photo life list

Pictures, or it didn't happen: an illustrated* life list.  P​​​​​​​hotographs of wild birds, any time, anywhere.  Photo quality is secondary to a recognizable image.
*mostly
family Anatidae: 45 species
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) Flamingo Everglades NP 15 November 1979
Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus)
Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Ross's Goose (Anser rossii)
Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Brant (Branta bernicla)
Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
Garganey (Spatula querquedula)
Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
Redhead (Aythya americana)
Common Pochard (Aythya ferina)
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

family Cracidae: 1 species

family Odontophoridae: 4 species
Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)
Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata)
California Quail (Callipepla californica)
Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

family Phasianidae: 11 species
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis)
Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)
Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), Fairbanks Alaska 1990
Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
Chukar (Alectoris chukar)

family Podicipedidae: 8 species
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) 
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
​​​​​​​Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)

family Columbidae: 11 species
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala)
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
Oriental Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis)
Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)
Inca Dove (Columbina inca)
Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
order Cuculiformes
family Cuculidae: 5 species
Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani), Everglades National Park Florida
Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris), Santa Ana NWR Texas
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor), Everglades National Park Florida
Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)

order Caprimulgiformes
family Caprimulgidae: 2 species
Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus)

family Apodidae: 1 species

family Trochilidae: 12 species
Rivoli's Hummingbird (Eugenes fulgens)
Blue-throated Mountain-gem (Lampornis clemenciae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (Ramosomyia violiceps)

order Gruiformes
family Rallidae: 8 species
Ridgway's Rail (Rallus obsoletus)
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
Sora (Porzana carolina)
Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus)
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai)
American Coot (Fulica americana)

family Gruidae: 1 species

family Recurvirostridae: 2 species
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

family Haematopodidae: 1 species

family Charadriidae: 8 species
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Common Ringed-Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)

family Scolopacidae: 23 species
Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
Surfbird (Calidris virgata)
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
Willet (Tringa semipalmatus)
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

family Stercorariidae: 1 species

family Alcidae: 1 species
Common Murre (Uria aalge)

family Laridae: 20 species
Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)
Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
California Gull (Larus californicus)
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

family Gaviidae: 4 species
Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii)


order Procellariiformes
family Diomedeidae: 1 species

family Procellariidae: 1 species
Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

order Ciconiiformes
family Ciconiidae: 1 species

family Fregatidae: 1 species

family Sulidae: 2 species

family Anhingidae: 1 species

family Phalacrocoracidae: 3 species
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant

family Pelecanidae: 2 species
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

family Ardeidae: 15 species
Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis)
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra)
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

family Threskiornithidae: 4 species
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

family Cathartidae: 3 species
California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

family Pandionidae: 1 species

family Accipitridae: 18 species
White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Cooper's Hawk (Astu​​​​​​​r cooperii)
American Goshawk (Astur atricapillus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus), Humboldt County California
Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
Gray-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)

family Tytonidae: 1 species
family Strigidae: 11 species
Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii)
Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)
​​​​​​​Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)
Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)
Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

family Trogonidae: 1 species

family Alcedinidae: 3 species
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana)

order Piciformes
family Picidae: 21 species
Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis)
Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)
Okinawa Woodpecker (Dendrocopos noguchii)
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Dryobates scalaris)
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis)
Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus)
Arizona Woodpecker (Dryobates arizonae)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Gilded Flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

family Falconidae: 7 species
Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)

family Tyrannidae: 13 species
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatus)
Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)
Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)
Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

family Vireonidae: 4 species
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Brown Jay (Cyanocorax morio)
Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)


family Hirundinidae: 7 species
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Purple Martin (Progne subis), Sacramento County California
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

family Aegithalidae: 2 species
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

family Certhiidae: 1 species

family Polioptilidae: 2 species
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)

family Troglodytidae​​​​​​​: 7 species
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)


family Turdidae: 11 species
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
Hermit Thrush  (Catharus guttatus)
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
family Passeridae: 2 species
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)

family Motacillidae: 2 species
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

family Fringillidae: 14 species
Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)  31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)
Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata)
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
Cassin's Finch (Haemorhous cassinii)
Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei)
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

family Calcariidae: 2 species
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

family Passerellidae: 25 species
Rufous-winged Sparrow (Peucaea carpalis)
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus)
Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus)
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps)
Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)​​​​​​​
family Icteriidae: 1 species

family Icteridae: 13 species
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
Western Meadlowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)
Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
​​​​​​​
family Parulidae: 38 species
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)
Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae)
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
Grace's Warbler (Setophaga graciae) Cave Creek Canyon Arizona  24 April 2023
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)
Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis)
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus)
​​​​​​​
family Cardinalidae: 12 species
Hepatic Tanager Cave Creek Canyon Arizona  24 April 2023
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
​​​​​​​
family Thraupidae: 1 species
text & photographs Copyright © Douglas Herr
last updated 05 March 2025
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