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State of Maine

Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor ©Dubi Shapiro Website

Maine, known as the Pinetree state, is a state in the New England region of the United States, and the north-easternmost state in the Lower 48. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and northwest, and shares a maritime border with Nova Scotia. Maine is the largest state in New England by total area, nearly larger than the combined area of the remaining five states covering 91,646 km2 (35,385 square miles). It is the 12th-smallest US state by area, the 13th-least densely populated, and the most rural with just 1.4 million inhabitants. Maine’s capital is Augusta, but its most populous city is Portland, with a total population of c. 69,000.

Today, Maine is known for its jagged, rocky Atlantic Ocean and bayshore coastlines, mountains, heavily forested interior, and its cuisine, particularly wild lowbush blueberries and seafood such as lobster and clams. Coastal and Down East Maine have emerged as important centres for the creative economy, especially in the vicinity of Portland, which has also brought gentrification to the city and its metropolitan area.

Maine’s Moosehead Lake is the largest lake wholly in New England and a number of other Maine lakes, such as South Twin Lake, are described by Thoreau in The Maine Woods (1864). Mount Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, which extends southerly to Georgia, and the southern terminus of the new International Appalachian Trail which, when complete, will run to Belle Isle, Newfoundland and Labrador. Over 80% of Maine’s total land is forested or unclaimed, the most forest cover of any US state. In the wooded areas of the interior lies much uninhabited land. Maine is in the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome. The land near the southern and central Atlantic coast is covered by the mixed oaks of the Northeastern coastal forests. The remainder of the state, including the North Woods, is covered by the New England–Acadian forests.

Buttermilk Falls, in Fall – ©Andythrasher, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Maine has almost 230 miles (400 km) of ocean coastline (and 3,500 miles (5,600 km) of tidal coastline). West Quoddy Head in Lubec is the easternmost point of land in the 48 contiguous states. Along the famous rock-bound coast of Maine are lighthouses, beaches, fishing villages, and thousands of offshore islands, including the Isles of Shoals which straddle the New Hampshire border. There are jagged rocks and cliffs and many bays and inlets. Inland are lakes, rivers, forests, and mountains.

Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England, but there are extensive areas under the protection and management of the National Park Service including State Parks such as Baxter State Park covering nearly 85,000 hectares, Scenic Trails and marine wildlife management areas.

Acadia National Park Coastline – ©Dshadoe, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Maine has a humid continental climate with warm and sometimes humid summers, and long, cold and very snowy winters. Winters are especially severe in the northern and western parts of Maine, while coastal areas are moderated slightly by the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in marginally milder winters and cooler summers than inland regions. Daytime highs are generally in the 24 to 29 °C) range throughout the state in July, with overnight lows in the high around 15 °C. January temperatures range from highs near -1 °C on the southern coast to overnight lows averaging below −18 °C in the far north.

Maine exhibits a diverse range of flora and fauna across its varied landscapes, including forests, coastline, and wetlands. Forested areas consist primarily of coniferous and deciduous trees, such as balsam fir, sugar maple, and its state tree, the Eastern white pine. Coastal regions are characterised by hardy sea milkwort, sea-blight, bayberry, and the invasive rugosa rose.  It’s terrestrial fauna comprises mammals such as moose, black bears, and white-tailed deer, along with smaller species like red squirrels, snowshoe hares, and raccoons. Maine has the largest populations of moose and black bears in the contiguous United States.  Avian diversity is evident with migratory birds like Piping Plovers, American Oystercatcher, and Northern Harrier, as well as resident species like Black-capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, and Barred Owls. Wetlands provide habitat for amphibians such as Spotted Salamanders, Wood Frogs, and toads. Freshwater habitats support fish species like Brook Trout, Landlocked Salmon, and multiple gamefish, while marine life in offshore waters includes Atlantic Puffins, Harbour Seals, Minke Whales, and lobster. Maine’s abundance of lobster makes the state the largest producer of lobster in the United States.

Birding Maine

For birds and birders alike, Maine provides an abundance of excellent habitat. As the largest and most sparsely populated state in New England, Maine represents a significant portion of the breeding range for many eastern woodland bird species. The state’s abundant precipitation (more than 40 inches a year) and glaciated landscape have also created thousands of lakes, ponds, wetlands, and rivers that are ideal habitat for a variety of water birds. And with its deeply indented coastline and uncountable islands, Maine offers attractive habitat for breeding seabirds, migrating shorebirds, and wintering waterfowl.

