Birding Lexicon

Lifer - A bird you encounter for the first time.

Nemesis bird- A common bird that you can’t seem to find. Verdin and pyrrhuloxia were two nemesis birds on my Texas birding trip in April, 2025.

Patch birder – A patch birder is someone who birds the same spot, (their patch), every day. My friend David and I are both patch birders. David birds Walthamstow every day.

When I’m in DC I bird Kenilworth every day. Patch birders have their reasons for birding the same spot every day.

For me there are several. It’s super easy for me to get from my house to Kenilworth. I ride the metro two stops from Potomac Ave. metro to Minnesota Ave. metro. It’s a short walk from Minnesota Ave. metro to the entrance of Kenilworth Park on Deane Ave. Then I bird the park and walk the river path to the Aquatic Gardens. I bird those and then walk to Deanwood metro station and ride three stops back home.

Because I bird Kenilworth every day I know all the bike riders and runners and dog walkers and walkers and the park rangers. And because Kenilworth is the best place to bird in Washington, DC, (biased opinion of course), all of the birders of DC come to Kenilworth so I’ve gotten to know all of them as well. Whenever a birder comes to DC from out of town many of them bird Kenilworth. If I meet them I give them tips on how to bird Kenilworth and often I bird with them. The sense of community I have at Kenilworth is important to me.

And then there are the birds. Kenilworth is a fantastic place to bird. The habitat is varied and there are always a large number of species to be seen. I have birded Walthamstow with David many times and the same holds true for his patch. Varied habitat and lots of species. And David knows everyone at Walthamstow. His patch community.

Pelagic bird - A bird that spends its entire life on the open sea. Only coming to shore to breed.

Pelagic trip - A trip on a boat to see birds that live on the open sea. The trip can be for a day or can span several days.

Spark Bird - The bird that gets you interested in birding.