PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-888-721-3555
 or 302/529-1876

 

North Carolina Birds

during Focus On Nature Tours 

1992 thru 2015

during land-birding tours 
and offshore pelagic trips

during the months of May, June, 
 July, August, September
A List of North Carolina Birds by Armas Hill 

                                 
The numbers following the bird names indicate the number of years during which the bird was found with FONT North Carolina landbirding (with a maximum of 12 years of records). 
Birds only during FONT pelagic trips off North Carolina are without such numbers.

234 species of birds have cumulatively been found during FONT tours in North Carolina. A notable subspecies brings the following list to 235.    


late-spring:   in May–June 
summer:       in July-August–September 
Codes:

(p):    seen only during FONT offshore pelagic trips, 1992-2000
(+p):  seen during offshore pelagic trips & on (or from) land
(t):     globally-threatened species, as designated by Birdlife International
              (t1): critical     (t2): endangered       (t3): vulnerable
(nt):   a near-threatened species globally

(USe):  endemic to the United States 
(NAr):   rare in North America
(NCr):   rare in North Carolina
(VAo):  seen only during tour in nearby Virginia 
(*):       notable sightings  (with some notes following list)

 (i):    an introduced species
(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website


Links: 

An Essay about Carolina Birds  (some interesting reading)  

A Complete List & Photo Gallery of North American Birds, in 6 parts:
Part #1: Grouse to Anhinga    Part #2: Condor to Shorebirds    Part #3: Jaegers to Cuckoos
Part #4: Owls to Flycatchers    Part #5: Shrikes to Pipits    Part #6: Olive Warbler to Buntings 


Lists with Other North Carolina Nature (each with some photos):
Mammals (Land & Sea)    Butterflies    Moths    Dragonflies & Damselflies   

Amphibians & Reptiles     Wildflowers & Other Plants

Marine Life (inc. Jellyfish, Mollusks (Shells), & Arthropods: Crustaceans & Echinoderms)    Fish   

Directory of Photos in this Website 


Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours:   in North America  (inc. North Carolina)
by month in:   2015   2016   or:  by geographic locations worldwide  



A Bridled Tern off the North Carolina Coast
(photograph by Alan Brady)



 Painted Buntings are seen during our land-birding tour
in the spring along the North Carolina coast.
 (photograph by Clair de Beauvior) 


Bird-List:

  1. Northern Bobwhite  (nt) (ph)  ______ 12
    Colinus v. virginianus



    Northern Bobwhite
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  2. Common Pheasant  (i) ______ 1 late-spring
    Phasianus colchicus

    Some Common Pheasants, dependent upon their race, have also been called "Ring-necked Pheasant".
  3. Wild Turkey  (ph)  ______ 3 late-spring
    Meleagris gallopavo silvestris

  4. Mute Swan (i) (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring 
    Cygnus olor

  5. Tundra Swan  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Cygnus c. columbianus

    The North American subspecies, Cygnus c. columbianus, has been called the "Whistling Swan".

  6. Canada Goose ______ 12 late-spring
    Branta c. canadensis 

  7. Snow Goose  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Chen     (has been Anser) caerulescens atlanticus ("Greater Snow Goose")

  8. Mallard  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring
    Anas p. platyrhynchos

  9. American Black Duck  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring
    Anas rubripes      (monotypic)



    American Black Duck
     (photo by Marie Gardner)
  10. Gadwall  (ph) (*) ______ 8 late-spring
    Anas s. strepera

     
  11. Blue-winged Teal  (ph)  ______ 4
    Anas discors      (monotypic)
  12. Northern Pintail  (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Anas acuta     (monotypic)
  13. Northern Shoveler  (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Anas clypeata      (monotypic)
  14. American Wigeon  (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Anas americana      (monotypic)
  15. Wood Duck  (ph)  ______ 7 late-spring 
    Aix sponsa      (monotypic)

    The Wood Duck has also been called the "Carolina Duck".