Over 450 different bird species have been recorded in Maine, of which approximately half are known to have bred here. With a little effort a birder should be able to see 200 species in the state during the course of a year. Perseverance, luck, and a willingness to travel could net the serious birder 250 or more species during the same period with around 350 species being seen most years. Even if you aren’t a lister, Maine’s coastal geography, dense forest cover, and vast undeveloped areas ensure that there will be many surprises for birders to discover.

Finding Birds – Although Maine has comparatively few parks and little public land (less than 5% of Maine’s lands are owned by the public); access to good birding spots is seldom a problem. Back roads and logging roads invite exploration. A canoe or kayak opens up endless possibilities for birding along thousands of miles of streams, rivers, lakeshores, and coast. And Maine is virtually laced with an informal network of recreation trails used throughout the year by snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, walkers, horseback riders, cyclists, and hunters. Almost all these trails cross private land, but tolerance of public access is the general custom – provided it is matched with common courtesy and respect on the part of the user. With a little local knowledge and a willingness to explore, these trails open up broad possibilities for bird finding.

Maine Forests – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Birding by Region – From a birding standpoint Maine can be roughly divided into six regions: Interior & Southern Maine/Red Oak and White Pine Forests, Northern Maine/The Maine Woods, The Western Mountains/Boreal Forest, The Southwest Coast/Salt Marshes & Sand Beaches, Midcoast/Rocky Peninsulas and Spruce-lined Coves Downeast/The Boreal Coast

Each region has a characteristic mix of breeding bird species, although considerable overlap occurs. During the migration seasons these distinctions blur further, as mixed flocks of shorebirds, passerines, raptors, and waterfowl take advantage of favourable habitat along their routes. During the winter months interior Maine is largely deserted by all but the hardiest species (a number of which are highly sought after). but the coast harbours large numbers of waterfowl, seabirds, and lingering passerines. For region-specific details and recommendations on where to bird, see the Maine Audubon website.

Resources – A copy of the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is indispensable for birding in Maine. Maine Audubon and its chapters host a number of outings and field trips for anyone from novice to expert birders. Checkout the programs and trips section of the Maine Audubon site for current offerings.

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 483

    (As at October 2024)

    State Bird: Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus

Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Maine , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • Maine Audubon

    PDF Checklist
    Field Checklist of Maine Birds

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This list of birds of Maine is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species recorded in the U.S. state of Maine. This list is published by the Maine Bird Records Committee (MBRC) and is dated December 2022.

  • eBird

    PDFChecklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.
Useful Reading

  • ABA Field Guide to Birds of Maine

    | By Nick Lund | Scott & Nix, Inc | 2022 | Flexibound | 368 pages, colour photos | ISBN: 9781935622741 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birding Maine

    | Over 90 Prime Birding Sites at 40 Locations | By Tom Seymour | Falcon Guides | 2008 | 135 pages, b/w photos, b/w maps | ISBN: 9780762742240 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Maine

    | By Peter D Vickery et al | Princeton University Press | 2021 | Hardback | 642 pages, 12 plates with colour illustrations; 150 colour & b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps, colour tables | ISBN: 9780691193199 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Birds of Maine Field Guide

    | By Stan Tekiela | Adventure Publications | 2023 | Edition 2 | Paperback | 328 pages, colour photos, colour distribution maps | ISBN: 9781647553685 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Maine Birding Trail

    | (The Official Guide to More Than 260 Accessible Sites) | By Bob Duchesne | Down East Books | 2009 | Paperback | ISBN: 9780892727834 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Maine Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species

    | By James Kavanagh | Waterford Press | 2001 | Unbound | ISBN: 9781583551509 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Maine's Favorite Birds

    | By Jeffrey V Wells & Allison Childs Wells | Tilbury House Publishers | 2010 | Paperback | 72 pages, illustrations | ISBN: 9780884483366 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Festivals & Bird Fairs

  • Acadia Birding Festival

    Website
    Acadia's birding community invites you and your family to celebrate the ecological wonders of the birds of the Gulf of Maine at the Acadia Birding Festival. Explore Mount Desert Island and its birds through numerous events and venues. Greet our warblers on early morning birding walks, visit with puffins and pelagic birds at sea, and observe Peregrine Falcons at an active breeding site in Acadia National Park. Our combination of lectures, walks, and adventures will connect you to Downeast Maine’s many bird species, diverse habitats and local birding experts.
Observatories

  • Maine Natural History Observatory

    Observatory WebsiteSatellite View
    Censusing Maine Biota Since 2003. Maine Natural History Observatory’s mission is to improve the understanding of natural resources in Maine by compiling historic information and implementing inventory and monitoring efforts of Maine’s natural history.
Organisations

  • Audubon Seabird Institute

    Website
    Combining authoritative seabird science with policy and advocacy leadership, the Seabird Institute is a hub for global conservation action for seabirds.

