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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in West Virginia

Our list for West Virginia has 167 bird species recorded regularly there: 49 residents, 42 summer visitors, 41 winter visitors, 31 passage migrants and 4 scarce visitors

The list comes from 2.6 million birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
167
In October
113
Common
57
Busiest month
May

What's special about West Virginia

vs United States

The birds recorded far more often here than across United States, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones West Virginia is worth visiting for.

  1. Scarlet TanagerScarlet Tanager4.0×Summer visitor · 0.91% of records here, 0.23% across United States
  2. Blue-headed VireoBlue-headed Vireo3.5×Summer visitor · 0.68% of records here, 0.19% across United States
  3. Black-throated Green WarblerBlack-throated Green Warbler3.0×Summer visitor · 0.62% of records here, 0.21% across United States
  4. Pileated WoodpeckerPileated Woodpecker2.6×Resident · 1.9% of records here, 0.71% across United States
  5. Broad-winged HawkBroad-winged Hawk2.3×Summer visitor · 0.24% of records here, 0.10% across United States
  6. Black-billed CuckooBlack-billed Cuckoo2.3×Summer visitor · 0.05% of records here, 0.02% across United States
  7. Black-throated Blue WarblerBlack-throated Blue Warbler2.1×Summer visitor · 0.26% of records here, 0.13% across United States
  8. OvenbirdOvenbird2.1×Summer visitor · 0.64% of records here, 0.31% across United States

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Blue JayBlue Jay5.15%
  2. American CrowAmerican Crow4.32%
  3. Northern CardinalNorthern Cardinal3.73%
  4. Tufted TitmouseTufted Titmouse3.24%
  5. Red-bellied WoodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker3.23%
  6. Song SparrowSong Sparrow3.15%

Arriving now

  1. White-crowned SparrowWhite-crowned SparrowWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.29%
  2. Pine SiskinPine SiskinWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.22%
  3. Ruddy DuckRuddy DuckWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.08%
  4. American Black DuckAmerican Black DuckWinter visitorSep 0.01% → Oct 0.08%
  5. GadwallGadwallWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.06%
  6. Common LoonCommon LoonWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.03%

Share of all bird records in West Virginia in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for West Virginia

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in West Virginia

Records by month
Bird records in West Virginia by month, 2019–2024
January131,967
February151,240
March196,005
April326,034
May512,309
June280,613
July203,871
August163,820
September185,503
October169,807
November123,574
December133,159

May has the most records (512,000). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 25
All 25 families in West Virginia

How common

More of United States

All of United States

All 167 birds, A to Z

Show all 167 birds

Questions

4

What birds is West Virginia known for?

Compared with the rest of United States, West Virginia stands out for Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler and Pileated Woodpecker. Each is recorded at least 2.6 times as often here as across United States, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for West Virginia?

167 species, each recorded regularly in West Virginia (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 49 residents, 42 summer visitors, 41 winter visitors, 31 passage migrants and 4 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in West Virginia, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in West Virginia in October?

113 species on our list for West Virginia are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Blue Jay, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

What are the most common birds in West Virginia?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in West Virginia are Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin and Tufted Titmouse.

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

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