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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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 Main list

This list includes all species with a North Carolina status of Definitive or Provisional

Common nameScientific nameNC statusNC review statusComment
Order Anseriformes — Waterfowl
Family Anatidae — Waterfowl
Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalisDefinitive 
Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorDefinitive 
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensDefinitive 
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiDefinitive 
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsDefinitive 
BrantBranta berniclaDefinitive 
Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsisDefinitiveFull 
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiDefinitive 
Canada GooseBranta canadensisDefinitive 
Mute SwanCygnus olorDefinitive 
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorDefinitiveInland only 
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusDefinitive 
Wood DuckAix sponsaDefinitive 
GarganeySpatula querquedulaProvisionalFull 
Blue-winged TealSpatula discorsDefinitive 
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraDefinitiveInland only 
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataDefinitive 
GadwallMareca streperaDefinitive 
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeDefinitive 
American WigeonMareca americanaDefinitive 
MallardAnas platyrhynchosDefinitive 
American Black DuckAnas rubripesDefinitive 
Mottled DuckAnas fulvigulaDefinitiveInland only 
White-cheeked PintailAnas bahamensisDefinitiveFull 
Northern PintailAnas acutaDefinitive 
Green-winged TealAnas creccaDefinitive 
CanvasbackAythya valisineriaDefinitive 
RedheadAythya americanaDefinitive 
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisDefinitive 
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaDefinitiveFull 
Greater ScaupAythya marilaDefinitive 
Lesser ScaupAythya affinisDefinitive 
King EiderSomateria spectabilisDefinitiveInland only 
Common EiderSomateria mollissimaDefinitiveInland only 
Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicusDefinitiveInland only 
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataDefinitive 
White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandiDefinitive 
Black ScoterMelanitta americanaDefinitive 
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisDefinitive 
BuffleheadBucephala albeolaDefinitive 
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaDefinitive 
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusDefinitive 
Common MerganserMergus merganserDefinitive 
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorDefinitive 
Masked DuckNomonyx dominicusDefinitiveFull 
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisDefinitive 
Order Galliformes — Quail, Pheasant, Grouse, Turkey
Family Odontophoridae — Quail
Northern BobwhiteColinus virginianusDefinitive 
Family Phasianidae — Pheasants, Grouse, Turkey
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoDefinitive 
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusDefinitiveDownstate only 
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicusDefinitive 
Order Podicipediformes — Grebes
Family Podicipedidae — Grebes
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsDefinitive 
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusDefinitive 
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaDefinitive 
Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollisDefinitive 
Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalisDefinitiveInland only 
Clark's GrebeAechmophorus clarkiiProvisionalFull 
Order Columbiformes — Doves and Pigeons
Family Columbidae — Doves, Pigeons
Rock PigeonColumba liviaDefinitive 
Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciataDefinitiveFull 
Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaoctoDefinitive 
Passenger PigeonEctopistes migratoriusDefinitiveExtinct
Common Ground DoveColumbina passerinaDefinitive 
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaDefinitiveMountains only 
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraDefinitive 
Order Cuculiformes — Cuckoos
Family Cuculidae — Cuckoos
Smooth-billed AniCrotophaga aniDefinitiveFull 
Groove-billed AniCrotophaga sulcirostrisProvisionalFull 
Yellow-billed CuckooCoccyzus americanusDefinitive 
Black-billed CuckooCoccyzus erythropthalmusDefinitive 
Order Caprimulgiformes — Nightjars
Family Caprimulgidae — Nightjars
Lesser NighthawkChordeiles acutipennisDefinitiveFull 
Common NighthawkChordeiles minorDefinitive 
Antillean NighthawkChordeiles gundlachiiDefinitiveFull 
Chuck-will's-widowAntrostomus carolinensisDefinitive 
Eastern Whip-poor-willAntrostomus vociferusDefinitive 
Order Apodiformes — Swifts, Hummingbirds
Family Apodidae — Swifts
Cypseloides Swift sp.Cypseloides sp.ProvisionalFull 
Chimney SwiftChaetura pelagicaDefinitive 
Common SwiftApus apusDefinitiveFull 
Family Trochilidae — Hummingbirds
Mexican VioletearColibri thalassinusDefinitiveFull 
Green-breasted MangoAnthracothorax prevostiiDefinitiveFull 
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisDefinitive 
Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandriDefinitiveMountains only 
Anna's HummingbirdCalypte annaDefinitiveFull 
Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliopeDefinitive 
Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufusDefinitive 
