PO Box 9021, Wilmington, DE 19809, USA
E-mail: font@focusonnature.com
Phone: Toll-free in USA 1-800-721-9986
 or 302/529-1876; Fax: 302/529-1085

 

North Carolina Birds
during FONT Birding 
& Nature Tours 

1992 thru 2010


(during land-birding tours 
 & offshore pelagic trips)

(during the months of May, June, 
 July, August, September)



List compiled 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


Links: 

North Carolina Mammals (Land & Sea)  (with photos)

North Carolina Butterflies, Dragonflies, & Damselflies 
(with photos)

North Carolina Amphibians & Reptiles 
(with photos)
 

An Essay about Carolina Birds  (some interesting reading)

A Complete List of North American Birds, north of Mexico, in 3 parts:
List #1: Grouse to Shorebirds
List #2: Jaegers to Flycatchers 
List #3: Shrikes to Buntings

Upcoming FONT Birding & Nature Tours in North Carolina



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. Common Loon (+p) ______ 7 late-spring
    Gavia immer 
    (monotypic)

  2. Red-throated Loon ______ 1 late-spring
    Gavia stellata 
    (monotypic)

  3. Pied-billed Grebe ______ 2 summer
    Podilymbus p. podiceps

  4. Cory's Shearwater (p) ______
    Calonectris (diomedea) borealis 
    (What has been Cory's Shearwater is now 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)

  5. Greater Shearwater (p) ______  (in Eurasia called Great Shearwater)
    Puffinus gravis 
    (monotypic)




    Greater Shearwater
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  6. Sooty Shearwater (+p) (*) ______
    Puffinus griseus 
    (monotypic)

  7. Audubon's Shearwater (p) ______
    Puffinus l. lherminieri




    Audubon's Shearwaters
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  8. Manx Shearwater (p) ______ summer
    Puffinus puffinus 
    (now monotypic)
    (Formerly included what's now the Yelkouan & Balearic Shearwaters of the Mediterranean. Those birds do not occur in the western Atlantic.) 

  9. Black-capped Petrel (t2) (p) ______
    Pterodroma h. hasitata 
    (the other subspecies, a dark form which bred (or possibly breeds) on Jamaica, may now be extinct)




    Black-capped Petrel

  10. Trindade Petrel (t3) (p) (NAr) (*) ______  (was called Herald Petrel)  
    Pterodroma arminjoniana 
    (this species in the Atlantic 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".)    

      
  11. Fea's Petrel (nt) (p) (NAr) (*) ______ 
    Pterodroma feae
    (The subspecies that breeds on the Cape Verde Islands is Pterodroma f. feae. 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. 
    A further assessment of the population could change the status from
    near-threatened (nt) to threatened (vulnerable) (t3). Was formerly considered part of Soft-plumaged Petrel, Pterodroma mollis.)     

  12. Bulwer's Petrel (p) (NAr) (*) ______
    Bulweria bulwerii 
    (monotypic)

  13. Leach's Storm-Petrel (p) ______
    Oceanodroma l. leucorhoa

  14. Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (has also been called Harcourt's, or Madeiran, Storm-Petrel) (p) (*) ______
    Oceanodroma castro 
    (monotypic)

  15. Wilson's Storm Petrel (+p) * ______
    Oceanites oceanicus
    (2 subspecies in the North Atlantic: O. o. oceanicus & O. o. exasperatus) 




    Wilson's Storm Petrel
     
  16. White-faced Storm Petrel (p) (NAr) (*)  ______ summer 
    Pelagodroma marina  
    (2 subspecies in the North Atlantic: P. m. hypoleuca (breeds Madeira & Canary Is.) & P. m. eadesi (breeds Cape Verde Is.)  (the single member of its genus)






    Two photographs of a White-faced Storm Petrel
    during a FONT pelagic trip off the East Coast of the US

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




    White-tailed Tropicbird
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  18. Red-billed Tropicbird (p) (*) ______
    Phaethon aethereus mesonauta




    Red-billed Tropicbird
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  19. Brown Pelican ______ 12 late-spring
    Pelecanus occidentalis carolinensis

  20. Brown Booby (+p) (*) ______ summer
    Sula l. leucogaster

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

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

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

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

  25. Great Blue Heron ______ 11 late-spring
    Ardea h. herodias 


  26. "Great White Heron"  (NCr) ______ 1 summer
    Ardea herodias occidentalis  (a white morph of the Great Blue Heron) (This form is found mostly in salt water habitats. Never common, persecution and natural disasters reduced it to about 150 birds in 1935. North of Miami, Florida, only an isolated wanderer.)    
     
