Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*

Fulvous Whistling-Duck *

KNWR

rare

Greater White-fronted Goose

lakes, marshes rivers

winter. Easily confused with the domestic graylag goose.

Snow Goose

lakes, marshes rivers

rare winter visitor to the Southern Valley. Several hundred winter in the Mojave desert

Ross's Goose

lakes, marshes rivers

uncommon winter resident of the southern valley. Rare in the desert.

Brant *

marshes

exceptional vagrant

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose

lakes, marshes rivers

winter visitor to the county. Small flocks now permanently residing at Buena Vista Lake, Lake Ming, and Kern Water Agency HQ

Trumpeter Swan*

Photo courtesy Bob Steele ©

Questionable sighting

Tundra Swan

lakes, rivers

rare migrant and winter visitant

Wood Duck

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

Gadwall

Eurasian Wigeon *

American Wigeon

shallow lakes and ponds

uncommon to common in central valley lakes and marshes

Mallard

lakes and ponds, canals, rivers

abundant resident found in ponds and watercourses throughout the county. Mixed populations of domestic and wild ducks common.

Blue-winged Teal

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.

Cinnamon Teal

shallow waters of lakes and ponds

yearround nesting resident, common in appropriate habitat.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Garganey *

Green-winged Teal

Canvasback

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Tufted Duck *

Greater Scaup *

Lesser Scaup

Surf Scoter *

White-winged Scoter *

Long-tailed Duck *

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

lakes rivers

uncommon winter resident

Barrow's Goldeneye *

lakes

exceptionally rare visitor

Hooded Merganser

lakes and ponds, canals, rivers

uncommon winter resident found in ponds and watercourses with cover

Common Merganser

deep water lakes, rivers, canals

uncommon breeding resident very common in winter

Red-breasted Merganser *

deep water lakes

rare visitor during winter

Ruddy Duck

Mountain Quail

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

California Quail

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.

Gambel's Quail (I)

desert near permanent water sources

This species was introduced to Kern, the nearest natural occurrence in San Bernardino County on Mohave River.

Chukar (I)

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

Ring-necked Pheasant (I)

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

Common Peafowl (I)

Sooty Grouse

montane

extremely rare now due to hunting pressure. May soon be extinct within county as only one flock determined to still exist.

Wild Turkey (I)

montane, grassland, marsh, riparian, woodland

This species is continually released for the benefit of hunters. It is an eastern North American species.

Red-throated Loon *

Lake Isabella

fall, winter exceptional

Pacific Loon

mountain, desert lakes

rare fall through spring

Common Loon   

Gavia immer

mountain, valley lakes, recharge areas, aqueduct

uncommon Sept. thru May

Pied-billed Grebe

countywide lakes, rivers, marshes, wetlands.

common, resident nesting.

Horned Grebe *

countywide lakes

rare fall thru spring

Red-necked Grebe *

mountain lakes

exceptional, fall winter

Eared Grebe

countywide, lakes, marshes, wetlands

common to uncommon year-round in appropriate habitat

Western Grebe

countywide, lakes

abundant to common in appropriate habitat, nesting

Clark's Grebe

countywide, lakes

common to uncommon in appropriate habitat, nesting

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

countywide, lakes, marshes, waste water treatment areas

uncommon to common

Brown Pelican *

desert, mountain, lakes

exceptional fall

Double-crested Cormorant

countywide lakes, rivers

common winter, fall, spring, uncommon summer

Magnificent Frigatebird *

Lake Isabella

exceptional August 1X only

American Bittern

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.

Least Bittern *

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.

Great Blue Heron

A breeding resident throughout the county.

Great Blue Herons nest in trees in communal rookeries. Relatively common in appropriate habitat year round.

Great Egret

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.

Snowy Egret

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.

Little Blue Heron *

Only observed 3X in county at Edwards Air Force Base and California City

exceptional summer visitant

Cattle Egret

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.

Green Heron

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

Black-crowned Night-Heron

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.

