All About Birding

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Published

January 8, 2025

✎1902 ♥

Flocks of Black-headed Gulls in Winter Coat, Suzhou Jiangsu, Dec ’25

Flocks of Black-headed Gulls in Winter Coat, Suzhou Jiangsu, Dec ’25

Introduction

I love birding! Welcome to my personal birding records. I’m a casual birder who enjoys watching the most common birds in daily life (but also appreciate a trip to the wilds!).

You can see birds I’ve sighted at bird list (including an interactive map) and all my favorite birding destinations at places I went for birding. Links and resources are also provided.

Besides this megapost, I sometimes also write separate posts about birding trips I went to.

You can also check my eBird profile.

Note: Only wild birds were recorded. All photos taken by me (most with Sony WX800). All pixel arts created by me.

The next bird I want to see is:

  • Eastern Screech-Owl, Ruby, I heard that you reside in a dead tree near the Celery Bog Natural Center, let me find you!

  • Wood Duck, Oh the American Yuan-yang…

Bird List

My Bird List

Picture Common Name Scientific Name Family Last Seen Comments
Brant 黑雁 branta bernicla Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA can be identified by white neckline
Canada Goose 加拿大雁 branta canadensis Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN countless of them in blackwater NWR in January
Bar-headed Goose 斑头雁 anser indicus Waterfowl Dec ’19, Lhasa Tibet Seen with ruddy shelduck in the pond behind Potala palace
Ruddy Shelduck 赤麻鸭 tadorna ferruginea Waterfowl Dec ’19, Lhasa Tibet NA
Black Swan 黑天鹅 cygnus atratus Waterfowl Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu juvenile + escaped species
Tundra Swan 小天鹅 cygnus columbianus Waterfowl Jan ’25, Cambridge MD small part of yellow on bills
Mute Swan 疣鼻天鹅 cygnus olor Waterfowl May ’26, Porter IN NA
Blue-Winged Teal 蓝翅鸭 spatula discors Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Mallard 绿头鸭 anas platyrhynchos Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN sometimes mixed with domestic ducks
American Black Duck 北美黑鸭 anas rubripes Waterfowl May ’26, Newark NJ NA
Northern Pintail 针尾鸭 anas acuta Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Green-Winged Teal 绿翅鸭 anas crecca Waterfowl Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu small duck, standing alone in the paddy fields
Eastern Spot-billed Duck 斑嘴鸭 anas zonorhyncha Waterfowl Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu most common duck in Suzhou
Gadwall 赤膀鸭 mareca strepera Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Tufted Duck 凤头潜鸭 aythya fuligula Waterfowl Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Bufflehead 白枕鹊鸭 bucephala albeola Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN diving like dolphins
Mandarin Duck 鸳鸯 aix galericulata Waterfowl July ’25, Beijing juvenile, identified by dotted webbings
Red-breasted Merganser 红胸秋沙鸭 mergus serrator Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Hooded Merganser 棕胁秋沙鸭 lophydytes cucullatus Waterfowl Jan ’25, Cambridge MD go around in couples
Ruddy Duck 棕硬尾鸭 oxyura jamaicensis Waterfowl Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN can be easily identified by tail shape
Great Cormorant 普通鸬鹚 phalacrocorax carbo Cormorants and Anhingas Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Double-crested Cormorant 角鸬鹚 nannopterum auritum Cormorants and Anhingas May ’26, Newark NJ flying across inner harbor
Little Grebe 小䴙䴘 tachybaptus ruficollis Grebes Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu called ‘little PT’ in Chinese birding community - too hard to write
Pie-billed Grebe 斑嘴巨䴙䴘 podilymbus podiceps Grebes Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN calm cutie
Horned Grebe 角䴙䴘 podiceps auritus Grebes Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN red eye. grebe, why are you so cool?
Great Crested Grebe 凤头䴙䴘 podiceps cristatus Grebes Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
NA Tufted Puffin 花魁鸟 fratercula cirrhata Alcids July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
Common Murre 崖海鸦 uria aalge Alcids July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
American White Pelican 美洲白鹈鹕 pelecanus erythrorhynchos Pelicans Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN FINALLY. I CAME TO PURDUE FOR THIS.
Brown Pelican 褐鹈鹕 pelecanus occidentalis Pelicans June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Laughing Gull 笑鸥 leucophaeus atricilla Gulls, Terns, Skimmers May ’26, Newark NJ NA
Bonaparte’s Gull 博氏鸥 chroicocephalus philadelphia Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN winter coat
Black-headed Gull 红嘴鸥 chroicocephalus ridibundus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu winter coat. Many flew to Taihu Lake (Wuxi, Suzhou) recently
Vega Gull 蒙古银鸥 larus mongolicus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu winter coat
Yellow-legged Gull 黄腿银鸥 larus michahellis Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’16, Venice Italy NA
American Herring Gull 美洲银鸥 larus smithsonianus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Jan ’24, New York NY winter coat
Black-tailed Gull 黑尾鸥 larus crassirostris Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’25, Yantai Shandong the only gull that stays in Jiaodong Penninsula in summer
Ring-billed Gull 环嘴鸥 larus delawarensis Gulls, Terns, Skimmers May ’26, Newark NJ NA
California Gull 加州鸥 larus californicus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
Western Gull 西美鸥 larus occidentals Gulls, Terns, Skimmers June ’25, Santa Monica CA dark grey back
Glaucous-winged Gull 灰翅鸥 larus glaucescens Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’24, Seattle WA juveniles were seen eating a starfish - sadly they failed.
Least Tern 普通燕鸥 sternula antillarum Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Apr ’25, Cambridge MD fall straight from the sky to catch fishes
Caspian Tern 红嘴巨燕鸥 hydroprogne caspia Gulls, Terns, Skimmers June ’26, Chicago IL NA
Whiskered Tern 须浮鸥 chlidonias hybrida Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’25, Linyi Shandong does not have forked tail
Black-winged Stilt 黑翅长脚鹬 himantopus himantopus Shorebirds Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu look like red-legged mosquitoes…
