Birding in California
| National Wildlife Refuges | National Parks | Acreage of Important Bird Areas |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | 27 | 19,711,859 |
More bird species have been recorded in California (660 plus) than in any other state.This is no surprise when you consider California’s size and its range of habitats,including Mojave Desert; the highest peakin the continental United States; coastalbeaches, inland marshes; arid chaparral; fog-shrouded redwood forests. The state’s 840-mile coastline offers some of the country’s best pelagic birding—and all this terrain iscovered by a very large and active contingent of birders constantly on alert for the latestrarity.
It would take a lengthy trip covering hundreds of miles to sample the best of Californiabirding. It's a long way from the steamy shore of the Salton Sea in the south to thewetlands of Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge in the north. In between are scores ofprotected preserves and refuges, including iconic national parks such as Yosemite andSequoia, with fine birding and stunning scenery.
California has two bird species found only in the state—Yellow-billed Magpie and IslandScrub-Jay—and several others bearing the state’s name in recognition of its importancein their ranges, including California Quail, California Condor, California Gnatcatcher,California Thrasher, and California Towhee.
All this adds up to make this state a must-visit destination for anyone who wants toexperience the full range of North American birding. The only problem is deciding whereto begin: the beaches and deserts of the south, the mountains of the east, or the forestsand rocky shores of the north.
CaliforniaBirding Hotspots
The entity known as Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges Complex comprises sixunits on the California-Oregon border. Two of the refuges in northern California, LowerKlamath and Tule Lake, offer excellent wildlife viewing along designated auto tourroutes and other roads.
Set in an area of grassland largely developed for agriculture, refuge wetlands are famedfor attracting enormous gatherings of waterfowl in migration, with many waterbirds andwaders nesting as well. Bald Eagles and other raptors add to the refuges’appeal.
One visitor center serves all the refuge units. Located on Hill Road west of the town ofTulelake, the center has exhibits, a bookstore, and staff and volunteers to offer advice.The 12-mile Tule Lake tour road begins a few miles south off Hill Road, while the 10-mile Lower Klamath route is reached by driving north on Hill Road and turning west onHighway 161. There are also walking trails near the visitor center.
Both refuge units have bird lists topping 200 species, from geese, swans, and two dozenspecies of ducks to five species of grebes,and more than a dozen kinds of raptors. Just afew highlights: Ross’s Goose, Tundra Swan, White-faced Ibis, Golden Eagle, SandhillCrane, Prairie Falcon, Rough-legged Hawk (in winter), and the occasional PeregrineFalcon. Breeding-season passerines include Say’s Phoebe, Western Scrub-Jay, Bushtit,Rock Wren, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Sage Thrasher, California Towhee,Spotted Towhee, Tricolored Blackbird, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Northern Shrike isa winter possibility.
One of the true birding delights of the northern California coast, Arcata Marsh andWildlife Sanctuary lies between Highway 101 and Arcata Bay (a segment of HumboldtBay) in the town of Arcata. With a bird list of more the 300 species, it’s pretty close to abirder’s paradise. Not only is it a superb nature site with a fine trail system, it also has aninterpretive center where newcomers can get advice and learn about the latest sightings.
Flocks of waterfowl and shorebirds highlight the birding here, with the best seasons fromfall through spring. Brant, Canada Goose, and Cackling Goose are seasonally common,and 27 species of ducks have been reported, including all three species of scoter and allthree mergansers. Virginia Rail and Sora are regularly seen.
Forty-two species of shorebirds have been seen at Arcata Marsh, including all threephalaropes and such rarities as Bar-tailed Godwit, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and LittleStint. Peregrine Falcon shows up year-round to prey on ducks and shorebirds, and Short-eared Owl sometimes flies over the marsh grasses.
Passerines nesting in the area include Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Marsh Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Wilson’s Warbler.Wintering sparrows include Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow,and Swamp Sparrow.
One of North America’s bestall-around birding destinations, Point Reyes NationalSeashore combines a location seemingly designed to attract seabirds and rare vagrantswith a diversity of land habitats that host a correspondingly wide variety of land birds.With a species list well over 400, Point Reyes is on the list of places every birder shouldvisit, along with sites such as Cape May in New Jersey, southern Florida, and Big BendNational Park in Texas.
Roads and trails wind throughout 111 square miles of park, offering nearlyendlessbirding opportunities. For typical northern California land birds, good choices are theBear Valley and Earthquake trails near the main visitor center. Here you might seeCalifornia Quail, Anna’s Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker,Hutton’s Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Pacific Wren, Wrentit, CaliforniaTowhee, and in winter Varied Thrush and Golden-crowned Sparrow.
