This is a frequently updated list of birds and the places where I first learned to identify them. The categorization adopted here is borrowed from David Allen Sibley's The Sibley Guide to Birds. If available, each bird's name is linked to a detailed listing at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Otherwise, a link to the Wikipedia page is provided. If I have been shown a certain bird but don't consider myself competent enough to identify it reliably, then that particular entry is written in gray. The most recent sightings are indicated by light yellow boxes.
If you have comments or suggestions to improve this page, please send an email to mirkwoodblog@gmail.com.
Pelecaniformes
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Brown Pelican | Pelicanus occidentalis | Redwood City, CA | November 23, 2007 | 2:30 pm |
| American White Pelican | Pelicanus erythrorhynchos | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | April 2005 | 5:30 pm |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME | September 23, 2005 | 11:00 am |
| Great Cormorant | Phalacrocorax carbo | Newburyport, MA | January 19, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
Wading Birds (Egrets, Herons and Flamingos)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time | |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | February 2007 | 8:30 am | |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford, CA | April 2007 | 10:00 am | |
| Great Egret | Ardrea alba | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | April 2005 | 6 pm | |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | Lake Solano County Park, Winters, CA | February 17, 2008 | 3:30 pm | |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | Charleston Slough, Mountain View | April 2005 | 6:00 pm | |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus ruber | Mysore Zoological Park, Mysore | June 1988 | ? |
Swans, Geese and Ducks
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Mute Swan | Cygnus olor | Redwood City, CA | November 23, 2007 | 2:00 pm |
| Tundra Swan | Cygnus columbianus | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Refuge, Davis, CA | Feburary 17, 2008 | 12:00 noon |
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN | May, 2000 | approx 6 pm |
| Greater White-Fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | Embarcadero Duck Pond | November 25, 2007 | 10:30 am |
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Near Davis, CA | February 17, 2008 | 12:00 noon |
| American Black Duck | Anas rubripes | Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 10:00 am |
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | May 2004 | 6 pm |
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 1:00 pm |
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 10:15 am |
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clipeata | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto, CA | November 25, 2007 | 10:30 am |
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | February 2007 | 9:00 am |
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto, CA | November 25, 2007 | 11:15 am |
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | July-August 2006 | 6:00 pm |
| Long-tailed Duck | Clangula hyemalis | Salisbury State Reservation, Salisbury, MA | March 16, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | February 2007 | 9:00 am |
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | February 2007 | 9:00 am |
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | Lake Solano County Park, Winters, CA | February 17, 2008 | 4:00 pm |
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | March 16, 2008 | 11 am |
| Rudy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto, CA | mid-April, 2007 | 12:00 noon |
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | Lullwater Lake, Emory University, Atlanta, GA | May 3, 2008 | 6:00 pm |
Diurnal Raptors
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| California Condor | Gymnogyps californianus | Navajo Bridge, Marble Canyon, AZ | May 25, 2008 | 10:00 am |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto, CA | February 2007 | 12:00 noon |
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | Various |
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | The Dish, Stanford Foothills, Stanford, CA | June 2005 | 11:00 am |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Stanford Foothills, Stanford, CA | Various days in 2005 | Various |
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | January 18, 2008 | 11:00 am |
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | Near the Chain Bridge, Newburyport, MA | January 18, 2008 | 3:30 pm |
Upland Game Birds
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| California Quail | Callipepla californica | Lyman Graduate Residences, Stanford, CA | One summer day in 2005 | About 10:30 am |
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto, CA | November 25, 2007 | 11:00 am |
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA | August 6, 2007 | 10:00 am |
| Indian Peafowl | Pavo cristatus | Parvati Hills, Pune, India | 1995 ? | ? |
Gruiformes
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| American Coot | Fulica americana | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | 2005 | 6:00 pm |
| California Clapper Rail | Rallus longirostris | Baylands Preserve, Palo Alto, CA | February 2007 | 11:45 am |
Shorebirds
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | April-May 2005 | 6:30 pm |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus maxicanus | Charleston Slough, Mountain View, CA | May 2005 | 6:30 pm |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve, Davis, CA | February 17, 2008 | 10:40 am |
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | Parker River Wildlife Preserve, Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 9:30 am |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve, Davis, CA | February 17, 2008 | 10:30 am |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | February 2007 | 8:30 am |
