State Bird LC · Least Concern

Maryland State Bird

Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula · Designated 1947 · Blackbirds

State profile

Why the Baltimore Oriole fits Maryland

The Baltimore Oriole feels like a natural fit for Maryland because it belongs to river woods, suburban shade trees, and tidal lowland parks. Whether you notice it around Patapsco Valley State Park or in an ordinary neighborhood yard, the species reflects the parts of Maryland people actually see and hear, not a remote corner of the map.
Quick Answer
The state bird of Maryland is the Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), designated in 1947.

Why Maryland Chose the Baltimore Oriole

Maryland designated the Baltimore Oriole in 1947 because of its vivid color and its famous link to the Baltimore region, giving Maryland a bird that is both local and instantly memorable. It was a practical symbolic choice: familiar to residents, visible across much of the state, and easy to connect with local schools, gardens, farms, parks, or conservation culture.

About the Baltimore Oriole

Adult males flash orange and black, females run warmer yellow-orange, and both show a slim pointed bill built for insects, fruit, and nectar. In Maryland, it looks especially at home across river woods, suburban shade trees, and tidal lowland parks.

Baltimore Orioles forage high in deciduous canopies, weave hanging pouch nests, and move through flowering trees and berry patches with quick, purposeful hops. It uses river woods, shade trees, open deciduous forest, and well-planted towns well, which helps explain why the bird feels familiar well beyond protected areas.

Where to See the Baltimore Oriole in Maryland

In Maryland, start with Patapsco Valley State Park, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and Patuxent Research Refuge. Scan treetops for bright movement and listen for flutelike whistles near elm, maple, and sycamore canopies. Peak viewing usually comes in late spring and early summer when territorial males are vocal and nests are active. These kinds of places match the bird's preferred mix of river woods, shade trees, open deciduous forest, and well-planted towns.

Conservation

The Baltimore Oriole is currently listed as LC. The species remains familiar, but loss of mature deciduous trees, pesticide pressure on insect prey, and hazards during migration continue to shape long-term numbers.

Explore the collection

All 50 State Birds

All 50 US states have designated official state birds. The most commonly chosen are the Northern Cardinal and the Western Meadowlark.

Alabama
Northern Flicker
Since 1927
Alaska
Willow Ptarmigan
Since 1955
Arizona
Cactus Wren
Since 1931
Arkansas
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1929
California
California Quail
Since 1931
Colorado
Lark Bunting
Since 1931
Connecticut
American Robin
Since 1943
Delaware
Blue Hen Chicken
Since 1939
Florida
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1927
Georgia
Brown Thrasher
Since 1935
Hawaii
Hawaiian Goose
Since 1957
Idaho
Mountain Bluebird
Since 1931
Illinois
Northern Cardinal
Since 1929
Indiana
Northern Cardinal
Since 1933
Iowa
American Goldfinch
Since 1933
Kansas
Western Meadowlark
Since 1937
Kentucky
Northern Cardinal
Since 1926
Louisiana
Brown Pelican
Since 1966
Maine
Black-capped Chickadee
Since 1927
Massachusetts
Black-capped Chickadee
Since 1941
Michigan
American Robin
Since 1931
Minnesota
Common Loon
Since 1961
Mississippi
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1944
Missouri
Eastern Bluebird
Since 1927
Montana
Western Meadowlark
Since 1931
Nebraska
Western Meadowlark
Since 1929
Nevada
Mountain Bluebird
Since 1967
New Hampshire
Purple Finch
Since 1957
New Jersey
American Goldfinch
Since 1935
New Mexico
Greater Roadrunner
Since 1949
New York
Eastern Bluebird
Since 1970
North Carolina
Northern Cardinal
Since 1943
North Dakota
Western Meadowlark
Since 1947
Ohio
Northern Cardinal
Since 1933
Oklahoma
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Since 1951
Oregon
Western Meadowlark
Since 1927
Pennsylvania
Ruffed Grouse
Since 1931
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Red
Since 1954
South Carolina
Carolina Wren
Since 1948
South Dakota
Ring-necked Pheasant
Since 1943
Tennessee
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1933
Texas
Northern Mockingbird
Since 1927
Utah
California Gull
Since 1955
Vermont
Hermit Thrush
Since 1941
Virginia
Northern Cardinal
Since 1950
Washington
American Goldfinch
Since 1951
West Virginia
Northern Cardinal
Since 1949
Wisconsin
American Robin
Since 1949
Wyoming
Western Meadowlark
Since 1927

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Maryland state bird?
Good starting points include Patapsco Valley State Park, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and Patuxent Research Refuge. Scan treetops for bright movement and listen for flutelike whistles near elm, maple, and sycamore canopies.

Source citations

How this state-bird page is sourced

State-bird pages separate official-symbol facts, bird data, and editorial prose so a correction can target the right layer.

  1. State designation facts from the KTP state-bird data contract and page data.
  2. Taxonomy, measurements, family, and conservation fields from structured pipeline data.
  3. Editorial prose reviewed against KTP rules for no invented numbers and no field-certainty claims from generated art.

Correction log

Correction log

  • Official state-symbol details are corrected at the state-bird data source, then republished into PAGE_DATA.
  • Bird measurements, family labels, and conservation fields are corrected in the structured species pipeline rather than patched in prose.
  • Generated prose is revised only after the owning data fields and section contract are confirmed.
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