North Carolina is home to a wide variety of bird species, some of which are known for their loud and distinctive vocalizations. Birds like blue jays, northern cardinals, and mourning doves are familiar backyard birds in North Carolina that can be quite vocal at times. However, there are several other bird species in the state that are exceptionally loud and can be heard from considerable distances. Identifying these loud birds simply by their vocalizations can be challenging for novice birders. This article explores some of the loudest and most vocal bird species found in North Carolina and explains how to identify them by sight and sound.
Northern Mockingbird
One of the loudest and most vocal birds found throughout North Carolina is the northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos). These songbirds are gray overall with darker wings and a long tail. They are famous mimics, able to imitate the songs and calls of many other bird species. Northern mockingbirds sing loudly and almost endlessly throughout the day and night during breeding season. Their songs are comprised of a mix of musical phrases, harsh cries, squeals, and mimicked vocalizations repeated multiple times. Mockingbirds perch conspicuously on trees, poles, fences, or other elevated spots when singing. They will fiercely defend their nesting territory if approached. Northern mockingbirds can be found in urban areas, forest edges, farmlands, and open countryside habitats across North Carolina.
Identifying Features
- Gray overall with darker wings and long tail
- Sings loudly day and night
- Mimics songs of other birds
- Perches visibly when singing
- Found statewide in variety of habitats
Blue Jay
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a common backyard bird in North Carolina known for its loud, harsh “jay jay” calls. These songbirds have bright blue plumage on the back and tail, white or light gray undersides, a prominent crest, and a black necklace across the throat. Blue jays have a wide repertoire of vocalizations including rattles, gurgling notes, and mimicry of hawks and other species. Their alarm calls can be very loud and carry over long distances. Blue jays are intelligent and sometimes aggressive birds found in forests, parklands, and backyards statewide.
Identifying Features
- Blue back and tail, white underside, black necklace
- Crest on head
- Makes variety of loud calls including “jay jay”
- Found statewide in forests, parks, yards
Fish Crow
The fish crow (Corvus ossifragus) is a large songbird species found widely along coastal areas and inland waterways in North Carolina. As their name suggests, fish crows feed extensively on fish and other aquatic creatures. They are best known for their loud, nasal “cah cah” calls that carry over long distances. Fish crows are all black like American crows but are smaller in size. They have distinctive squared-off tail tips in flight. Fish crows nest colonially in trees near water and are very gregarious birds. Their loud calls can be heard as they forage in estuaries, marshes, lake shores, and river banks across eastern North Carolina.
Identifying Features
- Smaller relative of American crow
- Squared-off tail tips in flight
- Nasal “cah cah” calls carry far
- Found along eastern NC coast and inland waters
Red-winged Blackbird
The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is ubiquitous across North Carolina. Males are jet black with bright red and yellow shoulder patches they display during courtship. Their loud, metallic “conk-la-ree” song is a familiar sound in fields, marshes, and wetlands statewide. Red-winged blackbirds nest colonially in cattails, reeds, or shrubs near water. They are very territorial and defend their nesting areas aggressively. You can hear their rattling alarm calls from considerable distances as they chase away intruders near their nesting colonies. In winter and migration, huge noisy flocks of redwings descend on agricultural fields and grasslands across the state.
Identifying Features
- Male is black with red and yellow shoulder patches
- Loud “conk-la-ree” song
- Nests colonially near water
- Found statewide in open wetland habitats
Brown-headed Nuthatch
The brown-headed nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) is a small songbird and one of the louder species found in North Carolina’s pine forests. These birds have blue-gray plumage with a brown cap and whitish underside. They feed by climbing along pine branches and trunks probing for insects. Brown-headed nuthatches emit an almost incessant, high-pitched squeaky toy-like call as they forage in pairs or small flocks. Their vocalizations carry far and can be heard from a distance before the birds are visible. Brown-headed nuthatches nest in old woodpecker holes or natural cavities in pine trees. They are non-migratory, residing year-round in open pine woodlands across the state.
Identifying Features
- Blue-gray body, brown cap, white below
- Short, upturned bill for probing bark
- Loud, squeaky call carries far
- Found year-round in open pine forests
Chuck-will’s-widow
The chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) is a unique nocturnal bird found in pine forests, oak woodlands, and scrubby habitats in North Carolina. As its name implies, this bird is known for its loud, repetitive “chuck-will’s-widow” call that can be heard at night across its range. Chuck-will’s-widows are mottled brown overall withcryptic plumage that allows them to blend into leaf litter on the forest floor where they roost during the day. They have a very large mouth fringed with whiskers for catching insects on the wing at night. Chuck-will’s-widows begin calling loudly soon after sunset during spring breeding season. Their strange vocalizations are a signature sound of southern pine forests.
Identifying Features
- Nocturnal and well-camouflaged
- Large mouth with whiskers for catching insects
- Monotone “chuck-will’s-widow” call
- Found in pine and oak woodlands statewide
Common Nighthawk
The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is an aerial insectivore found across North Carolina in summer. At dusk, nighthawks begin a dramatic courtship display flight high over fields, forests and urban areas. As they dive erratically through the air, they emit a loud, piercing “peent” call. The combination of their conspicuous flight display and loud vocalizations make common nighthawks hard to ignore on summer evenings. They nest on bare ground in open habitats statewide. By late summer, large migratory flocks of nighthawks gather and continue their loud courtship flights before heading to South American wintering grounds.
