Birds of Sunset Beach and Bird Island, North Carolina*
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Species on this
list have had their occurrences in Sunset Beach documented by publication
in The
Chat, the journal of the Carolina Bird Club; and by the field
work of area birding enthusiasts over the last 35 years. Additions to
this list are welcome and expected. Please report sightings of additional
species to Taylor
Piephoff or to Jo
O'Keefe. *Of the 260 species in this list, only
the Purple Sandpiper is found exclusively on Bird Island -- at the jetty
at the NC/SC state line.
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Common
name
|
Scientific
name
|
![]() |
Common
name
|
Scientific
name
|
|
Black-bellied
Whistling-Duck
|
Dendrocygna
autumnalis
|
Eurasian
Collared-Dove
|
Streptopelia
decaocto
|
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Ross's
Goose
|
Chen
rossii
|
Mourning
Dove
|
Zenaida
macroura
|
|||
Canada
Goose
|
Branta
canadensis
|
Yellow-billed
Cuckoo
|
Coccyzus
americanus
|
|||
Tundra
Swan
|
Cygnus
columbianus
|
Eastern
Screech-Owl
|
Megascops
asio
|
|||
Wood
Duck
|
Aix
sponsa
|
Great
Horned Owl
|
Bubo
virginianus
|
|||
Gadwall
|
Anas
strepera
|
Barred
Owl
|
Strix
varia
|
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Eurasian
Wigeon
|
Anas
penelope
|
Short-eared
Owl
|
Asio
flammeus
|
|||
American
Wigeon
|
Anas americana
|
Common
Nighthawk
|
Chordeiles
minor
|
|||
American
Black Duck
|
Anas
rubripes
|
Chuck-will's-widow
|
Caprimulgus
carolinensis
|
|||
Mallard
|
Anas
platyrhynchos
|
Whip-poor-will
|
Caprimulgus
vociferus
|
|||
Mottled
Duck
|
Anas
fulvigula
|
Chimney
Swift
|
Chaetura
pelagica
|
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Blue-winged
Teal
|
Anas
discors
|
Ruby-throated
Hummingbird
|
Archilochus
colubris
|
|||
Cinnamon
Teal
|
Anas
cyanoptera
|
Black-chinned
Hummingbird
|
Archilochus
alexandri
|
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Northern
Shoveler
|
Anas
clypeata
|
Rufous
Hummingbird
|
Selasphorus
rufus
|
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Northern
Pintail
|
Anas
acuta
|
Belted Kingfisher
|
Megaceryle
alcyon
|
|||
Green-winged
Teal
|
Anas
crecca
|
Red-headed
Woodpecker
|
Melanerpes
erythrocephalus
|
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Canvasback
|
Aythya
valisineria
|
Red-bellied
Woodpecker
|
Melanerpes
carolinus
|
|||
Redhead
|
Aythya
americana
|
Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker
|
Sphyrapicus
varius
|
|||
Ring-necked
Duck
|
Aythya
collaris
|
Downy
Woodpecker
|
Picoides
pubescens
|
|||
Greater
Scaup
|
Aythya
marila
|
Hairy
Woodpecker
|
Picoides
villosus
|
|||
Lesser
Scaup
|
Aythya
affinis
|
Northern
Flicker
|
Colaptes
auratus
|
|||
Surf
Scoter
|
Melanitta
perspicillata
|
Pileated
Woodpecker
|
Dryocopus
pileatus
|
|||
White-winged
Scoter
|
Melanitta
fusca
|
Eastern
Wood-Pewee
|
Contopus
virens
|
|||
Black
Scoter
|
Melanitta
nigra
|
Acadian
Flycatcher
|
Empidonax
virescens
|
|||
Long-tailed
Duck
|
Clangula
hyemalis
|
Eastern
Phoebe
|
Sayornis
phoebe
|
|||
Bufflehead
|
Bucephala
