Birds of Ocracoke: The Redhead
By Peter Vankevich
In the long waterfowl tradition of Ocracoke, perhaps the most endearing species for hunters, decoy carvers and bird lovers is the duck...
Birds of Ocracoke: The Hooded Merganser
Text and Photos by Peter Vankevich
If one were to choose a species as the most handsome duck in America, I would choose this one....
Birds of Ocracoke: The Bufflehead
By Peter Vankevich
Here’s a quiz question. What do ducks and woodpeckers have in common? Read on.
In the waters of Ocracoke one can see North America's...
Birds of Ocracoke: The (somewhat uncommon) Common Eider
Text and photos by Peter Vankevich
Winter on Ocracoke is a good time of the year to see rare birds. Most of them venture here...
Birds of Ocracoke: The Sandwich Tern
By Text and photos Peter Vankevich
Part of my life-long fascination with birds is their often-puzzling names.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been a laugh-inducer for countless...
Birds of Ocracoke: The Great Blue Heron
Text and Photos by Peter Vankevich
“A bird so grand, so majestic, and so picturesque is surely a fitting subject for the artist's brush,” so...
Birds of Ocracoke: The Snow Bunting
For more profiles of the birds of Ocracoke, click here
By Peter Vankevich
Birds are amazing in that they may be found in the most extreme...
Birds of Ocracoke: A rare Yellow-headed Blackbird
To see more profiles of the Birds of Ocracoke, click here
Text and photos by Peter Vankevich
Fall migration is a time when unusual birds appear...
Birds of Ocracoke: The American Kestrel
By Peter Vankevich
From early September into early winter, it is possible to see three species of falcons on Ocracoke.
Peregrine Falcons migrate through and some...
Birds of Ocracoke: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
By Peter Vankevich
Ocracoke is a pretty good island to see a family of wading birds known as herons, egrets and bitterns. Twelve species are...