|
1 |
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*
 |
Dendrocygna
autumnalis |
BV Lake |
One sighting only: 19 June 1938 |
|
2 |
Fulvous Whistling-Duck *

|
Dendrocygna bicolor |
KNWR |
rare |
|
3 |
Greater White-fronted Goose

|
Anser albifrons |
lakes, marshes rivers |
winter. Easily confused with the domestic graylag goose. |
|
4 |
Snow Goose

|
Chen caerulescens |
lakes, marshes rivers |
rare winter visitor to the
Southern Valley. Several hundred winter in the Mojave desert |
|
5 |
Ross's Goose

|
Chen rossii |
lakes, marshes rivers |
uncommon winter resident of the
southern valley. Rare in the desert. |
|
6 |
Brant *

Photo courtesy
Bob Steele ©
|
Branta bernicla |
marshes |
exceptional vagrant |
|
7 |
Cackling Goose

Photo courtesy Bob Steele © |
Branta hutchinsii |
lakes |
the small races of Canada Goose familiar to those in the central valley
were split in the summer of 2004. Found most commonly in winter |
|
8 |
Canada Goose

|
Branta canadensis |
lakes, marshes rivers |
winter visitor to the county.
Small flocks now permanently residing at Buena Vista Lake, Lake Ming, and
Kern Water Agency HQ |
|
9 |
Trumpeter Swan*

Photo courtesy
Bob Steele © |
Cygnus buccinator |
lakes |
Buena Vista Lake 10 1893 in Grinnell &
Miller. 1X only
Questionable sighting |
|
10 |
Tundra Swan

|
Cygnus columbianus |
lakes, rivers |
rare migrant and winter visitant |
|
11 |
Muscovy Duck (I)
 |
Cairina moschata |
|
|
|
12 |
Wood Duck
 
|
Aix sponsa |
lakes and rivers |
uncommon resident only because
of its habits. Shy and retiring find the wood duck near cover. Nests along
the Kern River from South Fork to Buena Vista |
|
13 |
Gadwall

|
Anas strepera |
|
|
|
14 |
Eurasian Wigeon *

Photo courtesy
Dan Lockshaw © 2002
|
Anas penelope |
|
|
|
15 |
American Wigeon

|
Anas americana |
shallow lakes and ponds |
uncommon to common in central
valley lakes and marshes |
|
16 |
Mallard

|
Anas platyrhynchos |
lakes and ponds, canals, rivers |
abundant resident found in
ponds and watercourses throughout the county. Mixed populations of
domestic and wild ducks common. |
|
17 |
Blue-winged Teal

|
Anas discors |
lakes and shallow ponds |
found in desert oases and at
Kern National Wildlife refuge , uncommon but hard to tell difference in
eclipse plumage from Cinnamon Teal. |
|
18 |
Cinnamon Teal

|
Anas cyanoptera |
shallow waters of lakes and
ponds |
yearround nesting resident,
common in appropriate habitat. |
|
19 |
Northern Shoveler
 
|
Anas clypeata |
|
|
|
20 |
Northern Pintail

Photo courtesy
Dan Lockshaw © 2000
|
Anas acuta |
|
|
|
21 |
Garganey *
|
Anas querquedula
|
|
|
|
22 |
Green-winged Teal
 
|
Anas crecca |
|
|
|
23 |
Canvasback
 
|
Aythya valisineria |
|
|
|
24 |
Redhead

|
Aythya americana |
|
|
|
25 |
Ring-necked Duck

|
Aythya collaris |
|
|
|
26 |
Tufted Duck *
|
Aythya fuligula |
|
|
|
27 |
Greater Scaup *
|
Aythya marila |
|
|
|
28 |
Lesser Scaup
|
Aythya affinis |
|
|
|
29 |
Surf Scoter *

|
Melanitta perspicillata |
|
|
|
30 |
White-winged Scoter *
|
Melanitta fusca |
|
|
|
31 |
Long-tailed Duck *
|
Clangula hyemalis |
|
|
|
32 |
Bufflehead
 
|
Bucephala albeola |
|
|
|
33 |
Common Goldeneye
 
|
Bucephala clangula |
lakes rivers |
uncommon winter resident |
|
34 |
Barrow's Goldeneye *
 
