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Birds of California

BiologyBase Bird Index Order List English Name Search Checklist Index Search the Calif List
John Sterling's California County Checklists CA List with links to accounts Natural History Museums in California      

Click on the English name to go to more information about that species.

Chukar

Alectoris

chukar
Ruffed Grouse

Bonasa

umbellus
Sage Grouse

Centrocercus

urophasianus
Blue Grouse

Dendragapus

obscurus
White-tailed Ptarmigan

Lagopus

leucurus
Wild Turkey

Meleagris

gallopavo
Common Pheasant

Phasianus

colchicus
Sharp-tailed Grouse

Tympanuchus

phasianellus
California Quail

Callipepla

californica
Gambel's Quail

Callipepla

gambelii
Mountain Quail

Oreortyx

pictus
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna

autumnalis
Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna

bicolor
Wood Duck

Aix

sponsa
Northern Pintail

Anas

acuta
American Wigeon

Anas

americana
Northern Shoveler

Anas

clypeata
Green-winged Teal

Anas

crecca
Cinnamon Teal

Anas

cyanoptera
Blue-winged Teal

Anas

discors
Baikal Teal

Anas

formosa
Eurasian Wigeon

Anas

penelope
Mallard

Anas

platyrhynchos
Garganey

Anas

querquedula
American Black Duck

Anas

rubripes
Gadwall

Anas

strepera
Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser

albifrons
Lesser Scaup

Aythya

affinis
Redhead

Aythya

americana
Ring-necked Duck

Aythya

collaris
Common Pochard

Aythya

ferina
Tufted Duck

Aythya

fuligula
Greater Scaup

Aythya

marila
Canvasback

Aythya

valisineria
Brant

Branta

bernicla
Canada Goose

Branta

canadensis
Bufflehead

Bucephala

albeola
Common Goldeneye

Bucephala

clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye

Bucephala

islandica
Snow Goose

Chen

caerulescens
Emperor Goose

Chen

canagica
Ross's Goose

Chen

rossii
Long-tailed Duck

Clangula

hyemalis
Trumpeter Swan

Cygnus

buccinator
Tundra Swan

Cygnus

columbianus
Whooper Swan

Cygnus

cygnus
Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus

histrionicus
Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes

cucullatus
White-winged Scoter

Melanitta

fusca
Black Scoter

Melanitta

nigra
Surf Scoter

Melanitta

perspicillata
Smew

Mergellus

albellus
Common Merganser

Mergus

merganser
Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus

serrator
Ruddy Duck

Oxyura

jamaicensis
Steller's Eider

Polysticta

stelleri
King Eider

Somateria

spectabilis
Northern Flicker

Colaptes

auratus
Gilded Flicker

Colaptes

chrysoides
Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus

pileatus
Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes

erythrocephalus
Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes

formicivorus
Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes

lewis
Gila Woodpecker

Melanerpes

uropygialis
White-headed Woodpecker

Picoides

albolarvatus
Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides

arcticus
Nuttall's Woodpecker

Picoides

nuttallii
Downy Woodpecker

Picoides

pubescens
Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Picoides

scalaris
Three-toed Woodpecker

Picoides

tridactylus
Hairy Woodpecker

Picoides

villosus
Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus

nuchalis
Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus

ruber
Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus

thyroideus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus

varius
Belted Kingfisher

Ceryle

alcyon
Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus

americanus
Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus

erythropthalmus
Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga

sulcirostris
Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx

californianus
Canary-winged Parakeet

Brotogeris

versicolurus
White-throated Swift

Aeronautes

saxatalis
Chimney Swift

Chaetura

pelagica
Vaux's Swift

Chaetura

vauxi
Black Swift

Cypseloides

niger
White-collared Swift

Streptoprocne

zonaris
Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Amazilia

violiceps
Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus

alexandri
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus

colubris
Anna's Hummingbird

Calypte

anna
Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte

costae
Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus

latirostris
Xantus's Hummingbird

Hylocharis

xantusii
Blue-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis

clemenciae
Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus

platycercus
Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus

rufus
Allen's Hummingbird

Selasphorus

sasin
Calliope Hummingbird

Stellula

calliope
Congo Bay-Owl

Phodilus

prigoginei
Barn Owl

Tyto

alba
Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius

acadicus
Short-eared Owl

Asio

flammeus
Long-eared Owl

Asio

otus
Burrowing Owl

Athene

cunicularia
Great Horned Owl

Bubo

virginianus
Northern Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium

gnoma
Elf Owl

Micrathene

whitneyi
Snowy Owl

Nyctea

scandiaca
Flammulated Owl

Otus

flammeolus
Western Screech-Owl

Otus

kennicottii
Great Grey Owl

Strix

nebulosa
Spotted Owl

Strix

occidentalis
Barred Owl

Strix

varia
Chuck-will's-widow

Caprimulgus

carolinensis
Buff-collared Nightjar

Caprimulgus

ridgwayi
Whip-poor-will

Caprimulgus

vociferus
Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles

acutipennis
Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles

minor
Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus

nuttallii
Band-tailed Pigeon

Columba

fasciata
Rock Pigeon

Columba

livia
Inca Dove

Columbina

inca
Common Ground-Dove

Columbina

passerina
Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina

talpacoti
Spotted Dove

Streptopelia

chinensis
White-winged Dove

Zenaida

asiatica
Mourning Dove

Zenaida

macroura
Sandhill Crane

Grus

canadensis
Yellow Rail

Coturnicops

noveboracensis
American Coot

Fulica

americana
Common Moorhen

Gallinula

chloropus
Black Rail

Laterallus

jamaicensis
Azure Gallinule

Porphyrula

flavirostris
Sora

Porzana

carolina
Virginia Rail

Rallus

limicola
Clapper Rail

Rallus

longirostris
Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis

macularia
Surfbird

Aphriza

virgata
Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria

interpres
Black Turnstone

Arenaria

melanocephala
Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia

longicauda
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Calidris

acuminata
Sanderling

Calidris

alba
Dunlin

Calidris

alpina
Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris

bairdii
Red Knot

Calidris

canutus
Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris

ferruginea
White-rumped Sandpiper

Calidris

fuscicollis
Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris

himantopus
Western Sandpiper

Calidris

mauri
Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris

melanotos
Little Stint

Calidris

minuta
Least Sandpiper

Calidris

minutilla
Rock Sandpiper

Calidris

ptilocnemis
Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris

pusilla
Rufous-necked Stint

Calidris

ruficollis
Long-toed Stint

Calidris

subminuta
Willet

Catoptrophorus

semipalmatus
Common Snipe

Gallinago

gallinago
Grey-tailed Tattler

Heteroscelus

brevipes
Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus

griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus

scolopaceus
Marbled Godwit

Limosa

fedoa
Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa

haemastica
Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa

lapponica
Jack Snipe

Lymnocryptes

minimus
Long-billed Curlew

Numenius

americanus
Little Curlew

Numenius

minutus
Whimbrel

Numenius

phaeopus
Red Phalarope

Phalaropus

fulicaria
Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus

lobatus
Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus

tricolor
Ruff

Philomachus

pugnax
American Woodcock

Scolopax

minor
Spotted Redshank

Tringa

erythropus
Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa

flavipes
Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa

melanoleuca
Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa

solitaria
Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Tryngites

subruficollis
Snowy Plover

Charadrius

alexandrinus
Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius

hiaticula
Piping Plover

Charadrius

melodus
Mongolian Plover

Charadrius

mongolus
Mountain Plover

Charadrius

montanus
Eurasian Dotterel

Charadrius

morinellus
Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius

semipalmatus
Killdeer

Charadrius

vociferus
Wilson's Plover

Charadrius

wilsonia
Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus

bachmani
American Oystercatcher

Haematopus

palliatus
Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus

mexicanus
American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis

dominica
Pacific Golden-Plover

Pluvialis

fulva
Black-bellied Plover

Pluvialis

squatarola
American Avocet

Recurvirostra

americana
Crested Auklet

Aethia

cristatella
Parakeet Auklet

Aethia

psittacula
Least Auklet

Aethia

pusilla
Kittlitz's Murrelet

Brachyramphus

brevirostris
Marbled Murrelet

Brachyramphus

marmoratus
Long-billed Murrelet

Brachyramphus

perdix
Pigeon Guillemot

Cepphus

columba
Rhinoceros Auklet

Cerorhinca

monocerata
White-winged Tern

Chlidonias

leucopterus
Black Tern

Chlidonias

niger
Tufted Puffin

Fratercula

cirrhata
Horned Puffin

Fratercula

corniculata
Herring Gull

Larus

argentatus
Laughing Gull

Larus

atricilla
Band-tailed Gull

Larus

belcheri
California Gull

Larus

californicus
Mew Gull

Larus

canus
Ring-billed Gull

Larus

delawarensis
Lesser Black-backed Gull

Larus

fuscus
Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus

glaucescens
Iceland Gull

Larus

glaucoides
Heermann's Gull

Larus

heermanni
Glaucous Gull

Larus

hyperboreus
Yellow-footed Gull

Larus

livens
Little Gull

Larus

minutus
Western Gull

Larus

occidentalis
Bonaparte's Gull

Larus

philadelphia
Franklin's Gull

Larus

pipixcan
Common Black-headed Gull

Larus

ridibundus
Andean Gull

Larus

serranus
Ivory Gull

Pagophila

eburnea
Cassin's Auklet

Ptychoramphus

aleuticus
Red-legged Kittiwake

Rissa

brevirostris
Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa

tridactyla
Black Skimmer

Rynchops

niger
Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius

longicaudus
South Polar Skua

Stercorarius

maccormicki
Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius

parasiticus
Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius

pomarinus
Bridled Tern

Sterna

anaethetus
Least Tern

Sterna

antillarum
Caspian Tern

Sterna

caspia
Elegant Tern

Sterna

elegans
Forster's Tern

Sterna

forsteri
Sooty Tern

Sterna

fuscata
Common Tern

Sterna

hirundo
Royal Tern

Sterna

maxima
Gull-billed Tern

Sterna

nilotica
Arctic Tern

Sterna

paradisaea
Sandwich Tern

Sterna

sandvicensis
Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus

antiquus
Craveri's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus

craveri
Xantus's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus

hypoleucus
Common Murre

Uria

aalge
Thick-billed Murre

Uria

lomvia
Sabine's Gull

Xema

sabini
Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter

cooperii
Northern Goshawk

Accipiter

gentilis
Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter

striatus
Golden Eagle

Aquila

chrysaetos
Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo

albonotatus
Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo

jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo

lagopus
Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo

lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo

platypterus
Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo

regalis
Swainson's Hawk

Buteo

swainsoni
Common Black-Hawk

Buteogallus

anthracinus
Northern Harrier

Circus

cyaneus
White-tailed Kite

Elanus

leucurus
Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus

leucocephalus
Mississippi Kite

Ictinia

mississippiensis
Osprey

Pandion

haliaetus
Harris's Hawk

Parabuteo

unicinctus
Oriental Honey-buzzard

Pernis

ptilorhyncus
Merlin

Falco

columbarius
Prairie Falcon

Falco

mexicanus
Peregrine Falcon

Falco

peregrinus
Gyrfalcon

Falco

rusticolus
American Kestrel

Falco

sparverius
Clark's Grebe

Aechmophorus

clarkii
Western Grebe

Aechmophorus

occidentalis
Horned Grebe

Podiceps

auritus
Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps

grisegena
Eared Grebe

Podiceps

nigricollis
Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus

podiceps
Least Grebe

Tachybaptus

dominicus
Red-billed Tropicbird

Phaethon

aethereus
White-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon

lepturus
Red-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon

rubricauda
Masked Booby

Sula

dactylatra
Brown Booby

Sula

leucogaster
Blue-footed Booby

Sula

nebouxii
Red-footed Booby

Sula

sula
Anhinga

Anhinga

anhinga
Double-crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax

auritus
Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax

brasilianus
Pelagic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax

pelagicus
Brandt's Cormorant

Phalacrocorax

penicillatus
Great Egret

Ardea

alba
Great Blue Heron

Ardea

herodias
American Bittern

Botaurus

lentiginosus
Cattle Egret

Bubulcus

ibis
Green Heron

Butorides

virescens
Little Blue Heron

Egretta

caerulea
Reddish Egret

Egretta

rufescens
Snowy Egret

Egretta

thula
Tricolored Heron

Egretta

tricolor
Least Bittern

Ixobrychus

exilis
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa

violacea
Roseate Spoonbill

Ajaia

ajaja
White Ibis

Eudocimus

albus
White-faced Ibis

Plegadis

chihi
American White Pelican

Pelecanus

erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican

Pelecanus

occidentalis
Turkey Vulture

Cathartes

aura
California Condor

Gymnogyps

californianus
Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata

magnificens
Great Frigatebird

Fregata

minor
Wood Stork

Mycteria

americana
Yellow-billed Loon

Gavia

adamsii
Arctic Loon

Gavia

arctica
Common Loon

Gavia

immer
Pacific Loon

Gavia

pacifica
Red-throated Loon

Gavia

stellata
Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus

glacialis
Bulwer's Petrel