What’s It Like to Find 264 Species in One Big Day? [video]

April 3, 2013

Big Days are intense: Last year, our Team Sapsucker spent all 24 hours of April 27 scouring central and eastern Texas for birds. They had three dozen species on their list before dawn broke, and hit triple digits shortly before 8 a.m. They kept going, adding an average of one species every 11 minutes throughout the day.

To help the rest of us picture what that sort of daylong deluge of birds feels like, we’ve condensed their Big Day into a 4-minute slideshow. Watch and enjoy as the birds flash by!

Curious about which species is which in the slideshow? Refer to the table below—or download a printable PDF. (Note: the slideshow does not show all 264 species, and these photos were not taken on the Big Day itself.)

Photo Number	Common name	*Scientific name*
1	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis
2	Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
3	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos
4	Barred Owl	Strix varia
5	White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
6	American Robin	Turdus migratorius
7	American Coot	Fulica americana
8	Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
9	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus
10	Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus
11	Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax
12	Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis
13	Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors
14	Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus
15	Common Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis
16	Gadwall	Anas strepera
17	Barn Owl	Tyto alba
18	Redhead	Aythya americana
19	Canvasback	Aythya valisineria
20	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis
22	American Wigeon	Anas americana
23	Northern Pintail	Anas acuta
24	Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata
25	Wood Duck	Aix sponsa
26	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo
27	Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus
28	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias
29	Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius
30	Purple Martin	Progne subis
31	Clay-colored Sparrow	Spizella pallida
32	Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris
34	Eastern Screech-Owl	Megascops asio
35	Chuck-will’s-widow	Antrostomus carolinensis
38	Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
39	Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
40	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
41	Bewick’s Wren	Thryomanes bewickii
42	Carolina Wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus
43	Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus
44	Couch’s Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
45	Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens
46	Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus
47	Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
48	Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto
49	Black-throated Sparrow	Amphispiza bilineata
50	Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre
51	European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
52	Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas
53	Cactus Wren	Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
54	Swainson’s Hawk	Buteo swainsoni
55	Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
56	Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
57	White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys
62	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura
63	Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
64	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
65	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
66	Inca Dove	Columbina inca
67	Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
68	White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi
69	Black-chinned Hummingbird	Archilochus alexandri
70	Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
71	Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Picoides scalaris
72	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens
73	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
74	Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe
75	Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis
76	Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons
77	Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus
78	Olive Sparrow	Arremonops rufivirgatus
79	Cassin’s Sparrow	Peucaea cassinii
80	Rufous-crowned Sparrow	Aimophila ruficeps
81	Common Raven	Corvus corax
82	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
83	Carolina Chickadee	Poecile carolinensis
84	Black-crested Titmouse	Baeolophus atricristatus
85	Canyon Wren	Catherpes mexicanus
86	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
87	American Pipit	Anthus rubescens
88	Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum
89	Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata
90	Yellow-throated Warbler	Setophaga dominica
91	Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
92	Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus
93	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
94	Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
95	Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
96	Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius
97	Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
98	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus
99	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria
100	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus
101	Harris’s Hawk	Parabuteo unicinctus
102	Lark Bunting	Calamospiza melanocorys
103	Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
104	Rufous-capped Warbler	Basileuterus rufifrons
113	Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis
114	Dickcissel	Spiza americana
115	Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta
116	Yellow-headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
117	Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
118	Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
119	Green Heron	Butorides virescens
120	Cinnamon Teal	Anas cyanoptera
121	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris
122	Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca
123	Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla
124	Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica
125	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia
126	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata
127	Chihuahuan Raven	Corvus cryptoleucus
130	Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
131	Greater Roadrunner	Geococcyx californianus
132	Western Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica
133	Black-tailed Gnatcatcher	Polioptila melanura
134	Verdin	Auriparus flaviceps
135	Cave Swallow	Petrochelidon fulva
136	Canyon Towhee	Melozone fusca
137	Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
138	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus
139	Nashville Warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla
140	Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
141	Varied Bunting	Passerina versicolor
142	Tropical Parula	Setophaga pitiayumi