Identifying Features
- Nocturnal hunter of flying insects
- Dramatic courtship dives with loud “peent” calls
- Nests on bare ground
- Summer resident across North Carolina
Pileated Woodpecker
The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is North Carolina’s largest woodpecker and perhaps the loudest. Nearly crow-sized with a flaming-red crest, pileateds are an impressive sight as they hammer loudly on tree trunks in search of carpenter ants and other insects. Their loud calls include a distinctive loud, ringing “cuk-cuk-cuk” as well as bold, hammering drum rolls that carry through the forest like a reverberating alarm. Pileateds excavate large, rectangular cavities in dead trees for nesting and roosting. They are found year-round in mature forests across North Carolina. Follow the raucous sounds of a pileated woodpecker to locate one of these crow-sized forest excavators.
Identifying Features
- Very large black woodpecker with white stripes
- Bright red pointed crest on head
- Loud drumming and calls
- Found year-round in mature forests statewide
Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are large, ground-dwelling birds found throughout North Carolina. Male turkeys (toms) emit loud, gobbly vocalizations to attract females (hens) during the spring breeding season. Courting toms fan their tail feathers, puff out their body feathers, and turn red and blue in the head as they loudly gobble. Their calls carry over a mile through forests and fields. Turkey flocks make a variety of yelps, clucks, and purrs as well. Follow the sounds of yelping turkeys to locate flocks feeding in the understory of hardwood forests, fields, or swamplands across the state.
Identifying Features
- Large, long-legged gamebird
- Males (toms) gobble loudly in spring
- Iridescent bronze body feathers
- Red and blue heads of courting males
- Found statewide in forests, fields, and swamps
Northern Bobwhite
The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) is a plump ground-nesting bird of fields, pastures, early successional habitat, and open pine forests in North Carolina. Bobwhites are in the quail family and travel in large coveys much of the year. They are best known for their loud, whistled “bob-WHITE” call that gives the species its name. Males call repeatedly from fence posts and other elevated perches during breeding season to attract females and declare territory. Bobwhites are cryptically colored with ornate black, brown, buff, and white scalloped patterning on their feathers that allows them blend into their grassy surroundings extremely well. Follow their loud whistles to find coveys feeding on the ground in open habitats across the state.
Identifying Features
- Plump quail with round body shape
- Ornate scalloped plumage in browns, black, white
- Loud, whistled “bob-WHITE” call
- Found year-round in open habitats statewide
Identifying Loud Birds by Sound
Many loud bird species in North Carolina have distinctive vocalizations that can help identify them, even if the birds are not visible. Learning the common sounds of loud birds takes practice but is a valuable skill for birders. Here is a summary guide to identifying some loud bird species in North Carolina by sound:
Bird Species | Sounds |
---|---|
Northern Mockingbird | Loud mix of songs, mimicry, squeals, and chatter day and night |
Blue Jay | Harsh “jay jay” calls |
Fish Crow | Nasal “cah cah” calls in groups |
Red-winged Blackbird | Metallic “conk-la-ree” |
Brown-headed Nuthatch | High-pitched squeaky calls in pine trees |
Chuck-will’s-widow | Monotone “chuck-will’s-widow” at night |
Common Nighthawk | Buzzing dives with loud “peents” |
Pileated Woodpecker | Loud drumrolls and “cuk-cuk-cuk” calls |
Wild Turkey | Gobbles and yelps |
Northern Bobwhite | Whistled “bob-WHITE” call |
Best Places to Find Loud Birds in North Carolina
Some of the best places to listen and look for loud birds in North Carolina include:
- Pine forests – brown-headed nuthatch, chuck-will’s-widow, wild turkey, pileated woodpecker
- Open wetlands – red-winged blackbird, northern bobwhite
- Mature hardwood forests – pileated woodpecker, wild turkey, blue jay
- Forest edges/open woodlands – northern mockingbird, blue jay, bobwhite, chuck-will’s-widow
- Backyards – northern mockingbird, blue jay, mourning dove
- Coastal areas – fish crow, marsh birds like clapper rail and willet
- Fields/grasslands – eastern meadowlark, bobolink, northern bobwhite
Some specific sites and refuges to visit include:
Location | Loud Birds |
---|---|
Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve | Brown-headed nuthatch, red-cockaded woodpecker, pine warbler, wild turkey |
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge | Red-winged blackbird, sora, king rail, warblers |
Jordan Lake | Prothonotary warbler, belted kingfisher, osprey |
Bald Head Woods, Brunswick County | Brown thrasher, painted bunting, eastern towhee |
Backyards statewide | Northern mockingbird, blue jay, mourning dove |
Conclusion
North Carolina is home to a diverse array of vocal bird species. Loud birds like northern mockingbirds, blue jays, pileated woodpeckers, wild turkeys, and red-winged blackbirds are just a few examples of birds with boisterous songs and calls that often carry over long distances in the state. Learning to identify loud birds by sound takes practice, but their vocalizations offer helpful clues for identifying species hidden by vegetation or distance. With so many loud species statewide, North Carolina is a paradise for listening to beautiful bird songs and calls while exploring pine forests, wetlands, backyard feeders, and other prime birding spots.