The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in North Carolina This Week

Q: What rare birds are in North Carolina this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Charlotte, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in North Carolina?

437 bird species in 238,923 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 54 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in North Carolina?

Near Charlotte or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in North Carolina.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in North Carolina?

The Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committees, which keep the official state bird lists. From its page: “The official lists of the birds of North and South Carolina are maintained by the Bird Records Committees of the respective states.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in North Carolina?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

North Carolina logged 238,923 confirmed bird sightings across 437 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 54 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Charlotte covers 25 miles around the city. The Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committees keep the official state bird lists.

Near Charlotte

Rare birds near Charlotte this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Charlotte in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Charlotte from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in North Carolina? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

North Carolina birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

238,923

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

437

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in North Carolina

Species seen 3 times or fewer

12 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Charlotte, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in North Carolina from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across North Carolina

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in North Carolina in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across North Carolina from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in North Carolina

437 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in North Carolina over five years, and 54 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committees

The Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committees keep the official state bird lists.

“The official lists of the birds of North and South Carolina are maintained by the Bird Records Committees of the respective states.”

Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committees, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

North Carolina rare bird questions

What rare birds are in North Carolina this week?

How many bird species are seen in North Carolina?

What counts as rare in North Carolina?

Who confirms rare bird records in North Carolina?

How do I see rare birds near me in North Carolina?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for North Carolina birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.North Carolina fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.North Carolina hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.North Carolina winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.North Carolina duck migrationWhen the ducks come through.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.