It’s National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in North Carolina using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch.

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By Stacker

January 5, 2023
Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in North Carolina using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Nov. 26 to Dec. 9. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 210 count sites in North Carolina. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.

The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.

Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#50. Red-breasted Nuthatch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 2%
– Average group size: 1.13
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Dakota: 73%
— #2. Maine: 67%
— #3. Michigan: 57%
— #4. Alaska: 56%
— #5. Nebraska: 52%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#49. Field Sparrow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 2%
– Average group size: 1.4
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Tennessee: 10%
— #2. West Virginia: 5%
— #3. Texas: 3%
— #3. Missouri: 3%
— #3. Alabama: 3%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#48. Black-capped Chickadee

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 2%
– Average group size: 1.89
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Vermont: 99%
— #2. Minnesota: 95%
— #2. Connecticut: 95%
— #2. Massachusetts: 95%
— #5. New Hampshire: 94%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#47. Black Vulture

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 2%
– Average group size: 2.13
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Alabama: 3%
— #2. New Jersey: 2%
— #2. Texas: 2%
— #2. North Carolina: 2%
— #5. Florida: 1%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#46. Wild Turkey

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 2%
– Average group size: 7.87
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Hampshire: 21%
— #2. Maine: 19%
— #3. Montana: 14%
— #4. Wyoming: 13%
— #5. Massachusetts: 12%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#45. Pine Siskin

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 3%
– Average group size: 1.93
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Mexico: 36%
— #2. Wyoming: 13%
— #3. Idaho: 12%
— #4. Utah: 10%
— #5. Washington: 9%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#44. Pileated Woodpecker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 5%
– Average group size: 1.05
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Minnesota: 28%
— #2. Wisconsin: 17%
— #3. Michigan: 16%
— #4. Indiana: 15%
— #5. West Virginia: 14%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#43. Baltimore Oriole

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 5%
– Average group size: 1.9
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Carolina: 10%
— #2. Florida: 9%
— #3. North Carolina: 5%
— #4. Georgia: 2%
— #5. Virginia: 1%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#42. Common Grackle

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 5%
– Average group size: 3.27
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Jersey: 27%
— #2. Florida: 24%
— #3. Delaware: 17%
— #4. Connecticut: 14%
— #5. South Dakota: 13%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#41. Cooper’s Hawk

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 6%
– Average group size: 1.0
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Arizona: 26%
— #2. Kentucky: 21%
— #2. Nevada: 21%
— #4. South Dakota: 20%
— #4. Utah: 20%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#40. Brown Creeper

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 6%
– Average group size: 1.02
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Dakota: 13%
— #2. Arkansas: 11%
— #3. Maine: 10%
— #3. New Hampshire: 10%
— #5. Missouri: 9%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#39. Golden-crowned Kinglet

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 6%
– Average group size: 1.27
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Alabama: 9%
— #2. Georgia: 8%
— #3. Arkansas: 7%
— #4. North Carolina: 6%
— #5. Texas: 3%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#38. Red-winged Blackbird

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 6%
– Average group size: 3.54
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Colorado: 23%
— #2. Nevada: 21%
— #3. Maryland: 16%
— #4. Louisiana: 15%
— #4. New Jersey: 15%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#37. Cedar Waxwing

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 6%
– Average group size: 5.55
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Wyoming: 13%
— #2. Missouri: 10%
— #2. Utah: 10%
— #4. Idaho: 8%
— #5. Arkansas: 7%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#36. Red-shouldered Hawk

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 8%
– Average group size: 1.08
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Carolina: 9%
— #2. North Carolina: 8%
— #3. Missouri: 6%
— #4. Texas: 5%
— #4. Florida: 5%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#35. Brown-headed Cowbird

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 8%
– Average group size: 2.4
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Louisiana: 15%
— #2. West Virginia: 14%
— #2. Delaware: 14%
— #4. New Jersey: 13%
— #5. South Carolina: 10%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#34. European Starling

