Where do I begin? I tend to like two main categories: the illusive and hard to observe, and the ones who do something noteworthy besides appear in the binocs and look pretty. Since I have birded on more than one continent, some of these will seem exotic.

In the first category:nighthawks and nightjars -- although last summer in NE California the Common Nighthawks gave me a real treat, boom-swoops every evening.swiftstoucanstinamouskinglets
In the second category:jays -- I especially love observing their problem-solving behaviors
hummingbirds -- traplining, territoriality
red-billed leiothrix -- when one notices me, it calls the rest of the flock to gather around to lookI would love to watch a bowerbird build and use its bower
Definitely liked Teresa Michelsen's description of a typical trogon encounter.
Jason Hernandez
Bremerton
jason.hernandez74 at yahoo.com