Official List of Maine Birds
Maine Bird Records Committee
Checklist of Maine Birds
[PDF checklist as of May 1, 2024]
The Maine Bird Records Committee considers the following 474 species to be recorded with convincing evidence within the state of Maine. This list includes decisions made by the Committee through May 1, 2024. The names and taxonomic sequence follow the American Ornithologists’ Society Check-list as amended through the 64th supplement published July 2023.
LEGEND
* Rare (review list species)
Written descriptions and, if possible, photographs and/or audio or video should be submitted for any occurrence in the state. Please send all reports to the Secretary.
† Extinct (3 species)
I Introduced and naturalized (7 species)
P Provisional (specimen or photos lost; 5 species)
ANSERIFORMES
SWANS, GEESE & DUCKS–ANATIDAE
*Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
*Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
*Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
Brant (Branta bernicla)
*Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) I
*Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) I
*Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
*Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
Redhead (Aythya americana)
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
*Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
*Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri) P
King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)
Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
GALLIFORMES
PHEASANTS, GROUSE & TURKEY—PHASIANIDAE
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis)
*Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
PODICIPEDIFORMES
GREBES—PODICIPEDIDAE
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
*Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
*Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
*Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)
COLUMBIFORMES
PIGEONS & DOVES—COLUMBIDAE
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) I
*Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
*Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) I
†Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
CUCULIFORMES
CUCKOOS—CUCULIDAE
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
CAPRIMULGIFORMES
NIGHTJARS—CAPRIMULGIDAE
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
*Chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis)
Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus)
APODIFORMES
SWIFTS—APODIDAE
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
HUMMINGBIRDS—TROCHILIDAE
*Mexican Violetear (Colibri thalassinus)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
*Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)
*Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
*Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
GRUIFORMES
RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS—RALLIDAE
*Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans)
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
Sora (Porzana carolina)
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
American Coot (Fulica americana)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
*Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)
CRANES—GRUIDAE
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
CHARADRIIFORMES
STILTS & AVOCETS—RECURVIROSTRIDAE
*Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
OYSTERCATCHERS—HAEMATOPODIDAE
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
PLOVERS—CHARADRIIDAE
*Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
*European Golden-Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
*Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) P
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
*Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
*Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
*Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)
SANDPIPERS—SCOLOPACIDAE
Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
*Whimbrel (European) (N. p. [phaeopus group])
†Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)
*Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
*Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) P
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
*Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris)
Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
*Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
*Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
*Dunlin (Greenland) (C. a. arctica)
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
*Gray-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
SKUAS—STERCORARIIDAE
Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)
South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)
Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)
Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)
Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) [2023+ no longer review]
AUKS, MURRES & PUFFINS—ALCIDAE
Dovekie (Alle alle)
Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia)
Razorbill (Alca torda)
†Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis)
Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
*Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus)
Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
*Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)
GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS—LARIDAE
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
*Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)
Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
*Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
*Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
*Iceland Gull (Thayer's) (L. g. thayeri)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
*Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)
*Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)
*Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus)
Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)
*Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
*White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
*Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) [review 2014 on]
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
PHAETHONTIFORMES
TROPICBIRDS—PHAETHONTIDAE
*White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) P
*Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus)
GAVIIFORMES
LOONS—GAVIIDIAE
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
*Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
*Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)
PROCELLARIIFORMES
ALBATROSSES—DIOMEDEIDAE
*Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
*Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris)
AUSTRAL STORM-PETRELS—OCEANITIDAE
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
STORM-PETRELS—HYDROBATIDAE
Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous)
SHEARWATERS—PROCELLARIIDAE
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
*Trindade Petrel (Pterodroma arminjoniana)
*White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)
Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea)
Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis)
Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)
*Barolo Shearwater (Puffinus baroli)
CICONIIFORMES
STORKS—CICONIIDAE
*Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
SULIFORMES
FRIGATEBIRDS—FREGATIDAE
*Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel) P
*Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
GANNETS & BOOBIES—SULIDAE
*Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra)
*Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
CORMORANTS—PHALACROCORACIDAE
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
PELECANIFORMES
PELICANS—PELECANIDAE
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) [2014+ not reviewed]
*Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
BITTERNS & HERONS—ARDEIDAE
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
*Great White Heron (A. h. occidentalis)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
*Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
*Western Reef-Heron (Egretta gularis)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
IBISES—THRESKIORNITHIDAE
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
*White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) [review outside York & Cumberland Cos.]
*Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
CATHARTIFORMES
NEW WORLD VULTURES—CATHARTIDAE
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
ACCIPITRIFORMES
OSPREYS—PANDIONIDAE
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
KITES, EAGLES & HAWKS—ACCIPITRIDAE
*Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
*Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
*Steller's Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
*Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)
*Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
*Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
*Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
STRIGIFORMES
BARN OWLS—TYTONIDAE
TYPICAL OWLS—STRIGIDAE
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) [2023+ no longer review]
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)
*Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
*Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
CORACIIFORMES
KINGFISHERS—ALCEDINIDAE
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
PICIFORMES
WOODPECKERS—PICIDAE
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis)
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
FALCONIFORMES
FALCONS—FALCONIDAE
*Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
*Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) [review 2014 on]
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
PASSERIFORMES
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS—TYRANNIDAE
*Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
*Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius)
*Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
*Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
*Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
*Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)
*Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)
Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
*Hammond's Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii)
*Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)
*Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
*Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
VIREOS—VIREONIDAE
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
*Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassinii)
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
*Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus)
Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
SHRIKES—LANIIDAE
*Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)
JAYS & CROWS—CORVIDAE
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
CHICKADEES & TITMICE—PARIDAE
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
LARKS—ALAUDIDAE
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
SWALLOWS—HIRUNDINIDAE
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
*Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) [2014+ no longer review]
KINGLETS—REGULIDAE
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
WAXWINGS—BOMBYCILLIDAE
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
NUTHATCHES—SITTIDAE
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
CREEPERS—CERTHIIDAE
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
GNATCATCHERS—POLIOPTILIDAE
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
WRENS—TROGLODYTIDAE
*Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
*Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris)
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
MOCKINGBIRDS & THRASHERS—MIMIDAE
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
*Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
STARLINGS—STURNIDAE
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) I
THRUSHES—TURDIDAE
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
*Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli)
Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
OLD WORLD FLYCATCHERS—MUSCICAPIDAE
*Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) [review 2014+]
OLD WORLD SPARROWS—PASSERIDAE
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) I
PIPITS—MOTACILLIDAE
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
FRINGILLINE & CARDUELINE FINCHES—FRINGILLIDAE
*Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
*Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) I
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni)
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
*Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
*Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
LONGSPURS—CALCARIIDAE
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
*Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)
*Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus)
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
NEW WORLD SPARROWS—PASSERELLIDAE
*Cassin’s Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
*Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
*Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) [review 2014+]
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
*Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
*Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (oreganus ssp. group)
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
*Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
*Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
*LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii)
Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima)
Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni)
Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta)
*Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
*Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
*Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS—ICTERIIDAE
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
BLACKBIRDS & ORIOLES—ICTERIDAE
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
*Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
*Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
*Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
*Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
*Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
WOOD-WARBLERS—PARULIDAE
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
*Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) [review 2014+]
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
*Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
*Virginia’s Warbler (Leiothlypis virginiae)
Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis)
*MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
*Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
*Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii)
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
*Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
*Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)
*Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
*Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
GROSBEAKS & BUNTINGS—CARDINALIDAE
*Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava)
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
*Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
*Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
Dickcissel (Spiza americana)
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Unsubstantiated
Reports of species not listed above exist for Maine. These species are not included on the official list and instead listed below for the sake of completeness. Although some reports might be correct, the committee remains uncertain because we lack conclusive evidence. Reports of species in this category lack physical documentation—specimen, photograph, or recording—or involve descriptions that are inadequate or missing. Some are regarded as having uncertain provenance, for example transported or escaped birds or specimens with possibly inaccurate locality data. We plan to review these as new information becomes available.
Species reported and not yet reviewed
Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
†Labrador Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius)
†Greater Prairie-Chicken (Heath Hen) (Tympanuchus c. cupido)
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Species reported and not accepted after review
The following species have been reported and reviewed. Natural occurrence was questioned for some; for others identification was determined likely in error or undeterminable. The number of the Annual Report with the committee's decision is noted after each species.
Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) 10
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) 4
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) 4
Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta) 1
Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) 4
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) 4
Cape Petrel (Daption capense) 4
Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) 4
Audubon’s Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri) 3 & 8
Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma castro) 4 & 10
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris) 11
European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) 2
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) 4
Failed introduced species
The following species bred for some years in Maine but never became established:
Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)
Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)
The following species are routinely released or escaped and not established or known to be natural vagrants:
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)
Documented hybrids
The following natural hybrids are documented by at least one occurrence in the state (hybrids among domestic taxa excluded):
Snow x Ross's Goose (Anser caerulescens x rossii)
Greater White-fronted x Canada Goose (Anser albifrons x Branta canadensis)
Mallard x American Black Duck (Anas platyrhynchos x rubripes)
Mallard x Northern Pintail (Anas platyrhynchos x acuta)
Northern Pintail x Green-winged Teal (Anas acuta x crecca)
Redhead x Ring-necked Duck (Aythya americana x collaris)
King x Common Eider (Somateria spectabilis x mollissima)
Common x Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula x islandica)
Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser (Bucephala clangula x Lophodytes cucullatus)
Black-headed x Ring-billed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus x Larus delawarensis)
Herring x Great Black-backed Gull (Larus argentatus x marinus)
Herring x Glaucous Gull (Larus argentatus x hyperboreus)
Herring x Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus argentatus x fuscus)
Common x Arctic Tern (Sterna hirundo x paradisaea)
Tricolored Heron x Snowy Egret (Egretta tricolor x thula)
Snowy x Little Egret (Egretta thula x garzetta)
Glossy x White-faced Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus x chihi)
Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo lineatus x jamaicensis)
Pine Siskin x American Goldfinch (Spinus pinus x tristis)
Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrow (Junco hyemalis x Zonotrichia albicollis)
Nelson's x Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni x caudacuta)
Golden-winged x Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera)
Brewster's Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera F1 hybrid)
Lawrence's Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x cyanoptera F2 backcross)
Review List
Please see our Review List of rare species and subspecies (marked with an * on our main list). Please report sightings of these and any species unrecorded in Maine to the Secretary.
Highlighted Rarities
Barnacle Goose 11–13 October 2003, Caribou, Aroostook Co., Maine.
Photo by Bill Sheehan
Garganey 10–18 April 1999, South Thomaston, Knox Co., Maine.
Photo by Don Crockett
Mexican Violetear 18–19 August 2007, Mount Desert, Hancock Co., Maine.
Photo by Debbie Hawkes
Calliope Hummingbird found by Leslie Clapp, present 23 October–1 November 2008 (here 27 Oct). Blue Hill, Hancock Co., Maine.
Photo by Louis Bevier
European Golden-Plover 9–11 (here 10) October 2008, Scarborough Marsh, Cumberland Co., Maine.
Photo by Ed Hess
Common Ringed Plover 26 (here 27) August–3 September 2003. South Lubec, Washington Co., Maine.
Photo by Louis Bevier
Slaty-backed Gull (center with wings raised) 10-13 January 2012. Hatch Hill landfill, Augusta, Kennebec Co., Maine.
Photo by Louis Bevier
Red-billed Tropicbird Seal Island NWR, Knox Co., Maine. Here in 2012 for its 8th year.
Photo by Doug Hitchcox
Yellow-billed Loon found by Luke Seitz and present 26 (here) and 29 October 2010, it was a first for Maine and first on the Atlantic Ocean of eastern North America. 7.3 miles southeast of Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland Co., Maine.
Photo by Luke Seitz
Little Egret 29-30 June 2011, Scarborough Marsh, Cumberland Co., Maine.
Photo by Doug Hitchcox
Mississippi Kite 19 May 2012, Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine.
Photo by Rob Speirs
Burrowing Owl 15 July–25 (here 23) August 2006.
T19, MD BPP, Washington Co., Maine.
Photo by Barry Southard
Mountain Bluebird found by Lindsay Webb and Andrew Zboray 12 November 2011 on East Royce Mountain, Batchelders Grant, Oxford Co., Maine.
Photo by Lindsay Webb
Cassin's Sparrow 16–25 September 1986.
Mount Desert Rock, Hancock Co., Maine.
Photo by Harriet Corbett
Black-throated Sparrow found by Chuck Whitney, Edwin Hawkes, Debbie Hawkes; present 1 January (here 8 January) to 17 March 2016. Winter Harbor, Hancock Co., Maine.
Photo by Louis Bevier
Brewer's Sparrow found by Lysle Brinker, present 25-29 May 2014. Monhegan Island, Lincoln Co., Maine.
Photo by Lysle Brinker
Bronzed Cowbird 24–28 (here) October 2010. Found by Randy Moore at Rockland, Knox Co., Maine.
Photo by Don Reimer
Kirtland's Warbler found by Trevor Persons 2 June 2008. Kennebunk Plains, York Co., Maine.
Photo by Trevor Persons