The 100 most recent account entries/updates. |
comName | sciName | species_account | breeding_status | list_type | state_status | fed_status | S_rank | G_rank | coastal_plain | piedmont | mountain | tips | tips_code | update_on |
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Dickcissel | Spiza americana | Although there are numerous birds that are highly erratic wintering species in North Carolina and el... | Breeder | Definitive | SR | | S2B | G5 | Sporadic and very local summer resident, and sparse winter visitor. In summer, very rare to rare ov... | Sporadic and very local summer resident, and very sparse winter visitor. In summer, rare and sporad... | Sparse transient; seldom in summer or winter. Despite many wide valleys with farmland at low elevat... | From 2005 - 2018, the species has been easily found in summer at North River Farms, but this is a pr... | ** | 2022-04-27 |
Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | The adult male Painted Bunting is certainly the gaudiest-colored of North American songbirds. Thank... | Breeder | Definitive | SC | | S3B | G5 | Summer resident along the southern coast, and sparse winter resident/visitor along the coast, even t... | Very rare (but increasing) visitor, scattered over the year. About 29 records, all of single birds.... | Accidental visitor. The only known records are one at a feeder in Asheville, 9-12 Mar 2004; and a f... | Should be easily found along the southern coast in late Apr, May, and Jun, at places such as Fort Ma... | *** to **** | 2022-04-27 |
Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a bird of the cooler hardwood and mixed forests of the eastern parts o... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S3S4B | G5 | Transient. In spring, rare to uncommon along the western margin of the province, but generally rare... | Transient. In spring, uncommon to at times fairly common in the western portion, but uncommon over ... | Summer resident and transient. Fairly common (and common in a few ranges) in summer at middle to hi... | You should be able to find the species in a morning of birding along the Blue Ridge Parkway at eleva... | *** to **** | 2022-04-27 |
Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | The Western Tanager is a rare visitor and over-wintering "resident" in North Carolina, but it occurs... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Scarce "transient" and winter visitor, with close to 95 records. Very rare to rare in winter along ... | Scarce "transient" and winter visitor, with well over 30 records. Very rare visitor, mainly from ea... | Casual visitor. Only about six records, though only one since 1991. Oddly, the dates are "strangel... | You likely will see your first in the state at a feeder near the coast. | * | 2022-04-27 |
Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | The Summer Tanager is a characteristic bird of the Deep South, nesting north only to southern New Je... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident, and winter straggler. Common in the southern half of the region, from the Croatan ... | Summer resident, with a few winter records. Fairly common to common over most of the region, more n... | Sparse summer resident, with little migratory movement noted. Uncommon in the extreme southwestern ... | None needed in the southern Coastal Plain, such as in the Sandhills Game Land, Weymouth Woods Preser... | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Yellow-throated Warbler | Setophaga dominica | The Yellow-throated Warbler is a "Southern" warbler, as it breeds in the eastern United States only ... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident, and sparse winter resident near the southern coast. In summer, common over most of ... | Summer resident, and very rare winter straggler. In summer, fairly common to locally common in the ... | Summer resident. Uncommon along rivers and streams at low elevations, essentially below 2,500 feet;... | The species is easily found in many parks and preserves, and Croatan National Forest, in the southea... | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Blackpoll Warbler | Setophaga striata | The Blackpoll Warbler, at a glance at its breeding range, would seem to have a similar migration pat... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient. In spring, fairly common over most of the region, likely less numerous in the central an... | Transient. Fairly common (formerly common) across the region in spring; in fall, generally uncommon... | Transient. Fairly common in low to middle elevations in spring; rare at high elevations. In fall, g... | Normally not hard to find between 5-20 May, especially around 10-15 May, in many parks in the state.... | *** | 2022-04-27 |
Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | The Yellow Warbler has one of the most extensive breeding ranges of any warbler -- across nearly all... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S4B | G5 | Transient, and sparse breeder; a few winter records. In summer, formerly uncommon, but now apparent... | Summer resident (strongly declining), and transient. In summer, now rare to uncommon in the western... | Summer resident (strongly declining), and transient. In summer, fairly common to formerly common in... | Driving back roads in the [open] "country" in the mountains in May and Jun should yield a few Yellow... | *** | 2022-04-27 |
Nashville Warbler | Leiothlypis ruficapilla | The Nashville Warbler, along with the Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and several Western... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient, and scarce straggler into early winter. Very rare in spring (essentially avoiding the re... | Transient, and a very scarce straggler into early winter. In spring, rare in the western and centra... | Transient; one recent record of a potential breeding bird. Rare to occasionally uncommon in spring, ... | Pure migrant species can be hard to pin down in time and place, depending on cold fronts in fall, et... | ** | 2022-04-27 |
Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | The Ovenbird recently "lost" its two nearest relatives -- the Louisiana and Northern waterthrushes -... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B,S1N | G5 | Summer resident, and sparse winter visitor/resident. In summer, generally common over the northwest... | Summer resident. Common over the region as a whole. Reasonably widespread, and common also in foot... | Summer resident. Common at low to middle elevations, to about 4,000 feet, and fairly common to abou... | None needed; easily heard in a morning of birding in most areas of the state in May and Jun. | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | The Bullock's Oriole is the western counterpart to the Baltimore Oriole. Originally classified as s... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Casual to (formerly) very rare winter visitor; most records prior to 2010. There are about 10 recor... | Casual to very rare winter visitor. There are about 15 records, with 7-8 birds over-wintering. Rec... | No records. | Your first Bullock's Oriole will likely be seen at someone's feeder. | 1/2* | 2022-04-27 |
Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | The Orchard Oriole breeding range covers the Eastern Deciduous Forest area of the continent -- nesti... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident, with no obvious migratory movements. Common in summer, over the province as a whol... | Summer resident, with no obvious migratory movements. Generally fairly common in summer in the east... | Summer resident, with no obvious migratory movements. Uncommon in lower elevations, mainly in broad... | None needed in the Coastal Plain in spring to early summer, by driving back roads, especially throug... | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | The Yellow-headed Blackbird is practically a "waterbird", in that in its nesting range in the upper ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Sparse transient and winter visitor. Rare in fall along the immediate coast, more so along the Oute... | Very rare visitor. There are only about 16 reports from the province -- six from late summer to ear... | Very rare visitor. There are only about 10 reports from the mountains, all since 1988. All but one... | The Yellow-headed Blackbird is a difficult bird to find in the state. When birding along the coast ... | * | 2022-04-27 |
Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | The Red Crossbill is another of the erratic "winter finches" in the East. Unlike with most of these... | Breeder | Definitive | SC | | S3B,S3N | G5 | Winter visitor, and apparently accidental breeder; declining. Currently, very rare to rare across t... | Winter visitor, and accidental breeder; declining. Currently, rare and erratic in winter; formerly ... | Summer resident at higher elevations, and winter visitor to all of the region. In summer, rare to l... | Though the species is erratic in summer, it has been somewhat regular in recent years at Mount Mitch... | ** | 2022-04-27 |
White Wagtail | Motacilla alba | North Carolina has, remarkably, three records of White Wagtail, of each of two distinct subspecies: ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | Two records (see above). | One record (see above). | No records. | | 1/2 * | 2022-04-27 |
Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | This Far Western thrush was an embarrassing "miss" or "hole" on the North Carolina bird list for man... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | No records. | Casual; five records. An adult female was seen on three dates between 19 and 29 Dec 2005 near Hills... | Accidental. An adult male was photographed in Fletcher (Henderson) on 1 Feb 2010* (Chat 74:6... | 1/2 * | | 2022-04-27 |
Veery | Catharus fuscescens | The Veery is one of five very similar-looking "small" thrushes, in the genus Catharus. It is... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S4B | G5 | Transient. Generally uncommon and easily overlooked, over the western two-thirds of the region; les... | Transient. Generally uncommon in spring and fall, but can be fairly common in the western half, at ... | Summer resident and transient. In summer, fairly common to common and widespread at middle and high... | The Veery should be easily found (at least heard singing) in most forests above about 4,000 feet, an... | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | This is a widespread and generally common species of the higher elevations of the Western States and... | Nonbreeder | Provisional | | | SA | G5 | One record. A male was photographed at Wrightsville Beach (New Hanover) essentially daily fr... | No records. | One record (see above). | | 1/2 * | 2022-04-27 |
Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | The Barn Swallow, like most swallows, breeds from coast to coast, well into Canada; like most of the... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident, with migratory movements. Common breeder over the entire province (except near ext... | Summer resident. Common breeder throughout the region, and at times very common (at least near rese... | Summer resident. Common breeder at low and middle elevations, to about 4,000 feet; uncommon to perh... | None needed. | **** | 2022-04-27 |
Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | This species, long known as the Rough-winged Swallow, had to have its common name changed several de... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S4B | G5 | Summer resident. Fairly common over the inner two-thirds of the province, but uncommon to locally f... | Summer resident. Fairly common over nearly the entire region, perhaps slightly more frequent near r... | Summer resident. Fairly common over the region, up to about 4,000 feet, and sparingly up to about 5... | The species is normally seen in a day of birding in most sites away from coastal counties. The best... | *** | 2022-04-27 |
Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | The Least Flycatcher, as its name implies, is the smallest species of flycatcher in the Eastern Unit... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | S3B | G5 | Transient. Rare along and very close to the coast, but seemingly casual to very rare farther inland... | Transient. Rare, in both spring and fall, across the region; most records are for the eastern part ... | Summer resident. Very local, generally uncommon as a whole, but locally fairly common, and rare to ... | Good areas during the nesting season include the Highlands Country Club (Macon), Black Camp G... | *** | 2022-04-27 |
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | The beautiful Scissor-tailed Flycatcher nests in the south-central United States, primarily in Texas... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | SAB,SZ | G5 | Transient/vagrant, both in late spring/summer and again in fall; accidental breeder. Very rare to r... | Transient/vagrant, and sporadic breeder at two known sites. Very rare in migration, with more recor... | Accidental. One was photographed in Swannanoa (Buncombe) on 10 May 1984 (Chat 48:100). | Your best bet is to drive to a known nesting site. If none are available for an easy "tick", you ar... | * | 2022-04-27 |
Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | The Ash-throated Flycatcher is another Western species, breeding from southern Washington to Texas. ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Greatly increasing in late fall and winter. Late autumn migrant/visitor, with birds attempting to o... | Casual stray/visitor. Two sight reports are from the Raleigh area: one on 16 May 1973 (Chat 39:40-4... | Accidental. One videotaped in Henderson on 28 Oct 1999 is the only record for the mountains.... | There have now been multiple records at Alligator River NWR, near Pungo Lake, and along the NC 94 ca... | * | 2022-04-27 |
Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | Arguably one of the most spectacular birds in North America, the Snowy Owl is, unfortunately, seldom... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4 | Winter visitor. Until the late fall and winter 2013-2014, casual to very rare along the immediate co... | Winter visitor; formerly (prior to about 1953) very rare. No records between that year and early wi... | Winter visitor; accidental. Multiple reports from north of Weaverville, Buncombe, in 1891; an... | Because it is too rare to search for in NC, you will need to keep abreast of listserves and websites... | 1/2* | 2022-04-27 |
Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | For such a large hawk (being the state's largest Accipiter), the Northern Goshawk is remarkab... | Nonbreeder (but Possible Breeder) | Definitive | | | SUB | G5 | Visitor in migration and winter; about 33 reports. Rare, mainly in winter, to the northern coast (in... | Visitor in migration and winter; only about 15 reports. Very rare to the northern half of the provin... | Visitor in migration and winter; at least 20 reports. Very rare (though more numerous here than els... | The species is much too rare to specifically search for, but people at hawk watches in the mountains... | * | 2022-04-27 |
Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | Hardly any bird is more easily identified than the Roseate Spoonbill. This tropical breeder nests no... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Post-breeding visitor and stray, mostly to the coast; greatly increasing in recent years. Very rare... | Formerly accidental to casual, but now very rare and increasing, post-breeding visitor, with seven k... | Casual post-breeding visitor, with all records from 2018 (Chat 82:112). Singles were seen on the Fr... | Increasing annually now, and can now be tracked down to see, as some have lingered for a while, espe... | * to ** | 2022-04-27 |
White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | One of the most common of our coastal wading birds, the White Ibis has increased dramatically in the... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | S3B,S3N | G5 | Year-round breeding resident along the coast, with migratory movements. Common to locally very comm... | Post-breeding visitor, essentially only in summer and fall. Rare to uncommon along the eastern edge... | Post-breeding visitor. Rare at low elevations in the southern mountains; very rare in the central a... | This species is difficult to miss along the coast, at mudflats, shallow waters of ponds and inlets, ... | **** | 2022-04-26 |
Green Heron | Butorides virescens | The Green Heron, formerly called the Green-backed Heron (and before that the Green Heron again), is ... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident and migrant. Fairly common breeder over most of the entire province, though somewha... | Summer resident and migrant. Fairly common breeder over most of the region, though uncommon in the ... | Summer resident and migrant. Generally uncommon breeder, but may be fairly common in low elevations... | Though not uncommon in much of the state, it is hard to pinpoint specific places to search for them.... | *** | 2022-04-26 |
Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Our most familiar and frequently seen wader, the Great Blue Heron has shown a remarkable increase in... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B,S5N | G5 | Year-round resident throughout the province, with some populations migratory. Essentially common al... | Year-round resident, breeding locally but in most counties; increasing at all seasons. Common over ... | Nearly year-round resident, though generally rare to uncommon in late spring and early summer; breed... | This widespread species can be seen daily in most regions from late summer through spring, and findi... | **** | 2022-04-26 |
Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | The Least Bittern is just as shy as its larger cousin, the American Bittern, but because it is much ... | Breeder | Definitive | SC | | S2S3B | G5 | Summer resident and migrant; a handful of winter records. Occurs nearly throughout the Tidewater an... | Transient and scarce summer resident. Rare (and easily overlooked) transient, and rare and local br... | Casual to very rare transient, and perhaps has nested on rare occasions in the Hendersonville area. ... | Most of the better sites are difficult for birders to reach. It is reportedly common as a breeder a... | ** | 2022-04-26 |
American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | Both bittern species are secretive birds of marshes, sharing their home with rails and a very few ot... | Breeder | Definitive | SR | | S1B,S3N | G5 | Transient and winter resident, and sparse and poorly known breeder. Uncommon migrant in coastal and... | Transient and scarce winter visitor. Rare (to possibly uncommon, but easily overlooked) during migr... | Transient. Rare in Apr-May and again early Aug to mid-Nov; one record in Dec and two in Jan, but not... | Observers inland should look for bitterns during spring and fall migration at large marshes, general... | ** | 2022-04-26 |
American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | This spectacular and huge species, which nests in the Great Plains and the Western states, has under... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S1N | G4 | Migrant and winter visitor, most frequent along the northern coast and Tidewater; increasing. Coast... | Rare (but increasing) migrant and winter visitor. Most are from large reservoirs, early Sep to mid-... | Very rare migrant, with at least 11 records, nearly all from the southern mountains; records and num... | Fortunately for the birder, individuals of this species often linger for a month or more in NC. Form... | *** | 2022-04-26 |
Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | The Great Cormorant is still another species that has greatly increased in the East over the past se... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S1N | G5 | Winter resident and visitor along the coast. Uncommon and local, mainly around inlets; generally fro... | Very rare migrant and winter visitor. About 13 records, all at reservoirs in the eastern and centra... | No records. | The species is reliably seen at just a few places along the NC coast. Your best bet is at Wrightsvi... | *** | 2022-04-26 |
Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster | The Brown Booby is (or at least was a few years ago) a rarer bird off our coast than is the Masked B... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Nonbreeding visitor, mainly offshore in the Gulf Stream, but there are quite a few records from shor... | Casual, with five records. An adult female was seen and photographed on many dates at Lookout Shoal... | No records. | As with other rare pelagic species, you will have to take dozens of trips out of Oregon Inlet or Hat... | * | 2022-04-26 |
