The site is partly an annotated bird checklist, giving specific locations and dates for the very rare species, and partly a "bird-finding guide", though arranged by species, instead of by sites/birding locales. Species not on the Definitive List or the Provisional List are not included; thus, species considered of Unaccepted Origin (such as several waterfowl and parrot species) are not a part of this compendium.

The site will be updated regularly, especially in terms of updating new records for rare species, new records of less rare species but in regions of the state where few previous records exist, and perhaps record counts of a species in the state or region. However, this work is not intended to be a detailed annotated work, as names of observers are not to be included, nor are record earliest and latest dates for species to be included.

The reference is intended mainly for several user groups: 1) out-of-state birders planning a trip to North Carolina, and wanting to know the best times, places, and chances to see target species; 2) in-state birders who are looking for information on new species on their life list, year list, etc.; 3) and all birders who want to find out specific information about a rare species, such as number of records or times and places when and where seen. Because this reference covers well over 460 species, it is unlikely that anyone would desire to print out the entire document, especially as it will certainly be updated constantly. In this last regard, it differs from other references where LeGrand has been the chief species account author -- butterflies and odonates, as these accounts consist of fewer than 200 species each and they are updated only during the winter, such that the accounts are fixed for the field seasons (from early spring through late fall).

Each species account is based mainly on the format found in Virginia's Birdlife: An Annotated Checklist (Rottenborn and Brinkley 2007), with the exception of the last field on these NC accounts. Abbreviations used in the species accounts:
CBC = Christmas Bird Count [Note: Reference to the Carolina Bird Club, which often also goes by the "CBC" acronym, in this document will be spelled out in full.]
NC BRC = North Carolina Bird Records Committee
NWR = National Wildlife Refuge
SP = State Park
NP = National Park

Each species account contains:

1. On the top line: The common name and the scientific name (according to the latest American Ornithologists' Union Checklist and supplements), along with a dropdown list of all of the species within that particular species' family.

2. General Comments: Text about some aspects of a species' life history, such as a decline or increase in numbers in recent decades, a general summary of its primary habitats, and other features that might be of general interest to the reader. In a few cases, for very rare species, particular records are listed here.

3. Breeding Status: The species' nesting status in North Carolina: either Breeder or Nonbreeder, or in a few cases Casual Breeder, Accidental Breeder, etc. A species is on the state's Definitive List (3 or more accepted sight records, or accepted tangible documentation [specimen, photograph, or audio recording]), except where indicated as being on the Provisional List (generally just one or two accepted sight records only).

4. NC BRC List: The species' status on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina: either Definitive, Provisional, or Extinct, as administered by the NC Bird Records Committee. The Provisional List contains species for which there are less than three accepted sight (i.e., non-documented) records. Species of unaccepted origin are not included on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina.

5. Statuses and Ranks. Codes for a species' legal State and U.S. (Federal) statuses, and for its State and Global ranks, as given by the NatureServe Network:

State Status:
E = Endangered
T = Threatened
SC = Special Concern
SR = Significantly Rare
W = Watch List

E, T, and SC are legal designations by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission;
SR and W are non-legal designations by the NC Natural Heritage Program

U.S. Status:
E = Endangered
T = Threatened
FSC = Federal Species of Concern

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assigns the U.S. Status categories; FSC is a non-legal designation.

State Rank:
S1 = Critically imperiled in the state
S2 = Imperiled in the state
S3 = Rare or uncommon in the state
S4 = Apparently secure in the state
S5 = Demonstrably secure in the state
SH = Of historical occurrence, last record over 30 years ago; some expectation of rediscovery
SX = Believed to be extirpated in the state, and little likelihood of rediscovery
SZ = Zero definable occurrences for conservation, though may be regular in the state as a visitor or regular migrant; generally 5 or more records
SA = Accidental or casual; generally with 3-4 or fewer records
SE = Exotic, presumed not native to the state
SU = Undetermined - need more information on status and trends
S#B = Breeding abundance (for migratory species) - e.g., S3B [rare or uncommon breeder]
S#N = Non-breeding abundance (for migratory species regularly spending weeks or months in definable locations) -- e.g., S4N [apparently secure wintering species]

The N.C. Natural Heritage Program provides the State Ranks.

Global Rank - Global ranks are similar to state ranks except "in the state" is replaced by "globally". Additional global ranks are:
NR = not yet ranked

NatureServe assigns the Global Ranks.

6. Species Status by Province: The general abundance level and timing of occurrence, within each of the three main physiographic provinces in the state:

a. Coastal Plain (subdivided unofficially into additional areas -- "northern coast", "southern coast", "Tidewater", "inland", and "sandhills" -- see map below.)

b. Piedmont

c. Mountains

Within each province, the text is arranged first by general abundance levels in that province; then often by text about portions of the province (if applicable), including general elevations in the mountains; then by some general information about periods of occurrence in the province (by parts of months); and lastly by peak counts in the province. In some cases, individual records are given, usually where there are about three or fewer records in that province. Where records have been reviewed and accepted by a Bird Records Committee, the record is followed by *. County names are in italics, to avoid overuse of the word "County".

Abundance levels (intended to be very general): Abundant -- usually seen in very large numbers, often over 100 in a given day, at the proper time of year and in proper habitat Very Common -- usually seen in large numbers, often 20-100, in a given day Common -- usually seen in moderate numbers, often 5-20, in a given day Fairly Common -- usually seen in a given day, but mostly under 5 individuals       Uncommon -- can be missed in a given day, but usually seen over a several-day period       Rare -- often missed by a person in a given season (e.g., fall migration), but at least a handful of records or more for a given county or part of a province Very Rare -- generally only a few records for a given county, or part of a province Casual -- generally only a few records for an entire province (or the state) Accidental -- generally just one or two records for that province or the state Local -- not widespread within its given habitats; can be scarce or absent in seemingly good habitat

7. Finding Tips: Information to help the reader with finding the species in the state. At the end of each field, a number of asterisks are given to show the likelihood for a person to see (or hear, if a nocturnal bird) that species in a single week (not day) of birding in a part of the state where it occurs (but not spending all of one's time looking for it). (This is based on material presented in some of the older "Lane Birding Guides", and is intended mostly for out-of-state birders.)


**** -- Hard to miss
*** -- Should see
** -- May see (and good chance to see if concentrating on the species)
* -- Lucky to find; not to be expected
1/2 * -- Extremely lucky to find.

8. Attribution: The last name of the account editor, with the date of the edits. Persons who wish to edit species accounts should contact the Website Administrator (contact information listed below) for data entry.

9. NC Map: (North Carolina) map showing the counties for which the species has been recorded. Persons who wish to add new county records can do so by clicking the County Listing link at the top of the Home Page, and then follow the instructions on that page.

10. NA Maps: (North American) range maps for the species, as linked to the NatureServe website.