Warren Bielenberg A Haven for Avian DiversityGreat 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 ScenesOne 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. 
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NPS Best Places to View Birds in Great Smoky MountainsDue 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’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 often offers sightings of wild turkeys, woodpeckers, and various raptors as well as field dwelling species. Kuwohi Road is known for its high-elevation species such as the Canada warbler and black-capped chickadee. 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. 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 are especially good places to see migratory bird species in the spring and fall. Tips for Identifying Birds in the Smokies
NPS / Betty Blanton
Warren Bielenberg Conservation at homeBird 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:
Learn more about how you can protect birds and other species where you live. Species of the SmokiesCommon Bird List Listed are bird species that you are most likely to see or hear within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
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Raptors Woodpeckers Waterfowl Shorebirds Great Crested Flycatcher Northern Bobwhite Rock Pigeon Bank Swallow American Crow Thrushes Black-capped Chickadee Nuthatches Wrens
Carolina Wren House Wren Marsh Wren Winter Wren Kinglets Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gnatcatchers Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wood-Warblers
American Redstart Bay-breasted Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Canada Warbler Cape May Warbler Cerulean Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Common Yellowthroat Hooded Warbler Kentucky Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Magnolia Warbler Nashville Warbler Northern Parula Northern Waterthrush Orange-crowned Warbler Ovenbird Palm Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Swainson's Warbler Tennessee Warbler Wilson's Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-throated Warbler Yellow Warbler Pipits American Pipit Yellow-breasted Chat Yellow-breasted Chat Sparrows
Chipping Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Towhee Field Sparrow Fox Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Henslow's Sparrow House Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Vesper Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Finches, Euphonias, and Allies American Goldfinch Evening Grosbeak House Finch Pine Siskin Purple Finch Red Crossbill Rose-breasted Grosbeak Blackbirds Nightjars
Chuck-will's-widow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Hummingbirds Ruby-throated Hummingbird Swifts Chimney Swift Vireos |
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Last updated: January 23, 2026