Birds Common to Martha's Vineyard
American Oystercatcher: A common summer resident, the American oystercatcher enjoys beaches and tidal flats.
American Oystercatcher: A common summer resident, the American oystercatcher enjoys beaches and tidal flats.
Baltimore Oriole: The Baltimore oriole spends its time enjoying the Island's deciduous woodlands and shade trees from May to late fall.
Baltimore Oriole: The Baltimore oriole spends its time enjoying the Island's deciduous woodlands and shade trees from May to late fall.
Black-crowned Night Heron: Often a year-round Island resident, though some migrate south in the fall, the black-crowned night heron prefers salt marshes, brackish ponds and herring runs.
Black-crowned Night Heron: Often a year-round Island resident, though some migrate south in the fall, the black-crowned night heron prefers salt marshes, brackish ponds and herring runs.
Cedar Waxwing: Both a common fall migrant and a winter resident, the cedar waxwing's preferred habitat is deciduous woodlands and fruiting trees.
Cedar Waxwing: Both a common fall migrant and a winter resident, the cedar waxwing's preferred habitat is deciduous woodlands and fruiting trees.
Common Eider: A year round resident who prefers water to land, the common eider is often seen on large rafts at Aquinnah, Squibnocket, and Wasque.
Common Eider: A year round resident who prefers water to land, the common eider is often seen on large rafts at Aquinnah, Squibnocket, and Wasque.
Great Crested Flycatcher: Nesting in the matured woodland sections of the morainal hills and scrub oak plains, the summer resident great crested flycatcher can also be found in more populated areas, such as the Campground in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven.
Great Crested Flycatcher: Nesting in the matured woodland sections of the morainal hills and scrub oak plains, the summer resident great crested flycatcher can also be found in more populated areas, such as the Campground in Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven.
Northern Harrier: A resident in small numbers, these raptors nest in beach roses near the dunes and in large tracts of scrub oak.
Northern Harrier: A resident in small numbers, these raptors nest in beach roses near the dunes and in large tracts of scrub oak.
Herring Gull: One of the Island's best known and most abundant birds, the herring gull enjoys barrier beaches, ponds, bays and offshore.
Herring Gull: One of the Island's best known and most abundant birds, the herring gull enjoys barrier beaches, ponds, bays and offshore.
Least Tern: The least tern makes it home on long stretches of sandy Vineyard beaches in the summer, though four-wheel drive vehicles threaten their nesting sites.
Least Tern: The least tern makes it home on long stretches of sandy Vineyard beaches in the summer, though four-wheel drive vehicles threaten their nesting sites.
Mute Swan: Although not native to the Island, the mute swan is a permanent year-round resident who prefers the Island's harbors and fresh and saltwater ponds.
Mute Swan: Although not native to the Island, the mute swan is a permanent year-round resident who prefers the Island's harbors and fresh and saltwater ponds.
Piping Plover Chick: This common summer resident often makes its home along sandy beaches, the sites of which are often protected in order to protect plover eggs.
Piping Plover Chick: This common summer resident often makes its home along sandy beaches, the sites of which are often protected in order to protect plover eggs.
Prairie Warbler: A common May to September resident, the prairie warbler prefers the habitats of scrubby fields and scrub oak edges.
Prairie Warbler: A common May to September resident, the prairie warbler prefers the habitats of scrubby fields and scrub oak edges.
Ruddy Turnstone: The ruddy turnstone is seen increasingly in the spring and enjoys beach edges, jetties and tidal flats until it departs in the fall.
Ruddy Turnstone: The ruddy turnstone is seen increasingly in the spring and enjoys beach edges, jetties and tidal flats until it departs in the fall.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker: Preferring the habitats of the Island's deciduous woodlands and woodland edges, the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a spring and fall transient in small numbers.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker: Preferring the habitats of the Island's deciduous woodlands and woodland edges, the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a spring and fall transient in small numbers.
Keep your eyes glued to the sky for a glimpse of these species common to our shores.