What is the bird of the day challenge?
This game grew out of a friendly competition started in 2016 with a Sibley 365-day bird calendar. We challenged each other to see the bird-of-the-day on its specific day. It was a fun challenge, but the problem was that the calendar was ordered taxonomically, with ducks and grebes and grouse at the start of the year and finches and warblers and sparrows at the end. We wanted a competition that was phenological, such that the birds would be appropriate to the season. To that end, we designed our own Bird-of-the-Day Challenge calendar such that each day’s bird is picked randomly, but with a probability proportional to the likelihood that birdwatchers would see and report that species on that day anywhere in the continental United States. Due to popular demand, we continue to make a new calendar every year.
The challenge is designed to be fair and even, with no specific advantage given to any region or time of year, although we admit that areas with more bird species will likely have an easier time. But, that’s birding!
How to play?
Scoring is easy. Every day of the year has 1 bird. If you see the bird on that day, you get 1 point. Thus, there’s a maximum of 365 points to be accumulated in non-leap years. As for score-keeping: we make the calendar, but you play along at home. We encourage all participants to put their sightings on eBird, and we also encourage participants to make their eBird profiles public, like this.
If you would like to be kept informed on updates, please enter your email address here:
Back for 2024: Purchase a customized photo calendar with all of the Birds of the Day!
The Birds for Each Day
The full calendar is below.
You can also download the calendar as a pdf,
or as an iCal or Google Calendar import file.
For the archives of past years’ calendars, see: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023.
The “rarity” ranking is based on how probable (1) or improbable (5) each bird was to be selected for that day.
| Day | Species | Rarity Score | |
| January 1, 2024 | Slaty-backed Gull | 5 | |
| January 2, 2024 | Buff-bellied Hummingbird | 4 | |
| January 3, 2024 | Laughing Gull | 1 | |
| January 4, 2024 | Semipalmated Plover | 2 | |
| January 5, 2024 | Gilded Flicker | 4 | |
| January 6, 2024 | American Kestrel | 2 | |
| January 7, 2024 | Yellow-billed Magpie | 4 | |
| January 8, 2024 | Marbled Godwit | 3 | |
| January 9, 2024 | Virginia Rail | 4 | |
| January 10, 2024 | Northern Shrike | 3 | |
| January 11, 2024 | Royal Tern | 4 | |
| January 12, 2024 | Painted Redstart | 5 | |
| January 13, 2024 | Townsend’s Warbler | 3 | |
| January 14, 2024 | Fox Sparrow | 2 | |
| January 15, 2024 | Brown-headed Nuthatch | 2 | |
| January 16, 2024 | Common Raven | 2 | |
| January 17, 2024 | Peregrine Falcon | 2 | |
| January 18, 2024 | Anhinga | 1 | |
| January 19, 2024 | Black-headed Grosbeak | 5 | |
| January 20, 2024 | Western Sandpiper | 2 | |
| January 21, 2024 | American Pipit | 1 | |
| January 22, 2024 | Whimbrel | 3 | |
| January 23, 2024 | American Tree Sparrow | 1 | |
| January 24, 2024 | American Coot | 1 | |
