Birds in Maryland - USA Birds

Maryland has become a bird watcher’s paradise, with over 400 distinct species of birds. Local birding organizations have become more prevalent in recent years, and Maryland businesses now provide guided and self-directed trips.

Maryland is famous for its state bird, the Baltimore Oriole, but many other species call Maryland home due to the state’s ecosystem and climate.

In Maryland, about 100 species are classified as vagrants or accidentals, having been discovered only once or a few times. Approximately eleven species are extinct, have been extirpated as breeding species from Maryland, or have not been observed breeding in the state in recent years and maybe extirpated.

Identification of birds takes time. Only significant field experience can help you develop advanced identifying skills. While the difficulties of Maryland bird identification deter many people from taking up the sport, there are a few things that can aid you in your quest. Field experience makes it easier and easier to recognize a bird, even in difficult viewing conditions.

Year-Round Maryland Birds

These birds adore Maryland and have opted to permanently hang their tiny hats here. You can detect them at any time of year if you know where to look, which we will explain momentarily. This year, see if you can find one of the following year-round resident birds:

Red-eyed Vireo
Chipping Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Louisiana Waterthrush
Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Seasonal migratory Birds in Maryland

Maryland has four distinct seasons, altitudes ranging from sea level to 3,600 feet, and is on the Eastern migratory flyway.

Fall

Fall is warm, sunny, and birdy! Many of the “confusing fall warblers” migrate south in September. By October, the leaves are a rainbow of colors, and raptor migration is booming. Snow Geese and late-migrating sparrows arrive. By November, ducks flock to marshes, bays, and ocean shores. If you are lucky enough to be nearby after a hurricane, you may see uncommon pelagic and other species thrown off course.

Winter

Winter, however chilly and blustery, is a birding paradise, especially when it has been really cold further north. Waterfowl are abundant along the coast and in marshes. Raccoons and other raptors survive, as do bluebirds, finches and woodpeckers. The Yellow-rumped is our only winter warbler. Seasonal White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. Northern Gannets, Red-throated Loons, and Surf Scoters can all be seen from the coast. Snow Buntings, crossbills, and even Snowy Owls have been known to irruption in the Canadian boreal regions.

Spring

Even when it rains in Maryland, early in the season, when trees and shrubs are not fully leafed out, even elusive passerines can be observed. Birds can feed, shelter, and nest in the abundant flowering trees and bushes later in the season. In March and April, ducks and raptors migrate north. Take your pick from shorebirds to terns to orioles in May. Others will stay for the summer. Building nests and raising chicks by June.

Summer

Summer is scorching, but early-morning birding is usually bearable. Adults are busy caring their nests in June, when nearby passerines are nesting. Male birds perform territorial songs in the forests and meadows. By July, most birds have finished breeding, however some species may have second or third broods. In August, enormous flocks of shorebirds arrive on local mudflats, beginning in dribs and drabs in July. A number of species, including egrets and herons, migrate south by late August.

Birds of prey in Maryland

Maryland is the ninth smallest state in the union, covering around 9, 774 square miles of territory, slightly larger than Vermont. Even though it is a small state on the east coast of the United States, it is home to several huge birds of prey. This section will discuss twenty different species of birds of prey found in Maryland, including hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons.

Raptors are critical markers of the health of the environment. Farmers benefit from raptors present in agricultural areas, called Farmland Raptors, since they prey on mice, voles, and insects. These species nest effectively in broad regions of grassland or agricultural fields.

Maryland native birds including Barn Owls (Tyto alba) and American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are two CAVITY nesting species that breed in Maryland and are experiencing widespread, long-term reductions. Both the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) and the Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) nest on the GROUND. The latter two species are uncommon to rare breeders and are more frequently encountered in Maryland during non-breeding months.

Some are year-round residents of the state, while others are seasonal migrants that are rarely seen. Click to know picture each species briefly, including its size, how to recognize it, and possible habitats.

Woodpeckers in Maryland

While birdwatching in the woods and woodland is the best way to see Woodpeckers in Maryland, some species like Red-bellied, Hairy, Downy, and Northern Flickers can be seen at home feeders.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Maryland, while the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest.

The popularity of woodpeckers is partly due to their preference for dwelling in and around residential areas. As a result, they make excellent photographic subjects.

Melanerpes Carolinus – Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryocopus Pileatus – Pileated Woodpecker

Melanerpes Erythrocephalus – Red-Headed Woodpecker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Maryland ducks and geese

Maryland is home to over 40 kinds of waterfowl. The cooler weather ushers in Maryland’s waterfowl season, one of the most exciting times of the year for devoted hunters. Indeed, the Eastern Shore of Maryland has long been dubbed the World’s Goose Hunting Capital!

While geese are a big draw for the majority of people, Kent County is also home to a variety of waterfowl, including ducks, wild turkey, dove, pheasant, quail, and woodcock. This region is covered with vast swaths of tidal marshes, making it an ideal location for waterfowl hunting in particular. Come and experience firsthand why hunters return year after year.

Ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans, are members of the family Anatidae. These birds have adapted to an aquatic lifestyle by having webbed feet, flattened bills to varying degrees, and feathers that are adept at shedding water due to the presence of specific oils. In Maryland, 45 confirmed species, two of dubious origin, and one of foreign origin have been recorded.

Best Birdwatching Spots in Maryland

With its intermittent barrier islands, picturesque cypress swamps, and Eastern Shore bays, Maryland is naturally home to a broad array of bird-watching locations and natural ecosystems. Birds migrate through on their annual migrations and will leave you in awe.

