Shorebirds
Along the Atlantic Coast, a bird watcher can see such shorebirds as shearwaters, petrels, sandpipers, gulls, terns, jaegers and godwits.
Raptors
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Dave Matheson
North Carolina has its share of birds of prey, with such raptors as osprey, Mississippi kites, sharp-shinned hawks, bald eagles, kestrels and peregrine falcons patrolling the skies.
Songbirds
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mike Baird
Warblers, sparrows, tanagers, titmice, orioles, wrens, finches and thrushes are among the many types of songbirds that live in North Carolina.
Waterfowl
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mark Skipper
The lakes, rivers and ponds of the state are the home or resting place during long migrations of such waterfowl as geese, ducks, loons, teal, swans and scaup.
State Bird
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of ator) (Alan Strakey
In 1943, North Carolina's legislature adopted the northern cardinal as the state bird. The male has bright red plumage with black around its beak and eyes; the female is a pale brown color with just a hint of red.
Game Birds
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Shirl
Hunters have game birds such as the northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse and wild turkey to pursue when these species are in season.