Killdeer 双领鸻 charadrius vociferus Shorebirds June ’26, Chicago IL didn’t know they can also live in land
Semipalmated Plover 半蹼鸻 charadrius semipalmatus Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Lapwing 凤头麦鸡 vanellus vanellus Shorebirds Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu only see them flying. They have beautiful iridescent feathers
Pheasant-tailed Jacana 水雉 hydrophasianus chirurgus Shorebirds July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu dubbed ‘fairy on the waves’
Common Snipe 扇尾沙锥 gallinago gallinago Shorebirds Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu like to stand closely to the ridges to hide, very shy
Wilson’s Snipe 美洲沙锥 gallinago delicata Shorebirds Jan ’25, Cambridge MD run very fast when exposed
Spotted Sandpiper 斑腹矶鹬 actitis macularius Shorebirds June ’26, Chicago IL very small shorebird, has a pointy beak
Marsh Sandpiper 泽鹬 tringa stagnatilis Shorebirds Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Spotted Redshank 鹤鹬 tringa erythropus Shorebirds Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Greater Yellowlegs 大黄脚鹬 tringa melanoleuca Shorebirds Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN almost the size of a mallard
Lesser Yellowlegs 小黄脚鹬 tringa flavipes Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD long bill and long legs
Dunlin 黑腹滨鹬 calidris alpina Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD medium sized shorebird with a distinguishable black belly when breeding
Least Sandpiper 美洲小滨鹬 calidris minutilla Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD very small, appear in flocks
Sandhill Crane 沙丘鹤 antigone canadensis Cranes Nov ’25, Pulaski IN loud!!!!
Black-Crowned Night Heron 夜鹭 nycticorax nycticorax Herons, Ibis, and allies Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu countless near Suzhou River
Green Heron 美洲绿鹭 butorides virescens Herons, Ibis, and allies May ’25, Baltimore MD hiding in reeds
Gray Heron 苍鹭 ardea cinerea Herons, Ibis, and allies Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Great Blue Heron 大蓝鹭 ardea herodias Herons, Ibis, and allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN kinda everywhere
Snowy Egret 雪鹭 egretta thula Herons, Ibis, and allies June ’25, Malibu CA catching fish in the waves
Little Egret 白鹭 egretta garzetta Herons, Ibis, and allies Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Great Egret 大白鹭 ardea alba Herons, Ibis, and allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
NA Eastern Cattle Egret 牛背鹭 ardea coromanda Herons, Ibis, and allies June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Eurasian Moorhen 黑水鸡 gallinula chloropus Rails, Gallinules, and allies Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu symbol of DKU community!
Eurasian Coot 骨顶鸡 fulica atra Rails, Gallinules, and allies Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
NA American Coot 美洲骨顶 fulica americana Rails, Gallinules, and allies Apr ’25, West Lafayette IN NA
White-breasted Waterhen 白胸苦恶鸟 amaurornis phoenicurus Rails, Gallinules, and allies Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu suprisingly small, cutie pie with long, long toes
Turkey 火鸡 meleagris gallopavo Grouse, Quail, and Allies May ’25, New York NY Named ‘Roosey’
Rock Pigeon 岩鸽 columbia livia Pigeons and Doves Oct ’24, Baltimore MD NYC pigeons are horribly fat
Spotted Dove 珠颈斑鸠 spilopelia chinensis Pigeons and Doves Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu dubbed ‘the most delicious friend of hawks’
Oriental Turtle-Dove 山斑鸠 streptopelia orientalis Pigeons and Doves Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu bronze feathers compared to spotted dove
Eurasian Collared-Dove 灰斑鸠 streptopelia decaocto Pigeons and Doves Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu large and pale
Mourning Dove 哀鸽 zenaida macroura Pigeons and Doves Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN cute, pink iridescent feathers, owl-like calls
Turkey Vulture 红头美洲鹫 cathartes aura Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN if you go on a road trip they are always there
Osprey 鱼鹰 pandion haliaetus Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Apr ’25, Cambridge MD somehow chasing a seagull
Cooper’s Hawk 库柏鹰 accipiter cooperii Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN small cutie, behave like a chicken
Bald Eagle 白头海雕 haliaeetus leucocephalus Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN can be differentiated from turkey vulture while flying by their white tails
Red-shouldered Hawk 红肩𫛭 buteo lineatus Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN compared to red-tailed hawks, more likely to be seen near water
Red-tailed Hawk 红尾𫛭 buteo jamaicensis Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Aug ’25, Indianapolis IN NA
Eurasian Hobby 燕隼 falco subbuteo Flacons July ’25, Beijing NA
Peregrine Falcon 游隼 falco peregrinus Flacons June ’26, Lafayette IN saw a baby calling for food on top of a building near Lafayette city hall
Common Nighthawk 小美洲夜鹰 chordeiles minor Nightjars May ’26, West Lafayette IN white patches on wings from below
NA Chimney Swift 烟囱雨燕 chaetura pelagica Swifts May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Common Swift 普通雨燕 apus apus Swifts July ’25, Beijing THE famous birds at Beijing Central Axis
Tree Swallow 双色树燕 tachycineta bicolor Martins and Swallows Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN small, bright blue under sunlight, white belly
Barn Swallow 家燕 hirundo rustica Martins and Swallows May ’26, West Lafayette IN longer tail
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 中北美毛翅燕 stelgidopteryx serripennis Martins and Swallows June ’26, Chicago IL small, fly very fast, chasing insects near water
Eurasian Crag-Martin 岩燕 ptyonoprogne rupestris Martins and Swallows June ’23, Datong Shanxi NA
Red-rumped Swallow 金腰燕 cecropis daurica Martins and Swallows July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Cliff Swallow 美洲燕 petrochelidon pyrrhonota Martins and Swallows June ’26, Lafayette IN seen near Wabash bridge, looks like barn swallow but has a fish-like silver underpart
NA Common Cuckoo 大杜鹃 cuculus canorus Cuckoos July ’25, Beijing singing Cuckoo endlessly. Chinese people refer it as 布谷 which literally translate as ‘sowing seeds’
