Birds

Warblers are the most diverse group of birds in the Smokies.  Some breed here like Chestnut-Sided Warblers and Blackburnian Warblers, others only migrate through on their way to their breeding or wintering grounds like Kentucky Warblers and Prairie Warblers. Pine Warblers can be seen foraging in mixed pine and pine dominated forests.

Warren Bielenberg

 

A Haven for Avian Diversity

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to an impressive diversity of birds, with more than 240 species documented. Approximately 60 bird species live in the park year-round, while nearly 120 species nest in the Smokies during the warmer months — including 52 neotropical migrants, which travel from Central and South America to raise their young or pass through the region.

The park serves as a vital stopover and foraging area for many migratory species during spring and fall. Even after decades of observation, new species continue to be recorded. Notably, during the winter of 2016–2017, both the long-eared owl and Ross’s goose were documented in the park for the very first time as well as the limpkin in 2023 and the Lapland longspur in 2019.

Behind the Scenes

One of the park’s key conservation efforts focuses on birds, which serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health.

To help protect bird populations, biologists engage in bird banding, a scientific method used to track the movements, behaviors, and lifespans of birds. During banding sessions, birds are gently captured using mist nets, then carefully measured, weighed, and fitted with a small, uniquely numbered band on their leg. This harmless process allows researchers to gather valuable data over time, helping them monitor migration patterns, breeding success, and population trends.

Bird banding is just one of the many ways that Great Smoky Mountains National Park support the protection and study of bird populations. Long-term monitoring programs such as the Breeding Bird Survey, which began in 1989, and the Christmas Bird Count, ongoing since 1976, play a vital role in tracking population trends and fluctuations in bird species over time.

View the list of species of concern in the park.

 

This species of bird is a black-throated green warbler.

NPS

Before banding, biologists collect key data like wing length to better understand each bird’s characteristics.

NPS

Each bird has a unique leg size, so it's essential to choose a band that fits just right—comfort and safety depend on it.

NPS

After a bird is banded and data is collected, the bird is released safely back to the wild.

NPS

 

Best Places to View Birds in Great Smoky Mountains

Due to the park’s dense forests, visitors are likely to hear more birds than they see. Learning to recognize common bird calls can significantly enhance your birding experience, especially during the summer months when foliage is thick. Here are a few places we recommend when looking for birds in the Smokies:

Cades Cove

Cades Cove’s open meadows and scenic vistas make it one of the most accessible birding locations in the park. Sparks Lane and Hyatt Lane, two gravel roads that intersect the Cades Cove Loop Road, are excellent spots to observe sparrows, Eastern kingbirds, Northern harriers, and occasionally, a long-eared owl in winter.

Cataloochee Valley

Cataloochee Valley often offers sightings of wild turkeys, woodpeckers, and various raptors as well as field dwelling species.

Kuwohi Road

Kuwohi Road is known for its high-elevation species such as the Canada warbler and black-capped chickadee. 

US 441/Newfound Gap Road overlooks

In spring and early summer, many overlooks along Newfound Gap Road, especially at higher elevations, are alive with birdsong during the early morning hours. Species such as Indigo buntings and red-eyed vireos are commonly heard and occasionally seen. 

Sugarlands Visitor Center

Despite its popularity, Sugarlands offers a mix of open areas and forest edges that attract a variety of species. Visitors may encounter Northern parulas, hermit thrushes, pileated woodpeckers, and black-throated green warblers.

Newfound Gap Overlook and the Appalachian Trail

Newfound Gap Overlook and the Appalachian Trail are especially good places to see migratory bird species in the spring and fall. 

 

Tips for Identifying Birds in the Smokies

 

The eastern meadowlark is a year-round species in the Smokies and is often spotted by birders in Cades Cove.

NPS / Betty Blanton

• Download a bird identification app such as the free Merlin Bird ID from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology before your visit. Cell service is limited in the park, so be sure to download the Southeastern U.S. offline data in advance.

• Bring a field guide to help with visual identification. Choose one specific to the Eastern U.S. or the Smokies region for the most helpful information.

• Bring binoculars and practice using them before your trip. Birds are quick, and the dense vegetation in the Smokies can make them difficult to spot.

• Do not use recorded bird calls or artificial lights, as these are prohibited without a research permit.

• Go birding early in the morning, when most birds are active—especially during spring and fall migration.

• Explore different habitats throughout the park. Visit areas at various elevations, near streams, in hardwood forests, and in open fields to increase your chances of seeing a wider variety of species.

• Stay on trails to avoid trampling vegetation or disturbing nesting areas. This also helps protect sensitive ecosystems.

• Be patient and observant. Consider finding a quiet spot, staying still, and letting the birds come to you.

 

The eastern blue bird is a common year-round resident in the Smokies.

Warren Bielenberg

Conservation at home

Bird populations across North America have declined significantly over the past two decades, particularly among insect-eating species. The primary cause is habitat loss. Birds play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and supporting plant health.

You can help protect birds from your own home by taking the following actions:

• Plant native, bird-friendly vegetation to provide food and shelter.
• Keep cats indoors to reduce predation on songbirds.
• Install window decals or other deterrents to prevent bird collisions with glass.
• Turn off outdoor lights at night during migration seasons to reduce disorientation and exhaustion in birds.

Learn more about how you can protect birds and other species where you live.

 

Species of the Smokies

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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Species attribute definitions

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