Most commonly seen birds in North Carolina
Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in North Carolina using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 224 count sites in North Carolina. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.
Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.
The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.
Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.
#50. Canada Goose
- Average group size: 5.67
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. West Virginia: 5%
--- #4. Illinois: 4%
--- #4. Indiana: 4%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign46GIT3_0.png)
#49. Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Average group size: 1.27
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Louisiana: 5%
--- #3. Washington: 3%
--- #3. North Carolina: 3%
--- #3. Georgia: 3%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign50UIUR_1.png)
#48. Gray Catbird
- Average group size: 1.3
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 50%
--- #2. Georgia: 8%
--- #3. South Carolina: 4%
--- #4. North Carolina: 3%
#47. Black-capped Chickadee
- Average group size: 1.7
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 97%
--- #2. Minnesota: 96%
--- #3. Vermont: 94%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. New Hampshire: 92%
#46. Cedar Waxwing
- Average group size: 4.91
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 25%
--- #2. Texas: 20%
--- #3. Georgia: 19%
--- #4. Louisiana: 15%
--- #5. South Carolina: 12%
#45. Wild Turkey
- Average group size: 6.13
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 21%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 15%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 12%
--- #3. Minnesota: 12%
--- #5. Wyoming: 11%
#44. Brown Creeper
- Average group size: 1.04
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 15%
--- #2. New Hampshire: 13%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #3. South Dakota: 10%
#43. Red-tailed Hawk
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Connecticut: 10%
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #3. Illinois: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 6%
#42. Baltimore Oriole
- Average group size: 1.95
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 13%
--- #2. Florida: 11%
--- #3. North Carolina: 5%
--- #3. Georgia: 5%
--- #5. Virginia: 1%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign5G7RC_2.png)
#41. Cooper's Hawk
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 26%
--- #3. New Mexico: 18%
--- #4. Illinois: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign74LFKN_1.png)
#40. Pine Siskin
- Average group size: 2.42
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 49%
--- #2. Maine: 20%
--- #2. Colorado: 20%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
--- #5. Montana: 13%
#39. Pileated Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Minnesota: 28%
--- #2. West Virginia: 21%
--- #3. Michigan: 17%
--- #4. Indiana: 16%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 16%
#38. Red-shouldered Hawk
- Average group size: 1.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 15%
--- #2. North Carolina: 10%
--- #2. Georgia: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #5. Alabama: 9%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign79BVLF.png)
#37. Northern Flicker
- Average group size: 1.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 79%
--- #2. Colorado: 66%
--- #3. Montana: 65%
--- #4. Washington: 63%
--- #4. Nevada: 63%
#36. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 20%
--- #2. Georgia: 16%
--- #3. Tennessee: 15%
--- #4. North Carolina: 14%
--- #5. South Carolina: 13%
#35. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee
- Average group size: 2.17
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 51%
--- #2. Missouri: 30%
--- #3. Pennsylvania: 27%
--- #4. Ohio: 24%
--- #4. Virginia: 24%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign332ZI8.png)
#34. European Starling
- Average group size: 3.44
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Nebraska: 67%
--- #3. Indiana: 66%
--- #4. Ohio: 62%
--- #4. Missouri: 62%
#33. Red-winged Blackbird
- Average group size: 3.5
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 60%
--- #2. New Jersey: 56%
--- #3. New York: 48%
--- #4. Louisiana: 45%
--- #4. Illinois: 45%
#32. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Average group size: 1.06
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 27%
--- #2. Louisiana: 25%
--- #3. South Carolina: 23%
--- #4. Texas: 20%
--- #4. Washington, D.C.: 20%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign31DM19.png)
#31. Hairy Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.13
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 69%
--- #2. Maine: 67%
--- #3. Minnesota: 63%
--- #3. Vermont: 63%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign36FCRO_1.png)
#30. Hermit Thrush
- Average group size: 1.01
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 22%
--- #2. North Carolina: 17%
--- #3. Georgia: 16%
--- #4. South Carolina: 11%
--- #5. Virginia: 10%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign26VP2T_1.png)
#29. Eastern Phoebe
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 33%
--- #2. Alabama: 18%
--- #2. South Carolina: 18%
--- #4. North Carolina: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign43UDAX.png)
#28. House Sparrow
- Average group size: 3.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Iowa: 88%
--- #3. Illinois: 87%
--- #4. Nebraska: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 74%
#27. Brown-headed Cowbird
- Average group size: 3.69
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 50%
--- #2. Mississippi: 42%
--- #3. Delaware: 30%
--- #4. South Carolina: 28%
--- #4. New Jersey: 28%
#26. Common Grackle
