Maryland is home to beautiful birds spread uniformly throughout the state. To get a view of the best birding sites, one could head to the wildlife refuges on the Delmarva Peninsula and catch sight of 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. Some of the birds here are also at the risk of being endangered, like the black skimmer, common tern, and black rail.
The Maryland / District of Columbia Records Committee or MRC identifies 456 species in Maryland per the July 2021 records. While 117 are rare throughout the state, 64 rarely occur only in some parts. The two extinct species include the heath hen and passenger pigeon.
The Baltimore oriole has been designated as Maryland’s state bird since 1947.
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
