Birds Of North Carolina!

These are a few of the popular and well sighted bird species in North Carolina. This section will discuss the physical attributes as far as color and behavior.

American Crow

Get together in the winter to sleep communally in roosts
All black, including black beak and legs
No difference in male or female

Mourning Dove

There are about 475 million individual mourning doves
Light brown coloration
No difference between male or female

Downy Woodpecker

Smallest woodpecker species in North America
Black and white coloration similar to Hairy Woodpecker with smaller beak than Hairy
Male has red patch on the back of the head but female does not

Red Shouldered Hawk

Used to be one of the most common raptors in North America
Appear to have brown head, dark brown back and underneath while flying, they appear to have a light-red underside
Males and females similar in appearance (females are slightly larger)

Red-Tailed Hawk

Most commonly used bird for falconry in the U.S.
Can appear to be light-brown or dark-brown bodies with a warm red tail
Male and females are similar in appearance (females are slightly larger)

Tufted Titmouse

Their alarm call sounds like it fades in the distance, making them seem like they are moving farther away while in fact they haven't moved much at all
Silvery grey on top and white on bottom with a black patch right behind the beak. They also have a crest on the top of their head
Male and female similar in appearance

Canada Goose

Large groups fly in a V-shaped formation, which signifies the change of spring to autumn
Large body with black head and neck, cheeks that are white under the chin, and a brown body
No difference in male or female
Found throughout the United States

White-breasted Nuthatch

Only species able to walk straight up and down a tree
All of the nuthatches build their nests in cavities
Only four species of nuthatches in North America
Males have a dark black head where as females have a lighter gray

American Redstart

They are referred to as the "Butterfly of the bird world"
Males sometimes have two mates at the same time
Males are black with orange patches on his side, wings, and tail and females are gray with yellow patches on their sides, wings, and tail

Pileated woodpecker

Some pileated woodpeckers stay in their territory year round
North America's biggest woodpecker
Males and females look similar but the males have a red stripe on their cheek and the females have a black stripe.

Prothonotary Warbler

This species forages above standing or slow moving water
It flies with an undulating pattern
The male Prothonotary warbler color is described as bright yellow with an olive back and grayish wings
The female Pronthonotary warbler is the same as the male but more pale in comparison

Fish Crow

Steal aquatic food sources from other birds species
Similar to the American Crow, but smaller overall and has a nasal voice
Males have bigger feet, larger legs, and longer females than females
Found in wetlands habitats in South Eastern U.S.

Great Egret

Feathers have been historically used to decorate women's hats
Body is completely white, with long black legs, and non-webbed feet
No differences between male and females
Found in the mid and lower regions on North America

Blue Jay

Has a heavy bill which is ;used to break open nuts
Mainly Blue, with white chest and a blue crest
Males are slightly larger than females
Lives predominantly in Eastern half of America

Dark-eyed Junco

Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Smell grey American Sparrow, white outer tail feathers
Males have darker markings
Habitats all over the US and Canada

Hairy Woodpecker

75% of diet consists of insects
Larger bill than Downy Woodpecker, Longer and distinctive black mark on shoulder with white outer tail
Found in high elevation mountains and sea level mature woodlands with medium to large size trees

Yellow Warbler

Yellow warblers can be spotted near the tops of tall shrubs and small trees
The male Yellow Warbler colors are bright yellow all over with reddish streaks on their underparts
The female Yellow Warbler is similar in comparison to the male Yellow Warbler

Carolina Chickadee

Able to lower body temperature to create a intentional state of hypothermia, which is called torpor
Black cap & bib separated by white cheeks
Found in southeastern United States throughout all seasons
Male has larger black bib than females

Brown headed nuthatch

The Brown headed nuthatch's habitat is located in Southeastern pine forest that include lobolly, shortleaf, longleaf, and slash pine habitats
It is most common in open mature pine forest
The Brown headed nuthatch's beak is characterized as a chiseled beak

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Able to stick out tongue almost 2 inches past its beak
Male has a red crown and nape that extends all the way to the forehead to back of neck, while females lacks the red crown
Found throughout eastern US year around
Medium-sized Mostly black with white wing patches and red crown/nape

Chipping Sparrow

Found throughout North America seasonally
Small with notched tail and brownish orange russet cap during breeding season, gray underparts and rump
Females are bigger and have less coloration
Females develop bare patch on abdomen that fills with fluid to allow transfer for heat to eggs