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 2007


(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 11 years of records). 
Birds only during FONT pelagic trips off North Carolina are without such numbers.

231 species of birds have cumulatively been found during FONT tours in North Carolina. A notable subspecies brings the following list to 232.  
 


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


These North Carolina Lists follow the Bird-List: 

Mammals (Land & Sea) 

Butterflies, Dragonflies, & Damselflies

Amphibians & Reptiles
 

Other Links:

Upcoming North Carolina Tour Itineraries

An Essay about Carolina Birds


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 Is. as: Cape Verde Shearwater, Calonectris edwardsii   

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

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

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

  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)

  10. Trindade Petrel (or Herald 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) 

  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)

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

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

  19. Brown Pelican ______ 11 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 ______ 11 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 ______ 10 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 ______ 11 late-spring
    Ardea
    (formerly Casmerodius or Egretta) alba egretta

  28. Snowy Egret ______ 11 late-spring
    Egretta
    (formerly Leucophoyx) t. thula

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

  30. Little Blue Heron ______ 11 late-spring
    Egretta
    (formerly Florida) caerulea  (now monotypic)

  31. Tricolored (has been called Louisiana) Heron ______ 9 late-spring
    Egretta
    (formerly Hydranassa) tricolor ruficollis

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

  33. Cattle Egret ______ 10 late-spring
    Bubulcus i. ibis

  34. Green Heron ______ 11 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 ______ 11 late-spring
    Eudocimus albus
    (monotypic)

  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 ______ 11 late-spring
    Branta c. canadensis 

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

  43. Mallard ______ 8 late-spring
    Anas p. platyrhynchos

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

  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
    Aix sponsa 
    (monotypic)

  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 ______ 11 late-spring
    Cathartes aura septentrionalis

  55. Black Vulture ______ 7 late-spring
    Coragyps atratus 
    (now said to be monotypic) (the single member of its genus)

  56. Mississippi Kite ______ 7 late-spring
    Ictinia mississippiensis 
    (monotypic)

  57. Osprey ______ 10
    Pandion haliaetus carolinensis 
    (the single member of its genus)




    Osprey
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  58. Red-shouldered Hawk ______ 2
    Buteo l. lineatus

  59. Red-tailed Hawk ______ 10
    Buteo jamaicensis borealis

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


     
  61. American Kestrel ______ 3
    Falco s. sparverius

  62. Merlin ______ 2
    Falco c. columbarius

  63. Peregrine Falcon ______ 2
    Falco peregrinus

  64. Northern Bobwhite ______ 11
    Colinus v. virginianus

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

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

  67. Clapper Rail ______ 10
    Rallus longirostris
    (2 subspecies in North Carolina: R. l. crepitans in northeast North Caroliona  & R. l. waynei in southeast North Carolina) 

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

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

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

  71. American Coot ______ 2
    Fulica a. americana 

  72. American Oystercatcher ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Haematopus p. palliatus

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

  74. American Avocet ______ 3
    Recurvirostra americana 
    (monotypic)

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

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

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

  78. Piping Plover (t3) ______ 4  (in PG)
    Charadrius melodus 
    (monotypic)

  79. Wilson's Plover ______ 7 late-spring
    Charadrius w. wilsonia 

  80. Killdeer ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Charadrius v. vociferus

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

  82. "American" Whimbrel ______ 3
    Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus

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

  84. Marbled Godwit ______ 4 summer
    Limosa f. fedoa

  85. Greater Yellowlegs ______ 6
    Tringa melanoleuca 
    (monotypic)

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

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

  88. Spotted Sandpiper ______ 4
    Actitis macularius 
    (monotypic)

  89. Willet ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Catoptrophorus s. semipalmatus




    Willet 
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  90. Ruddy Turnstone (+p) ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Arenaria interpres morinella

  91. Red Knot ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Calidris canutus rufa 

  92. Sanderling (+p) ______ 8
    Calidris alba rubida

  93. Semipalmated Sandpiper (+p) ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Calidris pusilla 
    (monotypic)

  94. Western Sandpiper ______ 2
    Calidris mauri 
    (monotypic)

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

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

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

  98. Dunlin ______ 1 late-spring
    Calidris alpina hudsonia

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

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

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

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

  103. Short-billed Dowitcher ______ 7
    Limnodromus griseus hendersoni

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  111. Laughing Gull (+p) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Larus atricilla megalopterus

