North Carolina Bird Watching and Feeding Information

North Carolina is a great place to watch and feed birds. Birdbaths, misters and drippers are especially effective in attracting birds, including non seed-eating species. Species that might be expected at feeders include: American Goldfinch, Carolina Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Cardinal and Mourning Dove. Each of these species is shown in the Nifty Fifty mini-guide.

The Nifty Fifty

The Nifty Fifty is a mini-guide to the birds of North Carolina. It includes descriptions, images, video and songs of 50 of the most often observed birds of North Carolina. View the guide by clicking here or on the Nifty Fifty link on the left.

If the guide does not load, try downloading the free Flash player.

Northern Cardinal - North Carolina State Bird

Bird feeding

Developing bird-friendly habitat in your yard is the best way to attract a greater variety of species and to support local and migrating species. Native plants provide food and cover, are more insect and disease resistant than non-native species, and may require less water. A list of bird-friendly native plants for North Carolina is available by following the link on the left.

Bluebirds

The Eastern Bluebird is the only one of the 3 bluebird species regularly found in North Carolina.

The Eastern Bluebird has a pleasant, musical song and a similar easy-to-identify flight call. They are most often found in open woodlands, parks, fields, along golf courses and cemeteries. The can be found in suburban areas with adequate open space.

Eastern Bluebirds

Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to soften them are well received. The bluebird's special favorite is mealworms.

Nesting
The Eastern Bluebird begins nesting in North Carolina in early spring. One, two and sometimes three broods may be produced.

Visit the bluebird section for detailed information on feeding bluebirds or building your own bluebird house.

Hummingbirds

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only species that regularly visits North Carolina. It nests in the state each year, before migrating south. In a remarkable journey for such a tiny bird, it migrates across the Gulf of Mexico twice each year.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Visit the hummingbird section for details on attracting hummingbirds as well as images of all regularly occurring North American hummingbirds.

Purple Martins

Purple Martins arrive in North Carolina early each year, returning from their wintering grounds in South America. Check the Purple Martin section for information on martins in North Carolina. Detailed Purple Martin information is available in the Purple Martin section.

Purple Martin - male

Birding

North Carolina provides birders with a variety of exciting birding locations.

The birding section of this site has tips on birding locations and bird identification. The state-based birding information section provides additional birding related information.

North Carolina Resource Information

Carolina Bird Club

Chapel Hill Bird Club

Piedmont Bird Club

Audubon Society of Forsyth County
PO Box 15111
Winston Salem, NC 27103

Cape Fear Audubon Society
PO Box 414
Wilmington, NC 28402

Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society
PO Box 18711
Asheville, NC 28814

High Country Audubon Society
P.O. Box 3746
Boone, NC 28607

Highlands Plateau Audubon Society
PO Box 833
Highlands, NC 28741

Mecklenburg Audubon Society
PO Box 221093
Charlotte, NC 28222

New Hope Audubon Society
PO Box 2693
Chapel Hill, NC 27515

T. Gilbert Pearson Audubon Society
PO Box 10157
Greensboro, NC 27410

Wake Audubon Society
PO Box 12452
Raleigh, NC 27605

Additional resources

If you have suggestions for additional resources for watching or feeding birds in Alabama, please submit them using this form. The resource does not need to be a particular location.

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