The Giacomini Wetlands near Point Reyes Station can be good for waterfowl, waders,shorebirds, and White-tailed Kite. Take the road to the Limantour area for waterfowl,loons, grebes, wading birds, and shorebirds. In the northern part of the park, Abbott’sLagoon, reached by a hiking trail off Pierce Point Road, has a bird list of more than 260species, with agreat variety of waterfowl and shorebirds.The south end of the Point Reyes peninsula has more than 300 species on its bird list,with a chance to seespecieslike Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Sooty Shearwater,Brandt’s Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Black Oystercatcher, Common Murre, andPigeon Guillemot, to name just a few possibilities. Check the area around the lighthouseand the site known as the fish docks for seabirds and shorebirds.
Point Reyes’s location and geographical features make it a natural migrant and vagranttrap, and the list of species that have wandered here, especially in spring and fall, fromeastern North America and Asia is lengthy.
When in the Point Reyes area, many birders head south ten miles to Bolinas Lagoon,where a tidal estuary attracts waterfowl, wading birds, and, when the tide is right, largeflocks of shorebirds.
Between Santa Cruz and Monterey, near the town of Moss Landing, this reserve and thesurrounding area constitute one of the premier birding locations on the California coast,with waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and interesting land birds year round.
Ducks, loons, and grebes frequent open water, and shorebirds can beabundant most ofthe year (early summer is the slowest period). Snowy Plovers nest in protected areasaway from close human approach.
Explore the five miles of reserve trails and you might find species including CaliforniaQuail, White-tailed Kite, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, and Wrentit.Several nearby sites offer more birding, including Kirby Park and, on the north side ofElkhorn Slough, Moss Landing State Wildlife Area, with a trail beside the estuary.
About 20 miles south, the shore near the Point Pinos lighthouse is a great seabird-watching area, for ducks, loons, shearwaters, cormorants, gulls, and“rocky shorebirds”such as Black Oystercatcher and, from fall through spring, Black Turnstone and Surfbird.
On the northern side of the San Francisco’sGolden Gate is the peninsula known as theMarin Headlands, which are in large part contained within Golden Gate NationalRecreation Area. The many trails and lookout points here make it a fine birding locale,with typical regional birds such as California Quail, Black Phoebe, Western Scrub-Jay,Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, Wrentit, Golden-crowned Sparrow (fall throughspring), and Spotted Towhee. Close to shore are many sites from which to watch forseabirds such as shearwaters, cormorants, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, and gulls.
Rodeo Lagoon on the west side is a favorite spot for waterfowl, loons, grebes, waders,shorebirds, gulls, and terns, mostly from fall through spring. The total species list for theimmediate area tops 270, so this is a good site for land birds as well.
On a ridge above Conzelman Road is the site called Hawk Hill, home of an organizedraptor watch each fall. Best viewing is from September though November. (This spot alsooffers a fantastic view of San Francisco, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge.) The mostcommon species flying over in fallinclude Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier,Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Merlin, and Peregine Falcon. You might even see aGolden Eagle or Ferruginous Hawk.
One of America’smost iconic national parks is also a fine place to see birds that thrive inmid- and high-elevation coniferous forests. Highways connect recreation areas and trailscovering habitats from oak and chaparral to ponderosa pine and western juniper to giantsequoia, lodgepole pine, and western white pine, continuing up to treeless alpinemeadows.
To see the widestarrayof birds, it’s best to visit from late spring (particularly inlowelevation habitats) through summer. Some roads are closed due tosnowfallfromNovember into May or even June.
In the popular Yosemite Valley area, look for Band-tailed Pigeon, White-throated Swift,Acorn Woodpecker, Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, WesternWood-Pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Cassin’s Vireo, Steller’s Jay, Violet-greenSwallow, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Dipper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Nashville Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager,and Black-headed Grosbeak. The most famous bird here is the often-elusive Black Swift,which has traditionally nested in the valley.
Higher in Yosemite, possible species include Mountain Quail, Sooty Grouse, Great GrayOwl, Willliamson’s Sapsucker, Black-backed Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker,Hammond’s Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Clark’s Nutcracker, Mountain Bluebird,Townsend’s Solitaire, Hermit Thrush, Hermit Warbler, Pine Grosbeak, and Cassin’sFinch. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch summers in the alpine zone in areas such as TiogaPass.
Mono Lake is a salty body of water in the arid Great Basin region of eastern Californiathat serves as a critical stopover for migrant birds, as well as a breeding area for a widearray of species. It has long been a battleground over water use that has threatened itsviability as a refuge. Mono Lake is known for its oddly shaped“towers”of limestonecalled tufa, which formed underwater when the lake level was higher.
