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Birds of Boston, Massachusetts

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

182,924
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 182,924 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Boston. The most frequently seen is the American Robin, with 12,855 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds near Boston

American Robin
Turdus migratorius
12,855 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
11,509 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
10,380 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
8,516 observations
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus
8,335 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
7,722 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
7,610 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
6,315 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
6,034 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
6,020 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
5,102 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
4,804 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
4,710 observations
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
4,398 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
4,302 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
4,196 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
3,635 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,443 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
3,425 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
3,375 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
3,332 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,197 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
3,176 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
3,155 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
3,126 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,656 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,346 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
2,298 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
2,226 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
2,100 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
1,995 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,913 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
1,784 observations
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
1,724 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
1,670 observations
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
1,670 observations
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
1,655 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
1,462 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
1,442 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
1,416 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
1,385 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
1,355 observations
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
1,291 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
1,236 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
1,174 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
1,162 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
1,148 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
1,076 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
1,070 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
998 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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