15 Exciting Birds You Can Find in Massachusetts

Almost everyone has encountered pigeons in the city, most people have interacted with gulls by the coast, and many people have seen chickadees around feeders. But not everyone has seen all of the exciting birds on this list.   

Spice up your birding wish list by seeking out the colorful, the rare, and the captivating. Here’s a look at 15 exceptional and unusual birds in Massachusetts—bound to make you say, “wow!”.  

1. Scarlet Tanager 

A bird as brilliantly colored as the Scarlet Tanager might seem impossible to overlook. However, it’s improbably gifted at evading the birder’s gaze as it slowly moves about the forest canopy, searching for caterpillars to eat. Keep an ear out for the sweet, buzzy song coming from the tops of trees in mature woodlands, especially during their summer breeding season. 

2. Broad-winged Hawk 

During fall migration, typically in mid- to late-September, thousands of Broad-winged Hawks gather in soaring kettles across the sky. Head to hawk-watching sites like Mount Wachusett or Mount Tom to witness this spectacular sight. Despite their abundance during migration, they’re not common breeders in Massachusetts, making them hard to spot outside of this period. 

3. Saw-whet Owl 

Plentiful but elusive, the tiny Saw-whet Owl keeps busy at night, usually without making much noise. To increase your chances of observing one, listen for their distinctive too-too-too whistling song in dense forests and wooded swamps, especially during the fall and winter months. 

4. Fox Sparrow 

Unlike birds that appear only during irruption years or when blown off course, these sparrows visit every spring and fall, but usually on their own and in small spurts. This makes their brief appearances more meaningful, as seeing them reminds us that nature continues even in turbulent times. They’re like the pumpkin spice of birds: a delightful treat each year, but best enjoyed in small doses! 

5. Indigo Bunting 

This striking bird’s brilliant blue plumage makes quite an impression. Indigo Buntings prefer open, shrubby areas and spend their time in fields and forest edges. Their cheerful, musical songs can help locate the flashes of blue amid weedy fields and power line rights-of-way.  

6. Golden-crowned Kinglet 

While the fiery lemon crest of the Golden-crowned Kinglet makes for a memorable sighting, you’ll usually catch a glimpse of them from below. Look up into the canopies of northern conifer forests to see them in pursuit of insects during their fall migration. 

7. Harlequin Duck 

Head to the shoreline in winter to find Harlequin Ducks, the rockier the better! The breeding male ducks will be showcasing a dramatic slate blue with white stripes and chestnut sides. 

8. Snowy Owl 

One of our most iconic winter visitors, Snowy Owls arriving in Massachusetts seek local habitats that mimic the Arctic tundra such as large salt marshes, extensive agricultural fields, and even airports. The number of Snowies that appear each season varies from year to year, often a result of availability of food or lack thereof in its home territory.  

9. White-winged Crossbill 

These unique finches with crossed bills specialize in extracting seeds from conifer cones. Flocks of reddish-pink birds with black-and-white wings fill spruce and pine forest with a chorus of dry mellow chit notes during the winter months.   

10. Red-headed Woodpecker 

Red-headed Woodpeckers look exactly how their name sounds—their bright, deep red head acts as a stark contrast to a black-and-white body. This bird has unusual feeding habits for a woodpecker; it stores food in tree crevices, often covering it with bark, and it catches insects in the air. You may hear it drumming slowly on trees.  

11. Northern Gannet 

The largest seabird in the North Atlantic, Northern Gannets dramatically plunge-dive to catch fish. Spot them offshore from coastal vantage points, especially during the late fall and winter. Their 6-foot black-tipped wingspan will make them hard to miss! 

12. Wilson’s Warbler 

Amid a sea of forest greens, tiny pops of bright yellow will catch the eye of the observant birder during spring migration. If the singing, bouncing yellow ball has a black cap, you may be lucky enough to have found a Wilson’s Warbler.  

13. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 

Unlike the more common Great Blue Heron and even the Black-crowned Night-Heron, the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron makes for an exceptional find. Massachusetts is at the northern extreme of their breeding range, and few, if any, individuals choose to nest here. However, if you do find one, they're most likely to be seen at the shoreline, foraging for crustaceans during low tide. 

14. Belted Kingfisher 

If you hear a dry, staccato rattle alongside rivers and lakes, you may be in the vicinity of a Belted Kingfisher. Look for the large-billed and ragged-crested creature that hovers and dives in calm waters in its efforts to catch fish.   

15. Peregrine Falcon 

Known for their incredible speed, predatory prowess, and global range, Peregrine Falcons hunt over open areas and cityscapes, including downtown Boston. Keep an eye out for them perched high on cliffs or tall buildings. 

Track Your Bird Sightings 

The fun doesn’t stop here! Hundreds of exciting birds visit the Commonwealth every year.  

Use Mass Audubon’s Birding Checklist to keep a record of all your memorable sightings. It provides a comprehensive list of bird species you might encounter in Massachusetts, grouped by species type. 

Happy birding, and may your explorations be filled with exciting discoveries! 

Get The Birding Checklist