Birds to See in South Carolina in March
133 bird species on our list for South Carolina are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, Yellow-rumped Warbler and American Crow. New this month: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Barn Swallow, Purple Martin and Prothonotary Warbler and 11 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
At their peak
From South 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 133 birds in March
133 birds
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 4.01% in Mar
Tufted TitmouseBaeolophus bicolorResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.91% in Mar
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.60% in Mar
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 2.58% in Mar
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Mar
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.35% in Mar
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 2.29% in Mar
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentCommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 2.28% in Mar
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 2.06% in Mar
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Mar
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Mar
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 1.69% in Mar
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Mar
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 1.63% in Mar
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.57% in Mar
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.40% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Mar
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Mar
Fish CrowCorvus ossifragusResidentCommon36–41 cmRecorded all year · 1.21% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Mar
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaResidentCommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Mar
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaWinter visitorCommon12–17 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.94% in Mar
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.85% in Mar
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Mar
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.68% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsWinter visitorCommon31–38 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.65% in Mar
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusWinter visitorCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Mar
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusWinter visitorCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Mar
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Mar
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.59% in Mar
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentCommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.58% in Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorCommon19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.55% in Mar
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Mar
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentCommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Mar
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Mar
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.41% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.37% in Mar
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisWinter visitorCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Mar
Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalusResidentCommon19–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Mar
Blue-headed VireoVireo solitariusWinter visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.33% in Mar
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.33% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.31% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Mar
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentUncommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.30% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentCommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentUncommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerWinter visitorUncommon66–91 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.25% in Mar
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.23% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Mar
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.20% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.20% in Mar
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesResidentUncommon23–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.18% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentUncommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresResidentUncommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.15% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.14% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorUncommon34–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.13% in Mar
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusResidentUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellusResidentUncommon48–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentUncommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorUncommon44–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.11% in Mar
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Mar
Ruby-throated HummingbirdArchilochus colubrisSummer visitorCommon7–9 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.11% in Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.11% in Mar
Piping PloverCharadrius melodusWinter visitorUncommon17–18 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.11% in Mar
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Painted BuntingPasserina cirisSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.08% in Mar
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.06% in Mar
Cattle EgretArdea ibisSummer visitorUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusWinter visitorUncommon87–100 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.06% in Mar
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaWinter visitorUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentUncommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Red-cockaded WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus borealisResidentUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Mar
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusWinter visitorRare58–85 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Mar
Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citreaSummer visitorUncommon13–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.04% in Mar
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorRare27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.03% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorWinter visitorUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusWinter visitorUncommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Virginia RailRallus limicolaWinter visitorUncommon20–27 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asioResidentRare16–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaSummer visitorUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.02% in Mar
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusWinter visitorRare13–17 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensSummer visitorUncommon11–12 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxSummer visitorRare54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorRare48–60 cmRegularly Nov–Jun · 0.01% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.01% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorRare40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorRare39–56 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaScarceRare58–74 cmRegularly Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorRare20–22 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusWinter visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorRare64–81 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisWinter visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisWinter visitorRare20–24 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Mar
American Black DuckAnas rubripesWinter visitorRare54–59 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
EiderSomateria mollissimaWinter visitorRare50–71 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusWinter visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.00% in Mar
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.00% in Mar
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Mar
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantRare24–28 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.00% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisPassage migrantRare28–34 cmRegularly Nov–Aug · records held back in Mar (protected)
Common MerganserMergus merganserPassage migrantRare58–68 cmRegularly Jan–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRegularly 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