The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is an unmistakable member of the blackbird family. I have observed and photographed these blackbirds across the state in several wildlife management areas and they are always easy to pick out. They prefer to perch, … Continue reading
Category Archives: Birds
The Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) is a spring and summer inhabitant across the state of Maryland. The Orchard variety of Oriole does not have the familiar orange tint of the Baltimore species, but rather a very yellow coat with black … Continue reading
The Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) does not hunt cats. It has a varied voice that can sometimes sound like a meow, which is where it gets its name from. This songbird can be found across the state of Maryland and … Continue reading
The Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erthrophthalmus) is a fat little bird that kind of looks like a cross between a sparrow and an oriole. The head and back or black and the underside of its wing has a little orange coloring. … Continue reading
The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) has some amazing color and can be a real standout if you spot it among the green leaves and brown branches of a tree. It’s an all-year species in Maryland, and so far, I have … Continue reading
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis). Probably one of the more recognizable species in the United States. They honk. They fly. They poop. They’re Geese. … Continue reading
The Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia) is a small songbird that acts more like a woodpecker or nuthatch than it does a Warbler. Even its breast markings and wing pattern are similar to a Hairy Woodpecker, but its longer bill and … Continue reading
The American Coot (Felica americana) is a fairly recognizable water bird more popular in the northern midwest. Maryland is not a breeding range for the Coot, typically, but it can be found along the Maryland shore year-round. The Coot has … Continue reading
The Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is a … Ok. Is it just me, or does that scientific name looks like it came from a Coyote-Road Runner cartoon? “Sandwichensis?” Really? It’s a sparrow, and there are a lot of sparrows out … Continue reading
The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a fairly common backyard bird with a few distinguishing characteristics that make it east to pick out. Females are mostly gray and white and the juveniles look very similar to a Savannah Sparrow, but … Continue reading
The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a small to medium sized songbird that can be found year round in all areas of the state of Maryland. The Cedar Waxwing east various berries or small insects and is usually perched in … Continue reading
The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is a medium-sized, predatory bird in the hawk family. The Northern Harrier can range in all parts of Maryland year round. The one in the photo above was photographed in January at Eastern Neck Island National … Continue reading
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinas) is a small member of the Woodpecker family very similar in appearance to a Sapsucker. This photo was taken from some distance and in mid-peck, but I’m going with Red-bellied for a few reasons. The … Continue reading
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large, brown and white predatory bird similar in appearance to many hawks. The Osprey was a threatened species at one time, but I think its doing pretty well now, with populations across much of … Continue reading
The Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) is a small, but brightly colored blue bird found in wooded areas. I have only encountered an Indigo Bunting once, it was at Millington WMA, and I only picked up on the small bird because its blue … Continue reading
The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) is one of several medium sized woodpeckers found in the state of Maryland. Its look is extremely similar, practically identical to that of the Downy Woodpecker, however, the Downy tends to be a few inches … Continue reading
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small member of the heron family. It has much shorter legs than some of the other waterfowl you will see in Maryland, like egrets and the Great Blue Heron. The Green Heron is … Continue reading
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a tall, white, wading bird very common in the state of Maryland. On the scale of commonality, I would have to rank this one right up there with the Great Blue Heron. It’s like, … Continue reading
The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a tall wading bird extremely common in the state of Maryland. Great Blue Heron can be found anywhere, across the state. While coastlines of large bodies of water are an obvious choice, you could … Continue reading
The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a very recognizable red bird prominent in the eastern part of the United States. It also has an extremely boring scientific name. What’s up with that? The male Northern Cardinal sports the red color … Continue reading