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

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

  114. "American" Herring Gull (+p) ______ 11 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)    

  115. Great Black-backed Gull ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Larus marinus 
    (monotypic)

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

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

  118. Royal Tern (+p) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus (formerly Sterna) m. maxima

  119. Sandwich Tern (+p) ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Thalasseus (formerly Sterna) sandvicensis acuflavida

  120. Common Tern (+p) ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Sterna h. hirundo

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

  122. Forster's Tern ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Sterna forsteri 
    (monotypic)




    Forster's Tern
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  123. Least Tern ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sternula (formerly Sterna) a. antillarum

  124. Bridled Tern (p) ______
    Onychoprion (formerly Sterna) anaethetus melanoptera

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

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

  127. Black Skimmer ______ 10
    Rynchops n. niger

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

  129. Feral Pigeon (i) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Columba livia

  130. Mourning Dove ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Zenaida macroura carolinensis

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

  132. Yellow-billed Cuckoo ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Coccyzus americanus 
    (monotypic)

  133. Barn Owl ______ 1 summer
    Tyto alba pratincola

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

  135. Great Horned Owl ______ 7
    Bubo v. virginianus 

  136. Barred Owl ______ 6 late-spring, summer  (in PG)
    Strix varia georgica

  137. Chuck-Will's-Widow ______ 11 late-spring  
    Caprimulgus carolinensis 
    (monotypic)

  138. Whip-poor-will ______ 3 late-spring
    Caprimulgus v. vociferus

  139. Common Nighthawk ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Chordeiles m. minor 

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

  141. Chimney Swift ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Chaetura pelagica 
    (monotypic)

  142. Ruby-throated Hummingbird ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Archilochus colubris 
    (monotypic)




    A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
       
  143. Belted Kingfisher ______ 6
    Megaceryle
    (formerly Ceryle) alcyon  (monotypic)




    Belted Kingfisher
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  144. "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Colaptes auratus luteus

  145. Red-bellied Woodpecker ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Melanerpes carolinus 
    (monotypic)




    Red-bellied Woodpecker
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  146. Red-headed Woodpecker ______ 10 late-spring
    Melanerpes erythrocephalus 
    (monotypic)

  147. Downy Woodpecker ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Picoides p. pubescens 

  148. Hairy Woodpecker ______ 7
    Picoides v. audubonii

  149. Red-cockaded Woodpecker (t3)  (USe) ______ 11 late-spring
    Picoides borealis
      (monotypic)

  150. Pileated Woodpecker ______ 9 late-spring, summer  (in PG)
    Dryocopus p. pileatus




    Pileated Woodpecker

  151. Eastern Kingbird ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Tyrannus tyrannus 
    (monotypic)




    Eastern Kingbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  152. Great Crested Flycatcher ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Myiarchus crinitus 
    (monotypic)

  153. Acadian Flycatcher ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Empidonax virescens 
    (monotypic)

  154. Eastern Wood-Pewee ______ 10
    Contopus virens 
    (monotypic)

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

  156. White-eyed Vireo ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Vireo g. griseus

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

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

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

  160. Blue Jay ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Cyanocitta c. cristata

  161. American Crow ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Corvus b. brachyrhynchos

  162. Fish Crow  (USe) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Corvus ossifragus 
    (monotypic)

  163. Carolina Chickadee  (USe) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Poecile (formerly Parus) c. carolinensis




    Carolina Chickadee
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  164. Tufted Titmouse ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Baeolophus (formerly Parus) bicolor 


  165. White-breasted Nuthatch ______ 5 late-spring
    Sitta c. carolinensis




    White-breasted Nuthatch
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  166. Brown-headed Nuthatch ______ 11 late-spring, summer 
    Sitta p. pusilla 
    (this subspecies endemic to the southeast US; the other is in the Bahamas)

  167. Purple Martin ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Progne s. subis

  168. Barn Swallow (+p) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Hirundo rustica erythrogaster

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

  170. Northern Rough-winged Swallow ______ 5
    Stelgidopterys s. serripennis

  171. Carolina Wren ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Thryothorus l. ludovicianus




    Carolina Wren
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  172. House Wren ______ 4
    Troglodytes a. aedon

  173. Marsh Wren ______ 6
    Cistothorus palustris waynei

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




    Gray Catbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  175. Northern Mockingbird ______ 11 late-spring, summer 
    Mimus p. polyglottos

  176. Brown Thrasher ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Toxostoma r. rufum

  177. American Robin ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Turdus m. migratorius

  178. Wood Thrush ______ 7 late-spring
    Hylocichla mustelina 
    (monotypic, and the single member of its genus)

  179. Eastern Bluebird ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sialia s. sialis




    Eastern Bluebird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)

  180. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ______ 10 late-spring
    Polioptila c. caerulea 

  181. Cedar Waxwing ______ 7
    Bombycilla cedrorum 
    (monotypic)

  182. European Starling (i) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sturnus v. vulgaris 

  183. Black-and-white Warbler ______ 3
    Mniotilta varia 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)

  184. Blue-winged Warbler ______ 1 late-spring
    Vermivora pinus 
    (monotypic)

  185. Northern Parula ______ 8
    Parula americana 
    (monotypic)

  186. 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)

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

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

  189. Black-throated Green Warbler (+p) ______ 5 late-spring  (in PG)  (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)  

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

  191. Blackburnian Warbler ______ 1 late-spring  (in PG)
    Dendroica fusca 
    (monotypic)

  192. Yellow-throated Warbler ______ 9  (in PG)
    Dendroica dominica  
    (3 subspecies in the eastern US)

  193. Blackpoll Warbler ______ 1 late-spring  (in PG)
    Dendroica striata 
    (monotypic)




    Blackpoll Warbler

  194. Pine Warbler ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Dendroica p. pinus




    Pine Warbler
    (photo by Andy Smith)

  195. Prairie Warbler ______ 10  ("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)  

  196. Prothonotary Warbler ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Protonotaria citrea 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)

  197. Swainson's Warbler ______ 7 late-spring
    Limnothlypis swainsonii 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)

  198. Worm-eating Warbler ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Helmitheros vermivorum 
    (monotypic, and the single species of its genus)

  199. Ovenbird ______ 8 late-spring, summer
    Seiurus a. aurocapilla

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

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

  202. Kentucky Warbler ______ 5 late-spring
    Oporornis formosus 
    (monotypic)

  203. Mourning Warbler ______ 1 late-spring  (in PG)
    Oporornis philadelphia 
    (monotypic)

  204. Common Yellowthroat ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Geothlypis t. trichas  
    (another subspecies occurs in the southeast US, G. trichas ignota)

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

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

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

  208. Yellow-breasted Chat ______ 6 late-spring  (in PG)
    Icteria v. virens 
    (the single member of its genus)
     
  209. House Sparrow (i) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Passer d. domesticus

     
  210. Eastern Meadowlark ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Sturnella magna argutula

  211. Red-winged Blackbird ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Agelaius p. phoeniceus




    Red-winged Blackbird
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
     
  212. Orchard Oriole ______ 9 late-spring
    Icterus s. spurius




    Orchard Oriole
    (photo by Marie Gardner)

  213. 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)

