Birds of Maryland

Maryland is home to beautiful birds spread uniformly throughout the state. One could head to the wildlife refuges on the Delmarva Peninsula to spot bald eagles, waterfowl, and shorebirds. The forest areas in Garret County, lying in the westernmost parts of Maryland, are a nesting place for birds like blue-headed vireo, veery, and red-breasted nuthatch. Many of the native birds are also considered endangered, like the black skimmer, common tern, and black rail.

The Maryland / District of Columbia Records Committee (MRC) identifies over 450 species in Maryland. About 120 of these are rarely spotted anywhere in the state, while about 60 are considered rare occur only in some parts. The two extinct species are the heath hen and the passenger pigeon.

The Baltimore oriole has been designated as Maryland’s state bird since 1947. 

Birds of Maryland

  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Osprey
  • American Crow
  • Northern Cardinal
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Northern Mockingbird
  • White-throated Sparrow
  • Bald Eagle
  • American Goldfinch
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • Black Rail
  • American  Robin
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Gull-billed Tern
  • Hooded Merganser
  • Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Prothonotary Warbler
  • Black Skimmer
  • Yellow Warbler
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Mourning Dove
  • Brown Pelican
  • Tundra Swan
  • Piping Plover
  • Sedge Wren
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Chimney Swift
  • Purple Martin
  • Carolina Chickadee
  • Common Tern
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Barn Owl
  • Mallard
  • Mourning Warbler
  • Snowy Egret
  • Pied-billed Grebe
  • American Kestrel
  • Black Vulture
  • Northern Goshawk
  • Royal Tern
  • Horned Grebe
  • Swainson’s Warbler
  • Great-horned Owl
  • Short-eared Owl
  • Cooper’s Hawk
  • Wilson’s Plover
  • Wild Turkey
  • Snowy Owl
  • Red-tailed Hawk
  • Canada Goose
  • Northern Bobwhite Quail
  • Wood Duck
  • Ruffed Grouse
  • Gray Catbird
  • Northern Harrier
  • Eastern Screech Owl
  • White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Long-eared Owl
  • Rough-legged Hawk
  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Backyard Birds:

All-year-round: Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren

Migratory Birds:

In Summer: Baltimore Oriole, Snowy Egret, Common Tern, Cedar Waxwing, Pine Warbler

In Winter: Northern Mockingbird, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow

Water Birds: Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, Mallard, Tundra Swan, Canada Goose

Birds of Prey: Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Great-horned Owl

Common Birds Identification by Color

Black Birds

  • Red-winged Black Bird
  • Common Grackle
  • European Starling
  • Brown-headed Cowbird
  • Bobolink

Red Birds

  • Northern Cardinal
  • Two-barred Crossbill
  • Pine Grosbeak
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • American Robin

Blue Birds

  • Eastern Bluebird
  • Western Bluebird
  • Mountain Bluebird
  • Great Blue Heron

Yellow Birds

  • American Goldfinch
  • American Yellow Warbler
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler
  • Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
  • Magnolia Warbler

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