Birding in Maryland

The top birding locations in Maryland include Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Rock Creek Park, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Assateague I. National Seashore - Bayside peninsula (point, campground & marsh trail), Assateague I. National Seashore - North End (from State Park to Inlet), Assateague I. National Seashore - OSV Zone, Assateague Island National Seashore, Assateague State Park, Assateague State Park - Shell Road, Back River WWTP, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Bethel Wildlife Management Area, Black Hill Regional Park, Black Walnut Point, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - Maple Dam Road, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - Visitors Center, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - Wildlife Drive, Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Blue Mash Nature Trail, Broadford Lake, C&O Canal - North Branch, C&O Canal - Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal - Violette's Lock, Calvert Cliffs State Park, Centennial Park, Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (Horsehead), Chesapeake Beach Railroad Trail, Chesapeake Farms, Chesapeake Farms Habitat (Auto) Tour, Conowingo Dam, Conquest Preserve, Cornfield Harbor, Cromwell Valley Park, Cumberland - Terminus, Deal Island - Game Reserve Road, Deal Island Wildlife Management Area - Riley Roberts Road, Downs Memorial Park, Druid Hill Park, E.A. Vaughn Wildlife Management Area - North, Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Easton WWTP, Elk Neck State Park - Turkey Point, Elliott Island Road, Fairhaven, Figgs Landing Road, Finzel Swamp, Flag Ponds Nature Park, Fort Frederick State Park - Big Pool, Fort Howard Park, Fort McHenry National Monument, Fort Smallwood Park, Franklin Point State Park, George Island Landing, Governor Bridge Natural Area, Greenbury Point Conservation Area, Harford Glen Envir. Educ. Center (seasonal access restrictions), Harry James Road, Hart-Miller Island, Heron Park (Berlin Falls Park), Herrington Manor State Park, Hughes Hollow - McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area, Hurlock WWTP, Hydes Road Park, Irish Grove MOS Sanctuary, Isle of Wight Park and Wildlife Management Area, Jack Creek Park, Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lake Artemesia, Lake Elkhorn, Lake Kittamaqundi, Lake Needwood, Lake Roland, Lilypons Water Gardens (permanently closed from early 2025), Loch Raven Reservoir - Paper Mill Flats, Loch Raven Reservoir - Peerce's Cove, Loch Raven Reservoir & Watershed, Long Neck Road, Marshy Point Nature Center, Masonville Cove (Open Mon - Sat 9-4, Closed Sun), Merkle NRMA, Mount Pleasant Farm - Howard County Conservancy, North Beach - marsh, North Point State Park, North Point State Park - Black Marsh, Ocean City - Sunset Park, Oxbow Lake, Oxon Hill Farm, Patapsco Ponds #4 & #5 (Halethorpe Farms Ponds), Patterson Park, Patuxent Research Refuge - North Tract, Patuxent Research Refuge - South Tract (National Wildlife Visitor Center), Patuxent River Park - Selby's Landing, Pemberton Park, Perryman Park, Perryville Community Park, Pickering Creek Audubon Center, Piney Reservoir, Piney Run Park, Piscataway Park - Boardwalk, Point Lookout State Park, Poplar Island (access by guided tour only), Rocky Gap State Park, Rumbly Point, Sandy Point State Park, Schoolhouse Pond, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, South Point (area), Southwest Area Park, Susquehanna State Park, Susquehanna State Park - Lapidum, Swan Creek Wetland - Cox Creek DMCF (access by guided tour only), Swan Harbor Farm Park, Taylor's Island, Terrapin Nature Park, Tower Gardens, Triadelphia Reservoir - Pigtail Branch, Trout Run WWTP, Truitts Landing, Tuscarora Creek Development, Tydings Memorial Park, Havre de Grace, West Ocean City Pond, Wooton's Landing, Wye Island, Youghiogheny River Reservoir - Old Morgantown Road. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in Maryland are Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area. Winter offers opportunities for cold-weather specialties and waterfowl.

Notable species in Maryland include Bald Eagle, Black Rail, Swainson's Warbler, American Black Duck, Great Blue Heron, Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Tundra Swan, and more. The state supports wetland, marsh, forest, riparian, urban park, coastal, river/riparian, lake habitats.