Maryland is home to a rich variety of bird species, each with distinctive features and behaviors. The Northern Cardinal, notable for its vivid red plumage and melodious song, is a common sight. The Carolina Wren, with its 'teakettle' call and white eyebrow stripe, thrives in local woodlands. The assertive Blue Jay, recognized by its bright blue feathers, occupies various habitats from forests to suburban areas. The American Crow, a larger species, is known for its loud calls and adaptability. Lastly, the Mourning Dove, with its soft cooing and peaceful demeanor, is prevalent throughout the state. Each bird plays a unique role in Maryland's ecosystems, offering more to explore about their habits and contributions to the environment.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal, known scientifically as Cardinalis cardinalis, is a vibrant and commonly observed bird across Maryland. Males display striking red plumage, while females are brown with red highlights.
Their melodious song, characterized by a series of 'pichew-pichew' sounds followed by repetitive 'chew' notes, fills Maryland's air.
These birds, feeding mainly on seeds, fruits, and insects, are year-round residents, enhancing local biodiversity.
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wrens, distinguished by their melodious 'teakettle' song, thrive across Maryland's varied landscapes. These small birds, recognized by a white eyebrow stripe and reddish-brown plumage, are about 5.5 inches long with a 7.5-inch wingspan.
Inhabiting woodlands, shrubby areas, and gardens, they primarily feed on insects and spiders. Their vibrant presence and distinct vocalizations make them a delightful addition to Maryland's avian community.
Blue Jay
While Carolina Wrens fill the understory with song, above them, the striking Blue Jay commands attention with its vivid plumage and assertive calls. Recognizable by vibrant blue feathers and distinctive white markings, these intelligent birds thrive across Maryland's forests, parks, and suburbs.
Blue Jays are omnivorous, feeding on nuts, seeds, and insects, and are known for their skill in mimicking other birds' calls.
American Crow
Perched prominently across Maryland's varied landscapes, American Crows are known for their robust size and loud, distinctive calls. These black birds, measuring 17.5 inches in length with a wingspan of 39 inches, thrive in diverse environments.
Omnivorous and intelligent, they consume insects, fruits, and carrion, playing crucial ecological roles. Their adaptability makes them a common sight in both urban and rural settings.
Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves, recognized for their soft, cooing calls, are a prevalent and widespread species across Maryland. Commonly seen, these birds feed on ground seeds in open areas and nest in elevated trees and shrubs.
Their migratory behavior involves short-distance travel during seasonal changes. With subtle white coloration and a peaceful demeanor, they are a familiar sight in both urban and suburban settings.
American Robin
The American Robin is easily identified by its striking red breast. It is a familiar and abundant bird throughout Maryland. These medium-sized birds feature a long beak and gray upperparts. They are often seen hopping on lawns in search of earthworms.
They are also known for their melodious song, enhancing the local soundscape with cheerful tunes. Their nests are usually found in trees and are cup-shaped.
Tufted Titmouse
Although small in size, the Tufted Titmouse captures attention with its distinctive tufted crest and lively behavior.
This bird with a white underbelly, gray back, and wings is known for its 'peter-peter' song and acrobatic foraging.
Commonly found in Maryland's forests and yards, it nests in tree cavities and is a frequent visitor to bird feeders, delighting observers with its antics.
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadees, distinguished by their black caps and bibs, exhibit energetic and acrobatic foraging behaviors that captivate observers. These small birds, with their long wings and white belly, thrive in Maryland's woodlands and suburban areas.
Their varied diet of insects, seeds, and berries helps control insect populations. The distinctive 'chick-a-dee-dee-dee' call of these birds is also a delight to hear.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpeckers, identified by their striking red caps and napes, are a common sight in Maryland's woodlands and suburban areas. Known for their distinctive 'churr' call, they feed on insects, nuts, and seeds by excavating tree bark.
These birds nest in tree cavities, often reusing old nests, making them a fascinating species to observe throughout the diverse habitats of Maryland.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is Maryland's smallest and most prevalent woodpecker species. It exhibits striking black and white plumage, distinguished by a red patch on the male's head. These woodpeckers are known for their rhythmic drumming as they forage for insects in trees.
They nest in excavated cavities within dead limbs, thriving across various habitats in Maryland, from dense forests to suburban parks.
American Goldfinch
Easily identified by their striking yellow plumage, American Goldfinches are a vibrant sight across Maryland. These birds exhibit a seasonal change in plumage, moving from bright hues in summer to duller colors in winter.
Their diet, rich in seeds from thistles and sunflowers, enhances their vivid appearance. Often seen in large flocks outside the breeding season, they add a lively dynamic to the local avian landscape.
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrows are recognized by their brown streaked plumage and a distinctive dark spot on their chest. They are prevalent throughout Maryland's diverse habitats. Known for their melodious songs, these birds also have a varied diet of insects, seeds, and berries.
Their nests, typically cup-shaped, are found either on the ground or low in shrubs, often concealed at the long back of the neck of vegetation.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Shifting focus to another avian inhabitant of Maryland, the White-breasted Nuthatch exhibits a unique behavior of descending tree trunks headfirst. Recognizable by its black cap and white face, this small bird is also a cavity nester.
It utilizes old woodpecker holes or man-made birdhouses for breeding and is known for its nasal 'yank yank' call, primarily feeding on insects, nuts, and seeds.
European Starling
Introduced to North America in the 19th century, the European Starling is an invasive species known for its striking iridescent black plumage speckled with spots.
These birds have adapted well, feeding on a variety of insects, fruits, and seeds.
Particularly, large flocks can perform mesmerizing aerial displays known as murmurations, showcasing their agility and coordination in the skies over Maryland.
How Many of the Birds in Maryland are also Found in North America?
Maryland is home to a diverse range of bird species, with many of the types of birds in North America also found in the state. From the American robin to the bald eagle, birdwatchers in Maryland can spot a wide variety of species that are representative of the avian population across North America.
Eastern Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird, known for its striking blue and reddish-brown plumage, thrives in Maryland's open woodlands and fields. These small, thrush-like birds display vibrant blue heads, wings, and tails, with a white belly and reddish breast.
As cavity nesters, they often utilize old woodpecker holes or nest boxes, helping control insect populations through their diet of insects, fruits, and berries. Conservation efforts have bolstered their numbers.