albeola
|
Great
Crested Flycatcher
|
Myiarchus
crinitus
|
|||
Hooded
Merganser
|
Lophodytes
cucullatus
|
Eastern
Kingbird
|
Tyrannus
tyrannus
|
|||
Red-breasted
Merganser
|
Mergus
serrator
|
Gray
Kingbird
|
Tyrannus
dominicensis
|
|||
Ruddy
Duck
|
Oxyura
jamaicensis
|
Loggerhead
Shrike
|
Lanius ludovicianus
|
|||
Northern
Bobwhite
|
Colinus
virginianus
|
White-eyed
Vireo
|
Vireo
griseus
|
|||
Red-throated
Loon
|
Gavia
stellata
|
Yellow-throated
Vireo
|
Vireo
flavifrons
|
|||
Common
Loon
|
Gavia
immer
|
Blue-headed
Vireo
|
Vireo
solitarius
|
|||
Pied-billed
Grebe
|
Podilymbus
podiceps
|
Red-eyed
Vireo
|
Vireo
olivaceus
|
|||
Horned
Grebe
|
Podiceps
auritus
|
Blue
Jay
|
Cyanocitta
cristata
|
|||
Leach's
Storm-Petrel
|
Oceanodroma
leucorhoa
|
American
Crow
|
Corvus
brachyrhynchos
|
|||
Northern
Gannet
|
Morus
bassanus
|
Fish
Crow
|
Corvus
ossifragus
|
|||
American
White Pelican
|
Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos
|
Purple
Martin
|
Progne
subis
|
|||
Brown
Pelican
|
Pelecanus
occidentalis
|
Tree
Swallow
|
Tachycineta
bicolor
|
|||
Double-crested
Cormorant
|
Phalacrocorax
auritus
|
Northern
Rough-winged Swallow
|
Stelgidopteryx
serripennis
|
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Anhinga
|
Anhinga
anhinga
|
Cave
Swallow
|
Petrochelidon
fulva
|
|||
Magnificent
Frigatebird
|
Fregata
magnificens
|
Barn
Swallow
|
Hirundo
rustica
|
|||
American
Bittern
|
Botaurus
lentiginosus
|
Carolina
Chickadee
|
Poecile
carolinensis
|
|||
Least
Bittern
|
Ixobrychus
exilis
|
Tufted
Titmouse
|
Baeolophus
bicolor
|
|||
Great
Blue Heron
|
Ardea
herodias
|
Red-breasted
Nuthatch
|
Sitta
canadensis
|
|||
Great
Egret
|
Ardea
alba
|
White-breasted
Nuthatch
|
Sitta
carolinensis
|
|||
Snowy
Egret
|
Egretta
thula
|
Brown-headed
Nuthatch
|
Sitta
pusilla
|
|||
Little
Blue Heron
|
Egretta
caerulea
|
Brown
Creeper
|
Certhia
americana
|
|||
Tricolored
Heron
|
Egretta tricolor
|
Carolina
Wren
|
Thryothorus
ludovicianus
|
|||
Reddish
Egret
|
Egretta
rufescens
|
House
Wren
|
Troglodytes
aedon
|
|||
Cattle
Egret
|
Bubulcus
ibis
|
Winter
Wren
|
Troglodytes
troglodytes
|
|||
Green
Heron
|
Butorides
virescens
|
Sedge
Wren
|
Cistothorus
platensis
|
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Black-crowned
Night-Heron
|
Nycticorax
nycticorax
|
Marsh
Wren
|
Cistothorus
palustris
|
|||
Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron
|
Nyctanassa
violacea
|
Golden-crowned
Kinglet
|
Regulus
satrapa
|
|||
White
Ibis
|
Eudocimus
albus
|
Ruby-crowned
Kinglet
|
Regulus
calendula
|
|||
Glossy
Ibis
|
Plegadis
falcinellus
|
Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher
|
Polioptila
caerulea
|
|||
Roseate
Spoonbill
|
Platalea
ajaja
|
Eastern
Bluebird
|
Sialia
sialis
|
|||
Wood
Stork
|
Mycteria
americana
|
Swainson's
Thrush
|
Catharus
ustulatus
|
|||
Black
Vulture
|
Coragyps
atratus
|
Hermit
Thrush
|
Catharus
guttatus
|
|||
Turkey
Vulture
|
Cathartes
aura
|
Wood
Thrush
|
Hylocichla
mustelina
|
|||
Osprey
|
Pandion
haliaetus
|
American
Robin
|
Turdus
migratorius
|
|||
Mississippi
Kite
|
Ictinia
mississippiensis
