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Birds of South Carolina

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

197,603
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 197,603 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 12,803 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in South Carolina

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
12,803 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
9,578 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
7,801 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
7,055 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
6,837 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
6,734 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
6,711 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
5,418 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,808 observations
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
4,662 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
4,583 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
4,552 observations
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
4,393 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
4,260 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
4,216 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
4,100 observations
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
3,930 observations
Downy Woodpecker
Dryobates pubescens
3,838 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
3,822 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
3,809 observations
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
3,773 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
3,704 observations
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
3,514 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
3,484 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
3,482 observations
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
3,380 observations
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
3,237 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
3,235 observations
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
3,221 observations
Pine Warbler
Setophaga pinus
3,169 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
2,923 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
2,868 observations
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
2,855 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,758 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
2,750 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
2,742 observations
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Sitta pusilla
2,702 observations
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
2,630 observations
Sanderling
Calidris alba
2,588 observations
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
2,544 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
2,516 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
2,468 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
2,402 observations
Barred Owl
Strix varia
2,267 observations
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
2,207 observations
Common Gallinule
Gallinula galeata
2,200 observations
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
2,173 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
2,013 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
1,973 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
1,915 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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