Allen's HummingbirdSelasphorus sasinDefinitiveFull 
Broad-tailed HummingbirdSelasphorus platycercusDefinitiveFull 
Broad-billed HummingbirdCynanthus latirostrisDefinitiveFull 
Buff-bellied HummingbirdAmazilia yucatanensisDefinitiveFull 
Order Gruiformes — Rails, Cranes
Family Rallidae — Rails
Clapper RailRallus crepitansDefinitiveMountains only 
King RailRallus elegansDefinitive 
Virginia RailRallus limicolaDefinitive 
SoraPorzana carolinaDefinitive 
Common GallinuleGallinula galeataDefinitive 
American CootFulica americanaDefinitive 
Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicusDefinitive 
Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensisDefinitive 
Black RailLaterallus jamaicensisDefinitive 
Family Aramidae — Limpkin
LimpkinAramus guaraunaDefinitiveFull 
Family Gruidae — Cranes
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisDefinitive 
Order Charadriiformes — Shorebirds, Gulls, Alcids
Family Recurvirostridae — Stilts, Avocets
Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanusDefinitive 
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaDefinitive 
Family Haematopodidae — Oystercatcher
American OystercatcherHaematopus palliatusDefinitive 
Family Charadriidae — Plovers
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusDefinitiveFull 
Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaDefinitive 
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaDefinitive 
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaDefinitiveFull 
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusDefinitive 
Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaDefinitiveFull 
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusDefinitive 
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusDefinitive 
Wilson's PloverCharadrius wilsoniaDefinitiveInland only 
Mountain PloverCharadrius montanusDefinitiveFull 
Snowy PloverCharadrius nivosusDefinitiveInland only 
Family Scolopacidae — Sandpipers
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaDefinitive 
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusDefinitive 
Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanusDefinitiveInland only 
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaDefinitiveFull 
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaDefinitiveFull 
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaDefinitive 
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaDefinitive 
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresDefinitive 
Red KnotCalidris canutusDefinitive 
RuffCalidris pugnaxDefinitiveInland only 
Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataDefinitiveFull 
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusDefinitive 
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaDefinitiveInland only 
SanderlingCalidris albaDefinitive 
DunlinCalidris alpinaDefinitive 
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaDefinitiveInland only 
Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdiiDefinitive 
Little StintCalidris minutaDefinitiveFull 
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaDefinitive 
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisDefinitive 
Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisDefinitiveSpring only 
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosDefinitive 
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaDefinitive 
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriDefinitive 
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusDefinitive 
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusDefinitive 
American WoodcockScolopax minorDefinitive 
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataDefinitive 
Spotted SandpiperActitis maculariusDefinitive 
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaDefinitive 
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesDefinitive 
WilletTringa semipalmataDefinitive 
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusDefinitiveFull 
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaDefinitive 
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorDefinitive 
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusDefinitive 
Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusDefinitive 
Family Stercorariidae — Skuas, Jaegers
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaDefinitiveInland only 
South Polar SkuaStercorarius maccormickiDefinitiveInland only 
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusDefinitiveMountains only 
Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusDefinitiveMountains only 
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusDefinitiveMountains only 
Family Alcidae — Alcids
DovekieAlle alleDefinitiveInland only 
Common MurreUria aalgeDefinitiveFull 
Thick-billed MurreUria lomviaDefinitiveInland only 
RazorbillAlca tordaDefinitiveInland only 
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleDefinitiveFull 
Long-billed MurreletBrachyramphus perdixDefinitiveFull 
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaDefinitiveInland only 
Family Laridae — Gulls, Terns
Black-legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaDefinitiveInland only 
Sabine's GullXema sabiniDefinitive 
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaDefinitive 
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusDefinitiveMountains only 
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusDefinitiveMountains only 
Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricillaDefinitive 
