Massachusetts Audubon Breeding Bird Safe Dates - 2010


Species Safe date start** Safe date end Habitat
  Ruffed Grouse 1-Jan 31-Dec Mixed upland woods 
  Wild Turkey 1-Jan 31-Dec Mature deciduous woods, edge 
  Rock Pigeon 1-Jan 31-Dec Buildings, bridges, towers in urban areas, farms 
  Great Horned Owl 1-Jan 31-Dec Wide variety of habitats from forest to farmland 
  Pileated Woodpecker 1-Jan 31-Dec Matured forest, especially bottomland 
  European Starling 1-Jan 31-Dec Everywhere except remote rural areas 
  House Sparrow 1-Jan 31-Dec Residential, farms 
  Common Raven 20-Mar 20-Jul Remote forested areas 
  American Crow 25-Mar 15-Jul Conifers in forested areas, woodlots, suburban yards, parks 
  Mourning Dove 1-Apr 15-Aug Suburbs, woodlots, farmlands 
  Barn Owl 1-Apr 1-Aug Open habitats 
  Eastern Screech-Owl 1-Apr 1-Aug Open deciduous forests, woodlots, orchards, residential areas 
  Barred Owl 1-Apr 15-Jul Moist woods, wooded swamps, bottomlands.  
  Long-eared Owl 1-Apr 1-Aug Conifers 
  Black-capped Chickadee 1-Apr 15-Aug Woodlands, orchards, shade trees, yards, and city parks 
  Carolina Wren 1-Apr 15-Aug Wet woods, stream edges with dense thickets, tangles, brush piles, etc. 
  Tufted Titmouse 5-Apr 1-Aug Deciduous (especially oak) forest, riparian woodlands, and residential areas 
  Northern Goshawk 10-Apr 15-Aug Mature, mixed woodlands 
  Red-shouldered Hawk 10-Apr 15-Aug Wet mixed forests, swamps 
  Canada Goose 15-Apr 1-Aug Shore or islands in any wetland 
  Mute Swan 15-Apr 1-Aug Large ponds and marshes 
  Bald Eagle 15-Apr 15-Aug Margins of large lakes, rivers 
  Red-tailed Hawk 15-Apr 1-Aug Mature woodlands, often near edges 
  American Woodcock 15-Apr 15-Jul Forest edges 
  Northern Saw-whet Owl 15-Apr 15-Aug Mixed moists woods with conifers 
  Red-bellied Woodpecker 15-Apr 1-Aug Older-growth forest and woodlots 
  Northern Cardinal 15-Apr 20-Aug Suburban or semi-rural areas; forest edge, woodlots, thickets, parks, gardens 
  House Finch 15-Apr 1-Aug Scattered trees- especially conifers- mainly in residential areas 
  Killdeer 20-Apr 1-Jul Open, sparcely vegetated areas; flat rooftops 
  Hairy Woodpecker 25-Apr 20-Jul Forests  
  Horned Lark 25-Apr 1-Aug Coastal dunes and beaches, abandoned agricultural fields, airports 
  White-breasted Nuthatch 25-Apr 10-Aug Deciduous forest 
  Northern Bobwhite 30-Apr 15-Aug Open scrub, pastures, fields 
  Wood Duck 1-May 5-Aug Wooded swamps, freshwater marshes, streams, rivers 
  American Black Duck 1-May 5-Aug Most wetlands, from beaver ponds to saltmarsh 
  Mallard 1-May 5-Aug All wetlands, occasionally suburban yards with swimming pools 
  Ring-necked Pheasant 1-May 15-Aug Open scrub, pastures, fields 
  Great Cormorant 1-May 5-Aug Islands on coast 
  Great Blue Heron 1-May 15-Jul Wooded swamps, beaver ponds, islands 
  Glossy Ibis 1-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Sandhill Crane 1-May 1-Aug Extensive, freshwater marsh or bog  
  Laughing Gull 1-May 1-Aug Coastal islands 
  Ring-billed Gull 1-May 1-Aug Lakes, reservoirs 
  Herring Gull 1-May 1-Aug Coastal shores/islands, flat rooftops 
  Lesser Black-backed Gull 1-May 1-Aug Coastal shores/islands 
  Great Black-backed Gull 1-May 1-Aug Coastal islands 
  Short-eared Owl 1-May 1-Aug Extensive coastal grassland/heathland 
  Belted Kingfisher 1-May 10-Aug Stream, river, lake, or bay shore with banks  
  Downy Woodpecker 1-May 25-Jul Forests, copses, suburbs 
  Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted Flicker) 1-May 25-Jul Forests, parks 
  Eastern Phoebe 1-May 15-Aug Ledges, bridges, porch sills, etc., usually near water  
  Blue Jay 1-May 15-Aug Varied; including most forest types, thickets, suburban yards, parks 
  Fish Crow 1-May 15-Jul Mixed woods, woodlots, suburban yards, parks 
  Winter Wren 1-May 5-Aug Cool, moist, coniferous or mixed woods, swamps, bogs, streams, brooks 
  Eastern Bluebird 1-May 15-Aug Open areas with scattered trees; farmland, orchards, swamps, pastures, etc.  
