Birds of North Carolina: The Official State Checklist

All 281 birds on the list

• Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
• Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
• American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
• American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
• American Black Duck Anas rubripes
• American Coot Fulica americana
• American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
• American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
• American Kestrel Falco sparverius
• American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus
• American Pipit Anthus rubescens
• American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
• American Robin Turdus migratorius
• American Wigeon Anas americana
• American Woodcock Scolopax minor
• Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
• Bachman's Sparrow Peucaea aestivalis
• Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
• Barn Owl Tyto alba
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
• Barred Owl Strix varia
• Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
• Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
• Black Rail, Eastern Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
• Black Scoter Melanitta americana
• Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
• Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
• Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
• Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
• Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
• Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
• Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
• Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
• Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens
• Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
• Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
• Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
• Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea
• Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea
• Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
• Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
• Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
• Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
• Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
• Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia
• Brant Branta bernicla
• Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
• Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
• Brown Creeper Certhia americana
• Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
• Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus aterNonnative
• Brown-headed Nuthatch Sitta pusilla
• Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
• Canada Goose Branta canadensis
• Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
• Canvasback Aythya valisineria
• Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
• Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
• Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibisNonnative
• Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
• Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea
• Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica
• Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
• Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
• Chuck-will's-widow Antrostomus carolinensis
• Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris
• Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
• Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
• Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
• Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
• Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
• Common Loon Gavia immer
• Common Merganser Mergus merganser
• Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
• Common Raven Corvus corax
• Common Tern Sterna hirundo
• Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
• Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis
• Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
• Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
• Dickcissel Spiza americana
• Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
• Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
• Dunlin Calidris alpina
• Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
• Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
• Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
• Eastern Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
• Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
• Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio
• Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
• Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
• European Starling Sturnus vulgarisNonnative
• Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
• Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
• Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
• Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
• Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
• Gadwall Anas strepera
• Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
• Golden Eagle, Eastern Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
• Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
• Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
• Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
• Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
• Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus
• Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
• Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
• Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
• Great Egret Ardea alba
• Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
• Greater Scaup Aythya marila
• Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
• Green Heron Butorides virescens
• Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
• Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
• Hairy woodpecker Picoides villosus
• Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii
• Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
• Herring Gull Larus argentatus
• Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
• Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina
• Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
• Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
• House Wren Troglodytes aedon
• Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
• Kentucky Warbler Geothlypis formosa
• Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
• King Rail Rallus elegans
• Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
• Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
• Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
• Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
• Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
• Least Tern Sterna antillarum
• Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
• Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
• Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
• Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
• Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
• Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
• Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
• Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
• Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia
• Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
• Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
• Merlin Falco columbarius
• Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis
• Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
• Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla
• Nelson's Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni
• Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
• Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
• Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
• Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
• Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
• Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
• Northern Parula Setophaga americana
• Northern Pintail Anas acuta
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
• Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
• Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
• Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
• Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata
• Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
• Osprey Pandion haliaetus
• Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus
• Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
• Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
• Peregrine Falcon, American Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
• Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus
• Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
• Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
• Pine Siskin Spinus pinus
• Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus
• Piping Plover (Atlantic Coast pop'n) Charadrius melodus
• Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
• Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea
• Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus
• Purple Martin Progne subis
• Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
• Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
• Red Knot Calidris canutus
• Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
• Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
• Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
• Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis
• Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
• Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
• Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
• Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
• Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
• Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
• Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens
• Redhead Aythya americana
• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
• Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
• Rock Pigeon Columba liviaNonnative
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
• Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
• Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
• Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
• Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
• Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
• Saltmarsh Sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus
• Sanderling Calidris alba
• Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
• Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea
• Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus
• Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis
• Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
• Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
• Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
• Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
• Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
• Snow Goose Chen caerulescens
• Snowy Egret Egretta thula
• Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
• Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
• Sora Porzana carolina
• Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
• Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
• Summer Tanager Piranga rubra
• Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
• Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
• Swainson's Warbler Limnothlypis swainsonii
• Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
• Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
• Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
• Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
• Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
• Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
• Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
• Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
• Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda
• Veery Catharus fuscescens
• Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
• Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
• Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
• Wayne's Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens waynei
• Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
• Whip-poor-will, Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus
• White Ibis Eudocimus albus
• White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
• White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
• White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
• White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
• White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
• White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
• Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
• Willet Tringa semipalmata
• Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
• Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia
• Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
• Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
• Wood Duck Aix sponsa
• Wood Stork Mycteria americana
• Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina
• Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorum pop.1
• Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
• Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
• Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
• Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
• Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
• Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
• Yellow-throated Warbler Setophaga dominica

Birds people confuse

Bald eagle or Golden eagle?

Bald eagle Not stated

No confirmed photo of Golden eagle

Golden eagle Not stated

Young bald eagles lack the white head and tail and are often mistaken for golden eagles. Bald eagles have unfeathered lower legs and hold their wings flat when soaring; TWRA says golden eagles have feathered legs, limited white under the wing, and lift the outer wing in a slight V.

Bald eagle or Turkey vulture?

Bald eagle Not stated

Turkey vulture Not stated

Turkey vultures hold their wings in a shallow V; bald eagles soar on flat wings.

Northern cardinal or Summer tanager?

Northern cardinal Not stated

Summer tanager Not stated

MDC: the adult male summer tanager is entirely rosy red, slightly darker on wings and tail, and is a summer resident; the adult male northern cardinal has a crest and a black area around its large red bill and is present year-round. TWRA says the summer tanager is the only other all-red songbird in Tennessee.

Red-tailed hawk or Red-shouldered hawk?

Red-tailed hawk Not stated

No confirmed photo of Red-shouldered hawk

Red-shouldered hawk Not stated

A red-tail's rust-colored, broad, short tail distinguishes it from the smaller red-shouldered hawk (North Carolina). Tennessee: the red-shouldered hawk has a black and white banded tail and appears more uniformly colored.

Turkey vulture or Black vulture?

Turkey vulture Not stated

No confirmed photo of Black vulture

Black vulture Not stated

Black vulture: grayish-black head, shorter tail, a white patch near the wing tips (seen from below), and wings held nearly horizontal when soaring, with frequent flapping (Missouri). Tennessee and NPS Everglades say the same: black head, white patch at the wing tips, wings held flat. Turkey vulture: red head (adults), two-toned wings held in a V, rarely flaps. Note: juvenile turkey vultures also have dark heads.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When birds are active in North Carolina

Records of birds in North Carolina peak in January to June and October. They show when people record birds, not how many there are (about month bars).

• Bird diversity peaks in spring and fall migration; winter brings coastal waterfowl. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

How to report

NC Wildlife Helpline (NCWRC), Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: 866-318-2401; email [email protected]. Aquatic invasive species: NCWRC Aquatic Nuisance Species Reporting Tool (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/710337fbf02140599fd788ebfdd72744). Rattlesnake sightings: [email protected] or HerpMapper. Wildlife violations / alligator emergencies: 800-662-7137. Yellow-legged hornet: www.ncagr.gov/YLH (NCDA&CS). N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

About this list

The species list comes from 2025 SWAP Appendix 3 Table 3-2 BIRDS SGCN and Priority Species List (2025 WAP Revision Taxa Team Evaluations) (N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, 2025 NC State Wildlife Action Plan (approved by USFWS January 2026)).

Venom does not apply to birds.

"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in North Carolina.