The Maine Audubon Society lists over 330 birds in its “checklist.” Sixteen of these are either endangered (most serious) or threatened according to state and federal governments. In the list notations, “threatened” is used only if no government level ranked the bird as “endangered.” Use the Encyclopedia’s Bird List for general reference and to locate articles and images in the Encyclopedia for selected species.
In their guide to bird watching on their Internet site, the Audubon Society notes:
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″ 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.
Almost 400 different bird species have been recorded in Maine, of which approximately half are known to have bred here. Maine’s Cordelia Stanwood was an early twentieth century ornithologist and photographer. With a little effort a birder should be able to see 200 species in the state during the course of a year.
Both the Society and the Nature Conservancy manage nature preserves and sanctuaries across the state providing habitat for endangered and other birds.
Additional Resources
All About Birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search (accessed September 22, 2011)
Eckstorm, Fannie Hardy. The Bird Book. Boston, MA. Heath. 1901.
The Birds of North America (BNA) Online. American Ornithologists’ Union and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna (accessed September 22, 2011)
Bull, John and John Farrand, Jr. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. 1977 and various years.
Elizabeth C. and Jan E. Pierson. A Birder’s Guide to Maine. Down East Books. 1996.
“The Maine Audubon Society Field Checklist of Maine Birds.” (available singly or in quantity). 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Maine Field Guide. Cambridge, MI. Adventure Publications, Inc. 2002.
Vanner, Michael. A Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Bath, UK. Parragon Books Ltd. 2006