|
Bucephala islandica |
lakes |
exceptionally rare visitor |
|
35 |
Hooded Merganser

|
Lophodytes cucullatus |
lakes and ponds, canals, rivers |
uncommon winter resident found
in ponds and watercourses with cover |
|
36 |
Common Merganser
 
|
Mergus merganser |
deep water lakes, rivers,
canals |
uncommon breeding resident very
common in winter |
|
37 |
Red-breasted Merganser *

|
Mergus serrator |
deep water lakes |
rare visitor during winter |
|
38 |
Ruddy Duck
 
|
Oxyura jamaicensis |
lakes ponds |
breeding resident common in shallow lakes and ponds |
|
39 |
Chukar (I)

|
Alectoris chukar |
grassland, desert, oak
woodland, near water sources |
Introduced from Calcutta, India in 1932. Continuous restocking make this
species a tough one to count, as a wild bird. Breeding at Galileo and San
Emigdio |
|
40 |
Ring-necked Pheasant (I)
 
|
Phasianus colchicus |
grassland, shrubland, marshes, grain fields |
introductions of these Chinese birds began in 1889 by fish & game.
there are some good size flocks around the county where hunting is
restricted |
|
41 |
Common Peafowl (I)
 |
Pavo cristatus |
|
A flock of peafowl are breeding at Hart Park in Bakersfield, these are
related to the birds at the old zoo |
|
42 |
Sooty Grouse
 
|
Dendragapus fuliginosus |
montane |
extremely rare now due to
hunting pressure. May soon be extinct within county as only one flock
determined to still exist. |
|
43 |
Wild Turkey (I)

|
Meleagris gallopavo |
montane, grassland, marsh,
riparian, woodland |
This species is continually
released for the benefit of hunters. It is an eastern North American
species. |
|
44 |
Mountain Quail

|
Oreortyx pictus |
montane, desert facing canyons |
relatively common but seldom
seen in the mountains. Look for
birds at Butterbredt Spring, they prefer brushy areas in the conifer
forest and deserts |
|
45 |
California Quail
 
|
Callipepla californica |
grassland, shrubland, woodland,
riparian |
California's state bird is
common in its habitat. Listen for its "Chi- CA-go" call. Some flocks can
number close to 1000, although most are much smaller family groups. |
|
46 |
Gambel's Quail (I)

Photo courtesy
Bob Steele ©
|
Callipepla gambelii |
desert
near permanent water sources |
This species
was introduced to Kern, the nearest natural occurrence in San Bernardino
County on Mohave River. |
|
47 |
Red-throated Loon *

|
Gavia stellata |
Lake Isabella
|
fall, winter exceptional
|
|
48 |
Pacific Loon
|
Gavia pacifica |
mountain, desert lakes
|
rare fall through spring
|
|
49 |
Common Loon

|
Gavia immer
California species of concern |
mountain, valley lakes, recharge areas,
aqueduct
|
uncommon Sept. thru May
|
|
50 |
Pied-billed Grebe

|
Podilymbus podiceps |
countywide lakes, rivers, marshes, wetlands.
|
common, resident nesting.
|
|
51 |
Horned Grebe *

|
Podiceps auritus |
countywide lakes
|
rare fall thru spring
|
|
52 |
Red-necked Grebe *
 |
Podiceps grisegena |
mountain lakes
|
exceptional, fall winter
|
|
53 |
Eared Grebe

|
Podiceps nigricollis |
countywide, lakes,
marshes, wetlands
|
common to uncommon
year-round in appropriate habitat
|
|
54 |
Western Grebe

|
Aechmophorus occidentalis |
countywide, lakes
|
abundant to common in
appropriate habitat, nesting
|
|
55 |
Clark's Grebe

|
Aechmophorus clarkii |
countywide, lakes
|
common to uncommon in
appropriate habitat, nesting
|
|
56 |
American White Pelican

|
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
California species of concern |
countywide, lakes,
marshes, waste water treatment areas
|
uncommon to common
|
|
57 |
Brown Pelican *

|
Pelecanus occidentalis
federally endangered
California endangered |
desert, mountain,
lakes
|
exceptional fall
|
|
58 |
Double-crested Cormorant

