Birds to See in California in February
173 bird species on our list for California are recorded regularly in February
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, American Crow and Mourning Dove. New this month: Pomarine Jaeger, Arctic Jaeger, Snow Bunting and Garganey and 1 more.
On the move in February
GBIF · FebArriving
At their peak
From California’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 173 birds in February
173 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.63% in Feb
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.54% in Feb
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.44% in Feb
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.39% in Feb
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.79% in Feb
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.75% in Feb
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.70% in Feb
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.59% in Feb
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Feb
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.54% in Feb
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.42% in Feb
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Feb
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.20% in Feb
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.17% in Feb
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.10% in Feb
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Feb
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Feb
Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttalliiResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.97% in Feb
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Feb
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Feb
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.87% in Feb
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.82% in Feb
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.79% in Feb
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.75% in Feb
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Feb
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Feb
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Feb
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.62% in Feb
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.61% in Feb
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Feb
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.52% in Feb
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.50% in Feb
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Feb
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Feb
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Feb
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentUncommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Feb
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Feb
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.38% in Feb
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Feb
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Feb
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.35% in Feb
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataResidentUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Feb
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Feb
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Feb
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.29% in Feb
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaResidentUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Feb
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Feb
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentUncommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Feb
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.26% in Feb
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Feb
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Feb
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Feb
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Feb
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Feb
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Feb
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.19% in Feb
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Feb
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Feb
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Feb
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.17% in Feb
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Feb
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Feb
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Feb
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Feb
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.14% in Feb
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.13% in Feb
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Feb
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Feb
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Feb
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.11% in Feb
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Feb
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Feb
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Feb
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Feb
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.07% in Feb
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in Feb
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Feb
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.06% in Feb
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Feb
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.06% in Feb
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.05% in Feb
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
California GnatcatcherPolioptila californicaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Feb
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Feb
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.03% in Feb
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Feb
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Feb
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusResidentRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Feb
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Feb
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Feb
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.02% in Feb
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Feb
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Feb
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusPassage migrantUncommon41–46 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
California CondorGymnogyps californianusResidentRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.01% in Feb
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Feb
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.01% in Feb
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Feb
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Feb
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.01% in Feb
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Feb
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Feb
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Feb
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensisWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaWinter visitorRare10–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Feb
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaWinter visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Feb
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Feb
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusWinter visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Feb
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Feb
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.00% in Feb
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Feb
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorRare55–67 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Feb
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorRare14–17 cmRegularly Oct–Feb · 0.00% in Feb
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Feb
Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made