Common Kingfisher 普通翠鸟 alcedo atthis Kingfishers Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu very shy
Belted Kingfisher 白腹鱼狗 megaceryle alcyon Kingfishers May ’26, Porter IN suprisingly large
Eurasian Hoopoe 戴胜 upupa epops Hoopoes Apr ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 黄腹吸汁啄木鸟 sphyrapicus varius Woodpeckers Mar ’25, Baltimore MD dead due to bird strike
Red-bellied Woodpecker 红腹啄木鸟 melanerpes carolinus Woodpeckers Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Grey-headed Woodpecker 灰头绿啄木鸟 picus canus Woodpeckers July ’25, Beijing NA
Downy Woodpecker 绒啄木鸟 dryobates pubescens Woodpeckers May ’26, West Lafayette IN very small
Hairy Woodpecker 毛啄木鸟 leuconotopicus villosus Woodpeckers May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Northern Flicker 北扑翅䴕 colaptes auratus Woodpeckers May ’26, West Lafayette IN dark grey patch on chest
Pileated Woodpecker 北美黑啄木鸟 dryocopus pileatus Woodpeckers Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN strikingly big
Blue Jay 冠蓝鸦 cyanocitta cristata Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN only heard them singing. never seen with eyes
Red-billed Blue-Magpie 红嘴蓝鹊 urocissa erythroryncha Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan NA
Azure-winged Magpie 灰喜鹊 cyanopica cyanus Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu Very common in northern China, esp. Shandong, Beijing
Oriental Magpie 喜鹊 pica serica Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu same as above
American Crow 短嘴鸦 corvus brachyrhynchos Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Jan ’25, Baltimore MD NA
Fish Crow 鱼鸦 corvus ossifragus Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Apr ’25, Baltimore MD song is a reluctant ‘uh-uh’. sits on trees of Baltimore in flocks in evenings, esp. from Nov to Feb
Large-billed Crow 大嘴乌鸦 corvus macrohynchos Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan NA
Carrion Crow 小嘴乌鸦 corvus corone Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens July ’25, Beijing most common crow in Beijing city
Common Raven 渡鸦 corvus corax Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens June ’25, Malibu CA ‘quoth the raven, nevermore’ - quoth someone who died in Baltimore.
Eastern Wood-Pewee 东部木鹟 contopus virens Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies May ’26, West Lafayette IN its call is ‘pewee’. I think birds are like pokemons
Black Phoebe 黑长尾霸鹟 sayornis nigricans Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Eastern Phoebe 东菲比霸鹟 sayornis phoebe Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies May ’26, West Lafayette IN slightly yellow on sides
Great Crested Flycatcher 大冠蝇霸鹟 myiachus crinitus Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies May ’26, Porter IN NA
Oriental Magpie-Robin 鹊鸲 copsychus saularis Old World Flycathers Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu very common in Eastern China, sings beautifully
Verditer Flycatcher 铜蓝鹟 eumyias thalassinus Old World Flycathers Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu not common in Suzhou, but I saw it
Daurian Redstart 北红尾鸲 phoenicurus auroreus Old World Flycathers Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu cute orange bird
Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯劳 lanius schach Shrikes Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu ‘butcher bird’ - in me the tiger sniffs the plum blossoms
Gray Catbird 灰猫嘲鸫 dumetella carolinensis Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers May ’26, West Lafayette IN little gray bird, usually seen in summer evening
Brown Thrasher 褐矢嘲鸫 toxostoma rufum Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Northern Mockingbird 北嘲鸫 mimus polyglottos Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Eastern Bluebird 东蓝鸲 sialia sialis Thrushes May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Western Bluebird 西蓝鸲 sialia mexicana Thrushes June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
Hermit Thrush 隐夜鸫 catharus guttatus Thrushes Jan ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Wood Thrush 棕林鸫 hylocichla mustelina Thrushes May ’26, Chicago IL bird strike in Chi town
American Robin 旅鸫 turdus migratorius Thrushes Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN appear in large flocks, arrive in early spring, have a beautiful song
Chinese Blackbird 乌鸫 turdus mandarinus Thrushes Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu black version robin, so cute!! Eats earthworm after rain
Dusky Thrush 斑鸫 turdus eunomus Thrushes Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Pale Thrush 白腹鸫 turdus pallidus Thrushes Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Cedar Waxwing 雪松太平鸟 bombycilla cedrorum Waxwings May ’26, West Lafayette IN beautiful bird, song sounds like a mosquito
Light-vented Bulbul 白头鹎 pycnonotus sinensis Bulbuls Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu very distinguishable singing pattern
White-browed Laughingthrush 白颊噪鹛 pterohinus sannio Laughingthrushes and allies July ’20, Chengdu Sichuan NA
Vinous-Throated Parrotbill 棕头鸦雀 suthora webbiana Parrotbills July ’25, Beijing small & cute
Silver-throated Tit 银喉长尾山雀 aegithalos glaucogularis Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu very, very small
Carolina Chickadee 卡罗莱纳山雀 poecile carolinensis Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Tufted Titmouse 美洲凤头山雀 baeolophus bicolor Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN small round fluffy ball
White-breasted Nuthatch 白胸䴓 sitta carolinensis Nuthatches May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Brown Creeper 美洲旋木雀 certhia americana Treecreepers Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN of the size of a nuthatch but goes upwards, has a bent bill
Northern House Wren 家鹪鹩 troglodytes aedon Wrens May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Carolina Wren 卡罗苇鹪鹩 thryothorus ludovicianus Wrens May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Oriental Reed Warbler 东方大苇莺 acrocephalus orientalis Warblers July ’25, Beijing have a noisy song
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 灰蓝蚋莺 polioptila caerulea Gnatcatchers May ’26, West Lafayette IN have a distinguishable song