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 9%
– Average group size: 3.25
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Delaware: 63%
— #2. Kentucky: 48%
— #3. Nebraska: 42%
— #3. New Jersey: 42%
— #5. Maryland: 39%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#33. Eastern Phoebe

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 10%
– Average group size: 1.08
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Georgia: 37%
— #2. Louisiana: 25%
— #3. South Carolina: 24%
— #4. Florida: 18%
— #5. Alabama: 16%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#32. Hairy Woodpecker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 11%
– Average group size: 1.11
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Maine: 66%
— #2. New Hampshire: 62%
— #3. Vermont: 61%
— #4. South Dakota: 60%
— #5. Minnesota: 59%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#31. House Sparrow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 11%
– Average group size: 3.36
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Dakota: 93%
— #2. Iowa: 92%
— #3. Illinois: 86%
— #4. Nebraska: 82%
— #5. Indiana: 79%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#30. Hermit Thrush

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 13%
– Average group size: 1.02
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. California: 23%
— #2. North Carolina: 13%
— #3. Oregon: 9%
— #3. Virginia: 9%
— #3. Georgia: 9%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#29. Northern Flicker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 13%
– Average group size: 1.27
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Nevada: 79%
— #2. Montana: 76%
— #3. Washington: 67%
— #4. Colorado: 62%
— #4. Oregon: 62%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#28. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 13%
– Average group size: 2.26
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. West Virginia: 46%
— #2. Missouri: 37%
— #3. Pennsylvania: 29%
— #4. Ohio: 25%
— #5. Virginia: 24%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#27. Purple Finch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 16%
– Average group size: 1.84
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. West Virginia: 24%
— #2. Georgia: 22%
— #3. Missouri: 21%
— #4. Alabama: 19%
— #5. South Carolina: 18%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#26. Brown Thrasher

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 18%
– Average group size: 1.03
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Carolina: 28%
— #2. Georgia: 27%
— #3. North Carolina: 18%
— #4. Florida: 10%
— #5. Alabama: 9%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#25. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 19%
– Average group size: 1.13
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. North Carolina: 19%
— #2. Tennessee: 15%
— #2. Georgia: 15%
— #4. Alabama: 13%
— #5. Arkansas: 11%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#24. Yellow-rumped Warbler

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 19%
– Average group size: 1.55
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Nevada: 57%
— #2. Louisiana: 45%
— #3. California: 38%
— #4. Florida: 34%
— #5. South Carolina: 30%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#23. Pine Warbler

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 23%
– Average group size: 1.24
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Georgia: 40%
— #2. South Carolina: 34%
— #3. Florida: 29%
— #4. North Carolina: 23%
— #5. Alabama: 22%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#22. Song Sparrow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 24%
– Average group size: 1.42
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Washington: 60%
— #2. Oregon: 53%
— #3. West Virginia: 38%
— #4. Kentucky: 35%
— #5. Delaware: 34%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#21. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 25%
– Average group size: 1.06
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Carolina: 35%
— #2. Alabama: 34%
— #3. Georgia: 32%
— #4. North Carolina: 25%
— #5. Texas: 23%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#20. Eastern Towhee

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 29%
– Average group size: 1.34
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. North Carolina: 29%
— #2. Tennessee: 21%
— #3. Georgia: 19%
— #4. South Carolina: 18%
— #5. Alabama: 13%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#19. Chipping Sparrow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 29%
– Average group size: 2.25
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Georgia: 47%
— #2. South Carolina: 43%
— #3. Louisiana: 40%
— #4. Alabama: 38%
— #5. North Carolina: 29%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#18. American Robin

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 30%
– Average group size: 2.67
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Mexico: 47%
— #2. Nevada: 43%
— #3. Oregon: 39%
— #4. Tennessee: 38%
— #5. Kansas: 35%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#17. American Crow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 31%
– Average group size: 2.72
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Oklahoma: 50%
— #2. Maine: 39%
— #3. North Carolina: 31%
— #4. Virginia: 30%
— #4. Minnesota: 30%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#16. Brown-headed Nuthatch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 33%
– Average group size: 1.37
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Georgia: 40%
— #2. North Carolina: 33%
— #3. South Carolina: 23%
— #4. Alabama: 6%
— #5. Tennessee: 4%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#15. Northern Mockingbird

