Join SIB in celebrating our nation and its birds by searching for state birds and birds with states or America in their name. Last year we had our inaugural July 4th Challenge after I found an article from 2017 from Nemesis Bird by Steve Brenner. For years he had a challenge to see who could spot the most species from his list.
The rules of the challenge are simple: when you are out birding on the 4th of July (through July 6), every species you see that begins with the word “American” counts. Also, any species that begins with the name of a U.S. state (e.g.. California Towhee) also counts. You can also collect bonus birds for each of the following winged-countrymen you spot: Bald Eagle, Wild Turkey, and the official birds of each U.S. state. So, for example, let’s say I go out on Independence Day and see an American Robin, 5 American Crows, 3 American Redstarts, a Louisiana Waterthrush, a Bald Eagle, and a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, then I would have a grand total of 6 countable species. So it’s fairly straight-forward and similar to other ‘big day’ type competitions.
The source for this idea was Nemesis Bird by Steve Brenner (https://nemesisbird.com/news/4th-july-birding-challenge/). His challenge was for July 4th only. We want the fun to last longer so record the qualifying birds you see July 4th through the 6th. Submit your list by Monday night, July 7. Your participation gives you bragging rights which is also the prize for the highest number of species seen (or heard). No need to count the number of each species nor enter into eBird…it’s all on the honor system. Of course, your contribution to citizen science by entering into eBird is encouraged.
Here is the list of the 58 eligible “4th of July birds” for counting in the ABA area, including the official birds of each state.
American Avocet
American Barn Owl (new in 2025 due to name change)
American Bittern
American Black Duck
American Coot
American Crow
American Dipper
American Flamingo
American Golden-Plover
American Goldfinch (also state bird for IA, NJ, and WA)
American Kestrel
American Oystercatcher
American Pipit
American Redstart
American Robin (also state bird for CT, MI, and WI)
American Three-toed Woodpecker
American Tree Sparrow
American White Pelican
American Wigeon
American Woodcock
Arizona Woodpecker
California Condor
California Gnatcatcher
California Quail (also state bird for CA)
California Thrasher
California Towhee
California Gull (also state bird for UT)
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren (also state bird for SC)
Connecticut Warbler
Florida Scrub Jay
Hawaiian Petrel
Kentucky Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Mississippi Kite
Tennessee Warbler
Virginia Rail
Bald Eagle
Wild Turkey
Northern Flicker (AL)
Willow Ptarmigan (AK)
Cactus Wren (AZ)
Northern Mockingbird (AR, FL, MS, TN, and TX)
Lark Bunting (CO)
Brown Thrasher (GA)
Mountain Bluebird (ID, NV)
Northern Cardinal (IL, IN, KY, NC, OH, VI, and WV)
Western Meadowlark (KS, MT, NE, ND, OR, and WY)
Brown Pelican (LA)
Black-capped Chickadee (ME, MA)
Baltimore Oriole (MD)
Common Loon (MN)
Eastern Bluebird (MO, NY)
Purple Finch (NH)
Greater Roadrunner (NM)
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (OK)
Ruffed Grouse (PA)
Ring-necked Pheasant (SD)
Hermit Thrush (VT)
So enjoy a few days of summer birding then submit you findings. The results will be tabulated and published the next week.
Happy Birding!
Submitted by: Judy Morr