Since the dawn of time, birds have drawn human attention to the skies. They’ve demonstrated that humans are not slaves to gravity and that flying is both conceivable and unlimited. It is capable of hovering and flying, diving and displaying, and transporting us from one end of the world to the other in a single, unfathomable explosion of energy and purpose. From the beginning, birds have bestowed upon us the gift of inspiration.
Birds of North Carolina comprise species that have been documented in the United States state of North Carolina and accepted by the Carolina Bird Club’s North Carolina Bird Records Committee (NCBRC). As of January 2020, the official list has 470 species and a species pair. Thirteen additional species, one of which is only known at the genus level, are provisionally included on the list. Additionally, two “non-established” species are listed.
In 1943, North Carolina declared the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) to be the state bird. Cardinals are one of America’s favorite backyard birds, famed for their “cheer cheer cheer,” “whit-chew whit-chew,” and “purty purty purty” whistles.
North Carolina birds of prey
Hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures are all examples of birds of prey. These birds have enormous hooked beaks capable of shredding flesh from their victims, strong legs, sharp talons, and acute vision. In North Carolina, fifteen species have been identified.
North Carolina is home to a diverse array of magnificent natural landscapes.
Whether you seek a large national or state park or simply a pleasant trail, these natural sites are ideal for observing raptors in their natural habitats. North Carolina is abundant with opportunities for them to play and hunt.
Discover more about these raptors in the section below.
Eagle is a popular name for a variety of huge birds of prey in the family Accipitridae; it is a member of several distinct groups of birds that are not necessarily related.
Bald eagles are more abundant in western North Carolina than they have been in decades, delivering joy for those fortunate enough to witness them and a challenge to maintain that positive trend.
The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the largest of the North Carolina hawks. Mature birds are immediately identifiable by their enormous size, whiteheads and tails, and large yellow beaks. Eagles are most frequently observed in North Carolina near Lake Mattamuskeet, but they are found in a variety of locations throughout the state, albeit rarely in great numbers.
Additional eagles can be found in the section below.
Owls inhabit every region of North Carolina’s unique geography, from the high crests of the Southern Appalachian Mountains to the capes and barrier islands of the Atlantic coast. These birds of prey – mostly but not exclusively nocturnal – play vital roles in the state’s ecosystems as hunters of tiny to medium-sized creatures, while also impressing human observers with their large, bold eyes, beautiful claws, and ghostly, silent flight.
Three native owl species are found in North Carolina and cover a large portion of the state: the Great Horned Owl, the Eastern Screech Owl, and the Barred Owl.
Let’s take a closer look at these rare species and examine when and where you might be able to see them.
North Carolina’s geography is diversified and is divided into three distinct regions. The Piedmont Plateau, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain comprise these regions. This is fantastic news since it means that you can witness a variety of birds regardless of where you live in North Carolina.
Today, we’re going to showcase many of these feathery stars and explain how to attract them or where to find them.
Let’s discuss some of North Carolina’s most popular backyard birds!
Woodpeckers are seen more or less regularly throughout the year in North Carolina. The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North Carolina, while the Downy Woodpecker is the smallest.
While birdwatching in the woods and woodland is the greatest way to observe Woodpeckers in North Carolina, some species, such as Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Downy Woodpeckers, are more frequently seen at backyard feeders.
These magnificent birds will thrive in this state’s lush greenery and various habitats. Birdwatching is an integral element of the outdoor experience. As well as connecting people to birds and bird habitats, the trail connects educational and historical sites with towns and businesses around the state, increasing awareness of North Carolina’s avian diversity.
Thousands of birds migrate through North Carolina each year, putting on breathtaking displays and igniting the excitement of birders and wildlife enthusiasts around the state. North Carolina is a must-see trip for those interested in feathered fauna, with over 460 species reported to date, with more than half of those species breeding here. Here is our top 5 list of some of the state’s best sites!
Lake Mattamuskeet/Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
Weymouth Woods/Sandhills Nature Preserve
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
South Mountains State Park
Other North Carolina birds
North Carolina has a sizable avian population, estimated at around 469 birds. This is excellent for birdwatchers, since you may view a variety of feathered creatures. The following are some of the other common birds found in North Carolina.
The yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a widespread North American bird found throughout the continent. While all subspecies groups of ... Read More
The palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) is a tiny songbird of the New World warbler family. Subtly patterned brown-and-yellow warbler, notable ... Read More
The black-throated blue warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) is a tiny passerine bird of the New World warbler family. The black-throated blue ... Read More
The chestnut-sided warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) is a New World warbler. They breed throughout eastern North America and in southern Canada ... Read More
Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii), commonly known as the jack pine warbler, was named after Jared Potter Kirtland, an Ohio doctor ... Read More
The Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) is a rare and understudied Neotropical migratory wood-warbler that breeds throughout North America's southern boreal ... Read More
Tennessee warblers (Leiothlypis peregrina) breed in eastern North America and spend the winter in southern Central America, the Caribbean, and ... Read More
Blue-winged warblers, Vermivora Cyanoptera are a reasonably common warbler in the New World. It is expanding its range northward, displacing ... Read More
The northern waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) is a big New World warbler and a migratory songbird found in the Nearctic-Neotropical region ... Read More
Merganser species hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). It is the genus Lophodytes's sole extant species. The genus name stems from the ... Read More
Greater scaup, Aythya Marila, colloquially referred to as "bluebill" in North America, is a medium-sized diving duck, slightly larger than ... Read More
The American wigeon, Mareca americana, sometimes known as the baldpate, is a North American species of dabbling duck. Formerly classified ... Read More
The fulvous whistling duck or fulvous tree duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) breeds throughout the world's tropical regions, including much of Mexico ... Read More
The red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), also called the northern or hyperborean phalarope, is a tiny wader. This phalarope breeds in ... Read More
The willet (Tringa semipalmata), originally classified as Catoptrophorus semipalmatus in the monotypic genus Catoptrophorus, is a big shorebird in the ... Read More
The American woodcock (Scolopax minor), also known as the timberdoodle, bogsucker, hokumpoke, and Labrador twister, is a tiny shorebird found ... Read More
Calidris subruficollis is a tiny shorebird. Subruficollis is derived from the Latin words subrufus, "reddish" (from sub, "slightly," and rufus, ... Read More
Calidris maritima (purple sandpiper) is a tiny shorebird in the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. This resilient sandpiper breeds in Eurasia and ... Read More
Carl Linnaeus characterized the black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa) in 1758 as a big, long-legged, long-billed shorebird. Limosa is a genus ... Read More
Upland sandpipers (Bartramia longicauda) are huge sandpipers that are closely related to curlews. The upland plover and Bartram's sandpiper are ... Read More
The gull-billed tern (Gelochelidon nilotica), originally Sterna nilotica, is a species of tern belonging to the Laridae family. The genus ... Read More
The willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii is a small insect-eating migrant bird found in the Neotropics. There are four recognized subspecies ... Read More
The Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens is a small insectivorous bird belonging to the family of tyrant flycatchers. The Acadian flycatcher ... Read More
The yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris is a small insectivorous bird belonging to the family of tyrant flycatchers. The song of ... Read More
The scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), also known as the Texas bird-of-paradise and swallow-tailed flycatcher, is a long-tailed bird in the ... Read More
The ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens is a tyrant flycatcher species of passerine bird. It breeds from the western United States ... Read More
The red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra is a small passerine bird belonging to the finch family Fringillidae. Crossbills have distinct mandibles ... Read More
The common gallinule, Gallinula galeata is a species of bird belonging to the Rallidae family. The American Ornithologists' Union separated ... Read More
Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus alternately known as Olive-backed or russet-backed thrush, is a medium-sized thrush. It is a member of ... Read More
Grey-cheeked thrushes, Catharus minimus are little thrushes. This species has the typical white-dark-white underwing pattern of Catharus thrushes. It is ... Read More
The Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi is a medium-sized thrush that is the only native solitaire found north of Mexico. Townsend's ... Read More
Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus was named by ornithologist Thomas Mayo Brewer. The male Brewer's Blackbird is a lustrous mixture of ... Read More
Small obligate brood parasite icterid from temperate and subtropical North America. Northern birds migrate to the southern United States and ... Read More
The yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus is a medium-sized blackbird and the genus Xanthocephalus's sole representative. The male Yellow-headed Blackbird guards ... Read More
The black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) is a New World cuculid. The scientific name is Greek. The name erythropthalmus comes from ... Read More
In North America, the eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus is a medium-sized nightjar about 22–27 cm in length. The whip-poor-will may ... Read More
Known as the chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis is a nocturnal bird belonging to the nightjar family Caprimulgidae, which includes the nightjars ... Read More
Known as Lesser nighthawks, Chordeiles minor is smaller, crepuscular birds of the Americas. Coloration and patterning make this bird difficult ... Read More
The American avocet, Recurvirostra Americana belongs to the Recurvirostridae family of waders. It forages in shallow water or on mudflats, ... Read More
Known as an American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos is a Pelecaniformes big aquatic soaring bird. American white pelicans are the ... Read More
The scientific name for the Golden-crowned Kinglet is Regulus satrapa, which means "golden-crowned kinglet" is a tiny songbird found across ... Read More
Sitta canadensis, the red-breasted nuthatch, have blue-grey upperparts and cinnamon underparts, a white neck and face, a straight grey bill, ... Read More
Known as the Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus, breeds in eastern North America, California, and northern and northeastern-central Mexico. Throughout its ... Read More
The red-headed woodpecker or Melanerpes erythrocephalus in Latin is a medium-sized woodpecker that can be found in temperate North America's ... Read More
Dryobates villosus, commonly known as hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found throughout North America. According to the ... Read More
Known to be called a white-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis belongs to the Passerellidae family of sparrows. The White-throated Sparrow is ... Read More
The rose-breasted grosbeak, Latin name Pheucticus ludovicianus, also known as the "cut-throat" grosbeak due to its coloration, is a large, ... Read More
It was formerly known as the stripe-backed tanager. The Piranga bidentata or flame-colored tanager is a medium-sized American songbird that ... Read More