Birding Checklist:

Common Name	Scientific Name
Black Vulture	Coragyps altratus
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis
Mallard	Anas platyhynchos
Red shouldered hawk	Buteo lineatus
Red tailed hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
Mourning Dove	Zenalda macroura
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus
Eastern Screech Owl	Otus asio
Barred Owl	Strix varia
Red-Bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker	Colaptes aurratus
Pileated Woodpecker	Dryocopus pileatus
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus
Red-eyed Vireo	Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Carolina Chickadee	Parus caolinensis
Tufted Titmouse	Parus bicolor
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis
Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
Veery	Catharus fuscescens
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendrocia coronata
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendrocia virens
Pine Warbler	Dendrocia pinus
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erthrophthalmus
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerine
Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis
House Sparrow            (Weaver Finch)	Passer domesticus

Bird Observation Tips:

• The best times to go bird watching are early morning and evening when the birds are most active.
• Walk quietly and speak in low whispers. Once you’ve spotted a bird crouch low to the ground near a tree or bush.  If the bird believes you’re not a threat, it will tolerate your presence.
• Let your ears be your guide. If you listen carefully you’ll be able to see birds by following the sound of their calls.  Before long you will be able to identify some birds by their songs or calls alone.
• Pay attention to specific physical features. Binoculars can be extremely useful, although not necessary for this.  Here are some common features:
  • Eye markings – an eyebrow pattern or eye-ring
  • Rump Coloration – colored or white patch on rump
  • Outer Tail Feathers – lighter tail tips or sides
  • Wingbars – stripes along the wing (these are most visible when birds are in flight)
• Patterns are often times more significant than color. It may be helpful to sketch particular markings to refer to later.  Also, make a note of the bird’s size by comparing it to a more common bird’s size such as an American Robin, Sparrow, or Crow.
• Remember, it is important to keep your distance from nests or hatchlings so as not to disturb or expose the birds to danger.