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 红冠戴菊 corthylio calendula Kinglets Mar ’22, Durham NC NA
Eastern Warbling Vireo 歌莺雀 vireo gilvus Vireos May ’26, West Lafayette IN can be very loud
Red-eyed Vireo 红眼莺雀 vireo olivaceus Vireos May ’26, Porter IN NA
NA White-eyed Vireo 白眼莺雀 vireo griseus Vireos June ’26, West Lafayette IN only heard it singing
Ovenbird 灯顶灶莺 seiurus aurocapilla Wood-Warblers Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN dead due to bird strike
Tennessee Warbler 灰冠虫森莺 leiothlypis peregrina Wood-Warblers Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN actually really hard to ID so not sure
Common Yellowthroat 黄喉地莺 geothlypis trichas Wood-Warblers May ’26, Porter IN NA
American Redstart 橙尾鸲莺 setophaga ruticilla Wood-Warblers May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Northern Parula 北森莺 setophaga americana Wood-Warblers May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Northern Yellow Warbler 北美黄林莺 setophaga aestiva Wood-Warblers June ’26, Chicago IL NA
Yellow-rumped Warbler 黄腰白喉林莺 setophaga auduboni Wood-Warblers Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN NA
NA Yellow-throated Warbler 黄喉林莺 setophaga dominica Wood-Warblers June ’26, West Lafayette IN only heard it singing, a descending song
NA Grey Wagtail 灰鹡鸰 motacilla cinerea Wagtails and Pipits Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu although called ‘grey wagtail’, its most distinguishable feature is its yellow belly
White Wagtail 白鹡鸰 motacilla alba Wagtails and Pipits Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu tail wags endlessly, and flies in ‘sine function’
Olive-backed Pipit 树鹨 anthus hodgsoni Wagtails and Pipits Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu pipits are winter birds in Suzhou
Richard’s Pipit 理氏鹨 anthus richardi Wagtails and Pipits Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Chipping Sparrow 褐斑翅雀鹀 spizella passerina New World Sparrows May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Field Sparrow 田雀鹀 spizella pusilla New World Sparrows Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
American Tree Sparrow 树雀鹀 spizelloides arborea New World Sparrows Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
White-throated Sparrow 白喉带鹀 zonotrichia albicollis New World Sparrows Oct ’24, Baltimore MD found dead around MICA, bird strike
Savannah Sparrow 稀树草鹀 passerculus sandwichensis New World Sparrows June ’26, Chicago IL likes open fields, has a yellow eyebrow
Song Sparrow 歌带鹀 melospiza melodia New World Sparrows June ’26, Chicago IL has a distinguishable and loud song
Eastern Towhee 棕胁唧鹀 pipilo erythrophthalmus New World Sparrows May ’26, Porter IN very big one
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 暗眼灯草鹀 junco hyemalis New World Sparrows June ’25, Malibu CA west coast and east coast juncos look different
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 暗眼灯草鹀 junco hyemalis New World Sparrows Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN winter birds at indiana
Black-faced Bunting 灰头鹀 emberiza apodocephala Old World Buntings Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
House Sparrow 家麻雀 passer domesticus Old World Sparrows Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN white neckline
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 麻雀 passer montanus Old World Sparrows July ’25, Beijing black cheek
Yellow-billed Grosbeak 黑尾蜡嘴雀 eophona migratoria Finches, Euphonias, and allies Jan ’26, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Red-fronted Rosefinch 红胸朱雀 carpodacus puniceus Finches, Euphonias, and allies Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan seen at Yulong 4506 (mountain top with no covering), amazing creature
House Finch 家朱雀 haemorhous mexicanus Finches, Euphonias, and allies Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN very small bird
Grey-capped Greenfinch 金翅雀 chloris sinica Finches, Euphonias, and allies July ’25, Yantai Shandong NA
American Goldfinch 北美金翅雀 spinus tristis Finches, Euphonias, and allies June ’26, Chicago IL beautiful yellow fairies
Lesser Goldfinch 暗背金翅雀 carduelis psaltria Finches, Euphonias, and allies June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
Summer Tanager 玫红丽唐纳雀 piranga rubra Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and allies May ’26, Porter IN stunning red bird
Northern Cardinal 主红雀 cardinalis cardinalis Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and allies May ’26, West Lafayette IN cutest and most iconic bird in the USA, state bird of Indiana
Indigo Bunting 靛蓝彩鹀 passerina cyanea Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and allies June ’26, West Lafayette IN strikingly indigo
Dickcissel 美洲雀 spiza americana Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and allies June ’26, Chicago IL likes open fields, has a yellow-and-black chest
NA Eastern Meadowlark 东草地鹨 sturnella magna Blackbirds Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN only heard them singing. never seen with eyes
Baltimore Oriole 橙腹拟鹂 icterus galbula Blackbirds May ’26, West Lafayette IN much smaller than robins, beautiful bird, symbol of Baltimore
Red-winged Blackbird 红翅黑鹂 agelaius phoeniceus Blackbirds May ’26, West Lafayette IN have a very loud and distinguishable song
Brown-headed Cowbird 褐头牛鹂 molothrus ater Blackbirds May ’26, West Lafayette IN appear smaller than other blackbirds
Common Grackle 普通拟八哥 quiscalus quiscula Blackbirds Mar ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Boat-tailed Grackle 船尾拟八哥 quiscalus major Blackbirds May ’26, Newark NJ female
Great-tailed Grackle 大尾拟八哥 quiscalus mexicanus Blackbirds June ’25, Malibu CA NA
European Starling 紫翅椋鸟 sturnus vulgaris Starlings and Mynas May ’26, West Lafayette IN NA
Red-billed Starling 丝光椋鸟 spodiopsar cineraceus Starlings and Mynas Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu cutie pie, red beaks
White-cheeked Starling 灰椋鸟 spodiopsar cineraceus Starlings and Mynas Dec ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu large gatherings on trees, usually hundreds
Crested Myna 八哥 acridotheres cristatellus Starlings and Mynas June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu when flying white patch on wings

