11 Types of Eagles in Maryland
11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Maryland. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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11 types of eagles from the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae) have a verified observation record in Maryland. The most frequently recorded are Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Verified species, source iNaturalist
11 types of eagles recorded in Maryland
11 eagles species have a verified observation record in Maryland across the hawk and eagle family (Accipitridae), each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
| # | Species | Scientific name | Verified records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 8,346 |
| 2 | Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | 6,528 |
| 3 | Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | 3,595 |
| 4 | Cooper's Hawk | Astur cooperii | 2,886 |
| 5 | Northern Harrier | Circus hudsonius | 750 |
| 6 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | 638 |
| 7 | Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | 603 |
| 8 | Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | 183 |
| 9 | Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | 86 |
| 10 | Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | 74 |
| 11 | Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | 25 |
Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Gear and field guides
The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the most commonly recorded, with 8,346 verified observations — about 35% of all eagles reported in Maryland. If you spot a eagle here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Maryland also hosts less common eagles such as Golden Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk and Swallow-tailed Kite, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.