You must also be able to identify by sound the species marked with an asterisk (*) (see Bird Sounds for descriptions of the songs, calls and sounds of each of these species).
There are 67 species on this list, 45 of which you must know by sight, and 22 by sight and sound.
You must also know the distinguishing characteristics of each order and family (e.g. What makes a loon a loon?).
The links take you to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds species account pages for each species.
The links include audio (and sometimes video) clips, as well as identification hints, and information on behaviour and habitat for each species.
Another excellent website with species accounts is the USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter- just scroll down the page to find links to accounts for each species, including identification tips, life history info, sound files, maps, etc (the links for those are in a menu on the left-hand side of each species account page).
Names and ordering in this list are based on the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist of North and Middle American Birds.
Order Anseriformes (Waterfowl - ducks, geese, swans):
Family Anatidae
Order Galliformes (Fowl-like birds):
Family Phasianidae
Order Podicipediformes (Grebes):
Family Podicipedidae
Order Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, gulls, auks):
Family Charadriidae (Plovers)
Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, phalaropes, allies)
Wilson’s Snipe* (formerly Common Snipe)
Family Laridae (Gulls)
Short-billed Gull (formerly Mew Gull)
Order Gaviiformes (Loons):
Family Gaviidae
Order Accipitriformes (Hawks, eagles, etc.):
Family Accipitridae (Hawks, eagles)
Order Strigiformes (Owls):
Family Strigidae
Order Coraciiformes (Kingfishers):
Family Alcedinidae
Order Piciformes (Woodpeckers):
Family Picidae
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Order Falconiformes (Falcons)
Family Falconidae (Falcons)
Order Passeriformes (Passerines [‘Perching birds’]):
Family Tyrannidae (Tyrant flycatchers)
Family Corvidae (Corvids – crows, ravens, magpies, jays)
Canada Jay (formerly Gray Jay)
Family Paridae (Chickadees)
Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)
Family Regulidae (Kinglets)
Family Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
Family Sittidae (Nuthatches)
Family Cinclidae (Dippers)
Family Turdidae (Thrushes)
Family Fringillidae (Finches)
Redpoll (formerly Common Redpoll)
Family Calcariidae (Longspurs and Buntings)
Family Passerellidae (Sparrows) (formerly Emberizidae)
Family Icteridae (Blackbirds)
Family Parulidae (Wood-warblers)