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 37%
– Average group size: 1.14
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Alabama: 50%
— #2. Louisiana: 45%
— #2. Tennessee: 45%
— #2. South Carolina: 45%
— #5. Florida: 38%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#14. American Goldfinch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 42%
– Average group size: 1.78
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. West Virginia: 81%
— #2. Arkansas: 79%
— #3. Indiana: 77%
— #4. Wisconsin: 76%
— #5. Maine: 75%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#13. Blue Jay

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 49%
– Average group size: 1.73
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Nebraska: 97%
— #2. Massachusetts: 82%
— #2. Ohio: 82%
— #4. South Dakota: 80%
— #4. Iowa: 80%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#12. Eastern Bluebird

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 53%
– Average group size: 2.3
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Georgia: 62%
— #2. North Carolina: 53%
— #3. Virginia: 43%
— #4. South Carolina: 40%
— #5. Alabama: 34%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#11. White-breasted Nuthatch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 56%
– Average group size: 1.27
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Connecticut: 90%
— #1. New Hampshire: 90%
— #3. Vermont: 88%
— #4. West Virginia: 86%
— #4. New Jersey: 86%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#10. White-throated Sparrow

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 57%
– Average group size: 2.46
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Arkansas: 86%
— #2. New Jersey: 68%
— #3. Delaware: 63%
— #3. Maryland: 63%
— #5. Virginia: 61%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#9. Dark-eyed Junco

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 60%
– Average group size: 2.41
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Washington: 95%
— #2. Kansas: 93%
— #3. Oregon: 91%
— #3. Nebraska: 91%
— #5. New Jersey: 90%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#8. Red-bellied Woodpecker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 61%
– Average group size: 1.12
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. West Virginia: 84%
— #2. Connecticut: 81%
— #2. Indiana: 81%
— #4. Ohio: 79%
— #4. Maryland: 79%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#7. Mourning Dove

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 66%
– Average group size: 2.96
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Jersey: 90%
— #2. Kentucky: 85%
— #3. Connecticut: 82%
— #4. Massachusetts: 81%
— #4. Alabama: 81%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#6. Downy Woodpecker

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 78%
– Average group size: 1.32
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Connecticut: 90%
— #2. Indiana: 89%
— #2. Massachusetts: 89%
— #2. West Virginia: 89%
— #5. Missouri: 88%

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It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#5. House Finch

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 78%
– Average group size: 2.91
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. New Mexico: 93%
— #2. Alabama: 91%
— #3. Utah: 90%
— #3. Arizona: 90%
— #5. New Jersey: 86%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#4. Carolina Wren

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 82%
– Average group size: 1.37
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. South Carolina: 93%
— #2. Georgia: 84%
— #3. North Carolina: 82%
— #4. Kentucky: 79%
— #5. Maryland: 76%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#3. Carolina Chickadee

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 82%
– Average group size: 2.01
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Arkansas: 96%
— #1. South Carolina: 96%
— #3. Georgia: 89%
— #4. Alabama: 88%
— #5. Louisiana: 85%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#2. Northern Cardinal

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 86%
– Average group size: 2.37
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. Arkansas: 100%
— #2. Kentucky: 96%
— #3. Missouri: 95%
— #4. West Virginia: 92%
— #4. Maryland: 92%

It's National Bird Day! Here Are 50 of the Most Commonly Seen Birds in North Carolina

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#1. Tufted Titmouse

– Sites visited Nov. 26 to Dec. 9: 89%
– Average group size: 2.11
– States with the highest percent of sites visited
— #1. West Virginia: 100%
— #2. Connecticut: 95%
— #3. New Hampshire: 92%
— #4. Maryland: 91%
— #5. Massachusetts: 89%

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