Most commonly seen birds in South Carolina

Written by:
January 12, 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 Dec. 24 to Jan. 6. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 99 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. Fish Crow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 2%
- Average group size: 1.76
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 5%
--- #2. South Carolina: 2%
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#49. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 3%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 71%
--- #2. Alaska: 61%
--- #3. Washington: 50%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 48%
--- #4. Michigan: 48%
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#48. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 3%
- Average group size: 2.74
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Wyoming: 65%
--- #1. South Dakota: 65%
--- #3. Utah: 63%
--- #4. Idaho: 55%
--- #5. Colorado: 48%
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#47. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 3%
- Average group size: 3.66
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 39%
--- #2. Colorado: 16%
--- #3. Arizona: 15%
--- #4. Maine: 14%
--- #5. Alabama: 10%
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#46. Mallard

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 3%
- Average group size: 5.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 7%
--- #2. South Dakota: 6%
--- #3. Maine: 4%
--- #4. Delaware: 3%
--- #4. Montana: 3%

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#45. Orange-crowned Warbler

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Texas: 28%
--- #2. Mississippi: 18%
--- #3. Nevada: 13%
--- #4. Louisiana: 9%
--- #5. California: 8%
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#44. Gray Catbird

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 25%
--- #2. Mississippi: 9%
--- #3. South Carolina: 4%
--- #4. North Carolina: 2%
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#43. Great Blue Heron

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.23
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 4%
--- #2. Delaware: 3%
--- #2. Alabama: 3%
--- #4. North Carolina: 2%
--- #4. Texas: 2%
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#42. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 5%
- Average group size: 1.03
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 11%
--- #2. Maryland: 9%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 9%
--- #4. North Carolina: 8%
--- #4. Virginia: 8%
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#41. Field Sparrow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 5%
- Average group size: 2.49
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 9%
--- #2. Tennessee: 7%
--- #3. South Carolina: 5%
--- #4. Texas: 4%
--- #5. Nebraska: 3%

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#40. Common Ground Dove

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 5%
- Average group size: 3.92
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 23%
--- #2. Alabama: 5%
--- #2. South Carolina: 5%
--- #2. Georgia: 5%
--- #5. Arizona: 3%
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#39. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 7%
- Average group size: 1.15
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Montana: 72%
--- #2. Colorado: 67%
--- #3. Washington: 65%
--- #4. Oregon: 62%
--- #5. Nevada: 53%
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#38. European Starling

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 7%
- Average group size: 4.49
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Indiana: 74%
--- #2. Kentucky: 69%
--- #3. Ohio: 67%
--- #4. Delaware: 64%
--- #5. Missouri: 56%
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#36. Hermit Thrush (tie)

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 8%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 18%
--- #2. California: 17%
--- #3. Georgia: 15%
--- #4. Virginia: 13%
--- #5. Alabama: 8%
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#36. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 8%
- Average group size: 1.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 33%
--- #2. Arizona: 24%
--- #3. Kentucky: 21%
--- #4. New Jersey: 20%
--- #5. Illinois: 17%

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#35. Cedar Waxwing

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 8%
- Average group size: 7.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Texas: 16%
--- #2. Mississippi: 9%
--- #2. Idaho: 9%
--- #4. South Carolina: 8%
--- #5. North Carolina: 7%
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#34. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 9%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Vermont: 72%
--- #2. Maine: 69%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 63%
--- #4. Minnesota: 62%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
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#33. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 9%
- Average group size: 2.22
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 29%
--- #2. New Jersey: 27%
--- #3. Delaware: 22%
--- #4. Arkansas: 21%
--- #5. Tennessee: 16%
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#32. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 10%
- Average group size: 1.06
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 18%
--- #1. Oklahoma: 18%
--- #3. Georgia: 15%
--- #4. Virginia: 14%
--- #5. Tennessee: 13%
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#31. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 11%
- Average group size: 5.71
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 35%
--- #2. Mississippi: 27%
--- #3. Colorado: 23%
--- #4. Texas: 20%
--- #5. Utah: 19%

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#30. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 13%
- Average group size: 3.76
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alabama: 23%
--- #2. Ohio: 15%
--- #3. Tennessee: 14%
--- #3. Florida: 14%
--- #3. Delaware: 14%
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#29. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 14%
- Average group size: 3.92
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 91%
--- #2. Illinois: 87%
--- #2. Nebraska: 87%
--- #4. Indiana: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 79%
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#28. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 15%
- Average group size: 1.35
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 57%
--- #2. Kentucky: 54%
--- #3. Oregon: 49%
--- #4. West Virginia: 38%
--- #4. Pennsylvania: 38%
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#27. Baltimore Oriole

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 15%
- Average group size: 2.38
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. South Carolina: 15%
--- #2. Florida: 13%
--- #3. North Carolina: 7%
--- #4. Georgia: 5%
--- #5. Virginia: 1%
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#26. Eastern Towhee

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 16%
- Average group size: 1.25
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 37%
--- #2. North Carolina: 34%
--- #3. Georgia: 32%
--- #4. Alabama: 25%
--- #5. Mississippi: 18%