| January 25, 2024 | Pacific Loon | 4 | |
| January 26, 2024 | Double-crested Cormorant | 2 | |
| January 27, 2024 | Summer Tanager | 4 | |
| January 28, 2024 | Pacific Golden-Plover | 5 | |
| January 29, 2024 | Downy Woodpecker | 1 | |
| January 30, 2024 | California Thrasher | 3 | |
| January 31, 2024 | Steller’s Jay | 3 | |
| February 1, 2024 | Glaucous-winged Gull | 4 | |
| February 2, 2024 | Tundra Swan | 2 | |
| February 3, 2024 | White Ibis | 2 | |
| February 4, 2024 | Northern Cardinal | 1 | |
| February 5, 2024 | Red-shouldered Hawk | 2 | |
| February 6, 2024 | Yellow-rumped Warbler | 1 | |
| February 7, 2024 | Cooper’s Hawk | 1 | |
| February 8, 2024 | Sandwich Tern | 4 | |
| February 9, 2024 | Carolina Wren | 1 | |
| February 10, 2024 | Vesper Sparrow | 3 | |
| February 11, 2024 | Sora | 2 | |
| February 12, 2024 | Roseate Spoonbill | 2 | |
| February 13, 2024 | American Black Duck | 1 | |
| February 14, 2024 | Northern Harrier | 2 | |
| February 15, 2024 | Dunlin | 2 | |
| February 16, 2024 | Nuttall’s Woodpecker | 1 | |
| February 17, 2024 | California Gull | 1 | |
| February 18, 2024 | Savannah Sparrow | 2 | |
| February 19, 2024 | Mourning Dove | 1 | |
| February 20, 2024 | Vermilion Flycatcher | 4 | |
| February 21, 2024 | Boat-tailed Grackle | 2 | |
| February 22, 2024 | Sanderling | 2 | |
| February 23, 2024 | Common Merganser | 1 | |
| February 24, 2024 | Clapper Rail | 4 | |
| February 25, 2024 | Red-breasted Nuthatch | 2 | |
| February 26, 2024 | Western Cattle Egret | 2 | |
| February 27, 2024 | Green-winged Teal | 1 | |
| February 28, 2024 | Red-necked Grebe | 4 | |
| February 29, 2024 | Acorn Woodpecker | 2 | |
| March 1, 2024 | Brewer’s Sparrow | 3 | |
| March 2, 2024 | Redhead | 2 | |
| March 3, 2024 | Bewick’s Wren | 1 | |
| March 4, 2024 | Red-throated Loon | 3 | |
| March 5, 2024 | Northern Pintail | 2 | |
| March 6, 2024 | Purple Finch | 3 | |
| March 7, 2024 | Pacific Wren | 2 | |
| March 8, 2024 | Herring Gull | 1 | |
| March 9, 2024 | Mute Swan | 1 | |
| March 10, 2024 | Northern Shoveler | 1 | |
| March 11, 2024 | Tricolored Heron | 2 | |
| March 12, 2024 | Black-throated Sparrow | 3 | |
| March 13, 2024 | Bufflehead | 1 | |
| March 14, 2024 | Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | |
| March 15, 2024 | Curve-billed Thrasher | 2 | |
| March 16, 2024 | Rough-legged Hawk | 3 | |
| March 17, 2024 | Lesser Scaup | 1 | |
| March 18, 2024 | Louisiana Waterthrush | 4 | |
| March 19, 2024 | Pine Warbler | 1 | |
| March 20, 2024 | Common Grackle | 1 | |
| March 21, 2024 | Cedar Waxwing | 2 | |
| March 22, 2024 | Pigeon Guillemot | 4 | |
| March 23, 2024 | Altamira Oriole | 4 | |
| March 24, 2024 | Eastern Towhee | 2 | |
| March 25, 2024 | Lucifer Hummingbird | 5 | |
| March 26, 2024 | Cassin’s Kingbird | 2 | |
| March 27, 2024 | American Robin | 1 | |
| March 28, 2024 | White-winged Dove | 2 | |
| March 29, 2024 | Oak Titmouse | 1 | |
| March 30, 2024 | American Wigeon | 1 | |
| March 31, 2024 | Gila Woodpecker | 2 | |
| April 1, 2024 | Black-chinned Hummingbird | 3 | |
| April 2, 2024 | Western Kingbird | 2 | |
