Brown-headed Nuthatch: Common in pine forests, especially around Jordan Lake. Common visitor to bird feeders. These cuties are always seen in or near pine trees. The best way to find them is to go to some pine woods and listen for the rubber-ducky call notes. They often respond to screech-owl imitations. Some of the best locations to look are Old Hope Valley Farm Road, Poplar Point, Vista Point. Just about any place at Jordan Lake is good.
Blue Grosbeak: Fairly common in brushy areas, in the same habitat as Indigo Buntings. Brickhouse Road is one of many good places to find them.
Blue-headed Vireo (Mountain race, Vireo solitarius alticola): This little-known subspecies is a rare breeder locally, much more common in the mountains. Their habitat here is different from the mountain Mountain Vireos - mature stands of Loblolly Pine. The best place to look for nesting Blue-headed Vireos are Duke Forest and a spot on Seaforth Road near Jordan Lake.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker: Head to the sandhills or to the coast for them. Weymouth Woods (ebird hotspot) is where many people see their first ones. See John Fussell's book A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina for specific directions to more spots.
Bachman's Sparrow: Formerly present in a big field on Christian Chapel Road near Harris Lake, this population is long gone. The best bet is to head south to the sandhills region or coastal plain. There they are usually found in the same mature, open pine forests where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers are found.
Swainson's Warbler: Head to the coastal plain or the mountains. One place not too far from the Triangle is the Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center (ebird hotspot) in Johnston County. See John Fussell's book A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina or Marcus Simpson's Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains for more spots with specific directions.
Revised 1/27/2021 cwcook@duke.edu
Triangle Birder's Guide home | Chatham/Jordan Lake | Durham/Falls Lake | Orange | Wake