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Birds of Channel Islands National Park

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

8,714
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 8,714 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Channel Islands. The most frequently seen is the Island Scrub-Jay, with 1,567 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
1,567 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
767 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
674 observations
Common Raven
Corvus corax
649 observations
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
300 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
290 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
289 observations
Brandt's Cormorant
Urile penicillatus
268 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
238 observations
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
163 observations
Cocos Booby
Sula brewsteri
158 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
150 observations
Black Oystercatcher
Haematopus bachmani
148 observations
Pigeon Guillemot
Cepphus columba
145 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
132 observations
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
129 observations
California Quail
Callipepla californica
117 observations
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
115 observations
Orange-crowned Warbler
Leiothlypis celata
115 observations
Black-vented Shearwater
Puffinus opisthomelas
110 observations · iNaturalist
Sooty Shearwater
Ardenna grisea
110 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
108 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
100 observations
Western Flycatcher
Empidonax difficilis
95 observations
Pink-footed Shearwater
Ardenna creatopus
92 observations · iNaturalist
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
91 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
88 observations
Nanday Parakeet
Aratinga nenday
86 observations
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
82 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
77 observations
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
77 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
73 observations
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
71 observations
Sabine's Gull
Xema sabini
68 observations
Pelagic Cormorant
Urile pelagicus
68 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
67 observations
Northern Fulmar
Fulmarus glacialis
65 observations
Black Storm-Petrel
Hydrobates melania
65 observations · iNaturalist
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
64 observations
Black-footed Albatross
Phoebastria nigripes
63 observations
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
63 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
63 observations
Scripps's Murrelet
Synthliboramphus scrippsi
61 observations · iNaturalist
Royal Tern
Thalasseus maximus
59 observations
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
58 observations
Willet
Tringa semipalmata
57 observations
Common Murre
Uria aalge
55 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
55 observations
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
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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