  214. Boat-tailed Grackle  (USe) ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Quiscalus major torreyi

  215. Common Grackle ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Quiscalus quiscula

  216. Brown-headed Cowbird ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Molothrus a. ater

  217. Summer Tanager ______ 9 late-spring
    Piranga r. rubra

  218. Northern Cardinal ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Cardinalis c. cardinalis

  219. Blue Grosbeak ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Passerina c. caerulea

  220. Indigo Bunting ______ 11 late-spring, summer
    Passerina cyanea 
    (monotypic)

  221. Painted Bunting ______ 10 late-spring  (in PG)
    Passerina c. ciris

  222. House Finch (i) ______ 9 late-spring, summer
    Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis

  223. American Goldfinch ______ 7 late-spring, summer
    Carduelis t. tristis

  224. Eastern (formerly Rufous-sided) Towhee ______ 10 late-spring, summer
    Pipilo erythrophthalmus rileyi

  225. Bachman's Sparrow  (USe) ______ 11 late-spring  (the "Pine-Woods Sparrow")
    Aimophila aestivalis bachmani

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

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

  228. Seaside Sparrow ______ 5
    Ammodramus maritimus macgillivrayi

  229. 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

  230. Chipping Sparrow ______ 9 late-spring
    Spizella p. passerina

  231. Field Sparrow ______ 9
    Spizella p. pusilla

  232. Song Sparrow ______ 8
    Melospiza melodia atlantica



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

indicated in the previous lists 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.

The 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.

6 False Killer Whales were seen at sea during a June 1996 pelagic trip.

Sperm Whales were seen in May & August 1998 with calves. At times close to the boat.

During 3 August '98 FONT NC pelagic trips, 9 Cuvier's Beaked Whales were seen.

In May of '99, 3 species of beaked whales were seen: Cuvier's, Blainville's, and True's.

Clymene (or Short-snouted Spinner) Dolphins, during the August 10, '98 pelagic trip, were the first for North Carolina waters.

Black Bears were seen during nearly all land-birding excursions west of Manteo in August '97, '98, & '99. With usually more than one bear per outing. They were seen on dirt roads and "surfing" in nearby fields of soy beans.

Also in that area, 7 Red Wolves were seen by one FONT group, early one morning, in August '98.

Mammals and some Other Nature
during FONT Birding & Nature Tours
in
North Carolina  

1992 thru 2005

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

List compiled by Armas Hill 


The numbers with the list reflect the number of years found (out of
8 - the number of years that mammal & other wildlife records have been kept).

(*): notable sights (in the notes that precede this list)
 

Lists below of Marine Mammals & Land Mammals

Followed by a list of other Oceanic Life, and a note pertaining to nature in the Sky.
  


Marine Mammals:

  1. Sperm Whale (p) (*) ______
    Physeter catodon

  2. Northern Minke Whale (p) ______ 1  
    Balaenoptera acutorostrata

  3. Cuvier's Beaked Whale (p) (*) ______ 8
    Ziphius cavirostris

  4. Blainville's Beaked Whale (p) ______
    Mesoplodon densirostris

  5. True's Beaked Whale (p) ______ 2  
    Mesoplodon mirus
    mesoplodon sp.(p)

  6. False Killer Whale (p) (*) ______ 1
    Pseudorca crassidens

  7. Gray Grampus (or Risso's Dolphin) (p) ______ 3  
    Grampus griseus

  8. Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin (+p) ______
    Tursiops truncatus

  9. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (p) ______ 4  
    Stenella frontalis

  10. Short-finned Pilot Whale (p) ______
    Globicephala macrorhynchus

  11. Clymene (or Short-snouted Spinner) Dolphin (p) (*) ______ 1
    Stenella clymene

 Land Mammals:

  1. Nutria (i) ______ 5
    Myocastor coypus

  2. Hispid Cotton Rat ______ 1
    Sigmodon hispidus

  3. Northern River Otter ______ 3
    Lontra canadensis

  4. American Mink ______ 1
    Mustela vison

  5. Northern Raccoon ______ 1
    Procyon lotor

  6. Eastern Cottontail ______ 7
    Sylvilagus floridannus

  7. Marsh Rabbit ______ 8
    Sylvilagus palistris

  8. Eastern Gray Squirrel ______ 3
    Sciurus carolinensis

  9. Eastern Fox Squirrel ______ 1
    Sciurus niger

  10. White-tailed Deer ______ 5
    Odocoileus virginianus

  11. Black Bear (*) ______ 4
    Urus americannus

  12. Bobcat ______ 2
    Lynx rufus

  13. Red Wolf (i) (*) ______ 3
    Canis rufus
    (some contend this to be a "historical hybrid" between the Gray Wolf, Canis lupus, and the Coyote, Canis latrans) (The "Red Wolf" was introduced into eastern North Carolina from the Southwest US.)

