photographic life list - AviList

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.
Taxonomy is based on AviList, AOS names where they differ are in yellow.  Click for AOS taxonomy.
*mostly
family Anatidae: 46 species
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) Flamingo Everglades NP 15 November 1979
Black Scoter (Melanitta americana). 30 May 2026 Denali NationalPa
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order Galliformes
family Cracidae: 1 species
Plain Chachalaca (Ortalis vetula)

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

family Phasianidae: 11 species
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)  AOS: Greater Sage-Grouse
Sooty Grouse (Dendragapus fuliginosus)
Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), Fairbanks Alaska 1990
White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura)
Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta)
Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis)
Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)  AOS: Ring-necked Pheasant
Chukar Partrige (Alectoris chukar)  AOS: Chukar
order Podicipediformes
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)
Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) AOS: Eared Grebe
​​​​​​​Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)

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)

family Columbidae: 11 species
Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)

order Gruiformes
family Gruidae: 1 species
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

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

family Recurvirostridae: 2 species

family Haematopodidae: 1 species

family Charadriidae: 8 species
American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)  AOS: American Golden-Plover
Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)  AOS: Pacific Golden-Plover
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)  AOS: Common Ringed-Plover

family Scolopacidae: 24 species
Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

family Stercorariidae: 1 species

family Alcidae: 1 species

family Laridae: 21 species
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)  Homer Alaska  25 May 2026

family Gaviidae: 4 species

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: 3 species
Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri)  04 August 2025 South Lake Tahoe California

family Anhingidae: 1 species
family Phalacrocoracidae: 3 species


family Ardeidae: 15 species
family Caprimulgidae: 2 species
family Apodidae: 1 species

family Trochilidae: 12 species
Blue-throated Mountaingem (Lampornis clemenciae)  AOS: Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

family Tytonidae: 1 species

family Strigidae: 11 species
Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)  AOS: Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) 28 January 2016​​​​​​​ Humboldt County California

family Pandionidae: 1 species

family Accipitridae: 18 species
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus), Humboldt County California  AOS: Rough-legged Hawk
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base

family Trogonidae: 1 species
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family Alcedinidae: 4 species
Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) 26 February 2020 Okinawa Prefecture Japan
​​​​​​​Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
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order Piciformes
family Picidae: 22 species
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Leucontopicus borealis)
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family Falconidae: 7 species
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base  AOS: Eurasian Kestrel

family Tyrannidae: 13 species
Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)
American Grey Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)  AOS: Gray Flycatcher
Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)  AOS: Western Wood-Pewee
family Vireonidae: 5 taxons
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 08  May 2023 Magee Marsh Ohio  AOS: Eastern Warbling-Vireo
AOS: Western Warbling-Vireo (Vireo swainsoni)
Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
family Laniidae: 2 species
family Corvidae: 17 species
Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica)  AOS: California Scrub-Jay
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
Brown Jay (Cyanocorax morio)
Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)
Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Northern Raven (Corvus corax)  AOS: Common Raven
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos)
family Remizidae: 1 species
family Paridae: 11 species
family Alaudidae: 1 species
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family Hirundinidae: 7 species
Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)  AOS: Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia riperia)
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
Purple Martin (Progne subis), Sacramento County California
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)  AOS: Cliff Swallow

family Aegithalidae: 2 species
American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)  AOS: Bushtit
Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)​​​​​​​
family Phylloscopidae: 1 species
family Pycnonotidae: 4 species
family Paradoxornithidae: 1 species  AOS: Sylviidae
Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata), Sacramento County 15 September 2024
family Zosteropidae: 1 species
family Bombycillidae: 2 species
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)​​​​​​​
Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)​​​​​​
family Ptiliogonatidae: 1 species
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family Regulidae: 2 species
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
family Sittidae: 4 species
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
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family Certhiidae: 1 species
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family Polioptilidae: 2 species
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)
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Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
​​​​​​​Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus)
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family Mimidae: 7 species
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)
Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale)
Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
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family Sturnidae: 3 species
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  AOS: European Starling
White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraseus)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
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family Cinclidae: 1 species

family Turdidae: 12 species
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)
Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
​​​​​​​Hermit Thrush  (Catharus ustulatus guttatus)  AOS: Hermit Thrush  (Catharus guttatus)
Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base  AOS: Eurasian Blackbird
Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)​​​​​​​
family Muscicapidae: 5 species
White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) 31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base
Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius)  AOS: Blue Rock-Thrush
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
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family Estrildidae: 3 species
Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

family Passeridae: 2 species
Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
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family Motacillidae: 2 species
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
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family Fringillidae: 14 species
Eurasian Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)  31 January 2007 Ramstein Air Base  AOS: Common Chaffinch
Evening Grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertinus)  AOS: Coccothraustes vespertinus
Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
Grey-crowned Rosy Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)  AOS: Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Black Rosy Finch (Leucosticte atrata)  AOS: Black Rosy-Finch
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)
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family Calcariidae: 2 species
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
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family Passerellidae: 25 species
Olive Sparrow (Arremonops rufivirgatus)
Yellow-eyed Junco (Junco phaeonotus)

family Icteridae: 13 species
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)  AOS: family Icteriidae
Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
Western Meadlowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)
Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockiorum)  AOS: 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)
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family Parulidae: 39 species
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermiform) Big Bend NP
Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)
Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae)
Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia)
MacGillivray's Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei)
Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva)  AOS: Northern Yellow Warbler
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
Black-throated Grey Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)  AOS: Black-throated Gray Warbler
Grace's Warbler (Setophaga graciae) Cave Creek Canyon Arizona  24 April 2023
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis)
Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi)
Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
Painted Whitestart (Myioborus pictus)  AOS: Painted Redstart
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family Cardinalidae: 12 species
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)
Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Hepatic Tanager (Pirange flava)  Cave Creek Canyon Arizona  24 April 2023
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
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family Thraupidae: 1 species

text & photographs Copyright © Douglas Herr
all rights reserved
last updated 15 June 2026
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