| State Birding Hot Spots and Web Sites ( BirdWatchingUSA.com ) |
Ornithological Society |
Number of Species |
Date of |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Birding Association | 1103 | Nov 2017 | |
| American Ornithological Society | 2143 | Jul 2018 | |
| Alabama | Alabama Bird Records Committee | 446 | Jul 2017 |
| Alaska | University of Alaska Museum | 521 | Jan 2018 |
| Arizona | Arizona Bird Committee | 556 | Dec 2017 |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Bird Records Committee | 414 | Aug 2009 |
| California | California Bird Records Committee | 671 | Jun 2018 |
| Colorado | Colorado Bird Records Committee | 501 | Jul 2018 |
| Connecticut | Avian Records Committee of Connecticut |
440
|
Jun 2017 |
| Delaware | Delaware Records Committee | 417 | Sep 2015 |
| District of Columbia | MD/DC Records Committee | 340 | Jun 2018 |
| Florida | Florida Ornith. Soc. Records Committee | 524 | Dec 2016 |
| Georgia | Georgia Checklist & Records Committee | 423 | Jan 2018 |
| Hawaii | Bishop Museum | 338 | Dec 2009 |
| Idaho | Idaho Birds Records Committee | 409 | Sep 2007 |
| Illinois | Illinois Ornithological Records Committee | 444 | May 2018 |
| Indiana | Indiana Bird Records Committee | 420 | Dec 2016 |
| Iowa | Iowa Records Committee | 429 | Mar 2018 |
| Kansas | Kansas Bird Records Committee | 480 | Feb 2018 |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Bird Records Committee | 387 | Dec 2017 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Bird Records Committee | 482 | Aug 2016 |
| Maine | Maine Bird Records Committee | 455 | Apr 2018 |
| Maryland | MD/DC Records Committee | 453 | Jun 2018 |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Avian Records Committee | 501 | Dec 2017 |
| Michigan | Michigan Bird Records Committee | 446 | Aug 2017 |
| Minnesota | Minn. Ornith. Union Records Committee | 443 | Dec 2013 |
| Mississippi | MOS Records Committee | 421 | Jul 2015 |
| Missouri | Missouri Bird Records Committee | 434 | Aug 2017 |
| Montana | Montana Bird Records Committee | 427 | Apr 2012 |
| Nebraska | NOU Records Committee | 463 | Mar 2018 |
| Nevada | Nevada Bird Records Committee | 488 | Oct 2017 |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Bird Records Committee | 399 | Apr 2010 |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Bird Records Committee | 478 | Dec 2017 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Bird Records Committee | 544 | Aug 2017 |
| New York | New York State Avian Records Committee | 493 | Jul 2018 |
| North Carolina | Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committee | 467 | Jun 2018 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Bird Records Committee | 399 | Apr 2016 |
| Ohio | Ohio Bird Records Committee | 433 | Jun 2016 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Bird Records Committee | 480 | Oct 2017 |
| Oregon | Oregon Bird Records Committee | 536 | Jul 2017 |
| Pennsylvania | Penn. Ornithological Records Committee | 433 | Jun 2018 |
| Rhode Island | RIBird.org | 424 | Dec 2012 |
| South Carolina | Carolina Bird Club Bird Records Committee | 433 | Jun 2018 |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Ornithologist’s Union | 438 | Jan 2018 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Bird Records Committee | 409 | Apr 2014 |
| Texas | Texas Bird Records Committee | 649 | Jul 2018 |
| Utah | Utah Bird Records Committee | 463 | Jan 2018 |
| Vermont | Vermont Bird Records Committee | 387 | Jul 2018 |
| Virginia | Virginia Avian Records Committee | 477 | Jun 2018 |
| Washington | Washington Bird Records Committee | 518 | Oct 2017 |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Bird Records Committee | 363 | Mar 2016 |
| Wisconsin | WSO Records Committee | 437 | Mar 2017 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Bird Records Committee | 445 | Jul 2018 |
| Alberta | Alberta Bird Records Committee | 426 | Jul 2017 |
| British Columbia | 522 | Sep 2018 | |
| Manitoba | 403 | May 2018 | |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Bird Records Committee | 417 | Jul 2014 |
| Newfoundland | 410 | Jun 2018 | |
| Northwest Territories | ??? | ??? | |
| Nova Scotia | 486 | Mar 2016 | |
| Nunavut | ??? | ??? | |
| Ontario | Ontario Bird Records Committee | 496 | Apr 2017 |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI Bird Records Committee | 370 | Jun 2018 |
| Quebec | Quebec Bird Records Committee | 459 | Jul 2018 |
| Saskatchewan | 393 | Sep 2017 | |
| Yukon Territory | 328 | Mar 2017 |
Most states and provinces do NOT list exotic birds unless they have been recognized by the American Birding Association (e.g. Monk Parakeet is on the Florida list, Rose-ringed Parakeet is not). Most do not include escaped cage birds or feral birds (e.g. Mandarin Duck or Muscovy Duck). Most do not include birds of uncertain natural occurrence or undetermined origin. Most do not add birds to a state checklist that were transported by man or that were ship-assisted. Some states have a “Hypothetical” list with extra birds that have not been properly documented.
The “Official Checklist” column shows the total species for checklists appearing on “official” state web sites. Where ??? appears, a list is present, but totals are not shown. Some of these are links to pdf files. Download a free PDF viewer. The date of the last update is also shown.
Please email any changes or corrections to Pete Thayer.
What Makes a Great State or Province Checklist?
1. The name of the state or province appears at the top of the page.
2. The date of the last update appears at the top of the page.
3. The number of species on the list appears at the top of the page.
4. The number of species that are regularly occurring, accidental, extirpated and extinct is also shown at the top of the page.
5. The American Ornithological Society supplement used to create the checklist (and the date of its release) is referenced. New common or scientific names created by the new AOS supplement are highlighted.
6. The Order and Major Family headings are shown in bold print.
7. Rare and accidental birds are clearly marked.
8. A web-based version and a pdf version (printable version) are both available.
9. Species rows are numbered 1, 2, 3… and only one species per row is shown (on the web-based version).
Very Helpful Additions:
1. A list of birds added to the official checklist within the past five years is available. (See Utah)
2. A separate list of “Review” birds is available – these birds need special documentation when seen.
3. The checklist links to or contains information on regional or seasonal abundance (i.e. rare away from the coast or expected only during fall migration)
4. A “Findability” code is included – very helpful for out of state visitors.
5. A link to the State Rare Bird Commitee web page is prominently displayed. The RBC page has member’s email addresses and annual reports.