Bird-Watching Tips for the Outer Banks

By Outer Banks Visitors Bureau on Jan. 08, 2021

Explore Outer Banks bird-watching guidance, including where to go, when to visit, and which species may be seen along the coast of North Carolina.

Birds were the first fliers that helped inspire Orville and Wilbur Wright. The Outer Banks provides habitat for nearly 400 species of birds, making it a favorite place for people who love watching them.

Birding can be rewarding in every season, with fall and winter offering especially strong viewing. One standout destination is Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on the north end of Hatteras Island. During winter, thousands of snow geese, Canada geese, tundra swans and 25 species of duck use the refuge. The area also includes shorebird nesting sites and wading bird rookeries. Endangered and threatened species include peregrine falcons and piping plovers. Look for them during your next Outer Banks visit.

Another recommended birding location is the Nature Conservancy at Nags Head Woods Preserve. At the Nature Conservancy, tall oaks, hickories, and beech trees, including some that are hundreds of years old, grow out of the sand and form a tree canopy more often associated with the mountains of the eastern United States. More than 100 species of birds have been recorded at Nags Head Woods, and over 50 bird species nest within the preserve. The site has also documented Fifteen species of amphibians and 28 species of reptiles. Freshwater ponds support seven species of fish, along with many reptiles and amphibians, plus a wide range of floating aquatic plants, including the rare water violet.

Each year, Purple Martins make an impressive return to the OBX at the William Umstead Bridge on the north end of Roanoke Island, with counts reaching over 100,000. Their trip to the Outer Banks begins in Brazil and the northern countries of South America. Researchers had long suspected these migration patterns, but only recently did satellite tracking conclusively show that the birds were making this journey, and much remains to be studied. Identifying the migration route required years of research. One question still unresolved is whether the same birds come back to the same nesting locations each year.

Photo by Coastal Carolina Purple Martin Society.

Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival

Be sure to consider one of the area’s largest birding events, Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival. Wings Over Water Wildlife Festival is described as one of the premier wildlife festivals in the United States. The event includes dozens of birding, paddling, photography, art and natural history trips, tours and programs. People travel from across America and around the world for the scenery and wildlife. The main part of the festival takes place in late fall, a time when mild weather is possible, traffic is lighter, and lodging rates are lower. The December Wings Over Water Encore is the later portion of Wings Over Water, often occurring in colder weather. It was created with birders and photographers in mind, offering improved chances to see large flocks of migratory birds and waterfowl.

Seasonal Bird Migration on the OBX

Different bird species move through the OBX as the seasons change.

Spring

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge Center is open 7 days a week, with volunteer-run bird walks taking place along the refuge. As marshes, forests, and shorelines begin filling with new growth, shorebirds start replacing waterfowl. Neotropical songbirds return from Central & South America and begin nesting in maritime shrubs. Species may include Black-bellied plovers, American avocet, Brown pelican and others.

Summer

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge Center starts summer canoe tours along North Pond Trail, along with other public learning programs focused on wildlife and habitats. Flowering plants near the dunes and draining marshes create space for pollinating insects and provide food for many bird species. Summer sightings may include Blue herons, great egrets and snowy egrets, American coot, black-necked stilt, and black skimmer.

Fall

The refuge continues to operate 7 days a week, and volunteer-run bird walks may include sightings of ducks, swans, and geese. Many birds traveling south pause at Pea Island to rest. During fall, Wings over Water Festival offers tours and programs along the coast. Visitors may also see American kestrel, northern pintail, osprey, falcon, redhead ducks, and willets.

Winter

Pea Island Wildlife Refuge Center stays open during winter, with volunteer-based bird walks available. Visitors can walk North Pond Trail, wander the beaches, and drive through the refuge on Highway 12. When the weather shifts, December through February may be the most anticipated birding period of the year. Thousands of birds, including mallards, northern shovelers, and tundra swans, spend the season in the OBX. American oystercatcher, American widgeon, canvasback duck, northern harrier hawk, and snow geese have been seen as well.