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Preserve, Davis, CA | February 17, 2008 | 2:00 pm |
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Great Black-backed Gull | Larus marinus | Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 9:30 pm |
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | Various dates in 2005 | Various |
| Iceland Gull | Larus glaucoides | Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | January 18, 2008 | 4:00 pm |
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury, MA | November 11, 2007 | 2:00 pm |
| Mew Gull | Larus canus | Potter Marsh, Anchorage, AK | June 29, 2008 | 2:30 pm |
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | May 2005 | 5:00 pm |
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | Potter Marsh, Anchorage, AK | June 29, 2008 | 10:00 am |
| Black Skimmer | Rynchops niger | Charleston, Slough, MA | April 2005 | 6:00 pm |
Cuckoos, Anis and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Asian Koel | Eudynamys scolopacea | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | ? | ? |
| Greater Coucal / Crow Pheasant | Centropus sinensis | Parvati Hills, Pune, India | 1996 | Evening walk |
Pigeons, Doves and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon | Columba livia | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | 1982-83 | ? |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | Shoreline Lake, Mountain View, CA | 2005 | 6:30 pm |
Parrots and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Rose-ringed Parakeet | Psittacula krameri | Forest Area, Solapur, India | 1989 | ? |
| Budgerigar | Melopsittacus undulatus | Pune, India (kept pet birds for a year) | 1993-94 | N/A |
Owls
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | ? | around 10:00 am |
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont, MA | November 17, 2007 | 7 am |
| Snowy Owl | Nyctea scandiaca | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | January 18, 2008 | 10 am |
Hummingbirds
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Anna's Hummingbird | Calypte anna | Science and Engg Quad, Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2003 | ? |
Kingfishers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | Lake Solano County Park, Winters, CA | February 17, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
Woodpeckers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | Main Quad, Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2003 | Lunch 1:00 pm |
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | March 29, 2008 | 10:15 am |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Melanerpes carolinus | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | March 29, 2008 | 10:20 am |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dryocopus pileatus | Ipswich River Wildlife Refuge, Topsfield, MA | June 14, 2008 | 2:30 pm |
Tyrant Flycatchers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | Jasper Ridge, Stanford, CA | April 2007 | 11:00 am |
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 12, 2008 | 11:30 am |
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | Bradley Palmer State Park, Ipswich, MA | June 8, 2008 | 11:00 am |
Shrikes and Vireos
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Northern Shrike | Lanius excubitor | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | January 19, 2008 | 11:00 am |
Jays, Crows and Allies (Corvidae)
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | Walden Street, Cambridge, MA | December 15, 2007 | 7:30 am |
| Scrub Jay (Western) | Aphelocoma californica | Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2004 | All day |
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | Purisima Creek, Half moon Bay, CA | February 16, 2008 | 10:00 am |
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | Crater Lake National Park, OR | September 1, 2007 | 3:45 pm |
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | All visited places in the US | N/A | N/A |
| House Crow | Corvus splendens | All visited places in India | N/A | N/A |
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK | June 25, 2008 | 9:30 pm |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | Grand Canyon, AZ | May 25, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
Swallows
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | June 14, 2008 | 8:40 am |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | Ipswich River wildlife Refuge, Topsfield, MA | June 14, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
| Northern Rough-Winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | Highland Lighthouse, Cape Cod, MA | August 9, 2008 | 3:30 pm |
Chickadees and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapilla | Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA | December 30, 2007 | 11:45 am |
| Northern Tufted Titmouse | Baeolophous bicolor | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | March 29, 2008 | 9:30 am |
Nuthatches and Creepers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| White-Breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, MA | December 30, 2007 | 12:00 noon |
Wrens
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Carolina Wren | Thyrothorus ludovicianus | Island Ford, Chattahoochee River NRA, Atlanta, GA | May 4, 2008 | 11:30 am |
Old-World Warblers, Thrushes and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford, CA | April 2007 | 12:00 noon |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 26, 2008 | 12:10 pm |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Dinkytown, Minneapolis, MN | March 2000 | ? |
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | August 10, 2008 | 12:30 pm |
| Indian Robin | Saxicoloides fulicata | Parvati Hills, Pune, India | 1997 | On an Evening Walk |
| Magpie Robin | Copsychus saularis | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | 1997 | One afternoon through a window |
Note: Indian Robin and Magpie Robin are grouped with American Robin for convenience. They are no longer considered Old-World Thrushes and are included under Old-World Flycatchers.