White-faced Ibis

countywide, marshes, ponds

uncommon nesting

Roseate Spoonbill *

valley, marshes

exceptional seen 1X only

Wood Stork *

valley, marshes

exceptional seen 1X only

Turkey Vulture

countywide, all habitats

uncommon nesting common migrant, split migration routes through Kern Valley and Tehachapi via Bakersfield

California Condor

Gymnogyps californianus

Tehachapis, Greenhorn Mountains

reintroduced population

see Don Roberson's page about countability

Osprey

White-tailed Kite

Mississippi Kite *

Bald Eagle

Northern Harrier

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Northern Goshawk

Harris's Hawk *(I)

Red-shouldered Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk *

Swainson's Hawk

Zone-tailed Hawk *

Red-tailed Hawk

Ferruginous Hawk

Rough-legged Hawk

Golden Eagle

Crested Caracara*

grassland - riparian forest

Bill Foster - 25 March 2008 - Kern River Preserve

American Kestrel

Merlin

Peregrine Falcon

Prairie Falcon

Virginia Rail

marshes

Sora

marshes

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

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.

Black-bellied Plover

American Golden-Plover *

Pacific Golden-Plover *

Snowy Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Killdeer

Mountain Plover

Black-necked Stilt

American Avocet

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Wandering Tattler *

Greater Yellowlegs

Willet

Lesser Yellowlegs

Whimbrel

Long-billed Curlew

Marbled Godwit

Ruddy Turnstone *

Black Turnstone *

Red Knot *

Sanderling

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Western Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper *

25 May 2000

China  Lake 

Baird's Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *

Dunlin

July 2001

Kern Desert

Stilt Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper *

Ruff *

Short-billed Dowitcher

Long-billed Dowitcher

Wilson's Snipe

Wilson's Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

Red Phalarope *

Black-legged Kittiwake *

Sabine's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

Little Gull *

Laughing Gull *

Franklin's Gull

Heermann's Gull *

Mew Gull *

Ring-billed Gull

Western Gull *

Exceptional visitor to Kern. This common coastal gull is truly a sea gull as it rarely ventures inland.

California Gull

Herring Gull

Thayer's Gull *

Lesser Black-backed Gull *

Susan Steele 21 Dec 08 BV Lake

Glaucous-winged Gull *

Glaucous Gull *

Least Tern *

Caspian Tern

Black Tern

Common Tern *

Arctic Tern *

Forster's Tern

Black Skimmer *

Pomarine Jaeger *

Parasitic Jaeger *

Long-tailed Jaeger *

Rock Pigeon (I)

nests on buildings in cities and farms

common to abundant. Introduced with European colonization of county.

Band-tailed Pigeon

Eurasian Collared-Dove * (I)

Spotted Dove (I)

Bakersfield resident - successfully naturalized

Species first reported in Los Angeles prior to 1917. Unknown when establish in Kern, suspect early 60's. Uncommon

White-winged Dove

towns and oases in desert. Kern Valley records in Wofford Heights and Onyx

rare vagrant

Mourning Dove

Urban, rural, orchards

common to abundant resident

Inca Dove *

rare visitant - several years in Inyokern

Common Ground-Dove *

citrus orchards, Central Valley

uncommon

Ruddy Ground-Dove *

rare vagrant

Rose-ringed Parakeet (I)

over 1000 birds throughout Bakersfield

introduced in late 1970's

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

summer resident in Kern Valley - breeds in riparian forest

June through August only

Greater Roadrunner

desert areas throughout county

uncommon and local

Groove-billed Ani *

rare vagrant

Barn Owl

barns, rock cavities, tree cavities, palm tress

common near water and open areas with trees or buildings nearby

Flammulated Owl *

montane

summer only

Western Screech-Owl

oak woodlands, riparian areas

uncommon

Great Horned Owl

riparian areas, suburban, palm trees

common to abundant

Northern Pygmy-Owl

oak woodlands

Burrowing Owl

grasslands

Spotted Owl

montane

Long-eared Owl

riparian areas

Short-eared Owl

Photo courtesy Dan Lockshaw © 2000

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Photo courtesy Dan Lockshaw © 2000

Lesser Nighthawk

Common Nighthawk *

uncommon

Common Poorwill

Black Swift *

uncommon

Chimney Swift *

rare vagrant

Vaux's Swift

White-throated Swift

Broad-billed Hummingbird *

rare vagrant

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Anna's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird *

rare vagrant

Rufous Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird *

Belted Kingfisher

Lewis's Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Williamson's Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker *

rare

Red-naped Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

White-headed Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Pileated Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Western Wood-Pewee

Eastern Wood-Pewee *

rare vagrant

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher *

rare vagrant

Alder Flycatcher *

rare vagrant

Willow Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher *

rare vagrant

Hammond's Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher

Dusky Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Year round resident. Common along waterways. High pitched "Tchew chew" call gives away location

Eastern Phoebe *

Rare vagrant to Kern. When found normally in marshy areas.

Say's Phoebe

Year round resident. Along with Black Phoebe these are the only flycatchers normally found in Kern in winter. Fence lines near golf courses, good places to find this bird.

Vermilion Flycatcher

desert riparian corridors

This bird nests in the desert and Kern Valley, rare winter vagrant to the central valley.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Great Crested Flycatcher *

rare vagrant

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Tropical Kingbird *

rare vagrant

Cassin's Kingbird

Uncommon. A pair has been nesting and wintering at Lake Ming since 2001. Nesting pair found in Onyx

Western Kingbird

Common summer resident. My son named this the squeaky toy bird when he was 8 years old, the name is apropos as the call of the Western Kingbird does sound like a squeaky dog toy.

Eastern Kingbird *

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher *

Loggerhead Shrike

Uncommon resident. The Loggerhead Shrike is declining nationwide as its habitat, grassland and shrubland disappears to development.

Northern Shrike *

An exceptional visitor from the northern states. This bird has been recorded few times in Kern.

White-eyed Vireo *

Bell's Vireo *

Gray Vireo *

Yellow-throated Vireo *

rare vagrant

Plumbeous Vireo

Cassin's Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo *

rare vagrant

Hutton's Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo *

rare vagrant

Red-eyed Vireo *

Yellow-green Vireo *

rare vagrant

Steller's Jay

Western Scrub-Jay

Pinyon Jay

Clark's Nutcracker

Black-billed Magpie *

exceptional 3X only

Yellow-billed Magpie

American Crow

Common Raven

Horned Lark

Purple Martin

Tree Swallow

Violet-green Swallow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Bank Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Barn Swallow

Mountain Chickadee

Oak Titmouse

Juniper Titmouse* 

desert

Exceptional  winter 1X only

Verdin

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

Pygmy Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Cactus Wren

Rock Wren

Canyon Wren

Bewick's Wren

House Wren

Winter Wren

Marsh Wren

American Dipper

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Dusky Warbler *

Exceptional vagrant

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Western Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

Townsend's Solitaire

Veery *

rare vagrant

Gray-cheeked Thrush *

rare vagrant

Swainson's Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Wood Thrush *

rare vagrant

American Robin

Varied Thrush

Wrentit

Gray Catbird *

rare vagrant

Northern Mockingbird

Sage Thrasher

Brown Thrasher *

rare vagrant

Bendire's Thrasher

California Thrasher

Le Conte's Thrasher

European Starling (I)

Red-throated Pipit *

rare vagrant

American Pipit

Sprague's Pipit *

rare

Bohemian Waxwing *

Cedar Waxwing

Phainopepla

Blue-winged Warbler *

Golden-winged Warbler *

Tennessee Warbler *

Orange-crowned Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Virginia's Warbler *

Lucy's Warbler *

Northern Parula *

Yellow Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler *

Magnolia Warbler *

Cape May Warbler *

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler *

Townsend's Warbler

Hermit Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler *

Yellow-throated Warbler *

Prairie Warbler *

Palm Warbler *

Bay-breasted Warbler *

Blackpoll Warbler *

Cerulean Warbler *

Black-and-white Warbler *

American Redstart *

Prothonotary Warbler *

Worm-eating Warbler *

Ovenbird *

Northern Waterthrush *

Louisiana Waterthrush *

Kentucky Warbler *

Connecticut Warbler*

12 June 1999

Butterbredt Spring

Mourning Warbler *

MacGillivray's Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Hooded Warbler *