|
Gray
Catbird
|
Dumetella
carolinensis
|
|||
Bald
Eagle
|
Haliaeetus
leucocephalus
|
Northern
Mockingbird
|
Mimus
polyglottos
|
|||
Northern
Harrier
|
Circus
cyaneus
|
Brown
Thrasher
|
Toxostoma
rufum
|
|||
Sharp-shinned
Hawk
|
Accipiter
striatus
|
European
Starling
|
Sturnus
vulgaris
|
|||
Cooper's
Hawk
|
Accipiter
cooperii
|
American
Pipit
|
Anthus
rubescens
|
|||
Red-shouldered
Hawk
|
Buteo
lineatus
|
Cedar
Waxwing
|
Bombycilla
cedrorum
|
|||
Broad-winged
Hawk
|
Buteo
platypterus
|
Orange-crowned
Warbler
|
Vermivora
celata
|
|||
Red-tailed
Hawk
|
Buteo
jamaicensis
|
Nashville
Warbler
|
Vermivora
ruficapilla
|
|||
American
Kestrel
|
Falco
sparverius
|
Northern
Parula
|
Parula
americana
|
|||
Merlin
|
Falco
columbarius
|
Yellow
Warbler
|
Dendroica
petechia
|
|||
Peregrine
Falcon
|
Falco
peregrinus
|
Chestnut-sided
Warbler
|
Dendroica
pensylvanica
|
|||
Yellow
Rail
|
Coturnicops
noveboracensis
|
Magnolia
Warbler
|
Dendroica
magnolia
|
|||
Black
Rail
|
Laterallus
jamaicensis
|
Cape
May Warbler
|
Dendroica
tigrina
|
|||
Clapper
Rail
|
Rallus
longirostris
|
Black-throated
Blue Warbler
|
Dendroica
caerulescens
|
|||
King
Rail
|
Rallus
elegans
|
Yellow-rumped
Warbler
|
Dendroica
coronata
|
|||
Virginia
Rail
|
Rallus
limicola
|
Black-throated
Green Warbler
|
Dendroica
virens
|
|||
Sora
|
Porzana
carolina
|
Blackburnian
Warbler
|
Dendroica
fusca
|
|||
Purple
Gallinule
|
Porphyrio
martinica
|
Yellow-throated
Warbler
|
Dendroica
dominica
|
|||
Common Moorhen
|
Gallinula
chloropus
|
Pine
Warbler
|
Dendroica
pinus
|
|||
American
Coot
|
Fulica
americana
|
Prairie Warbler
|
Dendroica
discolor
|
|||
Black-bellied
Plover
|
Pluvialis
squatarola
|
Palm Warbler
|
Dendroica
palmarum
|
|||
Wilson's
Plover
|
Charadrius
wilsonia
|
Bay-breasted Warbler
|
Dendroica
castanea
|
|||
Semipalmated
Plover
|
Charadrius
semipalmatus
|
Black-and-white Warbler
|
Mniotilta
varia
|
|||
Piping
Plover
|
Charadrius
melodus
|
American
Redstart
|
Setophaga
ruticilla
|
|||
Killdeer
|
Charadrius
vociferus
|
Prothonotary
Warbler
|
Protonotaria
citrea
|
|||
American
Oystercatcher
|
Haematopus
palliatus
|
Worm-eating
Warbler
|
Helmitheros
vermivorum
|
|||
Black-necked
Stilt
|
Himantopus
mexicanus
|
Swainson's
Warbler
|
Limnothlypis
swainsonii
|
|||
American
Avocet
|
Recurvirostra americana
|
Ovenbird
|
Seiurus
aurocapilla
|
|||
Spotted
Sandpiper
|
Actitis
macularius
|
Northern
Waterthrush
|
Seiurus
noveboracensis
|
|||
Solitary
Sandpiper
|
Tringa
solitaria
|
Louisiana
Waterthrush
|
Seiurus
motacilla
|
|||
Greater
Yellowlegs
|
Tringa
melanoleuca
|
Kentucky
Warbler
|
Oporornis
formosus
|
|||
Willet
|
Tringa
semipalmata
|
Common
Yellowthroat
|
Geothlypis
trichas
|
|||
Lesser
Yellowlegs
|
Tringa
flavipes
|
Hooded
Warbler
|
Wilsonia
citrina
|
|||
Whimbrel
|
Numenius
phaeopus
|
Yellow-breasted
Chat
|
Icteria
virens
|
|||
Long-billed
Curlew
|
Numenius
americanus
|
Summer
Tanager
|
Piranga
rubra
|
|||
Hudsonian
Godwit
|
Limosa
haemastica
|
Scarlet
Tanager
|
Piranga
olivacea
|
|||
Marbled
Godwit
|
Limosa
fedoa
|
Eastern
Towhee
|
Pipilo
erythrophthalmus
|
|||
Ruddy