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#25. American Crow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 19%
- Average group size: 2.45
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 44%
--- #2. Maine: 42%
--- #2. Arkansas: 42%
--- #4. Minnesota: 38%
--- #5. Virginia: 32%
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#24. American Robin

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 20%
- Average group size: 2.85
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 47%
--- #2. Tennessee: 41%
--- #2. North Carolina: 41%
--- #4. Washington: 39%
--- #4. New Mexico: 39%
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#23. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 21%
- Average group size: 2.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 27%
--- #2. Arkansas: 25%
--- #2. Georgia: 25%
--- #4. Missouri: 23%
--- #5. North Carolina: 22%
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#22. Brown-headed Nuthatch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 25%
- Average group size: 1.43
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 55%
--- #2. North Carolina: 39%
--- #3. South Carolina: 25%
--- #4. Alabama: 13%
--- #5. Mississippi: 9%
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#21. Eastern Phoebe

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 26%
- Average group size: 1.06
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 41%
--- #2. South Carolina: 26%
--- #3. Louisiana: 23%
--- #4. Florida: 17%
--- #5. North Carolina: 11%

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#20. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 28%
- Average group size: 2.25
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 97%
--- #2. Washington: 95%
--- #2. Oregon: 95%
--- #4. Missouri: 92%
--- #4. Delaware: 92%
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#19. Brown Thrasher

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 31%
- Average group size: 1.03
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 45%
--- #2. Georgia: 38%
--- #3. South Carolina: 31%
--- #4. Alabama: 30%
--- #5. North Carolina: 26%
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#18. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 32%
- Average group size: 1.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 87%
--- #2. West Virginia: 85%
--- #3. Connecticut: 84%
--- #3. Vermont: 84%
--- #5. Massachusetts: 83%
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#17. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 37%
- Average group size: 1.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 47%
--- #2. South Carolina: 37%
--- #3. Mississippi: 36%
--- #4. Alabama: 33%
--- #5. North Carolina: 32%
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#16. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 47%
- Average group size: 1.64
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 87%
--- #2. Indiana: 83%
--- #3. Ohio: 82%
--- #4. Iowa: 81%
--- #5. New Jersey: 80%

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#15. Pine Warbler

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 54%
- Average group size: 1.39
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 62%
--- #2. South Carolina: 54%
--- #3. North Carolina: 45%
--- #4. Alabama: 35%
--- #5. Florida: 33%
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#14. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 54%
- Average group size: 2.89
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 79%
--- #2. Maryland: 74%
--- #3. New Jersey: 70%
--- #4. Virginia: 68%
--- #5. Delaware: 67%
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#13. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 55%
- Average group size: 1.83
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 60%
--- #2. Georgia: 58%
--- #3. South Carolina: 55%
--- #4. North Carolina: 46%
--- #5. Florida: 45%
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#12. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 55%
- Average group size: 4.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 58%
--- #2. Mississippi: 55%
--- #2. South Carolina: 55%
--- #4. North Carolina: 34%
--- #5. Alabama: 33%
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#11. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 57%
- Average group size: 1.13
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 87%
--- #2. Ohio: 81%
--- #3. Connecticut: 80%
--- #4. Kentucky: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 78%

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#10. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 57%
- Average group size: 1.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 64%
--- #2. South Carolina: 57%
--- #3. Alabama: 53%
--- #4. Georgia: 49%
--- #5. Tennessee: 46%
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#9. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 59%
- Average group size: 2.36
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 79%
--- #2. Missouri: 76%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 75%
--- #3. Arkansas: 75%
--- #5. Maine: 74%
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#8. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 60%
- Average group size: 2.36
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 67%
--- #2. North Carolina: 63%
--- #3. South Carolina: 60%
--- #4. Mississippi: 55%
--- #5. Virginia: 50%
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#7. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 70%
- Average group size: 1.37
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 92%
--- #2. Connecticut: 91%
--- #2. Minnesota: 91%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 90%
--- #5. Iowa: 88%
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#6. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 80%
- Average group size: 3.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 87%
--- #1. Kentucky: 87%
--- #3. New Jersey: 86%
--- #4. Mississippi: 82%
--- #4. Indiana: 82%

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#5. House Finch

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 81%
- Average group size: 3.25
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arizona: 91%
--- #2. Kentucky: 87%
--- #3. Colorado: 86%
--- #3. New Mexico: 86%
--- #3. Indiana: 86%
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#4. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 84%
- Average group size: 1.32
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 84%
--- #1. South Carolina: 84%
--- #3. Georgia: 81%
--- #4. Alabama: 80%
--- #5. Virginia: 79%
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#3. Northern Cardinal

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 88%
- Average group size: 2.7
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Kentucky: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #2. Missouri: 96%
--- #4. Maryland: 94%
--- #5. Tennessee: 93%
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#2. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 89%
- Average group size: 1.62
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 100%
--- #2. Connecticut: 92%
--- #3. North Carolina: 90%
--- #3. Georgia: 90%
--- #5. Massachusetts: 89%
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#1. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 92%
- Average group size: 1.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 96%
--- #2. Alabama: 93%
--- #3. South Carolina: 92%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 85%
--- #4. Georgia: 85%

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