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Birds of South Carolina

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

198,395
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 198,395 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 12,859 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in South Carolina

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
12,859 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
9,609 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
7,846 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
7,083 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
6,851 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
6,762 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
6,734 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
5,432 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,815 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
4,680 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
4,598 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
4,564 observations
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
4,405 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,264 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
4,240 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
4,116 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
3,931 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
3,875 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
3,852 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
3,817 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
3,790 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
3,722 observations
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
3,525 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
3,500 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
3,496 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
3,399 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
3,248 observations
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
3,242 observations
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
3,225 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
3,179 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
2,933 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,898 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
2,872 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,787 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
2,761 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
2,751 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
2,711 observations
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
2,645 observations
Sanderling
Calidris alba
2,603 observations
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
2,551 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
2,533 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
2,476 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,405 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
2,291 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
2,215 observations
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
2,206 observations
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
2,175 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
2,019 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
1,986 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
1,918 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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