List of birds of South Carolina facts for kids

South Carolina is home to many different kinds of birds! This list tells you about all the bird species that have been officially seen and recorded in the state. As of mid-2021, there were 446 types of birds confirmed to live in or visit South Carolina. There are also a few more species that are on a "provisional" list, meaning they've been seen but need more proof, or are "hypothetical," meaning they've been reported but not fully documented by the experts.

This list follows the order used by the American Ornithological Society (AOS), which is a main group of bird experts in North and Middle America. The names of the bird families come from another expert list called Clements taxonomy.

Here are some special tags you'll see next to some bird names:

• (R) - Rare: This bird is not often seen in South Carolina, and if you spot one, experts might want to check your report.
• (RI) - Rare Inland: This bird is rare if it's found away from the coast.
• (I) - Introduced: Humans brought this bird to North America, and it now lives here.
• (E) - Extinct: This type of bird no longer exists anywhere.
• (P1) - Provisional I: Experts have approved these birds based on people seeing them, but there isn't physical proof like a photo or specimen.
• (P2) - Provisional II: These birds are believed to be in South Carolina because humans helped them get there, and they haven't settled down permanently.
• (H) - Hypothetical: These birds have been reported in bird magazines but haven't been officially documented by the committee.

Unless noted otherwise, all the birds listed below are regularly found in South Carolina. They might live there all year, visit in the summer or winter, or just pass through during migration.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water. They have webbed feet, flat beaks, and feathers that shed water easily. Forty-four species have been seen in South Carolina.

New World Quail

Order: Galliformes Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, plump birds that live on the ground. They are not closely related to quails from other parts of the world. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants and their relatives. They are ground-dwelling birds, usually plump with broad, short wings. Many are hunted for food. Turkeys have special fleshy parts on their heads and necks. Male turkeys are much more colorful than females and do fancy dances to attract mates. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (P2) (R)

Flamingoes

Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicopteridae

Flamingoes are tall, social wading birds. They eat small shellfish and algae by filtering them from the water with their unique, upside-down beaks. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Chilean flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (P2) (R)
• American flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber (R)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds that live in freshwater. They have lobed toes, which make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are clumsy on land. Five species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (R)
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (R)

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin beaks. Eight species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (R)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (P2) (R)
• Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. They are birds of different sizes with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Four species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Smooth-billed ani, Crotophaga ani (P1) (R)
• Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (R)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Nightjars and Allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are active at night and usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short beaks. Their soft feathers are camouflaged to look like tree bark or leaves. Four species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (accidental)
• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and almost never land on the ground, preferring to perch on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds that can hover in the air by flapping their wings very fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward. Ten species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae (P1) (R)
• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (R)
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (R)
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (R)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
• Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (R)
• Cuban emerald, Chlorostilbon ricordii (H) (R)
• Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (R)
• Buff-bellied hummingbird, Amazilia yucatanensis (R)

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This is a large family of small to medium-sized birds like rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Most live in thick plants in wet areas near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are usually shy and hard to see. Most have strong legs and long toes, good for walking on soft ground. They tend to have short, rounded wings and are not strong fliers. Ten species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans
• King rail, Rallus elegans
• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola
• Sora, Porzana carolina
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata
• American coot, Fulica americana
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus
• Purple swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio (R)
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R)
• Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (RI)

Limpkin

Order: Gruiformes Family: Aramidae

The limpkin is a large bird that is the only one in its family. It looks like a rail but is more closely related to cranes. It lives in marshes and gets its name because it looks like it's limping when it walks.

