Birding

Hungry Mother State Park

276-781-7400, HungryMother@dcr.virginia.gov

Hungry Mother State Park encompasses over 3,300 acres of woodlands, wetlands and a scenic 108-acre lake. Its 17 miles of trails wind through mixed hardwood forests, rhododendron and laurel thickets, open meadows and lakeshore edges that create varied habitats where birdwatchers can enjoy casual outings year-round.

Type of birds

Warblers are common in spring and fall. Birders will often find the northern flicker, pileated, downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. There are several species of wood warblers nesting within the park, including Northern parula and black-throated blue, black-and-white and yellow-throated warblers, with neotropical migrants plentiful in spring and fall. Birders also regularly report red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanager, ovenbird and wood thrush. Bald eagles, along with red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, can be year-round residents, and osprey return seasonally. The lake holds resident ducks and geese, plus common loon and other shorebirds during migration and crows and vultures. Local eBird checklists have logged rarities such as a tropical brown booby that turned up at the park in 2022, one of its most notable sightings, along with waterfowl like Northern pintail, Northern shoveler, blue-winged teal and red-breasted merganser.

Best time of year to observe

Spring and fall migration bring the greatest variety of species, thanks to the heavy movement of neotropical migrants through the park. Winter is prime time for waterfowl on the lake, and summer is best for hearing/seeing nesting warblers and vireos in the canopy.

Best places in the park to observe

The lake, beach and boat ramp area are best for waterfowl and shorebirds. The wooded trails, hemlock ravines and canopy areas are best for warblers, vireos and woodpeckers. One birder/naturalist account of the 4-mile Clyburn Ridge Loop trail turned up 29 species in a single early-June outing, including Northern parula and hooded warblers, black-and-white warblers, American redstart s and a red-tailed hawk. More broadly, the park's 18 miles of trails cross a lake bordered by steep mountain shoreline, mixed deciduous hardwood forest, rhododendron and laurel thickets, hemlock ravines and grasslands, so mixing trail sections with a lakeside stretch covers the widest range of habitats.

Special birding programs and events

The park offers bird hikes and lectures on hummingbirds, crows, owls and more. Evening prowls and bird-specific kayaking and canoeing programs are sometimes offered as well. The park also participates in the Great Backyard Bird Count each February, with an Owl Prowl and guided bird hikes as part of the event, all free and open to bird watchers of all skill levels. The park's biggest annual event is the Life's Extras Birding Celebration, held the first weekend in May, honoring longtime volunteer and Virginia Master Naturalist Randy Smith.

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