About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


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The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

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By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

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Other Resources (NOT sponsored by Carolina Bird Club)



Official list of the birds of North Carolina

This is the list of species accepted by the North Carolina Bird Records Committee as of the 2022 annual report. Taxonomy follows the AOS Check-list of North American Birds through the 64th Supplement (2023). See the taxonomic change history for the history of changes in the AOS Check-list.

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North Carolina Definitive list

Common nameScientific nameNC review statusComment
Order Anseriformes — Waterfowl
Family Anatidae — Waterfowl
Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis 
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolor 
Snow GooseAnser caerulescens 
Ross's GooseAnser rossii 
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons 
BrantBranta bernicla 
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisFull 
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii 
Canada GooseBranta canadensis 
Mute SwanCygnus olor 
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorInland only 
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianus 
Wood DuckAix sponsa 
Blue-winged TealSpatula discors 
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraInland only 
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata 
GadwallMareca strepera 
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope 
American WigeonMareca americana 
MallardAnas platyrhynchos 
American Black DuckAnas rubripes 
Mottled DuckAnas fulvigulaInland only 
White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensisFull 
Northern PintailAnas acuta 
Green-winged TealAnas crecca 
CanvasbackAythya valisineria 
RedheadAythya americana 
Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris 
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaFull 
Greater ScaupAythya marila 
Lesser ScaupAythya affinis 
King EiderSomateria spectabilisInland only 
Common EiderSomateria mollissimaInland only 
Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicusInland only 
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata 
White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi 
Black ScoterMelanitta americana 
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis 
BuffleheadBucephala albeola 
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula 
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus 
Common MerganserMergus merganser 
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator 
Masked DuckNomonyx dominicusFull 
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis 
Order Galliformes — Quail, Pheasant, Grouse, Turkey
Family Odontophoridae — Quail
Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianus 
Family Phasianidae — Pheasants, Grouse, Turkey
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo 
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusDownstate only 
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus 
Order Phoenicopteriformes — Flamingo
Family Phoenicopteridae — Flamingo
American FlamingoPhoenicopterus ruberFull 
Order Podicipediformes — Grebes
Family Podicipedidae — Grebes
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps 
Horned GrebePodiceps auritus 
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena 
Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis 
Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalisInland only 
Order Columbiformes — Doves and Pigeons
Family Columbidae — Doves, Pigeons
Rock PigeonColumba livia 
Passenger PigeonEctopistes migratoriusExtinct
White-crowned PigeonPatagioenas leucocephalaFull 
Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciataFull 
Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto 
Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina 
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaMountains only 
Mourning DoveZenaida macroura 
Order Cuculiformes — Cuckoos
Family Cuculidae — Cuckoos
Smooth-billed AniCrotophaga aniFull 
Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanus 
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmus 
Order Caprimulgiformes — Nightjars
Family Caprimulgidae — Nightjars
Lesser NighthawkChordeiles acutipennisFull 
Common NighthawkChordeiles minor 
Antillean NighthawkChordeiles gundlachiiFull 
Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensis 
Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferus 
Order Apodiformes — Swifts, Hummingbirds
Family Apodidae — Swifts
Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagica 
Common SwiftApus apusFull 
Family Trochilidae — Hummingbirds
Mexican VioletearColibri thalassinusFull 
Green-breasted MangoAnthracothorax prevostiiFull 
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubris 
Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandriMountains only 
Anna's HummingbirdCalypte annaFull 
Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliope 
Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufus 
Allen's HummingbirdSelasphorus sasinFull 
Broad-tailed HummingbirdSelasphorus platycercusFull 
Broad-billed HummingbirdCynanthus latirostrisFull 
Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensisFull 
Order Gruiformes — Rails, Cranes
Family Rallidae — Rails
Clapper RailRallus crepitansMountains only 
King RailRallus elegans 
Virginia RailRallus limicola 
SoraPorzana carolina 
Common GallinuleGallinula galeata 
American CootFulica americana 
Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicus 
Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensis 
Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis 
Family Aramidae — Limpkin
LimpkinAramus guaraunaFull 
Family Gruidae — Cranes
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensis 
Order Charadriiformes — Shorebirds, Gulls, Alcids
Family Recurvirostridae — Stilts, Avocets
Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus 
American AvocetRecurvirostra americana 
Family Haematopodidae — Oystercatcher
American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatus 
Family Charadriidae — Plovers
Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarola 
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominica 
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaFull 
KilldeerCharadrius vociferus 
Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaFull 
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus 
Piping PloverCharadrius melodus 
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusFull 
Wilson's PloverAnarhynchus wilsoniaInland only 
Mountain PloverAnarhynchus montanusFull 
Snowy PloverAnarhynchus nivosusInland only 
Family Scolopacidae — Sandpipers
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicauda 
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus 
Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanusInland only 
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaFull 
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaFull 
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemastica 
