Birds to See in Virginia in March
139 bird species on our list for Virginia are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Crow, American Robin, Mourning Dove and Tufted Titmouse. New this month: Osprey, Palm Warbler, Purple Martin and Blue-headed Vireo and 6 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
At their peak
From Virginia’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 139 birds in March
139 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.28% in Mar
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.38% in Mar
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Mar
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.98% in Mar
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.89% in Mar
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.80% in Mar
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Mar
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Mar
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 2.46% in Mar
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 2.32% in Mar
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.30% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 2.00% in Mar
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Mar
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Mar
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Mar
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Mar
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.55% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.52% in Mar
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.44% in Mar
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Mar
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 1.34% in Mar
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Mar
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Mar
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Mar
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.90% in Mar
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.85% in Mar
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.67% in Mar
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.66% in Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.58% in Mar
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.56% in Mar
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.48% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.44% in Mar
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.43% in Mar
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.39% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorCommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.30% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.26% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.25% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.25% in Mar
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.24% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.22% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.21% in Mar
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorUncommon54–59 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.20% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.20% in Mar
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.14% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.12% in Mar
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Mar
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.10% in Mar
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.09% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Mar
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.07% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.06% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.06% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Mar
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.05% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.05% in Mar
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumPassage migrantCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.04% in Mar
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Mar · 0.04% in Mar
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorUncommon37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesPassage migrantUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.02% in Mar
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusSummer visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.02% in Mar
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentRare30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisPassage migrantRare45–50 cmRegularly Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaWinter visitorRare16–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.01% in Mar
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorRare17–18 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosWinter visitorRare66–102 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorRare42–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Black SwanCygnus atratusPassage migrantRare110–142 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusResidentRare20–22 cmRegularly Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaSummer visitorRare43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Red JunglefowlGallus gallusResidentRare42–75 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Helmeted GuineafowlNumida meleagrisResidentRare53–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusSummer visitorRare86–230 cmRegularly Jan–Nov · 0.00% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.00% in Mar
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Mar
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesPassage migrantRare81–94 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 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