  American Robin 1-May 1-Sep Almost anywhere except the most open habitats such as marsh, grasslands 
  Pine Warbler 1-May 5-Aug Variety of pine forest types 
  Eastern Towhee 1-May 10-Aug Dry, open forest, edge, brushy habitats, including coastal thickets, powerline cuts 
  Chipping Sparrow 1-May 15-Aug Open mixed forest, suburbs, parks, and cemeteries with conifers 
  Field Sparrow 1-May 5-Aug Brushy areas, weedy fields, powerline cuts 
  Song Sparrow 1-May 10-Aug Forest edge, brushy areas, marsh edges, suburbs 
  Swamp Sparrow 1-May 5-Aug Freshwater wetlands including cattail marsh, swamps, river meadow, and pond edges 
  Dark-eyed Junco (unid. race) 1-May 5-Sep Edges in coniferous or mixed woodlands; saplings and brushy thickets at higher elevations 
  Red-winged Blackbird 1-May 15-Jul Wide variety of densely vegetated freshwater habitats, higher saltmarsh 
  Brown-headed Cowbird 1-May 15-Jul Virtually all habitats; anywhere host species are found 
  Red Crossbill 1-May 15-Jul Coniferous forest 
  White-winged Crossbill 1-May 15-Jul Coniferous forest 
  Pine Siskin 1-May 15-Jul Conifers 
  Black-crowned Night-Heron 5-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 5-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Cooper's Hawk 5-May 1-Aug Mixed woodlands, groves, copses 
  Northern Mockingbird 5-May 15-Aug Suburban or semi-rural habitats with thickets, brushy forest edges, hedgerows 
  Eastern Meadowlark 5-May 25-Jul Extensive grasslands, including airports, margins of saltmarsh 
  Blue-winged Teal 10-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  Common Merganser 10-May 5-Aug Lake or river 
  Pied-billed Grebe 10-May 1-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Double-crested Cormorant 10-May 5-Aug Islands on coast or lake 
  Cattle Egret 10-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Green Heron 10-May 1-Aug Woody growth near marshes or open water 
  Black Vulture 10-May 15-Aug Woods, cliffs, caves, buildings 
  Turkey Vulture 10-May 15-Aug Woods, cliffs, caves, buildings 
  Osprey 10-May 15-Aug Coastal marshes; rarely large wetlands inland 
  Northern Harrier 10-May 20-Aug Coastal dunes, beaches, marshes, heathlands 
  Sharp-shinned Hawk 10-May 1-Aug Conifers in mature woodlands 
  American Kestrel 10-May 20-Jul Open country, scattered trees, edge 
  Merlin 10-May 20-Jul Conifers  
  Golden-crowned Kinglet 10-May 1-Aug Coniferous woods 
  Hermit Thrush 10-May 10-Sep Damp mixed forest with dense undergrowth including pine barrens 
  Louisiana Waterthrush 10-May 20-Jul Rocky streams in deciduous or mixed forest 
  Vesper Sparrow 10-May 5-Aug Short grass areas, agricultural fields, clearings in pine barrens, coastal moors  
  Savannah Sparrow 10-May 1-Aug Grasslands, including airports, hayfields 
  Gadwall 15-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish water or saltmarsh 
  American Wigeon 15-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  Northern Shoveler 15-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  Northern Pintail 15-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  Green-winged Teal 15-May 5-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  Common Eider 15-May 1-Aug Coastal islands  
  Hooded Merganser 15-May 5-Aug Wooded swamps, freshwater marshes, streams 