| April 3, 2024 | Greater Yellowlegs | 2 | |
| April 4, 2024 | Horned Grebe | 2 | |
| April 5, 2024 | Pinyon Jay | 5 | |
| April 6, 2024 | White-eyed Vireo | 1 | |
| April 7, 2024 | Spotted Towhee | 1 | |
| April 8, 2024 | Black Turnstone | 5 | |
| April 9, 2024 | American Woodcock | 2 | |
| April 10, 2024 | California Quail | 2 | |
| April 11, 2024 | Black-capped Vireo | 5 | |
| April 12, 2024 | White-crowned Sparrow | 1 | |
| April 13, 2024 | Hooded Oriole | 3 | |
| April 14, 2024 | White-breasted Nuthatch | 2 | |
| April 15, 2024 | Great Egret | 2 | |
| April 16, 2024 | Band-tailed Pigeon | 3 | |
| April 17, 2024 | European Starling | 1 | |
| April 18, 2024 | Purple Martin | 3 | |
| April 19, 2024 | Ring-necked Pheasant | 2 | |
| April 20, 2024 | Yellow-throated Warbler | 1 | |
| April 21, 2024 | Bell’s Vireo | 2 | |
| April 22, 2024 | American Goldfinch | 1 | |
| April 23, 2024 | Scott’s Oriole | 4 | |
| April 24, 2024 | Orchard Oriole | 3 | |
| April 25, 2024 | Stilt Sandpiper | 3 | |
| April 26, 2024 | Black Skimmer | 4 | |
| April 27, 2024 | Swainson’s Thrush | 3 | |
| April 28, 2024 | House Wren | 1 | |
| April 29, 2024 | Yellow-throated Vireo | 1 | |
| April 30, 2024 | Blackpoll Warbler | 2 | |
| May 1, 2024 | Tree Swallow | 2 | |
| May 2, 2024 | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | 1 | |
| May 3, 2024 | Nashville Warbler | 1 | |
| May 4, 2024 | Tennessee Warbler | 1 | |
| May 5, 2024 | Yellow Warbler | 1 | |
| May 6, 2024 | Gray-cheeked Thrush | 2 | |
| May 7, 2024 | Ovenbird | 1 | |
| May 8, 2024 | Lucy’s Warbler | 4 | |
| May 9, 2024 | Gadwall | 2 | |
| May 10, 2024 | Black-bellied Plover | 4 | |
| May 11, 2024 | Northern Waterthrush | 2 | |
| May 12, 2024 | Canada Goose | 1 | |
| May 13, 2024 | Blackburnian Warbler | 1 | |
| May 14, 2024 | Turkey Vulture | 1 | |
| May 15, 2024 | Wilson’s Phalarope | 2 | |
| May 16, 2024 | Dickcissel | 3 | |
| May 17, 2024 | Prothonotary Warbler | 2 | |
| May 18, 2024 | Brown Pelican | 4 | |
| May 19, 2024 | Bullock’s Oriole | 3 | |
| May 20, 2024 | Common Tern | 2 | |
| May 21, 2024 | Marsh Wren | 1 | |
| May 22, 2024 | Ash-throated Flycatcher | 2 | |
| May 23, 2024 | Canada Warbler | 2 | |
| May 24, 2024 | Prairie Falcon | 4 | |
| May 25, 2024 | Red-eyed Vireo | 1 | |
| May 26, 2024 | Eastern Kingbird | 1 | |
| May 27, 2024 | Cassin’s Finch | 3 | |
| May 28, 2024 | Reddish Egret | 5 | |
| May 29, 2024 | Pygmy Nuthatch | 2 | |
| May 30, 2024 | Willow Flycatcher | 1 | |
| May 31, 2024 | Black-billed Magpie | 2 | |
| June 1, 2024 | Worm-eating Warbler | 4 | |
| June 2, 2024 | Eastern Wood-Pewee | 1 | |
| June 3, 2024 | Piping Plover | 4 | |
| June 4, 2024 | Olive Sparrow | 5 | |
| June 5, 2024 | Ross’s Goose | 5 | |
| June 6, 2024 | Cliff Swallow | 1 | |
| June 7, 2024 | American White Pelican | 3 | |
| June 8, 2024 | Red Crossbill | 2 | |
| June 9, 2024 | Wild Turkey | 2 | |
| June 10, 2024 | Great Crested Flycatcher | 2 | |
| June 11, 2024 | Western Meadowlark | 1 | |
| June 12, 2024 | Warbling Vireo | 1 | |
| June 13, 2024 | Horned Lark | 2 | |
| June 14, 2024 | Canyon Wren | 3 | |
| June 15, 2024 | Seaside Sparrow | 5 | |
| June 16, 2024 | Cinnamon Teal | 2 | |
| June 17, 2024 | Spotted Owl | 5 | |
| June 18, 2024 | Western Wood-Pewee | 1 | |
| June 19, 2024 | Northern Parula | 1 | |
| June 20, 2024 | Least Tern | 4 | |
| June 21, 2024 | Black Vulture | 3 | |
| June 22, 2024 | Bobolink | 2 | |
| June 23, 2024 | Sandhill Crane | 2 | |
| June 24, 2024 | Red-cockaded Woodpecker | 5 | |
| June 25, 2024 | Lark Sparrow | 2 | |
| June 26, 2024 | Western Flycatcher | 3 | |
| June 27, 2024 | Gray Kingbird | 4 | |
| June 28, 2024 | Rufous-crowned Sparrow | 4 | |
| June 29, 2024 | Black-crowned Night Heron | 1 | |
| June 30, 2024 | Hammond’s Flycatcher | 4 | |
| July 1, 2024 | Hooded Warbler | 2 | |
| July 2, 2024 | Clay-colored Sparrow | 2 | |
| July 3, 2024 | Field Sparrow | 1 | |
| July 4, 2024 | Red-bellied Woodpecker | 1 | |
| July 5, 2024 | Little Blue Heron | 3 | |
| July 6, 2024 | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | 3 | |
| July 7, 2024 | Red-winged Blackbird | 1 | |
| July 8, 2024 | Brown Thrasher | 2 | |
| July 9, 2024 | Blue-winged Warbler | 3 | |
| July 10, 2024 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | 1 | |
| July 11, 2024 | Scarlet Tanager | 3 | |
| July 12, 2024 | Hairy Woodpecker | 2 | |
| July 13, 2024 | Arctic Tern | 4 | |
| July 14, 2024 | Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 1 | |
| July 15, 2024 | Chestnut-backed Chickadee | 3 | |
| July 16, 2024 | Allen’s Hummingbird | 4 | |
| July 17, 2024 | Lincoln’s Sparrow | 3 | |
| July 18, 2024 | Eurasian Collared-Dove | 1 | |
| July 19, 2024 | Blue-headed Vireo | 3 | |
| July 20, 2024 | Painted Bunting | 2 | |
| July 21, 2024 | Mallard | 1 | |
| July 22, 2024 | Grace’s Warbler | 4 | |
| July 23, 2024 | Eastern Bluebird | 2 | |
| July 24, 2024 | Black-capped Chickadee | 1 | |
| July 25, 2024 | Wood Duck | 2 | |
| July 26, 2024 | Eastern Phoebe | 2 | |
| July 27, 2024 | Baltimore Oriole | 3 | |
| July 28, 2024 | Black-necked Stilt | 2 | |
| July 29, 2024 | Western Gull | 3 | |
| July 30, 2024 | Killdeer | 1 | |
| July 31, 2024 | Song Sparrow | 1 | |
| August 1, 2024 | Bronzed Cowbird | 5 | |
| August 2, 2024 | Lazuli Bunting | 2 | |
| August 3, 2024 | Northern Flicker | 1 | |
| August 4, 2024 | Barn Swallow | 1 | |
| August 5, 2024 | Cassin’s Vireo | 4 | |
| August 6, 2024 | Brandt’s Cormorant | 3 | |
| August 7, 2024 | Groove-billed Ani | 5 | |
| August 8, 2024 | Long-billed Curlew | 3 | |
| August 9, 2024 | Blue Grosbeak | 1 | |
| August 10, 2024 | Snowy Plover | 4 | |
| August 11, 2024 | Green Heron | 1 | |
| August 12, 2024 | Orange-crowned Warbler | 3 | |
| August 13, 2024 | American Oystercatcher | 4 | |
| August 14, 2024 | Chipping Sparrow | 1 | |
| August 15, 2024 | Broad-tailed Hummingbird | 1 | |
| August 16, 2024 | Solitary Sandpiper | 1 | |
| August 17, 2024 | Red Knot | 3 | |
| August 18, 2024 | Plain Chachalaca | 5 | |
| August 19, 2024 | Least Sandpiper | 1 | |
| August 20, 2024 | Short-billed Dowitcher | 1 | |
| August 21, 2024 | Pin-tailed Whydah | 5 | |
| August 22, 2024 | Osprey | 1 | |
| August 23, 2024 | Black-throated Gray Warbler | 3 | |
| August 24, 2024 | Lesser Yellowlegs | 1 | |
| August 25, 2024 | Great Blue Heron | 1 | |
| August 26, 2024 | Semipalmated Sandpiper | 1 | |
| August 27, 2024 | Western Grebe | 4 | |
| August 28, 2024 | Ruddy Turnstone | 1 | |
| August 29, 2024 | Hermit Warbler | 4 | |
| August 30, 2024 | Brown Noddy | 5 | |
| August 31, 2024 | California Towhee | 2 | |
| September 1, 2024 | Least Grebe | 5 | |
| September 2, 2024 | Black-throated Blue Warbler | 2 | |
| September 3, 2024 | Black-throated Green Warbler | 1 | |
| September 4, 2024 | Chestnut-sided Warbler | 1 | |
| September 5, 2024 | Golden-crowned Kinglet | 4 | |
| September 6, 2024 | Black-and-white Warbler | 1 | |
| September 7, 2024 | Bushtit | 2 | |
| September 8, 2024 | Magnolia Warbler | 2 | |
| September 9, 2024 | Gray Catbird | 1 | |
| September 10, 2024 | American Redstart | 1 | |
| September 11, 2024 | Rock Pigeon | 2 | |
| September 12, 2024 | Wilson’s Warbler | 1 | |
| September 13, 2024 | Green-tailed Towhee | 2 | |
| September 14, 2024 | Caspian Tern | 2 | |
| September 15, 2024 | House Sparrow | 1 | |
| September 16, 2024 | Gambel’s Quail | 3 | |
| September 17, 2024 | Western Tanager | 3 | |
| September 18, 2024 | Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | 4 | |
| September 19, 2024 | Greater Roadrunner | 3 | |
| September 20, 2024 | Common Nighthawk | 3 | |
| September 21, 2024 | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | 2 | |
| September 22, 2024 | Common Yellowthroat | 1 | |
| September 23, 2024 | Franklin’s Gull | 2 | |
| September 24, 2024 | Chimney Swift | 1 | |
| September 25, 2024 | Evening Grosbeak | 4 | |
| September 26, 2024 | Loggerhead Shrike | 3 | |
| September 27, 2024 | Olive-sided Flycatcher | 3 | |
| September 28, 2024 | Neotropic Cormorant | 5 | |
| September 29, 2024 | Muscovy Duck | 4 | |
| September 30, 2024 | Snowy Egret | 1 | |
| October 1, 2024 | Ladder-backed Woodpecker | 2 | |
| October 2, 2024 | Pine Siskin | 3 | |
| October 3, 2024 | Indigo Bunting | 1 | |
| October 4, 2024 | Willet | 2 | |
| October 5, 2024 | American Avocet | 2 | |
| October 6, 2024 | Prairie Warbler | 3 | |
| October 7, 2024 | Brown Creeper | 3 | |
| October 8, 2024 | White-throated Sparrow | 1 | |
| October 9, 2024 | Carolina Chickadee | 1 | |
| October 10, 2024 | Eared Grebe | 4 | |
| October 11, 2024 | Abert’s Towhee | 3 | |
| October 12, 2024 | Blue-winged Teal | 1 | |
| October 13, 2024 | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 3 | |
| October 14, 2024 | Common Loon | 2 | |
| October 15, 2024 | Small-billed Gull | 4 | |
| October 16, 2024 | Brown-headed Cowbird | 2 | |
| October 17, 2024 | Belted Kingfisher | 1 | |
| October 18, 2024 | Ring-billed Gull | 1 | |
| October 19, 2024 | Red-headed Woodpecker | 2 | |
| October 20, 2024 | Red-naped Sapsucker | 4 | |
| October 21, 2024 | Juniper Titmouse | 4 | |
| October 22, 2024 | Anna’s Hummingbird | 1 | |
| October 23, 2024 | Wrentit | 4 | |
| October 24, 2024 | Say’s Phoebe | 2 | |
| October 25, 2024 | Tufted Titmouse | 1 | |
| October 26, 2024 | Great Kiskadee | 3 | |