|
Phalacrocorax auritus
California species of concern |
countywide lakes,
rivers
|
common winter, fall,
spring, uncommon summer
|
|
59 |
Magnificent Frigatebird *
Photo courtesy
Bob Steele ©
|
Fregata magnificens |
Lake Isabella
|
exceptional August 1X only
|
|
60 |
American Bittern

|
Botaurus lentiginosus
California sensitive species |
An uncommon resident in the San Joaquin Valley, Kern Valley and Mojave
Desert.
|
Prefers cattail / tule marshes. Breeding at Kern
National Wildlife Refuge and unconfirmed in the Kern Valley.
|
|
61 |
Least Bittern *

|
Ixobrychus exilis
California species of concern |
Formerly bred in the Kern Valley but no recent records.
|
Extremely shy and very rarely seen (hence my drawing instead of a photo).
Prefers cattail / tule marshes in the valleys, few records for the Kern
desert but there are breeding records to the north in Inyo County.
|
|
62 |
Great Blue Heron
|
Ardea herodias
California sensitive species |
A breeding resident throughout the county.
|
Great Blue Herons nest in trees in communal rookeries. Relatively common
in appropriate habitat year round.
|
|
63 |
Great Egret

|
Ardea alba
California sensitive species |
Breeding is not confirmed but suspected at the City of Bakersfield
2800-acre recharge basin.
|
Common along the Kern River especially in winter and spring. Found in
varying numbers throughout the county.
|
|
64 |
Snowy Egret

|
Egretta thula |
A rare breeder in the San Joaquin Valley.
|
Frequents open cottonwood/willow forests, and cattail / tule marshes.
Fairly common in the Tulare and Kern River Basins. Uncommon to rare in the
Kern Valley and the desert.
|
|
65 |
Little Blue Heron *

|
Egretta caerulea |
Only observed 3X in county at Edwards Air Force Base and California
City |
exceptional summer visitant
|
|
66 |
Cattle Egret

|
Bubulcus ibis |
A breeding resident in the San Joaquin Valley. |
Prefers rather stinky places like sewer ponds and feedlots. Very common at
landfills and sewer ponds in the Bakersfield area. Less common to rare in
rest of the county.
|
|
67 |
Green Heron

|
Butorides virescens |
A breeding resident in the San Joaquin Valley, Kern Valley and Mojave
Desert. Prefers the edges and underbrush along streams and in marshes. |
A shy and inconspicuous bird that is uncommon in appropriate habitat in
the valleys, and rare in the desert.
countywide, tule
marshes, vegetated canals |
|
68 |
Black-crowned Night-Heron

|
Nycticorax nycticorax |
A breeding resident in the San Joaquin Valley, Kern Valley and Mojave
Desert.
countywide,
parks, rivers, lakes, marshes |
Prefers cattail / tule marshes. Relatively abundant to common
in appropriate habitat in the valleys, less common to rare in the
desert. |
|
69 |
White-faced Ibis

|
Plegadis chihi
Federal species of concern
California species of concern |
countywide,
marshes, ponds |
uncommon nesting |
|
70 |
Roseate Spoonbill *

|
Platalea ajaja |
valley, marshes |
exceptional seen
1X only |
|
71 |
Wood Stork *

|
Mycteria americana |
valley, marshes |
exceptional seen
1X only |
|
72 |
Turkey Vulture

|
Cathartes aura |
countywide, all
habitats |
uncommon nesting
common migrant, split migration routes through Kern Valley and Tehachapi
via Bakersfield |
|
73 |
California Condor

|
Gymnogyps californianus
Federal endangered species
California endangered species |
Tehachapis,
Greenhorn Mountains |
reintroduced
population
see Don
Roberson's page about countability |
|
74 |
Osprey

|
Pandion haliaetus |
|
|
|
75 |
White-tailed Kite

|
Elanus leucurus |
|
|
|
76 |
Mississippi Kite *
|
Ictinia mississippiensis |
|
|
|
77 |
Bald Eagle

|
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
|
|
|
78 |
Northern Harrier

|
Circus cyaneus |
|
|
|
79 |
Sharp-shinned Hawk

|
Accipiter striatus |
|
|
|
80 |
Cooper's Hawk

|
Accipiter cooperii |
|
|
|
81 |
Northern Goshawk

|
Accipiter gentilis |
|
|
|
82 |
Common Black Hawk * |
Buteogallus anthracinus |
Lakes stocked with fish |
Bob & Susan Steele found on 27 April 2008 at Galileo Hill |
|
83 |
Harris's Hawk *(I)
 |
Parabuteo unicinctus |
seen in Kern River Valley and
northern Mojave |
most likely falconer's escape |
|
84 |
Red-shouldered Hawk

|
Buteo lineatus |
|
|
|
85 |
Broad-winged Hawk *
|
Buteo platypterus |
|
|
|
86 |
Swainson's Hawk

|
Buteo swainsoni |
|
|
|
87 |
Zone-tailed Hawk *
|
Buteo albonotatus |
|
|
|
88 |
Red-tailed Hawk

|
Buteo jamaicensis |
|
|
|
89 |
Ferruginous Hawk

|
Buteo regalis |
|
|
|
90 |
Rough-legged Hawk

|
Buteo lagopus |
|
|
|
91 |
Golden Eagle

|
Aquila chrysaetos |
|
|
|
92 |
Crested Caracara*

|
Caracara cheriway |
grassland - riparian forest |
Bill Foster - 25 March 2008 -
Kern River Preserve |
|
93 |
American Kestrel

|
Falco sparverius |
|
|
|
94 |
Merlin

|
Falco columbarius |
|
|
|
95 |
Peregrine Falcon

|
Falco peregrinus |
|
|
|
96 |
Prairie Falcon

|
Falco mexicanus |
|
|
|
97 |
Virginia Rail

|
Rallus limicola |
marshes |
|
|
98 |
Sora

|
Porzana carolina |
marshes |
|
|
99 |
Common Moorhen

|
Gallinula chloropus |
|
|
|
100 |
American Coot

|
Fulica americana |
|
|
|
101 |
Sandhill Crane

|
Grus canadensis
Lesser Sandhill Crane - state species of
concern
G. c. canadensis (Linnaeus)
Greater Sandhill Crane - state threatened
species
G. c. tabida
(Peters) |
marshes, grassland, irrigated
pasture, agricultural fields |
rare and local in winter. Just
to the north in Tulare County at Pixley Refuge, thousands can easily be
seen from November through February. |
|
102 |
Black-bellied Plover

|
Pluvialis squatarola |
|
|
|
103 |
American Golden-Plover *
|
Pluvialis dominica |
|
|
|
104 |
Pacific Golden-Plover *
|
Pluvialis fulva |
|
|
|
105 |
Snowy Plover
|
Charadrius alexandrinus |
|
|
|
106 |
Semipalmated Plover

|
Charadrius semipalmatus |
|
|
|
107 |
Killdeer

|
Charadrius vociferus |
|
|
|
108 |
Mountain Plover
|
Charadrius montanus |
|
|
|
109 |
Black-necked Stilt

|
Himantopus mexicanus |
|
|
|
110 |
American Avocet

|
Recurvirostra americana |
|
|
|
111 |
Spotted Sandpiper

|
Actitis macularius |
|
|
|
112 |
Solitary Sandpiper

|
Tringa solitaria |
|
|
|
113 |
Wandering Tattler *

|
Tringa incana |
|
|
|
114 |
Greater Yellowlegs

|
Tringa melanoleuca |
|
|
|
115 |
Willet

|
Tringa semipalmata |
|
|
|
116 |
Lesser Yellowlegs

|
Tringa flavipes |
|
|
|
117 |
Wood Sandpiper * |
Tringa glareola |
|
Susan Steele - China Lake 23 May 07 |
|
118 |
Upland Sandpiper * |
Bartramia longicauda |
|
Ryan Terrill - Galileo - 4 Jun 06 |
|
119 |
Whimbrel

|
Numenius phaeopus |
|
|
|
120 |
Long-billed Curlew

|
Numenius americanus |
|
|
|
121 |
Hudsonian Godwit |
Limosa haemastica |
|
Susan Steele - China Lake 7 Jun 07 |
|
122 |
Marbled Godwit