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoa 
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpres 
Red KnotCalidris canutus 
RuffCalidris pugnaxInland only 
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataFull 
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopus 
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaInland only 
SanderlingCalidris alba 
DunlinCalidris alpina 
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaInland only 
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii 
Little StintCalidris minutaFull 
Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla 
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollis 
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisSpring only 
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos 
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusilla 
Western SandpiperCalidris mauri 
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseus 
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceus 
American WoodcockScolopax minor 
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata 
Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius 
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria 
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes 
WilletTringa semipalmata 
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusFull 
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleuca 
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor 
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus 
Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius 
Family Stercorariidae — Skuas, Jaegers
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaInland only 
South Polar SkuaStercorarius maccormickiInland only 
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusMountains only 
Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusMountains only 
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusMountains only 
Family Alcidae — Alcids
DovekieAlle alleInland only 
Common MurreUria aalgeFull 
Thick-billed MurreUria lomviaInland only 
RazorbillAlca tordaInland only 
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleFull 
Long-billed MurreletBrachyramphus perdixFull 
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaInland only 
Family Laridae — Gulls, Terns
Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaInland only 
Sabine's GullXema sabini 
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia 
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusMountains only 
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusMountains only 
Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla 
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan 
Heermann's GullLarus heermanniFull 
Common GullLarus canusFull 
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis 
California GullLarus californicusInland only 
Herring GullLarus argentatus 
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesMountains only 
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusMountains only 
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusMountains only 
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusMountains only 
Brown NoddyAnous stolidusInland only 
Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusMountains only 
Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusMountains only 
Least TernSternula antillarumMountains only 
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaInland only 
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia 
Black TernChlidonias niger 
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusFull 
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiInland only 
Common TernSterna hirundo 
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaInland only 
Forster's TernSterna forsteri 
Royal TernThalasseus maximusMountains only 
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisMountains only 
Elegant TernThalasseus elegansFull 
Black SkimmerRynchops nigerMountains only 
Order Phaethontiformes — Tropicbirds
Family Phaethontidae — Tropicbirds
White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturusMountains only 
Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereusInland only 
Order Gaviiformes — Loons
Family Gaviidae — Loons
Red-throated LoonGavia stellata 
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaInland only 
Common LoonGavia immer 
Order Procellariiformes — Tubenoses
Family Diomedeidae — Albatrosses
Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche chlororhynchosFull 
Black-browed AlbatrossThalassarche melanophrisFull 
Family Oceanitidae — Southern Storm-Petrels
Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicusInland only 
White-faced Storm-PetrelPelagodroma marinaInland only 
Black-bellied Storm-PetrelFregetta tropicaFull 
Family Hydrobatidae — Northern Storm-Petrels
European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicusInland only 
Swinhoe's Storm-PetrelHydrobates monorhisFull 
Leach's Storm-PetrelHydrobates leucorhousInland only 
Band-rumped Storm-PetrelHydrobates castroInland only 
Family Procellariidae — Shearwaters, Petrels
Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialisInland only 
Trindade PetrelPterodroma arminjonianaInland only 
Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahowInland only 
Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitataInland only 
Fea's PetrelPterodroma feaeInland only 
Zino's PetrelPterodroma madeiraFull 
Tahiti PetrelPseudobulweria rostrataFull 
Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulweriiFull 
Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris borealisInland only 
Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedeaFull 
Cape Verde ShearwaterCalonectris edwardsiiFull 
Wedge-tailed ShearwaterArdenna pacificaFull 
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaInland only 
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisInland only 
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusInland only 
Sargasso ShearwaterPuffinus lherminieriInland only 
Order Ciconiiformes — Storks
Family Ciconiidae — Storks
Wood StorkMycteria americana 
Order Suliformes — Frigatebirds, Boobies, Cormorant
Family Fregatidae — Frigatebirds
Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificensInland only 
Family Sulidae — Boobies, Gannet
Masked BoobySula dactylatraInland only 
Brown BoobySula leucogasterInland only 
Red-footed BoobySula sulaFull 
Northern GannetMorus bassanusInland only 
Family Anhingidae — Anhinga
AnhingaAnhinga anhinga 
Family Phalacrocoracidae — Cormorants
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboMountains only 
Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritus 
Neotropic CormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianusFull 
Order Pelecaniformes — Pelicans, Herons, Ibises
Family Pelecanidae — Pelicans
American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosMountains only 
Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis 
Family Ardeidae — Herons
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus 
Least BitternBotaurus exilis 
Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea 
Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor 
Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensInland only 
Snowy EgretEgretta thula 
