Birds in California

Explore 104 species found in this region.

Visiting in March? Look out for Pileated Woodpecker arriving this month, and Tundra Swan departs for the season.

California Gnatcatcher
California GnatcatcherSmallest · 9.5cm
to
Mute Swan
Mute SwanLargest · 160cm
Ranges from the California Gnatcatcher (9.5cm) to the Mute Swan (160cm)36 families represented

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Showing 1–23 of 104 species

ResidentLives here year-roundBreedingVisits to breed in warmer monthsNon-breedingVisits outside breeding seasonPassagePasses through during migrationCommonly spottedReported on most outingsUncommonly spottedPresent but not always seenRarely spottedFew sightings each year
Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Crow

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchosLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Herring Gull

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianusLC

Non-breedingUncommonly spotted

Oct–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Robin

American Robin

Turdus migratoriusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Arctic Jaeger

Arctic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticusLC

PassageRarely spotted

Sep–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalusLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rusticaLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Dec–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black Tern

Black Tern

Chlidonias nigerLC

PassageRarely spotted

Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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Black-crowned Night-heron

Black-crowned Night-heron

Nycticorax nycticoraxLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-necked Grebe

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollisLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striataNT

PassageRarely spotted

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Brent Goose

Brent Goose

Branta berniclaLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Nov–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl

Athene cuniculariaLC

Non-breedingRarely spotted

Oct–Mar

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
California Gnatcatcher

California Gnatcatcher

Polioptila californicaLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Canada Goose

Canada Goose

Branta canadensisLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cattle Egret

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibisLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Jul–May

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorumLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Loon

Common Loon

Gavia immerLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Merganser

Common Merganser

Mergus merganserLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Pheasant

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicusLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Nov–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Raven

Common Raven

Corvus coraxLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Starling

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgarisLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Common Tern

Common Tern

Sterna hirundoLC

PassageRarely spotted

Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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