  27. Great Egret ______ 12 late-spring
    Ardea
    (formerly Casmerodius or Egretta) alba egretta

  28. Snowy Egret ______ 12 late-spring
    Egretta
    (formerly Leucophoyx) t. thula

  29. Little Egret (NAr) (VAo) ______ 1 late-spring
    Egretta g. garzetta

  30. Little Blue Heron ______ 12 late-spring
    Egretta 
    (formerly Florida) caerulea  (now monotypic)

  31. Tricolored (has been called Louisiana) Heron ______ 10 late-spring
    Egretta 
    (formerly Hydranassa) tricolor ruficollis

  32. Reddish Egret (NCr) (*) ______ 1 summer
    Egretta
      (formerly Dichromanassa) r. rufescens

  33. Cattle Egret ______ 11 late-spring
    Bubulcus i. ibis

  34. Green Heron ______ 12 late-spring  (was for a time considered conspecific with the nearly-cosmopolitan Striated Heron, and was then called Green-backed Heron)
    Butorides v. virescens

  35. Black-crowned Night-Heron ______ 10
    Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli

  36. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron ______ 4
    Nyctanassa v. violacea

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




    American White Ibis
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  38. Glossy Ibis ______ 6
    Plegadis falcinellus
    (although many places world-wide, considered monotypic)

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

  40. Tundra Swan (North American subspecies has been called Whistling Swan ______ 1 late-spring
    Cygnus c. columbianus

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

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

  43. Mallard ______ 9 late-spring
    Anas p. platyrhynchos

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




    American Black Duck
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  45. Gadwall (*) ______ 8 late-spring
    Anas s. strepera

     
  46. Blue-winged Teal ______ 4
    Anas discors 
    (monotypic)

  47. Northern Pintail ______ 1 summer
    Anas acuta
    (monotypic)

  48. Northern Shoveler ______ 1 summer
    Anas clypeata 
    (monotypic)

  49. American Wigeon ______ 1 summer
    Anas americana 
    (monotypic)

  50. Wood Duck ______ 7 late-spring  (has also been called the "Carolina Duck")
    Aix sponsa 
    (monotypic)




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

  51. American Scoter ______ 1 late-spring
    Melanitta americana 
    (was considered conspecific with the Black Scoter of Europe, Melanitta nigra

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

  53. Common Merganser ______ 1 late-spring
    Mergus merganser americanus

  54. Turkey Vulture ______ 12 late-spring
    Cathartes aura septentrionalis

  55. Black Vulture ______ 8 late-spring
    Coragyps atratus 
    (now said to be monotypic) (the single member of its genus)

  56. Mississippi Kite ______ 8 late-spring
    Ictinia mississippiensis 
    (monotypic)

  57. Osprey ______ 11
    Pandion haliaetus carolinensis 
    (the single member of its genus)




    Osprey
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  58. Bald Eagle ______ 1  late-spring
    Haliaeetus leucocephalus

  59. Red-shouldered Hawk ______ 2
    Buteo l. lineatus




    A juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  60. Red-tailed Hawk ______ 11
    Buteo jamaicensis borealis




    Red-tailed Hawk
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  61. Northern Harrier ______ 4 late-spring, summer  (conspecific with the Hen Harrier of Eurasia, Circus cyaneus)
    Circus cyaneus hudsonius


     
  62. American Kestrel ______ 4
    Falco s. sparverius

  63. Merlin ______ 2
    Falco c. columbarius

  64. Peregrine Falcon ______ 2
    Falco peregrinus

  65. Northern Bobwhite ______ 12
    Colinus v. virginianus

  66. Common (or Ring-necked) Pheasant (i) ______ 1 late-spring
    Phasianus colchicus

  67. Wild Turkey ______ 3 late-spring
    Meleagris gallopavo silvestris

  68. Clapper Rail ______ 11
    Rallus longirostris
    (2 subspecies in North Carolina: R. l. crepitans in northeast North Caroliona  & R. l. waynei in southeast North Carolina) 




    Clapper Rail
    (photo by Howard Eskin)


