Visit The Outer Banks

Birding on the Outer Banks

Positioned on major migration routes, the Outer Banks gives birders a chance to encounter a remarkable range of species. The Outer Banks of North Carolina is known world-wide for having the best birding opportunities on the East Coast of North America. Birding the Banks is about more than a casual glimpse of birds or another entry on a life list.

Friends of birds

Begun in 1997, the annual Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival brings guests from across the US and from several foreign countries, including Canada, Great Britain, Germany and Thailand.

The festival, along with the newer Wings Encore event, features a wide variety of programming. Birding trips, photography, drawing and other natural history-focused experiences fill a week-long adventure with full days.

Across the 110-mile long Dare Outer Banks, the land and water form a 1,563-square-mile living history museum unlike anywhere else. Habitats on the Outer Banks include swamp and pocosins, hardwoods and scrubs, plus fresh and saltwater environments. For certain species, beach sand is the preferred nesting ground. Alongside resident birds, the Atlantic Flyway and the Gulf Stream bring hundreds of birds to or near Dare County every year.

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and its birds

The Outer Banks sits within the Atlantic Flyway, the primary north-south route used by migrating birds traveling from northern areas of Canada, the Arctic and Greenland toward South America and even Antarctica. The busiest part of this flyway crosses very little land, with most of the route over or near water, including the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Even so, the Outer Banks receive hundreds of species during each migration.

The stretch of sand following NC 12 from Oregon Inlet to the village of Rodanthe on Hatteras Island is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a U.S. Department of Interior sanctuary especially popular with birders visiting the Outer Banks. With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Pamlico Sound to the west, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge covers the 13 northernmost miles of Hatteras Island, despite its name, and runs beside Cape Hatteras National Seashore along that span. The preserve supplies critical habitat for many varieties of beach-nesting birds, particularly during summer.

Birds seen here include colonial nesters such as terns and black skimmers, which rely on safety in numbers. The American Oyster oystercatcher and piping plovers nest alone and seek solitude during breeding season. Willets appear on Pea Island year-round, though they are actually two different breeds. The Eastern Willet leaves the area in late fall, and the Western Willet soon takes its place until the Eastern returns in spring.

Pea Island also has an Old World visitor. During winter, the Eurasian Widgeon may be found in one of the impoundments. Scan the American Widgeon flocks for a drake or two showing a rusty red head.

American Avocets, known for bold black and white plumage, remain in the area all year and sweep their upturned bills in search of prey. Falcons appear during fall migration and may be seen until late March. The American Kestrel mainly feeds on perch, insects and mammals such as small birds and rodents. Osprey, large birds with black backs and white bellies, are often visible around Pea Island as they hover over the water with talons lowered to catch fish. Peregrine Falcon are most often seen during fall migration, though they also appear in winter while hunting waterfowl and shorebirds.

Ducks, including American Black Duck, Canvasback, Pintails and Red Heads, are frequently present in Pea Island waters. The Black Duck is especially wary and can flush almost instantly. Brown Pelicans are memorable for their long bills and throat pouches, which help them catch fish and crustaceans. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, with their long legs, wade around the impoundment edges and along the Pamlico Sound side of this part of Hatteras Island.

Those birds represent only a small portion of what may be seen at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Egrets and herons hold special significance because they were among the key birds used to advocate for the Migratory Bird Act Treaty of 1918, which has helped bird numbers rise over the last 100 years.

More than 500 species of these feathered travelers make the yearly journey from northern breeding areas to winter homes farther south. Many are waterfowl, including several kinds of geese, swan and ducks. Waders, such as egrets and herons, are sometimes casually grouped with waterfowl but are more accurately called waders.

Birds wintering on the Outer Banks have drawn birders, sportsmen and commercial hunters for more than 150 years. Around the turn of the last century, commercial hunters were having an especially strong effect on waterfowl hunted and sold for meat. Egrets, herons and other species, including Herring Gulls, eagles and humming birds, were killed for feathers and body parts used in fashion accessories.

