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Birds of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The birds most often spotted in C&O Canal, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

112,875
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 112,875 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in C&O Canal. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 6,994 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in C&O Canal

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
6,994 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
6,182 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
5,154 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
5,001 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
4,433 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
4,319 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
3,846 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
3,623 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,300 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
3,278 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
3,085 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
2,941 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,933 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
2,851 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,681 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
2,589 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
2,380 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,335 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
2,275 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
2,211 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
2,130 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,125 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
2,015 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
1,950 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
1,899 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
1,742 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
1,707 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
1,679 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
1,668 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
1,665 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,549 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
1,509 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
1,425 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
1,260 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
1,248 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
1,245 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
1,245 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
1,209 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
1,195 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
1,186 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
1,162 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
1,070 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
918 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
914 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
904 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
862 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
777 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
765 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
740 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
701 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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