I don’t know what there is about lists, but I like them. When I was growing up, my father taught me how to hunt. While hunting gave me my first lessons in the outdoors, I never did catch ‘buck fever’. I got ridiculed at times for taking a camera into the woods rather than my bow. This life list serves as the trophy rack I never obtained. While I have a long, long way to go, I’m proudly displaying my bird life list on my virtual fireplace mantle that is this blog. Here’s the photo-collection of this list.
Number of species photographed: 204
Number of species seen in my hometown of Wauwatosa, WI: 51
| Family | Name | First Seen | Wauwatosa | First Seen |
| Accipitridae | Cooper's Hawk | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Golden Eagle | Arena, WI | |||
| Osprey | Oregon Coast, OR | |||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Green Swamp, FL | 12-Jan-10 | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Alcedinidae | Belted Kingfisher | Cape Cod, MA | Yes | |
| Alcidae | Atlantic Puffin | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | |
| Black Guillemot | Arcadia National Park | 14-Jun-10 | ||
| Pigeon Guillemot | Oregon | |||
| Common Murre | Oregon | |||
| Razorbill | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | ||
| Anatidae | American Black Duck | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | 09-Mar-10 | |
| Black Scoter | Kettle Cove SP, Maine | 04-Jan-11 | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Wheeler NWR, AR | |||
| Brant | ||||
| Bufflehead | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | |||
| Canada Goose | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Common Eider | Cape Cod, MA | |||
| Common Goldeneye | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | Yes | ||
| Common Merganser | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | 09-Mar-10 | ||
| Greater Scaup | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | |||
| Greylag Goose | London, England | |||
| King Eider | Lakeshore State Park, Milwaukee, WI | 27-Nov-11 | ||
| Mallard | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Mute Swan | Stow-on-the-Wold, England | |||
| Red-breasted Merganser | Portland, Maine | 04-Jan-11 | ||
| Redhead | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | |||
| Ruddy Duck | Milwaukee Harbor, WI | |||
| Surf Scoter | Kettle Cove SP, Maine | 04-Jan-11 | ||
| Trumpter Swan | Milwaukee County Zoo Grounds, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Wood Duck | Washington Park Milwaukee, WI | 16-Oct-10 | ||
| Anhingidae | Anhinga | Pine Island, FL | ||
| Apodidae (Swifts) | White-collared Swift | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-11 | |
| Ardeidae | American Bittern | Horicon Marsh | 18-Sept-10 | |
| Cattle Egret | Costa Rica | |||
| Great Blue Heron | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Great Egret | Florida | |||
| Green Heron | Dallas, TX | 29-Jul-10 | ||
| Little Blue Heron | Dallas, TX | 29-Jul-10 | ||
| Snowy Egret | Cape Canaveral National Seashore | 01-Apr-11 | ||
| Tricolored Heron | Florida | |||
| Bombycillidae | Cedar Waxwing | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 17-July-09 |
| Caprimulgidae | Common Nighthawk | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 13-Aug-11 |
| Cardinalidae | Black-headed Grosbeak | Grand Canyon NP, Arizona | ||
| Dickcissel | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 11-Jul-09 | |
| Indigo Bunting | Southern Kettle Moraine SP, WI | Yes | ||
| Northern Cardinal | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 09-May-10 | |
| Cathartidae | Black Vulture | White River, AR | 01-Apr-10 | |
| Turkey Vulture | Oregon Coast | |||
| Charadriidae | Killdeer | New Berlin, WI | Yes | |
| Cinclidae | Rufous-naped Wren | Coast Rica | ||
| American Dipper | Zion NP, Utah | |||
| Circinae | Northern Harrier | Horicon March, WI | 27-Sept-09 | |
| Coerebidae (Bananaquit) | Bananquit | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | |
| Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) | Band-tailed Pigeon | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 26-Jun-11 | |
| Common Ground-Dove | North Port, FL | 27-Dec-09 | ||
| Morning Dove | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Costa Rica | |||
| Red-billed Pigeon | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | ||
| Rock Dove | Manhattan, New York | Yes | 05-Jan-12 | |
| Wood Pigeon | Krakow, PL | 12-Oct-09 | ||
| Cotingidae | Three-wattled Bellbird | Santa Elena Cloud Forest, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 |
|
| Corvidae | American Crow | Oregon Coast, Oregon | Yes | |
| Blue Jay | Bluemound SP, WI | Yes | 02-Aug-09 | |
| Carrion Crow | Krakow, Poland | 12-Oct-09 | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Bryce Canyon, NP | |||
| European Magpie | Krakow, Poland | 12-Oct-09 | ||
| Raven | Bryce Canyon, NP | |||
| Steller's Jay | Grand Canyon, NP | |||
| Western Scrub Jay | Monrovia, CA | 05-Dec-09 | ||