It is estimated that 1902, 1.5 tons of egret feathers – equivalent to 200,000 birds – were sold, and Florida alone may have seen as many as five million birds killed. Egret and heron feathers decorated women’s head ornaments such as hats and turbans. Entire birds were placed on hats, while hummingbird heads and beaks became earrings. Herring gull populations were nearly eliminated because pairs were killed to make muffs and stoles.

Aigrettes, commonly hair ornaments, were often fashioned with the wispy white feathers of four egrets. These hairpieces were frequently bound with gold or silver wire and decorated with valuable gems such as diamonds. Aigrette is the French word for egret.

The abundance of migratory species now found on the Outer Banks can be credited to the Migratory Bird Act Treaty of 1918, the first law to provide federal protection for migrating species. The Migratory Bird Act Treaty does not protect non-native species such as the European Starling and House Sparrow. Some game bird groups, including ducks, geese and doves, receive limited protection and may be hunted during season. The Atlantic Flyway is fascinating to study, and even better to experience first-hand.

Outer Banks mainland birding

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, located on the North Carolina mainland next to the Outer Banks, offers a bird list of its own just across the Virginia Dare Bridge on federal lands. Though song birds and raptors dominate, the 152,000-acre refuge also has ducks that draw duck-lovers from world-wide.

The Wood Duck, considered by many to be the most beautiful duck, lives at the refuge year-round and nests in tree cavities near or over water. Chicks usually hatch in April or May and may be seen close up during the first couple of fledgling weeks when conditions allow.

The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is also a permanent resident of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, though it can be hard to spot. It nests in living pine trees, where sap helps protect the nest from predators. Some photography and birding tour guides focus on bringing visitors into its typical roaming areas.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge supports a broad wildlife population, so black bears, wolves, coyotes and even butterflies are common sights during birding outings. Its name points to the reptile associated with the refuge, which visitors may see on rare occasions. This part of the North Carolina mainland is the northernmost range of the American Alligator.

Barred Owls and Great Horned Owls both hunt over the fields, roads and greenery of the refuge. They take both aquatic and land-based prey. Barred Owls are active during the day and often tolerate being watched. Great Horned Owls are more nocturnal and tend to pursue somewhat larger land-based prey, including other owls.

Swainson’s Warbler is a highly sought species and an elusive one, nesting in cane stands within pocosin habitat, so it is often easier to hear than to see. Tundra Swan is another standout and is one of the most popular waterfowl species present on the refuge in winter. They can often be observed from right before Christmas until March.

Wild Turkeys may appear in early mornings or evenings. Poults, a common generalist name for young birds, can be seen in late spring and early summer. Black-throated Green Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Prothonotary Warbler, Blue Grosbeak and other song birds occur throughout the refuge. Ducks such as Green Winged Teal and Northern Pin Tails may be found in many of the refuge fields. The bird list is long, and each day can bring a new sighting or two.

Nags Head Woods, Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve, Buxton Woods and beyond

Part of the Nature Conservancy, Nags Head Woods is one of the Eastern Seaboard’s great old-growth tracts of maritime forests. More than 50 species of birds live there throughout the year. Warblers are favorites, along with Great Blue Herons and egrets. Hundreds of additional birds visit while migrating, making the preserve a rewarding place to build a life list.

Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve combines maritime forest, swamp and marshland in a distinctive setting. Birders willing to spend time exploring the 1,824-acre site may find many hawks, herons, egrets, wrens and more.

The 1,007-acre Buxton Woods lies on the southern portion of Hatteras Island and is located within the largest remaining contiguous tract of Maritime Evergreen Forest on the Atlantic coast. The reserve also contains the only occurrence of maritime shrub swamp (dogwood subtype) community in the world. More than 360 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons, have been recorded.

Backyard birding is everywhere

Song birds such as American Robins and Purple Martins can appear by the thousands when they pause during migration. Birders and nonbirders alike enjoy the nightly summer arrival of Purple Martins at the William B. Umstead Bridge in Manns Harbor, NC, where they roost overnight on the girders supporting the bridge. The spring arrival of robins onto the OBX is also a favorite sight for birders and nonbirders.

At night, stepping outside under the stars may bring the chirps and other sounds of flocks migrating overhead. Some flocks are large enough to appear on weather radar.

