This list of birds of Maine is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species recorded in the U.S. state of Maine. This list is published by the Maine Bird Records Committee (MBRC) and is dated December 2022.
This list contains 470 documented species, of which 141 are rare or accidental, five have been introduced and are established, and three are extinct. Two species were introduced but did not become established, two are regularly released, and ten are hypothetical as defined below. These 14 are not included in the 470 documented species. Additional rare species have been added from another source.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Maine as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The following tags are used to designate some species:
(R) Rare or accidental - birds that if seen require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species. These birds are considered rare or accidental in Maine. (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (H) Hypothetical - species whose records "lack physical documentation, whether by specimen, photograph, or recording, or involve descriptions that are only partially adequate" per the MBRC (FI) Failed introduced - species that "bred for some years in Maine but never became established" per the MBRC (NE) Not established - species "routinely released or escaped ... not established or known to be natural vagrants" per the MBRC
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Forty-seven species have been recorded in Maine.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (R) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii (R) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (R) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Mute swan, Cygnus olor (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (R) Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (H) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos American black duck, Anas rubripes Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (R) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (R) King eider, Somateria spectabilis Common eider, Somateria mollissima Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Labrador duck, Camptorhynchus labradorius (E) (H) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. One species has been recorded in Maine.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (NE)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Turkeys have a distinctive fleshy wattle that hangs from the underside of the beak and a fleshy protuberance that hangs from the top of its beak called a snood. As with many galliform species, the female (the hen) is smaller than the male (the tom) and much less colorful. With wingspans of 1.5–1.8 meters (almost 6 feet), the turkeys are the largest birds in the open forests in which they live and are rarely mistaken for any other species. Grouse inhabit temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are game and are sometimes hunted for food. Males are polygamous and have elaborate courtship displays. These heavily built birds have legs feathered to the toes. Most species are year-round residents and do not migrate. Eight species have been recorded in Maine.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (extirpated, reintroduced) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (R) Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (H) Gray partridge, Perdix perdix (FI) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (NE)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Six species have been recorded in Maine.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (R) Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (R) Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii (R)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Six species have been recorded in Maine.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (R) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (R) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Two species have been recorded in Maine.
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Three species have been recorded in Maine.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (R) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. One species has been recorded in Maine.
Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Four species have been recorded in Maine.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (R) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (R) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (R) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (R)
Rails, gallinules, and coots
Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. Nine species have been recorded in Maine.
Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (R) King rail, Rallus elegans (R) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) Corn crake, Crex crex (R)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". One species has been recorded in Maine.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in Maine.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (R) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs. One species has been recorded in Maine.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eleven species have been recorded in Maine.
Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (R) Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (R) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (R) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (R) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (R) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R)
Sandpipers and allies
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-eight species have been recorded in Maine.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (E) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (R) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (R) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres