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Birds of Raleigh, NC

The birds most often spotted near Raleigh, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

78,968
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 78,968 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Raleigh. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 5,659 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds near Raleigh

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
5,659 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
5,262 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
4,065 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
3,764 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
3,488 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
3,129 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,049 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
2,656 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
2,535 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,118 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,057 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
2,014 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
1,912 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
1,874 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
1,845 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
1,671 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
1,606 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
1,577 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
1,569 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
1,513 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
1,463 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
1,463 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
1,409 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
1,182 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
1,149 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
1,139 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
1,112 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
1,096 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
1,059 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
1,002 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
954 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
932 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
929 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
914 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
809 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
801 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
735 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
716 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
698 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
654 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
653 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
596 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
587 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
528 observations
Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus
518 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
514 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
508 observations
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea
499 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
494 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
492 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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