Summary & Milestones

Now I’ve observed 195 bird species, in which 127 of them were spotted in the United States.

  • 100 bird species spotted: June 2025

  • 125 bird species spotted: Oct 2025

  • 150 bird species spotted: Jan 2026

  • 175 bird species spotted: May 2026

The bird family of most lifers for me is currently Waterfowl.

Birding Around the World: Interactive Map

Click on the map to see pictures of birds! Urban sites marked in pink while rural sites marked in green.

Places I Went For Birding

For ‘Birds’, I only record the bird species I’ve seen. For a full list of potential birds, please see ebird and other reference.

Midwest, USA

West Lafayette, IN: Celery Bog

View of Celery Bog from Nature Area Trail, Sep 2025

View of Celery Bog from Nature Area Trail, Sep 2025
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Sep 2025
  • Last Visited: Mar 2026
  • Birds: Mallard, American Goldfinch, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Northern Cardinal, Double-crested Cormorant, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tennessee Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Phoebe, Cooper’s Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown Creeper, Mourning Dove, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Tree Sparrow
  • Comments: Beautiful and peaceful place, one of the best birding destinations near Purdue. Staff at the natural center are very friendly. It’s home to several raptors, and you can also watch blue herons catching fish. I often start walking at Cherry Ln/Purdue University Student Farm, and ends the trail at Walmart supercenter to take CityBus #21 back home, which would typically take 2-3 hours.
  • Link: ebird
  • Related Posts: Mar ’26 Spring Migration

