Birdwatching at Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, TN 2025
The natural area just 20 minutes from Nashville is home to the greatest songbird migration in Tennessee
Best time: late April–early May | late September–early October
Birdwatching in Radnor Lake State Park is an adventure for the whole family. Importantly, it doesn't require any special skills or equipment except for curiosity and a pair of binoculars.
For over 100 years, this hardwood forest and the lake have attracted more than 20 species of songbirds. The area is a great place for spotting all the warblers of Tennessee, including Connecticut and Mourning warblers—frequent guests in early May. During the spring and fall migration, unusual guests like Louisiana and Northern waterthrush, Least flycatcher, and Yellow-bellied flycatcher are also spotted along the trails of the park. Besides them, owls, herons, and waterfowl are year-round residents of the park.
The peak seasons for birdwatching on Radnor Lake are spring and fall. Due to the migration, the area near the lake is crowded not only with tourists but hundreds of birds. The best days to visit Radnor Lake State Natural Area for migration-watching are the last two Wednesdays in April and September and the first two Wednesdays in May and October. On these Wednesdays, the Tennessee Ornithological Society usually runs birding trips. What an excellent chance for birdwatching enthusiasts not just to observe but to hear more about species from professionals!
Fees and hours
The admission to Radnor Lake State Park is free, but you need to pay for the birdwatching tour. The park is open from 6 am to dark all year round.
