Birds of Ocracoke Series

To see more profiles in the Birds of Ocracoke series, click here  By Peter Vankevich Starting in the early fall and into the early spring, on...

By Peter Vankevich The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is one of the more interesting avian fall/winter visitors to Ocracoke. A member of the heron family,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...