Little EgretEgretta garzettaFull 
Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea 
Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax 
Green HeronButorides virescens 
Great EgretArdea alba 
Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis 
Great Blue HeronArdea herodias 
Family Threskiornithidae — Ibises, Spoonbill
White IbisEudocimus albus 
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus 
White-faced IbisPlegadis chihiInland only 
Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja 
Order Cathartiformes — New World Vultures
Family Cathartidae — New World Vultures
Black VultureCoragyps atratus 
Turkey VultureCathartes aura 
Order Accipitriformes — Vultures, Osprey, Hawks
Family Pandionidae — Osprey
OspreyPandion haliaetus 
Family Accipitridae — Hawks
White-tailed KiteElanus leucurusFull 
Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus 
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos 
Northern HarrierCircus hudsonius 
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus 
Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperii 
American GoshawkAccipiter atricapillus 
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus 
Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensis 
Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisFull 
Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus 
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus 
Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoniMountains only 
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis 
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopus 
Order Strigiformes — Owls
Family Tytonidae — Barn Owls
American Barn OwlTyto alba 
Family Strigidae — Owls
Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asio 
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus 
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus 
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaFull 
Barred OwlStrix varia 
Long-eared OwlAsio otus 
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus 
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus 
Order Coraciiformes — Kingfisher
Family Alcedinidae — Kingfisher
Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon 
Order Piciformes — Woodpeckers
Family Picidae — Woodpeckers
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus 
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus 
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius 
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens 
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerDryobates borealisMountains only 
Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus 
Northern FlickerColaptes auratus 
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus 
Ivory-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus principalisExtinct
Order Falconiformes — Falcons
Family Falconidae — Falcons
Crested CaracaraCaracara plancusFull 
American KestrelFalco sparverius 
MerlinFalco columbarius 
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus 
Order Psittaciformes — Parrots
Family Psittacidae — Parrots
Carolina ParakeetConuropsis carolinensisExtinct
Order Passeriformes — Flycatchers, songbirds
Family Tyrannidae — Flycatchers
Ash-throated FlycatcherMyiarchus cinerascensInland only 
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitus 
Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicusFull 
Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferansFull 
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis 
Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus 
Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensisMountains only 
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus 
Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savanaFull 
Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi 
Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virens 
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventris 
Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescens 
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum 
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii 
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus 
Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondiiFull 
Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightiiFull 
Western FlycatcherEmpidonax difficilisFull 
Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebe 
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaInland only 
Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinusFull 
Family Vireonidae — Vireos
White-eyed VireoVireo griseus 
Bell's VireoVireo belliiInland only 
Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifrons 
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitarius 
Plumbeous VireoVireo plumbeusFull 
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicus 
Warbling VireoVireo gilvus 
Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus 
Yellow-green VireoVireo flavoviridisFull 
Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquusInland only 
Family Laniidae — Shrikes
Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianus 
Northern ShrikeLanius borealisFull 
Family Corvidae — Crows, Jays
Blue JayCyanocitta cristata 
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos 
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus 
Common RavenCorvus coraxCoastal only 
Family Paridae — Chickadees, Titmice
Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensis 
Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusDownstate only 
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolor 
Family Alaudidae — Larks
Horned LarkEremophila alpestris 
Family Hirundinidae — Swallows
Bank SwallowRiparia riparia 
Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor 
Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis 
Purple MartinProgne subis 
Barn SwallowHirundo rustica 
Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota 
Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulvaMountains only 
Family Regulidae — Kinglets
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendula 
Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa 
Family Bombycillidae — Waxwings
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum 
Family Sittidae — Nuthatches
Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis 
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis 
Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla 
Family Certhiidae — Creepers
Brown CreeperCerthia americana 
Family Polioptilidae — Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caerulea 
Family Troglodytidae — Wrens
Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickiiFull 
Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianus 
Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon 
Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis 
Sedge WrenCistothorus stellaris 
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris 
Family Mimidae — Mimic Thrushes
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis 
Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufum 
Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanusFull 
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos 
Family Sturnidae — Starlings
European StarlingSturnus vulgaris 
Family Turdidae — Thrushes
