Most commonly seen birds in Massachusetts

Written by:
March 14, 2023
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Most commonly seen birds in Massachusetts

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Massachusetts using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 380 count sites in Massachusetts. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.

The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.

Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.

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#42. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 20%
--- #2. Georgia: 16%
--- #3. Tennessee: 15%
--- #4. North Carolina: 14%
--- #5. South Carolina: 13%
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#41. Mallard

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 8.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Utah: 7%
--- #2. Rhode Island: 7%
--- #4. South Dakota: 5%
--- #4. Louisiana: 5%
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#40. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 70%
--- #2. South Carolina: 68%
--- #3. Florida: 66%
--- #3. Georgia: 66%
--- #5. North Carolina: 58%
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#39. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Minnesota: 28%
--- #2. West Virginia: 21%
--- #3. Michigan: 17%
--- #4. Indiana: 16%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 16%
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#38. Pine Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 54%
--- #2. North Carolina: 44%
--- #3. South Carolina: 37%
--- #4. Alabama: 34%
--- #5. Florida: 31%
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#37. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 2.42
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 49%
--- #2. Maine: 20%
--- #2. Colorado: 20%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
--- #5. Montana: 13%
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#36. Fox Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 27%
--- #2. Washington: 15%
--- #3. California: 12%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 5%
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#35. Sharp-shinned Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Idaho: 12%
--- #2. Nevada: 11%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 10%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #4. New Mexico: 7%
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#34. Rock Pigeon

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 5.53
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 18%
--- #3. New Mexico: 16%
--- #4. South Dakota: 14%
--- #5. Colorado: 6%
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#33. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.64
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 59%
--- #2. Mississippi: 50%
--- #3. South Carolina: 45%
--- #4. Louisiana: 40%
--- #5. Alabama: 39%
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#32. Red-tailed Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Connecticut: 10%
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. Illinois: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 6%
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#31. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 15%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 13%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #3. South Dakota: 10%
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#30. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 26%
--- #3. New Mexico: 18%
--- #4. Illinois: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
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#29. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 62%
--- #2. Louisiana: 60%
--- #3. Mississippi: 58%
--- #4. Alabama: 55%
--- #5. South Carolina: 53%
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#28. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 50%
--- #2. Arkansas: 32%
--- #3. Alabama: 27%
--- #4. North Carolina: 25%
--- #5. Missouri: 24%
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#27. American Tree Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 2.28
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Wisconsin: 25%
--- #2. Iowa: 23%
--- #2. Vermont: 23%
--- #4. Wyoming: 22%
--- #4. Michigan: 22%
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#26. Wild Turkey

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 6.15
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 21%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 15%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 12%
--- #3. Minnesota: 12%
--- #5. Wyoming: 11%
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#25. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 2.64
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 50%
--- #2. Mississippi: 42%
--- #3. Delaware: 30%
--- #4. South Carolina: 28%
--- #4. New Jersey: 28%
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#24. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- Average group size: 1.22
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 79%
--- #2. Colorado: 66%
--- #3. Montana: 65%
--- #4. Washington: 63%
--- #4. Nevada: 63%
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#23. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 2.87
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 49%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 45%
--- #3. North Carolina: 39%
--- #4. Vermont: 37%
--- #5. Georgia: 34%
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#22. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 28%
- Average group size: 2.98
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 65%
--- #2. New Jersey: 60%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 40%
--- #4. Ohio: 38%
--- #4. Kentucky: 38%
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#21. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 28%
- Average group size: 3.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 70%
--- #2. North Carolina: 65%
--- #2. South Carolina: 65%
--- #4. Arkansas: 57%
--- #5. Virginia: 52%
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#20. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 29%
- Average group size: 1.27
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 57%
--- #3. Alaska: 55%
--- #4. Montana: 54%
--- #5. Oregon: 45%
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#19. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 29%
- Average group size: 2.58
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Arkansas: 64%
--- #3. Tennessee: 59%
--- #4. Nevada: 58%
--- #5. Oklahoma: 55%
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#18. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 36%
- Average group size: 3.43
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 60%
--- #2. New Jersey: 56%
--- #3. New York: 48%
--- #4. Louisiana: 45%
--- #4. Illinois: 45%
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#17. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 37%
- Average group size: 2.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 80%
--- #2. Arkansas: 79%
--- #3. Delaware: 77%
--- #4. Maryland: 72%
--- #5. Virginia: 69%
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#16. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- Average group size: 1.36
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Washington: 59%
--- #3. Oregon: 56%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 50%
--- #5. Delaware: 47%
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#15. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 43%
- Average group size: 1.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 69%
--- #2. Maine: 67%
--- #3. Minnesota: 63%
--- #3. Vermont: 63%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
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#14. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 51%
- Average group size: 1.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. North Carolina: 84%
--- #3. South Carolina: 80%
--- #4. Virginia: 77%
--- #5. Georgia: 75%
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#13. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 51%
- Average group size: 3.82
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Nebraska: 67%
--- #3. Indiana: 66%
--- #4. Ohio: 62%
--- #4. Missouri: 62%
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#12. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 56%
- Average group size: 5.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Iowa: 88%
--- #3. Illinois: 87%
--- #4. Nebraska: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 74%
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#11. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 61%
- Average group size: 3.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 77%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 76%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 76%
--- #4. Michigan: 74%
--- #5. Missouri: 73%
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#10. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 64%
- Average group size: 1.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 88%
--- #2. New Jersey: 86%
--- #3. Arkansas: 82%
--- #4. Connecticut: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 78%
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#9. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 65%
- Average group size: 2.87
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 97%
--- #2. Arizona: 94%
--- #3. New Mexico: 90%
--- #4. Ohio: 87%
--- #5. Colorado: 86%
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#8. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 77%
- Average group size: 2.58
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Rhode Island: 87%
--- #2. Massachusetts: 77%
--- #3. New Jersey: 76%
--- #4. Nebraska: 73%
--- #4. Ohio: 73%
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#7. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 80%
- Average group size: 4.2
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. New Jersey: 90%
--- #3. West Virginia: 88%
--- #3. Delaware: 88%
--- #5. Rhode Island: 87%
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#6. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 84%
- Average group size: 1.4
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 93%
--- #2. Maine: 85%
--- #2. Vermont: 85%
--- #4. Connecticut: 84%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 84%
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#5. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 84%
- Average group size: 2.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 91%
--- #1. Connecticut: 91%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 90%
--- #4. North Carolina: 86%
--- #5. Tennessee: 84%
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#4. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 88%
- Average group size: 1.6
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Minnesota: 89%
--- #2. Arkansas: 89%
--- #4. Missouri: 88%
--- #4. Iowa: 88%
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#3. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 89%
- Average group size: 4.58
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 96%
--- #2. Washington: 94%
--- #3. New Jersey: 93%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. Connecticut: 92%
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#2. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 91%
- Average group size: 2.2
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #3. Maryland: 95%
--- #3. South Carolina: 95%
--- #5. West Virginia: 93%
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#1. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 91%
- Average group size: 2.67
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 97%
--- #2. Minnesota: 96%
--- #3. Vermont: 94%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. New Hampshire: 92%

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