More than 230 species have been recorded at Mono Lake, which is known especiallyforvast numbers of Eared Grebes, Wilson’s Phalaropes, and Red-necked Phalaropes thatthrong the lake in fall to feed on migration. Tens of thousands of California Gulls nest atMono Lake.
Breeding birds in the area include California Quail, Osprey, Virginia Rail, Sora,American Avocet, Great Horned Owl, Pinyon Jay, Violet-green Swallow, MountainBluebird, Sage Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Brewer’s Sparrow,Sagebrush Sparrow, and Green-tailed Towhee.
There’s a regional visitor center in the town of Lee Vining that can provide maps andinformation regarding Mono Lake. Several sites around the shore provide viewpoints,including a county park north of Lee Vining and the Tufa State Natural Reserve on thesouth shore.
Ten miles northwest of San Luis Obispo, this coastal estuary and bay is known for greatnumbers of migrant and wintering waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants, pelicans,shorebirds, and gulls. The gatheringof thousands of birds at peak times makes for a truewildlife spectacle.
Among the signature birds of Morro Bay is the small goose called Brant, which finds itsprimary food, eelgrass, around the bay shores. From November through mid-April, Brantmake Morro Bay one of their most important wintering grounds on the Pacific Coast.
Another famed Morro Bay species isn’t a waterbird: Peregrine Falcons nest on iconicMorro Rock, a 576-foot dome-shaped volcanic feature at the north end of the bay—amajor reason that climbing the rock is forbidden. Brandt’s Cormorant, PelagicCormorant, and Pigeon Guillemot also nest here.
Several viewing sites are scattered along the eastern and southern shores. At Morro BayState Park a boardwalk near the marina is makes a great lookout point. (A nearby heronryhas nesting Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and Black-crowned Night-Heron.) The park is adjacent to 800-acre Morro Estuary Natural Preserve. Farther south,there’s a bay lookout point at the north end of Third Street in the Los Osos neighborhood.And less than a mile south of that spot, the 32-acre Sweet Springs Nature Preserve has aboardwalk and viewing platform.
Located just west of the University of California Santa Barbara campus, DevereuxSlough is a tidal estuary with varying water levelsthatmake it one of the region’s bestsites for waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.
Snowy Plovers nest on the nearby beach, and with 280species on its bird listDevereuxSlough has been named an ̽ѡ Important Bird Area, particularly for its value tobreeding and migrant birds. Locals consider late summer through winter the best time forbirding here.
Birds found commonly or with some regularity include Brant, Cackling Goose, EurasianWigeon, five species of grebes, waders such as Black-crowned Night-Heron and White-faced Ibis, White-tailed Kite, Black-necked Stilt, more than a dozen species of gulls andterns, Allen’s Hummingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, Bushtit, Wrentit, Savannah Sparrow, andHooded Oriole.
Walking out to the Pacific shore at Coal Oil Point offers the chance to see morewaterfowl, loons, cormorants, and shorebirds, including Black Turnstone and Surfbirdwhen the tide exposes rocks.
A splendid trip combining birds and scenery awaits travelers in the Angeles NationalForest north and east of Pasadena. The Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) winds upinto the San Gabriel Mountains,ascending from 2,000 feet to more than 7,000 feet in itsfirst 40 miles. The highway runs through the Angeles National Forest and much of it iswithin San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, designated in 2014.
As the highway climbs it passes through oak woodlands, then various species of pine, andin the high country mixed pine, fir, and Douglas-fir. Birdlife changes with elevationaswell, and can be sampled at many picnic sites, trails, and recreation areas along the way.
In nesting season at the Switzer picnic area, about 10 miles from I-210, you might findMountain Quail, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna’s Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Steller’s Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Wrentit,California Towhee, and Western Tanager. At Charlton Flats picnic area, 13 miles farther,you could see Nuttall’s Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher,Mountain Chickadee, Western Bluebird, Hermit Warbler, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, andPurple Finch. In the higher parts of the highwayfindWilliamson’s Sapsucker, DuskyFlycatcher, and Clark’s Nutcracker. Of course, there’s much overlap among the habitatsand avifauna.
At about mile 26 from I-210 is the Chilao visitor center, which has exhibits, maps, andhiking trails. The Angeles Crest Highway is a wonderful drive but it can be crowded onweekends. Try to schedule a trip for a weekday if possible.
Located in Irvine less than a mile from the San Diego Freeway and only a little fartherfrom the John Wayne Orange County Airport, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is an oasisof natural habitat in a landscape of concrete development. More than 300 acres ofwetland and riparianareashave been protected andrestored in a joint project of the cityand a local ̽ѡ chapter.