    A Wood, or "Carolina" Duck
         (photo by Marie Gardner)

  16. Black Scoter  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Melanitta americana 

    The Black Scoter was conspecific with the     Common Scoter of Europe, Melanitta nigra) 

  17. Common Eider  (NCr, in the summer) (ph) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Somateria mollissima dresseri

  18. Common Merganser  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Mergus merganser americanus

  19. Common Loon  (+p) (ph)  ______ 7 late-spring
    Gavia immer      (monotypic)
  20. Red-throated Loon  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Gavia stellata      (monotypic)

  21. Cory's Shearwater (p) (ph)  ______
    Calonectris (diomedea) borealis 

         What has been the Cory's Shearwater has been considered by some to be 3 species: 
    those that breed in the Mediterranean as: Scopoli's Shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
    those that breed in the Azores, Madeira, & Canary Islands as: Cory's Shearwater, Calonectris borealis 
    and those that breed in the Cape Verde Islands as: Cape Verde Shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii    



    Cory's Shearwater
         (photo by Alan Brady)

  22. Great Shearwater  (p) (ph)  ______   
    Puffinus gravis      (monotypic)

    Puffinus gravis has been called the Greater Shearwater.



    Great Shearwater
         (photo by Alan Brady)
  23. Sooty Shearwater  (nt) (+p) (ph) (*)  ______
    Puffinus griseus      (monotypic)
  24. Audubon's Shearwater  (p) (ph)  ______
    Puffinus l. lherminieri



    Audubon's Shearwaters
     (photo by Alan Brady)
  25. Manx Shearwater  (p) ______ summer
    Puffinus puffinus      (now monotypic)
         (now monotypic)
    The Manx Shearwater did include what is now the Yelkouan and the Balearic Shearwaters of the Mediterranean. Those birds do not occur in the western Atlantic. 
  26. Black-capped Petrel  (t2) (p) (ph)  ______
    Pterodroma h. hasitata      (the other subspecies, a dark form which bred (or possibly breeds) on Jamaica, may now be extinct)



    Black-capped Petrel
  27. Trindade Petrel  (t3) (p) (NAr) (*) ______  (was called Herald Petrel, see note below)  
    Pterodroma arminjoniana       

         The Trindade Petrel in the Atlantic Ocean is now said to be distinct from the closely-related Pterodroma heraldica, the Herald Petrel, of the Pacific Ocean.
    Note: the correct spelling for the island, off the Brazilian coast, where the bird breeds is "Trindade".    

      
  28. Fea's Petrel  (nt) (p) (NAr) (ph) (*) ______ 
    Pterodroma feae

         The subspecies of the Fea's Petrel that breeds on the Cape Verde Islands is Pterodroma f. feae. 
    The subspecies that breeds on a small island off Madeira and possibly on the Azores is Pterodroma f. deserta. 
    These may be determined to be 2 species. 
    The Fea's Petrel was considered part of Soft-plumaged Petrel, Pterodroma mollis.     
  29. Bulwer's Petrel  (p) (NAr) (ph) (*) ______
    Bulweria bulwerii      (monotypic)
  30. Leach's Storm Petrel  (p) ______
    Oceanodroma l. leucorhoa
  31. Band-rumped Storm Petrel  (p) (*) ______
    Oceanodroma castro      (monotypic)

    Oceanodroma castro     has also been called the Harcourt's, or Madeiran Storm Petrel.

  32. Wilson's Storm Petrel  (+p) (ph) (*)  ______
    Oceanites oceanicus
    2 subspecies of the Wilson's Storm Petrel occur in the North Atlantic: O. o. oceanicus and O. o. exasperatus) 



    Wilson's Storm Petrel
      
  33. White-faced Storm Petrel  (p) (NAr) (ph) (*)  ______ summer 
    Pelagodroma marina      (the single member of its genus) 

         2 subspecies of the White-faced Storm Petrel occur in the North Atlantic:
    P. m. hypoleuca,         breeding in the Madeira & Canary Is., and 
    P. m. eadesi, breeding in the Cape Verde Is.





    Two photographs of a White-faced Storm Petrel
    during a FONT pelagic trip off the East Coast of the US
  34. Pied-billed Grebe  (ph)  ______ 2 summer
    Podilymbus p. podiceps

  35. American White Ibis  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Eudocimus albus     (monotypic)



    American White Ibis
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  36. Glossy Ibis  (ph)  ______ 6
    Plegadis falcinellus     (although many places world-wide, considered monotypic)

  37. Great Blue Heron  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring
    Ardea h. herodias 

  38. "Great White Heron"  (NCr) ______ 1 summer
         Ardea herodias occidentalis  

    The "Great White Heron" is a white morph of the Great Blue Heron. This form is found mostly in salt water habitats. It is Never common. Persecution and natural disasters reduced it to about 150 birds in 1935. North of Miami, Florida, it is only an isolated wanderer.    
     