  • Audubon Society in Maine

    Website
    Usual list of local chapters.

  • Augusta (Maine) Birding Club

    Website
    We are an informal group of birders from the capital area who host regular birding trips locally and regionally. We also conduct the Augusta Christmas Bird Count and do other local bird volunteering such as breeding bird surveys.

  • Downeast Chapter of Maine

    Information
    P.O. Box 1212, Ellsworth, ME 04605 - (207) 664-4400 - deaudubon@gmail.com

  • Fundy Chapter

    Information
    PO Box 478, East Machias, ME 04630 - Tel: (207) 255-8970 - E-mail: thomas.finlay@gmail.com

  • Maine Audubon Society

    Website
    Since its inception in 1843 as the Portland Society of Natural History, the Maine Audubon Society has become one of New England`s leading regional organizations for environmental advocacy and education. An independent nonprofit organization supported by 6500 member households, Maine Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection, conservation, and enhancement of Maine`s ecosystems through the promotion of individual understanding and actions.

  • Maine Birds

    Facebook Page
    Maine Birds is an education-based group for sharing our experiences about wild birds in Maine.

  • Maine Young Birders Club

    Website
    Are you a youth 11-18 or an adult who would like to support our efforts?

  • Merrymeeting Audubon Society

    Website
    The objective of the Merrymeeting Audubon Society [Wiscasset] is to foster an appreciation of our natural environment, with a focus on birds. The Merrymeeting Audubon Society was established about 1970 as a chapter of the National Audubon Society. In 2000, the chapter shifted its membership to Maine Audubon, which in turn affilliated with National Audubon.

  • Mid-Coast Audubon Society

    Webpage
    Mid-Coast Audubon Society, with its base in Rockland, Maine, is a chapter of Audubon, and affiliated with Maine Audubon Society. Our mission is to promote long-term, responsible use of natural resources through informed membership, education and community awareness…

  • Nature Conservancy in Maine

    Website
    Welcome to The Nature Conservancy's Maine Chapter home page. Here you'll find information on the many ways we're working to help preserve the diversity of living things by protecting the habitats they call home. Our foray into cyberspace is just beginning, but we hope we are meeting your most immediate needs for information. As our Web page construction efforts continue, we will bring you much more about our work in Maine. In the coming months, we'll be adding new stories and pictures, and we hope you'll stop by frequently.

  • Penobscot Valley Audubon

    Facebook Page
    The Penobscot Valley Chapter supports the Audubon mission of conservation and education in the greater Bangor region through localized programs and field trips and through ongoing support and stewardship of Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden…

  • Prouts Neck Audubon Society

    Website
    The official objective of the Society is to “engage in educational, scientific, literary, historical and philanthropic pursuit of Ornithological conservation, preservation and restoration projects primarily in Saco Bay and environs, and to maintain the Phineas W. Sprague Sanctuary on Stratton and Bluff Islands lying off Prouts Neck”. Once you get past that official business as stated in the by-law (!), the society mainly focuses on supporting the summer fieldwork on the islands, engaging kids in nature projects, and making possible public visits from time to time.

  • Stanton Bird Club

    Website
    The Stanton Bird Club was founded in 1921 by Dr. Jonathan Stanton, a professor at Bates College in Lewiston. Over the years, a number of parcels of land were donated to the club. These donations eventually grew to encompass some 200 acres, known as the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, in the heart of Lewiston; Maine`s second largest city

  • Western Maine Society

    Information
    Burt Knapp, President - bknapp@beeline-online.net - 207-778-6285

  • York County Audubon Society

    Website
    The York County Audubon Society was incorporated in 1971 as a chapter of the National Audubon Society. In January 2000 YCAS became a part of the Maine Audubon family through an affiliation of the Maine Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society. Now YCAS is in the unique position to offer membership benefits of both of these organiztions.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • *Protected areas of Maine

    InformationSatellite View
    Arboreta, parks, reservoirs etc

  • Hog Island Audubon Center

    WebsiteSatellite View
    …Its residential programs have educated adults, children, and families about coastal wildlife in Maine and beyond. Sessions based on a 330-acre island in midcoast Maine's beautiful Muscongus Bay have been led by some of the nation's most-respected naturalists and environmental educators…

  • Machias Seal Island

    InformationSatellite View
    A visit to Machias Seal Island can be one of nature's great wildlife spectacles: a seabird colony overflowing with graceful and aeronautic terns, impossibly patterned puffins, and those most elegant seabirds, the Razorbills. Unless you have visited other seabird colonies in the North Atlantic, it is also certain to be a trip unlike any you've imagined. Click here to see a list of seabirds of Machias Seal Island and surrounding waters.