Maryland, despite its small area and substantial human population, contains enough diversity to rank among the most satisfying birding sites on the Atlantic Coast.

Here are the top five most visited locations where you can view and see these magnificent birds. Avoid blinking to avoid missing the Bachman’s Sparrow, Pileated Woodpecker, or Roseate Tern.

Point Lookout State Park
Sandy Point State Park
Hart-Miller Island
Patuxent River Naval Air Station (restricted access)
Swan Creek Wetland-Cox Creek DMCF (access by guided tour only)

Other birds in Maryland

Maryland is located along the Atlantic flyway, a route used by numerous birds to migrate between Canada and the warmer states. Not all birds travel all the way to warm winter states or the Caribbean’s tropical islands.

Maryland is home to a large number of northern breeding birds.

Additionally, Maryland boasts a large number of resident birds who frequent bird feeders throughout the year.

Nature provides us with solace and a sense of calm in an otherwise frenetic and stressful environment. Birds provide us joy throughout the long winters in Maryland. They add color and amusement to our days.

Actitis Macularius – Spotted Sandpiper

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Antrostomus Vociferus – Eastern Whip-Poor-Will

Archilochus Colubris – Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Arenaria Interpres – Ruddy Turnstone

Baeolophus Bicolor – Tufted Titmouse

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Bonasa Umbellus – Ruffed Grouse

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Calcarius Ornatus – Chestnut-Collared Longspur

Calidris Alba – Sanderling

Calidris Alpina – Dunlin

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper

Calidris Maritima – Purple Sandpiper

Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper

Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris Subruficollis – Buff-Breasted Sandpiper

Cardellina Canadensis – Canada Warbler

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Chaetura Pelagica – Chimney Swift

Charadrius Melodus – Piping Plover

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Cistothorus Platensis – Sedge Wren

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus Erythropthalmus – Black-Billed Cuckoo

Colinus Virginianus – Northern Bobwhite

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Columbina Inca – Inca Dove

Columbina Passerine - Common Ground Dove found in the US

Columbina Passerina – Common Ground Dove

Contopus Cooperi – Olive-Sided Flycatcher

Contopus Virens – Eastern Wood-Pewee

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

Cyanocitta Cristata – Blue Jay

Dolichonyx Oryzivorus – Bobolink

Dumetella Carolinensis – Gray Catbird

Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron

Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets

Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron

Empidonax Flavive – Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax Virescens – Acadian Flycatcher

Euphagus Carolinus – Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus Cyanocephalus – Brewer’s Blackbird

Gallinago Delicata – Wilson’s Snipe

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Gelochelidon Nilotica – Gull-Billed Tern

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Philadelphia – Mourning Warbler

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Haemorhous Purpureus – Purple Finch

Helmitheros Vermivorum – Worm-Eating Warbler

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Hydroprogne Caspia – Caspian Tern

Hylocichla Mustelina – Wood Thrush

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Icterus Galbula – Baltimore Oriole

Icterus Spurius – Orchard Oriole

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Lanius Borealis – Northern Shrike

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Glaucoides – Iceland Gull

Larus Hyperboreus – Glaucous Gull

Larus Marinus – Great Black-Backed Gull

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis Peregrina – Tennessee Warblers

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leucophaeus Atricilla – Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Limnodromus Scolopaceus- Long-Billed Dowitcher

Limosa Limosa – Black- Tailed Godwit

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Melospiza Melodia – Song Sparrow

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus Crinitus – Great Crested Flycatcher

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Oporornis Agilis – Connecticut Warbler

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Passerina Caerulea – Blue Grosbeak

Passerina Ciris – Painted Bunting

Passerina Cyanea – Indigo Bunting

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Pelecanus Occidentalis – Brown Pelican

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Pheucticus Ludovicianus – Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

Pinicola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Piranga Bidentata – Flame-Colored Tanager

Piranga Olivacea – Scarlet Tanager

Piranga Rubra – Summer Tanager

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis Squatarola – Black-Bellied Plover

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Porphyrio Martinicus – Purple Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Progne Subis – Purple Martin

Protonotaria Citrea – Prothonotary Warbler

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Rallus Elegans – King Rail

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Sayornis Phoebe – Eastern Phoebe

Scolopax Minor – American Woodcock

Setophaga Americana – Northern Parula

Setophaga Caerulescens – Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga Cerulea – Cerulean Warbler

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Discolor – Prairie Warbler

Setophaga Dominica – Yellow-Throated Warblers

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga Magnolia – Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga Palmarum – Palm Warbler

Setophaga Pensylvanica – Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Pinus – Pine Warbler

Setophaga Striata – Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga Tigrina – Cape May Warbler

Setophaga Virens – Black-Throated Green Warbler

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spiza americana – Dickcissel

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Spizelloides Arborea – American Tree Sparrow

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Sternula Antillarum – Least Tern

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sturnella Magna – Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Toxostoma crissale - Crissal thrasher photo capture in surprise

Toxostoma Rufum – Brown Thrasher

Tringa Flavipes – Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa Semipalmata – Willet

Tringa Solitaria – Solitary Sandpiper

Troglodytes Hiemalis – Winter Wren

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Tyrannus Forficatus – Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Savana – Fork-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Tyrannus – Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Vermivora Cyanoptera – Blue-Winged Warblers

Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus – Yellow-headed Blackbird

Zenaida Asiatica – White-Winged Dove

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Zonotrichia Albicollis – White-Throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

If you have encountered a bird in Maryland that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our bird identification page.