Birds in the Golden Gate National Parks

Volunteers gathered on a dirt hilltop against a blue sky, looking through telescopes on tripods. In the foreground one person points up.
Hawkwatch Returns August 2025 while Hawk Hill Gets a Makeover

Hawkwatch is on and we can’t wait to begin a new season of documenting the annual migration of thousands of birds of prey! While we normally welcome visitors during the season, Hawk Hill's summit will be closed to the public this fall due to the Hawk Hill Visitor Improvement Project. Check out our other suggested viewing spots!

White Crowned Sparrow
Beginner Birding
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Come join a Ranger Guided Hike and Birding Program with a Marin Headlands Interpretation Ranger! Learn all about the many different types of birds that call the Marin Headlands home while hiking along the scenic Rodeo Lagoon Loop Trail beginning at Rodeo Beach.

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Portrait of birder Daniela Sánchez with binoculars on a birding trip.
How to find birds 'slowly' in national parks

Many people flock to birding because they love birds' beautiful plumage, their intricate songs, or their entertaining antics. For Daniela Sánchez, it was serendipity.

Peregrine Falcon with chicks
Expert Peregrine Falcon viewing tips from Alcatraz Biologist Lidia D’amico

For the first time, you can see the fledgling family of Peregrine Falcons growing up on Alcatraz! See expert tips how to spot these birds of prey while visiting the island.

A brownish Red-tailed hawk perches on green evergreen branches with a blue sky background.
How are rodenticides affecting raptors?

Anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) are used to control pests, but secondary exposure can affect non-target species like raptors. Researchers tested juvenile Red-tailed Hawks to learn more. 

A small bird sits in the center on a branch with a white sky background and many green oak leaves and brownish twigs below.
What's causing changes in Kestrels?

Data from seven fall raptor migration sites show that not only have kestrel numbers have been declining across North America, they've also been getting smaller. 

A woman in a purple coat stands at the right of the photo with arm extended. A brown & cream hawk flies with wings extended on left. Background is a partly cloudy sky with the Golden Gate bridge and San Francisco Bay, and in the foreground green shrubs
Which Red-tailed Hawks migrate when?

Red-tailed Hawks are common raptors in the Bay Area, yet males and females can be difficult to tell apart. Researchers used DNA and small differences in size to better understand their migration.

Close-up of a kestrel's face.
How does raptor migration timing vary?

At GGRO, we observe that female raptors typically migrate before males and juveniles typically migrate before adults. How does this compare to findings at other observation stations?

A white and brown Broad-winged Hawk soars against a blue sky.
Where do Broad-winged Hawks go in California?

We don't know much about Broad-winged Hawks' migration along the Pacific Flyway, so GGRO volunteers tracked the journeys of five. Where did they go?

A brown-colored Merlin flying wings spread against a pale blue sky
Messy eaters: what's on Merlins' migration menu?

A novel technique collecting songbird DNA from migratory raptors, and using DNA barcoding to identify prey species, helps quantify raptor diet during migration and track trends through time.

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