| October 27, 2024 | Cape May Warbler | 3 | |
| October 28, 2024 | Glaucous Gull | 5 | |
| October 29, 2024 | Bonaparte’s Gull | 1 | |
| October 30, 2024 | Eastern Meadowlark | 3 | |
| October 31, 2024 | Blue Jay | 1 | |
| November 1, 2024 | Spotted Sandpiper | 3 | |
| November 2, 2024 | Couch’s Kingbird | 3 | |
| November 3, 2024 | Pied-billed Grebe | 1 | |
| November 4, 2024 | Merlin | 1 | |
| November 5, 2024 | Great-tailed Grackle | 2 | |
| November 6, 2024 | Cactus Wren | 2 | |
| November 7, 2024 | Common Goldeneye | 2 | |
| November 8, 2024 | Black Oystercatcher | 5 | |
| November 9, 2024 | Northern Gannet | 1 | |
| November 10, 2024 | Magnificent Frigatebird | 4 | |
| November 11, 2024 | Great Black-backed Gull | 1 | |
| November 12, 2024 | Brewer’s Blackbird | 2 | |
| November 13, 2024 | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 1 | |
| November 14, 2024 | Mottled Duck | 2 | |
| November 15, 2024 | Fish Crow | 2 | |
| November 16, 2024 | Canvasback | 1 | |
| November 17, 2024 | House Finch | 1 | |
| November 18, 2024 | Barn Owl | 5 | |
| November 19, 2024 | Hermit Thrush | 1 | |
| November 20, 2024 | Snow Goose | 3 | |
| November 21, 2024 | Ring-necked Duck | 2 | |
| November 22, 2024 | Surf Scoter | 1 | |
| November 23, 2024 | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 2 | |
| November 24, 2024 | Golden-crowned Sparrow | 2 | |
| November 25, 2024 | Greater White-fronted Goose | 2 | |
| November 26, 2024 | Brant | 2 | |
| November 27, 2024 | Long-tailed Duck | 2 | |
| November 28, 2024 | Ruddy Ground Dove | 5 | |
| November 29, 2024 | Ferruginous Hawk | 3 | |
| November 30, 2024 | Crested Caracara | 3 | |
| December 1, 2024 | Greater Scaup | 3 | |
| December 2, 2024 | Black Phoebe | 1 | |
| December 3, 2024 | Wilson’s Snipe | 2 | |
| December 4, 2024 | Great Horned Owl | 4 | |
| December 5, 2024 | Swamp Sparrow | 1 | |
| December 6, 2024 | Red-breasted Merganser | 1 | |
| December 7, 2024 | Forster’s Tern | 2 | |
| December 8, 2024 | White-faced Ibis | 4 | |
| December 9, 2024 | Mountain Bluebird | 4 | |
| December 10, 2024 | Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | 3 | |
| December 11, 2024 | White-tailed Kite | 2 | |
| December 12, 2024 | Pileated Woodpecker | 2 | |
| December 13, 2024 | Winter Wren | 3 | |
| December 14, 2024 | Least Bittern | 4 | |
| December 15, 2024 | Lesser Goldfinch | 2 | |
| December 16, 2024 | Palm Warbler | 2 | |
| December 17, 2024 | Common Ground Dove | 3 | |
| December 18, 2024 | Common Eider | 3 | |
| December 19, 2024 | Wood Thrush | 5 | |
| December 20, 2024 | Northern Mockingbird | 1 | |
| December 21, 2024 | Sedge Wren | 2 | |
| December 22, 2024 | Ruddy Duck | 2 | |
| December 23, 2024 | Ridgway’s Rail | 4 | |
| December 24, 2024 | Bald Eagle | 1 | |
| December 25, 2024 | Heermann’s Gull | 2 | |
| December 26, 2024 | Sharp-shinned Hawk | 2 | |
| December 27, 2024 | Inca Dove | 2 | |
| December 28, 2024 | American Crow | 1 | |
| December 29, 2024 | Hutton’s Vireo | 3 | |
| December 30, 2024 | Hooded Merganser | 1 | |
| December 31, 2024 | Dark-eyed Junco | 1 |