  Ruddy Duck 15-May 1-Aug Fresh/brackish pond or marsh  
  American Bittern 15-May 1-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Great Egret 15-May 15-Jul Islands on coast or lake 
  Snowy Egret 15-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Little Blue Heron 15-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Broad-winged Hawk 15-May 25-Jul Mature, mixed woodlands 
  Peregrine Falcon 15-May 1-Aug Cliffs, tall buildings, towers 
  Clapper Rail 15-May 1-Aug salt and brackish marsh 
  King Rail 15-May 1-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Virginia Rail 15-May 1-Aug Salt, fresh, or brackish pond or marsh 
  Sora 15-May 25-Jul Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Piping Plover 15-May 15-Aug Coastal, sandy beach 
  American Oystercatcher 15-May 15-Aug Upper portions of coastal beach, dunes 
  Willet 15-May 15-Jul Coastal beach, dunes, saltmarsh 
  Loggerhead Shrike 15-May 1-Aug Farmland and other open habitats 
  White-eyed Vireo 15-May 1-Aug Moist areas, thickets, tangles of vines or briers. 
  Blue-headed Vireo 15-May 10-Aug Mature coniferous or mixed woods  
  Warbling Vireo 15-May 10-Aug Semi-open borders of river meadows, ponds, and streams 
  Tree Swallow 15-May 1-Jul Open areas or woodland edge near wetlands; including saltmarsh 
  Red-breasted Nuthatch 15-May 10-Aug Coniferous forest 
  Marsh Wren 15-May 15-Aug Cattail and other tall marshes, including saltmarsh edges 
  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 15-May 1-Aug Wooded edges along ponds, rivers, streams, swamps, beaver ponds 
  Brown Thrasher 15-May 10-Aug Dry secondary growth; powerlines cuts, overgrown pastures, coastal thickets, etc. 
  Common Grackle 15-May 10-Jul Wide variety of urban and rural habitats from open forest to fresh and salt marshes, parks, etc.  
  Upland Sandpiper 20-May 15-Jul Extensive grasslands, especially airports 
  Wilson's Snipe 20-May 1-Aug Bog, wet meadow 
  Red-headed Woodpecker 20-May 25-Aug Open country with scattered trees 
  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 20-May 1-Aug higher-elavation hardwoods 
  Yellow-throated Vireo 20-May 10-Aug Open deciduous and mixed forest and riparian woodlands 
  Northern Rough-winged Swallow 20-May 1-Jul Variety of habitats, often near water, in cavity, pipe, or excavated burrow.  
  Brown Creeper 20-May 1-Aug Mature, mixed, and swampy forest, including Atlantic White Cedar swamps 
  House Wren 20-May 15-Aug Open forests, wood edges, farms, orchards, suburbs, parks, gardens  
  Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20-May 1-Aug Coniferous woods 
  Gray Catbird 20-May 15-Aug Dense tangles and thickets 
  Blue-winged Warbler 20-May 1-Aug Old, brushy fields, copses, edge with low undergrowth, powerline cuts 
  Golden-winged Warbler 20-May 1-Aug Damp brushy fields, powerline cuts  
  Brewster's Warbler (Blue-winged x Golden-winged) 20-May 1-Aug Old, brushy fields, copses, edge with low undergrowth, powerline cuts 
  Lawrence's Warbler (Blue-winged x Golden-winged) 20-May 1-Aug Old, brushy fields, copses, edge with low undergrowth, powerline cuts 
  Worm-eating Warbler 20-May 1-Aug Brushy undergrowth of rocky, wooded hillsides and ravines, usually near water 
  Ovenbird 20-May 5-Aug Open forests with little or no understory vegetation and ample leaf litter 
