Birds to See in North Carolina in March
148 bird species on our list for North Carolina are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, American Robin and Eastern Bluebird. New this month: Barn Swallow, Common Yellowthroat, Purple Martin and Black-throated Green Warbler and 5 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
From North Carolina’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 148 birds in March
148 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.22% in Mar
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 3.36% in Mar
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 3.14% in Mar
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Mar
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.70% in Mar
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.66% in Mar
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Mar
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 2.36% in Mar
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Mar
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 2.18% in Mar
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 2.16% in Mar
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.98% in Mar
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.94% in Mar
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.92% in Mar
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.82% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Mar
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.43% in Mar
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.37% in Mar
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.34% in Mar
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Mar
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Mar
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.13% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Mar
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Mar
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.88% in Mar
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.64% in Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.62% in Mar
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.60% in Mar
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.59% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Mar
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.47% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.47% in Mar
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Mar
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Mar
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.38% in Mar
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.31% in Mar
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Mar
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.28% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.27% in Mar
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentUncommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.25% in Mar
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Mar
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.24% in Mar
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Oct–Aug · 0.20% in Mar
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.17% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.16% in Mar
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.15% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentUncommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.11% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Mar
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Mar
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.10% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentUncommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Mar
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentUncommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.08% in Mar
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.07% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentUncommon66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.05% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.04% in Mar
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisWinter visitorUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentRare16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusSummer visitorUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Mar
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
RazorbillAlca tordaWinter visitorUncommon38–43 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.03% in Mar
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentUncommon16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorUncommon13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.03% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.03% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusSummer visitorUncommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentRare20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorRare20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorRare58–68 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.02% in Mar
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentRare63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorUncommon48–60 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Mar
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.01% in Mar
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorRare80–100 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Little AukAlle allePassage migrantRare18–21 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusSummer visitorRare41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Atlantic PuffinFratercula arcticaPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Feb–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Dec–Oct · 0.01% in Mar
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusWinter visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Dec–Sep · 0.01% in Mar
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Mar
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesWinter visitorRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Nov–Jul · 0.01% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusSummer visitorUncommon48–66 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.00% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Dec–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorRare38–44 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusSummer visitorUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantRare25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.00% in Mar
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Dec–May · 0.00% in Mar
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorRare57–64 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorRare53–76 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorRare52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.00% in Mar
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaWinter visitorRare58–74 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorRare55–66 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made