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Birds of Channel Islands National Park

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

8,805
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 8,805 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Channel Islands. The most frequently seen is the Island Scrub-Jay, with 1,588 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Channel Islands include Island Scrub-Jay and Cocos Booby - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Island Scrub-JayCocos Booby

Most-observed birds in Channel Islands

Island Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma insularis
1,588 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
768 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
678 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
653 observations
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
303 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
290 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
290 observations
Brandt's Cormorant
Urile penicillatus
276 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
240 observations
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
166 observations
Cocos Booby
Sula brewsteri
160 observations
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
152 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
150 observations
Pigeon Guillemot
Cepphus columba
145 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
134 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
130 observations
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
118 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
117 observations
Orange-crowned Warbler
Leiothlypis celata
115 observations
Black-vented Shearwater
Puffinus opisthomelas
113 observations · iNaturalist
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
110 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
109 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
102 observations
Western Flycatcher
Empidonax difficilis
95 observations
Pink-footed Shearwater
Ardenna creatopus
94 observations · iNaturalist
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
92 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
90 observations
Nanday Parakeet
Aratinga nenday
87 observations
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
84 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
77 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
77 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
74 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
71 observations
Pelagic Cormorant
Urile pelagicus
69 observations
Sabine's Gull
Xema sabini
68 observations
Northern Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
67 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
67 observations
Black Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates melania
66 observations · iNaturalist
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
65 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
65 observations
Black-footed Albatross
Phoebastria nigripes
64 observations
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
64 observations
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
62 observations
Scripps's Murrelet
Synthliboramphus scrippsi
61 observations · iNaturalist
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
58 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
58 observations
Common Murre
Uria aalge
57 observations
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
57 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
55 observations
Horned Lark
Eremophila alpestris
54 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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