Wood Warblers
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, Davis, CA | February 17, 2008 | 2:00 pm |
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 26, 2008 | 11:10 am |
| Pine Warbler | Dendroica pinus | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 20, 2008 | 7:00 am |
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | Palo Alto Duck Pond, Palo Alto CA | February 2007 | 11:00 am |
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | Jasper Ridge, Stanford, CA | April 2007 | 10:30 am |
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | Ipswich River Wildlife Refuge, Topsfield, MA | June 14, 2008 | 2:00 pm |
Waxwings
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | Escondido Village, Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2004 ? | 6:00 pm |
Mimids
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | Cambridge, MA | October 2007 | 9:15 am |
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Fresh Pond, Cambridge, MA | June 7, 2007 | 3:00 pm |
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | Island Ford, Chattahoochee River, Atlanta, GA | May 4, 2008 | 11:15 am |
Starlings and Mynas
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | A McDonald's in Milbrae | 2006 | 11:45 am |
| Common Myna | Acridotheres tristis | Solapur, India | ? | ? |
Silky Flycatchers and Bulbuls
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | Lake Solano County Park, Winters, CA | February 17, 2008 | 3:00 pm |
| Red-whiskered Bulbul | Pycnonotus jocosus | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | 1991 | ? |
| Red-vented Bulbul | Pycnonotus cafer | Sahakarnagar, Pune, India | 1991 | ? |
Icterids
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | Tressider Union, Stanford University | around May 2003 | Lunch, 12:30 pm |
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | Tressider Union, Stanford University | around May 2003 | Lunch, 12:30 pm |
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | Plum Island, Newburyport, MA | March 16, 2008 | 9:30 am |
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | Marlborough High School, Marlborough, MA | May 17, 2008 | 11:30 am |
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | June 14, 2008 | 9:15 am |
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | June 14, 2008 | 9:30 am |
Emberizine Sparrows and Allies
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| California Towhee | Pipilo crissalis | Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Stanford, CA | April 2007 | 12:00 noon |
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | January 18, 2008 | 10:30 am |
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 20, 2008 | 7:30 am |
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | June 14, 2008 | 8:00 am |
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 26, 2008 | 11:45 am |
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | Knowles Coastal Trail, Anchorage, AK | June 25, 2008 | 8:30 pm |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | Escondido Village, Stanford University, Stanford, CA | 2006 | ? |
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | November 11, 2007 | 10:30 am |
| Eastern Towhee | Pipilo erythrophthalmus | Hellcat, Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA | June 14, 2008 | 11:00 am |
Finches and Old-World Sparrows
| Common Name | Latin Name | Place | Date | Time |
| House Finch | Passer domesticus | Blackwelder Court, Stanford, CA | Spring 2003 | 9:00 am |
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, MA | April 20, 2008 | 7:15 am |
| House Sparrow | Carpodacus mexicanus | ? | ? | ? |