Bird-watching in Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

Birding is a popular pastime in Joshua Tree. During the fall migration, which runs from mid-September through mid-October, there are several reliable sighting areas. At Barker Dam you might spot white-throated swifts, several types of swallows, or red-tailed hawks. Lucy's warbler, lesser goldfinches, and Anna's hummingbirds cruise around Cottonwood Spring, a serene tree-shaded setting where you'll likely see the largest concentrations of birds in the park. At Black Rock Canyon and Covington Flats, you're likely to see LaConter's thrashers, ruby crowned kinglets, and warbling vireos. Rufus hummingbirds, Pacific slope flycatchers, and various warblers are frequent visitors to Indian Cove.