ew York City may seem like the least likely place to observe wildlife. But looking closer, the city teems with a vibrant array of animals, an ecosystem amid the concrete jungle. Much of this wildlife can be found overhead, by observing the birds who make their homes in New York's trees, rooftops and skies.

An entire subculture has developed around this avian diversity: the hobby of birdwatching, often called birding. Enthusiasts track the city's bird life, beginning with the common pigeon to the endangered piping plover. Read on and learn more about New York's birds and the birders who watch them.

ABOVE PHOTOS: Jonathan Matsey (left and center) and Diego Graglia (right)