Wilson's Warbler

Canada Warbler *

Painted Redstart *

Yellow-breasted Chat

Green-tailed Towhee

Spotted Towhee

California Towhee

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow *

Chipping Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow *

Brewer's Sparrow

Field Sparrow *

Black-chinned Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow

Sage Sparrow

Lark Bunting *

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow *

Le Conte's Sparrow *

Nelson's Sparrow *

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow *

White-throated Sparrow *

Harris's Sparrow *

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

McCown's Longspur *

Lapland Longspur *

Smith's Longspur *

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Rustic Bunting *

Snow Bunting *

Hepatic Tanager*

1 sighting Tom Wurster Fall 2001

Summer Tanager

Scarlet Tanager *

Western Tanager

Rose-breasted Grosbeak *

Black-headed Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak

Lazuli Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Painted Bunting *

Dickcissel *

rRE

Bobolink *

Red-winged Blackbird

Tricolored Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Rusty Blackbird *

Brewer's Blackbird

Common Grackle *

Great-tailed Grackle

Bronzed Cowbird *

Brown-headed Cowbird

Orchard Oriole *

Hooded Oriole

Bullock's Oriole

Baltimore Oriole *

Scott's Oriole

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch *

Pine Grosbeak*

Purple Finch

Cassin's Finch

House Finch

suburban, and most native habitats

Resident breeder in the county in the lower elevations

Red Crossbill

montane species

breeds in conifer forests. Hooked bill tears open pine cones.

Pine Siskin

Lesser Goldfinch

riparian, grassland and chaparral near water source.

resident in varying numbers throughout the county. Breeds in the Kern Valley and Mountains

Lawrence's Goldfinch

riparian, grassland, conifers,  and chaparral near water source.

rare winter records

spring through fall

breeds in Kern River Valley and mountains

American Goldfinch

riparian and grassland habitats

winter resident in varying numbers like most goldfinches numbers tend to be irruptive

Evening Grosbeak

rare winter visitant to Kern River Valley

breeds in Piute Moutains

House Sparrow (I)

Countywide human habitations and agricultural fields especially those with sludge or manure based fertilizers.

Common to abundant. First appeared in Bakersfield in 1901 and in Tehachapi 1903.

FYI: Recent American Ornithologist's Union checklists and supplements 36th through 48th editions yield the following changes relevant to Kern County birders. Changes to taxonomic nomenclature current as of 28 July 2007.

AOU 36th supplement, 1987. Red-eyed Vireo was split, with Yellow-green Vireo, Vireo flavoviridus recognized as a full species.

AOU 37th supplement, 1989. Collared Dove changed to Eurasian Collared-Dove. Common Barn Owl changed to Barn Owl. Western Flycatcher was split into Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis and Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis. (Pacific-slope Flycatcher is found in our area and resides in and to the west of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountains, while the Cordilleran species is found to the east). Eye-browed Thrush spelling changed to  Eyebrowed Thrush. Water Pipit changed to American Pipit, Anthus rubescens. Brown Towhee was split into California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis and Canyon Towhee, Pipilo fuscus.

AOU 38th supplement, 1991. no changes relevant to Kern County.

AOU 39th supplement, 1994. Green-backed Heron changed to Green Heron, Butorides virescens. Lesser Golden-Plover split into American Golden-Plover, Pluvialis dominica (spelling change in 40th, revised in 41st) and Pacific Golden-Plover, Pluvialis fulva. Herring Gull was split into Herring Gull, Larus argentatus and Yellow-legged Gull, Larus cachinnans. Black-shouldered Kite reverts to White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus. Rosy Finch reverts to three separate species. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis, Black Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte atrata, and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte australis.

AOU 40th supplement, 1995. Great Egret changed to Ardea alba. Northern Flicker was split into Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus and Gilded Flicker, Colaptes chrysoides. Scrub Jay was split into Western Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica, Florida Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma coeruluscens, and Island Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma insularis. Gray-cheeked Thrush split into Gray-cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus and Bicknell's Thrush, Catharus bicknelli. Rufous-sided Towhee was (re)split into Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus and Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus. Sharp-tailed Sparrow was split into Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus caudacutus and Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni. Northern Oriole was (re)split into Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula and Bullock's Oriole, Icterus bullockii.

