Kissena Park and Corridor

Kissena Park and Corridor

Kissena Lake hosts waterfowl such as Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser, while its rich shoreline habitat attracts both migrating and nesting songbirds. Photo: Wally Gobetz/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Located in Flushing, Queens, Kissena Park is a 235-acre greenspace constructed along the historical route of Kissena Creek—which, buried over time by development, is now represented above ground by Kissena Lake itself and nearby marsh habitat. The park is believed to have been named using the Chippewa term “kissina,” meaning “It is cold” or “cool water.” This substantial park consists partly of land originally operated as a nursery—nurseries in this area received specimens from early-19th-century explorers Lewis and Clark, and supplied some of the plantings used to landscape Central Park. 

Kissena Park provides excellent bird habitat and is particularly productive during fall migration; eBirders have documented over 200 bird here. Rarities seen here over the years have included Pink-footed Goose, Swallow-tailed Kite, Golden Eagle, Northern Shrike, Sedge Wren, Golden-winged Warbler, and Blue Grosbeak. 

The park, which runs roughly east to west, is connected on both ends to the two sections of Kissena Corridor Park, two ribbons of greenspace created, like Kissena Park itself, upon 19th-century railroad right-of-way. The Corridor connects Kissena Park to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park on the western side, and with Cunningham Park to the east. The western end of the Corridor is anchored by Queens Botanical Garden. This connected series of parklands, a fulfillment of Robert Moses’s plan for an “emerald necklace” in Queens, also forms part of the Brooklyn-Queens Greenway.
The distinctly patterned head of the male Purple Finch is a helpful field mark. Photo: David Speiser
The distinctly patterned head of the male Purple Finch is a helpful field mark. Photo: David Speiser
American Redstarts may breed in Kissena Park. Photo: David Speiser
American Redstarts may breed in Kissena Park. Photo: David Speiser
Owls such as the Long-eared Owl are sometimes found roosting in Kissena Park. Photo: François Portmann
Owls such as the Long-eared Owl are sometimes found roosting in Kissena Park. Photo: François Portmann
Birding Highlights by the Season
(no star = birding is not very productive, = somewhat productive, ✸✸ = productive, ✸✸✸ = very productive)
 
Spring Migration ✸✸
Warblers, tanagers, orioles, and sparrows, and other songbirds; some wading birds, waterfowl, and freshwater shorebirds
 
Summer ✸✸
Foraging wading birds; foraging and possible nesting Chimney Swift, Hairy Woodpecker, Willow Flycatcher, American Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, House Wren, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles
 
Fall Migration ✸✸
Flycatchers, warblers, kinglets, thrushes, sparrows, and other songbirds including possible grasslands species such as Bobolink, Dickcissel
 
Winter ✸✸
Wintering waterfowl incuding Hooded Merganser and Northern Shoveler; Ring-billed Gull; accipiters and Great Horned Owl; songbird and sparrow feeding flocks including Fox and American Tree Sparrow
 
Year-Round Highlights
Wood Duck and common dabbling waterfowl, Red-tailed Hawk; possible Ring-necked Pheasant; woodpeckers including Hairy Woodpecker; Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch

Get Oriented

The Vesper Sparrow's chestnut shoulder patch is a helpful field mark, when it's white tail edges are not visible. Photo: Tim Lenz/CC BY 2.0
The Vesper Sparrow's chestnut shoulder patch is a helpful field mark, when it's white tail edges are not visible. Photo: Tim Lenz/CC BY 2.0
KIssena Park
KIssena Park includes the freshwater Kissena Lake, brushy areas that are excellent for sparrows, and a diverse variety of tree species that provide good stopover habitat (legacy of the park’s horticultural roots). The Park also hosts the City’s only velodrome, two war memorials, and playgrounds and sports facilities including a golf course.

The northern section of the park around the lake may be entered at numerous points, in order to arrive at the lake. The main entrance is at Rose Ave. and Parsons Blvd. Birders often enter at the southern end, by the Velodrome, where there is a small parking lot (Booth Memorial Ave. and Parsons Blvd.). The way to the lake from there is roundabout, however, so this southern access point is best used for exploring the woods on the eastern end. 

The lake is regularly visited by wintering waterfowl such as Northern Shoveler and Hooded Merganser, accompanied by wintering contingent of Ring-billed Gulls. Wood Duck is often seen here year round, and in spring you may catch the Wood Ducks shepherding their ducklings around the edges. Other waterbird species frequently seen here include Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, and the occasional Black-crowned Night-Heron. A small marshy area hosts nesting Red-winged Blackbirds. For migrating warblers and other songbirds, check the green areas on the lake’s edge, the stairway edges, and the hill east of the lake.
Wood Ducks nest in Kissena Park. Photo: François Portmann "}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> Wood Ducks nest in Kissena Park. Photo: François Portmann
 
The Park hosts a number of passerines over the summer that are likely breeders, including Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Red-winged Blackbird, and both Baltimore and Orchard Oriole. Several woodpecker species are here; year-round, including Hairy Woodpecker; this is also a very good spot for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Purple Finch, and Orange-crowned Warbler during fall migration. 