West Lafayette, IN: Celery Bog - North Pond

View of Celery Bog, North Pond from Cattail Trail, Mar 2026

View of Celery Bog, North Pond from Cattail Trail, Mar 2026
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Apr 2025
  • Last Visited: Mar 2026
  • Birds: American White Pelican, Mallard, Greater Yellowlegs, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, Bufflehead, Red-Shouldered Hawk
  • Comments: Regional migration trap, a great place to see shorebirds and ducks.
  • Link: ebird

West Lafayette, IN: Horticulture Park

Horticulture Park, Oct 2025

Horticulture Park, Oct 2025
  • Type: Rural | Woods (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Sep 2025
  • Last Visited: June 2026
  • Birds: American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Killdeer, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Blue Jay, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern House Wren, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Carolina Wren, Gray Catbird, House Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Double-crested Cormorant, Carolina Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Common Nighthawk, Barn Swallow, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler
  • Comments: Nice trail. ‘My patch’ - kind of. A large flock of robins and starlings rest on the trees near the open grass edge, and you can find jays and woodpeckers in the trails through the woods. During spring migration, a lot of songbirds rest and sing on trees near the woods edges. Indigo buntings nest here.
  • Link: ebird
  • Related Posts: May ’26 Songbirds

Pulaski, IN: Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Nov 2025

Jasper-Pulaski FWA, Nov 2025
  • Type: Rural | Grasslands
  • First Visited: Nov 2025
  • Last Visited: Nov 2025
  • Birds: Sandhill Crane, Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • Comments: Dreamy and Beautiful at sunset.
  • Link: IN.gov DNR | ebird

Porter, IN: Indiana Dunes National Park

Beach on Cowles Bog Trail, May 2026

Beach on Cowles Bog Trail, May 2026
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (freshwater); Open water (freshwater)
  • First Visited: May 2026
  • Last Visited: May 2026
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Gray Catbird, American Robin, House Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Baltimore Oriole, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Yellow Warbler, Summer Tanager
  • Comments: A much bigger celery bog. The Cowles Bog trail takes a good amount of walk to complete but biodiversity is great. Only regret is not seeing any gallinule or sora. Loads of caspian terns flying on the Michigan Lake shores.
  • Link: National Park Service | ebird (Cowles Bog)

Chicago, IL: Northerly Islands

Northerly Islands, June 2026

Northerly Islands, June 2026
  • Type: Rural | Grasslands; Wetlands (freshwater); Open water (freshwater)
  • First Visited: June 2026
  • Last Visited: June 2026
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, American Robin, American Goldfinch, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds, Northern Yellow Warbler, Dickcissel
  • Comments: Sat next to Lake Michigan and Chicago downtown, Northerly Islands provide various environments for birds to live, including grasslands full of native plants and wetlands - making it perfect for grassland birds like savannah sparrows and dickcissels. Trails are a bit rugged and usually takes ~2 hours to finish.
  • Link: ebird

East Coast, USA

Baltimore, MD: Inner Harbor

View of Inner Harbor from Federal Hill Park, Oct 2023

View of Inner Harbor from Federal Hill Park, Oct 2023
  • Type: Urban | Harbor (brackish water)
  • First Visited: Aug 2023
  • Last Visited: Apr 2025
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gull, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Osprey, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Fish Crow, Black-crowned Night Heron, Least Tern
  • Comments: From inner harbor to harbor east and locust point, the waterfront of downtown Baltimore is a great place to watch gulls & various kinds of waterfowls. A large flock of gulls rest in front of the harbors near Whole Foods from late fall to early spring in the evening. Check out the Harbor Connector water taxi - you can see gulls and cormorants flying across the harbor.
  • Link: Harbor Connector Water Taxi (free to ride!) | ebird

Baltimore, MD: Patterson Park

Patterson Park, May 2025

Patterson Park, May 2025
  • Type: Urban | Wetlands (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Mar 2025
  • Last Visited: May 2025
  • Birds: American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard, Rock Pigeon, Fish Crow, House Finch, Red-winged Black Bird, Green Heron, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove
  • Comments: The historical park is a great place for birdwatching. If you visit the park at late spring, you can watch flocks of robins, sparrows and blackbirds singing, mallards hanging out, and Canada geese raising their goslings around the pond! They’re not afraid of people and happy to interact with visitors.
  • Link: Friends of Patterson Park | ebird

Cambridge, MD: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Jan 2025

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Jan 2025
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (brackish water)
  • First Visited: Jan 2025
  • Last Visited: Apr 2025
  • Birds: Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Great Blue Heron, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Mallard, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Ring-billed Gull, Turkey Vulture, Whistling Swan, Wilson’s Snipe, Osprey, Red-winged blackbird, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Least Tern, Least Sandpiper, Great Egret
  • Comments: A perfect place for birding at the east coast of Chesapeake Bay, the most iconic bird being bald eagle. With woods, trails, wetlands and ponds around the wildlife drive, you can see a variety of birds here. Also, the visitor center’s pick of merchandises is superb.
  • Links: Friends of Blackwater check the webcams | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge | ebird

