Birds of North Carolina
The birds most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed birds in North Carolina
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
25,452 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
18,974 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
16,954 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
14,691 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
13,710 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
12,539 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
11,905 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
11,864 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
11,608 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
11,329 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
10,874 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
9,632 observations · iNaturalist
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
9,171 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
8,544 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
8,526 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
7,715 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
7,646 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
7,606 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
7,567 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
6,967 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
6,954 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
6,770 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
6,724 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
6,611 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
6,504 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
6,472 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
6,456 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
5,948 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
5,704 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
5,191 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
4,518 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,312 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
4,142 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
4,123 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
4,116 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
4,079 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
4,066 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
3,971 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
3,943 observations · iNaturalist
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
3,917 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
3,736 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
3,692 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
3,687 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
3,665 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
3,357 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,322 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
3,236 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
3,179 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
3,124 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,078 observations