Wood Stork | Mycteria americana | The Wood Stork is probably the most significant wader in the state, because it is a Federally listed... | Breeder | Definitive | T | T | S1B,S1N | G4 | Summer resident and post-breeding visitor, greatly increasing; rare straggler in winter. Locally co... | Post-breeding visitor, greatly increasing. Formerly very rare to now locally rare, mainly from Jun ... | Post-breeding visitor; very rare to now rare in the southern and central mountains, with about 14 re... | The species can almost always be found around the margins of the two freshwater ponds at Twin Lakes,... | **** | 2022-04-26 |
Yellow-nosed Albatross | Thalassarche chlororhynchos | The sight of any albatross off the Atlantic coast is a highlight in any pelagic birder's career, as ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G3 | Casual visitor. Four confirmed records, all by photographs: one a few miles off Salvo (Dare),... | No records. | No records. | The species is too rare to specifically look for -- but on winter pelagic trips, carefully look at a... | 1/2 * | 2022-04-26 |
Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia | The Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, and it is also one of the most wide-ranging, as i... | Breeder | Definitive | T | | S1B,S2N | G5 | Permanent resident (and sparse breeder), with migratory movements, along the coast; transient inland... | Transient. Uncommon though regular in both spring and fall at larger lakes/reservoirs, but very rar... | Transient. Rare, in the southern mountains only (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Transyl... | Caspian Terns can usually be found along most coastal areas in late summer and fall, especially arou... | *** | 2022-04-26 |
Heermann's Gull | Larus heermanni | The thought of a strictly West Coast gull species like Heermann's Gull showing up along the Atlantic... | Nonbreeder | Provisional | | | SA | G4 | One record (see above). Some people might consider this as two records, but if a single bird is bel... | No records. | No records. | | 1/2 * | 2022-04-26 |
Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | The Say's Phoebe breeds over much of the Western United States and Western Canada, but it withdraws ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Very rare fall migrant/stray, occasionally lingering into the winter; 12 records. One was seen near ... | Casual; four records. One was seen near Raleigh on 23 Oct 1965 (Chat 30:28), (Chat 54:56). Another ... | No records. | 1/2 * | | 2022-04-25 |
Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | Few native species are less popular than the Great Black-backed Gull, the largest of the world's gul... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S3B,S5N | G5 | Permanent resident, with migratory movements. Fairly common and slowly increasing coastal breeder fr... | Winter visitor. Rare but increasing in the Triangle area (mainly Falls and Jordan lakes and local l... | No records. | None needed. | **** | 2022-04-25 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | Larus fuscus | Hardly any other gull species' status in North Carolina has changed as rapidly over the last 20-30 y... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S3N | G5 | Winter visitor/resident, greatly increasing in recent years. Formerly (prior to about 1990), rare a... | Winter visitor/resident. Rare to locally uncommon, but greatly increasing, at large lakes and landf... | Casual or accidental. The only records are a first-year bird photographed at the Hooper Lane Sod Fa... | This species is easy to find in the large gull flocks that congregate at Cape Hatteras Point from la... | *** to **** | 2022-04-25 |
California Gull | Larus californicus | Despite this being a very common to locally abundant nesting bird in the Canadian and United States ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor along the coast, with most records from Cape Hatteras Point. Typically occurs as sin... | Accidental. The only record is of an adult seen at the Raleigh landfill on 22 Jan 2005* (Chat 69:80... | No records. | To see this species in the state, one should be in an ORV at Cape Hatteras Point in winter, carefull... | * | 2022-04-25 |
Atlantic Puffin | Fratercula arctica | The Atlantic Puffin is one of the most charismatic waterbirds in North America, very popular with th... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor/resident, essentially only offshore. Formerly very rare, but now uncommon and increa... | No records. | No records. | Take a pelagic trip out of Hatteras or Oregon inlets in winter. In recent winters, several trips usu... | ** | 2022-04-25 |
Razorbill | Alca torda | By far the most numerous alcid in North Carolina waters is the Razorbill. In some recent winters, h... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S2N | G5 | Winter resident offshore and coastally, increasing. Formerly (prior to 1995) rare along the coast, ... | No records. | No records. | The Razorbill is now seldom missed on winter pelagic trips, but on some trips the birds are infreque... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Thick-billed Murre | Uria lomvia | Quite similar to the Common Murre in appearance and in overall habits, the Thick-billed Murre is a s... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor, essentially coastal (inshore ocean); perhaps slightly declining in recent years, tho... | No records. | No records. | You will just have to luck into one along the coast in winter, though a more careful observer who sc... | 1/2* to * | 2022-04-25 |
Common Murre | Uria aalge | For a seemingly interminable time, North Carolina went without a record of this very common alcid. ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Very scarce winter visitor offshore and along the coast; now (2022) rare off Oregon Inlet and Cape H... | No records. | No records. | The increase in sightings in the past decade is gratifying for pelagic birders, but whether this sig... | * | 2022-04-25 |
Dunlin | Calidris alpina | Though a Calidris species like most other small sandpipers, the Dunlin is often not considere... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S5N | G5 | Transient, and winter resident along and near the coast. Coastally, very common to abundant migrant ... | Transient, lingering into early winter in the eastern portions. Rare spring migrant, and rare to un... | Transient. Very rare spring and very rare to rare fall migrant, at low elevations, with all publish... | Dunlins can hardly be missed on a birding trip to the coast in late fall or winter.
