens your attention, gets you outside, and connects you to the rhythms of a place in a way that’s hard to replicate.
For residents at Atlantic Shores, that connection starts right outside the door. Virginia Beach’s trails, refuges, and waterways are all within easy reach, making it one of the better backyards a birder could ask for.
If you’d like to learn more about life at Atlantic Shores and everything the surrounding area has to offer, we’d love to show you around. Schedule a visit and see the community for yourself.