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanDefinitive 
Black-tailed GullLarus crassirostrisProvisionalFull 
Heermann's GullLarus heermanniDefinitiveFull 
Common GullLarus canusDefinitiveFull 
Short-billed GullLarus brachyrhynchusProvisionalFull 
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisDefinitive 
California GullLarus californicusDefinitiveInland only 
Herring GullLarus argentatusDefinitive 
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesDefinitiveMountains only 
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusDefinitiveMountains only 
Slaty-backed GullLarus schistisagusProvisionalFull 
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusDefinitiveMountains only 
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusDefinitiveMountains only 
Brown NoddyAnous stolidusDefinitiveInland only 
Sooty TernOnychoprion fuscatusDefinitiveMountains only 
Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetusDefinitiveMountains only 
Least TernSternula antillarumDefinitiveMountains only 
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaDefinitiveInland only 
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaDefinitive 
Black TernChlidonias nigerDefinitive 
White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterusDefinitiveFull 
Roseate TernSterna dougalliiDefinitiveInland only 
Common TernSterna hirundoDefinitive 
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaDefinitiveInland only 
Forster's TernSterna forsteriDefinitive 
Royal TernThalasseus maximusDefinitiveMountains only 
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisDefinitiveMountains only 
Black SkimmerRynchops nigerDefinitiveMountains only 
Order Phaethontiformes — Tropicbirds
Family Phaethontidae — Tropicbirds
White-tailed TropicbirdPhaethon lepturusDefinitiveMountains only 
Red-billed TropicbirdPhaethon aethereusDefinitiveInland only 
Order Gaviiformes — Loons
Family Gaviidae — Loons
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataDefinitive 
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaDefinitiveInland only 
Common LoonGavia immerDefinitive 
Order Procellariiformes — Tubenoses
Family Diomedeidae — Albatrosses
Yellow-nosed AlbatrossThalassarche chlororhynchosDefinitiveFull 
Black-browed AlbatrossThalassarche melanophrisDefinitiveFull 
Family Oceanitidae — Southern Storm-Petrels
Wilson's Storm-PetrelOceanites oceanicusDefinitiveInland only 
White-faced Storm-PetrelPelagodroma marinaDefinitiveInland only 
Black-bellied Storm-PetrelFregetta tropicaDefinitiveFull 
Family Hydrobatidae — Northern Storm-Petrels
European Storm-PetrelHydrobates pelagicusDefinitiveInland only 
Swinhoe's Storm-PetrelHydrobates monorhisDefinitiveFull 
Leach's Storm-PetrelHydrobates leucorhousDefinitiveInland only 
Band-rumped Storm-PetrelHydrobates castroDefinitiveInland only 
Family Procellariidae — Shearwaters, Petrels
Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialisDefinitiveInland only 
Trindade PetrelPterodroma arminjonianaDefinitiveInland only 
Bermuda PetrelPterodroma cahowDefinitiveInland only 
Black-capped PetrelPterodroma hasitataDefinitiveInland only 
Fea's PetrelPterodroma feaeDefinitiveInland only 
Zino's PetrelPterodroma madeiraDefinitiveFull 
Tahiti PetrelPseudobulweria rostrataDefinitiveFull 
Bulwer's PetrelBulweria bulweriiDefinitiveFull 
Cory's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedeaDefinitiveInland only 
Cape Verde ShearwaterCalonectris edwardsiiDefinitiveFull 
Wedge-tailed ShearwaterArdenna pacificaDefinitiveFull 
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaDefinitiveInland only 
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisDefinitiveInland only 
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusDefinitiveInland only 
Audubon's ShearwaterPuffinus lherminieriDefinitiveInland only 
Order Ciconiiformes — Storks
Family Ciconiidae — Storks
Wood StorkMycteria americanaDefinitive 
Order Suliformes — Frigatebirds, Boobies, Cormorant
Family Fregatidae — Frigatebirds
Magnificent FrigatebirdFregata magnificensDefinitiveInland only 
Family Sulidae — Boobies, Gannet
Masked BoobySula dactylatraDefinitiveInland only 
Brown BoobySula leucogasterDefinitiveInland only 
Red-footed BoobySula sulaDefinitiveFull 
Northern GannetMorus bassanusDefinitiveInland only 
Family Anhingidae — Anhinga
AnhingaAnhinga anhingaDefinitive 
Family Phalacrocoracidae — Cormorants
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboDefinitiveMountains only 
Double-crested CormorantNannopterum auritusDefinitive 
Neotropic CormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianusDefinitiveFull 
Order Pelecaniformes — Pelicans, Herons, Ibises
Family Pelecanidae — Pelicans
American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchosDefinitiveMountains only 
Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalisDefinitive 
Family Ardeidae — Herons
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusDefinitive 
Least BitternIxobrychus exilisDefinitive 
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasDefinitive 
Great EgretArdea albaDefinitive 
Little EgretEgretta garzettaDefinitiveFull 
Snowy EgretEgretta thulaDefinitive 
Little Blue HeronEgretta caeruleaDefinitive 
Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolorDefinitive 
Reddish EgretEgretta rufescensDefinitiveInland only 
Cattle EgretBubulcus ibisDefinitive 
Green HeronButorides virescensDefinitive 
Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticoraxDefinitive 
Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violaceaDefinitive 
Family Threskiornithidae — Ibises, Spoonbill
White IbisEudocimus albusDefinitive 
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusDefinitive 
White-faced IbisPlegadis chihiDefinitiveInland only 
Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajajaDefinitive 
Order Cathartiformes — New World Vultures
Family Cathartidae — New World Vultures
Black VultureCoragyps atratusDefinitive 
Turkey VultureCathartes auraDefinitive 
Order Accipitriformes — Vultures, Osprey, Hawks
Family Pandionidae — Osprey
OspreyPandion haliaetusDefinitive 
Family Accipitridae — Hawks
White-tailed KiteElanus leucurusDefinitiveFull 
Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatusDefinitive 
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosDefinitive 
Northern HarrierCircus hudsoniusDefinitive 
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusDefinitive 
Cooper's HawkAccipiter cooperiiDefinitive 
American GoshawkAccipiter atricapillusDefinitive 
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusDefinitive 
Mississippi KiteIctinia mississippiensisDefinitive 
Snail KiteRostrhamus sociabilisDefinitiveFull 
Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatusDefinitive 
Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterusDefinitive 
Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoniDefinitiveMountains only 
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisDefinitive 
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusDefinitive 
Order Strigiformes — Owls
Family Tytonidae — Barn Owls
Barn OwlTyto albaDefinitive 
Family Strigidae — Owls
Eastern Screech-OwlMegascops asioDefinitive 
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusDefinitive 
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusDefinitive 
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaDefinitiveFull 
Barred OwlStrix variaDefinitive 
Long-eared OwlAsio otusDefinitive 
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusDefinitive 
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusDefinitive 
Order Coraciiformes — Kingfisher
Family Alcedinidae — Kingfisher
Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyonDefinitive 
Order Piciformes — Woodpeckers
Family Picidae — Woodpeckers
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusDefinitive 
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusDefinitive 
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusDefinitive 
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensDefinitive 
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerDryobates borealisDefinitiveMountains only 
Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosusDefinitive 
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusDefinitive 
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusDefinitive 
Ivory-billed WoodpeckerCampephilus principalisDefinitiveExtinct
Order Falconiformes — Falcons
Family Falconidae — Falcons
Crested CaracaraCaracara plancusDefinitiveFull 
American KestrelFalco sparveriusDefinitive 
MerlinFalco columbariusDefinitive 
GyrfalconFalco rusticolusProvisionalFull 
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusDefinitive 
Order Psittaciformes — Parrots
Family Psittacidae — Parrots
Carolina ParakeetConuropsis carolinensisDefinitiveExtinct
Order Passeriformes — Flycatchers, songbirds
Family Tyrannidae — Flycatchers
Ash-throated FlycatcherMyiarchus cinerascensDefinitiveInland only 
Great Crested FlycatcherMyiarchus crinitusDefinitive 
Tropical KingbirdTyrannus melancholicusDefinitiveFull 
Cassin's KingbirdTyrannus vociferansDefinitiveFull 
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisDefinitive 
Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannusDefinitive 
Gray KingbirdTyrannus dominicensisDefinitiveMountains only 
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusDefinitive 
Fork-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus savanaDefinitiveFull 
Olive-sided FlycatcherContopus cooperiDefinitive 
Eastern Wood-PeweeContopus virensDefinitive 
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisDefinitive 
Acadian FlycatcherEmpidonax virescensDefinitive 
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumDefinitive 
Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax trailliiDefinitive 
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusDefinitive 
Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondiiDefinitiveFull 
Gray FlycatcherEmpidonax wrightiiDefinitiveFull 
Western FlycatcherEmpidonax difficilisDefinitiveFull 
Eastern PhoebeSayornis phoebeDefinitive 
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaDefinitiveInland only 
Vermilion FlycatcherPyrocephalus rubinusDefinitiveFull 
Family Vireonidae — Vireos
White-eyed VireoVireo griseusDefinitive 
Bell's VireoVireo belliiDefinitiveInland only 
Yellow-throated VireoVireo flavifronsDefinitive 
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusDefinitive 
Philadelphia VireoVireo philadelphicusDefinitive 
Warbling VireoVireo gilvusDefinitive 
Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceusDefinitive 
Yellow-green VireoVireo flavoviridisDefinitiveFull 
Black-whiskered VireoVireo altiloquusDefinitiveInland only 
Family Laniidae — Shrikes
Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusDefinitive 
Northern ShrikeLanius borealisDefinitiveFull 
Family Corvidae — Crows, Jays
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataDefinitive 
