This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Channel Islands National Park, which is in the U.S. state of California. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS) that as of November 2011 contained 387 species.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 66th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. "Check-list of North American Birds (online)". American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa/ retrieved September 5, 2025 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.
Unless otherwise noted, the species are considered to occur regularly in Channel Islands National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species. The NPS checklist reports abundance separately for each island; here the tag for maximum abundance is used even if a species is less abundant on some islands.
(R) Rare – "occurs (or probably occurs) annually in very small numbers in suitable habitat (5–10 records for a given season)" per the NPS checklist (73 species) (C) Casual – "generally not recorded every year...(one or two records per season for an island)" per the NPS checklist (29 species) (Irr) Irregular – "abundance varies year to year, can be less numerous or absent some years" per the NPS checklist (1 species) (A) Accidental – "five or fewer records for the islands" per the NPS checklist (151 species) (NN) Non-native – a species not native to the Channel Islands per the NPS checklist; either introduced directly to the islands or arrived otherwise from a population introduced to North America (11 species)
In addition, some species are known from only one island, again as of November 2011; they are tagged as follows:
(ANA) – Anacapa (SM) – San Miguel (SB) – Santa Barbara (SC) – Santa Cruz (SR) – Santa Rosa
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.
Emperor goose, Anser canagica (A) (SR) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (R) Ross's goose, Anser rossii (A) (SC) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (A) (SB) Canada goose, Branta canadensis (C) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (A) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (R) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (A) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (SR) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (A) (SR) American wigeon, Mareca americana (C) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (A) (ANA) Redhead, Aythya americana (A) (SR) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (A) (SC) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (A) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (A) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (A) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (R) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (C)
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.
California quail, Callipepla californica (NN)
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 (NN) (C) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (NN) (extirpated) Indian peafowl, Pavo cristatus (NN) (SC) (extirpated) (not on the official California list)California Bird Records Committee Official California Checklist dated September 2, 2025 https://www.californiabirds.org/checklist.asp retrieved September 13, 2025. Chukar, Alectoris chukar (NN) (extirpated)
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Flamingo species, probably Phoenicopterus sp. (A) (SC) (not on the official California list)
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.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (R) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (R) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii (A)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (C) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (R) Spotted dove, Spilopelia chinensis (NN) (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (NN) (R) African collared-dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea (NN) (A) (not on the official California list) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (NN)
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.
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A)
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 (C) Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (A) Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (R)
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 (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) (SB) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (R) 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.
Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (C) Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (C) Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin
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".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (A) (SC)
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.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R) Sora, Porzana carolina (C) American coot, Fulica americana
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 (A) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (A)
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 (R) 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 American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (A) (SM) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (C)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (A) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala Red knot, Calidris canutus (A) Surfbird, Calidris virgata Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (R) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (A) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (A) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (R) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (R) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (A) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (A) Willet, Tringa semipalmata Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (A) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae