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Birds of San Francisco, California

The birds most often spotted near San Francisco, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

342,815
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 342,815 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Francisco. The most frequently seen is the Black-crowned Night Heron, with 17,529 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds near San Francisco

Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
17,529 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
13,348 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
13,238 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
13,100 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
13,025 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
12,176 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
11,761 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
11,262 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
10,421 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
9,167 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
9,013 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
8,508 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
8,315 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
8,228 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
8,139 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
7,724 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
7,512 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
7,500 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
7,486 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
7,400 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
7,085 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
6,633 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
6,254 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
6,228 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
6,087 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
6,042 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
5,926 observations
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
5,637 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
5,404 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
5,062 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
5,057 observations
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
5,055 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
4,869 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
4,768 observations
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Poecile rufescens
4,366 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
4,348 observations
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
4,054 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
4,003 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
3,824 observations · iNaturalist
Townsend's Warbler
Setophaga townsendi
3,664 observations
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
3,542 observations
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
3,539 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
3,472 observations
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
3,399 observations
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
3,387 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
3,345 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
3,319 observations
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
3,240 observations
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
3,188 observations
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
3,166 observations

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