  • NC Fields Pond Audubon Center

    Facebook PageSatellite View
    Located seven miles southeast of Bangor, Fields Pond Audubon Center features a modern visitor center, an 85-acre pond, and a 192-acre sanctuary with trails winding through field, wetland, forest, and lakeshore…

  • NC Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

    WebpageSatellite View
    Sited along the Presumpscot River estuary just five minutes from Portland, Maine Audubon’s headquarters features a modern environmental center and a 65-acre sanctuary with more than two miles of trails winding along a pond and through woods, meadow, orchard and salt marsh…

  • NC Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center

    Facebook PageSatellite View
    Maine Audubon's Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center is a great place to explore the state's largest salt marsh by foot or canoe. The marsh provides critical habitat for a broad array of wildlife, particularly birds including, waterfowl, egrets, herons, ibises, raptors and grassland sparrows. Muskrat, mink, otter, and deer also frequent the marsh…

  • NP Acadia

    WebsiteSatellite View
    Welcome to the Acadia National Park Page. This site is dedicated to providing useful information on Acadia National Park. Learn about the park's history and wildlife, discover scenic hiking trails and beautiful campgrounds….

  • NS Borestone Mountain Sanctuary

    Facebook PageSatellite View
    Encompassing more than 1,600 acres in Maine's Hundred-Mile Wilderness region, Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary offers a spectacular array of natural features, including rare older forest, three crystalline ponds, exposed granite crags, and sweeping views…

  • NS East Point Sanctuary

    InformationSatellite View
    The 30-acre East Point Sanctuary is one of the best points in southern Maine for birdwatching; the rocky, coastal headland site features a short, but spectacular, shoreline trail that offers views of marine birds such as red-throated loons, sea ducks, gannets, and terns. Two islands can be seen from the trail which support large bird colonies…

  • NS Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary

    Facebook PageSatellite View
    The Stanton Bird Club has been actively engaged in conservation work in the Androscoggin County area for almost 80 years. Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary in Lewiston, a 31 acre wildlife preserve, has been the primary focus of that activity through the years. At an elevation of 510 feet, the highest point in the city, this sanctuary sits as a green capstone, a forested oasis surrounded on three sides by urban and suburban development. The Crag, belonging to the family Thorne in the 1800's, is a familiar and well loved landmark in Lewiston. The human use of this land over the decades has been as varied as the habitats and wildlife it has always protected. Uses have included: recreation and scientific research by Bates College, a sheep and dairy farm, tuberculosis sanitorium, homestead for the reclusive Elder Thorne, and facility for Highland Spring Bottled Water Company.

  • NWR Moosehorn

    WebpageSatellite View
    Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. It is the first in a chain of migratory bird refuges that extends from Maine to Florida. The refuge consists of two units. The Baring Unit covers 17,200 acres and is located off U.S. Route 1 north of Calais, Maine. The 7,200 acre Edmunds Unit borders the tidal waters of Cobscook Bay near Dennysville.

  • NWR Rachel Carson

    WebpageSatellite View
    Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is located on Rte. 9 in Wells, Maine, just about one mile from Route 1 and just below Kennebunk. The environment of most of the refuge is salt marsh.

  • Todd Wildlife Sanctuary

    WebpageSatellite View
    Located six miles southeast of Damariscotta on Muscongus Bay, Todd Audubon Sanctuary includes a 30-acre mainland parcel as well as 330-acre Hog Island, located a quarter-mile offshore and home to the Audubon Camp in Maine.

  • Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is a 1600-acre research, education and public recreation facility. Local citizens representing the non-profit organization Laudholm Trust founded it in 1986. Today the Trust continues to lead a campaign to raise community awareness and develop better stewardship of vital coastal resources within the Gulf of Maine by supporting the mission of the Reserve through membership contributions, private and public foundation grants, and other fund raising activities…
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Bird Treks

    Tour Operator
    Bird Treks has been providing small group and custom birding tours for over 20 years. Visit their website to see the incredible tours available, including Machias Seal Island for Puffins!