| **** | 2022-04-25 |
Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | Though the Stilt Sandpiper is a species in the genus Calidris, it looks hardly anything like ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient, mainly along the coast. Uncommon in spring, and often fairly common to common in fall, a... | Transient. Casual spring migrant, and rare to locally uncommon fall migrant (more numerous when ext... | Transient. Casual in spring, and very rare in fall, with all but two published records so far from ... | In Aug or early Sep, one has a good chance to see them at the impoundments at Pea or Bodie islands; ... | ** to *** | 2022-04-25 |
Sandhill Crane | Antigone canadensis | The Sandhill Crane is one of the largest birds, in terms of size (standing about 4 feet tall), and t... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient and winter visitor/resident, mainly along the coast and in tidewater areas; increasing. R... | Transient and winter visitor. Very rare (formerly) to rare (now), increasing in recent years. Reco... | Transient, mainly overhead; sparingly in winter. Rare to possibly uncommon migrant in the extreme s... | Cranes are more likely to be seen in the state in Cherokee in late fall or early spring, wher... | ** | 2022-04-25 |
Common Gallinule | Gallinula galeata | This species is a "cousin" of the Purple Gallinule, occurring in similar freshwater ponds, though th... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | S3B,S2N | G5 | Permanent resident near the coast, but with strongly migratory movements; farther inland, very local... | Scarce transient. Very rare to rare and easily overlooked transient (as birds tend to be secretive ... | Scarce transient (about 9 records). Very rare at low elevations in the southern mountains; late Apr... | Your best chances for seeing this species are along the southern coast, where more widespread than f... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | Only a few decades ago, relatively little was understood of the Virginia Rail's habitats and range i... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | S3B,S5N | G5 | Permanent resident near the coast, with migratory movements; mostly a transient farther inland. As a... | Mostly a transient, but scattered summer and winter records, where status at these two seasons is un... | Poorly known transient (about 19 reports), with one known breeding record, and several reports of po... | The descending grunting call is easily heard in migration and winter in tidewater marshes, especiall... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Allen's Hummingbird | Selasphorus sasin | There are five state records for this species, which breeds only along the immediate Pacific coast o... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | Two records (see above). | Three records (see above). | No records. | | 1/2 * | 2022-04-25 |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | This is the only hummingbird that nests in the eastern part of North America, and the Ruby-throated ... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B,S2N | G5 | Breeding summer resident, and winter visitor/resident mostly along or near the coast. Fairly common... | Breeding summer resident, and now a very rare winter visitor. Fairly common breeder across the enti... | Breeding summer resident. Fairly common at lower and middle elevations, mainly below 4,500 feet. L... | The species can be difficult to intentionally search for, away from hummingbird feeders, mainly beca... | *** to **** | 2022-04-25 |
Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | The Rufous Hummingbird is the state's second-most numerous hummingbird, and though it breeds in the ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4 | Transient and winter visitor. Very rare along the coast and in the Tidewater zone, mainly at feeders... | Transient and winter visitor. Very rare to rare (essentially only at feeders) across the province, ... | Fall transient and winter visitor, but primary in the fall season. Very rare, and mainly at feeders... | One has a reasonable chance to see one during the year, but only by visiting a feeder with a known b... | * to ** | 2022-04-25 |
Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | With the advent of hummingbird feeders left up year-round, and not simply taken down in fall when th... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor, essentially only at feeders in towns. Rare along the southern half of the coast, an... | Winter visitor. Very rare, with at least 12 records -- Charlotte (two records), Gastonia, Bethania ... | Accidental. One record: an immature male was seen at Brevard on 14 Dec 2002 (Chat 67:69). | One has a fair chance to see the species in a given year, by visiting a feeder with one reported (an... | * | 2022-04-25 |
Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | This bird of Southwestern deserts is somewhat of a surprise on the North Carolina Bird List. Though ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | One confirmed record, and one likely record (though not accepted). | No records. | No records. | | 1/2 * | 2022-04-25 |
Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | Western Grebes, and their close "cousin", the Clark's Grebe, are among the most elegant of waterbird... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor, with about 19 records. Very rare along the northern coast, south to Cape Hatteras (b... | Winter visitor. Casual, with apparently six records: 20 Dec 1961, Lake Johnson (Wake); 11-17... | Accidental: one seen on Lake Julian (Buncombe) from 14-15 Dec 2002 (Chat 67:61). | This species is too rare to offer tips in North Carolina. The only tip is that, once you find one, ... | * | 2022-04-25 |
Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | The Eared Grebe also breeds, like the Red-necked and Horned grebes, in some Prairie pothole lakes an... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor and transient, and sporadic winter resident at Goldsboro. Rare but annual along the e... | Winter visitor and transient. Very rare to rare on the larger reservoirs, and very rare elsewhere; s... | Casual to very rare transient in the southern mountains. Records are of single birds at Brevard, 10 ... | It was formerly seen each fall and winter at the Goldsboro sewage ponds; however, reports have been ... | * to ** | 2022-04-25 |
Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | This species was long known as the Oldsquaw, but its name was changed in recent years to conform to ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S3N | G5 | Winter resident. Common in a fairly small area of northwestern Pamlico Sound near Swan Quarter; els... | Transient and winter visitor. Rare, mainly at large reservoirs in the eastern and central parts of ... | Winter visitor. Very rare, with only six known records, all but one of single individuals: in Bu... | To see Long-tailed Ducks in NC, you should take the Swan Quarter to Ocracoke ferry. The species is ... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Black Scoter | Melanitta americana | The Black Scoter streams southward over the inshore ocean in Oct and Nov, and an observer can at tim... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S4N | G5 | Winter resident. Common to abundant southbound migrant over the ocean, but by Dec only a fairly com... | Transient. Rare, almost always at larger lakes/reservoirs; late Oct to mid-Dec, with only two repor... | Transient. Surprisingly scarce, being casual to very rare, with just six records: 1, Lake Julian (<... | The species can usually be seen from the two Pamlico Sound ferries -- Swan Quarter or Cedar Island; ... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | The Surf Scoter is the most common of the wintering scoters in North Carolina, though it is often ou... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S4N | G5 | Winter resident. Locally common near the northern half of the coast and the Tidewater areas, south ... | Transient and winter visitor. Rare on reservoirs and other large bodies of water; mainly mid-Oct to... | Transient. Very rare to rare, with brief stop-over time; nearly all records from the southern mount... | As with the Black Scoter, it is normally easy to find the species on the two Pamlico Sound ferries, ... | *** to **** | 2022-04-25 |
Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | One of the world's most beautiful ducks, the Wood Duck occurs statewide in the breeding season, the ... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B,S4N | G5 | Fairly common to common summer resident, except mostly uncommon at that season along and very near t... | Fairly common, though a bit local, summer resident. Mostly uncommon in winter, more frequent in the... | Generally uncommon summer resident. Rare to uncommon in winter, mostly below 2,500 feet elevation. ... | Though this is a reasonably common duck in the state, it can be a little bit difficult to find the s... | *** | 2022-04-25 |
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is a recent stray to coastal and tidewater areas, with the only acc... | Breeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Now a rare to occasionally uncommon but strongly increasing visitor to the southern coastal areas an... | Very rare but increasing; about 15 known records, though records should increase greatly over the ne... | Very rare but increasing; about 7 records as of 2021. A flock of 12 was seen and photographed at th... | The species is most likely to show up in the Twin Lakes area of Brunswick, based on closest p... | ** | 2022-04-25 |
Yellow-rumped Warbler | Setophaga coronata | The Yellow-rumped Warbler, often called the "Butter-butt", is arguably the most abundant warbler on ... | Breeder | Definitive | SR | | S1B,S5N | G5 | Winter resident. Along the coast and in Tidewater near sounds, abundant in winter, particularly on ... | Winter resident, with noticeable migratory movements. In winter, common in the southeastern half, a... | Very sparse (and recent) breeder, widespread transient, and winter resident/visitor. In summer, rar... | None needed near the coast in winter. | **** | 2022-02-10 |
Kirtland's Warbler | Setophaga kirtlandii | Considering that North Carolina is about halfway between the species' wintering grounds in the Baham... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G3 | Remarkably, just a single convincing report -- one photographed at Duck (Dare), from 2-5 Oct ... | Casual fall transient in the western portion of the province, but just one accepted record for the e... | Very rare transient (with numbers increasing in recent years); now with 10 records (but only two of ... | Some recent birds have stayed over for an extra day to three, for many observers to observe them. F... | 1/2* | 2022-02-10 |
Henslow's Sparrow | Centronyx henslowii | The Henslow's Sparrow has always been one of the rarest sparrows in North America, and being a grass... | Breeder | Definitive | E | | S1B,S1N | G4 | Summer resident, and winter resident, over parts of the region; strongly declining. In summer, stil... | Spring transient and former breeder; strongly declining. Currently, casual to very rare spring migra... | Transient, and possible former breeder; strongly declining. Casual to very rare in spring; mainly A... | The species can still be found at VOA site A, mostly in the eastern half of the site. Birds can be h... | ** to *** | 2022-02-10 |
Nelson's Sparrow | Ammospiza nelsoni | In 1995, the Sharp-tailed Sparrow was split into two species, instead of a potential three species. ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S4N | G5 | Winter resident coastally, and transient inland. In winter, common along the southern half of the c... | Transient, scarce. Casual to very rare fall migrant, with the few records between 10 Sep and 14 Oct... | Transient, scarce. Very rare in spring and fall. In spring, six records -- 2 at Swannanoa, 25 May 1... | The species is usually easy to find, especially at high tide, in marshes at Fort Fisher near the Aqu... | *** | 2022-02-10 |
Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | The Clay-colored Sparrow was primarily a "Western"/Midwestern" species until a few decades ago. How... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient, and sparse winter resident, mainly near the coast. In fall, rare to uncommon along the c... | Transient, essentially in fall and winter. Very rare in fall and winter (about 16 records in fall a... | Transient. Very rare in fall, winter, and spring, nearly all records in low elevations in the south... | Your best bet is probably Fort Fisher in Sep and Oct. A few have been seen semi-regularly in winter... | ** | 2022-02-09 |
Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | The Lark Sparrow, as with the Vesper Sparrow, is by itself in a monotypic genus; no other sparrow is... | Breeder | Definitive | SR | | S1B | G5 | Sparse summer resident, transient, and winter straggler. In summer, rare and local, only in the San... | Transient. Casual to very rare in spring, and very rare in fall; scattered over the region. Mainly... | Transient. Casual in spring (five records), and very rare in late summer/fall (ten records). In sp... | The breeding sites are generally off-limits to birders; thus, the best places to look are along the ... | * to ** | 2022-02-09 |
Thick-billed Longspur | Rhynchophanes mccownii | Accidental. This is a species of the short-grass prairies, nesting just east of Rocky Mountains in ... | Nonbreeder | Provisional | | | SA | G4 | One record (see above). | No records. | No records. | | 1/2* | 2022-02-09 |
Gray Kingbird | Tyrannus dominicensis | The Gray Kingbird is somewhat the Southern version of the Eastern Kingbird, being mainly a bird of F... | Accidental Breeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Stray/transient, essentially along the coast, and accidental/casual breeder. As a visitor, very rar... | Casual. There are only three records, from Umstead State Park (Wake) on 16 Apr 1959 (Chat 23... | No records. | This is a long shot, but your best bet is to drive roads along the southern coastal islands, in late... | * | 2022-02-09 |
Merlin | Falco columbarius | The Merlin is a very feisty raptor for its size, and its dashing flight chasing down shorebirds and ... | Probable breeder | Definitive | | | SAB,S3N | G5 | Transient, and winter resident in the eastern part of the region. Uncommon to fairly common fall mi... | Transient, with some winter reports. Rare fall and spring migrant, may be locally uncommon in fall ... | Transient, with some winter reports. Very rare to rare fall and spring migrant; very rare winter vi... | Your best chance to see a Merlin is to visit the coast in Oct, especially after a cold front. Birds... | ** to *** | 2022-02-09 |
Snail Kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis | This rare (Federally listed) species is normally found only from central Florida southward, and is m... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G4G5 | Three records (see above). | No records. | No records. | | 1/2* | 2022-02-09 |
Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | Mississippi Kites are a major success story in North Carolina and elsewhere in their breeding range,... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S3B | G5 | Summer resident, breeding. Occurs primarily close to brownwater rivers, and most numerous along the... | Increasing stray or overshooting migrant, as well as a post-breeding visitor; breeds at a few local ... | Rare migrant/visitor (increasing) in the southern mountains (about 26 records). Casual north of H... | Visiting the Lock and Dam #1 area or the NC 11 bridge over the Cape Fear River has been consistently... | *** | 2022-02-09 |
Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | Arguably the most spectacular bird of prey in the world, especially when seen in flight, the Swallow... | Breeder | Definitive | SR | | S1B | G5 | Annual visitor, mainly in spring along and near the coast, and breeder at a few sites in the souther... | Very rare to occasionally rare, but increasing, visitor in the warmer months; over 40 records, from ... | Very rare visitor in the warmer months; about 19 records, with five coming in fall 2016 and three in... | Birders can usually spot one to several birds, along with some Mississippi Kites, either close to th... | ** | 2022-02-09 |
Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | This formerly Old World species has a most unusual history in the New World. Cattle Egrets apparent... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S4B | G5 | Summer resident and transient, and straggler in winter, but generally absent by late winter. Fairly... | Transient and post-breeding visitor; records declining in recent years. Rare in the eastern countie... | Transient, at low (to rarely middle) elevations. Very rare, mainly early Apr to early Jul; casual t... | Unlike other waders, the Cattle Egret is seen mostly in pastures, but it may be seen in lawns, plowe... | *** | 2022-02-09 |
Yellow-green Vireo | Vireo flavoviridis | This is a species of the Neotropics, nesting from northern Mexico into northern South America. Is i... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | One record (see above). | No records. | No records. | | 1/2 * | 2022-02-09 |
Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | Hammond's Flycatcher is a species of the Western States, breeding primarily in coniferous forests, a... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | No records. | One record (see above). | No records. | | 1/2* | 2022-02-08 |
Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | This is one of the few tern species in the state that is just a migrant, without a breeding or winte... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4G5 | Transient, though small numbers can be seen coastally during summer. Along the coast -- formerly fa... | Transient. Very rare in spring and uncommon in fall, mainly at lakes/reservoirs; casual to very rar... | Transient. Accidental/casual in spring, with the only records being one along the New River at Pine... | Formerly, swarms of Black Terns could be seen by the dozens hawking insects over the marshes and imp... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Gull-billed Tern | Gelochelidon nilotica | Of all of the breeding species in North Carolina, few are as strongly declining over the past decade... | Breeder | Definitive | T | | S1S2B | G5 | Breeding summer resident, along and near the coast. Uncommon to fairly common -- fairly common prio... | Accidental/casual, presumably a storm-carried visitor, but whether these reports were actually relat... | Accidental, after storms. One in the Mills River area (Henderson) on 17 Sep 2004 (Chat 69:52... | A few Gull-billed Terns can be usually be seen at Pea Island, at Fort Fisher, and at many areas alon... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Least Tern | Sternula antillarum | The smallest tern in North America, the Least Tern is a familiar yet slowly declining breeding speci... | Breeder | Definitive | SC | | S3B | G4 | Breeding summer resident along the coast; declining until a few years ago, but recently has increase... | Primarily a storm-carried visitor. Very rare at reservoirs, mainly during and after hurricanes; abo... | No records. | This species is not usually missed on coastal birding trips from May through Aug, though it isn't qu... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | Of the remarkable 19 species of gulls on the North Carolina list (though two are only Provisional), ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S1N | G5 | Winter resident offshore; clearly declining. From the late 1990's to about 2005, generally fairly c... | Casual in late fall, with three records: an immature seen and photographed at Beaverdam Reservoir (<... | Accidental: an immature was seen and photographed at Lake Julian (Buncombe) on the remarkably... | If you take a pelagic trip from Cape Hatteras northward during the winter, you now have about a 50% ... | ** | 2022-02-08 |
Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | The third of three common "peeps" in the state, the Western Sandpiper is easily confused with the Se... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S4N | G5 | Transient, and winter resident along the coast. Common to abundant on the coast in fall; in winter,... | Transient. Very rare to rare in spring, and uncommon in fall, at least locally (such as at Falls an... | Transient. Very rare in both spring and fall, nearly all records in valleys in the Henderson, Tr... | The species is easily found along the coast from Jul to late fall. | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Calidris subruficollis | The Buff-breasted Sandpiper is one of our most beautiful shorebirds, and its dove-like appearance se... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4 | Transient, only in fall. Very uncommon to occasionally uncommon on the Outer Banks, but generally r... | Transient, only in fall. Rare to occasionally very uncommon (such as at extensive mudflats), scatter... | Transient, only in fall. Rare but seemingly regular since 1996, in the Henderson/Transylvania | There are no consistent spots in fall to see the species. The turf farm just west of Creswell (Wa... | ** | 2022-02-08 |
Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | The Least Sandpiper is the most widespread of the three small North American "peep" shorebirds in th... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S3N | G5 | Transient, and winter resident along and near the coast and very locally farther inland. Generally c... | Transient, and sparingly into mid-winter. Generally uncommon in spring and fairly common, at least ... | Transient. Rare to locally uncommon spring and fall migrant, with few published data. Mostly mid-A... | Leasts are easily found along the coast in migration. | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Sanderling | Calidris alba | The Sanderling is one of the most familiar shorebirds to birders and the layman alike, as it scamper... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S5N | G5 | Transient and winter resident, essentially along the coast. Common to abundant and widespread along... | Transient. Very rare in spring, and rare to locally uncommon in fall, with many more records in "dr... | Transient. Casual in spring: one at Hooper Lane (Henderson) on 1 May 1999; one photographed a... | Easily found on ocean beaches over most of the year. | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | Except for the closely related Black Turnstone of the Pacific Coast, the Ruddy Turnstone is a rather... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S3N | G5 | Transient and winter resident, mainly along the coast. Common migrant along the coast, though seldo... | Transient. Casual to very rare in spring, and rare in fall, mainly at large reservoirs. In spring,... | Transient. Very rare in spring and fall, with all records from Henderson except for a single... | Turnstones are widespread along the coast, at least during the migrations, and are easily found, exc... | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | Though this species is a godwit, it has quite a few similarities to the Long-billed Curlew; both bre... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S2N | G5 | Transient and winter resident, essentially along the coast. Uncommon to locally fairly common fall m... | Fall transient only. Very rare (about 19 records) at reservoirs, where birds put down at night duri... | Casual transient, in spring and fall. The only records (four) are of 2 birds, Hooper Lane (Hende... | This species can usually be found along the coast in Aug and Sep, less so later in fall and winter. ... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Hudsonian Godwit | Limosa haemastica | The Hudsonian Godwit has an unusual migration pattern. It migrates from its central and southern So... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4 | Transient. Casual in spring, at Bodie/Pea Islands only; uncommon in fall at Bodie/Pea Islands; rare... | Casual fall transient (only in the eastern and central portions), with four records: 1, Falls Lake, ... | Accidental fall transient; two records -- 3 at Hooper Lane (Henderson), 8 Sep 2004* (after Tr... | Look for them in Sep and Oct, especially after periods of strong NE winds. North Pond at Pea Island... | ** | 2022-02-08 |
Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica | This Eurasian shorebird has appeared along the East Coast much more often than the Black-tailed Godw... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G4 | Very rare visitor, with four spring and 10+ fall reports, all from the coast, plus one in winter. T... | No records. | No records. | As the species has been seen now for five consecutive falls (2016-20) at the eastern end of Shacklef... | * | 2022-02-08 |
Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | The Semipalmated Plover is the only one of the five Charadrius plovers in the state that bree... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S4N | G5 | Transient and winter resident. Common to briefly and locally abundant in spring and fall along the ... | Transient. Rare to very uncommon in spring, and uncommon to occasionally fairly common, in fall; ma... | Transient. Rare to very uncommon in the Henderson/Transylvania area; very rare elsewhere. U... | The species is hard to miss near the coast in Aug and Sep. | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Pacific Golden-Plover | Pluvialis fulva | One of the more remarkable shorebird records for the state was the discovery of a Pacific Golden-Plo... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SA | G5 | Three-four records, presumably of the same individual (see above). | No records. | No records. | | 1/2* | 2022-02-08 |
American Golden-Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Unlike its slightly larger cousin, the Black-bellied Plover, the American Golden-Plover is a good fi... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Transient. Very rare in spring, rare in fall, along the entire coast, particularly the Outer Banks; ... | Transient. Casual in spring (only about four records), rare but annual in fall, over most of the pr... | Transient, but nearly all records are from Hooper Lane/Mills River area in Henderson, where v... | The species is best located in Sep and Oct, especially after cold fronts. A few birds are present e... | * to ** | 2022-02-08 |
Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | The Black-bellied Plover is one of the more familiar shorebirds of coastal areas, wintering in good ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S5N | G5 | Transient, and coastal winter resident. Common to very common in migration, and common in winter, a... | Transient. Rare in fall, and very rare to rare in spring, in the eastern part of the province (such... | Transient. Very rare (about 24 records) in the Henderson/Transylvania area of the southern m... | This species is easily found along the coast except during Jun. Inland birds are most often found o... | **** | 2022-02-08 |
American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | Over most of the world, various species of stilts (genus Himantopus) and avocets (genus Re... | Accidental Breeder | Definitive | | | S1N | G5 | Winter resident and migrant, coastally; accidental breeder, along the coast. Fairly common to commo... | Transient. Very rare to rare fall migrant, and accidental/casual spring migrant, with most records ... | Transient. Very rare southbound migrant in summer and fall, with nine known records: 1, Cashiers (<... | The only reliable spots are the impoundments at Pea Island NWR and adjacent Bodie Island. At least ... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Clapper Rail | Rallus crepitans | The Clapper Rail is, by far, the easiest rail to see in the state and is the most characteristic bir... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S4 | G5 | Permanent resident along the coast (tidal marshes); casual migrant elsewhere. Common to very common... | Very rare transient in the eastern half of the province, but no records yet for the western portions... | No records. | The species is easily heard calling at dawn or dusk, and sporadically during the day and night, in m... | **** | 2022-02-08 |
Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a widespread breeding bird across the state, nesting in every county. H... | Breeder | Definitive | | | S5B | G5 | Summer resident, breeding. Fairly common to common across the region, except uncommon to locally ab... | Summer resident, breeding. Fairly common and reasonably widespread across the region, though only u... | Summer resident, breeding. Uncommon in the lower elevations (below about 3,500 feet); rare to uncom... | This species can normally be found away from the mountains in a day of birding. A count or 10 or mo... | *** | 2022-02-08 |
Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | The Common Merganser is both a breeder and a wintering bird in the state, but with different "popula... | Breeder | Definitive | W | | S1B,S1N | G5 | Winter resident. Rare and local over the northern half of the province, with a flock averaging at l... | Winter visitor, though possibly a winter resident at Roanoke Rapids Lake; casual breeder. Rare in m... | Formerly casual to now (2022) rare but increasing breeder; scarce winter visitor. Generally rare in... | To best see this species, look at Lake Phelps in the winter, with a good scope. The wintering flock... | ** to *** | 2022-02-08 |
Common Eider | Somateria mollissima | There are perhaps four times as many records of the Common Eider in the state as for the King Eider,... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | SZ | G5 | Winter visitor, with records increasing in recent years. Rare along the entire coast (though no rec... | No records. | No records. | You should carefully check around jetties, piers, and bridges. Also check the Oregon Inlet groin an... | * to ** | 2022-02-08 |
Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | The Ring-necked Duck is the most common of the diving ducks in winter on the state's inland waters, ... | Nonbreeder | Definitive | | | S5N | G5 | Winter resident. Generally fairly common, to locally common, both coastally and well inland. Unlik... | Winter resident. Fairly common to common, and even locally very common, most numerous in the easter... | Winter visitor/resident. Fairly common transient but only uncommon in winter; mainly at lower eleva... | This duck can be found in large numbers on Raleigh lakes such as Wheeler, Benson, and Raleigh. It i... | *** to **** | 2022-02-08 |