Harpers Ferry, WV: Maryland Heights

View of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, Mar 2024

View of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, Mar 2024
  • Type: Rural | Woods; Stream/River (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Mar 2024
  • Last Visited: Mar 2024
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture
  • Comments: The streams in the woods are a good place to catch up with our geese and heron friends.
  • Link: National Park Service: Harpers Ferry | ebird

New York, NY/Hudson, NJ: Liberty Island/Liberty State Park

Liberty Island, Jan 2024

Liberty Island, Jan 2024
  • Type: Urban | Wetlands (brackish water); Open water (brackish water)
  • First Visited: Jan 2024
  • Last Visited: May 2026
  • Birds: American Herring Gull, Brant, European Starling, Ring-billed Gull, Laughing Gull, Boat-tailed Grackle, American Black Duck, Double-Crested Cormorant, Red-winged Blackbird, Song Sparrow
  • Comments: While New York City resides mainly pigeons, the Liberty Island is surprisingly good places to watch waterfowls, and of course, gulls. Just mind your food, the gulls are really aggressive. The nearby Liberty SP has a tidal marsh named Richard J Sullivan Natural area, which is home to various ducks and wetland birds.
  • Link: ebird (Liberty Island)| ebird (Liberty SP)| Liberty State Park - NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection

The South, USA

Durham, NC: Duke University

Duke University, May 2022

Duke University, May 2022
  • Type: Rural | Woods
  • First Visited: Jan 2022
  • Last Visited: Jan 2024
  • Birds: Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, American Robin, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Comments: With birdfeeders everywhere, the Sarah P. Duke Garden is a great place for backyard birds like northern cardinal and eastern bluebird. I saw a red-tailed hawk with its nest near the old chemistry building. There are also some exotic waterfowls in the ponds of Duke Garden, like mandarin ducks & ruddy shelducks, you can check the link below.
  • Links: Exotic Waterfowls in Duke Garden | Duke Gardens | ebird

New Orleans, LA: Maurepas Swamp

Maurepas Swamp - Where the Voodoo Swamp Witch Lies, Mar 2022

Maurepas Swamp - Where the Voodoo Swamp Witch Lies, Mar 2022

West Coast, USA

Los Angeles, CA: Malibu Lagoon

Malibu Lagoon, June 2025

Malibu Lagoon, June 2025
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (freshwater); Open water (saline water)
  • First Visited: June 2025
  • Last Visited: June 2025
  • Birds: Common Raven, Red-breasted Merganser, Great-tailed Grackle, Snowy Egret, Black Phoebe, Gadwall, Western Gull, Canadian Goose, Brant, Mallard, Brown Pelican, Double-Crested Cormorant
  • Comments: Famous for surfing but the lagoon has striking biodiversity. Mixed groups of brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants fishing in the lagoon.
  • Link: California State Parks: Malibu Lagoon State Beach | eBird

Seattle, WA: Discovery Park

Discovery Park, July 2024

Discovery Park, July 2024
  • Type: Rural | Woods; Open water (saline water)
  • First Visited: July 2024
  • Last Visited: July 2024
  • Birds: Caspian Tern, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, American Crow
  • Comments: With all its natural beauty, the discovery park is a great place to enjoy the views of volcano, forests and sea at once - and of course, gulls.
  • Link: Seattle.gov: Discovery Park | ebird

Cannon Beach, OR: Haystack Rock

Haystack Rock, July 2024

Haystack Rock, July 2024
  • Type: Rural | Sea stack; Open water (saline water)
  • First Visited: July 2024
  • Last Visited: July 2024
  • Birds: Brown Pelican, California Gull, Tufted Puffin, Common Murre, Brandt’s Cormorant, American Crow
  • Comments: It’s just heaven if you love seabirds and shorebirds - in summer, various birds are nesting on the cliff of haystack rock. Remember to bring your binoculars since there’s a sign saying ‘birds only beyond this point’ - you would not be able to get too close to that rock. The volunteer is very friendly and helpful, and tide pools are also great fun to explore. Also, if you reside in Portland, be sure to check out Powell’s books, it has a great collection of field guides as well as other gems.
  • Links: Friends of Haystack Rock check the webcams | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge | ebird

Eastern China

Suzhou, CN: Huqiu Wetland Park 虎丘湿地生态公园

Huqiu Wetland Park during the ‘Plum Rain’ Season, June 2025

Huqiu Wetland Park during the ‘Plum Rain’ Season, June 2025
  • Type: Rural | Wetlands (fresh water)
  • First Visited: June 2025
  • Last Visited: Jul 2025
  • Birds: Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Grebe, Azure-winged Magpie, Light-vented Bulbul, Little Egret, Red-rumped Swallow, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Red-billed Starling, Eurasian Moorhen, Chinese Blackbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin
  • Comments: My hometown. Very beautiful place, regionally well-known birding hotspot and tourist attraction with reeds, waterlilies and lotus planted all over the ponds and wetlands.
  • Link: ebird