  Northern Waterthrush 20-May 25-Jul Wooded swamps, bogs, backwaters 
  White-throated Sparrow 20-May 20-Aug Scrubby habitats esp with conifers (C, W); Red Maple, Atlantic White Cedar (SE) 
  Ring-necked Duck 25-May 5-Aug Wooded swamps, beaver ponds, stump ponds 
  Least Bittern 25-May 1-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Tricolored Heron 25-May 15-Jul Coastal Islands 
  Common Moorhen 25-May 15-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Spotted Sandpiper 25-May 5-Jul Coastal shores, shores of freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, streams 
  Least Sandpiper 25-May 15-Jun Variety of coastal habitats 
  Least Tern 25-May 15-Aug Coastal sandy beach, esp dredge spoils 
  Whip-poor-will 25-May 15-Jul Secondary forest, copses, pine barrens,scrub oak, edge 
  Chimney Swift 25-May 15-Aug Urban chimneys 
  Least Flycatcher 25-May 5-Aug Open deciduous forests, forest edge 
  Great Crested Flycatcher 25-May 1-Aug Mature forest, edge 
  Eastern Kingbird 25-May 25-Jul Open habitats, including edge, copses, often near water 
  Purple Martin 25-May 1-Jul Open areas; edge of saltmarsh, coastal farmland, and golf courses 
  Bank Swallow 25-May 1-Jul Earthen embankments 
  Cliff Swallow 25-May 1-Jul Eves and sides of old barns and other buildings, bridges 
  Barn Swallow 25-May 1-Jul Structures offering access to interior; barns, garages, porches, sheds, etc. 
  Veery 25-May 10-Aug Moist mixed forest 
  Wood Thrush 25-May 10-Aug Mature forest 
  Nashville Warbler 25-May 15-Aug Open Scrub Oak woodlands (SE), overgrown pastures, bogs (C, W) 
  Yellow Warbler 25-May 1-Aug Margins of freshwater marsh, other wet brushy areas, farmland 
  Chestnut-sided Warbler 25-May 1-Aug Brushy, open second-growth, edges 
  Black-throated Blue Warbler 25-May 10-Aug Mixed woods with dense understory, esp. Mountain Laurel 
  Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle Warbler) 25-May 10-Aug Mature White Pines (SE), coniferous forest (C, W) 
  Black-throated Green Warbler 25-May 5-Aug Coniferous and mature mixed forest 
  Blackburnian Warbler 25-May 5-Aug Coniferous forest 
  Prairie Warbler 25-May 1-Aug Brushy fields, powerline cuts, edges 
  Black-and-white Warbler 25-May 1-Aug Mainly deciduous forest 
  Scarlet Tanager 25-May 10-Aug Mature deciduous forest 
  Grasshopper Sparrow 25-May 10-Aug Grasslands, including airports, hayfields 
  Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow 25-May 10-Aug Saltmarsh 
  Seaside Sparrow 25-May 10-Aug Saltmarsh 
  Rose-breasted Grosbeak 25-May 5-Aug Deciduous and mixed forest, woodlots, shade trees of parks and suburbs 
  Indigo Bunting 25-May 10-Aug Brushy habitats including forest edge, overgrown fields, powerline cuts 
  Rusty Blackbird 25-May 25-Jul Boreal bog 
  Orchard Oriole 25-May 15-Jul Open, patchy forest, copses, often near river, stream, or pond 
  Baltimore Oriole 25-May 1-Aug Open deciduous forest, shade trees in urban or rural areas 
  Purple Finch 25-May 10-Aug Conifers in mixed woods, suburbs, parklands  
  Evening Grosbeak 25-May 15-Aug Mixed forest  
  Red-breasted Merganser 1-Jun 5-Aug Coastal marsh 
  Common Loon 1-Jun 1-Aug Lakes and ponds 
  Manx Shearwater 1-Jun 15-Jul In shore sightings only – no pelagic sightings please. 