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosDefinitive 
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusDefinitive 
Common RavenCorvus coraxDefinitiveCoastal only 
Family Paridae — Chickadees, Titmice
Carolina ChickadeePoecile carolinensisDefinitive 
Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusDefinitiveDownstate only 
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorDefinitive 
Family Alaudidae — Larks
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisDefinitive 
Family Hirundinidae — Swallows
Bank SwallowRiparia ripariaDefinitive 
Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolorDefinitive 
Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassinaProvisionalFull 
Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennisDefinitive 
Purple MartinProgne subisDefinitive 
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaDefinitive 
Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonotaDefinitive 
Cave SwallowPetrochelidon fulvaDefinitiveMountains only 
Family Regulidae — Kinglets
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaDefinitive 
Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapaDefinitive 
Family Bombycillidae — Waxwings
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumDefinitive 
Family Sittidae — Nuthatches
Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensisDefinitive 
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisDefinitive 
Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusillaDefinitive 
Family Certhiidae — Creepers
Brown CreeperCerthia americanaDefinitive 
Family Polioptilidae — Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptila caeruleaDefinitive 
Family Troglodytidae — Wrens
Bewick's WrenThryomanes bewickiiDefinitiveFull 
Carolina WrenThryothorus ludovicianusDefinitive 
House WrenTroglodytes aedonDefinitive 
Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalisDefinitive 
Sedge WrenCistothorus stellarisDefinitive 
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisDefinitive 
Family Mimidae — Mimic Thrushes
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisDefinitive 
Brown ThrasherToxostoma rufumDefinitive 
Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanusDefinitiveFull 
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosDefinitive 
Family Sturnidae — Starlings
European StarlingSturnus vulgarisDefinitive 
Family Turdidae — Thrushes
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisDefinitive 
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesDefinitiveFull 
Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendiDefinitiveFull 
VeeryCatharus fuscescensDefinitive 
Gray-cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusDefinitive 
Bicknell's ThrushCatharus bicknelliDefinitiveInland only 
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusDefinitive 
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusDefinitive 
Wood ThrushHylocichla mustelinaDefinitive 
American RobinTurdus migratoriusDefinitive 
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusDefinitiveFull 
Family Muscicapidae — Old World Flycatchers
Northern WheatearOenanthe oenantheDefinitiveFull 
Family Passeridae — Old World Sparrows
House SparrowPasser domesticusDefinitive 
Family Motacillidae — Pipits, Wagtails
White WagtailMotacilla albaDefinitiveFull 
American PipitAnthus rubescensDefinitive 
Sprague's PipitAnthus spragueiiDefinitiveFull 
Family Fringillidae — Finches
BramblingFringilla montifringillaDefinitiveFull 
Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinusDefinitive 
Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleatorProvisionalFull 
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusDefinitive 
Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureusDefinitive 
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaDefinitive 
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraDefinitive 
White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucopteraDefinitive 
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusDefinitive 
Lesser GoldfinchSpinus psaltriaDefinitiveFull 
American GoldfinchSpinus tristisDefinitive 
Family Calcariidae — Longspurs, Snow Bunting
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusDefinitive 
Chestnut-collared LongspurCalcarius ornatusDefinitiveFull 
Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictusDefinitiveFull 
Thick-billed LongspurRhynchophanes mccowniiDefinitiveFull 
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisDefinitive 
Family Passerellidae — New World Sparrows
Cassin's SparrowPeucaea cassiniiDefinitiveFull 
Bachman's SparrowPeucaea aestivalisDefinitiveMountains only 
Grasshopper SparrowAmmodramus savannarumDefinitive 
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusDefinitive 
Lark BuntingCalamospiza melanocorysDefinitiveFull 
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaDefinitive 
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaDefinitive 
Field SparrowSpizella pusillaDefinitive 
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaDefinitive 
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaDefinitive 
Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalisDefinitive 
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysDefinitive 
Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapillaDefinitiveFull 
Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querulaDefinitiveFull 
White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollisDefinitive 
