Birding Virginia
As a mid-Atlantic state, the geographic location of Virginia makes it one of the more interesting places to watch birds. From the sandy coastline of the beaches to the sharp ridges of the Appalachians, there is a wide variety of habitat. The capital, Richmond, is about halfway between the borders of Maine and Florida, and, as might be expected, some species reach their northernmost extension here, whereas others are at the southern edge of their range. Bachman’s sparrow, more often associated with pine plantations and scrubby fields of the southern United States, is occasionally seen in Virginia, and the purple finch, state bird of New Hampshire, breeds at higher elevations in the mountains.