Birds of North Carolina
The birds most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
380,091
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds
Naturalists have logged 380,091 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 25,949 recorded sightings.
Most-observed birds in North Carolina
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
25,949 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
19,242 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
17,341 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
15,004 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
14,097 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
12,735 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
12,155 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
12,140 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
11,815 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
11,656 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
11,133 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
9,767 observations · iNaturalist
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
9,321 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
8,873 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
8,675 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
7,804 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
7,783 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
7,731 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
7,627 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
7,398 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
7,088 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
6,883 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
6,876 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
6,723 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
6,669 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
6,613 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
6,476 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
6,082 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
5,892 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
5,380 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
4,568 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,427 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
4,269 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,250 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
4,209 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
4,175 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
4,173 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
4,164 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
4,141 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
4,014 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
3,872 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
3,805 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
3,761 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
3,704 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,397 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
3,387 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
3,315 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
3,251 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,147 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
3,134 observations
Birds in nearby places
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