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Birds of California

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

2,310,030
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 2,310,030 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Red-tailed Hawk, with 106,244 recorded sightings.

Most-observed birds in California

Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
106,244 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
98,715 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
78,277 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
76,585 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
74,082 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
69,404 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
68,473 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
67,036 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
66,083 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
60,348 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
59,463 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
57,855 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
57,817 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
55,701 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
54,573 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
54,302 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
54,157 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
52,760 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
51,435 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
51,107 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
49,754 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
49,074 observations
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
47,522 observations
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
47,263 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
45,486 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
43,916 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
41,758 observations
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
41,150 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
40,952 observations
Cooper's Hawk
Astur cooperii
39,630 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
36,945 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
33,012 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
31,103 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
30,073 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
29,798 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
28,386 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
28,146 observations
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
27,917 observations
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
27,567 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
27,409 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
26,834 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
26,524 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
25,795 observations
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
25,155 observations
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
25,150 observations
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
24,966 observations
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia atricapilla
24,414 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
24,277 observations
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
23,603 observations
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
22,034 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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