Spring & Summer Birds

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Spring and summer are great seasons to go birding! Our migrant species have returned from their wintering grounds attired in their breeding finery, and many species are singing and displaying in fine fashion across the Commonwealth.

While this is list is by no means exhaustive, the birds featured here are some of the most commonly seen species throughout spring and summer all across Massachusetts.

Common Spring & Summer Birds in Massachusetts


American Goldfinch male breeding plumage © James Jewett
American Goldfinch male © James Jewett

American Goldfinches

  

Robin © Richard Alvarnaz
Robin © Richard Alvarnaz

American Robins

American Woodcock © Jonathan Eckerson
© Jonathan Eckerson

American Woodcocks

 
Baltimore Oriole male on ground © Kimberly King
Baltimore Oriole male © Kimberly King

Baltimore Orioles

black-capped chickadee © Jake LeSuer
black-capped chickadee © Jake LeSuer

Black-capped Chickadees

 
Blue Jay at North River (photo: Scott Santino)

Blue Jays

Brown-headed cowbird © Alan D. Wilson
© Alan D. Wilson

Brown-headed Cowbirds

 
Carolina wren © Ken Thomas
Carolina wren © Ken Thomas

Carolina Wrens

cedar waxwing © Joseph Cavanaugh
cedar waxwing © Joseph Cavanaugh

Cedar Waxwings

 
chipping sparrow © Dave Menke, USFWS
© Dave Menke, USFWS

Chipping Sparrows

common grackle © Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, USFWS
© Dr. Thomas G. Barnes, USFWS

Common Grackles

 
Downy Woodpecker © US Fish and Wildlife
Downy Woodpecker © US Fish and Wildlife

Downy Woodpeckers

eastern bluebird © Dorrie Holmes
eastern bluebird © Dorrie Holmes

Eastern Bluebirds

 
eastern pheobe © Ashley Keleher
eastern pheobe © Ashley Keleher

Eastern Phoebes

European starling © USFWS
European starling © USFWS

European Starlings

 
Heron © John Elliott
© John Elliott

Great Blue Herons

northern cardinal © Johanna Wray
northern cardinal © Johanna Wray

Northern Cardinals

 
northern mockingbird © Ken Thomas
northern mockingbird © Ken Thomas

Northern Mockingbirds

mourning dove © Al Caldarelli
mourning dove © Al Caldarelli

Mourning Doves

 
male red-winged blackbird © Andrew Liu
male red-winged blackbird © Andrew Liu

Red-winged Blackbirds

white-breasted nuthatch © USFWS
white-breasted nuthatch © USFWS

White-breasted Nuthatches