North Carolina Bird Photos
Taken by Will Cook (except for the miscellaneous section).
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Anseriformes - Swans, Geese, & Ducks
Anatidae - Swans, Geese, & Ducks
Snow and Ross's Geese (Chen caerulescens and C. rossii). Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde Co., NC, 11/15/03.
Ross's Goose with Snow Geese (Chen rossii and C. caerulescens). Southport, Brunswick Co., NC, 1/9/02.
Ross's Goose (Chen rossii). First record for Orange Co., NC 2/2/03.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii minima). Three at Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde Co., NC 12/29/04.
Brant (Branta bernicla hrota) - Lake Crabtree, Wake Co., NC 10/12/05
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor). Still somewhat rare in NC. Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/5/04.
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus). Abundant at Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/5/04.
American Wigeon (Anas americana). An aberrant bird at Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 10/17/03.
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) - Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 1/18/04
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/07
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) - French Broad River, Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), female - Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/11/06
Galliformes - Game Birds
Phasianidae - Pheasants, Grouse, & Quail
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) - Alleghany Co., NC 6/25/05.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Procellariiformes - Tubenoses
Procellariidae - Petrels, Shearwaters, and Fulmar
Black-capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata) - off Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 5/31/07
Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) - off Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 5/31/07
Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) (with Wilson's Storm-Petrel) - off Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 5/31/07
Hydrobatidae - Storm-Petrels
Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) (with Greater Shearwater) - off Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 5/31/07
Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) - off Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC 5/31/07
Pelecaniformes
Pelecanidae - Pelicans
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Large flock at Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/4/04.
Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) - Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC
Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). Adult and immature at Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co., NC 1/8/05.
Ciconiiformes - Storks & kin
Ardeidae - Egrets & Herons
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - Dare Co., NC 11/10/07
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - Hyde Co., NC 1/16/06
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - Blacksburg, VA 7/13/07
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) - Clarendon Co., SC 6/14/07
Threskiornithidae - Ibises & Spoonbills
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Dare Co., NC
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). The first record for the Christmas Bird Count at Mattamuskeet NWR, Hyde Co., NC, 12/29/2001.
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi). The first NC record, Nags Head, Dare Co., NC, 7/9/02
White-faced? Ibis (Plegadis sp.) - immature in Dare Co., NC, November 2008.
Falconiformes - Raptors
Cathartidae - New World Vultures
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) with Common Raven - Alleghany Co., NC 4/16/05.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) - Chatham Co., NC 3/17/06.
Accipitridae - Kites, Eagles, & Hawks
Swallow-tailed Kites (Elanoides forficatus) near the Cape Fear River, Columbus and Bladen Cos., NC, 7/19/03.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Biology Dept. parking lot, Duke University, Durham, NC 12/22/03.
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Adult Eastern with no trace of a belly band. Hyde Co., NC, 1/25/02.
Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi). Immature in Durham Co., NC, 11/11/2001.
Falconidae - Falcons
Merlin (Falco columbarius). Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 10/19/03
Gruiformes - Rails & Cranes
Gruidae - Cranes
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) - Guilford Co., NC 3/2005.
Charadriiformes
Charadriidae - Plovers
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) - Shackleford Banks, Carteret Co., NC 10/30/05
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) eggs in the "nest" - Flat River impoundment, Falls Lake, Durham Co., NC, 4/13/03.
Recurvirostridae - Stilts & Avocet
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana). South Pond, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 10/19/03.
Scolopacidae - Sandpipers
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus). Snoozing in the waves at Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/6/04.
Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/08
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) - Dare Co., NC 11/7/08
Red Knot (Calidris canutus) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/07
Sanderling (Calidris alba) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/07
Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) - Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/17/07
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) - Person Co., NC 4/1/06
Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) - Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 9/15/07
Laridae - Gulls & Terns
Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) - Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde Co., NC 1/25/02
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) - Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 11/5/06
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/08
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/08
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) - Dare Co., NC 11/3/05
Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus). Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC 2/17/04
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) - wire-killed bird, Dare Co., NC 11/9/07
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) - Dare Co., NC 11/9/07
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) - Carteret Co., NC 9/22/2012
Alcidae - Alcids
Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia). Fort Macon, Carteret Co., NC, 3/12/03.
Columbiformes - Pigeons & Doves
Columbidae - Pigeons & Doves
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). Durham Co., NC 8/21/05. One of our most common birds.
Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina). Carteret Co., NC, 12/26/03. 
Strigiformes - Owls
Strigidae - Typical Owls
Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca). The bird at Bald Head Island (Brunswick Co., NC), 11/27/01.
Barred Owl (Strix varia). Fort Caswell, Brunswick Co., NC, 1/5/02.
Apodiformes - Swifts & Hummingbirds
Apodidae - Swifts
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) - pair at nest with 3 eggs - Madison Co., NC 7/27/2012
Trochilidae - Hummingbirds
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) - female on nest, Mason Farm, Chapel Hill, NC 5/23/06
Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - North Carolina's first adult male, Orange Co., NC, 11/10/02
Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) - North Carolina's first record, Dare Co., NC 3/22/03
Coraciiformes - Kingfishers & kin
Alcedinidae - Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon). Oregon Inlet, Dare Co., NC 1/26/02.