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Birding Ecotours, a leader in small group and custom-made birding adventures worldwide, offers an amazing tour to Maine to experience New England birding by land and by sea, including a trip to Machias Seal Island for Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins!

  • Bob Duchesne - Guide

    Local Guide
    Concurrently, Bob started a bird guiding company, and later began writing a weekly birding column for the Bangor Daily News, as well as a Woods & Waters column for Bangor Metro magazine.

  • Down East Nature Tours

    Tour Operator
    Personalized nature and bird-watching tours for individuals, couples, families and small groups. We help you discover the flora and fauna of Mt. Desert Island and Down East Maine with special emphasis on native and migrating birds (Bald Eagles, Osprey, Peregrine Falcons, Shore birds, Warblers) You will discover the exciting world of birds and learn to identify species by listening to their calls and observing their habits. A truly unique and enjoyable learning experience

  • FieldGuides

    Tour Operator
    Seabirds & Coastal Migrants A September itinerary at a beautiful season in Maine for coastal migrants and pelagic birds, with a good chance for skuas.

  • Naturalist Journeys

    Tour Operator
    Experience the joy of fall migration from Maine’s beloved Monhegan Island. Imagine a birding holiday on a remote and picturesque island where life slows down, and there are no roads and no cars.

  • New England Bird Tours

    Tour Operator
    From Bicknell’s Thrush to the Atlantic Puffin, this tour makes a thorough exploration of northern New England’s rich bird diversity and beautiful landscapes...

  • Schoodic Institute

    Local Tour Operator
    Introducing two new tours! Katahdin Splendor combines explorations of Baxter State Park and the new Katahdin Woods and Waterways National Monument, and Coastal Splendor features a chartered puffin cruise, warbler hotspots, and a scrumptious lobster dinner. Each tour is offered once early in the month of June, key timing for the best variety of species.

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    Maine and New Hampshire

  • Wildside Nature Tours

    Tour Operator
    This adventurous tour will explore the coast of Maine, travel to the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, and wind through Vermont’s “Northern Kingdom” during a 7-day loop! Our trip begins with a half-day boat trip to Seal Island in the Gulf of Maine.
Trip Reports

  • *Maine Birding Field Notes

    Reports
    Trip Reports, Essays, Rare Bird Reports, and More from Derek Lovitch's and Freeport Wild Bird Supply's birding in Maine and beyond.

  • 2015 [05 May] - Eric Hynes & Pepe Rojas

    Report
    ...Day four was our scheduled boat trip, but we had the morning free so we birded Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park. The wind was howling, but we managed to scare up a cluster of American Redstarts, great looks at Swamp Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Hermit Thrush, and a remarkably obliging Ovenbird. Our cruise out to Petit Manan Island was on the bumpy side, but it was well worth it. Razorbills, Atlantic Puffins, and Arctic Terns were all beside the boat, and en route we picked out Great Cormorant, Black-legged Kittiwake, Red-throated Loon, Northern Gannet, and some adorable newborn Harbor Seals.

  • 2015 [07 July] - Fraser Simpson

    Report
    Having birded the desert states of Arizona and New Mexico, and experienced Florida's waterbirds on recent work trips, I began thinking about a destination, somewhere in the north, to see and hear many of North America's wood-warblers and thrushes. In addition, I'd always wanted to hear a Common Loon (Great Northern Diver) calling in the wild. Maine appeared to be the best choice: mostly forested, plenty of lakes, camping friendly, not many people, and essentially for sound recording, little anthropogenic noise pollution.

  • 2016 [05 May] - Eric Hynes

    Report
    ...We found a host of migrants in a cemetery, some unusual shorebirds in a marsh, some delicious lobster rolls on the coast, and capped the evening with a close, displaying American Woodcock. The first few days of the tour were spent along the southern coast, where we picked up a number of shorebirds, as well as songbirds in the hardwood and transitional habitats. One particularly early morning at Kennebunk Plains yielded Eastern Whip-poor-will, Upland Sandpiper, and a quite a few sparrows...

  • 2021 [07 July] - Jacob Roalef

    PDF Report
    Avian highlights included a long list of breeders in a wide variety of habitats including Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Arctic, Roseate, Least and Common Terns, Common Loon, Great Cormorant, Broad-winged Hawk, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Boreal Chickadee, Bicknell’s Thrush, Lincoln’s, Nelson’s, Saltmarsh, Vesper and Grasshopper Sparrows, Ovenbird, Blackburnian, Palm, Blackpoll, Prairie, and Black-throated Green Warblers, and a Code-4 ABA rarity in Little Egret.

