Birding

The north-south orientation of the Appalachians makes this mountain chain a superhighway for migratory species, especially the feathered kind. It's easy to hear their song, but even more exhilarating to catch a glimpse of wild birds in the mountains. Fortunately for bird-watching enthusiasts, the varied ecosystems of the Asheville area host a myriad of beautiful winged creatures who remind us of nature's delicate balance.

Top birding spots in Western North Carolina...

Birds of WNC

• American Vultures
• Blackbirds and Orioles
• Cormorants
• Creepers
• Cuckoos
• Grebes
• Falcons
• Finches and Allies
• Game Birds
• Gulls and Terns
• Herons
• Hummingbirds
• Jays and Crows
• Kingfishers
• Kinglets and Gnatcatchers
• Kites, Hawks and Eagles
• Loons
• Mimic Thrushes
• Nightjars
• Nuthatches
• Old World Sparrows
• Osprey
• Pigeons and Doves
• Plovers
• Rails
• Sandpipers and Allies
• Starlings
• Swallows
• Swans, Geese and Ducks
• Swifts
• Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Sparrows
• Thrushes
• Titmice
• Tyrant Flycatchers
• Vireos
• Waxwings
• Wood Warblers
• Woodpeckers
• Wrens

List compiled by Simon Thompson