  39. Great Egret  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Ardea alba egretta      (was Casmerodius, or Egretta alba)
  40. Snowy Egret  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Egretta     t. thula  (was Leucophoyx thula)
  41. Little Egret (NAr) (VAo) (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Egretta g. garzetta

  42. Little Blue Heron  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Egretta     caerulea  (was Florida caerulea)  (now monotypic)

         caerulea  (was Florida caerulea)  (now monotypic)
  43. Tricolored Heron  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring
    Egretta      (formerly Hydranassa) tricolor ruficollis

    Egretta tricolor     was called the Louisiana Heron.

  44. Reddish Egret  (NCr) (ph) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Egretta      r. rufescens  (was Dichromanassa rufescens)
  45. Western Cattle Egret  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring
    Bubulcus i. ibis

    As info, the Eastern Cattle Egret, Bubulcus coromandus, occurs in southern and eastern Asia. 
     
  46. Green Heron  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring  
    Butorides v. virescens

    The Green Heron was, for a time, considered conspecific with the nearly-cosmopolitan Striated Heron, and was then called the Green-backed Heron.
  47. Black-crowned Night Heron  (ph)  ______ 10
    Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli

  48. Yellow-crowned Night Heron  (ph)  ______ 4
    Nyctanassa v. violacea

  49. White-tailed Tropicbird  (p) (ph) (*)  ______
    Phaethon lepturus catesbyi



    White-tailed Tropicbird
     (photo by Alan Brady)
  50. Red-billed Tropicbird  (p) (ph) (*)  ______
    Phaethon aethereus mesonauta



    Red-billed Tropicbird
         (photo by Alan Brady)

  51. Magnificent Frigatebird  (p) (NCr) (ph) (*)  ______  late-spring
    Fregata magnificens      (monotypic)

  52. Brown Pelican  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis
  53. Brown Booby  (+p) (ph) (*) ______ summer
    Sula l. leucogaster

  54. Masked Booby  (p) ______ late-spring
    Sula d. dactylatra 

  55. Northern Gannet  (+p) (ph)  ______ 5 late-spring
    Morus     (formerly Sula) bassanus  (monotypic)

  56. Double-crested Cormorant  (ph) ______ 12 late-spring
    Phalacrocorax a. auritus     (another subspecies in the southeast US: P. a. floridanus) 

  57. Turkey Vulture  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring
    Cathartes aura septentrionalis

  58. Black Vulture  (ph)  ______ 8 late-spring
    Coragyps atratus      (now said to be monotypic) (the single member of its genus)
  59. Mississippi Kite ______ 8 late-spring
    Ictinia mississippiensis      (monotypic)
  60. Osprey  (ph)  ______ 11
    Pandion haliaetus carolinensis      (the single member of its genus)



    Osprey
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  61. Bald Eagle  (ph)  ______ 1  late-spring
    Haliaeetus leucocephalus
  62. Red-shouldered Hawk  (ph)  ______ 2
    Buteo l. lineatus



    A juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  63. Red-tailed Hawk  (ph) ______ 11
    Buteo jamaicensis borealis



    Red-tailed Hawk
    (photo by Marie Gardner)
  64. Northern Harrier  (ph)  ______ 4 late-spring, summer  
    Circus cyaneus hudsonius

    The Northern Harrier was conspecific with the Hen Harrier of Eurasia, Circus cyaneus.

     
  65. American Kestrel  (ph)  ______ 4
    Falco s. sparverius

  66. Merlin  (ph) ______ 2
    Falco c. columbarius

  67. Peregrine Falcon  (ph)  ______ 2
    Falco peregrinus 

  68. Clapper Rail  (ph)  ______ 11
    Rallus crepitans     (was R. longirostris)
         (2 subspecies in North Carolina: R. c. crepitans in northeast North Carolina  and R. c. waynei in southeast North Carolina) 



    Clapper Rail
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  69. Virginia Rail  (ph)  ______ 7 late-spring
    Rallus l. limicola 



    Virginia Rail
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  70. Black Rail  (nt)  ______  5 late-spring
    Laterallus j. jamaicensis 

  71. Common Gallinule  (ph)  ______ 2
    Gallinula galeata (formerly chloropus) 

  72. American Coot  (ph)  ______ 2
    Fulica a. americana 

  73. American Oystercatcher  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Haematopus p. palliatus

  74. Black-necked Stilt  (ph) ______ 7   
    Himantopus mexicanus      

    The Black-necked Stilt has been considered by some to be a part of the nearly-cosmopolitan Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus.  
  75. American Avocet  (ph)  ______ 3
    Recurvirostra americana      (monotypic)
  76. Black-bellied Plover  (ph)  ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Pluvialis squatarola cynosurae

