Beginner birder checklist

Twenty-eight common, easy-to-see North American birds, from Mallards to Northern Cardinals, in large print. A good first list to carry on a walk.

My first birds

28 species · loading the checklist tools…

Canada Goose
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Ring-billed Gull
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal

Where to find them

Most of these birds live near people: parks, gardens, ponds and open fields. A pond with ducks and geese and a few trees nearby will give you half the list in one visit.

Next steps

When you have ticked most of them, load your state from the Edit list tab for the full list. Every bird you tick is kept in your life list.

More birding tools

Birds Near Me

The birds reported where you are.

Bird Quiz

Name birds by photo and by call.

Migration Map

Where migrants are, month by month.

Bird Sounds

A library of calls and a soundscape player.