Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Incursion Taxiway
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors
After crossing [the left runway] at Taxiway D; we joined Taxiway L instead of M as ATC had directed. We taxied west on Taxiway L and joined Taxiway M.... We continued to the gate without further incidence. Even though ATC instructed us to taxi to the ramp on M; I still turned on Taxiway L. Taking L to the ramp is usually what happens after crossing [the left runway]. I guess I just didn't process the different instruction. The early duty-in (and wake-up) had a contribution to miss-hearing/complying with the instruction given. Vigilance in listening and understanding instructions is always necessary when given a clearance from ATC. I will do better to understand the clearance given and comply with the instructions
It was definitely an incursion of Taxiway Lima which we were not cleared for. Captain was probably just headed for Lima as we usually get clearance to join Lima at that intersection during morning hours when the airport is not that busy; so may be just muscle memory.
CRJ-200 flight crew attributes a taxiway incursion to following the route usually given rather than the actual clearance received from Ground.