    Another name for Pluvialis squatarola is Grey Plover, especially in the Old World.
  77. American Golden Plover (*) (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Pluvialis dominica      (monotypic)
  78. Semipalmated Plover  (ph)  ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Charadrius semipalmatus      (monotypic)
  79. Piping Plover (t3) (ph)  ______ 4  
    Charadrius melodus      (monotypic)

  80. Wilson's Plover  (ph)  ______ 8 late-spring
    Charadrius w. wilsonia 

  81. Killdeer  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Charadrius v. vociferus

  82. Upland Sandpiper ______ 2 summer
    Bartramia longicauda      (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)  

  83. "American" Whimbrel  (ph)  ______ 3
    Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus

  84. Long-billed Curlew  (NCr) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Numenius americanus 
    (2 subspecies in western North America: N. a. parvus & n. a. americanus. Those that wander east ?) 

  85. Marbled Godwit  (ph)  ______ 4 summer
    Limosa f. fedoa

  86. Greater Yellowlegs  ______ 6
    Tringa melanoleuca      (monotypic)
  87. Lesser Yellowlegs  (+p) (ph)  ______ 6
    Tringa flavipes      (monotypic)
  88. Solitary Sandpiper  ______ 1 late-spring
    Tringa s. solitaria

  89. Spotted Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ 4
    Actitis macularius      (monotypic)
  90. Willet  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Tringa (formerly Catoptrophorus) s. semipalmatus



    Above & below: Willets 
         (photos by Howard Eskin)




  91. Ruddy Turnstone  (+p) (ph)  ______  9 late-spring, summer
    Arenaria interpres morinella

  92. Red Knot  (ph)  ______  8 late-spring, summer
    Calidris canutus rufa 



    Red Knot
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  93. Sanderling  (+p) (ph)  ______  9
    Calidris alba rubida

  94. Semipalmated Sandpiper  (+p) (ph)  ______  10 late-spring, summer
    Calidris pusilla      (monotypic)
  95. Western Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ 2
    Calidris mauri      (monotypic)
  96. Least Sandpiper  (ph)  ______  6 late-spring, summer
    Calidris minutilla      (monotypic)
  97. White-rumped Sandpiper  (ph)  ______  4
    Calidris fuscicollis      (monotypic)
  98. Pectoral Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ 2 summer
    Calidris melanotos      (monotypic)
  99. Dunlin  (ph)  ______ 2 late-spring
    Calidris alpina hudsonia



    Dunlin
     (photo by Howard Eskin)

  100. Curlew Sandpiper  (NCr) (ph)  ______  3 summer
    Calidris ferruginea      (monotypic)



    A Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  101. Stilt Sandpiper  (ph)  ______ 3 summer
    Calidris     (formerly Micropalama) himantopus

  102. Ruff / Reeve  (*) (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Philomachus pugnax      (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
  103. Buff-breasted Sandpiper  (nt) (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Tryngites subruficollis      (the single member of its genus)



    Buff-breasted Sandpiper
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  104. Short-billed Dowitcher  (ph)  ______  7
    Limnodromus griseus hendersoni



    Short-billed Dowitcher
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  105. Long-billed Dowitcher  (ph)  ______ 3 summer
    Limnodromus scolopaceus      (monotypic)
  106. Wilson's Phalarope ______ 3 summer
    Phalaropus     (formerly Steganopus) tricolor  (monotypic)
  107. Red-necked Phalarope (+p) (ph)  ______  8
    Phalaropus lobatus      (monotypic)



    Red-necked Phalaropes at sea
     (photo by Alan Brady)
  108. Pomarine Jaeger  (p) (ph)  ______   
    Stercorarius pomarinus      (monotypic)

    Stercorarius pomarinus     is also called the Pomarine Skua, especially in the Old World.
  109. Parasitic Jaeger  (+p) (ph)  ______ 4  
    Stercorarius parasiticus      (monotypic)

    Stercorarius parasiticus     is also called the Arctic Skua, especially in the Old World.

  110. Long-tailed Jaeger  (p) (ph)  ______  
    Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens

    Stercorarius longicaudus     is also called the Long-tailed Skua, especially in the Old World.

