Most commonly seen birds in North Carolina

Written by:
March 14, 2023
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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.

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#50. Canada Goose

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- 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%
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#49. Golden-crowned Kinglet

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- 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%
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#48. Gray Catbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- 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%
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#47. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- 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%
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#46. Cedar Waxwing

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- 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%
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#45. Wild Turkey

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- 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%
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#44. Brown Creeper

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- 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%
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#43. Red-tailed Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- 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%
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#42. Baltimore Oriole

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- 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%
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#41. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- 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%
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#40. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- 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%
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#39. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- 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%
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#38. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- 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%
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#37. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- 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%
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#36. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- 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%
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#35. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- 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%
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#34. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- 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%
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#33. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- 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%
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#32. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- 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%
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#31. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- 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%
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#30. Hermit Thrush

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- 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%
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#29. Eastern Phoebe

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- 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%
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#28. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- 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%
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#27. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- 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%
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#26. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- 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%
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#25. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- 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%
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#24. Brown Thrasher

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 27%
- 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%
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#23. Eastern Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 37%
- 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%
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#22. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- 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%
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#21. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- 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%
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#20. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 39%
- 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%
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#19. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 39%
- 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%
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#18. Brown-headed Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 41%
- 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%
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#17. Pine Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 44%
- 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%
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#16. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 54%
- 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%
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#15. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 54%
- 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%
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#14. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 56%
- 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%
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#13. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 57%
- 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%
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#12. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 58%
- 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%
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#11. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 65%
- 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%
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#10. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- 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%
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#9. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- 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%
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#8. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 70%
- 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%
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#7. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 76%
- 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%
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#6. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 77%
- 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%
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#5. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 77%
- 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%
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#4. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 80%
- 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%
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#3. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 84%
- 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%
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#2. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 86%
- 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%
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#1. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 88%
- 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%
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