Most commonly seen birds in South Carolina

Written by:
March 14, 2023
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Most commonly seen birds in South Carolina

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in South 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 97 count sites in South 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. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 2.36
- 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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#49. Field Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 2.48
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 11%
--- #2. Louisiana: 5%
--- #3. Texas: 4%
--- #3. Arkansas: 4%
--- #5. Nebraska: 3%
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#48. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 8%
--- #1. Missouri: 8%
--- #3. Arkansas: 7%
--- #4. Kentucky: 6%
--- #5. Louisiana: 5%
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#47. Gray Catbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.06
- 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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#46. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.07
- 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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#45. Painted Bunting

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.33
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 28%
--- #2. South Carolina: 4%
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#44. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 2.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 67%
--- #3. Wyoming: 61%
--- #4. Idaho: 48%
--- #4. Colorado: 48%
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#43. Common Ground Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 3.42
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 23%
--- #2. Mississippi: 17%
--- #3. Alabama: 5%
--- #4. South Carolina: 4%
--- #4. Georgia: 4%
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#42. Mallard

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 3.83
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 8%
--- #2. Utah: 7%
--- #2. Rhode Island: 7%
--- #4. South Dakota: 5%
--- #4. Louisiana: 5%
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#41. Orange-crowned Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 25%
--- #2. Texas: 23%
--- #3. Nevada: 16%
--- #4. Mississippi: 8%
--- #5. California: 7%
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#40. Fish Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 2.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 15%
--- #2. Washington, D.C.: 10%
--- #3. Florida: 9%
--- #4. South Carolina: 5%
--- #5. North Carolina: 2%
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#39. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.0
- 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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#38. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 3.89
- 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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#37. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.09
- 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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#36. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.1
- 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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#35. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 3.35
- 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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#34. Hermit Thrush

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 11%
- 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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#33. Cedar Waxwing

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 12%
- Average group size: 7.68
- 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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#32. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 1.04
- 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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#31. Baltimore Oriole

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 2.27
- 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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#30. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 3.18
- 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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#29. Eastern Phoebe

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

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 19%
- Average group size: 1.22
- 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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#27. Eastern Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 22%
- Average group size: 1.23
- 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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#26. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 22%
- Average group size: 2.44
- 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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#25. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 23%
- Average group size: 1.07
- 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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#24. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 2.35
- 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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#23. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 5.76
- 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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#22. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 26%
- Average group size: 2.46
- 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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#21. Brown-headed Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 28%
- Average group size: 1.33
- 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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#20. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 28%
- Average group size: 4.74
- 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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#19. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 32%
- Average group size: 1.15
- 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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#18. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 35%
- Average group size: 2.59
- 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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#17. Pine Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 37%
- Average group size: 1.38
- 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. Brown Thrasher

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 40%
- 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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#15. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 43%
- Average group size: 1.7
- 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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#14. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 45%
- Average group size: 4.55
- 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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#13. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 52%
- Average group size: 2.96
- 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. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 1.15
- 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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#11. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 3.1
- 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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#10. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 65%
- Average group size: 2.23
- 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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#9. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 66%
- Average group size: 1.11
- 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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#8. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- Average group size: 1.75
- 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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#7. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 69%
- Average group size: 3.16
- 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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#6. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 70%
- Average group size: 1.35
- 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 Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 80%
- Average group size: 1.33
- 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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#4. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 82%
- Average group size: 1.63
- 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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#3. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 85%
- Average group size: 3.12
- 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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#2. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 1.81
- 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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#1. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 95%
- 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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