This list of birds of California is a comprehensive listing of all the bird species seen naturally in the U.S. state of California as determined by the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC). Additional accidental and hypothetical species have been added from different sources.
As of August 5, 2022, there are 681 species on the CBRC list. Two of these species are endemic, 13 were introduced by humans (directly or indirectly), one species has been extirpated, and one was extirpated in the wild but its reintroduction is in progress. Five additional species have been documented but "the CBRC could not reach a consensus as to whether records of these species involved true naturally occurring vagrants or escapes from captivity."
The following tags note species in each of those categories and one additional category:
(En) Endemic to California (I) Introduced but now established in California (Ex) Extirpated from California (RI) Reintroduction in progress - not yet established (*) California Bird Records Committee Review Species (200 species; in general, review species average four or fewer occurrences per year in California over the most recent ten-year period.) (UO) Of unknown origin
Individuals or even flocks of many additional species have been recorded in California but these birds are assumed to be deliberately released or escaped from captivity. In the absence of evidence of wild origin, they are not included in the CBRC list.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 623rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (*) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (*) Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus (hypothetical) (not on the AOS Check-list) Emperor goose, Anser canagica (*) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris (*) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (hypothetical) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus (*) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea (hypothetical) (not on the AOS Check-list) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (accidental) Wood duck, Aix sponsa Baikal teal, Sibirionetta formosa (*) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (*) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Falcated duck, Mareca falcata (*) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana Eastern spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha (accidental) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Mexican duck, Anas diazi (*) American black duck, Anas rubripes (*) Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Common pochard, Aythya ferina (*) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Steller's eider, Polysticta stelleri (*) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (*) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (*) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Stejneger's scoter, Melanitta stejnegeri (hypothetical) Common scoter, Melanitta nigra (*) Black scoter, Melanitta americana Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Smew, Mergellus albellus (*) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Masked duck, Nomonyx dominicus (hypothetical) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Guans, chachalacas, and curassows Order: GalliformesFamily: Cracidae
The chachalacas, guans, and curassows are birds in the family Cracidae. These are large birds, similar in general appearance to turkeys. The guans and curassows live in trees, but the smaller chachalacas are found in more open scrubby habitats. They are generally dull-plumaged, but the curassows and some guans have colorful facial ornaments.
Plain chachalaca, Ortalis vetula (hypothetical)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Mountain quail, Oreortyx pictus California quail, Callipepla californica Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies, including partridges, grouse, turkeys, and Old World quail. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (I) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (I) Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (Ex) Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) Chukar, Alectoris chukar (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Least grebe, Tachybaptus dominicus (*) Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Oriental turtle-dove, Streptopelia orientalis (*) European turtle-dove, Streptopelia turtur (accidental) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis (I) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (*) White-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi (hypothetical) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (*) Common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus (*) Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (*)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (*) Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (*) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (*) Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger White-fronted swift, Cypseloides storeri (hypothetical) White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (*) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi Common swift, Apus apus (*) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (*) Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens (*) Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae (*) Lucifer hummingbird, Calothorax lucife (hypothetical) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (*) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (*) Xantus's hummingbird, Basilinna xantusii (*) Violet-crowned hummingbird, Leucolia violiceps (*)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Ridgway's rail, Rallus obsoletus Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (*) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Demoiselle crane, Anthropoides virgo (UO) Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Common crane, Grus grus (*) Whooping crane, Grus americana (hypothetical)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola