Baltimore Birds

A List for Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland

This list is designed to provide the birder with an idea of what may be expected in any given season. Seasonal abundance is shown in the following table for the 266 species that regularly occur here, as documented in the third edition of The Field List of the Birds of MD, aka The Yellow Book, by Marshall J. Iliff, Robert F. Ringler and James Stasz (1996). The species order follows that of the 2021 AOU Checklist. There are also links to species accounts for each bird found in Wikipedia and in All About Birds, the online bird guide of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The idea for adding the links, and the links themselves, were provided to BBC by Alex Lima, who describes himself as "a curious person with peculiar tastes that likes organizing lists." Thank you Alex for helping us out! There is also a list of an additional 73 species listed as "accidental" or "historical" that have occurred in Baltimore at least once in recorded history, though many of these are seen at intervals in the appropriate habitat. Please send comments or corrections to .

Abbreviations

Season Codes:
Sp - Spring: March-May
Su - Summer: June-July
F - Fall: August-November
W - Winter: December-February

Breeding: * - Breeds or has bred in Baltimore City of County since 1977

Relative Abundance:
A - Abundant
C - Common
U - Uncommon
R - Rare
a - Accidental (within the season shown)

GEESE, SWANS, and DUCKSBSpSuFW
Snow GooseWikipediaAll About Birds U Ua
Canada GooseWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Mute SwanWikipediaAll About Birds RRRR
Tundra SwanWikipediaAll About Birds U UR
Wood DuckWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUR
Blue-winged TealWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Northern ShovelerWikipediaAll About Birds RaUR
GadwallWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
American WigeonWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
MallardWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
American Black DuckWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUC
Northern PintailWikipediaAll About Birds UaUR
Green-winged TealWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
CanvasbackWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
RedheadWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
Ring-necked DuckWikipediaAll About Birds CaUU
Greater ScaupWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
Lesser ScaupWikipediaAll About Birds CaCC
White-winged ScoterWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
Long-tailed DuckWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
BuffleheadWikipediaAll About Birds CaUC
Common GoldeneyeWikipediaAll About Birds CaUC
Hooded MerganserWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
Common MerganserWikipediaAll About Birds U UU
Red-breasted MerganserWikipediaAll About Birds UaUR
Ruddy DuckWikipediaAll About Birds*CaCC
BOBWHITE, PHEASANT, TURKEYBSpSuFW
Northern BobwhiteWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Ring-necked PheasantWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Wild TurkeyWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
GREBESBSpSuFW
Pied-billed GrebeWikipediaAll About Birds*URCU
Horned GrebeWikipediaAll About Birds UaUR
Red-necked GrebeWikipediaAll About Birds R aR
DOVES BSpSuFW
Rock PigeonWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Mourning DoveWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
CUCKOOS BSpSuFW
Yellow-billed CuckooWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
Black-billed CuckooWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
GOATSUCKERSBSpSuFW
Common NighthawkWikipediaAll About Birds*URU 
Chuck-will's-widowWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Eastern Whip-poor-willWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
SWIFT, HUMMINGBIRD BSpSuFW
Chimney SwiftWikipediaAll About Birds*AAA 
Ruby-throated HummingbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
RAILS, GALLINULE, and COOTBSpSuFW
Black RailWikipediaAll About Birds*RR  
King RailWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Virginia RailWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUR
SoraWikipediaAll About Birds*U Ra
Common GallinuleWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
American CootWikipediaAll About Birds CaCC
AVOCET and PLOVERSBSpSuFW
American AvocetWikipediaAll About Birds  aa 
Black-bellied PloverWikipediaAll About Birds RaR 
American Golden-PloverWikipediaAll About Birds   R 
KilldeerWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCU
Semipalmated PloverWikipediaAll About Birds URU 
SANDPIPERS and PHALAROPEBSpSuFW
Upland SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
WhimbrelWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
Hudsonian GodwitWikipediaAll About Birds  aa 
Marbled GodwitWikipediaAll About Birds  aaa
Ruddy TurnstoneWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
Red KnotWikipediaAll About Birds aaa 
Stilt SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
SanderlingWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
DunlinWikipediaAll About Birds R Ra
Baird's SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds   Ra
Least SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds UUUa
White-rumped SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds RRRa
Buff-breasted SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds   a 
Pectoral SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Semipalmated SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds UUU 
Western SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds aaUa
Short-billed DowitcherWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
Long-billed DowitcherWikipediaAll About Birds   R 
American WoodcockWikipediaAll About Birds*URUR
Wilson's SnipeWikipediaAll About Birds UaUR
Spotted SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds*CRC 
Solitary SandpiperWikipediaAll About Birds CRC 
Lesser YellowlegsWikipediaAll About Birds UUU 
WilletWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
Greater YellowlegsWikipediaAll About Birds UUU 
Wilson's PhalaropeWikipediaAll About Birds aaa 
GULLS BSpSuFW
Bonaparte's GullWikipediaAll About Birds CRRU
Black-headed GullWikipediaAll About Birds a  a
Little GullWikipediaAll About Birds aa a
Laughing GullWikipediaAll About Birds UUUa
Ring-billed GullWikipediaAll About Birds AUAA
Herring GullWikipediaAll About Birds*ACAA
Iceland GullWikipediaAll About Birds R aR
Lesser Black-backed GullWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
Glaucous GullWikipediaAll About Birds R aR
Great Black-backed GullWikipediaAll About Birds*URUC
TERNSBSpSuFW
Least TernWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Caspian TernWikipediaAll About Birds UCC 
Black TernWikipediaAll About Birds RaR 
Common TernWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Forster's TernWikipediaAll About Birds RUCa
Royal TernWikipediaAll About Birds aaR 
LOONSBSpSuFW
Red-throated LoonWikipediaAll About Birds R Ra
Common LoonWikipediaAll About Birds UaUR
CORMORANTSBSpSuFW
Double-crested CormorantWikipediaAll About Birds CUCR
Great CormorantWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
BITTERNS, HERONS, and IBISBSpSuFW
American BitternWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
Least BitternWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Great Blue HeronWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCU
Great EgretWikipediaAll About Birds*URU 
Snowy EgretWikipediaAll About Birds*RRU 
Little Blue HeronWikipediaAll About Birds RRR 
Tricolored HeronWikipediaAll About Birds aaa 
Cattle EgretWikipediaAll About Birds RaR 
Green HeronWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUa
Black-crowned Night-HeronWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Yellow-crowned Night-HeronWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Glossy IbisWikipediaAll About Birds R R 
VULTURESBSpSuFW
Black VultureWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCC
Turkey VultureWikipediaAll About Birds*ACAA
HAWKS and EAGLESBSpSuFW
OspreyWikipediaAll About Birds*CUU 
Golden EagleWikipediaAll About Birds a aa
Northern HarrierWikipediaAll About Birds*UaUR
Sharp-shinned HawkWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
Cooper's HawkWikipediaAll About Birds*URUU
Bald EagleWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Red-shouldered HawkWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Broad-winged HawkWikipediaAll About Birds*CUC 
Red-tailed HawkWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCC
Rough-legged HawkWikipediaAll About Birds a aa
OWLSBSpSuFW
Barn OwlWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Eastern Screech-OwlWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Great Horned OwlWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Barred OwlWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Short-eared OwlWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
Northern Saw-whet OwlWikipediaAll About Birds R Ra
KINGFISHER BSpSuFW
Belted KingfisherWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUR
WOODPECKERS BSpSuFW
Red-headed WoodpeckerWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
Red-bellied WoodpeckerWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerWikipediaAll About Birds U UR
Downy WoodpeckerWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
Hairy WoodpeckerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Northern FlickerWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
Pileated WoodpeckerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
FALCONSBSpSuFW
American KestrelWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCC
MerlinWikipediaAll About Birds R Ra
Peregrine FalconWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRR
FLYCATCHERS BSpSuFW
Great Crested FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Eastern KingbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
Eastern Wood-PeweeWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds a R 
Acadian FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
Alder FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds aaa 
Willow FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Least FlycatcherWikipediaAll About Birds RaU 
Eastern PhoebeWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCR
VIREOSBSpSuFW
White-eyed VireoWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCa
Yellow-throated VireoWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Blue-headed VireoWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Philadelphia VireoWikipediaAll About Birds a R 
Warbling VireoWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Red-eyed VireoWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
JAY and CROWSBSpSuFW
Blue JayWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
American CrowWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Fish CrowWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
CHICKADEES and TITMOUSEBSpSuFW
Carolina ChickadeeWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
Black-capped ChickadeeWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
Tufted TitmouseWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
LARK and SWALLOWSBSpSuFW
Horned LarkWikipediaAll About Birds*URUU
Bank SwallowWikipediaAll About Birds*UUC 
Tree SwallowWikipediaAll About Birds*ACAR
Northern Rough-winged SwallowWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Purple MartinWikipediaAll About Birds*UUC 
Barn SwallowWikipediaAll About Birds*AAA 
Cliff SwallowWikipediaAll About Birds*UUR 
KINGLETSBSpSuFW
Ruby-crowned KingletWikipediaAll About Birds C CR
Golden-crowned KingletWikipediaAll About Birds U CU
WAXWINGBSpSuFW
Cedar WaxwingWikipediaAll About Birds*URUU
NUTHATCHES and CREEPERBSpSuFW
Red-breasted NuthatchWikipediaAll About Birds U UU
White-breasted NuthatchWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
Brown CreeperWikipediaAll About Birds*URUR
GNATCATCHERBSpSuFW
Blue-gray GnatcatcherWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCa
WRENSBSpSuFW
House WrenWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCa
Winter WrenWikipediaAll About Birds UaUU
Marsh WrenWikipediaAll About Birds*CCUa
Carolina WrenWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUU
MIMICSBSpSuFW
Gray CatbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAR
Brown ThrasherWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUa
Northern MockingbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
STARLING, WAXWINGBSpSuFW
European StarlingWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Cedar WaxwingWikipediaAll About Birds*URUU
THRUSHESBSpSuFW
Eastern BluebirdWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
VeeryWikipediaAll About Birds*CUU 
Gray-cheeked ThrushWikipediaAll About Birds R R 
Bicknell's ThrushWikipediaAll About Birds R R 
Swainson's ThrushWikipediaAll About Birds C C 
Hermit ThrushWikipediaAll About Birds U UU
Wood ThrushWikipediaAll About Birds*CCU 
American RobinWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAU
OLD WORLD SPARROW, PIPITBSpSuFW
House SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
American PipitWikipediaAll About Birds R UR
WINTER FINCHESBSpSuFW
Evening GrosbeakWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
House FinchWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Purple FinchWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
Pine SiskinWikipediaAll About Birds RaRR
American GoldfinchWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
LONGSPURS and SNOW BUNTINGBSpSuFW
Lapland LongspurWikipediaAll About Birds a aa
Snow BuntingWikipediaAll About Birds a RR
SPARROWSBSpSuFW
Grasshopper SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*UUR 
Chipping SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAR
Field SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCU
Fox SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds U UR
American Tree SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds R RU
Dark-eyed JuncoWikipediaAll About Birds AaAA
White-crowned SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
White-throated SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds AaAA
Vesper SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRa
Seaside SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*aaa 
Nelson's SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds a a 
Saltmarsh SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds aaa 
Savannah SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds UaCR
Song SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCC
Lincoln's SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds R Ra
Swamp SparrowWikipediaAll About Birds*URUR
Eastern TowheeWikipediaAll About Birds*CUCU
Yellow-breasted ChatWikipediaAll About Birds*UURa
BLACKBIRDS and ORIOLESBSpSuFW
BobolinkWikipediaAll About Birds UaC 
Eastern MeadowlarkWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUR
Orchard OrioleWikipediaAll About Birds*UUR 
Baltimore OrioleWikipediaAll About Birds*UUUa
Red-winged BlackbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Brown-headed CowbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*ACCA
Rusty BlackbirdWikipediaAll About Birds R RR
Common GrackleWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
WARBLERS BSpSuFW
OvenbirdWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCa
Worm-eating WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Louisiana WaterthrushWikipediaAll About Birds*UUR 
Northern WaterthrushWikipediaAll About Birds UaU 
Golden-winged WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds a a 
Blue-winged WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Black-and-white WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*CUC 
Prothonotary WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*RRa 
Tennessee WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Orange-crowned WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds a aa
Nashville WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Connecticut WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds a R 
Mourning WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds RaR 
Kentucky WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Common YellowthroatWikipediaAll About Birds*CCCa
Hooded WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
American RedstartWikipediaAll About Birds*CUC 
Cape May WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds R U 
Cerulean WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*RRa 
Northern ParulaWikipediaAll About Birds*CUC 
Magnolia WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds UaC 
Bay-breasted WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds R U 
Blackburnian WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds R U 
Yellow WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*CCC 
Chestnut-sided WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds UaC 
Blackpoll WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds C C 
Black-throated Blue WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Palm WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds U Ua
Pine WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*RRRa
Yellow-rumped WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds C CU
Yellow-throated WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Prairie WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
Black-throated Green WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds U U 
Canada WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds UaU 
Wilson's WarblerWikipediaAll About Birds RaR 
TANAGERS BSpSuFW
Summer TanagerWikipediaAll About Birds*aaa 
Scarlet TanagerWikipediaAll About Birds*UUU 
CARDINALS, GROSBEAKS, BUNTINGBSpSuFW
Northern CardinalWikipediaAll About Birds*AAAA
Rose-breasted GrosbeakWikipediaAll About Birds*UaUa
Blue GrosbeakWikipediaAll About Birds*RRR 
Indigo BuntingWikipediaAll About Birds*AAA 
To list of Baltimore Accidentals
To Baltimore Bird Club home page.