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusDefinitive 
LeConte's SparrowAmmospiza leconteiiDefinitive 
Seaside SparrowAmmospiza maritimaDefinitiveInland only 
Nelson's SparrowAmmospiza nelsoniDefinitive 
Saltmarsh SparrowAmmospiza caudacutaDefinitiveInland only 
Henslow's SparrowCentronyx henslowiiDefinitive 
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisDefinitive 
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaDefinitive 
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiDefinitive 
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaDefinitive 
Green-tailed TowheePipilo chlorurusDefinitiveFull 
Spotted TowheePipilo maculatusDefinitiveFull 
Eastern TowheePipilo erythrophthalmusDefinitive 
Family Icteriidae — Yellow-breasted Chat
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virensDefinitive 
Family Icteridae — Blackbirds
Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalusDefinitive 
BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusDefinitive 
Eastern MeadowlarkSturnella magnaDefinitive 
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaProvisionalFull 
Orchard OrioleIcterus spuriusDefinitive 
Hooded OrioleIcterus cucullatusDefinitiveFull 
Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockiiDefinitiveMountains only 
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaDefinitive 
Scott's OrioleIcterus parisorumDefinitiveFull 
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusDefinitive 
Shiny CowbirdMolothrus bonariensisDefinitiveInland only 
Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneusDefinitiveFull 
Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus aterDefinitive 
Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusDefinitive 
Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalusDefinitive 
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaDefinitive 
Boat-tailed GrackleQuiscalus majorDefinitiveInland only 
Family Parulidae — Wood Warblers
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaDefinitive 
Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorumDefinitive 
Louisiana WaterthrushParkesia motacillaDefinitive 
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisDefinitive 
Bachman's WarblerVermivora bachmaniiDefinitiveExtinct
Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysopteraDefinitive 
Blue-winged WarblerVermivora cyanopteraDefinitive 
Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta variaDefinitive 
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaDefinitive 
Swainson's WarblerLimnothlypis swainsoniiDefinitive 
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaDefinitive 
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataDefinitive 
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaDefinitive 
Connecticut WarblerOporornis agilisDefinitive 
MacGillivray's WarblerGeothlypis tolmieiDefinitiveFull 
Mourning WarblerGeothlypis philadelphiaDefinitive 
Kentucky WarblerGeothlypis formosaDefinitive 
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasDefinitive 
Hooded WarblerSetophaga citrinaDefinitive 
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaDefinitive 
Kirtland's WarblerSetophaga kirtlandiiDefinitiveDownstate only 
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaDefinitive 
Cerulean WarblerSetophaga ceruleaDefinitive 
Northern ParulaSetophaga americanaDefinitive 
Magnolia WarblerSetophaga magnoliaDefinitive 
Bay-breasted WarblerSetophaga castaneaDefinitive 
Blackburnian WarblerSetophaga fuscaDefinitive 
Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechiaDefinitive 
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaDefinitive 
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataDefinitive 
Black-throated Blue WarblerSetophaga caerulescensDefinitive 
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumDefinitive 
Pine WarblerSetophaga pinusDefinitive 
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataDefinitive 
Yellow-throated WarblerSetophaga dominicaDefinitive 
Prairie WarblerSetophaga discolorDefinitive 
Black-throated Gray WarblerSetophaga nigrescensDefinitiveFull 
Townsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendiDefinitiveFull 
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensDefinitive 
Canada WarblerCardellina canadensisDefinitive 
Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusillaDefinitive 
Painted RedstartMyioborus pictusDefinitiveFull 
Family Cardinalidae — Cardinals, Buntings, Grosbeaks,
Summer TanagerPiranga rubraDefinitive 
Scarlet TanagerPiranga olivaceaDefinitive 
Western TanagerPiranga ludovicianaDefinitive 
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisDefinitive 
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusDefinitive 
Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalusDefinitiveMountains only 
Blue GrosbeakPasserina caeruleaDefinitive 
Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoenaDefinitiveFull 
Indigo BuntingPasserina cyaneaDefinitive 
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisDefinitiveMountains only 
DickcisselSpiza americanaDefinitive 

Total species494 (483 Definitive)

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 Procellariiformes — Tubenoses
Family Procellariidae — Shearwaters, Petrels
Cory's Shearwater (Scopoli's)Calonectris diomedia diomediaDefinitiveFull 
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 subspecies5

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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