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Birds of California

The birds most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

2,323,242
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 2,323,242 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Red-tailed Hawk, with 107,057 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in California

Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
107,057 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
99,142 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
78,605 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
76,853 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
74,512 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
69,860 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
68,886 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
67,522 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
66,412 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
60,739 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
59,869 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
58,161 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
58,036 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
56,136 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
55,192 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
54,518 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
54,318 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
52,916 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
51,720 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
51,386 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
50,181 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
49,487 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
47,926 observations
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
47,546 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
45,642 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
44,237 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
41,926 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
41,338 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
41,189 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
39,857 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
37,095 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
33,175 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
31,195 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
30,176 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
29,941 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
28,560 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
28,223 observations
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
28,120 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
27,689 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
27,498 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
27,017 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
26,712 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
25,925 observations
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
25,348 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
25,265 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
25,094 observations
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
24,565 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
24,471 observations
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
23,779 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
22,225 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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