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




    Virginia Rail
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  70. Black Rail (nt) ______ 5 late-spring
    Laterallus j. jamaicensis 

  71. Common Moorhen (or Gallinule) ______ 2
    Gallinula chloropus cachinnans

  72. American Coot ______ 2
    Fulica a. americana 

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

  74. Black-necked Stilt ______ (was considered by some to be part of the cosmopolitan Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus) 
    Himantopus mexicanus
     

  75. American Avocet ______ 3
    Recurvirostra americana 
    (monotypic)

  76. Black-bellied (or Grey) Plover ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Pluvialis squatarola cynosurae

  77. American Golden Plover (*) ______ 1 summer
    Pluvialis dominica 
    (monotypic)

  78. Semipalmated Plover ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Charadrius semipalmatus 
    (monotypic)

  79. Piping Plover (t3) ______ 4  
    Charadrius melodus 
    (monotypic)

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

  81. Killdeer ______ 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 ______ 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 ______ 4 summer
    Limosa f. fedoa

  86. Greater Yellowlegs ______ 6
    Tringa melanoleuca 
    (monotypic)

  87. Lesser Yellowlegs (+p) ______ 6
    Tringa flavipes 
    (monotypic)

  88. Solitary Sandpiper ______ 1 late-spring
    Tringa s. solitaria

  89. Spotted Sandpiper ______ 4
    Actitis macularius 
    (monotypic)

  90. Willet ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Tringa (formerly Catoptrophorus) s. semipalmatus




    Willet 
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

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

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




    Red Knot
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  93. Sanderling (+p) ______ 9
    Calidris alba rubida

  94. Semipalmated Sandpiper (+p) ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Calidris pusilla 
    (monotypic)

  95. Western Sandpiper ______ 2
    Calidris mauri 
    (monotypic)

  96. Least Sandpiper ______ 6 late-spring, summer
    Calidris minutilla 
    (monotypic)

  97. White-rumped Sandpiper ______ 4
    Calidris fuscicollis 
    (monotypic)

  98. Pectoral Sandpiper ______ 2 summer
    Calidris melanotos 
    (monotypic)

  99. Dunlin ______ 2 late-spring
    Calidris alpina hudsonia




    Dunlin
    (photo by Howard Eskin)


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




    A Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  101. Stilt Sandpiper ______ 3 summer
    Calidris
    (formerly Micropalama) himantopus

  102. Ruff / Reeve (*) ______ 1 summer
    Philomachus pugnax 
    (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

  103. Buff-breasted Sandpiper (nt) ______ 1 summer
    Tryngites subruficollis 
    (the single member of its genus)




    Buff-breasted Sandpiper
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  104. Short-billed Dowitcher ______ 7
    Limnodromus griseus hendersoni




    Short-billed Dowitcher
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  105. Long-billed Dowitcher ______ 3 summer
    Limnodromus scolopaceus 
    (monotypic)

  106. Wilson's Phalarope ______ 3 summer
    Phalaropus
    (formerly Steganopus) tricolor  (monotypic)

  107. Red-necked Phalarope (+p) ______ 8
    Phalaropus lobatus 
    (monotypic)




    Red-necked Phalaropes at sea
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  108. Pomarine Skua (p) ______  (has been called Pomarine Jaeger
    Stercorarius pomarinus 
    (monotypic)

  109. Parasitic Jaeger (+p) ______ (in Eurasia has been called Arctic Skua)
    Stercorarius parasiticus 
    (monotypic)

  110. Long-tailed Jaeger (p) ______  (in Eurasia has been called Long-tailed Skua)
    Stercorarius longicaudus pallescens

  111. South Polar Skua (p) ______
    Stercorarius
    (formerly Catharacta) maccormicki  (monotypic)

  112. Laughing Gull (+p) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Larus atricilla megalopterus

  113. Bonaparte's Gull (*) ______ 1
    Larus philadelphia 
    (monotypic)

  114. Ring-billed Gull ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Larus delawarensis 
    (monotypic)

  115. "American" Herring Gull (+p) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Larus argentatus smithsonianus 
    (considered conspecific with the Herring Gulls of Europe, L. a. argenteus & L. a. argentatus, but not conspecific with the Vega (formerly Herring) Gull of eastern Asia, L. vegae)    

  116. Great Black-backed Gull ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Larus marinus 
    (monotypic)

  117. Gull-billed Tern ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Gelochelidon (formerly Sterna) nilotica aranea