Piciformes
Picidae - Woodpeckers & kin
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) - Chapel Hill, NC
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) - Chatham Co., NC 2/16/06
Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker (Colaptes auratus auratus) - Carroll Co., VA 10/7/01.
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) - Chatham Co., NC 5/16/03
Passeriformes - Passerines
Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) - Grayson Co., VA 9/23/07
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii). First North Carolina record, Chatham Co., NC. 
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) - Carteret Co., NC 12/2/05
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC, 12/28/01.
Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus). Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/3/01. The bird that showed up for the Wings Over Water festival.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis). Lake Mattamuskeet, Hyde Co., NC 1/18/03.
Laniidae - Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) - Scotland Co., NC 4/20/05.
Corvidae - Jays & Crows
Common Raven (Corvus corax) with Black Vulture - Alleghany Co., NC 4/16/05
Hirundinidae - Swallows
Purple Martin (Progne subis) - Durham Co., NC 5/7/2011
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) - Alleghany Co., NC 4/15/06
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - babies, Fort Stevens, OR 8/6/06
Paridae - Tits
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) - Chapel Hill, NC 12/11/05
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) - Chapel Hill, NC 3/4/06
Troglodytidae - Wrens
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Turdidae - Thrushes
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) - Chapel Hill, NC 12/21/03
Mimidae - Mimic-Thrushes
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) - Chapel Hill, NC 9/30/05
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) - Dare Co., NC 6/4/06 
Sturnidae - Starlings
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Motacillidae - Wagtails & Pipits
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba). First North Carolina record, Falls Lake, Wake Co., NC 10/22/02.
Calcariidae - Longspurs
Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) - Fort Fisher, New Hanover Co., NC 4/30/2011
Parulidae - Wood-Warblers
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) - 3 chicks in nest, Wake Co., NC 5/8/2011
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) - Chatham Co., NC 3/5/06
Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga [coronata] coronata) - Dare Co., NC 11/10/06
Audubon's Warbler (Setophaga [coronata] auduboni) - Chapel Hill, NC
Thraupidae - Tanagers
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) - Chatham Co., NC 9/17/07
Emberizidae - New World Sparrows
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) - Chapel Hill, NC
Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) - Scotland Co., NC 4/30/2011 - first state record
Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) - Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/23/06
Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) - Dare Co., NC 10/2/05 (poor photo).
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) - Pea Is. NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/10/07
Ipswich Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis princeps) - Oregon Inlet, Dare Co., NC 1/26/02
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) - Pea Is. NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/10/07
Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) - Oregon Inlet, Dare Co., NC 11/3/05
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) - Franklin, NC 5/12/06
Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula). Winnabow, Brunswick Co., NC 4/25/04.
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Immature, Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/7/04.
Cardinalidae - Cardinal Grosbeaks
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) The official state bird of NC and Virginia (and a bunch of other states).
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) at Elizabeth City, Pasquotank Co., NC 2/14/03.
Icteridae - New World Blackbirds
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) at Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC, 10/18/03.
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). 'Stumpy' the tailless Shiny at Pea Island NWR, Dare Co., NC 11/7/04.
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) - Chatham Co., NC
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum) - First NC record, Catawba Co., NC 1/31/08
Fringillidae - Finches & kin
Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) male (right) with Common Redpoll at Ocracoke, Hyde Co., NC 1/17/04.
Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) at Ocracoke, Hyde Co., NC 1/17/04.
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Digiscoping:
The term "digiscoping" refers to taking a digital photograph through a spotting scope. For more information, see Stéphane Moniotte's web site.
Also, see my tests of the power of the digiscoping technique.
Museum specimens:
Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) and Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) from the Duke University collection, 1/15/03.
Unusual Specimens at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 9/6/01.
Miscellaneous: (photos of rare or unusual birds in NC taken by miscellaneous people)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) - Near albino in Raleigh, NC by Barbara and Chuck Gaul, 11/12/00.
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) - Juvenile in Southport, NC, 11/19/02, by Tom Vaught.
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) - Photographed 4/28/02 aboard the Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry by Helmut Mueller.
Barred Owl (Strix varia) - A very pale individual in Chapel Hill, 2/7/02.
Barred Owl (Strix varia) - A fluffy baby owl on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill. Kirsten Snyder, 5/31/04
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) - Raleigh, 1/8/03. Hit a window in downtown Raleigh, now in the hands of the American Wildlife Refuge.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) - Near albino in Chatham Co., NC. Photo by Renee Underwood, 8/2005.
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) at Jordan Lake, NC. Photos, vocalizations, and description of the first North Carolina record of this bird, seen January 15-22, 2000. Photos by Derb Carter.
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) - Alligator River NWR, Dare Co. Photo by Van Atkins, 1/26/02.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus forficatus) - Breeding in Monroe, NC. Photo by Mary Welty, 7/15/00.
Mystery sparrow in Blythewood, SC. Photos by Rich Blake, 1/10/11.
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) - The first NC record, found at Southport, NC on 1/5/02 by Greg Massey. Photo by Van Atkins, 2/1/02.
Outside links:
Green-breasted Mango (Anthracothorax prevostii) in Concord, NC, which came to a feeder 11/12-12/6/00.
Comments? Questions? E-mail me at cwcook@duke.edu
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