Turnstone
|
Arenaria
interpres
|
Chipping Sparrow
|
Spizella
passerina
|
|||
Red
Knot
|
Calidris
canutus
|
Clay-colored
Sparrow
|
Spizella
pallida
|
|||
Sanderling
|
Calidris
alba
|
Field
Sparrow
|
Spizella
pusilla
|
|||
Semipalmated
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
pusilla
|
Vesper
Sparrow
|
Pooecetes
gramineus
|
|||
Western
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
mauri
|
Savannah
Sparrow
|
Passerculus
sandwichensis
|
|||
Least
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
minutilla
|
Grasshopper
Sparrow
|
Ammodramus
savannarum
|
|||
White-rumped
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
fuscicollis
|
Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
|
Ammodramus
nelsoni
|
|||
Pectoral
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
melanotos
|
Saltmarsh
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
|
Ammodramus
caudacutus
|
|||
*Purple
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
maritima
|
Seaside
Sparrow
|
Ammodramus
maritimus
|
|||
Dunlin
|
Calidris
alpina
|
Fox
Sparrow
|
Passerella
iliaca
|
|||
Curlew
Sandpiper
|
Calidris
ferruginea
|
Song
Sparrow
|
Melospiza
melodia
|
|||
Short-billed
Dowitcher
|
Limnodromus
griseus
|
Swamp
Sparrow
|
Melospiza
georgiana
|
|||
Long-billed
Dowitcher
|
Limnodromus
scolopaceus
|
White-throated
Sparrow
|
Zonotrichia
albicollis
|
|||
Wilson's
Snipe
|
Gallinago
delicata
|
Dark-eyed
Junco
|
Junco
hyemalis
|
|||
American
Woodcock
|
Scolopax
minor
|
Northern
Cardinal
|
Cardinalis
cardinalis
|
|||
Bonaparte's
Gull
|
Chroicocephalus
philadelphia
|
Rose-breasted
Grosbeak
|
Pheucticus
ludovicianus
|
|||
Laughing
Gull
|
Leucophaeus
atricilla
|
Blue
Grosbeak
|
Passerina
caerulea
|
|||
Ring-billed
Gull
|
Larus
delawarensis
|
Indigo
Bunting
|
Passerina
cyanea
|
|||
Herring
Gull
|
Larus
argentatus
|
Painted
Bunting
|
Passerina
ciris
|
|||
Lesser
Black-backed Gull
|
Larus
fuscus
|
Bobolink
|
Dolichonyx
oryzivorus
|
|||
Glaucous
Gull
|
Larus
hyperboreus
|
Red-winged
Blackbird
|
Agelaius
phoeniceus
|
|||
Great
Black-backed Gull
|
Larus
marinus
|
Eastern
Meadowlark
|
Sturnella
magna
|
|||
Least
Tern
|
Sternula
antillarum
|
Rusty
Blackbird
|
Euphagus
carolinus
|
|||
Gull-billed
Tern
|
Gelochelidon
nilotica
|
Common
Grackle
|
Quiscalus
quiscula
|
|||
Caspian
Tern
|
Hydroprogne
caspia
|
Boat-tailed
Grackle
|
Quiscalus
major
|
|||
Black
Tern
|
Chlidonias
niger
|
Brown-headed
Cowbird
|
Molothrus
ater
|
|||
Common
Tern
|
Sterna
hirundo
|
Orchard
Oriole
|
Icterus
spurius
|
|||
Forster's
Tern
|
Sterna
forsteri
|
Baltimore
Oriole
|
Icterus
galbula
|
|||
Royal
Tern
|
Thalasseus
maximus
|
Purple
Finch
|
Carpodacus
purpureus
|
|||
Sandwich
Tern
|
Thalasseus
sandvicensis
|
House
Finch
|
Carpodacus
mexicanus
|
|||
Black
Skimmer
|
Rynchops
niger
|
Pine
Siskin
|
Carduelis
pinus
|
|||
Parasitic
Jaeger
|
Stercorarius
parasiticus
|
American
Goldfinch
|
Carduelis
tristis
|
|||
Rock
Pigeon
|
Columba
livia
|
House
Sparrow
|
Passer
domesticus
|
|||
This list
of species was provided by Taylor Piephoff of Ocean Isle Beach and Charlotte,
NC.
|