My Backyard Visitors
Several times I’ve been asked this question:
– How many species of birds have you photographed in your backyard?
I understand the curiosity, I hear this question made quite often by my friends from the Web and from my neighbors. The other day I decided to have the exact number so I checked my lists and got the count. These birds have been photographed by me, I have seen several species that I did not have the opportunity to photograph, those I never count, not even for my “lifer” list.
VISITORS = 49 ALL TIME LIST = 205
- Eastern Bluebird
- Northern Cardinal
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Eastern Towhee
- Mourning Dove
- Carolina Chickadee
- Northern Mockingbird
- House Finch
- Dark-eyed Junco
- European Starling
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- Brown Thrasher
- Red-winged Blackbird
- American Crow
- Blue grosbeak
- Brown-headed Nuthatch
- American Goldfinch
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Field Sparrow
- Orchard Oriole
- Carolina Wren
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Red-shoudered Hawk
- Indigo Bunting
- Green Heron
- Eastern Phoebe
- Tufted Titmouse
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Common Grackle
- Blue Jay
- Northern Flicker
- Turkey Vulture
- American Robin
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Eastern Kingbird
- Canada Goose
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Red-crested Cardinal
- Downy Woodpecker
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Gray Catbird
- Black-crested Titmouse
- Pine Warbler
- Savannah Sparrow
- White-breated Nuthatch
- Pine Siskin
- Blue Gray Gnatcatcher
Photo Gallery
Northern Cardinal (F)
House Finch (M)
Mourning Dove
E. Starling and Brown-headed Cowbird (M)
My one legged “Vet”
Brown-headed Cowbirds (M & F)
Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
That is an exception variety. Wonderful photos.
Yes it is exceptional, looking at that list I say to myself wow! Thank you Dan! 🙂
You are one lucky birder! 🙂 PS, the green heron was a surprise, too. Do you have water besides the dish?
The creek at the end of my backyard has a stream that ends at about 1/4 mile creating a small marshy pond, not accessible but I know that sometimes birds go there, one day the Green Heron stop by my backyard just by curiosity I guess. Thank you Lori! 🙂
Wow… Do you find yourself having to research which species of bird you just took a photo of or do you pretty much know prior to snapping the shutter?
Both, some I know their ID already but some other I do the research after I have the photo in front of me. As a photographer for birds, you have to shoot first and ask questions later. Thanks MD! Have a Happy Halloween! 🎃
Lol. Thanks HJ and I hope you enjoy Halloween with your family too!
Wow your yard list is impressive! But then so is your yard. The birds know! Congratulations and great pictures. 🙂
Thank you Lisa, I think you are giving me too much credit for it. 🙂
No I’m not, I asked the birds and they said “go ahead!”
Ha, ha! 🙂 🎃
That’s an impressive list, HJ. It’s funny how fast they add up, isn’t it? A rich community you have. 😀
It’s true! I believe I do. Thank you Jet! 🙂
Such an achievement… really lovely birdlife you have there! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
You’re kind Iris, thank you! 🙂
What a long and impressive list of birds, HJ! Today’s gallery is another beauty!
Thank you very much Clare, I’m glad you like it! 🙂
🙂 My pleasure HJ!
That is a splendid list.
Thank you Tom! 🙂
Wow! That is a great list, living in a city has its draw backs reducing specie numbers, I am happy if I see seven different species in our small courtyard backyard in a year. However,the Rainbow Lorikeet and the Grey Butcherbird friends make up for it all. I love hearing the calls of the birds in the early morning even if they do not make it to the birdbath in the back yard. You have done well to show-case your beautiful selection of birds throughout the year, it has been most appreciated Avian:-)
Thank you for sharing Ashley! I appreciate it! 🙂
That is a “village” of birds! Impressive variety of visitors, and a lovely gallery 🙂
It’s kind of small version of what you have. Thank you very much Tiny! 🙂
An enviable Backyard count. Wondering what the rarest of those 49 might be – and prediction for #50?! RH
Excellent questions RH! I’ll be working on the #50 but the rarest for me was the Red-crested Cardinal which are not from this area or any of the mainland USA but most likely was an escapee from a bird private collection according to Audubon Soc. Thanks! 🙂
An impressive list, and still more out there! A bird would only have to fly overhead and I’d claim it for a spot on my master list, if I had one. You show remarkable restraint not to add the fast ones to your lifer list. Well, that was my first thought, but then I looked up ‘Lifer List’ on Google. And now I understand. Your photographs help you be certain you are adding the right bird. Well done, HJ.
Right from the start when I began bird photography, I read about birding and people involved with making lists of birds they have seen. I went to many places where you could see many species but how do you verify what you’ve seen? Then I decided to count on my list only birds that I have photographed. My list has 205 birds that I have photo records of them. Thank you Christine! 🙂
There are many variations in the same birds, differences in plumage from juvenile, male and female. With your photos to back you up, you’ll get into the 600 club no questions asked. A third of the way there! Thanks for sharing HJ.