Most Common Birds in Middlesex County

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.

1. Mourning Dove
2. Northern Cardinal
3. Canada Goose
4. American Robin
5. House Sparrow
6. American Goldfinch
7. European Starling
8. House Finch
9. Blue Jay
10. Downy Woodpecker
11. Common Grackle
12. Song Sparrow
13. Dark-eyed Junco
14. White-throated Sparrow
15. American Crow
16. Red-bellied Woodpecker
17. Tufted Titmouse
18. Black-capped Chickadee
19. Mallard
20. Northern Mockingbird
21. Ring-billed Gull
22. Red-winged Blackbird
23. White-breasted Nuthatch
24. Gray Catbird
25. Herring Gull
26. Carolina Wren
27. Northern Flicker
28. Great Black-backed Gull
29. Red-tailed Hawk
30. Killdeer
31. Great Blue Heron
32. Brown-headed Cowbird
33. Rock Pigeon
34. Double-crested Cormorant
35. Carolina Chickadee
36. Turkey Vulture
37. Barn Swallow
38. Great Egret
39. Tree Swallow
40. House Wren

Combining top 40 lists from all over the continent ought to fill out the top 120 list easily.