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Birds of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

The birds most often spotted in C&O Canal, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

114,045
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 114,045 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in C&O Canal. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 7,034 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in C&O Canal

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
7,034 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
6,209 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
5,204 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
5,045 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
4,491 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
4,339 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
3,887 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
3,656 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,379 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
3,300 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
3,105 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,981 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
2,970 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
2,893 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,714 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
2,595 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
2,412 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,356 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
2,292 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
2,246 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
2,166 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,129 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
2,045 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
1,963 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
1,915 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
1,758 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
1,723 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
1,712 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
1,699 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
1,678 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
1,567 observations
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
1,514 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
1,438 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
1,279 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
1,271 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
1,267 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
1,264 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
1,245 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
1,209 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
1,207 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
1,164 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
1,075 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
932 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
924 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
909 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
864 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
786 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
770 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
751 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
713 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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