John Heinz NWR at Tinicum
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is one of the most popular birding spots in Pennsylvania for good reason: it is a premier spot to find migrant waterfowl, shorebirds, herons and songbirds. Located in both Philadelphia and Delaware Counties, in the shadow of Philadelphia International Airport, this urban oasis also provides vital nesting habitat for several wetland bird species that are rare in Pennsylvania, including Marsh Wren and Least Bittern. The refuge includes the only remaining freshwater tidal marsh in the Commonwealth.
For the IBA conservation plan, {link:click here|http://pa.audubon.org/IBA_Consplans/IBA73.pdf}.
For fact sheet, {link:click here|http://pa.audubon.org/Sites/Site73.pdf}.
For more information, visit the {link: official refuge website|http://www.fws.gov/heinz/index.html}.
Ornithological Summary
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum boasts a bird list of nearly 300 species. In the fall, thousands of shorebirds and waterfowl pass through the refuge. Some waterfowl linger over the winter depending upon the availability of open water. In the spring, waterfowl pass through again, along with smaller numbers of shorebirds. During the summer nesting season the refuge hosts several nesting wetland bird species of conservation concern, including Marsh Wren and Least Bittern. The refuge is also a key habitat for songbirds, especially during the spring and fall migrations.
Birds in This Area

Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos

Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Sora
- White-eyed Vireo
- Brown Thrasher
- Common Goldeneye
- European Starling
- Green Heron
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Northern Parula
- Pine Warbler
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Spotted Sandpiper
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- American Redstart
- Black-billed Cuckoo
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Common Grackle
- Field Sparrow
- Green-winged Teal
- Lesser Scaup
- Northern Pintail
- Prairie Warbler
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Stilt Sandpiper
- White-throated Sparrow
- American Robin
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Bufflehead
- Common Loon
- Fish Crow
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Swainson's Thrush
- Wild Turkey
- American Tree Sparrow
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
- Canada Goose
- Common Merganser
- Forster's Tern
- Hermit Thrush
- Little Blue Heron
- Northern Saw-whet Owl
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Ruddy Duck
- Swamp Sparrow
- Willow Flycatcher
- American White Pelican
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Common Nighthawk
- Fox Sparrow
- Herring Gull
- Long-eared Owl
- Northern Shoveler
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Rusty Blackbird
- Tree Swallow
- Wilson's Phalarope
- American Wigeon
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Canvasback
- Common Tern
- Gadwall
- Hooded Merganser
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Northern Waterthrush
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Savannah Sparrow
- Tricolored Heron
- Wilson's Warbler
- Baird's Sandpiper
- Blackpoll Warbler
- Cape May Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Glossy Ibis
- Hooded Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Orchard Oriole
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Scarlet Tanager
- Tufted Titmouse
- Winter Wren
- Bald Eagle
- Blue Grosbeak
- Carolina Chickadee
- Cooper's Hawk
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Horned Grebe
- Mallard
- Osprey
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Semipalmated Sandpiper
- Tundra Swan
- Wood Duck
- Baltimore Oriole
- Blue Jay
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- American Goldfinch
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Carolina Wren
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Gray Catbird
- House Finch
- Marsh Wren
- Ovenbird
- Red-necked Phalarope
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Turkey Vulture
- Wood Thrush
- Bank Swallow
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Caspian Tern
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- House Sparrow
- Merlin
- Painted Bunting
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Short-billed Dowitcher
- Veery
- Worm-eating Warbler
- Alder Flycatcher
- Barn Owl
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Cattle Egret
- Downy Woodpecker
- Great Black-backed Gull
- House Wren
- Mourning Dove
- Palm Warbler
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Snow Bunting
- Virginia Rail
- Yellow Warbler
- American Bittern
- Barn Swallow
- Blue-winged Teal
- Cedar Waxwing
- Dunlin
- Great Blue Heron
- Killdeer
- Mourning Warbler
- Pectoral Sandpiper
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Snow Goose
- Warbling Vireo
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
- American Black Duck
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Cerulean Warbler
- Eastern Kingbird
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Laughing Gull
- Mute Swan
- Peregrine Falcon
- Redhead
- Snowy Egret
- Western Tanager
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- American Coot
- Belted Kingfisher
- Bobolink
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Eastern Phoebe
- Great Egret
- Least Bittern
- Northern Cardinal
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Ring-billed Gull
- Solitary Sandpiper
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- American Crow
- Black Scoter
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Chimney Swift
- Eastern Towhee
- Great Horned Owl
- Least Sandpiper
- Northern Flicker
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Ring-necked Duck
- Song Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- American Golden-Plover
- Black Tern
- Brown Creeper
- Chipping Sparrow
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Least Tern
- Northern Harrier
See all »
Reverse the Rollback of the MBTA
Speak out to reinstate critical bird protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Get Audubon in Your Inbox
Let us send you the latest in bird and conservation news.

Find Audubon Near You
Visit your local Audubon center, join a chapter, or help save birds with your state program.

Become an Audubon Member
Membership benefits include one year of Audubon magazine and the latest on birds and their habitats. Your support helps secure a future for birds at risk.
