Birds of South Carolina

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

Most-observed birds in South Carolina

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

12,126 observations

Eastern Bluebird

9,200 observations

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

7,378 observations

Great Blue Heron

6,573 observations

Haemorhous mexicanus

6,453 observations

Zenaida macroura

6,385 observations

6,374 observations

Thryothorus ludovicianus

5,168 observations

Turdus migratorius

4,695 observations

Carolina Chickadee

Poecile carolinensis

4,512 observations · iNaturalist

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

4,470 observations

Branta canadensis

4,374 observations

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Setophaga coronata

4,179 observations

Anhinga anhinga

4,098 observations

Leucophaeus atricilla

3,991 observations · iNaturalist

Red-shouldered Hawk

3,788 observations

American Goldfinch

3,645 observations

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

3,616 observations

3,607 observations

Tufted Titmouse

Baeolophus bicolor

3,579 observations

Toxostoma rufum

3,494 observations

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

3,471 observations

3,354 observations

Anas platyrhynchos

3,319 observations

Eudocimus albus

3,275 observations

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Melanerpes carolinus

3,210 observations

Pelecanus occidentalis

3,093 observations

Setophaga pinus

3,057 observations

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

3,027 observations

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

3,016 observations

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

2,872 observations

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

2,838 observations

Sayornis phoebe

2,722 observations

Brown-headed Nuthatch

2,633 observations

Cyanocitta cristata

2,612 observations

Pandion haliaetus

2,582 observations

Boat-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus major

2,518 observations

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

2,492 observations

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

2,457 observations

2,420 observations

Mycteria americana

2,382 observations

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

2,345 observations

Tringa semipalmata

2,307 observations

2,130 observations

Coragyps atratus

2,113 observations

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

2,081 observations

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

2,081 observations

Dark-eyed Junco

1,958 observations

Brown-headed Cowbird

1,958 observations

Pipilo erythrophthalmus

1,848 observations