  Leach's Storm-Petrel 1-Jun 15-Aug Coastal Islands 
  American Coot 1-Jun 15-Aug Fresh/brackish reedy pond or marsh  
  Wilson's Phalarope 1-Jun 25-Jul Saltmarsh 
  Roseate Tern 1-Jun 5-Aug Coastal islands 
  Common Tern 1-Jun 5-Aug Coastal islands, saltmarsh 
  Arctic Tern 1-Jun 5-Aug Coastal sandy beaches, islands 
  Forster's Tern 1-Jun 5-Aug Saltmarsh 
  Black Skimmer 1-Jun 1-Aug Coastal, sandy beach  
  Black Guillemot 1-Jun 1-Aug Coastal rock ledge 
  Monk Parakeet 1-Jun 1-Aug Urban streets, large trees, telephone poles 
  Chuck-will's-widow 1-Jun 15-Jul Scrub Oak 
  Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1-Jun 1-Aug Open woodland, rural and suburban gardens, edge 
  Red-eyed Vireo 1-Jun 10-Aug Mixed and deciduous Woods 
  Sedge Wren 1-Jun 1-Aug Wet meadows, freshwater marshes 
  Bicknell's Thrush 1-Jun 10-Aug High elevation spruce/fir forest 
  Swainson's Thrush 1-Jun 10-Aug High elevation spruce/fir forest 
  Tennessee Warbler 1-Jun 1-Aug Coniferous forest  
  Northern Parula 1-Jun 10-Aug Woodlands with Usnea lichen 
  Cerulean Warbler 1-Jun 1-Aug Mature, moist deciduous forest 
  American Redstart 1-Jun 1-Aug Secondary forest, copses 
  Prothonotary Warbler 1-Jun 1-Aug Variety of deciduous or mixed forest types, saplings in field edge bordered by forest 
  Kentucky Warbler 1-Jun 1-Aug Wet thickets, dense understory in moist or wet deciduous forest, bottomland 
  Common Yellowthroat 1-Jun 10-Aug Brushy areas, thickets, powerline cuts, preferably wet 
  Hooded Warbler 1-Jun 1-Aug Moist thickets in woodlands  
  Yellow-breasted Chat 1-Jun 5-Aug Thickets, esp regenerating fields and pastures 
  Clay-colored Sparrow 1-Jun 1-Aug Shrubby grasslands 
  Henslow's Sparrow 1-Jun 1-Aug Weedy fields, wet meadows 
  Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1-Jun 1-Aug Saltmarsh 
  Lincoln's Sparrow 1-Jun 1-Aug High elevation boreal bog 
  Bobolink 1-Jun 1-Aug Grasslands, including airports, hayfields 
  American Goldfinch 1-Jun 1-Aug Forest edge, copses, brushy areas, marsh edges, residential 
  Black-billed Cuckoo 5-Jun 15-Aug Forested habitats, edge 
  Yellow-billed Cuckoo 5-Jun 15-Aug Forested habitats, edge 
  Common Nighthawk 5-Jun 1-Aug Barren habitats including river bars and flat rooftops 
  Olive-sided Flycatcher 5-Jun 1-Aug Spruce/Larch bog 
  Eastern Wood-Pewee 5-Jun 1-Aug Mature forest 
  Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 5-Jun 1-Aug Spruce/Sphagnam bog 
  Acadian Flycatcher 5-Jun 1-Aug Red Maple swamp (SE) and Hemlock (elsewhere) 
  Alder Flycatcher 5-Jun 1-Aug Shrub (esp. Alder) swamp 
  Willow Flycatcher 5-Jun 1-Aug Shrub (esp. Willow) swamp 
  Magnolia Warbler 5-Jun 10-Aug Coniferous forest 
  Mourning Warbler 5-Jun 10-Aug High elevation; dense, early second growth, tangles, esp raspberry in clearcut 
  Canada Warbler 5-Jun 1-Aug Thick undergrowth in moist deciduous or mixed forest; cedar swamp, Red Maple (SE) 
  Cedar Waxwing 10-Jun 15-Aug Second-growth forest, parks, orchards, gardens, and margins of waterways 
  Blackpoll Warbler 10-Jun 10-Aug High elevation spruce, Balsam Fir forest 
 
* Alpha Codes are also known as 'banding codes' (not AOU codes, which are numeric)
** Safe dates represent a window when a singing male is assumed not to be in migration, and therefore on territory. Some atlases do not use safe dates, because they prefer (given present knowledge) not to assume migration or territorial status of all individuals. Safe dates generally apply to the Possible breeding category only when used.
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Related topics: Rare Species | Common Species      
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Last updated: Site - December 2008; Content - various, depending on atlas.