  111. South Polar Skua  (p) (ph)  ______
    Stercorarius     (formerly Catharacta) maccormicki  (monotypic)
  112. Laughing Gull  (+p) (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Leucophaeus     (formerly Larus) atricilla megalopterus
  113. Bonaparte's Gull  (*) (ph)  ______ 1
    Chroicocephalus     (formerly Larus) philadelphia  (monotypic)
  114. Ring-billed Gull  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Larus delawarensis      (monotypic)
  115. "American" Herring Gull  (+p)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Larus argentatus smithsonianus 

    Larus argentatus smithsonianus     has been considered conspecific with the     Herring Gulls of Europe, L. a. argenteus & L. a. argentatus, and with the Vega Gull of eastern Asia, L. vegae.    

  116. Great Black-backed Gull  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Larus marinus      (monotypic)
  117. Gull-billed Tern  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Gelochelidon     (formerly Sterna) nilotica aranea
  118. Caspian Tern  (ph)  ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Hydroprogne     (formerly Sterna) caspia
  119. Royal Tern  (+p) (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus     (formerly Sterna) m. maxima
  120. Sandwich Tern  (+p) (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus     (formerly Sterna) sandvicensis acuflavida
  121. Common Tern  (+p)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sterna h. hirundo

  122. Arctic Tern  (+p) (*) (ph)  ______ 4 late-spring
    Sterna paradisaea      (monotypic)
  123. Forster's Tern  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Sterna forsteri      (monotypic)



    Forster's Tern
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  124. Least Tern ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Sternula     (formerly Sterna) a. antillarum
  125. Bridled Tern  (p) (ph)  ______
    Onychoprion     (formerly Sterna) anaethetus melanoptera



    Bridled Tern
     (photo by Alan Brady)
  126. Sooty Tern  (+p) (ph)  ______ 7
    Onychoprion (formerly Sterna) f. fuscata



    Sooty Tern
     (photo by Alan Brady)
  127. Black Tern  (+p) (ph)  ______ 7
    Chlidonias niger surinamensis

  128. Black Skimmer  (ph)  ______ 11
    Rynchops n. niger

  129. Atlantic Puffin  (p) (*) (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Fratercula a. arctica

  130. Feral Pigeon  (i) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Columba livia

  131. Mourning Dove ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Zenaida macroura carolinensis

  132. Eurasian Collared Dove  (i) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Streptopelia d. decaocto

  133. Yellow-billed Cuckoo  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Coccyzus americanus      (monotypic)



    Yellow-billed Cuckoo
     (photo by Rhett Poppe)
  134. American Barn Owl  (ph)  ______ 1 summer
    Tyto furcata

    The American Barn Owl has been part of the Barn Owl of Eurasia and Africa, Tyto alba.
    But Tyto furcata is a heavier bird, with a larger and stouter head and body, with much more powerful talons.   
  135. Eastern Screech Owl  (ph)  ______ 4
         Megascops (formerly Otus) a. asio 

     

    A young Eastern Screech Owl
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  136. Great Horned Owl  (ph)  ______ 8
    Bubo v. virginianus 

  137. Barred Owl  (ph)  ______ 6 late-spring, summer  
    Strix varia georgica

  138. Chuck-Will's-Widow ______ 12 late-spring  
    Caprimulgus carolinensis      (monotypic)
  139. Whip-poor-will ______ 3 late-spring
    Caprimulgus v. vociferus

  140. Common Nighthawk  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Chordeiles m. minor 

  141. Antillean Nighthawk  (NCr) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Chordeiles gundlachii vicinus

  142. Chimney Swift  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Chaetura pelagica      (monotypic)
  143. Ruby-throated Hummingbird  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Archilochus colubris      (monotypic)



    A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
       
  144. Belted Kingfisher  (ph)  ______ 7
    Megaceryle     (formerly Ceryle) alcyon  (monotypic)



    Belted Kingfisher
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  145. "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Colaptes auratus luteus

  146. Red-bellied Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Melanerpes carolinus      (monotypic)



    Red-bellied Woodpecker
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  147. Red-headed Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring
    Melanerpes erythrocephalus      (monotypic)





    Red-headed Woodpeckers, 
    an adult     (above) and an immature (below) 
     (photos by Howard Eskin)
  148. Downy Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Picoides p. pubescens 

  149. Hairy Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ 7
    Picoides v. audubonii



    Hairy Woodpecker
    (photo by Doris Potter)
  150. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (t3)  (USe) ______ 12 late-spring
    Picoides borealis      (monotypic)
  151. Pileated Woodpecker  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring, summer  
    Dryocopus p. pileatus



