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Birds of Boston National Historical Park

The birds most often spotted in Boston, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

8,306
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 8,306 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Boston. The most frequently seen is the Rock Pigeon, with 1,220 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in Boston

Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
1,220 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
997 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
848 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
842 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
524 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
390 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
371 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
317 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
296 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
250 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
143 observations
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
141 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
133 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
131 observations
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
104 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
103 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
95 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
88 observations
Common Loon
Gavia immer
87 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
77 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
76 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
66 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
65 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
59 observations
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
54 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
53 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
51 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
49 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
48 observations · iNaturalist
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinus
44 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
42 observations
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
40 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
39 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
37 observations
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
35 observations
Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla
34 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
34 observations
Common Tern
Sterna hirundo
33 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
33 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
32 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
28 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
25 observations
Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia
24 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
24 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
24 observations
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
23 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
21 observations
Blackpoll Warbler
Setophaga striata
20 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
18 observations
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
18 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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