Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen in North Carolina from Project FeederWatch.
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 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 227 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. White-crowned Sparrow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 2%
- Average group size: 2.55
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 73%
--- #2. California: 69%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 31%
--- #5. Washington: 20%
#49. Rock Pigeon
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 2%
- Average group size: 5.87
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 27%
--- #2. South Dakota: 18%
--- #3. Arizona: 17%
--- #4. New Mexico: 16%
--- #5. New York: 6%
#48. Wild Turkey
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 2%
- Average group size: 6.69
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Hampshire: 17%
--- #2. Vermont: 14%
--- #2. Maine: 14%
--- #4. Wyoming: 12%
--- #5. Montana: 10%
#47. Brown Creeper
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 3%
- Average group size: 1.05
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 17%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 12%
--- #3. Maine: 11%
--- #4. Indiana: 10%
--- #5. Maryland: 8%
#46. Cooper's Hawk
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.03
- 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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#45. Red-tailed Hawk
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.04
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 20%
--- #2. Mississippi: 9%
--- #3. Tennessee: 6%
--- #3. Connecticut: 6%
--- #3. Massachusetts: 6%
#44. Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.3
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 71%
--- #2. Alaska: 61%
--- #3. Washington: 50%
--- #4. Wisconsin: 48%
--- #4. Michigan: 48%
#43. Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 5%
--- #1. Alabama: 5%
--- #3. Washington: 4%
--- #3. North Carolina: 4%
--- #3. Arkansas: 4%
#42. Pine Siskin
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 4%
- Average group size: 1.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 39%
--- #2. Colorado: 16%
--- #3. Arizona: 15%
--- #4. Maine: 14%
--- #5. Alabama: 10%
#41. Common Grackle
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 6%
- Average group size: 3.7
- 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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#39. Baltimore Oriole
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 7%
- Average group size: 2.01
- 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%
#38. Cedar Waxwing
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 7%
- Average group size: 4.81
- 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%
#37. Red-shouldered Hawk
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 8%
- Average group size: 1.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 11%
--- #2. Maryland: 9%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 9%
--- #4. North Carolina: 8%
--- #4. Virginia: 8%
#36. Red-winged Blackbird
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 9%
- Average group size: 4.04
- 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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#35. Eastern Phoebe
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 11%
- 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%
#34. House Sparrow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 12%
- Average group size: 3.47
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Iowa: 91%
--- #2. Illinois: 87%
--- #2. Nebraska: 87%
--- #4. Indiana: 80%
--- #5. Ohio: 79%
#33. Hairy Woodpecker
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 13%
- Average group size: 1.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Vermont: 72%
--- #2. Maine: 69%
--- #3. New Hampshire: 63%
--- #4. Minnesota: 62%
--- #5. Connecticut: 61%
#32. Brown-headed Cowbird
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 13%
- Average group size: 3.23
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alabama: 23%
--- #2. Ohio: 15%
--- #3. Tennessee: 14%
--- #3. Florida: 14%
--- #3. Delaware: 14%
#31. Northern Flicker
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 15%
- Average group size: 1.21
- 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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#30. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 15%
- Average group size: 2.21
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 49%
--- #2. Missouri: 35%
--- #3. Pennsylvania: 29%
--- #4. Virginia: 25%
--- #5. Ohio: 23%
#29. European Starling
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 15%
- Average group size: 3.54
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Indiana: 74%
--- #2. Kentucky: 69%
--- #3. Ohio: 67%
--- #4. Delaware: 64%
--- #5. Missouri: 56%
#28. Hermit Thrush
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 18%
- Average group size: 1.01
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 18%
--- #2. California: 17%
--- #3. Georgia: 15%
--- #4. Virginia: 13%
--- #5. Alabama: 8%
#27. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 18%
- Average group size: 1.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. North Carolina: 18%
--- #1. Oklahoma: 18%
--- #3. Georgia: 15%
--- #4. Virginia: 14%
--- #5. Tennessee: 13%
#26. Purple Finch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 22%
