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Birds of North Carolina

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

393,408
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 393,408 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 26,777 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in North Carolina

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
26,777 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
19,532 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
17,792 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
15,574 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
14,794 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
13,152 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
12,556 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
12,475 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
12,348 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
12,111 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
11,818 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
9,993 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
9,586 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
9,183 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
8,957 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
8,043 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
8,040 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
7,971 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
7,949 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
7,727 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
7,365 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
7,063 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
7,056 observations
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
7,026 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
6,847 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
6,844 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
6,598 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
6,359 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
6,296 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
5,685 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
4,684 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
4,575 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,561 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
4,477 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
4,425 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
4,388 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
4,326 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
4,316 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
4,242 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
4,181 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
4,040 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
3,944 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
3,817 observations
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
3,800 observations
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
3,441 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,431 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
3,426 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
3,403 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,219 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
3,195 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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