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Birds of North Carolina

The birds most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

395,648
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 395,648 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 26,890 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in North Carolina

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
26,890 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
19,584 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
17,874 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
15,693 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
14,897 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
13,203 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
12,617 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
12,527 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
12,425 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
12,187 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
11,918 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
10,028 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
9,633 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
9,241 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
9,021 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
8,093 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
8,048 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
8,000 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
7,985 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
7,798 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
7,422 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
7,147 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
7,092 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
7,041 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
6,887 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
6,879 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
6,664 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
6,400 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
6,365 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
5,744 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
4,704 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,599 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,579 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
4,506 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
4,464 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
4,389 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
4,345 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
4,338 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
4,266 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
4,205 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
4,055 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
3,972 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
3,848 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
3,825 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
3,464 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
3,443 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,436 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
3,430 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,241 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
3,236 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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