• Limpkin, Aramus guarauna

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. Most cranes do fancy and loud dances to attract mates. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis
• Whooping crane, Grus americana (R)

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. Avocets have long legs and long, upward-curved beaks. Stilts have very long legs and long, thin, straight beaks. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, noisy birds that look like plovers. They have strong beaks that they use to smash or pry open shellfish. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, pointed wings. They are usually found in open areas around the world, often near water. Nine species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus (P1) (R)
• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (RI)
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (R)
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (R)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. Most of these birds eat small insects and other tiny creatures they find in mud or soil. They have different leg and beak lengths, which allows many species to feed in the same places without competing for food. Thirty-eight species have been recorded in South Carolina.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are medium to large birds, usually gray or brown, often with white on their wings. They have longish beaks with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large, dark gulls but have a fleshy part above their upper beak. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. Five species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Great skua, Stercorarius skua (R)
• South polar skua, Stercorarius maccormicki (R)
• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (RI)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (RI)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (R)

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

Alcids look a bit like penguins because of their black and white colors and upright posture, but they are not related and can fly. Auks live on the open sea and only come to land to nest. Six species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Dovekie, Alle alle (R)
• Common murre, Uria aalge (R)
• Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (R)
• Razorbill, Alca torda (RI)
• Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle (R)
• Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (R)

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

Gulls are usually medium to large birds, often gray or white with black markings on their heads or wings. They have strong, longish beaks and webbed feet. Terns are generally medium to large birds, often gray or white with black markings on their heads. They are lighter and more streamlined than gulls, looking graceful in flight with long tails and narrow wings. Skimmers are tropical birds with a longer lower beak, which they use to skim the water surface for small fish while flying low. Thirty species from this family have been recorded in South Carolina.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds of tropical oceans with very long central tail feathers. Their long wings and heads have black markings. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• White-tailed tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus (R)
• Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus (R)

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are water birds about the size of a large duck. They are mostly gray or black and have spear-shaped beaks. Loons swim well and fly okay, but they are very bad at walking because their legs are placed far back on their bodies. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (R)
• Common loon, Gavia immer

Southern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Oceanitidae

Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels and eat tiny sea creatures and small fish from the water surface, often while hovering. They fly with quick, fluttering movements. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (RI)

Northern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Hydrobatidae

These storm-petrels look and act much like the southern storm-petrels, but genetic differences mean they are in a separate family. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (R)
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (R)

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae

This group includes medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together and a long outer wing feather. Nine species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (R)
• Trindade petrel, Pterodroma arminjoniana (R)
• Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (RI)
• Fea's petrel, Pterodroma feae (R)
• Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea (RI)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (R)
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (RI)
• Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (R)
• Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (RI)

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy wading birds with long legs, long necks, and strong beaks. They have wide wings. Storks don't have a voice box and can't make sounds. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Wood stork, Mycteria americana

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over tropical oceans. They are black, or black and white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Males have colorful throat pouches that can inflate. They don't swim or walk and can't take off from flat ground. They have the largest wingspan compared to their body weight of any bird, allowing them to stay in the air for more than a week. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (RI)

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium to large coastal seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish. Four species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Masked booby, Sula dactylatra (R)
• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (R)
• Red-footed booby, Sula sula (R)
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (RI)

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are water birds that look like cormorants, with long necks and long, straight beaks. They eat fish and often swim with only their neck above the water, making them look like a snake. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds, usually with mostly dark feathers and colorful skin on their faces. Their beak is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet have four webbed toes. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (RI)
• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are large waterbirds with a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (RI)

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

This family includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns usually have shorter necks and are more secretive. Birds in this family fly with their necks pulled back, unlike storks or ibises. Twelve species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
• Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
• Great egret, Ardea alba
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula
• Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea
• Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor
• Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (RI)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green heron, Butorides virescens
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
• Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, wide wings and long bodies, with even longer necks and legs. Ibises have long, downward-curved beaks, while spoonbills have straight, flat beaks that look like spoons. Five species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus
• Scarlet ibis, Eudocimus ruber (P2) (R)
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (R)
• Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae

New World vultures are not closely related to vultures from other parts of the world, but they look similar because they evolved similar features to do the same job. Like other vultures, they eat dead animals. But unlike Old World vultures, which find food by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell to find carcasses. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The osprey is a medium-large bird of prey that eats fish. It lives in many different places because it can nest anywhere near water with enough food. It is the only bird in its family.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family of birds of prey includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have large, strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat, strong legs, powerful claws, and excellent eyesight. Sixteen species have been recorded in South Carolina.

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with big heads and special heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful claws. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba

Owls

Order: Strigiformes Family: Strigidae

These are the typical owls, usually solitary birds of prey that are active at night. They have large eyes that face forward, good hearing, a hawk-like beak, and a clear circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. Eight species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus
• Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (R)
• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia (R)
• Barred owl, Strix varia
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (R)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (R)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed beaks, short legs, and short tails. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used to catch insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Nine species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
• Red-cockaded woodpecker, Dryobates borealis
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
• Ivory-billed woodpecker, Campephilus principalis (E) (R)

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are birds of prey that are active during the day. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks instead of their claws. Five species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (R)
• American kestrel, Falco sparverius
• Merlin, Falco columbarius
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus (P2) (R)

New World and African Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

Parrots are birds of various sizes with a special curved beak. They can move their upper beak a little bit and usually stand upright. All parrots have special feet with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward. Most of the more than 150 species in this family are found in the Americas. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus (P2) (R)
• Carolina parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis (E)
• Green parakeet, Aratinga holochlora (P2) (R)

Old World Parrots

Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittaculidae

Parrots have strong curved beaks, stand upright, and have strong legs with clawed feet that have two toes forward and two back. Many parrots are very colorful. Old World parrots are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus (P2) (R)

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are perching birds found across North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger and have stronger beaks. They don't sing as beautifully as other songbirds. Most of them have plain feathers and eat insects. Nineteen species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens (R)
• Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
• Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (R)
• Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus (R)
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
• Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis (RI)
• Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
• Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (R)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
• Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens
• Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
• Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens
• Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum (R)
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
• Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya (R)
• Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (R)

Vireos and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are a group of small to medium-sized perching birds. They are usually greenish and look like wood warblers, but they have stronger beaks. Nine species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus
• Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii (R)
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons
• Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus
• Yellow-green vireo, Vireo flavoviridis (R)
• Black-whiskered vireo, Vireo altiloquus (R)

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are perching birds known for catching other birds and small animals and sticking them on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like a bird of prey. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. These birds are larger than average for perching birds. Some of the bigger species are very smart. Five species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (H) (R)
• House crow, Corvus splendens (P2) (R)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Fish crow, Corvus ossifragus
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mostly small, sturdy woodland birds with short, strong beaks. Some have crests on their heads. They can adapt to different places and eat a mix of seeds and insects. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus (H) (R)
• Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small ground birds known for their often beautiful songs and display flights. Most larks look quite plain. They eat insects and seeds. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

This family of birds is built for catching food while flying. They have slender, streamlined bodies, long pointed wings, and short beaks with wide mouths. Their feet are made for perching, not walking. Seven species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Purple martin, Progne subis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
• Cave swallow, Petrochelina fulva (R)

Long-tailed Tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are small perching birds with medium to long tails. They build woven bag-like nests in trees. Most eat a mix of insects. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus (H) (R)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a family of small birds that eat insects. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads, which is how they got their name. Two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are a group of birds with soft, silky feathers and unique red tips on some of their wing feathers. These tips look like sealing wax, giving them their name. These birds live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst, which most other birds cannot do. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong beaks and feet. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
• Brown-headed nuthatch, Sitta pusilla

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds with brown backs and white undersides. They have thin, pointed, curved beaks that they use to pull insects from tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which help them support themselves on vertical trees. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae

These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers, moving constantly through leaves to find insects. Gnatcatchers are mostly a soft bluish-gray and have the long, sharp beak typical of insect-eating birds. Many species have clear black patterns on their heads (especially males) and long, black and white tails that they often hold upright. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and not very noticeable birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin, downward-curved beaks. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Six species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• House wren, Troglodytes aedon
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii (R)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and New World catbirds. These birds are famous for their singing, especially their amazing ability to copy many different bird calls and other sounds from nature. Their feathers are usually dull gray and brown. Four species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Gray catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (R)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized perching birds from the Old World with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly, and most like to live in groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Many species have dark feathers with a shiny, metallic look. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I)