  118. Caspian Tern ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Hydroprogne
    (formerly Sterna) caspia

  119. Royal Tern (+p) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus
    (formerly Sterna) m. maxima

  120. Sandwich Tern (+p) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus
    (formerly Sterna) sandvicensis acuflavida

  121. Common Tern (+p) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sterna h. hirundo

  122. Arctic Tern (+p) (*) ______ 4 late-spring
    Sterna paradisaea 
    (monotypic)

  123. Forster's Tern ______ 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) ______
    Onychoprion
    (formerly Sterna) anaethetus melanoptera




    Bridled Tern
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  126. Sooty Tern (+p) ______ 7
    Onychoprion (formerly Sterna) f. fuscata




    Sooty Tern
    (photo by Alan Brady)

  127. Black Tern (+p) ______ 7
    Chlidonias niger surinamensis

  128. Black Skimmer ______ 11
    Rynchops n. niger

  129. Atlantic Puffin (p) (*) ______ 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 ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Coccyzus americanus 
    (monotypic)

  134. Barn Owl ______ 1 summer
    Tyto alba pratincola

  135. Eastern Screech Owl ______ 4
    Megascops (formerly Otus) a. asio 


     

    A young Eastern Screech Owl
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  136. Great Horned Owl ______ 8
    Bubo v. virginianus 

  137. Barred Owl ______ 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 ______ 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 ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Archilochus colubris 
    (monotypic)




    A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
       
  144. Belted Kingfisher ______ 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 ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Melanerpes carolinus 
    (monotypic)




    Red-bellied Woodpecker
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  147. Red-headed Woodpecker ______ 11 late-spring
    Melanerpes erythrocephalus 
    (monotypic)






    Red-headed Woodpeckers, 
    an adult
    (above) and an immature (below) 
    (photos by Howard Eskin)

  148. Downy Woodpecker ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Picoides p. pubescens 

  149. Hairy Woodpecker ______ 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 ______ 10 late-spring, summer  
    Dryocopus p. pileatus




    Pileated Woodpecker

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




    Eastern Kingbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  153. Great Crested Flycatcher ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Myiarchus crinitus 
    (monotypic)

  154. Acadian Flycatcher ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Empidonax virescens 
    (monotypic)

  155. Eastern Wood Pewee ______ 11
    Contopus virens 
    (monotypic)

  156. Eastern Phoebe ______ 4 late-spring
    Sayornis phoebe 
    (monotypic)

  157. Loggerhead Shrike ______ 1 late-spring
    Lanius ludovicianus

  158. White-eyed Vireo ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Vireo g. griseus




    White-eyed Vireo
    (photo by Dick Tipton)

  159. Blue-headed (formerly Solitary) Vireo ______ 1 late-spring
    Vireo s. solitarius

  160. Yellow-throated Vireo ______ 4 late-spring
    Vireo flavifrons 
    (monotypic)

  161. Red-eyed Vireo ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Vireo o. olivaceus

  162. Blue Jay ______ 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) ______ 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 ______ 6 late-spring
    Sitta c. carolinensis




    White-breasted Nuthatch
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  168. Brown-headed Nuthatch ______ 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 ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Progne s. subis

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

  171. American Cliff Swallow ______ 1  late-spring
    Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

  172. Tree Swallow (+p) ______ 5
    Tachycineta bicolor 
    (monotypic)

  173. Northern Rough-winged Swallow ______ 6
    Stelgidopterys s. serripennis

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




    Carolina Wren
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  175. House Wren ______ 4
    Troglodytes a. aedon



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

  176. Marsh Wren ______ 6
    Cistothorus palustris waynei

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




    Gray Catbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  178. Northern Mockingbird ______ 12 late-spring, summer 
    Mimus p. polyglottos




    Northern Mockingbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  179. Brown Thrasher ______ 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 ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Sialia s. sialis




    Eastern Bluebird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  183. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ______ 11 late-spring
    Polioptila c. caerulea 

  184. Cedar Waxwing ______ 7
    Bombycilla cedrorum 
    (monotypic)

  185. European Starling (i) ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Sturnus v. vulgaris 

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

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

  188. American Goldfinch ______ 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 ______ 1 late-spring
    Vermivora pinus 
    (monotypic)