The many impoundments and natural wetlands here are accessed by miles of trails, morepeaceful than most because no bicycles or dogwalkers are allowed. The ponds are used aspart of thecity’s water-treatment facility, cleaning water before it flows into the PacificOcean five miles away.
With roughly 300 species, the sanctuary boasts an amazing list of waterfowl, grebes,pelicans, wading birds, rails, shorebirds, gulls, and terns. Look for hummingbirds—Black-chinned, Anna’s, Costa’s, and Allen’s feeding on flowering shrubs, and six speciesof swallows darting over the open water.
Among the songbirds nesting in the riparian areas are Marsh Wren, Orange-crownedWarbler, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, and SongSparrow. California Gnatcatcher is seen regularly, although Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ismore common.
The ̽ѡ House office at the sanctuary can provide a trail map and bird list.
This protected area north of Huntington Beach boasts one of the largest species lists ofany California birding site. Located right beside Highway 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway),it includes freshwater and saltwater marsh, mudflats, riparian vegetation, and dunes.
A loop trail with boardwalks and benches makes bird observation easy. The avianresidents are so used to people that photographers often get great close-up shots.
Waterbirds are the main attraction here, though they are not the only birding focus. Morethan 25 species of ducks, three species of loons, and five species of grebes can be foundmuch of the year. There’s also a healthy number of waders and shorebirds, includingherons, egrets, night-herons, and White-faced Ibis. Snowy Plovers nest here,as doRidgway’s Rail, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Least Tern. Caspian Tern, ElegantTern, and Black Skimmer.
Osprey and White-tailed Kite are among raptors seen at Bolsa Chica. Anna’sHummingbird and Allen’s Hummingbird are regulars, and the dark Belding’s race ofSavannah Sparrow is a nester.
As every visitor quickly sees. Bolsa Chica is a treasure of nature in the midst ofCalifornia coastal development.
Point Loma is a peninsula that curves around the northern end of San Diego Harbor. Likemany such coastal geographic features, it can often be the site of excellent birding asmigrants concentrate, hesitant to cross open water or at least pausing to rest and feedbefore moving on.
Cabrillo National Monument occupies most of Point Loma, and its scrubby vegetationand scattered trees make it an excellent place to search for migrants in fall. More than220 species have been recorded here, including the occasional autumn vagrant such asEastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Ovenbird, and Blackburnian Warbler. There’s a modestraptor migration in both spring and fall.
Residents in the area include California Quail, Brandt’s Cormorant, Great Blue Heron (aheronry is located in the area), Anna’s Hummingbird, Western Scrub-Jay, Bushtit,Wrentit, California Thrasher, Orange-crowned Warbler, and California Towhee. BlackOystercatcher and Black Turnstone are found often on the rocky shoreline from fallthrough spring.
Birders also visit Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery just north of the national monument,where tree plantings create resting places for migrants. Birders should of course berespectful of others visiting the cemetery.
North of Palm Springs, the 31,000-acre Big Morongo Canyon Preserve lies in thefoothills of the Little San Bernadino Mountains. The section most visited by birders is amarshy riparian landscape of cottonwoods and willows, an oasis in the desert that hasbeen designated an area of critical environmental concern and an Important Bird Area.
Eight miles of trails and boardwalks allow visitors to explore the woodland, marsh, andscrub. More than 220 species of birds have been recorded here.
Some of the regulars are Red-shouldered Hawk, Virginia Rail, Costa’s Hummingbird,Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, OakTitmouse, Verdin, Bushtit, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Phainopepla,Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-throated Sparrow, Summer Tanager,Lazuli, Bunting, Hooded Oriole, Bullock’s Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, andLawrence’sGoldfinch.
Local volunteers are often present at the preserve to lead nature hikes and bird walks.
It’s safe to say there’s no place in the United States like the Salton Sea. This large, saltylake 30 miles north of Mexico was created by accident in 1905 when water from theColorado River overwhelmed an agricultural canal system. The flow filled a basin morethan 200 feet below sea level, creating what is now the largest lake in California.
Many factors combine to make the Salton Sea area one of the state’s birding hot spots—in more ways than one if you consider the high temperatures in summer. The hugeexpanse of water attracts migrant and stray waterbirds and wintering geese and ducks; theproximity to Mexico means rarities stray north across the border; the scrubby aridlandscape is home to desert birds; various riparian areas act as an oasis for songbirds.
