Birds to See in California in March
174 bird species on our list for California are recorded regularly in March
Of these, the most often recorded are House Finch, American Crow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow and Mourning Dove. New this month: Barn Swallow, Western Kingbird, Purple Martin and Gull-billed Tern and 5 more.
On the move in March
GBIF · MarArriving
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 174 birds in March
174 birds
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.77% in Mar
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 2.47% in Mar
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataWinter visitorCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 2.40% in Mar
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 2.37% in Mar
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 1.97% in Mar
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Mar
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.74% in Mar
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.71% in Mar
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentCommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 1.64% in Mar
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisResidentCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.60% in Mar
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.30% in Mar
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentCommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Mar
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaWinter visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 1.29% in Mar
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.23% in Mar
American RobinTurdus migratoriusResidentCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Mar
Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttalliiResidentCommon17–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Mar
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.02% in Mar
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusResidentCommon17–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Mar
Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorusResidentCommon20–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.95% in Mar
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataResidentCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Mar
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentCommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Mar
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.78% in Mar
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisResidentCommon35–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Mar
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.69% in Mar
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasResidentCommon91–137 cmRecorded all year · 0.68% in Mar
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsResidentCommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.62% in Mar
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusWinter visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.58% in Mar
Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichasResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.55% in Mar
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Mar
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglectaResidentCommon16–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.51% in Mar
Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.48% in Mar
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumResidentCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.47% in Mar
Say's PhoebeSayornis sayaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.46% in Mar
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Mar
Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanopteraResidentUncommon36–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Mar
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.40% in Mar
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.39% in Mar
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaResidentCommon29–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
WilletTringa semipalmataResidentCommon33–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Mar
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentUncommon10–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Mar
Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollisWinter visitorUncommon28–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Mar
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.31% in Mar
OspreyPandion haliaetusResidentCommon54–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Mar
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataResidentUncommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Mar
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusResidentUncommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Mar
American AvocetRecurvirostra americanaResidentUncommon43–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.29% in Mar
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaResidentUncommon15–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Mar
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaWinter visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.27% in Mar
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorUncommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.27% in Mar
Black-crowned Night-heronNycticorax nycticoraxResidentCommon58–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavoResidentUncommon100–125 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Mar
Marbled GodwitLimosa fedoaResidentUncommon40–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Mar
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Mar
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusResidentUncommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.21% in Mar
Common MerganserMergus merganserResidentUncommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Mar
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentUncommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Mar
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Mar
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentUncommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Mar
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsWinter visitorUncommon64–81 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.15% in Mar
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorUncommon39–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Mar
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisSummer visitorCommon20–24 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.15% in Mar
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorUncommon40–49 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.14% in Mar
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Common LoonGavia immerResidentUncommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 0.14% in Mar
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Mar
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.13% in Mar
Scaly-breasted MuniaLonchura punctulataResidentUncommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Mar
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorUncommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Mar
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusWinter visitorUncommon53–65 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.12% in Mar
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorUncommon53–69 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorUncommon69–84 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.11% in Mar
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaResidentUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Mar
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisResidentUncommon16–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.10% in Mar
Forster's TernSterna forsteriResidentUncommon33–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
Red-breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberResidentUncommon19–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Mar
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.10% in Mar
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusResidentUncommon8–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Mar
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Mar
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiWinter visitorUncommon53–76 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.09% in Mar
Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianusResidentUncommon52–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Mar
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisResidentUncommon80–122 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Golden EagleAquila chrysaetosResidentUncommon66–102 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
Brent GooseBranta berniclaWinter visitorUncommon55–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Mar
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaResidentUncommon27–30 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusWinter visitorUncommon20–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.06% in Mar
Virginia RailRallus limicolaResidentUncommon20–27 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentUncommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
Pacific LoonGavia pacificaResidentUncommon58–74 cmRecorded all year · 0.06% in Mar
California GnatcatcherPolioptila californicaResidentUncommon10–11 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorUncommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Mar
Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatusWinter visitorUncommon17–19 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.05% in Mar
Burrowing OwlAthene cuniculariaWinter visitorUncommon19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentRare50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalarisResidentRare16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewisResidentUncommon26–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Mar
Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoidesResidentUncommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Cattle EgretArdea ibisResidentRare46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Muscovy DuckCairina moschataResidentRare66–84 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorUncommon52–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Mar
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Mar
Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottiiResidentRare19–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Short-billed DowitcherLimnodromus griseusSummer visitorUncommon23–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Ross's GooseAnser rossiiWinter visitorUncommon57–64 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorRare40–50 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.02% in Mar
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaWinter visitorRare37–41 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Mar
Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineusResidentRare13–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusResidentRare58–85 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesWinter visitorUncommon23–27 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.02% in Mar
Tundra SwanCygnus columbianusWinter visitorUncommon120–150 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Mar
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorUncommon21–24 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Mar
California CondorGymnogyps californianusResidentRare109–140 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Mar
Northern Pygmy-owlGlaucidium gnomaResidentRare15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
White-headed WoodpeckerPicoides albolarvatusSummer visitorUncommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorRare46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaSummer visitorRare16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorRare37–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusResidentRare17–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus variusWinter visitorRare19–22 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
GarganeySpatula querquedulaPassage migrantRare37–41 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.01% in Mar
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentRare75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Red-naped SapsuckerSphyrapicus nuchalisWinter visitorRare19–21 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Red KnotCalidris canutusResidentRare23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaWinter visitorRare12–15 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
ChukarAlectoris chukarResidentRare32–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorRare62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaSummer visitorRare11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Mar
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaWinter visitorRare23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.01% in Mar
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.01% in Mar
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorRare34–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Swan GooseAnser cygnoidesResidentRare81–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataWinter visitorRare41–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Gull-billed TernGelochelidon niloticaSummer visitorRare33–42 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.00% in Mar
Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameriResidentRare38–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrinaWinter visitorRare10–13 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorRare40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialisResidentRare20–25 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorRare87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Chestnut-sided WarblerSetophaga pensylvanicaWinter visitorRare10–14 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorRare13–15 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Mar
Purple MartinProgne subisSummer visitorUncommon18–20 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.00% in Mar
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorRare52–64 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusWinter visitorRare18–23 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.00% in Mar
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorRare20–32 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaWinter visitorRare17–19 cmRegularly Sep–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Cape May WarblerSetophaga tigrinaWinter visitorRare12–14 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinatorWinter visitorRare139–157 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentRare43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Mar
Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcanSummer visitorRare32–36 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Mar
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisSummer visitorRare21–23 cmRegularly Feb–Nov · 0.00% in Mar
Scissor-tailed FlycatcherTyrannus forficatusWinter visitorRare28–38 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.00% in Mar
Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensisResidentRare20–24 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorRare15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimusPassage migrantRare12–14 cmRegularly Jun–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianusSummer visitorRare18–22 cmRegularly May–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Black-throated Green WarblerSetophaga virensWinter visitorRare11–12 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.00% in Mar
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantRare13–15 cmRegularly Jul–Apr · 0.00% in Mar
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentRare12–13 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.00% in Mar
Vega GullLarus vegaeWinter visitorRare55–67 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorRare30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.00% in Mar
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusPassage migrantRare38–44 cmRegularly Dec–Mar · 0.00% in Mar
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