Birds of Ocracoke Series

This feature includes birds that have been seen on Ocracoke, including best times or year and locations and an audio recording of their songs and calls.

Birds of Ocracoke: The Purple Sandpiper

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By Peter Vankevich One might shiver just by thinking about the habitats of the Purple Sandpiper, a rare bird on Ocracoke’s shores. A handsome, chunky shorebird,...

Birds of Ocracoke: Cooper’s Hawk

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To read more profiles on the Birds of Ocracoke, click here By Peter Vankevich From fall into winter is the best time to see hawks...

Birds of Ocracoke: the Red Knot

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By Peter Vankevich The number of shorebirds that winter along the beach on Ocracoke varies from year to year. Some years, Red Knots can be seen...

Birds of Ocracoke: The Savannah Sparrow

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By Peter Vankevich The Savannah Sparrow  (Passerculus sandwichensis) is one of the most common sparrows throughout much of North America, but on Ocracoke, it is only...

Birds of Ocracoke: Gulls in the ‘hood – or maybe not

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Laughing Gull in basic plumage, from late August till early spring Text and Photos by Peter Vankevich The Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, is the most common...

Birds of Ocracoke: The Redhead

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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...