Skyline Wilderness Park

Skyline Park was founded in 1979 when the State leased the land to Napa County to form a park. Skyline is a dry, rocky, chaparral and oak woodland habitat with a well-used trail system which runs through the hills East of Napa State Hospital. Traveling along the trails through chaparral, oak woodlands and mixed deciduous forest, one can find a variety of nesting birds as well as interesting spring and fall migrants. The Martha Walker Native Plant Garden near the parking lot at the beginning of the trail is a rich habitat to locate many species.

Common Resident and Breeding Birds: California Quail, Wild Turkey, Oak Titmouse, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Western Bluebird, Swainson’s Thrush, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Orange-crowned Warblers, Lesser Goldfinch, Black-Headed Grosbeak, and Steller’s Jay are common resident birds. Red-tailed, Cooper’s, and occasional Golden Eagles ride thermals or speed through the forest in search of prey.  Northern Pygmy-Owl, Pileated Woodpecker and Wood Duck are also residents within the park.

Migrants: Sharp-shinned Hawks, Hermit Thrush, Black-throated Gray and Wilson’s Warblers, Western Tanager, Fox, White and Golden-Crowned Sparrows are a few of the migrants and overwintering birds to expect.