  • 2022 [07 July] - Michael J Good

    PDF Report
    ...The gulls and cormorant on Egg Rock are one of the major attractions for Bald Eagle whose numbers have been rebounding since DDT greatly affected top trophic level birds. One of the reasons we saw so many Bald Eagle during this boat trip is because they are actively feeding young of the year eaglets and Herring Gull are on the meal ticket. A variety of prey is eaten but gulls have become a readily accessible source of food as the Bald Eagle population rebound and stabilize in Maine...

  • 2023 [06 June] - Jon Atwood - Coastal Maine & New Hampshire’s White Mountains

    PDF Report
    It’s hard to pick specific high points among all the great birds and experiences on this trip. Close looks at nesting Piping Plovers and Least Terns, displaying Bobolinks, a very responsive Saltmarsh Sparrow, 16 species of wood-warblers and six species of thrush (including this trip’s target species, Bicknell’s Thrush).

  • 2023 [06 June] - Zeiss Pelagic

    Report
    On June 2nd, we ran our now-annual spring mini-pelagic with our partners Cap’n Fish’s Cruises out of Boothbay Harbor. But this wasn’t any old pelagic. Instead, it was not only a way to poke your feet into the proverbial and literal pelagic birding waters, but this was also a chance to try out a new pair of Zeiss optics. And all for a very, very special price.

  • 2024 [09 September] - Maine Young Birders Club

    Report
    The Maine Young Birders Club took to the seas on Saturday, September 21st to visit Monhegan Island, a small, rocky island in Muscungous Bay about 10 miles offshore
Places to Stay

  • 1802 House B&B Inn

    Accommodation
    There also are lovely gardens and grounds surrounding the 1802 House where one may relax in the comfort of the chairs, benches and lounges and enjoy viewing the flowers, birds and the scenery

  • Hog Island Audubon Camp

    Accommodation
    159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 - Ph: 607-257-7308 x14 - This summer, enjoy world-class ornithology sessions at Audubon’s spectacular Hog Island, located in Maine’s Muscongus Bay. Taught by some of the country’s leading birders, scientists, authors and artists, these dynamic sessions are designed for both beginners and experienced bird enthusiasts….
Other Links

  • Birding Rangeley Lakes

    Website
    The Rangeley area is a wonderful place to see birds and other wildlife. Because we have such a diverse set of ecosystems within a huge wilderness area, just about any bird that comes to the northeast can be found here, even those that are rare and endangered…

  • Birds of New England

    Website
    Some excellent photographs

  • Maine Birding Trail

    Website
    Research for the Maine Birding Trail began in 2003, spanning well over 300 locations across the state. Five years and 36,000 miles later, the trail has launched with the designation of 82 official sites - sites that feature excellent birding, but also excellent parking, paths, facilities, etc. The brochure contains short descriptions and regional maps

  • Puffins & Machias Seal Island

    Website
    It has been described as a very unique place to visit, and to the avid bird watcher, it is heaven. During the nesting season it becomes home to thousands of pelagic birds.The most noted species is the Atlantic Puffin, but other species such as the Razorbill Auk , and Common and Arctic Terns add to the viewing enjoyment. No matter where you stand on the island, you will see thousands of birds flying by. There are approx. 1000 pairs of puffins, 2500 pairs of arctic terns, 100 pairs of common terns, 150-200 pairs of razorbill auks. Other birds which may be seen on the trip out to the island are Shearwaters ( greater, sooty, manx ); Wilson Storm Petrels, Phalaropes, Jeagers ( pomarine, parasitic ) Northern Gannet, Black Guillemots and Eider Ducks.
Blogs

  • Bill Sheehan - Northern Maine Birds

    BLOG
    I live and bird in Aroostook County in northernmost Maine. Wife, two kids, drive a Ford. Prefer to find my own rather than chase other's birds. My patches are Collins Pond in Caribou, Lake Josephine in Easton, Christina Reservoir in Fort Fairfield and the Nature Conservancy's Woodland Bog Preserve, which is across the street from my house…

  • Derek Lovitch - Maine Birding Field Notes

    BLOG
    Derek Lovitch is an avid birder and the owner of the Wild Bird Center in Yarmouth. Check in frequently for information about birding in Maine and more.

  • Gene Vermillion - Bird Watching Rambles

    BLOG
    Last updated 2012

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