Stacker compiled a list of the most commonly hunted migratory birds in Massachusetts using data from a report released by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in August 2025. Duck and goose species are ranked by the estimated 2024 hunting harvest in Massachusetts.
In 2024 Massachusetts had the largest estimated harvest of all states for 1 migratory bird species: Eiders.
#10. Long-tailed Duck
- Massachusetts: 869 (3.6% of national harvest)
- National: 23,874
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Maryland: 4,654 (19.5% of national harvest)
--- #2. Michigan: 4,378 (18.3%)
--- #3. New York: 2,943 (12.3%)
--- #4. Wisconsin: 2,321 (9.7%)
--- #5. Maine: 1,551 (6.5%)
#9. Scoters
- Massachusetts: 994 (1.1% of national harvest)
- National: 88,025
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Maryland: 20,053 (22.8% of national harvest)
--- #2. North Carolina: 16,380 (18.6%)
--- #3. South Carolina: 8,368 (9.5%)
--- #4. New Jersey: 7,194 (8.2%)
--- #5. New York: 6,770 (7.7%)
#8. Hooded Merganser
- Massachusetts: 1,057 (0.8% of national harvest)
- National: 132,412
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Kentucky: 11,331 (8.6% of national harvest)
--- #2. North Carolina: 11,304 (8.5%)
--- #3. Minnesota: 8,743 (6.6%)
--- #4. Louisiana: 8,452 (6.4%)
--- #5. New York: 8,164 (6.2%)
#7. Bufflehead
- Massachusetts: 1,359 (0.5% of national harvest)
- National: 275,897
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Virginia: 43,421 (15.7% of national harvest)
--- #2. New Jersey: 23,613 (8.6%)
--- #3. California: 20,968 (7.6%)
--- #4. North Carolina: 17,995 (6.5%)
--- #5. Michigan: 16,051 (5.8%)
#6. Green-winged Teal
- Massachusetts: 1,510 (0.1% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. California: 332,993 (13.9% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 263,211 (11.0%)
--- #3. Texas: 219,022 (9.1%)
--- #4. Arkansas: 209,789 (8.8%)
--- #5. North Carolina: 134,267 (5.6%)
#5. Eiders
- Massachusetts: 4,347 (36.1% of national harvest)
- National: 12,029
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Massachusetts: 4,347 (36.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. New York: 4,232 (35.2%)
--- #3. Maine: 1,809 (15.0%)
--- #4. Rhode Island: 776 (6.5%)
--- #5. Connecticut: 432 (3.6%)
#4. Wood Duck
- Massachusetts: 5,586 (0.3% of national harvest)
- National: 1.8 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Georgia: 215,316 (12.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Louisiana: 205,256 (11.5%)
--- #3. Arkansas: 175,526 (9.8%)
--- #4. Minnesota: 114,865 (6.4%)
--- #5. Wisconsin: 112,564 (6.3%)
#3. Black Duck
- Massachusetts: 6,341 (3.4% of national harvest)
- National: 187,389
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Maryland: 27,614 (14.7% of national harvest)
--- #2. New York: 24,822 (13.2%)
--- #3. New Jersey: 18,456 (9.8%)
--- #4. Maine: 14,437 (7.7%)
--- #5. Virginia: 12,723 (6.8%)
#2. Mallard
- Massachusetts: 12,079 (0.3% of national harvest)
- National: 3.5 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Arkansas: 530,183 (15.3% of national harvest)
--- #2. Oklahoma: 201,683 (5.8%)
--- #3. Missouri: 187,251 (5.4%)
--- #4. Tennessee: 180,965 (5.2%)
--- #5. North Dakota: 164,401 (4.7%)
#1. Canada Goose
- Massachusetts: 14,847 (0.6% of national harvest)
- National: 2.4 million
- States with the largest harvests:
--- #1. Michigan: 167,809 (7.1% of national harvest)
--- #2. Minnesota: 149,423 (6.3%)
--- #3. Kansas: 147,696 (6.2%)
--- #4. Wisconsin: 141,923 (6.0%)
--- #5. Illinois: 140,829 (5.9%)