List No. 115
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S LIST OF BIRDS
Theodore Roosevelt
1908
In 1908, as she worked on a new edition of her book, Birds of Washington and Vicinity, American historian Lucy Maynard asked then US President Theodore Roosevelt whether she could include mention of some of the birds he had seen near the White House. Roosevelt, an avid birdwatcher, replied, “I’ll do better for you than that, I’ll make you a list of all the birds I can remember having seen since I have been here.” And here is that list: 93 birds seen in Washington by Roosevelt during his seven and a half years in power.
Night Heron. Five spent winter of 1907 in swampy country about one-half mile west of Washington Monument.
Mourning Dove.
Quail.
Ruffed Grouse. One seen on Rock Creek.
Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Red-shouldered Hawk.
*Sparrow Hawk. A pair spent the last two winters on and around the White House grounds, feeding on the Sparrows—largely, thank Heaven, on the English Sparrows.
*Screech Owl. Steady resident on White House grounds.
*Saw-whet Owl. A pair spent several weeks by the south portico of the White House, 1905.
Kingfisher.
*Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Hairy Woodpecker.
*Downy Woodpecker.
*Sapsucker.
*Red-headed Woodpecker. Nests (one pair) on White House grounds.
*Flicker. Nests (several pairs) on White House grounds.
Whip-poor-will.
Nighthawk.
*Chimney Swift.
*Hummingbird.
Kingbird.
Great Crested Flycatcher.
Phœbe.
Wood Pewee.
Horned Lark.
*Crow.
*Fish Crow.
*Orchard Oriole. One pair nested in White House grounds.
Bobolink.
Red-winged Blackbird.
*Baltimore Oriole.
Meadowlark.
*Purple Grackle. Nests on White House grounds. Very abundant in early spring.
*Purple Finch.
*Thistle Bird (Goldfinch).
Vesper Sparrow.
*White-throated Sparrow. Sings; this year sang now and then all through the winter.
*Tree Sparrow.
*Chippie (Chipping Sparrow). Nests.
Bush Sparrow (Field Sparrow).
*Snow Bird (Junco).
*Song Sparrow. Nests.
*Fox Sparrow.
*Cardinal.
Towhee.
*Indigo-bird. Nests.
Tanager.
Purple Martin.
*Barn Swallow.
Tree Swallow.
Bank Swallow.
*Cedar Bird.
Logger-head Shrike.
*Red-eyed Vireo. Nests.
*Warbling Vireo. Nests.
*Black and White Warbler. Nests.
*Blue Yellow-backed Warbler (Parula Warbler).
*Cape May Warbler.
*Summer Yellowbird. Nests.
*Black-throated Blue Warbler.
*Black-throated Green Warbler.
*Myrtle Warbler.
*Magnolia Warbler.
*Chestnut-sided Warbler.
*Bay-breasted Warbler.
*Blackpoll Warbler.
*Blackburnian Warbler.
Prairie Warbler.
Oven-bird.
Water Thrush.
Kentucky Warbler.
*Yellowthroat.
Chat.
*Blue-winged Warbler.
*Canadian Warbler.
*Redstart. Nests on White House grounds.
Pipit.
Mockingbird.
*Catbird. Nests on White House grounds.
Thrasher.
House Wren.
*Carolina Wren.
Marsh Wren.
*Brown Creeper.
*White-breasted Nuthatch.
*Tufted Tit. Nest on White House grounds.
*Chickadee.
*Golden-crowned Kinglet.
*Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Gnatcatcher.
*Wood Thrush. Nests on White House grounds.
*Bluebird.
*Robin. Nests on White House grounds.