Brushy areas in the park (notably the southwest corner) and the Corridor have provided habitat for a continuing population of Ring-necked Pheasant for many years; unfortunately, of this writing the population appears to have been decimated by predators, probably foxes and feral cats (the last documented sighting was June 2019). These areas continue to be good for migrating sparrows in fall, however—Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows are regularly seen, and Vesper, Field, and Lincoln’s Sparrows are very possible. Fox Sparrow is frequently observed over the winter, and occasionally American Tree Sparrow.
An American Kestrel hovers as it searches for prey. Photo: Isaac Grant "}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> An American Kestrel hovers as it searches for prey. Photo: Isaac Grant
 
In the morning, before bicyclists get there, the Velodrome and nearby athletic fields early can offer interesting sightings such as Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink. Freshwater shorebirds are seen occasionally in puddles in and next to the athletic fields.

Both Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks are seen during migration and are also winter residents—as is Great Horned Owl. Red-tailed Hawks have nested in the area by the lake and in the Corridor, and are seen year-round. The Corridor and Velodrome areas are good for American Kestrel and sometimes Peregrine Falcon. Unusual owls have been found in past years, including Long-eared Owl and Saw-whet Owl.kissena-west-qbg
Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo: Devin Grady/Audubon Photography Awards
Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo: Devin Grady/Audubon Photography Awards
Kissena Corridor Park “West” and Queens Botanical Garden
To the west of Kissena Park proper lies the western section of the Kissena Corridor Park, providing connection to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. The Corridor includes wooded and brush areas accessible by a network of trails, and can be surprisingly productive for its size. This is a good spot for warblers and other songbirds during migration. (The eastern Corridor Park, “Cunningham Corridor,” while it may also hold surprises during migration, is less birdy than the eastern portion.)

Queens Botanical Garden, with its diversity of shrubs and trees, provides good stop-over habitat for migratory songbirds. NYC Audubon leads bird walks here during Fall migration, in partnership with the Botanical Garden. 
Eastern Meadowlarks may stop through the scrubby habitat of Kissena Park and Corridor. Photo: Melissa James/Audubon Photography Awards "}" data-trix-content-type="undefined" class="attachment attachment--content"> Eastern Meadowlarks may stop through the scrubby habitat of Kissena Park and Corridor. Photo: Melissa James/Audubon Photography Awards
 

When to Go 

To see birding highlights at Kissena Park and Corridor by the season, see the top of this page. 

To learn about bird migration times and get other timing tips, see the When to Bird in NYC guide on our Birding 101 page.


For park operating hours, see the “Directions and Visiting Info” section, below.
 

eBird

View eBird hotspot records for Kissena Park, Kissena Corridor Park, and Queens Botanical Garden to explore recent bird sightings, species bar charts, and more. (Click on “Hotspot Map” at left to see the other nearby hotspots.)

Personal Safety

The recreational areas of Kissena Park, off of Rose Ave. and around the lake, are heavily used, even in early morning hours, and are safe. Other areas, including the woods and the Corridor, are not always maintained or patrolled, and birders may want to bird with a friend. Birders should beware of poison ivy and ticks in the wooded and brushy areas around the velodrome, and the Corridor. 

Guided Bird Walks

The Queens County Bird Club, a nonprofit organization founded in 1932, offers frequent bird and nature walks and trips in Queens parks and beyond, along with lectures and presentations focused on birds, natural history, and conservation topics. 
 

Directions and Visiting Information

See a Google map to Kissena Park.

Parking is available the Velodrome on Booth Memorial Ave., where there is a small parking lot, or along local streets. (There is no direct path from the Velodrome to the lake area, so newcomers may want to park in the Rose Ave. area.)

Public Transportation: The western section of Kissena Corridor Park and Queens Botanical Garden are within walking distance (10-15 minutes) of the 7 Train Flushing Main Street station (the line’s terminus). Several bus lines also provide access from the Flushing Main Street Subway station to Kissena Park and Corridor, including the Q17, Q25, Q34, Q44, or Q65.

See NYC Parks pages for Kissena Park and the Kissena Corridor Park for operating hours, directions, park maps, and additional background information.

Visit the Queens Botanical Garden website

Acknowledgments

Thanks to those who provided local birding expertise for this page: César A. Castillo and Donna Schulman (2020)