    Pileated Woodpecker

  152. Eastern Kingbird  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Tyrannus tyrannus      (monotypic)



    Eastern Kingbird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  153. Great Crested Flycatcher  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Myiarchus crinitus      (monotypic)
  154. Acadian Flycatcher ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Empidonax virescens      (monotypic)
  155. Eastern Wood Pewee  (ph)  ______ 11
    Contopus virens      (monotypic)
  156. Eastern Phoebe  (ph)  ______ 4 late-spring
    Sayornis phoebe      (monotypic)



    Eastern Phoebe
    (photo by Rhett Poppe)
  157. Loggerhead Shrike  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Lanius ludovicianus
  158. White-eyed Vireo  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Vireo g. griseus



    White-eyed Vireo
    (photo by Dick Tipton)
  159. Blue-headed Vireo  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Vireo s. solitarius

    The Blue-headed Vireo was part of the former Solitary Vireo.
  160. Yellow-throated Vireo ______ 4 late-spring
    Vireo flavifrons      (monotypic)
  161. Red-eyed Vireo ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Vireo o. olivaceus
  162. Blue Jay  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Cyanocitta c. cristata



    Blue Jay
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  163. American Crow  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Corvus b. brachyrhynchos

  164. Fish Crow  (USe)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Corvus ossifragus      (monotypic)
  165. Carolina Chickadee  (USe) (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Poecile     (formerly Parus) c. carolinensis



    Carolina Chickadee
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  166. Tufted Titmouse ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Baeolophus     (formerly Parus) bicolor 

  167. White-breasted Nuthatch  (ph)  ______ 6 late-spring
    Sitta c. carolinensis



    White-breasted Nuthatch
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  168. Brown-headed Nuthatch  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer 
    Sitta p. pusilla      (this subspecies endemic to the southeast US; the other is in the Bahamas)



    Brown-headed Nuthatch
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  169. Purple Martin  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Progne s. subis

  170. Barn Swallow  (+p) (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Hirundo rustica erythrogaster

  171. American Cliff Swallow ______ 1  late-spring
    Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
  172. Tree Swallow  (+p) (ph)  ______  5
    Tachycineta bicolor      (monotypic)
  173. Northern Rough-winged Swallow  (ph)  ______ 6
    Stelgidopterys s. serripennis

  174. Carolina Wren  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Thryothorus l. ludovicianus



    Carolina Wren
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  175. House Wren  (ph)  ______ 4
    Troglodytes a. aedon



    A House Wren, looking at you!
         (photo by Howard Eskin)

  176. Marsh Wren  (ph)  ______  6
    Cistothorus palustris waynei

  177. Gray Catbird  (ph)  ______  11 late-spring, summer
    Dumetella carolinensis      (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)



    Gray Catbird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  178. Northern Mockingbird  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer 
    Mimus p. polyglottos



    Northern Mockingbird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  179. Brown Thrasher  (ph)  ______  11 late-spring, summer
    Toxostoma r. rufum



    Brown Thrashers were numerous during the 
    FONT North Carolina tour in May 2009. 
    (photo by Doris Potter)
  180. American Robin ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Turdus m. migratorius

  181. Wood Thrush ______ 8 late-spring
    Hylocichla mustelina      (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)
  182. Eastern Bluebird  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Sialia s. sialis



    Eastern Bluebird
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  183. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring
    Polioptila c. caerulea 

  184. Cedar Waxwing  (ph)  ______ 7
    Bombycilla cedrorum      (monotypic)
  185. European Starling  (i) (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Sturnus v. vulgaris 

  186. House Sparrow (i) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Passer d. domesticus

  187. House Finch  (i) (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis

  188. American Goldfinch  (ph)  ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Carduelis t. tristis

  189. Black-and-white Warbler ______ 3
    Mniotilta varia      (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)
  190. Blue-winged Warbler  (ph)  ______  1 late-spring
    Vermivora pinus      (monotypic)
  191. Northern Parula  (ph)  ______ 9
    Setophaga     (formerly Parula) americana  (monotypic)
  192. Yellow Warbler  (ph)  ______  6
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) petechia  



    Yellow Warbler
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  193. Magnolia Warbler  (+p) (ph)  ______  3
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) magnolia  (monotypic)
  194. Black-throated Blue Warbler ______ 1 summer
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) caerulescens 
         (2 subspecies in North Carolina: S. c. caerulescens & S. c. cairnsi)

  195. Black-throated Green Warbler  (+p) (ph)  ______  5 late-spring  
    Setophaga (formerly Dendroica) virens  (now considered monotypic, although     "Wayne's Warbler" has been S. v. waynei)  

         "Wayne's Warbler" is a breeder in cypress habitat in eastern North Carolina. 
    The "northern" Black-throated Green Warbler, which migrates through North Carolina, breeds further north in spruce-hemlock habitat. 
  196. Bay-breasted Warbler  (+p)  ______  1 late-spring
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) castanea  (monotypic)
  197. Blackburnian Warbler  (ph)  ______  1 late-spring  
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) fusca  (monotypic)
  198. Yellow-throated Warbler  (ph)  ______  10  
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) dominica   (3 subspecies in the eastern US)



    Yellow-throated Warbler
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  199. Blackpoll Warbler  (ph)  ______  1 late-spring  
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) striata  (monotypic)



    Blackpoll Warbler
  200. Pine Warbler  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) p. pinus



    Pine Warbler
         (photo by Andy Smith)
  201. Prairie Warbler  (ph)  ______  11  
    Setophaga     (formerly Dendroica) discolor  (2 subspecies in the southeast US:  S.d. discolor and S. d. paludicola)

    "Scrub Warbler" might be a better name! But Alexander Wilson did not name the bird after the western prairies or grassy plains, but rather after "the barrens of southwestern Kentucky" where he found the bird, an area known to local residents as "prairie country".



    Prairie Warbler
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  202. Prothonotary Warbler  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Protonotaria citrea      (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)



    Prothonotary Warbler
     (photo by Howard Eskin)
  203. Swainson's Warbler ______ 8 late-spring
    Limnothlypis swainsonii      (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)
  204. Worm-eating Warbler ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Helmitheros vermivorum      (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)
  205. Ovenbird  (ph)  ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Seiurus a. aurocapilla

  206. Northern Waterthrush  (+p)  ______  3
    Parkesia     (formerly Seiurus) noveboracensis  (now said to be monotypic)
  207. Louisiana Waterthrush  ______ 4 late-spring
    Parkesia     (formerly Seiurus) motacilla  (monotypic)
  208. Kentucky Warbler  ______ 6 late-spring
    Geothlypis     (formerly Oporornis) formosus  (monotypic)
  209. Mourning Warbler  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring 
    Geothlypis     (formerly Oporornis) philadelphia  (monotypic)



    Mourning Warbler
     (photo by Armas Hill)
  210. Common Yellowthroat  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Geothlypis t. trichas       (another subspecies occurs in the southeast US, G. trichas ignota)
  211. Hooded Warbler  ______ 8 late-spring
    Setophaga     (formerly Wilsonia) citrina  (monotypic)
  212. Canada Warbler  (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring
    Cardellina     (formerly Wilsonia) canadensis  (monotypic)
  213. American Redstart  (ph)  ______ 6  
    Setophaga ruticilla      (monotypic, and the single species of its genus) 
  214. Yellow-breasted Chat  (ph)  ______ 6 late-spring  
    Icteria v. virens      (the single member of its genus)

     
  215. Eastern Meadowlark  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Sturnella magna argutula

  216. Red-winged Blackbird  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Agelaius p. phoeniceus






    Red-winged Blackbirds
         (upper photo by Doris Potter; lower photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  217. Orchard Oriole  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring
    Icterus s. spurius



    Orchard Oriole
     (photo by Marie Gardner)
  218. Baltimore Oriole ______ 1 late-spring    
    Icterus galbula      (monotypic)

     The Baltimore Oriole was, for a while, said to be conspecific with the Bullock's Oriole of western North America, and when so it was called the Northern Oriole. 
  219. Boat-tailed Grackle  (USe) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Quiscalus major torreyi

  220. Common Grackle ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Quiscalus quiscula

  221. Brown-headed Cowbird  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Molothrus a. ater

  222. Summer Tanager  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring
    Piranga r. rubra 

  223. Bachman's Sparrow  (USe) ______ 12 late-spring  (the "Pine-Woods Sparrow")
    Aimophila aestivalis bachmani

  224. Henslow's Sparrow  (nt) (ph)  ______  5 late-spring
    Ammodramus h. henslowii



    Henslow's Sparrow
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  225. Grasshopper Sparrow  (ph)  ______  5 late-spring
    Ammodramus savannarum pratensis

  226. Seaside Sparrow ______ 6
    Ammodramus maritimus macgillivrayi

  227. Saltmarsh Sparrow  (t3) (ph)  ______ 1 late-spring   
    Ammodramus caudacutus diversus

         The Saltmarsh Sparrow was conspecific with what is now the Nelson's Sparrow. When so, it was called the Sharp-tailed Sparrow.