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialis 
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesFull 
Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendiFull 
VeeryCatharus fuscescens 
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimus 
Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelliInland only 
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus 
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus 
Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelina 
American RobinTurdus migratorius 
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusFull 
Family Muscicapidae — Old World Flycatchers
Northern WheatearOenanthe oenantheFull 
Family Passeridae — Old World Sparrows
House SparrowPasser domesticus 
Family Motacillidae — Pipits, Wagtails
White WagtailMotacilla albaFull 
American PipitAnthus rubescens 
Sprague's PipitAnthus spragueiiFull 
Family Fringillidae — Finches
BramblingFringilla montifringillaFull 
Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus 
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus 
Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus 
RedpollAcanthis flammea 
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostra 
White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera 
Pine SiskinSpinus pinus 
Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltriaFull 
American GoldfinchSpinus tristis 
Family Calcariidae — Longspurs, Snow Bunting
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus 
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatusFull 
Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictusFull 
Thick-billed LongspurRhynchophanes mccowniiFull 
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis 
Family Passerellidae — New World Sparrows
Cassin's SparrowPeucaea cassiniiFull 
Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalisMountains only 
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarum 
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus 
Lark BuntingCalamospiza melanocorysFull 
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina 
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida 
Field SparrowSpizella pusilla 
Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca 
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea 
Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis 
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys 
Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapillaFull 
Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querulaFull 
White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis 
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus 
LeConte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteii 
Seaside SparrowAmmospiza maritimaInland only 
Nelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoni 
Saltmarsh SparrowAmmospiza caudacutaInland only 
Henslow's SparrowCentronyx henslowii 
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis 
Song SparrowMelospiza melodia 
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii 
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana 
Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurusFull 
Spotted TowheePipilo maculatusFull 
Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmus 
Family Icteriidae — Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens 
Family Icteridae — Blackbirds
Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus 
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorus 
Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magna 
Orchard OrioleIcterus spurius 
Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatusFull 
Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockiiMountains only 
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbula 
Scott's OrioleIcterus parisorumFull 
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus 
Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensisInland only 
Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneusFull 
Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater 
Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinus 
Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalus 
Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula 
Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus majorInland only 
Family Parulidae — Wood Warblers
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla 
Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum 
Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacilla 
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis 
Bachman's WarblerVermivora bachmaniiExtinct
Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysoptera 
Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanoptera 
Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia 
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea 
Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsonii 
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina 
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata 
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla 
Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilis 
MacGillivray's WarblerGeothlypis tolmieiFull 
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphia 
Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosa 
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas 
Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrina 
American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla 
Kirtland's WarblerSetophaga kirtlandiiDownstate only 
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrina 
Cerulean WarblerSetophaga cerulea 
Northern ParulaSetophaga americana 
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnolia 
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castanea 
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fusca 
Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia 
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanica 
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striata 
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescens 
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarum 
Pine WarblerSetophaga pinus 
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata 
Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominica 
Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolor 
Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescensFull 
Townsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendiFull 
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virens 
Canada WarblerCardellina canadensis 
Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla 
Painted RedstartMyioborus pictusFull 
Family Cardinalidae — Cardinals, Buntings, Grosbeaks,
Summer TanagerPiranga rubra 
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivacea 
Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana 
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis 
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus 
Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalusMountains only 
Blue GrosbeakPasserina caerulea 
Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoenaFull 
Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea 
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisMountains only 
DickcisselSpiza americana 

