I have been lying to you all. And now it’s time for me to take responsibility.
I haven’t painted 300 of the 2,268 birds on my list I claimed all summer. It has been revealed to me during my annual audit of birds painted and birds to be painted that I have in fact fallen tragically short on this claim.
Birds I have painted in 2025:
Mourning Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
White-crowned Pigeon
Tufted Flycatcher
Steller’s Jay
Canyon Wren
House Wren
White-tipped Dove
Pygmy Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Lucy’s Warbler
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Scrub Jay
Florida Scrub Jay
Gray Flycatcher
Greater Pewee
Shiny Cowbird
Black-throated gray warbler
Bridled Titmouse
Island Scrub Jay
Juniper TItmouse
Dusky Flycatcher
Eastern Wood peawee
Belted Kingfisher
Mountain Chickadee
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Mexican Jay
Western wood-pewee
Mexican Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Oak Titmouse
Wood Thrush
Pinyon Jay
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Red-faced Warbler
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Common Redpoll
Painted Redstart
Black Rosy-Finch
Brown-capped Rosy-Finch
Red-naped sapsucker
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Pyrrhuloxia
White-headed woodpecker
Red Knot
Red-bellied woodpecker
Elegant Trogon
Yellow bellied sapsucker
Crimson-collared Grosbeak
Red-crested Cardinal
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-Billed Pigeon
Wilson’s Warbler
California gnatcatcher
Worm-Eating Warbler
Long billed Hermit
Golden Eagle
Red-breasted Merganser
Thick-billed Parrott
Reddish Egret
Red-Shouldered Hawk
MacGillivray's Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Tennessee warbler
Nashville Warbler
Lazuli Bunting
Bluethroat
Western bluebird
Hooded Warbler
Kentucky warbler
Barn swallow
White Wagtail
Tree swallow
Yellow-Breasted Chat
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Blue Mockingbird
Cape May Warbler
Elf Owl
Green kingfisher
Ringed kingfisher
Masked Duck
Blue-Winged Teal
Red-throated Loon
Varied Bunting
Horned Lark
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Gray-headed Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Magnolia Warbler
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Verdin
Violet-green Swallow
Black-throated Green Warbler
Boreal Chickadee
Black-crested Titmouse
Ruddy ground-dove
Flammulated Owl
Acorn Woodpecker
Great Kiskadee
Black-Backed Wagtail
Tricolored Heron
Blue-winged Warbler
Mottled Duck
American Black Duck
American Avocet
Bahama Swallow
Eastern Phoebe
Whiskered screech-owl
Say’s Phoebe
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Blackburnian Warbler
Great Blue Heron
North Western Crow
Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Magnificent Frigatebird
Tri-colored Blackbird
Nelson’s Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Parula
Eastern Screech-Owl
Yellow Grosbeak
Audubon’s Oriole
European Goldfinch
Vermilion Flycatcher
Townsend’s Warbler
Tropical Parula
Yellow Warbler
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Burrowing Owl
Bay-breasted Warbler
Ash-Throated Flycatcher
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Great Crested Flycatcher
Ovenbird
#impaintingeverybird #birdart #birdpainting #watercolorbird #birdartist
Painting birds is an incredibly rewarding but challenging artistic endeavor that requires patience and a deep appreciation for nature’s diversity. I’ve personally found that keeping a detailed list, like the one I audit annually, helps me stay motivated and organized, even when the numbers fall short of my ambitious goals. One thing I’ve learned through this process is how easily the sheer number of bird species in North America can be overwhelming. With 2,268 species on my official list—including rare, accidental visitors and extinct species—I sometimes lost track of the exact count I had completed. This explains why I overestimated having painted 300 birds when the real number was closer to 294. The commitment to documenting each bird with accuracy is just as important as the painting itself. If you’re considering starting a bird painting project, I recommend beginning with common species like the Mourning Dove or the Steller’s Jay, which are not only beautiful but also relatively accessible. Don’t shy away from including diverse species such as woodpeckers, warblers, and sparrows, as each presents unique challenges and learning opportunities in terms of coloration and posture. Another valuable tip is to use social media hashtags like #impaintingeverybird, #birdart, or #watercolorbird to connect with fellow bird artists and enthusiasts. Sharing your progress and seeing others’ work can be incredibly inspiring and can help you stay consistent. Lastly, I’ve realized that progress isn’t always linear. Some months I painted many birds; others, like this January, only a few. Life happens, but the key is to believe in the process and celebrate small milestones along the way. Whether you’re an artist or just a bird lover, embracing this journey with honesty and passion makes the experience all the more meaningful.
