Birds of California
The birds most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed birds in California
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
100,249 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
93,515 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
74,645 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
72,580 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
69,600 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
66,722 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
64,023 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
62,341 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
62,271 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
56,761 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
55,728 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
54,931 observations · iNaturalist
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
54,112 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
52,667 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
52,409 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
52,101 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
50,953 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
49,925 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
47,842 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
47,771 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
47,752 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
44,976 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
43,874 observations
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
43,709 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
43,478 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
41,492 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
40,069 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
39,025 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
38,394 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
36,826 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
34,736 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
31,504 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
29,376 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
29,209 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
27,855 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
27,318 observations
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
26,354 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
26,112 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
26,107 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
25,776 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
25,078 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
25,073 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
23,680 observations
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
23,679 observations · iNaturalist
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
23,625 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
23,594 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
23,156 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
22,956 observations · iNaturalist
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
22,328 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
21,280 observations