AOU 41st supplement, 1997. Ross' Goose spelling changed to Ross's Goose. Harris' Hawk spelling changed to Harris's Hawk. Burrowing Owl changed back to Athene cunicularia. (It was changed in the 38th but reverts in the 41st). Lewis' Woodpecker spelling changed to Lewis's Woodpecker. Olive-sided Flycatcher changed to species cooperi. Cliff Swallow and Cave Swallow changed to genus Petrochelidon. Titmice changed to genus Baeolophus. Plain Titmouse was split into Juniper Titmouse, Baeolophus griseus and Oak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus. (Oak Titmouse occurs commonly in our area, in the Sierra Nevada mountains and west and the Juniper Titmouse occurs east of the Sierra Nevada but is exceptionally rare in Kern). Chickadees changed to the genus Poecile. Solitary Vireo was split into Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius, Plumbeous Vireo, Vireo plumbeus and Cassin's Vireo, Vireo cassini. Harris' Sparrow spelling changed to Harris's Sparrow.

AOU 42nd supplement, 2000. Oldsquaw common name changed to Long-tailed Duck. Black-billed Magpie specific epithet changed to Pica hudsonia. Juniper Titmouse specific epithet changed to Baeolophus ridgwayi (42^nd).

AOU 43rd supplement, 2002. Roseate Spoonbill genus changed to Platalea ajaja. Common Snipe Split--G. galinago delicata becomes Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata. G. galinago galinago becomes Common Snipe, Galinago galinago, our local species is Wilson's Snipe, where Common Snipe distributed in Eurasia. Red Phalarope specific epithet gender changed to match genus Phalaropus fulicarius. Blue Grosbeak genus changed to Passerina caerulea.

AOU 44th supplement, 2003. Anseriformes and Galliformes move above Gaviiformes due to recent DNA evidence. Columba livia common name changes to Rock Pigeon to conform with British Ornithologists’ Union (1992) usage. Band-tailed Pigeon genus changed to Patagioenas fasciata.  Western Screech-Owl genus changed to Megascops kennicottii. Many changes are anticipated especially within the Passeriformes. Look to the 45th supplement to offer significant changes in order and relationships.

AOU 45th supplement, 2004. Cackling Goose has been split and is now a separate species from Canada Goose: Kern County records are for one subspecies of Canada Goose, Branta canadensis moffitti and two subspecies of Cackling Goose,  Branta hutchinsii leucopareia and B. h. minima. See Angus Wilson's explanation of Canada Goose subspecies web site at ... http://www.oceanwanderers.com/CAGO.Subspecies.html. Spotted Sandpiper specific epithet gender changed to match genus Actitis macularius.

AOU 46th supplement, 2005. No changes relevant to Kern County.

AOU 47th supplement, 2006. Blue Grouse has been split to coastal populations Sooty Grouse - Dendragapus fuliginosus and interior populations Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus. Kern and Tulare County species now named Sooty Grouse because of the yellow gular sacs and the strong deep hoot. Changed Ringed-turtle Dove - Streptopelia risoria to conform with name from native populations African Collared-Dove - Streptopelia roseogrisea (I). Changed scientific names of Least Tern - Sternula antillarum, Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia, Wandering Tatter - Tringa incana and Willet - Tringa semipalmata.  Rearranged order of some Scolopacidae, and Sterninae.

AOU 48th supplement, 2007. The family Cathartidae is moved back to the Order FALCONIFORMES just before the Suborder ACCIPITRES under the heading Suborder CATHARTAE: American Vultures. This family was moved to the order Ciconiiformes (AOU 1998) but is now tentatively returned to the order Falconiformes after re-evaluation of the reasons for the earlier change. Further, some genetic studies (Cracraft et al. 2004, Fain and Houde 2004, Ericson et al. 2006) have shown that the New World vultures are not closely related to the storks, although their precise phylogenetic relationship to the Falconiformes is yet undetermined. Genus of Belted Kingfisher changes to Megaceryle alcyon from Ceryle alcyon.