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of perching birds, mostly found in the Old World. They are plump, with soft feathers, and are small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes a mix of things, often feeding on the ground. Ten species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi (P1) (R)
• Veery, Catharus fuscescens
• Gray-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus
• Bicknell's thrush, Catharus bicknelli (R)
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius (R)

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large family of small perching birds. These birds mainly live in trees and eat insects, many of which they catch while flying. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (H) (R)

Weavers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Ploceidae

Weavers are small perching birds related to finches. They eat seeds and have rounded, cone-shaped beaks. The males of many species are brightly colored, often red or yellow and black. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Village weaver, Ploceus cucullatus (P2) (R)

Waxbills and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae

Estrildid finches are small perching birds from tropical parts of the Old World and Australia. They like to live in groups and often in colonies. They eat seeds and have short, thick, but pointed beaks. They all look similar in shape and habits but have many different feather colors and patterns.

• Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata (P2) (R)
• Tricolored munia, Lonchura malacca (P2) (R)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small perching birds. Generally, these sparrows are small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong beaks. Sparrows eat seeds but also small insects. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I)

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender, insect-eating perching birds that feed on the ground in open areas. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• White wagtail, Motacilla alba (R)
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens
• Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii (R)

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating perching birds that are small to medium-sized. They have strong beaks, usually cone-shaped. All have twelve tail feathers and nine main wing feathers. These birds fly with a bouncing motion, flapping and then gliding with closed wings, and most sing well. Ten species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (P1) (R)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (native to the southwestern U.S.; introduced in the east)
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus
• Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (R)
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (R)
• European goldfinch, Carduelis tristis (P2) (R)
• Pine siskin, Spinus carduelis
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae

This group of perching birds was once thought to be part of the New World sparrows, but they are different in several ways and are usually found in open grassy areas. Three species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus (R)
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these birds were grouped with another family. Most are known as sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of these birds have unique patterns on their heads. Twenty-seven species have been recorded in South Carolina.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae

This bird was once thought to be a wood-warbler, but experts decided it needed its own family in 2017.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

This group includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. They are small to medium-sized, often colorful perching birds found only in the Americas. Most species are mainly black, often with bright yellow, orange, or red feathers. Seventeen species have been recorded in South Carolina.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

New World warblers are a group of small, often colorful perching birds found only in the Americas. Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, spend more time on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects. Forty-two species have been recorded in South Carolina.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are a family of strong, seed-eating perching birds with powerful beaks. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different feather colors. Eleven species have been recorded in South Carolina.

• Summer tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea
• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus (R)
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena (R)
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana

Tanagers and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Thraupidae

Tanagers are a large group of small to medium-sized perching birds that live in the Americas, mostly in tropical areas. Many species are brightly colored. As a family, they eat a variety of foods, including fruits, seeds, insects, or other things. Most have short, rounded wings. One species has been recorded in South Carolina.

• Red-crested cardinal, Paroaria coronata (P2) (R)

Images for kids

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  The Carolina wren is the state bird of South Carolina.

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  Canada goose

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  Mallards

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  Northern shoveler

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  Ruddy duck

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  Laughing gull

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  Ring-billed gull

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  Royal tern

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  Willet

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  Sanderling

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  Ruddy turnstone

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  Wilson's snipe

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  Saltmarsh sparrow

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  Chipping sparrow

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  Eastern towhee

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  Chestnut-sided warbler

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  Black-throated blue warbler

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  Yellow-rumped warbler

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  Blackburnian warbler

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of North American birds
• List of mammals of South Carolina
• List of snakes of South Carolina