Birds of California
The birds most often spotted in California, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
2,271,763
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds
Naturalists have logged 2,271,763 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Red-tailed Hawk, with 104,434 recorded sightings.
Most-observed birds in California
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
104,434 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
97,255 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
77,348 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
75,547 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
72,603 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
67,853 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
67,243 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
65,826 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
64,853 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
59,337 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
58,296 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
57,067 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
56,835 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
54,707 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
53,730 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
53,490 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
53,011 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
52,224 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
50,738 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
50,271 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
48,914 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
47,868 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
46,451 observations
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
46,330 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
44,891 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
43,210 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
41,253 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
40,536 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
40,245 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
38,956 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
36,389 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
32,709 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
30,750 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
29,739 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
29,247 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
27,924 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
27,907 observations
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
27,436 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
27,113 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
27,037 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
26,296 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
25,985 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
25,330 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
24,676 observations
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
24,643 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
24,520 observations
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
23,961 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
23,784 observations
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
23,254 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
21,741 observations
Birds in nearby places
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