  191. Northern Parula ______ 9
    Parula americana 
    (monotypic)

  192. Yellow Warbler ______ 6
    Dendroica aestiva
    (has been Dendroica petechia, with that name now given to the Mangrove Warbler of Central America, a part of the Caribbean, and the Galapagos)




    Yellow Warbler
    (photo by Doris Potter)


  193. Magnolia Warbler (+p) ______ 3
    Dendroica magnolia 
    (monotypic)

  194. Black-throated Blue Warbler ______ 1 summer
    Dendroica caerulescens 
    (2 subspecies in North Carolina: D. c. caerulescens & D. c. cairnsi)

  195. Black-throated Green Warbler (+p) ______ 5 late-spring  (including "Wayne's Warbler", a breeder in cypress habitat in eastern North Carolina; the "northern" Black-throated Green Warbler, which migrates thru NC, breeds further north in spruce-hemlock habitat.)
    Dendroica virens  (now considered monotypic, although
    "Wayne's Warbler" has been D. v. waynei)  

  196. Bay-breasted Warbler (+p) ______ 1 late-spring
    Dendroica castanea 
    (monotypic)

  197. Blackburnian Warbler ______ 1 late-spring  
    Dendroica fusca 
    (monotypic)

  198. Yellow-throated Warbler ______ 10  
    Dendroica dominica  
    (3 subspecies in the eastern US)

  199. Blackpoll Warbler ______ 1 late-spring  
    Dendroica striata 
    (monotypic)




    Blackpoll Warbler

  200. Pine Warbler ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Dendroica p. pinus




    Pine Warbler
    (photo by Andy Smith)

  201. Prairie Warbler ______ 11  ("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")
    Dendroica discolor 
    (2 subspecies in the southeast US: D. d. discolor & D. d. paludicola)  




    Prairie Warbler
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  202. Prothonotary Warbler ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Protonotaria citrea 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)

  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 ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Seiurus a. aurocapilla

  206. Northern Waterthrush (+p) ______ 3
    Seiurus noveboracensis 
    (now said to be monotypic)

  207. Louisiana Waterthrush ______ 4 late-spring
    Seiurus motacilla 
    (monotypic)

  208. Kentucky Warbler ______ 6 late-spring
    Oporornis formosus 
    (monotypic)

  209. Mourning Warbler ______ 1 late-spring 
    Oporornis philadelphia 
    (monotypic)




    Mourning Warbler
    (photo by Armas Hill)

  210. Common Yellowthroat ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Geothlypis t. trichas  
    (another subspecies occurs in the southeast US, G. trichas ignota)

  211. Hooded Warbler ______ 8 late-spring
    Wilsonia citrina
      (monotypic)

  212. Canada Warbler ______ 1 late-spring
    Wilsonia canadensis 
    (monotypic)

  213. American Redstart ______ 6  
    Setophaga ruticilla 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus) 

  214. Yellow-breasted Chat ______ 6 late-spring  
    Icteria v. virens 
    (the single member of its genus)

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

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







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




    Orchard Oriole
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  218. Baltimore Oriole ______ 1 late-spring  (was for a while considered conspecific with the Bullock's Oriole of western North America and when so called the Northern Oriole)  
    Icterus galbula 
    (monotypic)

  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 ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Molothrus a. ater

  222. Summer Tanager ______ 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) ______ 5 late-spring
    Ammodramus h. henslowii




    Henslow's Sparrow
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  225. Grasshopper Sparrow ______ 5 late-spring
    Ammodramus savannarum pratensis

  226. Seaside Sparrow ______ 6
    Ammodramus maritimus macgillivrayi

  227. Salt Marsh Sparrow (nt) ______ 1 late-spring  (was conspecific with what's now the Nelson's Sparrow; when so, was called the Sharp-tailed Sparrow
    Ammodramus caudacutus diversus

  228. Chipping Sparrow ______ 10 late-spring
    Spizella p. passerina

  229. Field Sparrow ______ 9
    Spizella p. pusilla

  230. Song Sparrow ______ 9
    Melospiza melodia atlantica




    Song Sparrow
    (photo by Doris Potter)

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




    A male Eastern Towhee
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

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




    Northern Cardinal
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  233. Blue Grosbeak ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Passerina c. caerulea




    Blue Grosbeak
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  234. Indigo Bunting ______ 12 late-spring, summer
    Passerina cyanea 
    (monotypic)

  235. Painted Bunting ______ 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.