Birds to See in California in July
161 bird species on our list for California are recorded regularly in July
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Turkey Vulture and Song Sparrow. New this month: Least Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Western Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover and 20 more.
On the move in July
GBIF · JulArriving
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 161 birds in July
161 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 3.05% in Jul
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.43% in Jul
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.24% in Jul
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jul
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Jul
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Jul
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Jul
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 1.32% in Jul
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Jul
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Jul
Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttalliiResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Jul
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.19% in Jul
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 1.08% in Jul
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Jul
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Jul
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.01% in Jul
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Jul
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Jul
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jul
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.84% in Jul
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Jul
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.72% in Jul
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Jul
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Jul
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jul
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Jul
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Jul
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Jul
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Jul
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jul
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Jul
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.42% in Jul
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.41% in Jul
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.40% in Jul
Northern Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestivaSummer visitorCommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.37% in Jul
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Jul
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Jul
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Jul
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jul
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Jul
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Jul
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Jul
Sooty ShearwaterArdenna griseaSummer visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.24% in Jul
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Jul
Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatusSummer visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.23% in Jul
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jul
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Jul
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Jul
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.20% in Jul
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Jul
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Jul
Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusPassage migrantCommon18–19 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Jul
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Jul
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jul
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Jul
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentUncommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Jul
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentUncommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Jul
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaResidentUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolorSummer visitorUncommon22–24 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.13% in Jul
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataResidentUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Jul
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Jul
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jul
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jul
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Jul
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Jul
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.10% in Jul
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Jul
California GnatcatcherPolioptila californicaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jul
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jul
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Jul
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Jul
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.05% in Jul
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Jul
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.05% in Jul
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.05% in Jul
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Jul
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.05% in Jul
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
Williamson's SapsuckerSphyrapicus thyroideusSummer visitorRare21–25 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.04% in Jul
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
Leach's Storm-petrelHydrobates leucorhousSummer visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.04% in Jul
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Jul
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.03% in Jul
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Jul
Sabine's GullXema sabiniPassage migrantUncommon27–33 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Black TernChlidonias nigerSummer visitorRare22–26 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Jul
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Jul
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusSummer visitorRare21–24 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.02% in Jul
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.02% in Jul
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Common TernSterna hirundoPassage migrantUncommon31–35 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.02% in Jul
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusResidentRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.02% in Jul
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Jul
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaPassage migrantRare15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Sep · 0.01% in Jul
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jul
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.01% in Jul
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
California CondorGymnogyps californianusResidentRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.01% in Jul
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.01% in Jul
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Long-tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusPassage migrantUncommon48–58 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Jul
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.01% in Jul
Solitary SandpiperTringa solitariaPassage migrantRare19–23 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Jul
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Jul
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Jul
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Jul
Flammulated OwlPsiloscops flammeolusSummer visitorRare15–17 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.00% in Jul
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Blue-footed BoobySula nebouxiiPassage migrantRare76–84 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Jul
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Jul
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Jul–Oct · 0.00% in Jul
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Jul
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Jul
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Jul
Yellow-bellied FlycatcherEmpidonax flaviventrisPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · records held back in Jul (protected)
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatusSummer visitorRare18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.00% in Jul
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jul
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Jul
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jul
OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapillaSummer visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.00% in Jul
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Jul
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