Birding

Powhatan State Park

Powhatan State Park on the Historic James is located in central Virginia and approximately 45 minutes from Downtown Richmond. Natural resources include wooded areas, open fields, and river frontage.

Type of birds

Spring/Summer: Meadows (Turkey Trail, Coyote Trail, Park Office): Indigo bunting, Blue grosbeak, Tree swallow, Orchard oriole, Bobolink (brief in May), Goldfinch, Common yellowthroat, Bobwhite, Wild turkey, Killdeer, Bluebird, Prairie and Yellow warblers. Forest (Big Woods, Cabin, River Trail, Riverbend): Scarlet and Summer tanagers, Baltimore oriole, Wood thrush, Red-eyed vireo, Eastern towhee, Great crested flycatcher, Barred, Screech, and Great horned owls. River (River Trail, Sycamore Overlook, Launch A/C): Prothonotary warbler, Bald eagle, Osprey, Belted kingfisher. Fall/Winter: Meadows: Woodcock, White-throated sparrow, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks, Northern harrier. Forest: Golden- and Ruby-crowned kinglets, Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Cedar waxwing, Pileated and Red-headed woodpeckers, Northern flicker, Yellow-rumped and Pine warblers, Common raven. River: Wood duck.

Best time of year to observe

Year-round sightings of the red-shouldered hawk and red-tailed hawk. April is excellent for viewing the indigo bunting and the American goldfinch. The summer is your chance to see yellow warblers, osprey and bald eagles. Fall is a good time to view wild turkey. For those who camp with us, late evening and early night are great times to listen for owls such as the screech owl and barred owl. Visit eBird for a list of bird observations.

Best places in the park to observe

Parking at the Trailhead/equestrian parking lot allows access to the field sections of Big Woods, Cabin, and Turkey Trails. Parking at the overflow parking lot in front of the River Bend Campground allows access to Coyote Run Trial which travels in and out of the field and woods edge.

Special birding programs and events

Guided birding walks by season, year round, in the morning Woodcock Watch: viewing of their courtship flights, January-February, at sunset-dusk Owl Prowl: night hikes to search for barred owls, screech owls, and great horned owls, summer-fall, at dusk-night Great Backyard Bird Count in February, in the morning-afternoon

See all Birding Events

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