Total species488

North Carolina Provisional List

Common nameScientific nameNC review statusComment
Order Anseriformes — Waterfowl
Family Anatidae — Waterfowl
GarganeySpatula querquedulaFull 
Order Podicipediformes — Grebes
Family Podicipedidae — Grebes
Clark's GrebeAechmophorus clarkiiFull 
Order Cuculiformes — Cuckoos
Family Cuculidae — Cuckoos
Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostrisFull 
Order Apodiformes — Swifts, Hummingbirds
Family Apodidae — Swifts
Cypseloides Swift sp.Cypseloides sp.Full 
Order Charadriiformes — Shorebirds, Gulls, Alcids
Family Laridae — Gulls, Terns
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisFull 
Short-billed GullLarus brachyrhynchusFull 
Slaty-backed GullLarus schistisagusFull 
Order Falconiformes — Falcons
Family Falconidae — Falcons
GyrfalconFalco rusticolusFull 
Order Passeriformes — Flycatchers, songbirds
Family Hirundinidae — Swallows
Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassinaFull 
Family Fringillidae — Finches
Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleatorFull 
Family Icteridae — Blackbirds
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaFull 

Total species11

North Carolina Not Established List

Common nameScientific nameNC review statusComment
Order Gruiformes — Rails, Cranes
Family Gruidae — Cranes
Whooping CraneGrus americanaFull 
Order Psittaciformes — Parrots
Family Psittacidae — Parrots
Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachusFull 

Total species2

North Carolina Subspecies List

Common nameScientific nameNC statusNC review statusComment
Order Charadriiformes — Shorebirds, Gulls, Alcids
Family Scolopacidae — Sandpipers
Whimbrel (European)Numenius phaeopus phaeopus/alboaxillarisDefinitiveFull 
Family Laridae — Gulls, Terns
Iceland Gull (Thayer's)Larus glaucoides thayeriDefinitiveInland only 
Order Accipitriformes — Vultures, Osprey, Hawks
Family Accipitridae — Hawks
Red-tailed Hawk (Harlan's)Buteo jamaicensis harlaniDefinitiveFull 
Order Passeriformes — Flycatchers, songbirds
Family Passerellidae — New World Sparrows
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)Junco hyemalis [oreganus Group]DefinitiveFull 

Total subspecies4

NC Status Categories

Definitive
  1. A native species or recognized native subspecies documented by an appropriately archived voucher specimen.
  2. A native species or recognized native subspecies documented by an unambiguous photograph, voice recording, video tape or other physical evidence that is published in a refereed journal and/or similarly archived as is a voucher specimen, or both.
  3. A special case in which a native taxon is documented (and archived as above) at the genus level but is indistinguishable at the species level on the physical evidence available, provided that none of the contenders is already on the Definitive List. The taxon with the possible contenders is then listed as (for example) “Genus name (sp?), contender1/contender2/ ... ” in alphabetical order, followed by “probably contender x” where appropriate.
  4. A native species or recognized native subspecies (including “special cases” as above) documented by not fewer than three separate occurrences reported by three or more different observers. The term “documented” implies a written description of the bird including pertinent identification marks. It is preferable that acceptance to the Definitive List be based on some form of physical documentation. However, a committee by majority vote may elect to elevate a species to the Definitive List without physical documentation under the condition that the documentation be based on not fewer than three separate occurrences reported by three or more different observers.
  5. A species or recognized subspecies from a non-native, feral or exotic population that is self-sustaining or expanding for a period of 10 or more years.
  6. A species or recognized subspecies from an officially sanctioned species reintroduction program whose population has been self-sustaining or expanding for a period of 10 or more years.
Provisional
  1. Any species that has been accepted by fewer than three separate reports or by any number of reports made by three separate observers, where no other physical evidence (e.g., specimen, photograph, etc.) exists.
  2. Any report of a bird for which the identification at the species level is uncertain but suspected AND identification at a higher taxonomic level (e.g., genus) is known (see Section V,A,3), provided that:
    1. no other members of that known taxonomic level are on the Definitive State List
    2. all other members at that known taxonomic level have been eliminated as possible contenders
Not Established
  1. A species or recognized subspecies judged by the Records Committee to be correctly identified but also judged to be:
    • from a non-native, feral or exotic population that is self-sustaining or expanding for a period of not more than 10 years regardless of the location where that population breeds.
    • affiliated with an officially sanctioned species reintroduction program that has not been self-sustaining or expanding for a period of 10 years.

NC Review Status Categories

Full
All observations of a species in Full review status should be documented to the Bird Records Committee

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