- Average group size: 2.0
- 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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#25. Brown Thrasher
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 26%
- 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%
#24. American Crow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 29%
- Average group size: 2.87
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 44%
--- #2. Maine: 42%
--- #2. Arkansas: 42%
--- #4. Minnesota: 38%
--- #5. Virginia: 32%
#23. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 32%
- Average group size: 1.07
- 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%
#22. Eastern Towhee
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 34%
- Average group size: 1.38
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 37%
--- #2. North Carolina: 34%
--- #3. Georgia: 32%
--- #4. Alabama: 25%
--- #5. Mississippi: 18%
#21. Chipping Sparrow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 34%
- Average group size: 2.5
- 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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#20. Song Sparrow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 35%
- Average group size: 1.33
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 57%
--- #2. Kentucky: 54%
--- #3. Oregon: 49%
--- #4. West Virginia: 38%
--- #4. Pennsylvania: 38%
#19. Brown-headed Nuthatch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 39%
- Average group size: 1.38
- 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%
#18. American Robin
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 41%
- Average group size: 2.5
- 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%
#17. Northern Mockingbird
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 43%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 64%
--- #2. South Carolina: 57%
--- #3. Alabama: 53%
--- #4. Georgia: 49%
--- #5. Tennessee: 46%
#16. Pine Warbler
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 45%
- Average group size: 1.34
- 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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#15. Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 46%
- Average group size: 1.39
- 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%
#14. Blue Jay
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 55%
- Average group size: 1.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 87%
--- #2. Indiana: 83%
--- #3. Ohio: 82%
--- #4. Iowa: 81%
--- #5. New Jersey: 80%
#13. American Goldfinch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 55%
- Average group size: 1.9
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oklahoma: 79%
--- #2. Missouri: 76%
--- #3. Wisconsin: 75%
--- #3. Arkansas: 75%
--- #5. Maine: 74%
#12. White-breasted Nuthatch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 59%
- Average group size: 1.26
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 87%
--- #2. West Virginia: 85%
--- #3. Connecticut: 84%
--- #3. Vermont: 84%
--- #5. Massachusetts: 83%
#11. White-throated Sparrow
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 62%
- Average group size: 2.71
- 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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#10. Eastern Bluebird
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 63%
- Average group size: 2.42
- 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%
#9. Dark-eyed Junco
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 63%
- Average group size: 3.0
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nebraska: 97%
--- #2. Washington: 95%
--- #2. Oregon: 95%
--- #4. Missouri: 92%
--- #4. Delaware: 92%
#8. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 71%
- Average group size: 1.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 87%
--- #2. Ohio: 81%
--- #3. Connecticut: 80%
--- #4. Kentucky: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 78%
#7. Mourning Dove
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 73%
- Average group size: 3.1
- 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%
#6. Carolina Chickadee
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 78%
- Average group size: 1.99
- 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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#5. Downy Woodpecker
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 80%
- Average group size: 1.35
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arkansas: 92%
--- #2. Connecticut: 91%
--- #2. Minnesota: 91%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 90%
--- #5. Iowa: 88%
#4. House Finch
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 82%
- Average group size: 3.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Arizona: 91%
--- #2. Kentucky: 87%
--- #3. Colorado: 86%
--- #3. New Mexico: 86%
--- #3. Indiana: 86%
#3. Carolina Wren
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 84%
- Average group size: 1.38
- 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%
#2. Northern Cardinal
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 89%
- Average group size: 2.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Kentucky: 100%
--- #2. Arkansas: 96%
--- #2. Missouri: 96%
--- #4. Maryland: 94%
--- #5. Tennessee: 93%
#1. Tufted Titmouse
- Sites visited Dec. 24 to Jan. 6: 90%
- Average group size: 2.12
- 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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