AOU 49th supplement, 2008. The order of Laridae changed significantly as a result of the 2008 update to the 7th edition in addition the following generic changes Larus philadelphia changed to Chroicocephalus philadelphia (Bonaparte’s Gull), Larus minutus changed to Hydrocoloeus minutus (Little Gull) Larus atricilla changed to Leucophaeus atricilla (Laughing Gull) Larus pipixcan changed to Leucophaeus pipixcan (Franklin’s Gull).

AOL  50th supplement, 2009. These are the following changes pertinent to Kern County only. The sequence of families and subfamilies in GALLIFORMES were changed to: ODONTOPHORIDAE, PHASIANIDAE, Phasianinae, Tetraoninae, Meleagridinae: Quail are now before Chukar, Grouse, and Turkey.
The common name of Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow was shortened to Nelson’s Sparrow.
The Genus Piranga (Tanagers) was moved into Cardinalidae in front of the genus Pheucticus.
The genus of all of the goldfinches in Kern changed in the 50th supplement, from Carduelis to Spinus, therefore the following four species are now: Spinus pinus (Pine Siskin), Spinus psaltria (Lesser Goldfinch), Spinus lawrencei (Lawrence’s Goldfinch), Spinus tristis (American Goldfinch).

References Used:

American Ornithologist's Union, 2009, "Fiftieth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 126(3):705−714.

American Ornithologist's Union, 2008, "Forty-ninth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," The Auk 125(3):758–76.

American Ornithologist's Union, 2007, "Forty-eighth Supplement to the American Ornithologist' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 124(3): 1109-1115.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2006, "Forty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 123(3):926–936.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2004, "Forty-fifth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 121:985-995.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2003, "Forty-fourth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 120:923–932.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2002, "Forty-third Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 119:897-906.

American Ornithologists' Union, 2000, "Forty-second Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 117:847-858.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1997, "Forty-first Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 114:542-552.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1995, "Fortieth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 112:819-830.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1994, "Thirty-ninth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 110:675-682.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1991, "Thirty-eighth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 108:750-754.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1989, "Thirty-seventh Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 106:532-538.

American Ornithologists' Union, 1987, "Thirty-sixth Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds," Auk 104:591-596.

Grinnell, J., and A. H. Miller. 1944. The Distribution of the Birds of California. Cooper Ornithological Club, reprint Artemisia Press 1986.

My thanks to site reviewers: Bob Barnes, Guy McCaskie, Brennan Mulrooney, and John Wilson

Recommended Reading / Listening

Birder's Guide to Northern California, LoLo & Jim Westrich

A Birder's Guide to Southern California (Lane/Aba Birdfinding Guide.), Brad Schram

Birder's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds, Paul Ehrlich

Bird Songs of California audio CD, Geoff Keller, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Birds of My Region, Our Birds, Thayer Birding Software

Birds of North America, Kaufman Focus Guides, Kenn Kaufman, Houghton Mifflin Co.

California, National Audubon Society Regional Field Guides, Peter Alden, Random House

California Birds, Their Status and Distribution, Arnold Small, Ph.D., Ibis Publishing Co.

The Condor's Shadow, The Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America, David S. Wilcove, W.H. Freeman

The Distribution of the Birds of California, Joseph Grinnell, Alden Mille

Guide to Birds of North America v3 Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Thayer Birding Software

An Introduction to Northern California Birds, Herbert Clarke

An Introduction to Southern California Birds, Herbert Clarke

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America 5th Ed., Jon L. Dunn, Jonathan Alderfer, Editors

Sibley Guide to Birds: Audubon Society Nature Guides Series, David A. Sibley

Voices of New World Parrots, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Watchable Birds of California, Mary Taylor Gray, Mountain Press

Watchable Birds of the Great Basin, David Lukas, Mountain Press

Western Birds, Peterson Field Guides, Roger Tory Peterson, Houghton Mifflin Co.

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, David A. Sibley