143	Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla
144	Long-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma longirostre
145	Golden-cheeked Warbler	Setophaga chrysoparia
146	Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum
147	Brewer’s Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus
148	Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia
149	Rock Wren	Salpinctes obsoletus
152	Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii
153	Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga
154	Franklin’s Gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan
155	Monk Parakeet	Myiopsitta monachus
156	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos
157	Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula
158	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus
159	Mississippi Kite	Ictinia mississippiensis
160	Swallow-tailed Kite	Elanoides forficatus
161	Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
162	White-tailed Hawk	Geranoaetus albicaudatus
163	Great Egret	Ardea alba
164	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula
165	Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
166	Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
167	Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla
168	White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis
169	Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos
170	Dunlin	Calidris alpina
171	Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus
172	Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus
173	Wilson’s Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor
174	Buff-breasted Sandpiper	Tryngites subruficollis
175	Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus
176	Tufted Titmouse	Baeolophus bicolor
177	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus
178	Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens
179	Red-headed Woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus
180	Acadian Flycatcher	Empidonax virescens
181	Prothonotary Warbler	Protonotaria citrea
182	Tennessee Warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina
183	Northern Parula	Setophaga americana
184	Pine Warbler	Setophaga pinus
185	Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
187	Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
188	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
189	Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla
190	Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea
191	Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja
192	Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor
193	Least Tern	Sternula antillarum
194	White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
195	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
196	Forster’s Tern	Sterna forsteri
197	Common Loon	Gavia immer
198	Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens
199	Black Skimmer	Rynchops niger
200	Sandwich Tern	Thalasseus sandvicensis
201	Herring Gull	Larus argentatus
202	Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
206	Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
207	Mottled Duck	Anas fulvigula
208	Black Tern	Chlidonias niger
209	Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus
210	Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna
211	Sedge Wren	Cistothorus platensis
212	Nelson’s Sparrow	Ammodramus nelsoni
213	Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis
214	Reddish Egret	Egretta rufescens
215	Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
216	Wilson’s Plover	Charadrius wilsonia
217	Piping Plover	Charadrius melodus
218	American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana
219	Willet	Tringa semipalmata
220	Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
221	Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres
222	Sanderling	Calidris alba
223	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis
224	Gull-billed Tern	Gelochelidon nilotica
225	Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris
226	Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa
227	Le Conte’s Sparrow	Ammodramus leconteii
228	Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia
231	Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus
232	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
233	Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula
234	Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator
235	Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus
236	Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda
237	Snowy Plover	Charadrius nivosus
238	Red Knot	Calidris canutus
239	Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor
240	Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata
241	Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis
242	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus
244	Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina
245	Swainson’s Thrush	Catharus ustulatus
246	Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
247	American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
248	Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla
249	White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis
250	Magnolia Warbler	Setophaga magnolia
251	Kentucky Warbler	Geothlypis formosa
252	Cerulean Warbler	Setophaga cerulea
254	Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata
255	Black-throated Green Warbler	Setophaga virens
256	Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea
257	American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus
258	Sora	Porzana carolina
259	White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi
260	Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria
261	Seaside Sparrow	Ammodramus maritimus
262	King Rail	Rallus elegans
263	Common Gallinule	Gallinula galeata
264	Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinicus

Species recorded during Big Day but not pictured in slideshow

	Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus
	Pacific Loon	Gavia pacifica
	White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus
	Clapper Rail	Rallus longirostris
	American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus
	Baird’s Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii
	Royal Tern	Thalasseus maximus
	Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus
	Lesser Nighthawk	Chordeiles acutipennis
	Common Poorwill	Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
	Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica
	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris
	Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Melanerpes aurifrons
	Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus
	Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus
	White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus
	Bell’s Vireo	Vireo bellii
	Black-capped Vireo	Vireo atricapilla
	Hutton’s Vireo	Vireo huttoni
	Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
	Green-tailed Towhee	Pipilo chlorurus
	Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
	Pyrrhuloxia	Cardinalis sinuatus
	Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea
	Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
	Bullock’s Oriole	Icterus bullockii
	Yellow Rail	Coturnicops noveboracensis
	Boat-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus major