Description
Over 200 bird species have been observed at Jamestown Island, a low-lying island vegetated with short grasses and open woodlands. It offers the birding historian varied habitats to explore, including brackish and freshwater marshes, piney woods, riverside, and pond habitats.
Immediately east of Jamestown Settlement, the island projects into the James River and is separated from the mainland by the Back River and an inlet known as The Thorofare. The island’s 3 and 5-mile, one-way driving loops provide visitors with interpretive exhibits of the area’s early industry and agriculture. During migrations, park visitors should integrate an exploration of the pine woodlands into the historic tour. The woodlands surrounding the Visitor’s Center are one of the most reliable local areas for seeing brown-headed nuthatch, and the forests throughout the island host a variety of woodland birds. The fresh and salt marsh prairies are home to species of egrets, herons and other wetland-loving species. The footbridge behind the Visitor Center crosses a swampy depression that offers a good vantage point to view frogs and turtles, including the eastern mud turtle.
Note: Admission fee or National Park pass required to tour the Island Loop Drive.
Wildlife Sightings
Birds Recently Seen at Historic Jamestowne, a unit of Colonial National Historical Park:
- Lesser Scaup
- Ring-billed Gull
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Turkey Vulture
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Downy Woodpecker
- American Crow
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
233 species have been reported at this site to date.
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 2026 | 26 | Deborah H |
| 24 Jan 2026 | 23 | Craig Marshall |
| 24 Jan 2026 | 29 | Eli Kenyon |
| 23 Jan 2026 | 33 | Alexander Holloway |
| 22 Jan 2026 | 5 | Hugh Beard |
Amenities & Accessibility Considerations
Site Amenities
- On-site Parking
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Site Amenities: Hiking Trails, Interpretive Program/Events, Visitor/Nature Center
Maps & Directions
Physical Address: 1368 Colonial Parkway, Jamestown, Virginia 23081
From I-64, take exit 242A for Route 199 West. Follow 199 West to the Colonial Parkway, then follow the signs to Historic Jamestowne.
From Williamsburg, take Colonial Parkway 9 miles south to the Historic Jamestowne Visitor Center.
Site Information
Managed By:
- National Park Service
Access Requirements:
Contact Information:
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.