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North Carolina wildlife

Birds of North Carolina, with their seasons and habitats.

Type
Season
Habitat
Food plants
Photo

280 birds

  1. Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescensSummer
    Birds
  2. Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumSummer and migratory
    Birds
  3. American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  4. American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  5. American Black DuckAnas rubripesYear-round. 182 food plants
    Birds
  6. American CootFulica americanaWinter. 324 food plants
    Birds
  7. American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosYear-round. 56 food plants
    Birds
  8. American GoldfinchCarduelis tristisYear-round. 27 food plants
    Birds
  9. American KestrelFalco sparveriusYear-round
    Birds
  10. American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusYear-round
    Birds
  11. American PipitAnthus rubescensWinter and migratory. 307 food plants
    Birds
  12. American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  13. American RobinTurdus migratoriusYear-round. 73 fruit and seed plants
    Birds
  14. American Tree SparrowSpizella arboreaWinter. 180 food plants
    Birds
  15. American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosWinter and migratory
    Birds
  16. American WigeonAnas americanaWinter and migratory. 308 food plants
    Birds
  17. American WoodcockScolopax minorYear-round
    Birds
  18. AnhingaAnhinga anhingaSummer
    Birds
  19. Bachman's SparrowAimophila aestivalisYear-round. 22 food plants
    Birds
  20. Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusYear-round
    Birds
  21. Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  22. Bank SwallowRiparia ripariaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  23. Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer
    Birds
  24. Barred OwlStrix variaYear-round
    Birds
  25. Bay-breasted WarblerDendroica castaneaMigratory
    Birds
  26. Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyonYear-round
    Birds
  27. Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelliMigratory
    Birds
  28. Black RailLaterallus jamaicensisYear-round
    Birds
  29. Black SkimmerRynchops nigerYear-round
    Birds
  30. Black TernChlidonias nigerMigratory
    Birds
  31. Black VultureCoragyps atratusYear-round
    Birds
  32. Black-and-White WarblerMniotilta variaYear-round
    Birds
  33. Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter
    Birds
  34. Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusSummer and migratory
    Birds
  35. Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusYear-round
    Birds
  36. Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxYear-round
    Birds
  37. Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusSummer
    Birds
  38. Black-throated Blue WarblerDendroica caerulescensSummer and migratory
    Birds
  39. Black-throated Green WarblerDendroica virensSummer and migratory
    Birds
  40. Blackburnian WarblerDendroica fuscaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  41. Blackpoll WarblerDendroica striataMigratory
    Birds
  42. Blue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaSummer
    Birds
  43. Blue JayCyanocitta cristataYear-round. 31 food plants
    Birds
  44. Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleaYear-round
    Birds
  45. Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusYear-round and migratory. 38 food plants
    Birds
  46. Blue-winged TealAnas discorsWinter and migratory. 163 food plants
    Birds
  47. Blue-winged WarblerVermivora pinusSummer and migratory
    Birds
  48. Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus majorYear-round. 16 food plants
    Birds
  49. BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusMigratory. 30 food plants
    Birds
  50. Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  51. BrantBranta berniclaWinter
    Birds
  52. Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalusMigratory. 57 food plants
    Birds
  53. Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusSummer and migratory
    Birds
  54. Brown CreeperCerthia americanaYear-round
    Birds
  55. Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalisYear-round
    Birds
  56. Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufumYear-round. 7 food plants
    Birds
  57. Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus aterYear-round. 284 food plants
    Birds
  58. Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusillaYear-round
    Birds
  59. BuffleheadBucephala albeolaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  60. Canada GooseBranta canadensisYear-round. 217 food plants
    Birds
  61. Canada WarblerWilsonia canadensisSummer and migratory
    Birds
  62. CanvasbackAythya valisineriaWinter and migratory. 90 food plants
    Birds
  63. Cape May WarblerDendroica tigrinaMigratory
    Birds
  64. Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensisYear-round
    Birds
  65. Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusYear-round
    Birds
  66. Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  67. Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumYear-round. 42 fruit and seed plants
    Birds
  68. Cerulean WarblerDendroica ceruleaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  69. Chestnut-sided WarblerDendroica pensylvanicaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  70. Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaSummer
    Birds