Birding can be complicated at the Salton Sea, often involving exploring backroadsaround the shoreline. Newcomers should definitely head first to the visitor center of theSonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, at the southern end of the lake, aboutseven miles northwest of the town of Calipatria. Maps and advice are essential for gettingto good birding spots. The refuge has observation towers and two hiking trails, and isnear some popular sites such as Red Hill, Obsidian Butte, and Unit 1.
Even a list of the highlights is lengthy. This is the best (usually only) place in the UnitedStates to see Yellow-footed Gull, a summer visitor. It’s home to the Yuma race ofRidgway’s Rail, and the large-billed race of Savannah Sparrow. In winter, Snow Gooseand Ross’s Goose can be common, along with many species of ducks andtheSandhillCrane. Wood Stork is often seen in late summer. Among the regularresidents arefourspecies of grebes, American White Pelican and Brown Pelican, many wading birds,Black-necked Stilt, and American Avocet. About 38 species of shorebirds have beenrecorded, along with 20 species of jaegers and gulls, and ten species of terns.
Greater Roadrunner, Burrowing Owl, Lesser Nighthawk, Costa’s Hummingbird, HornedLark, Marsh Wren, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Phainopepla, Abert’s Towhee, and Yellow-headed Blackbird are among the land bird residents. Mountain Plover and MountainBluebird are often present in winter. On the Salton Sea’s long, long list of rare and veryrare visitors are Least Grebe, Magnificent Frigatebird, Blue-footed Booby, Brown Booby,Tricolored Heron, Bridled Tern, Pinyon Jay, Cave Swallow, and all four species oflongspur. Truly, just about anything can show up at the Salton Sea.
CaliforniaBirding Trails
Less than a generation has passed since heroic birder-conservationists, led by the late David Gaines, won the fight to save Mono Lake from being drained. Mono Lake remains a mecca for birders because of this proud chapter in conservation history, as well as for the abundance of birds found here. About 50,000 California gulls nest on its islands, but they are outnumbered by the concentrations of eared grebes (close to a million) and Wilson’s and red-necked phalaropes (tens of thousands) that stop over during their annual migrations. Mono Lake is just one of the attractions in this region, where the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada meets the edge of the Great Basin. Thickets in the foothills are home to green-tailed towhees, lazuli buntings, black-headed grosbeaks, and other colorful songbirds. In open pine groves you may chance upon a roving flock of pinyon jays, harsh-voiced birds named for their taste for pinyon seeds, while at higher elevations you could find the soft-voiced Townsend’s solitaire or the flashy western tanager. Along rushing streams you might even be lucky enough to spot the American dipper, an odd aquatic songbird that once captivated John Muir. —Kenn Kaufman
Tucked away in the northwest corner of California are some of the most astonishing landscapes on the continent. This compact trail leads to 43 choice destinations in beautiful Del Norte County. At vantage points along the coast in fall you might look offshore and find such seabirds as rhinoceros auklets and marbled murrelets. On the shoreline, see a pageantry of whimbrels, willets, and other sandpipers marching across the sand. In the magnificent groves of iconic coast redwoods, some towering more than 250 feet in the air, pileated woodpeckers hammer on tree trunks, gray jays lurk, and endangered spotted owls roost in the secluded shadows. Farther inland, in cedar and fir old-growth forests at higher elevations, you might see flashy white-headed woodpeckers, roving flocks of Cassin's finches, or gangs of perky mountain chickadees.—K..
Halfway between bustling Los Angeles and San Francisco, California’s stunning central coast is tranquil and filled with birds. This trail, sketched by ̽ѡ California, highlights 83 top sites in four coastal counties (Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura), including eight Globally Important Bird Areas. At rocky points along the shore, you’ll see, Pigeon Guillemots, and other Pacific Coast specialties. The chaparral in the lowlands and canyons shelters California Quail, Wrentits, California Towhees, and more. Interior valleys on the east side of the coastal hills are home to the flashy Yellow-billed Magpie. With some effort and luck, you may see the endangered, which has been reintroduced in this region.—K..
This basin straddling the California-Oregon border contains abundant lakes and marshes protected by a network of National Wildlife Refuges. When there's enough water, tens of thousands of waterfowl, including Cinnamon Teal, Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, and Redheads, linger through the summer to nest and raise their young. But the ducks are upstaged by Western Grebes performing their crazy high-speed courtship displays across the water surface. Continue on the birding trail and you’ll also find forests haunted by Cassin’s Finches, Fox Sparrows, and Varied Thrushes. The peak is Crater Lake National Park you’ll have to tear yourself away from the vistas to look atand other birds.—K..
̽ѡ State Office and Centers*
*Be sure to call ahead before visiting ̽ѡ centers to make sure that they are open to the public.