| White-throated Magpie-Jay | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 26-Jun-11 | ||
| Cracidae | Black Guan | Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica | ||
| Cuculidae (Cuckoos) | Smooth-billed Ani | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-11 | |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | ||
| Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers) | Black-banded Woodcreeper | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | |
| Emberizidae | American Tree Sparrow | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| California Towhee | Cabrillo National Monument | 07-May-12 | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | De Soto, WI | 23-Apr-11 | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Eastern Towhee | New Berlin, WI | |||
| Savannah Sparrow | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Song Sparrow | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Zion NP, Utah | |||
| White-eared Ground-Sparrow | Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica | 24-Jun-11 | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 09-May-11 | |
| White-throated Sparrow | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 07-May-11 | |
| Eurypygidae | Sun Bittern | Costa Rica | ||
| Falconidae | American Kestrel | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Perigrine Falcon | Grand Canyon NP, Arizona | Yes | ||
| Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) | Magnificent Frigatebird | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-11 | |
| Fringilidae | American Goldfinch | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 12-Jul-09 |
| House Finch | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 03-Jan-10 | |
| Furnariidae (Ovenbirds) | Lineated Foliage-Gleaner | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-10 | |
| Gaviidae | Common Loon | Arcadia National Park | 14-Jun-10 | |
| Gruidea | Sandhill Crane | Scruppernog Nature Preserve, Eagle WI | ||
| Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers) | Black Oystercatcher | Cabrillo National Monument, CA | 07-May-12 | |
| Hirundinidae | Bank Swallow | Vernon March, WI | 09-Aug-10 | |
| Barn Swallow | Hansen Golf Course, Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Tree Swallow | Camp Edwards, East Troy, WI | Yes | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Bryce Canyon NP, Utah | |||
| Hydrobatidae | Wilson's Storm-Petrel | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | |
| Icteridae | Baltimore Oriole | New Berlin, WI | Yes | |
| Black-cowled Oriole | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | ||
| Boat-tailed Grackle | North Port, FL | 27-Dec-09 | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Scruppernog Nature Preserve, Eagle WI | Yes | ||
| Common Grackle | New Berlin, WI | Yes | 23-Apr-10 | |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Dallas, TX | 29-Jul-10 | ||
| Montezuma Oropendola | Costa Rica | |||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Scruppernog Nature Preserve, Eagle WI | Yes | ||
| Laridae (Gulls and Terns) | Arctic Term | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | |
| Common Tern | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | ||
| Great Black-backed Gull | Cape Cod, MA | |||
| Herring Gull | Cape Cod, MA | Yes | ||
| Laughing Gull | Destin, FL | |||
| Ring-billed Gull | Cape Cod, MA | |||
| Royal Tern | Destin, FL | |||
| Laniidae | Loggerhead Shrike | Merritt Island NWF | 01-Apr-11 | |
| Mimidae | California Thrasher | Cabrillo National Monument, CA | 07-May-12 | |
| Gray Catbird | Destin, FL | |||
| Northern Mockingbird | Destin, FL | |||
| Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | ||
| Sooty Robin | Costa Rica | |||
| Momotidae (Motmots) | Turquoise-browed Motmot | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | |
| Odontophoridae | Gambel's Quail | South Mountain, AZ | 14-Apr-10 | |
| Paridae | Black-capped Chickadee | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Tufted Titmouse | 27-Dec-09 | |||
| Parulidae | Audubon's Warbler | Grand Canyon NP | 20-Jun-09 | |
| Common Yellowthroat | Pembroke Pines, FL | 28-Apr-12 | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Florida | 13-Jan-10 | ||
| Pine Warbler | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 01-Nov-10 | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | New Berlin, WI | 11-Apr-11 | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | ||
| Passeridae | House Sparrow | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Pelicanidae | American While Pelican | Merritt Island NWF | 01-Apr-11 | |
| Brown Pelican | Pine Island, FL | 26-Mar-08 | ||
| Phalacrocoracidae | Double-crested Cormorant | |||
| Picidae (Woodpeckers) | Downy Woodpecker | New Berlin, WI | Yes | 18-Nov-08 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | New Berlin, WI | Yes | 28-Nov-09 | |
| Hoffmann's Woodpecker | Costa Rica | 12-Apr-07 | ||
