For people who like it, birding might be a fun leisure activity, particularly when you’re birding in a state like North Carolina. Here you find a wide range of backyard birds. Let’s see how you can commence your birding explorations here.
State Bird of North Carolina
In 1943, the Northern Cardinal was accepted as North Carolina’s state bird. It is also stated as the Winter Redbird as one mostly finds it in the cold season. Similarly, it is the only bird having a clear red color throughout that time. The male bird is almost entirely red, excluding its beak and throat with black color. Female Cardinals have red tails, wings, as well as crests.
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The Most Common Spots for Bird Watching in North Carolina
The perfect places for bird watching in North Carolina are national parks as well as the Wildlife Refugees. You can find a wide range of backyard species in Wildlife Refugees. Carolina Beach State Park has around 233 backyard species.
It contains murky roads created by dunes, enclosed with oak trees. Its grassy parts make an amazing adventure place for bird watching. Jordan Lake allows you for birding in Raleigh-Durham-Cary and the rest of NC where you can find 60 different eagles during the summer season.
Additionally, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a popular park in America and hosts approximately 235 backyard bird species. The majority of backyard birds visit this place. Moreover, North Carolina contains Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge that has seen around 233 species, for example, the Peregrine Falcons.
Backyard Bird Count in North Carolina
In North Carolina, approximately 481 species have been recorded. If you have the enthusiasm to discover the whole state or the wish to offer your remaining life to it, that’s the total number of bird species, you will find.
Hotspots such as Pea Island NWR having around 323 bird species, Cape Hatteras containing bird 292, and Bodie Island having approximately 288 species are the regions where you can find a wide range of backyard birds.
Top Backyard Birds to See in North Carolina
Backyard birds of North Carolina are as attractive as they’re wonderful. You have the splendid Tundra Swan having a wingspan of seven feet frequently present in Lake Mattamuskeet. After that, you find the Peregrine Falcon which nearly went extinct; however, it can now be observed in places, for example, Pisgah National Forest.
Downy Woodpecker
The Downy Woodpecker is a black and white woodpecker. These Woodpeckers are often seen in backyards, parks, and woodlots. Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, they drum. In the winter Downy Woodpeckers like to hang out with other birds, such as the Nuthatch and Chickadee. The Downy Woodpecker can be found throughout North America.
Brown Thrasher
The Brown Thrasher is the only bird in the thrasher species that lives east of Texas. They are secretive birds, hiding in shrubs. The Brown Thrasher is a large, brown songbird with long legs, a long tail, and yellow eyes.
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird is found throughout the United States. It is a gray bird with a white underbelly and black and white wings. They are common in backyards, hopping along a fresh-cut lawn. The Northern Mockingbird sings all day.
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrows have a bright brown crown on the top of their head, a black eyeline, and are grayish underneath. Their wings are streaked dark and light brown with a wingbar. They are seen throughout the U.S. They can be seen in trees and grassy areas and like to make their homes in open woods, orchards, and other farmlands. They mostly eat insects and seeds but will also eat grasses and other plant material. They make their nest in trees up to 15 feet high. They lay 2 to 7 eggs. They migrate short distances and some are permanent residents.
Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a common songbird with a noisy call. Blue Jays are known for their beautiful blue and white color. Blue Jays also have rounded wings and a long tail. Blue Jays are smart and stay together with their family. They are found in the Midwest and the Eastern United States. Blue Jays love to play with acorns. Sometimes Blue Jays will imitate the sound of a hawk to scare other birds away.
Carolina Wren
The Carolina Wren has a light brown body and an upward tail. Carolina Wrens are shy birds. Though hard to see, the Carolina Wren sings many different songs and is loud! The Carolina Wren likes quiet areas. They can often be seen near piles of brush or a faraway corner of a yard. The Carolina Wren does not like the cold.
Brown-headed Nuthatch
The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a small blue-gray songbird. They are found in the Southeast, near pine trees. The Brown-headed Nuthatch makes a squeaky sound like a rubber ducky. These social birds like to eat insects.
The Most Common Backyard Birds to See in North Carolina
You can find several bird species like Red-winged Blackbird, Cormorant, Blackbird, or Common Grackle in North Carolina. Besides, these are the types you would get even if you go for a walk at a native park. As discovered by reports, there are approximately one million Red-winged Blackbirds.
Additionally, you can also see a wide range of backyard bird species while visiting the more inhabited regions of North Carolina. Similarly, cities like Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham-Cary, as well as Greensboro are home to a lot of bird species.
Conclusion
North Carolina has very much to give its bird watchers; you just have to see where to look. The plenty of parks all over the state makes it promising for bird watchers to get an educational and exciting experience.