       
  14. Little Brown Bat/Myotis ______ 1
    Myotis lucifugus

  15. Seminole Bat ______ 2
    Lasiurus seminolus

  16. Eastern Pipistrelle ______ 2
    Pipistrellus subflavus


Other Land Mammals that can be seen in eastern North Carolina:

  1. Least Shrew ______
    Cryptotis parva

  2. Star-nosed Mole ______ 
    Condylura cristata

  3. Virginia Opossum ______ 
    Didelphis virginiana

  4. Southern Flying Squirrel ______ 
    Glaucomys volans

  5. American Beaver ______ 
    Castor canadensis

  6. Muskrat ______ 
    Ondatra zibethicus

  7. White-footed Deermouse ______ 
    Peromyscus leucopus

  8. Golden Mouse ______ 
    Ochrotomys nuttalli

  9. Red Fox ______ 
    Vulpes vulpes

  10. Gray Fox ______ 
    Urocyon cinereoargenteus

  11. Coyote ______ 
    Canis latrans

  12. Red Bat ______ 
    Lasiurus borealis 

Reference for this mammal list is the new book: "Mammals of North America" by Roland W. Kays & Don E. Wilson, published by Princeton Univ Press, 2002. 
   


Other Nature:

 • in the sea:

  1. Longbill Spearfish (p) ______

  2. Portuguese Man-o'-war (p) ______

  3. Oceanic Sunfish (p) ______

  4. Blue Marlin (p) ______

  5. sea turtle sp. (p) ______

  6. Leatherback Sea Turtle ______

  7. Loggerhead Sea Turtle ______

  8. creatures in sargassum (p) ______

 
• in the sky:

the Perseid Meteor Shower ______
(In the clear sky above an inland area with no "city lights". The display of meteors about midnight in August can be superb.)

A Selected List of Butterflies,
Dragonflies & Damselflies
in North Carolina


(including those during our May-June tours)

A list compiled by Armas Hill
(with input by the staff from the
Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center
in Four Oaks, North Carolina)


Numbers noted as (P:xx) refer to plates in the Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies, by Paul Opler & Vichai Malikul

Numbers noted as (K:xx) refer to pages in the Kaufman Focus Guide to Butterflies of North America, by Jim Brock & Kenn Kaufman

Codes:

(i/E): introduced from Europe
(r): rare


Butterflies:

  1. (Eastern) Tiger Swallowtail ______ (P:16) (K:21)
    Papilo glaucus

  2. Zebra Swallowtail ______ (P:14) (K:25) 
    Eurytides marcellus

  3. Spicetail Swallowtail ______ (P:14) (K:27)
    Papilo troilus

  4. Pipevine Swallowtail ______ (P:14) (K:27) 
    Battus philenor

  5. Black Swallowtail ______ (P:14) (K:29)  
    Papilo polyxenes

  6. Palamedes Swallowtail ______ (P:16) (K:37)  
    Papilo palamedes

  7. Cabbage White (or Cabbage Butterfly) (i/E) ______ (P:16) (K:47)
    Pieris rapae

  8. Falcate Orangetip ______ (P:70) (K:57)
    Anthocharis midea

  9. Orange Sulphur ______ (K:61)
    Colias eurytheme

  10. Sleepy Orange (Sulphur) ______ (K:69)
    Eurema nicippe

  11. Cloudless Sulphur ______ (P:19) (K:75)  
    Phoebis sennae

  12. Gray Hairstreak ______ (P:3,8,24) (K:93)
    Strymon melinus

  13. Red-banded Hairstreak ______ (P:22) (K:103)
    Calycopis cecrops

  14. Henry's Elfin ______ (K:105)
    Callophrys henrici

  15. Eastern Pine Elfin ______ (K:107)
    Callophrys niphon

  16. Eastern Tailed-Blue ______ (P:8,25) (K:125)
    Everes comyntas

  17. Spring Azure ______ (K:131)
    Celastrina ladon

  18. "Summer" (has been part of Spring) Azure ______ (K:131)
    Celastrina (ladon) neglecta

