Leora's specimens represented an array of native Eastern bird species save for two – a sharp-tailed grouse and a canary. One of the strengths of her collection is that in many cases it provides several examples of the same species (and quite often a set of male, female and juvenile representatives), further evidence that her objective was to educate and document.

The following are just a few of Leora Simpson's native bird specimens:

Pileated woodpecker (male and female), dovekie, horned lark, common crows, great blue heron, hooded mergansers (male in eclipse plumage, male in breeding plumage, and female), ruffled grouse, American coot, common loon (adult, immature and young), sora, northern shrike (adult and juvenile), saw-whet owl, Bonaparte's gull, bobolink, and blue jays.