Cumberland Mountain Birding
Birding at Cumberland Mountain
Herons, belted kingfishers, and ducks in migration or wintering can be seen from the lakeshore.
Woodland birds are common. In the summer, expect yellow-billed cuckoo, flycatchers, wood thrush, warblers, blue-gray gnatcatcher, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, and vireos. Red-tailed hawk, woodpeckers, Carolina chickadee, tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, American goldfinch, and eastern towhee may be encountered year-round. One-hundred and five species of birds have been observed.
Featured Birds
- Waterfowl
- Canada Goose
- Mallard
- Bufflehead
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Belted Kingfisher
- American Robin
- American Crow
- Blue Jay
- Northern Cardinal
- American Goldfinch
- Eastern Bluebird
- Brown Thrasher
- Song Sparrow
- Mourning Dove
- Woodland Birds
- Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Vireos
- Barred Owl
- Carolina Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Belted Kingfisher
- Northern Cardinal
- American Crow
- Blue Jay
- Song Sparrow
- Eastern Phoebe
- Brown Thrasher
- Carolina Wren
- Thrushes
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Prairie Warbler
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- White-eyed Vireo
- Common Yellowthroat
- Ovenbird
- Northern Bobwhite
- Owls
- Sandhill Crane
- Sedge Wren
- Marsh Wren
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Solitary Sandpiper
- Least Sandpiper
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Wild Turkey
- Cooper’s Hawk
Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Birding Locations
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Lake Trail Loop
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Canada Goose, Mallard, Bufflehead, Spotted SandpiperThis trail begins near the restaurant, crosses over the dam via the road, and follows the shores of Byrd Lake between the dam and the wooden bridge near the boathouse, offering many views over the lake.
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Black Mountain Parking Area
Featured birds: Warblers, Vireos, Thrushes, Owls, American RedstartBlack Mountain is 2,800 feet in elevation, high enough for bird species preferring moderately high elevation, with a loop hiking trail passing through oak-hickory-pine forest and leading to spectacular sandstone outcrop overlooks into the Grassy Cove Karst National Natural Landmark. Sixty species of birds were identified.
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Catoosa Wildlife Management Area: Oak Savanna Restoration
Featured birds: Red-headed Woodpecker, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, White-eyed Vireo, Common Yellowthroat(Hunting Area) Catoosa WMA contains extensive oak-hickory forest, gravel roads and an actively managed oak savanna restoration area to maintain open woodlands and native grass systems that historically occurred in the region before fire was removed from the system and forests dominated the area. Ninety species of birds identified.
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Yuchi Wildlife Refuge: Observation Platform
Featured birds: Warblers, Thrushes, Vireos, Flycatchers, Owls(Hunting Area) Yuchi Refuge encompasses 2,500 acres on the Tennessee River, with three miles of riverfront, 1,000 acres of wetland, 1,500 acres of upland forest, and extensive grasslands providing habitat for shrubland and grassland birds. Over 155 species of birds have been identified.
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