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 ______ 7  (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) ______ 4  (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.