|
Limosa fedoa |
|
|
|
123 |
Ruddy Turnstone *

|
Arenaria interpres |
|
|
|
124 |
Black Turnstone *

|
Arenaria melanocephala |
|
|
|
125 |
Red Knot *
|
Calidris canutus |
|
|
|
126 |
Sanderling

|
Calidris alba |
|
|
|
127 |
Semipalmated Sandpiper
|
Calidris pusilla |
|
|
|
128 |
Western Sandpiper
|
Calidris mauri |
|
|
|
129 |
Red-necked Stint * |
Calidris ruficollis |
|
Susan Steele - China Lake 2005 |
|
130 |
Least Sandpiper

|
Calidris minutilla |
|
|
|
131 |
White-rumped
Sandpiper *
|
Calidris
fuscicollis |
25 May
2000
|
China
Lake |
|
132 |
Baird's Sandpiper
|
Calidris bairdii |
|
|
|
133 |
Pectoral Sandpiper
|
Calidris melanotos |
|
|
|
134 |
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *
|
Calidris acuminata |
|
|
|
135 |
Dunlin

|
Calidris alpina |
|
|
|
136 |
Curlew Sandpiper * |
Calidris ferruginea |
July 2001 |
Kern Desert |
|
137 |
Stilt Sandpiper
|
Calidris
himantopus |
|
|
|
138 |
Buff-breasted Sandpiper *
|
Tryngites subruficollis |
|
|
|
139 |
Ruff *
|
Philomachus pugnax |
|
|
|
140 |
Short-billed Dowitcher

|
Limnodromus griseus |
|
|
|
141 |
Long-billed Dowitcher

|
Limnodromus scolopaceus |
|
|
|
142 |
Wilson's Snipe

|
Gallinago delicata |
|
|
|
143 |
Wilson's Phalarope

|
Phalaropus tricolor |
|
|
|
144 |
Red-necked Phalarope

|
Phalaropus lobatus |
|
|
|
145 |
Red Phalarope *

|
Phalaropus
fulicarius |
|
|
|
146 |
Laughing Gull *

|
Larus atricilla |
|
|
|
147 |
Franklin's Gull
|
Larus pipixcan |
|
|
|
148 |
Little Gull *
|
Larus minutus |
|
|
|
149 |
Bonaparte's Gull

|
Larus philadelphia |
|
|
|
150 |
Heermann's Gull *

|
Larus heermanni |
|
|
|
151 |
Mew Gull *

|
Larus canus |
|
|
|
152 |
Ring-billed Gull

|
Larus delawarensis |
|
|
|
153 |
California Gull

|
Larus californicus |
|
|
|
154 |
Herring Gull

|
Larus argentatus |
|
|
|
155 |
Thayer's Gull *
|
Larus thayeri |
|
|
|
156 |
Yellow-footed Gull* |
Larus livens |
|
April 2006 Tom Werster, China Lake |
|
157 |
Western Gull *

|
Larus occidentalis |
|
Exceptional visitor to Kern.
This common coastal gull is truly a sea gull as it rarely ventures inland. |
|
158 |
Glaucous-winged Gull *

|
Larus glaucescens |
|
|
|
159 |
Glaucous Gull *
|
Larus hyperboreus |
|
|
|
160 |
Sabine's Gull

|
Xema sabini |
|
|
|
161 |
Black-legged Kittiwake *
|
Rissa tridactyla |
|
|
|
162 |
Least Tern *
|
Sternula antillarum |
|
|
|
163 |
Caspian Tern

|
Hydroprogne caspia |
|
|
|
164 |
Black Tern
|
Chlidonias niger |
|
|
|
165 |
Common Tern *
|
Sterna hirundo |
|
|
|
166 |
Arctic Tern *
|
Sterna paradisaea |
|
|
|
167 |
Forster's Tern

|
Sterna forsteri |
|
|
|
168 |
Black Skimmer *

|
Rynchops niger |
|
|
|
169 |
Pomarine Jaeger *
|
Stercorarius pomarinus |
|
|
|
170 |
Parasitic Jaeger *
|
Stercorarius parasiticus |
|
|
|
171 |
Long-tailed Jaeger *
|
Stercorarius longicaudus |
|
|