Gulf Stream wonders

The Gulf Stream is a warm-water current that starts near the tip of Florida, follows the East Coast near the Outer Banks, and then continues toward Ireland. The Outer Banks is the closest that the Gulf comes to land in North America. That proximity makes the area an ideal departure point for trips to warm offshore waters where birders can observe pelagic species, birds that almost never come ashore except to lay eggs and nest.

Near the northern Outer Banks, the Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador Current, producing very rough seas. The collision creates upwelling that brings nutrient-rich water to the surface, attracting both fish and birds.

These rough waters have caused many vessel losses over the last 400 years and earned the area the nickname The Graveyard of the Atlantic. The route of the Gulf Stream shifts from year to year, but it is often within 12 miles of shore, allowing for a relatively quick run to warm waters.

In the Spring, easterly winds often move birds closer to land. The geographic tip of Cape Hatteras, known locally as the Point or Cape Point, can be an excellent birding spot for seeing pelagic species without going out on the water. Reaching it may require a solid walk from one of the National Park Service off-road access ramps unless arriving by 4x4. Driving on the beach does require a mandatory ORV Permit available at Recreation.gov, which can be printed and displayed in the vehicle window.

Arctic Terns, multiple species of shearwater, storm petrels and Brown Boobys are among the birds sometimes visible from land. For birders hoping to add gulls to a life list, Cape Point is a prime destination.

In recent years, pelagic birds have drawn growing interest from researchers. Because these species are most often offshore, they have not received the same scientific attention as land birds, and new information is discovered each year.

With no fresh water to drink, pelagic birds use a special gland to filter salt out of ocean water before it enters the bloodstream. Salt residue exits through the birds’ noses.

The Sooty Tern is arguably one of the most interesting pelagic birds. Though not seen every year, Sooty Terns can be spotted in many years at or near Cape Point on Hatteras Island. It lands only to breed and can remain airborne for three to 10 years. It sleeps by taking one- to two-second naps while flying. This limited rest apparently does not harm the bird’s health, and it is estimated to live up to 30 years.

Because its feathers are not waterproof and can become waterlogged, the Sooty Tern feeds by skimming the water. When it joins northern breeding colonies, the sound from the gathered terns is so loud that OSHA recommends people nearby limit exposure to no longer than 30 minutes.

Birders interested in seeing birds on the wing over the Gulf Stream can use pelagic birding charters from marinas in Manteo or Hatteras Village. These specialized trips often include crew members who are expert birders and can help find and identify species. Some visitors combine birding with fishing by chartering a boat to the Gulf Stream for tuna or other species while watching overhead for a lifer bird.

Vagrant species welcome

From time to time, birders on the Outer Banks get a burst of excitement when a vagrant species appears. These uncommon sightings typically involve a single bird blown off course by a storm or displaced for reasons birds have not shared with humans.

Yellow-nose albatross have been seen here. Only three of the 17 known species of albatross breed in the Atlantic Ocean, with breeding locations in the far south near Antarctica. One albatross species holds the record for widest wingspan of any bird. The wandering albatross can measure up to 12 feet from tip to tip. Like the Sooty Tern, albatross land only to breed and may remain in the air for up to five years.

Another occasional wanderer comes from the north. Snowy Owls live most of their lives within the Arctic Circle, but every few years they experience an irruption that brings them farther south. Scientists still do not fully understand what causes these habitat shifts, which appear to be occurring more often.

One theory connects the movement to lemmings, a primary food source; a poor lemming reproduction year may send Snowy Owls farther afield in search of enough food. Whatever the cause, a report of a Snowy Owl on the Outer Banks sends birders toward the sighting. Photographers from major print and online journals also hurry to capture images, and the owls often seem to cooperate, as long as observers keep their distance.

Relative to body size, Snowy Owls weigh more than any other species because of the dense feathers that protect them from Arctic cold. Though they look beautiful and almost calm, they can be aggressive when defending territory or nests. They have been known to dive-bomb humans and attack Arctic wolves.

What is there to love about birding the Outer Banks? Just everything.

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