Year Round Birding
With four distinct seasons, and situated in the Atlantic Flyway, Maryland and the District of Columbia provide great opportunities for birding all year round.
Maryland’s location about midway down the Atlantic shoreline of North America means that Maryland is in the wintering range for many birds that breed further north, and in the breeding range for birds that winter further south. Thus, Maryland and DC host northward migration in the spring and southward migration in the fall.
In addition, there are many bird species – local breeders – that are present year-round, although the individuals found in the summer may not be the same as those present in the winter, because of short-range population shifts.
To round out the picture, Maryland and DC also host ‘birds of passage” in both fall and spring – these are birds that are just passing through Maryland and DC as they head to their breeding grounds (spring) or wintering grounds (fall) in other areas. Unlike local breeders or winter residents, birds of passage keep going, heading to destinations outside of Maryland and DC. Many shorebirds and passerines fall into this group and they may be present for only a short time, causing birders a sense of urgency in finding them while they are here.
Spring
Northbound waterfowl and raptor migration occurs in March and April. May brings another round of migration—shorebirds, terns, flycatchers, catbirds, swallows, thrushes, vireos, warblers, tanagers, orioles—take your pick. Some will continue northward; others will stay for nesting and breeding through at least part of the summer. By June, breeding birds are busy building nests and tending their fledglings.
Summer
June is the height of breeding season for local passerines, and adults are busy tending their nests. The woods and fields ring out with the territorial singing of male birds. By July, bird song has usually quieted down as the breeding season comes to an end, although some species will have second or third broods. Also in July, southbound shorebird migration begins, and shorebirds start to drop in to local mudflats, first in dribs and drabs but in large flocks by August. Other birds such as egrets and herons, shorebirds, flycatchers, swallows, orioles, thrushes, and vireos are also headed south again by late August.
For a depiction of the timing of the breeding season for Maryland and DC species, see the “Nesting and Migration Timeline” prepared for volunteers working on the Third Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia (BBA3).
Fall
September is peak season for many of those “confusing fall warblers” heading to their southern wintering grounds. By October, leaves are changing into a kaleidoscope of colors, and raptor migration is at its height. Snow Geese are arriving along with late-migrating sparrows. By November, waterfowl start arriving in large numbers along marshes and bay and ocean coastlines. If you are lucky enough to be around following a hurricane, you may witness all kinds of rare birds, both pelagic and otherwise, blown off their normal course.
Winter
Waterfowl inhabit the coastlines and marshes in great variety and numbers. Many raptors remain, along with wrens, chickadees, bluebirds, finches, mockingbirds, sparrows, and woodpeckers. Our one constant winter warbler is the Yellow-rumped. And White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos return for the season. From the shoreline, pelagic birds and ocean ducks can be seen along with Northern Gannets, Red-throated Loons, and Surf Scoters. Conditions in the boreal regions of Canada can result in irruptions of species like Snow Buntings, crossbills, and even Snowy Owls.
For Further Information
For a vivid overview of the Chesapeake Bay region’s importance in migration, we recommend the Chesapeake Bay Journal’s film “Chesapeake Rhythms” (produced in 2025 by David Harp, Tom Horton, and Sandy Cannon-Brown; 30 minutes). The film covers the overall phenomenon of migration in our area, including diverse organisms such as eels, monarch butterflies, and horseshoe crabs, but most of the coverage is about birds, with spectacular footage.
For the exact timing of the presence of individual species, consult the eBird Bar Charts for Maryland and the eBird Bar Charts for DC. Be aware that the Bar Charts include “accidental” and “exotic” species that may not be on the Official Lists of Birds of Maryland or Birds of DC; these other species may have escaped from captivity (e.g., Emu) or have occurred only once or twice; these are marked with asterisk-like icons. See eBird’s explanation of exotic species and how they are treated in eBird, with a key to the icons used.