| Lineated Woodpecker | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker | White River, AZ | 02-Apr-10 | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker | Audubon Nature Center Brown Deer, WI | Yes | 12-Jan-10 | |
| Phasianidae | Greater Prairie Chicken | Stevens Point, WI | 22-Apr-10 | |
| Wild Turkey | Door County, WI | Yes | ||
| Podicipedidae | Horned Grebe | Lakeshore State Park | 27-Nov-11 | |
| Pied-billed Grebe | Horicon Marsh, WI | 18-Sept-10 | ||
| Procellariidae | Greater Shearwater | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | |
| Wilson's Storm-Petral | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | ||
| Psittacidae | Red-lored Parrot | Costa Rica | 05-Apr-07 | |
| White-fronted Parrot | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 26-Jun-11 | ||
| Rallidae | American Coot | Milwaukee Harbor | ||
| Common Moorhen | Everglades National Park | 27-Apr-12 | ||
| Ramphastidae (Toucans) | Emerald Toucanet | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | |
| Fiery-billed Aracari | Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica | 23-Jun-11 | ||
| Keel-billed Toucan | Costa Rica | 05-Apr-07 | ||
| Scolopacidae | American Woodcock | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 02-Feb-11 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Florida | 16-Apr-09 | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone | Florida | 28-Dec-09 | ||
| Sanderling | Florida | 12-Apr-09 | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Coon Valley, WI | 20-Jul-10 | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 17-Aug-09 | |
| Sittidae | White-breasted Nuthatch | New Berlin, WI | Yes | 17-Nov-08 |
| Strigidae | Great Horned Owl | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 28-Dec-08 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Linwood Springs Research Station Stevens Point, WI | 24-Oct-10 | ||
| Sturnidae | European Starling | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Sulidae (Boobys) | Brown Booby | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-11 | |
| Northern Gannet | Maine Coast off of Bar Harbor | 15-Jun-10 | ||
| Sylviidae | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Florida | 16-Apr-09 | |
| Thraupidae (Tanagers) | Blue-gray Tanager | Costa Rica | 07-Apr-07 | |
| Olive Tanager | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Palm Tanager | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 23-Jun-11 | ||
| Red-Legged Honeycreeper | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Scarlet-rumped Tanager | Costa Rica | 07-Apr-07 | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Connecticut | 15-Jun-09 | ||
| Scrub Euphonia | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Summer Tanager | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Yellow-throated Euphonia | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Threskiernithidae | Roseate Spoonbill | Merritt Island NWF | 01-Apr-11 | |
| White Ibis | Pine Island Florida | 26-Mar-08 | ||
| Trogonidae | Resplendent Quetzal | Costa Rica | 11-Apr-07 | |
| Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) | Allen's Hummingbird | Oregon Coast | 22-Jul-08 | |
| Green-crowned Brilliant | Costa Rica | 11-Apr-07 | ||
| Green Violet-ear | Monteverde | 25-Jun-11 | ||
| Mangrove Hummingbird | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 22-Jun-11 | ||
| Ruby-Throated Hummingbird | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | 03-Jul-11 | |
| Rufous-Tailed Hummingbird | Manuel Antonio NP, Costa Rica | 23-Jun-11 | ||
| Purple-throated Mountain-gem | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | ||
| Violet Saberwing | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | ||
| Troglodytidae | Carolina Wren | White River, AZ | 03-Apr-10 | |
| House Wren | Blue Mound State Park, WI | 06-Aug-10 | ||
| Marsh Wren | Vernon Marsh | 05-Sep-10 | ||
| Rufous-naped Wren | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 27-Jun-11 | ||
| Turdidae | American Robin | Wauwatosa, WI | Yes | |
| Clay-colored Robin | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07 | ||
| Eastern Bluebird | Florida | 16-Apr-09 | ||
| Western Bluebird | Utah | 21-Jun-09 | ||
| White-throated Robin | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 26-Jun-11 | ||
| Tyrannidae | Alder Flycatcher | New Berlin, WI | 27-May-09 | |
| Black Phoebe | California | 04-Dec-09 | ||
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Naranjo, Alajuela, Costa Rica | 21-Jun-11 | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Indiana | 13-Jan-10 | ||
| Great Kiskadee | Costa Rica | 08-Apr-07` | ||
| Long-tailed Tyrant | Costa Rica | 07-Apr-07 | ||
| Streaked Flycatcher | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 28-Jun-11 | ||
| Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 25-Jun-11 | ||
| Tropical Kingbird | Monteverde, Costa Rica | 24-Jun-11 | ||
| White-ringed Flycatcher | Canas Dulces, Costa Rica | 29-Jun-11 | ||
| Yellow-bellied Elaenia | Naranjo, Alajuela, Costa Rica | 29-Jun-11 |