As I mentioned in the last Loose Feathers, Cornell Lab of Ornithology is in the midst of redesigning its website and is looking for user input. One of the most commonly requested features is an automated field guide page, where a user could enter an unknown bird's field marks and receive a list of possible species. The first version of this automated identification guide would consist of 120 species, with more to be included in future versions. For the latest discussion question, the design committee wants to know which 120 species to include.
I decided to post my answer here. Such a limited set of identification choices should aim to cover the most common birds that people are likely to see. The following is a list of the 40 most commonly reported bird species of Middlesex County, New Jersey, according to eBird data. All of them have a solid case for inclusion because all are very common and very widespread outside of this area.
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- Canada Goose
- American Robin
- House Sparrow
- American Goldfinch
- European Starling
- House Finch
- Blue Jay
- Downy Woodpecker
- Common Grackle
- Song Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- White-throated Sparrow
- American Crow
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Tufted Titmouse
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Mallard
- Northern Mockingbird
- Ring-billed Gull
- Red-winged Blackbird
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Gray Catbird
- Herring Gull
- Carolina Wren
- Northern Flicker
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Killdeer
- Great Blue Heron
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Rock Pigeon
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Carolina Chickadee
- Turkey Vulture
- Barn Swallow
- Great Egret
- Tree Swallow
- House Wren