Birding at Elk Neck State Park

Birdwatching is one of the most popular activities at Elk Neck State Park. With a variety of habitats along the peninsula, visitors can see many types of birds throughout the seasons but especially during times of migration. Elk Neck State Park falls within the Atlantic Flyway zone.

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service

Maryland Biodiversity Project

Since 2021, Elk Neck State Park has partnered with the Maryland Biodiversity Project (MBP), a non-profit organization that performs nature studies of Maryland’s living things (birds, insects, plants, and others) to promote conservation, science, and education. This MBP community has cataloged more than 20,600 species, including nearly 13,000 species with photographs and features the work of more than 18,000 naturalists and photographers. For more information about the Maryland Biodiversity Project or to see the data collected from the nature studies, visit https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com.

Common Birds seen at Elk Neck State Park

Length (L), Wingspan (WS), Habitat (H), Features (F), Seasons (S)
Numbers viewed taken from 2022 Bird Count Aug-Nov Summary

Ring-billed Gull
(Larus delawarensis)
L: 17"
WS: 48"
H: Beaches, ponds, reservoirs
F: Yellow bill w/black, ring; pale gray above; white; yellow legs
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 4137

Double-Crested Cormorant
(Phalacrocorax auritus)
L: 32"
WS: 52"
H: Coastal areas, bays, lakes
F: Large black body, orange to yellow skin on face and throat; hooked bill
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 4024

Snow Geese
(Chen caerulescens)
L: 30"
WS: 54"
H: Shallow marshes and ponds, grain fields
F: White body w/ black wingtips; large pink bill; pink legs
S: Fall - Spring
# viewed in bird count: 104

Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
L: 52"
WS: 85"
H: Estuaries, lakes
F: Huge white body; black bill w/ yellow patch near eye
S: Fall - Spring
# viewed in bird count: 1937

Forster's Tern
(Sterna forsteri)
L: 19"
WS: 31"
H: Marshes, lakes, bays
F: Breeding adult w/ full black cap; orange bill
w/ dark tip; forked tip
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 2942

Red-winged Blackbird
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
L: 9"
WS: 13"
H: Marshes, ponds, wet fields
F: Male: jet black w/ red or orange shoulder patch w/ yellow edge
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 14632

American Goldfinch
(Carduelis tristis)
L: 5"
WS: 9"
H: Shrubby areas, farms, gardens
F: Male: yellow body; dull orange bill; black wings, tail and cap
S: Spring - Fall
# viewed in bird count: 15017

Common Grackle
(Quiscalus quiscula)
L: 12"
WS: 17"
H: Farmlands, parks, wetlands
F: Mostly black; iridescent wings in sunlight; yellow eyes
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 128181

Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)
L: 7"
WS: 12"
H: Countryside, suburbs, parks
F:Brown overall; black eyestripe; yellow-tipped tail and red-tipped wings
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 14685

Eastern Bluebird
(Sialia sialis)
L: 7"
WS: 9"
H: Farmlands, country yards
F: Male: Bright blue head, wings and back, rust colored breast
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 1201

Blue Jay
(Cyanocitta cristata)
L: 11"
WS: 16"
H: Woodlands, parks, gardens
F: Blue crest and back; white around the eye; primarily blue wings w/ black bars
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 18462

American Robin
(Cyanocitta cristata)
L: 10"
WS: 14"
H: Fields, woodland edges, lawns
F: Yellow bill; dark gray upperparts; brick red below
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 25026

Photo Credit: MD Dept of Natural Resources

Scarlet Tanager
(Piranga olivacea)
L: 7"
WS: 12"
H: Mature woodlands
F: Male: bright red body; black wings and tail
S: Spring - Fall
# viewed in bird count: 148

Pileated Woodpecker
(Dryocopus pileatus)
L: 17"
WS: 29"
H: Mature woodlands, suburbs
F: Black body and wings; red neck; males w/ red stripe on chin
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 17

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)
(Colaptes auratus)
L: 13"
WS: 19"
H: : Open woodlands, parks, suburbs
F: Yellow under wing and tail; black
spotted underparts; black bill; red blaze on nape
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 1505

Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
L: 35"
WS: 85"
H: Bays, lakes, rivers, fields
F: adults: white head, tail; hooked yellow bill; yellow feet
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 139

Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
L: 24"
WS: 70"
H: Coastlines, bays, rivers
F: White head; dark streak through eye; dark above; white below; underwings boldly patterned
S: Spring - Fall
# viewed in bird count: 86

Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura)
L: 27"
WS: 69"
H: Woodland edges, fields
F: Large black body; red, unfeathered head, trailing wing edge silver in flight
S: All year
# viewed in bird count: 1319