Birding South Carolina - Paperback

by Jeff Mollenhauer (Author)

South Carolina is a birder's paradise, with more than 480 species having been recorded in the state. Christmas bird counts along the coast often yield some of the highest species totals on the entire East Coast. Highly sought-after birds--such as wood stork, swallow-tailed kite, purple gallinule, red-cockaded woodpecker, swainson's warbler, painted bunting, and Bachman's sparrow--can be found with ease during the appropriate season.

Back Jacket

From the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to the Mountain Bridge Wilderness, South Carolina is a birder's paradise. Its sandy beaches, old rice fields, cypress swamps, blackwater rivers, longleaf pine savannas, and sliver of the Blue Ridge Mountains provide habitat for more than 400 bird species--and Christmas Bird Count circles along the coast often yield some of the highest species totals in America. Birding South Carolina provides detailed descriptions of forty premier birding locations across the state. In addition to numerous migrating and breeding songbirds, shorebirds, and seabirds, a number of highly sought-after species--such as the Wood Stork, Swallow-tailed Kite, Purple Gallinule, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Swainson's Warbler--are easy to find with this guide. Inside you'll find: - Accurate bird-finding information for the entire state--from the Atlantic coast and coastal plain to the piedmont and the mountains- A description of each site, with easy-to-follow directions and information about key species- More than 30 color photos of select birds found in the state in addition to site-specific bird photos and landscapes- A birding calendar to ensure you're in the right place at the right time- A list of 175-plus sought-after species, with the best habitats and areas to look for them

Author Biography

Jeff Mollenhauer, who earned an M.S. in biology from the University of Southern Mississippi, with a focus on songbird migration, has seen more than 500 bird species across America. He is the director of bird conservation at Audubon South Carolina's Francis Beidler Forest Sanctuary.