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Birds of Yosemite National Park

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

17,706
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 17,706 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Yosemite. The most frequently seen is the Steller's Jay, with 2,675 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Yosemite include Mountain Quail and Williamson's Sapsucker - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Mountain QuailWilliamson's Sapsucker

Most-observed birds in Yosemite

Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
2,675 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
1,500 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,106 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
871 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
748 observations
Sooty Grouse
Dendragapus fuliginosus
668 observations
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
656 observations
White-headed Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus albolarvatus
578 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
438 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
413 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
360 observations
Clark's Nutcracker
Nucifraga columbiana
348 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
343 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
340 observations
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
340 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
331 observations
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
331 observations
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
322 observations
Black-headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanocephalus
292 observations
Hairy Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus villosus
267 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
250 observations
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
248 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
246 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
215 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
208 observations
Cassin's Finch
Haemorhous cassinii
197 observations
Mountain Quail
Oreortyx pictus
196 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
195 observations
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
192 observations
American Dipper
Cinclus mexicanus
190 observations
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
182 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
177 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
167 observations
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
160 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
159 observations
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
157 observations
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis
153 observations
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Leucosticte tephrocotis
151 observations
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
143 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
125 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
121 observations
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruber
118 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
118 observations
Williamson's Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus thyroideus
106 observations
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
106 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
105 observations
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
103 observations
Green-tailed Towhee
Pipilo chlorurus
99 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
98 observations
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
94 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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