- Average group size: 3.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 65%
--- #2. New Jersey: 60%
--- #3. Washington, D.C.: 40%
--- #4. Ohio: 38%
--- #4. Kentucky: 38%
#25. Purple Finch
- Average group size: 2.27
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 50%
--- #2. Arkansas: 32%
--- #3. Alabama: 27%
--- #4. North Carolina: 25%
--- #5. Missouri: 24%
#24. Brown Thrasher
- Average group size: 1.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 40%
--- #2. Georgia: 38%
--- #3. North Carolina: 27%
--- #4. Alabama: 23%
--- #5. Louisiana: 20%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign28S5PT_0.png)
#23. Eastern Towhee
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 37%
--- #1. Georgia: 37%
--- #3. Tennessee: 34%
--- #4. Alabama: 23%
--- #5. South Carolina: 22%
#22. Song Sparrow
- Average group size: 1.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Washington: 59%
--- #3. Oregon: 56%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 50%
--- #5. Delaware: 47%
#21. Chipping Sparrow
- Average group size: 2.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 59%
--- #2. Mississippi: 50%
--- #3. South Carolina: 45%
--- #4. Louisiana: 40%
--- #5. Alabama: 39%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign835YIP_0.png)
#20. Northern Mockingbird
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 62%
--- #2. Louisiana: 60%
--- #3. Mississippi: 58%
--- #4. Alabama: 55%
--- #5. South Carolina: 53%
#19. American Crow
- Average group size: 2.81
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 49%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 45%
--- #3. North Carolina: 39%
--- #4. Vermont: 37%
--- #5. Georgia: 34%
#18. Brown-headed Nuthatch
- Average group size: 1.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 47%
--- #2. North Carolina: 41%
--- #3. South Carolina: 28%
--- #4. Alabama: 20%
--- #5. Mississippi: 8%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign73EIVL.png)
#17. Pine Warbler
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 54%
--- #2. North Carolina: 44%
--- #3. South Carolina: 37%
--- #4. Alabama: 34%
--- #5. Florida: 31%
#16. Blue Jay
- Average group size: 1.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Rhode Island: 87%
--- #2. Massachusetts: 77%
--- #3. New Jersey: 76%
--- #4. Nebraska: 73%
--- #4. Ohio: 73%
#15. American Robin
- Average group size: 2.27
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Arkansas: 64%
--- #3. Tennessee: 59%
--- #4. Nevada: 58%
--- #5. Oklahoma: 55%
#14. White-breasted Nuthatch
- Average group size: 1.25
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 93%
--- #2. Maine: 85%
--- #2. Vermont: 85%
--- #4. Connecticut: 84%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 84%
#13. White-throated Sparrow
- Average group size: 2.82
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 80%
--- #2. Arkansas: 79%
--- #3. Delaware: 77%
--- #4. Maryland: 72%
--- #5. Virginia: 69%
#12. Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Average group size: 1.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 70%
--- #2. South Carolina: 68%
--- #3. Florida: 66%
--- #3. Georgia: 66%
--- #5. North Carolina: 58%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign23RK2Z.png)
#11. Eastern Bluebird
- Average group size: 2.4
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 70%
--- #2. North Carolina: 65%
--- #2. South Carolina: 65%
--- #4. Arkansas: 57%
--- #5. Virginia: 52%
#10. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 88%
--- #2. New Jersey: 86%
--- #3. Arkansas: 82%
--- #4. Connecticut: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 78%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign11C73X.png)
#9. Dark-eyed Junco
- Average group size: 3.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 96%
--- #2. Washington: 94%
--- #3. New Jersey: 93%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. Connecticut: 92%
#8. American Goldfinch
- Average group size: 2.66
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 77%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 76%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 76%
--- #4. Michigan: 74%
--- #5. Missouri: 73%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign189QU0.png)
#7. Mourning Dove
- Average group size: 3.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. New Jersey: 90%
--- #3. West Virginia: 88%
--- #3. Delaware: 88%
--- #5. Rhode Island: 87%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign21N4QI.png)
#6. Downy Woodpecker
- Average group size: 1.37
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Minnesota: 89%
--- #2. Arkansas: 89%
--- #4. Missouri: 88%
--- #4. Iowa: 88%
#5. Carolina Chickadee
- Average group size: 1.93
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 87%
--- #2. Arkansas: 86%
--- #3. Georgia: 84%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 79%
--- #5. North Carolina: 77%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign42E6I6.png)
#4. House Finch
- Average group size: 3.19
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 97%
--- #2. Arizona: 94%
--- #3. New Mexico: 90%
--- #4. Ohio: 87%
--- #5. Colorado: 86%
#3. Carolina Wren
- Average group size: 1.38
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. North Carolina: 84%
--- #3. South Carolina: 80%
--- #4. Virginia: 77%
--- #5. Georgia: 75%
#2. Tufted Titmouse
- Average group size: 2.01
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 91%
--- #1. Connecticut: 91%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 90%
--- #4. North Carolina: 86%
--- #5. Tennessee: 84%
![](https://static.stacker.com/s3fs-public/styles/slide_desktop/s3/Untitleddesign78E6WF.png)
#1. Northern Cardinal
- Average group size: 2.72
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #3. Maryland: 95%
--- #3. South Carolina: 95%
--- #5. West Virginia: 93%