  71. Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaYear-round. 207 food plants
    Birds
  72. Chuck-will's-widowCaprimulgus carolinensisSummer
    Birds
  73. Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  74. Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter. 46 food plants
    Birds
  75. Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaYear-round. 84 food plants
    Birds
  76. Common LoonGavia immerWinter and migratory
    Birds
  77. Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter
    Birds
  78. Common NighthawkChordeiles minorSummer and migratory
    Birds
  79. Common RavenCorvus coraxYear-round. 1 food plant
    Birds
  80. Common TernSterna hirundoYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  81. Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasYear-round
    Birds
  82. Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilisMigratory
    Birds
  83. Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperiiYear-round
    Birds
  84. Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalisYear-round. 216 food plants
    Birds
  85. DickcisselSpiza americanaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  86. Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritusYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  87. DovekieAlle alleWinter
    Birds
  88. Downy WoodpeckerPicoides pubescensYear-round. 23 food plants
    Birds
  89. DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  90. Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisYear-round. 37 fruit and seed plants
    Birds
  91. Eastern Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis carolinensisYear-round
    Birds
  92. Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannusSummer. 147 food plants
    Birds
  93. Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebeYear-round
    Birds
  94. Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioYear-round
    Birds
  95. Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmusYear-round
    Birds
  96. Eastern Wood-peweeContopus virensSummer. 39 food plants
    Birds
  97. Eurasian Collared-doveStreptopelia decaoctoYear-round
    Birds
  98. European StarlingSturnus vulgarisYear-round. 157 food plants
    Birds
  99. Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinusWinter. 71 food plants
    Birds
  100. Field SparrowSpizella pusillaYear-round. 108 food plants
    Birds
  101. Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusYear-round
    Birds
  102. Forster's TernSterna forsteriYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  103. Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter
    Birds
  104. GadwallAnas streperaWinter and migratory. 128 food plants
    Birds
  105. Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter
    Birds
  106. Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusYear-round
    Birds
  107. Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapaYear-round
    Birds
  108. Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraSummer and migratory
    Birds
  109. Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarumYear-round. 12 food plants
    Birds
  110. Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisYear-round
    Birds
  111. Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusYear-round
    Birds
  112. Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasYear-round
    Birds
  113. Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter
    Birds
  114. Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusSummer
    Birds
  115. Great EgretArdea albaYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  116. Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusYear-round
    Birds
  117. Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter and migratory. 36 food plants
    Birds
  118. Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  119. Green HeronButorides virescensSummer
    Birds
  120. Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer
    Birds
  121. Hairy WoodpeckerPicoides villosusYear-round. 2 food plants
    Birds
  122. Henslow's SparrowAmmodramus henslowiiYear-round
    Birds
  123. Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusYear-round. 191 food plants
    Birds
  124. Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusYear-round
    Birds
  125. Hooded WarblerWilsonia citrinaSummer
    Birds
  126. Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter and migratory
    Birds
  127. Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisYear-round. 12 food plants
    Birds
  128. House FinchCarpodacus mexicanusYear-round. 208 food plants
    Birds
  129. House SparrowPasser domesticusYear-round. 44 food plants
    Birds
  130. Indigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaSummer. 13 food plants
    Birds
  131. Kentucky WarblerOporornis formosusSummer
    Birds
  132. KilldeerCharadrius vociferusYear-round
    Birds
  133. King RailRallus elegansYear-round. 77 food plants
    Birds
  134. Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter. 313 food plants
    Birds
  135. Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricillaYear-round
    Birds
  136. Le Conte's SparrowAmmodramus leconteiiWinter and migratory
    Birds
  137. Least BitternIxobrychus exilisSummer
    Birds
  138. Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusSummer and migratory
    Birds
  139. Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter and migratory
    Birds
  140. Least TernSternula antillarumSummer
    Birds
  141. Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter
    Birds
  142. Lesser ScaupAythya affinisWinter and migratory. 117 food plants
    Birds
  143. Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter and migratory
    Birds
  144. Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiMigratory. 4 food plants
    Birds
  145. Little Blue HeronEgretta caeruleaYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  146. Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusWinter
    Birds
  147. Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusYear-round
    Birds
  148. Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanusWinter
    Birds
  149. Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter and migratory
    Birds
  150. Long-eared OwlAsio otusYear-round
    Birds
  151. Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter
    Birds
  152. Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacillaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  153. Magnolia WarblerDendroica magnoliaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  154. MallardAnas platyrhynchosYear-round. 272 food plants
    Birds
  155. Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter
    Birds
  156. Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter
    Birds
  157. Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  158. MerlinFalco columbariusMigratory
    Birds
  159. Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensisSummer
    Birds
  160. Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusYear-round
    Birds
  161. Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraYear-round. 154 food plants
    Birds
  162. Mourning WarblerOporornis philadelphiaMigratory
    Birds
  163. Mute SwanCygnus olorYear-round. 28 food plants
    Birds
  164. Nashville WarblerVermivora ruficapillaMigratory
    Birds
  165. Nelson's Sharp-tailed SparrowAmmodramus nelsoniWinter
    Birds
  166. Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianusYear-round. 455 food plants
    Birds
  167. Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisYear-round. 24 fruit and seed plants
    Birds
  168. Northern FlickerColaptes auratusYear-round
    Birds
  169. Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosYear-round. 21 food plants
    Birds
  170. Northern ParulaParula americanaSummer
    Birds
  171. Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter and migratory. 242 food plants
    Birds
  172. Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennisSummer
    Birds
  173. Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusYear-round
    Birds
  174. Northern ShovelerAnas clypeataWinter and migratory. 18 food plants
    Birds
  175. Northern WaterthrushSeiurus noveboracensisMigratory
    Birds
  176. Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperiSummer
    Birds
  177. Orange-crowned WarblerVermivora celataWinter and migratory
    Birds
  178. Orchard OrioleIcterus spuriusSummer
    Birds
  179. OspreyPandion haliaetusYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  180. OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaYear-round
    Birds
  181. Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer. 4 food plants
    Birds
  182. Palm WarblerDendroica palmarumWinter and migratory
    Birds
  183. Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusMigratory
    Birds
  184. Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusYear-round
    Birds
  185. Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusMigratory. 4 food plants
    Birds
  186. Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsYear-round
    Birds
  187. Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusYear-round. 11 food plants
    Birds
  188. Pine SiskinCarduelis pinusWinter
    Birds
  189. Pine WarblerDendroica pinusYear-round. 8 food plants
    Birds
  190. Piping PloverCharadrius melodusYear-round
    Birds
  191. Prairie WarblerDendroica discolorSummer
    Birds
  192. Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  193. Purple FinchCarpodacus purpureusYear-round
    Birds
  194. Purple MartinProgne subisSummer
    Birds
  195. Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter
    Birds
  196. RazorbillAlca tordaWinter
    Birds
  197. Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraYear-round. 25 food plants
    Birds
  198. Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter
    Birds
  199. Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusMigratory
    Birds
  200. Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusYear-round. 32 food plants
    Birds
  201. Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter and migratory
    Birds
  202. Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensisYear-round
    Birds
  203. Red-cockaded WoodpeckerPicoides borealisYear-round
    Birds
  204. Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusYear-round. 78 food plants
    Birds
  205. Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter
    Birds
  206. Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatusYear-round
    Birds
  207. Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisYear-round
    Birds
  208. Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter
    Birds
  209. Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusYear-round. 392 food plants
    Birds
  210. RedheadAythya americanaWinter and migratory. 50 food plants
    Birds
  211. Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter and migratory
    Birds
  212. Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisWinter. 187 food plants
    Birds
