Most commonly seen birds in Virginia

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

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Virginia 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 495 count sites in Virginia. 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. Fox Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 27%
--- #2. Washington: 15%
--- #3. California: 12%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 5%
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#49. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.4
- 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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#48. Field Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.95
- 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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#47. Canada Goose

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 5.26
- 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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#46. Red-tailed Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.05
- 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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#45. Eastern Phoebe

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.12
- 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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#44. Red-headed Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.2
- 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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#43. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 1.99
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 74%
--- #2. California: 67%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 36%
--- #5. Utah: 21%
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#42. Brown-headed Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- 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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#41. Brown Creeper

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

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.01
- 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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#39. Red-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 57%
--- #3. Alaska: 55%
--- #4. Montana: 54%
--- #5. Oregon: 45%
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#38. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.1
- 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. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (tie)

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.05
- 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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#36. Brown Thrasher

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- 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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#35. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 1.1
- 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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#34. Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 2.07
- 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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#33. Eastern Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 1.29
- 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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#32. Hermit Thrush

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- 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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#31. Pileated Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 1.22
- 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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#30. Chipping Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 2.04
- 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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#29. Pine Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 13%
- Average group size: 1.29
- 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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#28. Brown-headed Cowbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 3.48
- 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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#27. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 19%
- Average group size: 1.16
- 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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#26. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 19%
- Average group size: 2.34
- 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. Hairy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 23%
- 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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#24. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 24%
- Average group size: 1.75
- 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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#23. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 1.48
- 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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#22. Common Grackle

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 29%
- Average group size: 3.81
- 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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#21. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 30%
- Average group size: 4.44
- 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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#20. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 31%
- Average group size: 1.12
- 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. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 31%
- Average group size: 4.04
- 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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#18. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 32%
- Average group size: 2.5
- 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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#17. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- Average group size: 1.39
- 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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#16. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 39%
- Average group size: 2.23
- 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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#15. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 40%
- Average group size: 3.74
- 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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#14. Eastern Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 52%
- 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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#13. Carolina Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 60%
- Average group size: 1.75
- 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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#12. Blue Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 61%
- Average group size: 2.2
- 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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#11. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 68%
- Average group size: 1.36
- 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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#10. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 69%
- Average group size: 3.04
- 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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#9. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 69%
- Average group size: 3.46
- 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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#8. Red-bellied Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 73%
- Average group size: 1.15
- 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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#7. Carolina Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 77%
- Average group size: 1.32
- 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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#6. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 78%
- Average group size: 1.41
- 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. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 80%
- Average group size: 3.55
- 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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#4. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 80%
- Average group size: 3.69
- 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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#3. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 81%
- Average group size: 3.57
- 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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#2. Tufted Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 83%
- Average group size: 1.96
- 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: 93%
- Average group size: 2.71
- 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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