Birds of North Carolina
The birds most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
387,427
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds
Naturalists have logged 387,427 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 26,400 recorded sightings.
Most-observed birds in North Carolina
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
26,400 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
19,368 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
17,555 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
15,263 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
14,504 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
12,959 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
12,396 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
12,328 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
12,143 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
11,941 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
11,515 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
9,887 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
9,459 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
9,125 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
8,834 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
7,895 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
7,893 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
7,889 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
7,828 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
7,632 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
7,222 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
6,961 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
6,957 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
6,899 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
6,781 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
6,675 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
6,484 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
6,210 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
6,124 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
5,567 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
4,629 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,526 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,466 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
4,385 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
4,344 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
4,302 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
4,278 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
4,260 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
4,203 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
4,103 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
3,994 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
3,870 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
3,788 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
3,715 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
3,422 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,417 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
3,374 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
3,327 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,189 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
3,141 observations
Birds in nearby places
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