  213. Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicusYear-round. 18 food plants
    Birds
  214. Rock PigeonColumba liviaYear-round. 67 food plants
    Birds
  215. Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer and migratory. 231 food plants
    Birds
  216. Royal TernThalasseus maximusYear-round
    Birds
  217. Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendulaWinter
    Birds
  218. Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer
    Birds
  219. Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter and migratory. 26 food plants
    Birds
  220. Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter
    Birds
  221. Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusYear-round. 504 food plants
    Birds
  222. Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusWinter
    Birds
  223. Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed SparrowAmmodramus caudacutusWinter
    Birds
  224. SanderlingCalidris albaWinter
    Birds
  225. Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer
    Birds
  226. Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisYear-round and migratory. 3 food plants
    Birds
  227. Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  228. Seaside SparrowAmmodramus maritimusYear-round
    Birds
  229. Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter and migratory
    Birds
  230. Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusYear-round
    Birds
  231. Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusWinter
    Birds
  232. Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter
    Birds
  233. Snow GooseChen caerulescensWinter. 229 food plants
    Birds
  234. Snowy EgretEgretta thulaYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  235. Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaMigratory
    Birds
  236. Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaYear-round. 233 food plants
    Birds
  237. SoraPorzana carolinaYear-round and migratory. 331 food plants
    Birds
  238. Spotted SandpiperActitis maculariusYear-round and migratory
    Birds
  239. Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusMigratory
    Birds
  240. Summer TanagerPiranga rubraSummer
    Birds
  241. Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter. 11 food plants
    Birds
  242. Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusMigratory. 122 food plants
    Birds
  243. Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiSummer
    Birds
  244. Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter
    Birds
  245. Tennessee WarblerVermivora peregrinaMigratory
    Birds
  246. Thayer's GullLarus thayeriWinter
    Birds
  247. Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolorYear-round and migratory. 8 food plants
    Birds
  248. Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolorYear-round
    Birds
  249. Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorYear-round
    Birds
  250. Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter. 172 food plants
    Birds
  251. Turkey VultureCathartes auraYear-round
    Birds
  252. Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaMigratory
    Birds
  253. VeeryCatharus fuscescensSummer and migratory. 107 food plants
    Birds
  254. Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusYear-round and migratory. 273 food plants
    Birds
  255. Virginia RailRallus limicolaYear-round. 197 food plants
    Birds
  256. Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter and migratory
    Birds
  257. White IbisEudocimus albusYear-round
    Birds
  258. White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisYear-round. 41 food plants
    Birds
  259. White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter. 231 food plants
    Birds
  260. White-eyed VireoVireo griseusYear-round. 61 food plants
    Birds
  261. White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollisWinter
    Birds
  262. Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoYear-round. 773 food plants
    Birds
  263. WilletTringa semipalmataYear-round
    Birds
  264. Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiSummer and migratory
    Birds
  265. Wilson's PloverCharadrius wilsoniaSummer
    Birds
  266. Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataWinter and migratory
    Birds
  267. Wilson's WarblerWilsonia pusillaMigratory
    Birds
  268. Wood DuckAix sponsaYear-round. 178 food plants
    Birds
  269. Wood StorkMycteria americanaWinter
    Birds
  270. Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaSummer. 36 fruit and seed plants
    Birds
  271. Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorumSummer
    Birds
  272. Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensisWinter. 48 food plants
    Birds
  273. Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisMigratory. 26 food plants
    Birds
  274. Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusYear-round and migratory. 16 food plants
    Birds
  275. Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanusSummer
    Birds
  276. Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensSummer
    Birds
  277. Yellow-crowned Night-heronNyctanassa violaceaSummer and migratory
    Birds
  278. Yellow-rumped WarblerDendroica coronataWinter and migratory
    Birds
  279. Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifronsSummer. 6 food plants
    Birds
  280. Yellow-throated WarblerDendroica dominicaSummer
    Birds

Seasons and counties: known range in the USGS range maps (2001), not sighting records. Summer and winter include year-round birds.