WhenToBird

Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in North Carolina

By species reported, the top birding spots in North Carolina are Lighthouse Bay, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (northwest), and Town of Duck - Duck Town Park Boardwalk. Lighthouse Bay has the longest list (236 species), and its best season is fall.

Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.

SpotCountySpeciesChecklistsWinterSpringSummerFall
Lighthouse BayDare County2364,575150172138191
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (northwest)Dare County2251,31811411386177
Town of Duck - Duck Town Park BoardwalkDare County2242,63012314196172
Pea IslandDare County2224,121133161124193
Pea Island (The Trench)Dare County2162,298129155119182
Cape HatterasDare County2161,295124163126136
Carolina Beach State ParkNew Hanover County2152,051127163100154
Beaver LakeBuncombe County2129,607102182112172
B. Everett Jordan LakeChatham County2043,31810912681187
Fort Fisher State Recreation AreaNew Hanover County2021,143125156101157
Bass PondBuncombe County2011,63810115897139
Wake County Open Space - Lake Crabtree County ParkWake County2004,17010416490169
Airlie GardensNew Hanover County1992,159129150101166
Wreck CreekDare County199914119125110164
Cape Hatteras National SeashoreDare County1981,306111148137123
Eagle Nest BayDare County1972,636119134122161
Federal PointNew Hanover County1971,55312313482162
Buncombe County ParkBuncombe County1942,85096150107166
Buckhorn ReservoirWilson County1927701109195161
Guilford County FarmGuilford County1893,727104145112166
Wake County Open Space - Crabtree Creek Mitigation ProjectWake County1892,51294150100144
The LagoonBuncombe County1881,9349714494149
Lake JunaluskaHaywood County1873,60410515392145
Hollaman LakeHenderson County1872,72172134118141
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area (The Basin)New Hanover County18727511210379139
Lake Julian ParkBuncombe County1863,85010115392142
Orange County Water and Sewer Authority PropertyOrange County1852,212106141103153
Long Valley BranchBuncombe County1851,41379145109142
City of New Bern - Martin Marietta ParkCraven County1851,14812012397156
Pea Island National Wildlife RefugeDare County1821,7031139893159

By county