  19. Variegated Fritillary ______ (P:3,29) (K:157)
    Euptoieta claudia

  20. Pearl Crescent ______ (P:9,31) (K:177)
    Phyciodes tharos

  21. Question Mark ______ (P:4,10,31) (K:197)
    Polygonia interrogationis

  22. Eastern Comma ______  (K:197)
    Polygonia comma

  23. Red Admiral ______ (P:32) (K:203) 
    Vanessa atalania

  24. Mourning Cloak ______ (K:203)
    Nymphalis antiopa

  25. American Lady ______ (P:10,32) (K:205) 
    Vanessa virginiensis

  26. Painted Lady ______ (K:205)
    Vanessa cardui

  27. Common Buckeye ______ (K:207) 
    Junonia coenia

  28. Red-spotted Purple ______ (P:10,33) (K:211)
    Limenitis arthemis
    (conspecific with more-northerly White Admiral)

  29. Viceroy ______ (P:33) (K:211)
    Limenitis archippus

  30. American Snout ______ (P:8,27) (K:223)
    Libytheana carinenta

  31. Hackberry Emperor ______ (K:223)
    Asterocampa celtis

  32. Monarch ______ (P:36) (K:227) 
    Danaus plexippus

  33. Carolina Satyr ______ (P:37) (K:231)
    Hermeuptychia sosybius

  34. Gemmed Satyr ______ (K:235)
    Cyllopsis gemma

  35. (Southern) Pearly-eye ______ (P:36) (K:239)
    Enodia portlandia

  36. Creole Pearly Eye ______ (K:239)
    Enodia creola

  37. Silver-spotted Skipper ______ (P;3,12,39) (K:257)
    Epargyreus clarus

  38. Juvenal's Duskywing ______ (P:41) (K:281) 
    Erynnis juvenalis

  39. Horace's Duskywing ______ (K:281)
    Erynnis horatius

  40. Common Checkered-Skipper ______ (K:289) 
    Pyrgus communis

  41. Hayhurst's Scallopwing ______ (K:297)
    Staphyllus hayhurstii

  42. Common Sootywing ______ (K:299)
    Pholisora catullus

  43. Fiery Skipper ______ (K:303)
    Hylephila phyleus

  44. Whirlabout ______ (K:303)
    Polites vibex

  45. Sachem ______ (P:46) (K:303)
    Atalopedes campestris

  46. Least Skipper ______ (K:305)
    Ancyloxypha numitor

  47. Southern Skipperling ______ (K:305)
    Copaeodes minima

  48. Clouded Skipper ______ (P:43) (K:309)
    Lerema accius

  49. Tawny-edged Skipper ______ (K:325) 
    Polites themistocles

  50. Southern Broken-Dash ______ (K:327)
    Wallengrenia otho

  51. Little Glassywing ______ (K:327)
    Pompeius verna

  52. Zabulon Skipper ______ (K:331)
    Poanes zabulon

  53. Carolina Roadside Skipper ______ (P:47) (K:345)
    Amblyscirtes carolina

  54. Lace-winged Roadside- Skipper ______ (K:345)
    Amblyscirtes aesculapius

  55. Eufala Skipper ______ (K:353) 
    Lerodea eufala

  56. Ocola Skipper ______ (K:355)
    Panoquina ocola

  57. Yucca Giant-Skipper ______ (K:359)
    Megathymus yuccae



    Dragonflies: 


  58. Common Green Darner ______ (D:1)
    Anax junius

  59. Swamp Darner ______ (D:2)
    Epiaeschna heros

  60. Lancet Clubtail ______ (D:8)
    Gomphus exilis

  61. Illinois River Cruiser (southern form) ______ (D:21)
    Macromia illnoiensis georgina

  62. Common Baskettail ______ (D:23)
    Epitheca cynosura

  63. Prince Baskettail ______ (D:23)
    Epitheca princeps

  64. Common Whitetail ______ (D:28)
    Libellula lydia

  65. Painted Skimmer ______ (D:29)
    Libellula semifasciata

  66. Spangled Skimmer ______ (D:30)
    Libellula cyanea

  67. Great Blue Skimmer ______ (D:32)
    Libellula vibrans

  68. Slaty Skimmer ______ (D:33)
    Libellula incesta

  69. Eastern Pondhawk ______ (D:39)
    Erythemis simplicicollis

  70. Blue Dasher ______ (D:39)
    Pachydiplax longipennis

  71. Black Saddlebags ______ (D:40)
    Tramea lacerata

  72. Wandering Glider ______ (D:40)
    Pantala flavescens

  73. Carolina Saddlebags ______ (D:41)
    Tramea carolina

  74. Banded Pennant ______ (D:44)
    Celithemis fasciata

  75. Common Sanddragon ______ (D:15)
    Progomphus obscurus



    Damselflies:

  76. Orange Bluet ______

  77. Fragile Forktail ______



    Some selected reference books regarding Butterflies:

    "A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies", by Paul Opler, illustrated by Vichai Malikul, 1992 

    "Butterflies of North America", by Jim Brock & Kenn Kaufmann (with 2,200 images & 70 photographs)

    "Butterflies through Binoculars", by Jeffrey Glassberg, 1993

Amphibians & Reptiles of North Carolina
 
Noting those during FONT tours with a (#)

including: 
Salamanders
Toads & Frogs
(seen or heard), 
Turtles,
Skinks, Anoles, and other Lizards
Snakes

A list compiled by Armas Hill
(with input by the staff from the
Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center
in Four Oaks, North Carolina)



This list includes species found in central & eastern North Carolina,
from the Piedmont east to the Seacoast 
(and in the case of Sea-Turtles, the Ocean) 



Codes: 

ARR: area of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
CNF: areas of Croatan National Forest & nearby coastal North Carolina  
NRV: (upper) Neuse River Valley (the Piedmont)
OBX: Outer Banks (including Roanoke Island & Ocracoke Island)

(e/NC): endangered in North Carolina
(t/NC): threatened in North Carolina
(nt/NC): near (or potentially) threatened in North Carolina

Amphibians:

  1. Green Frog  ______ (#) NRV 
    Rana clamitans

  2. Bullfrog ______ (#) ARR,NRV
    Rana catesbeiana

  3. Pickerel Frog ______ (#) ARR,NRV
    Rana palustris

  4. Carpenter Frog ______ (#) ARR
    Rana virgatipes

  5. Southern Leopard Frog ______ ARR
    Rana sphenocephala

  6. Crawfish Frog (nt/NC) ______ (#) CNF (northern limit of range east-cent NC)
    Rana areolata

  7. Southern Chorus Frog ______ (#) CNF (northern limit of range east-cent NC)
    Pseudacris nigrita

  8. Ornate Chorus Frog ______ (#) CNF (northern limit of range so-cent NC)
    Pseudacris ornata

  9. Green Treefrog ______ (#) ARR
    Hyla cinerea

  10. Barking Treefrog ______ (#) CNF
    Hyla gratiosa

  11. Pine Woods Treefrog ______ (#) NRV  
    Hyla femoralis

  12. Squirrel Treefrog ______ (#) NRV
    Hyla squirrela

  13. (Cope's) Gray Treefrog ______ (#) NRV
    Hyla versicolor 

  14. Northern Cricket Frog ______ NRV
    Acris crepitans

  15. Southern Cricket Frog ______ NRV
    Acris gryllus

  16. Little Grass Frog ______ (the smallest frog in North America)
    Limnaoedus ocularis

  17. Spring Peeper ______ NRV
    Hyla crucifer

  18. Oak Toad ______ (#) CNF,NRV
    Bufo quercicus

  19. Southern Toad ______ (#) CNF,NRV
    Bufo terrestris

  20. Fowler's Toad ______ (#) ARR,NRV
    Bufo woodhousei (an eastern race of Woodhouse's Toad) 

  21. Eastern Spadefoot Toad ______ (#) ARR,CNF,NRV
    Scaphiopus holbrooki

  22. Eastern Narrowmouth Toad ______ (#) ARR,CNF,NRV
    Gastrophryne carolinensis

  23. Mabee's Salamander ______ CNF (northern limit of range north-east NC) 
    Ambystoma mabeei

  24. Spotted Salamander ______ NRV
    Ambystoma maculatum

  25. Marbled Salamander ______ NRV
    Ambystoma opacum