    Saltmarsh Sparrow
         (photo by Howard Eskin)
  228. Chipping Sparrow  (ph)  ______ 10 late-spring
    Spizella p. passerina

  229. Field Sparrow  (ph)  ______ 9
    Spizella p. pusilla

  230. Song Sparrow  (ph)  ______ 9
    Melospiza melodia atlantica



    Song Sparrow
    (photo by Doris Potter)

  231. Eastern Towhee  (ph)  ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Pipilo erythrophthalmus rileyi

     The Eastern Towhee was the Rufous-sided Towhee.



    A male Eastern Towhee
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  232. Northern Cardinal  (ph)  ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Cardinalis c. cardinalis



    Northern Cardinal
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
  233. Blue Grosbeak  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Passerina c. caerulea



    Blue Grosbeak
         (photo by Howard Eskin)
  234. Indigo Bunting  (ph)  ______  12 late-spring, summer
    Passerina cyanea      (monotypic)
  235. Painted Bunting  (ph)  ______  11 late-spring 
    Passerina c. ciris


Notes regarding some special bird sightings during FONT North Carolina Tours,

indicated in the previous list with an  (*)

 

Trinidade (or Herald) Petrels have been seen during FONT NC pelagic trips 1992-99, seven years out of eight. 2 years in June, 6 years in August.

The first "soft-plumaged-type", or Fea's Petrel, during a FONT pelagic trip, in June '95, was photographed well by Mike Danzenbaker & Alan Brady. There were subsequent sightings during FONT trips in 1996, 1998, and 1999.

A Bulwer's Petrel on August 8, 1998 was the first seen and photographed off eastern North America.

Sooty Shearwaters are uncommon off North Carolina during mid and late summer. The species was seen from shore in August 1994.

As many as 160 Band-rumped Storm-Petrels were seen during one pelagic trip in August '97. There was another good day for Band-rumped Storm-Petrels in August '98 when about 120 were seen.

White-faced Storm-Petrels were seen during FONT NC pelagic trips in 1996 & 1999. In '96 in August, in '99 (twice) in July and August.

During June '96, a couple birds of the sea were seen on a beach: a Wilson's Storm-Petrel seen closely, resting, before it flew back out to sea. An Arctic Tern was seen on the same beach at the same time.

White-tailed Tropicbirds were seen during 4 of 5 pelagic trips in August '97. During one trip 3 were seen.

An immature Red-billed Tropicbird was close to the boat, on the water, in May '98.

A Loggerhead Sea Turtle in August '94 was seen at the same time and place offshore as a Brown Booby (off Nags Head). Another Brown Booby was seen that month from Ocracoke Island.

Magnificent Frigatebirds, seen at sea in '93 & '95, are unusual over North Carolina waters.

A "Great White Heron" was present in August 1994 at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

A Reddish Egret was at a pond by Bodie Island lighthouse in August 1994.

Gadwalls were seen with young in August 1994.

A Common Eider was in the surf at Cape Point (Cape Hatteras) in August 1993.

Most of the unusual shorebirds were seen at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge along the Outer Banks, including:

in Aug '93: American Golden-Plover & Long-billed Curlew

in Aug '94: Ruff

in Aug '93, '94, '95: Curlew Sandpiper.

A single Bonaparte's Gull was seen on Ocracoke Island in August 1994.

An Atlantic Puffin, seen on and in flight over 82-degree F. water on August 14, 1993, represented the southernmost record ever for the species (and possibly a first record for North Carolina).

An Antillean Nighthawk was with Common Nighthawks at the dunes of Cape Point (Cape Hatteras) in August 1994.

A Eurasian Collared-Dove was seen near Cape Hatteras, in August '94, in Buxton. That species (native to the Old World) has been spreading north from Florida, having arrived there from the nearby Bahamas (where apparently introduced from Europe).

A Sooty Tern was seen in August 1994 flying over Buxton. A pair nested that year in the nearby Cape Point tern colony. All-dark juvenile Sooty Terns were seen during an August '93 FONT pelagic trip.

Some landbirds seen offshore during FONT pelagic trips in August have included:

Lesser Yellowlegs ('94), Barn Swallow ('93 & '95), Tree Swallow ('94), Northern Waterthrush ('93).

Landbirds seen offshore in May '98 included: Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and 3 species of warblers: Magnolia, Bay-breasted, and Black-throated Green.