Birds to See in Massachusetts in March
128 bird species on our list for Massachusetts are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird and Blue Jay. New this month: Osprey, Great White Egret, Greater Yellowlegs and Piping Plover and 3 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
At their peak
Red-winged BlackbirdBusiest month of the year · All year
Common GrackleBusiest month of the year · Feb–Nov
Common MerganserBusiest month of the year · Oct–May
Eurasian TealBusiest month of the year · All year
Fox SparrowBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Northern ShovelerBusiest month of the year · Aug–May
From Massachusetts’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 128 birds in March
128 birds
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.92% in Mar
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.87% in Mar
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.82% in Mar- Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.47% in Mar
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 3.34% in Mar
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.33% in Mar
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 3.16% in Mar
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.13% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Mar- Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 2.90% in Mar
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Mar
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.09% in Mar
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.96% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.88% in Mar
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Mar
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Mar
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Mar
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Mar
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 1.25% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Mar
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 1.12% in Mar
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.99% in Mar- Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.99% in Mar
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.96% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.92% in Mar
Wood DuckAix sponsaSummer visitorCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Mar
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.81% in Mar
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 0.73% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.71% in Mar
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Mar
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Mar- Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Mar
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.45% in Mar
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.44% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.39% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.36% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.35% in Mar
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentCommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Mar
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.25% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.23% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.23% in Mar- Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.22% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.21% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.15% in Mar
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Mar
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.13% in Mar
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.11% in Mar
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.10% in Mar
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusWinter visitorUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.10% in Mar
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusResidentUncommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.08% in Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.08% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorCommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioWinter visitorUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraWinter visitorUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.07% in Mar
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.07% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.07% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.06% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Mar
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.06% in Mar
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Mar
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaSummer visitorCommon29–40 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.05% in Mar
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.04% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Mar
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentRare80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxSummer visitorUncommon58–65 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.02% in Mar
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleWinter visitorUncommon30–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Mar
King EiderSomateria spectabilisWinter visitorRare46–64 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisSummer visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusWinter visitorRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Mar
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorUncommon37–41 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorRare17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusWinter visitorRare19–23 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiPassage migrantRare57–64 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusWinter visitorRare29–31 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataWinter visitorRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusPassage migrantRare120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorPassage migrantRare139–157 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Mar
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusPassage migrantRare20–26 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Common GullLarus canusPassage migrantRare40–46 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made