Suzhou, CN: Chongshan Island 冲山岛

Black headed gulls gathering, Dec 2025

Black headed gulls gathering, Dec 2025
  • Type: Urban | Open water (fresh water)
  • First Visited: Dec 2025
  • Last Visited: Dec 2025
  • Birds: Black-headed gull, white wagtail, little grebe, great crested grebe, eurasian coot, spotted dove
  • Comments: Part of Taihu Lake. The urban myth is that the Suzhou government use Salmon sashimi to attract black-headed gulls from Wuxi (the city on the other side of Taihu).
  • Links: NA

Suzhou, CN: Dushu Lake, East Shore 独墅湖东

View of Dushu Lake from Banyue Bay Lawn, Dec 2025

View of Dushu Lake from Banyue Bay Lawn, Dec 2025
  • Type: Urban | Open water (fresh water)
  • First Visited: Dec 2025
  • Last Visited: Dec 2025
  • Birds: Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Light-vented Bulbul, Little Egret, White-cheeked Starling, Eurasian Hoopoe, Chinese Blackbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin, Vega Gull, White Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Crested Myna, Long-tailed Shrike
  • Comments: Mostly hardened wetlands, migrating birds come to visit at winter. Pipits and wagtails walk happily on the lawn. Whole trail takes ~3.5 hours.
  • Links: ebird-独墅湖公园 | ebird-白鹭园

Suzhou, CN: Shuibaxian Eco-cultural Park 水八仙生态文化园

Flock of black-winged stilts in paddy fields, Dec 2025

Flock of black-winged stilts in paddy fields, Dec 2025
  • Type: Urban | Wetlands - Paddy fields (freshwater); Open water (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Dec 2025
  • Last Visited: Dec 2025
  • Birds: Green-winged teal, tufted duck, rock pigeon, eurasian moorhen, eurasian coot, black-winged stilt, northern lapwing, common snipe, marsh sandpiper, spotted redshank, black-headed gull, little grebe, great crested grebe, great cormorant, little egret, great egret, gray heron, common kingfisher, long-tailed shrike, oriental magpie, light-vented bulbul, red-billed starling, crested myna, chinese blackbird, daurian redstart, gray wagtail, white wagtail
  • Comments: Paddy fields + part of Chenhu Lake. People raise fish in Chenhu Lake so it attracts a lot of fish-eating bird species. Nice place to watch shorebirds and ducks, has a relatively high entrance fee, though. ‘Shuibaxian’ means 8 different water-borne vegetables.
  • Links: ebird-水八仙生态文化园

Suzhou, CN: Baitang Arboretum 白塘生态植物园

Dawn redwood in Baitang Arboretum, Jan 2026

Dawn redwood in Baitang Arboretum, Jan 2026
  • Type: Urban | Wetlands (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Jan 2026
  • Last Visited: Jan 2026
  • Birds: Eastern spot-billed duck, oriental turtle-dove, eurasian collared-dove, spotted dove, eurasian moorhen, white-breasted waterhen, little grebe, long-tailed shrike, oriental magpie, light-vented bulbul, silver-throated tit, white-cheeked starling, crested myna, chinese blackbird, pale thrush, dusky thrush, verditer flycatcher, eurasian tree sparrow, white wagtail, yellow-billed grosbeak, oriental greenfinch, black-faced bunting
  • Comments: City park in SIP, nice place with a bunch of man-made microenvironments, mostly wetlands. Regional migration trap. Most loved bird among local birders is a white-breasted waterhen which resides near the north-western corner of the arboretum.
  • Links: ebird-白塘生态植物园

Northern China

Beijing, CN: Olympic Forest Park 奥林匹克森林公园

The ‘Big Pit’ of Olympic Forest Park, July 2025

The ‘Big Pit’ of Olympic Forest Park, July 2025
  • Type: Rural | Woods; Wetlands (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Jul 2025
  • Last Visited: Jul 2025
  • Birds: Mandarin Duck, Eurasian Moorhen, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eurasian Magpie, Azure-winged Magpie, Eurasian Coot, Oriental Reed Warbler, Little Grebe, Grey Headed Woodpecker, Common Kingfisher, Vinous Throated Parrotbill, Grey Capped Greenfinch, Spotted Dove, Rock Pigeon
  • Comments: Regional birding hotspot, the ‘big pit’ of the north park might be one of the most well-known birding hotspot in China with its lush reed marshes. The only problem is that you need to walk 1.5 hours to get to the pit, and there aren’t any public transit inside the huge park. DON’T TRY IT IN BEIJING’S SUMMER.
  • Link: ebird

Linyi, CN: Yi River Water Park 沂河/水上公园

Yi River Water Park, Live Streamers Gathering, July 2025

Yi River Water Park, Live Streamers Gathering, July 2025
  • Type: Urban | Open water (freshwater)
  • First Visited: Jul 2025
  • Last Visited: Jul 2025
  • Birds: Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey Heron, Whiskered Tern
  • Comments: Nice place to grab some BBQ and hang out in the evening.
  • Link: NA

End Notes

Thanks my friend who introduced me to the world of birding. I will always remember watching night heron with you sitting next to Bixia Pond back in 2019 in the afternoon before taking a Biology exam.

My High School - The Place Where It All Begins

My High School - The Place Where It All Begins
Kudos ♥
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