Birds of Kern County, California

bold italics with asterisk * = CBRC review species

ITALICS WITH ASTERISK * = exceptional, rare visitants or vagrants

(E) = endangered species; (T) = threatened species; (FP) = Fully Protected by CDFG; (CSC) = species of concern; sensitive = listed as sensitive with USFS or BLM; (W) = Audubon watch list; (I) = introduced

Total number of species: 428 native + 14 introduced = 442 (California Condor may be treated as introduced)

LINK to: Birds of Kern County, California: A photo checklist

 

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck*

Dendrocygna autumnalis

 

 

Fulvous Whistling-Duck *

Dendrocygna bicolor

(CSC)

 

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

 

 

Snow Goose

Chen caerulescens

 

 

Ross’s Goose

Chen rossii

 

 

Brant *

Branta bernicla

 

 

Cackling Goose

Branta hutchinsii

 

 

Canada Goose

Branta canadensis

 

 

Trumpeter Swan *

Cygnus buccinator

(FP)(W)

 

Tundra Swan

Cygnus columbianus

 

 

Muscovy Duck

Cairina moschata

(I)

 

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa

 

 

Gadwall

Anas strepera

 

 

Eurasian Wigeon *

Anas penelope

 

 

American Wigeon

Anas americana

 

 

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

 

 

Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors

 

 

Cinnamon Teal

Anas cyanoptera

 

 

Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata

 

 

Northern Pintail

Anas acuta

 

 

Garganey *

Anas querquedula

 

 

Green-winged Teal

Anas crecca

 

 

Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

 

 

Redhead

Aythya americana

 

 

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

 

 

Tufted Duck *

Aythya fuligula

 

 

Greater Scaup *

Aythya marila

 

 

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

 

 

Surf Scoter *

Melanitta perspicillata

 

 

White-winged Scoter *

Melanitta fusca

 

 

Long-tailed Duck *

Clangula hyemalis

 

 

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

 

 

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

 

 

Barrow’s Goldeneye *

Bucephala islandica

(CSC)

 

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

 

 

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

 

 

Red-breasted Merganser *

Mergus serrator

 

 

Ruddy Duck

Oxyura jamaicensis

 

 

Chukar 

Alectoris chukar

(I)

 

Ring-necked Pheasant 

Phasianus colchicus

(I)

 

Common Peafowl

Pavo cristatus

(I)

 

Sooty Grouse *

Dendragapus fuliginosus

(W)

 

Wild Turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

(I)

 

Mountain Quail

Oreortyx pictus

(W)

 

California Quail

Callipepla californica

 

 

Gambel’s Quail

Callipepla gambelii

(I)

 

Red-throated Loon *

Gavia stellata

 

 

Pacific Loon *

Gavia pacifica

 

 

Common Loon

Gavia immer

(CSC)

 

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

 

 

Horned Grebe *

Podiceps auritus

 

 

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

 

 

Eared Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

 

 

Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis

 

 

Clark’s Grebe

Aechmophorus clarkii

(W)

 

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

(CSC)

 

Brown Pelican *

Pelecanus occidentalis

(E) (FP)

 

Double-crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

(CSC)

 

Magnificent Frigatebird *

Fregata magnificens

 

 

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

 

 

Least Bittern *

Ixobrychus exilis

(CSC)

 

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias

sensitive

 

Great Egret

Ardea alba

sensitive

 

Snowy Egret

Egretta thula

watch list

 

Little Blue Heron *

Egretta caerulea

 

 

Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis

 

 

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

 

 

Black-crowned Night-Heron 

Nycticorax nycticorax

sensitive

 

White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi

(CSC)

 

Roseate Spoonbill *

Platalea ajaja

 

 

Wood Stork *

Mycteria americana

(CSC)

 

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

 

 

California Condor

Gymnogyps californianus

(E) (FP) (W)

 

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

(CSC)

 

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

(FP)

 

Mississippi Kite *

Ictinia mississippiensis

 

 

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

(SE) (FP)

 

Northern Harrier

Circus cyaneus

(CSC)

 

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

(CSC)

 

Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

(CSC)

 

Northern Goshawk

Accipiter gentilis

(CSC)

 

Common Black Hawk *

Buteogallus anthracinus

 

 

Harris’s Hawk *

Parabuteo unicinctus

(I) (CSC)

 

Red-shouldered Hawk

Buteo lineatus

 

 

Broad-winged Hawk *

Buteo platypterus

 

 

Swainson’s Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

(ST-CA)(W)

 

Zone-tailed Hawk *

Buteo albonotatus

 

 

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

 

 

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

(CSC)

 

Rough-legged Hawk

Buteo lagopus

 

 

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

(CSC) (FP)

 

Crested Caracara*

Caracara cheriway

FT

 

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

 

 

Merlin

Falco columbarius

(CSC)

 

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

(FP)

 

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

(CSC)

 

Virginia Rail

Rallus limicola

 

 

Sora

Porzana carolina

 

 

Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus

 

 

American Coot

Fulica americana

 

 

Sandhill Crane

Grus canadensis

(ST-Greater) (FP)

 

Black-bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

 

 

American Golden-Plover *

Pluvialis dominica

(W)

 

Pacific Golden-Plover *

Pluvialis fulva

 

 

Snowy Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus

(FT) (CSC)(W)

 

Semipalmated Plover *

Charadrius semipalmatus

 

 

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus

 

 

Mountain Plover

Charadrius montanus

(CSC)(W)

 

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

 

 

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

 

 

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

 

 

Solitary Sandpiper *

Tringa solitaria

 

 

Wandering Tattler *

Tringa incana

(W)

 

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

 

 

Willet

Tringa semipalmata

 

 

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

 

 

Wood Sandpiper *

Tringa glareola

 

 

Upland Sandpiper *

Bartramia longicauda

 

 

Whimbrel *

Numenius phaeopus

 

 

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

(CSC)(W)

Hudsonian Godwit *

Limosa haemastica

(W)

 

Marbled Godwit *

Limosa fedoa

(W)

 

Ruddy Turnstone *

Arenaria interpres

 

 

Black Turnstone *

Arenaria melanocephala

(W)

 

Red Knot *

Calidris canutus

 

 

Sanderling *

Calidris alba

 

 

Semipalmated Sandpiper *

Calidris pusilla

 

 

Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri

 

 

Red-necked Stint *

Calidris ruficollis

 

 

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

 

 

White-rumped Sandpiper *

Calidris fuscicollis

 

 

Baird’s Sandpiper *

Calidris bairdii

 

 

Pectoral Sandpiper *

Calidris melanotos

 

 

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *

Calidris acuminata

 

 

Dunlin

Calidris alpina

 

 

Curlew Sandpiper *

Calidris ferruginea

 

 

Stilt Sandpiper *

Calidris himantopus

 

 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper *

Tryngites subruficollis

 

 

Ruff *

Philomachus pugnax

 

 

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

 

 

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

 

 

Wilson’s Snipe

Gallinago delicata

 

 

Wilson’s Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

 

 

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

 

 

Red Phalarope *

Phalaropus fulicarius

 

 

Black-legged Kittiwake *

Rissa tridactyla

 

 

Sabine’s Gull *

Xema sabini

 

 

Bonaparte’s Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

 

 

Little Gull *

Hydrocoloeus minutus

 

 

Laughing Gull *

Leucophaeus atricilla

(CSC)

 

Franklin’s Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

 

 

Heermann’s Gull

Larus heermanni

 

 

Mew Gull *

Larus canus

 

 

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

 

 

Western Gull *

Larus occidentalis

 

 

Yellow-footed Gull *

Larus livens

 

 

California Gull

Larus californicus

(CSC)

 

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

 

 

Thayer’s Gull *

Larus thayeri

 

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull*

Larus fuscus

Susan Steele 21 Dec 08 BV Lake

 

Glaucous-winged Gull *

Larus glaucescens

 

 

Glaucous Gull *

Larus hyperboreus

 

 

Least Tern *

Sternula antillarum

(SE) (FE) (FP)

 

Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

 

 

Black Tern

Chlidonias niger

(CSC)

 

Common Tern

Sterna hirundo

 

 

Arctic Tern *

Sterna paradisaea

 

 

Forster’s Tern

Sterna forsteri

 

 

Black Skimmer *

Rynchops niger

(CSC)

 

Pomarine Jaeger *

Stercorarius pomarinus

 

 

Parasitic Jaeger *

Stercorarius parasiticus

 

 

Long-tailed Jaeger *

Stercorarius longicaudus

 

 

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

(I)

 

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

 

 

African Collared-Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

(I)

 

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

(I)

 

Spotted Dove

Streptopelia chinensis

(I)

 

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

 

 

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

 

 

Inca Dove *

Columbina inca

 

 

Common Ground-Dove

Columbina passerina

 

 

Ruddy Ground-Dove *

Columbina talpacoti

 

 

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Psittacula krameri

(I)

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

(SE)

 

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

 

 

Groove-billed Ani *

Crotophaga sulcirostris

 

 

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

 

 

Flammulated Owl

Otus flammeolus

 

 

Western Screech-Owl

Megascops kennicottii

 

 

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

 

 

Northern Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium gnoma

 

 

Burrowing Owl

Athene cunicularia

(CSC)

 

Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

(CSC)

 

Long-eared Owl

Asio otus

(CSC)

 

Short-eared Owl

Asio flammeus

(CSC)

 

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

 

 

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

 

 

Common Nighthawk 

Chordeiles minor

 

 

Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

 

 

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

(CSC)

 

Chimney Swift *

Chaetura pelagica

 

 

Vaux’s Swift

Chaetura vauxi

(CSC)

 

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

 

 

Broad-billed Hummingbird *

Cynanthus latirostris

 

 

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

 

 

Anna’s Hummingbird

Calypte anna

 

 

Costa’s Hummingbird

Calypte costae

watch list

 

Calliope Hummingbird

Stellula calliope

 

 

Broad-tailed Hummingbird *

Selasphorus platycercus

 

 

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

 

 

Allen’s Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

 

 

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

 

 

Lewis’s Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

watch list

 

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

 

 

Williamson’s Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

 

 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker *

Sphyrapicus varius

 

 

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

 

 

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

watch list

 

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Picoides scalaris

 

 

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Picoides nuttallii

watch list

 

Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens

 

 

Hairy Woodpecker

Picoides villosus

 

 

White-headed Woodpecker

Picoides albolarvatus

watch list

 

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

 

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

watch list

 

Western Wood-Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

 

 

Eastern Wood-Pewee *

Contopus virens

 

 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher *

Empidonax flaviventris

 

 

Alder Flycatcher *

Empidonax alnorum

 

 

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

(SE full species) (FE - extimus)

 

Least Flycatcher *

Empidonax minimus

 

 

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

 

 

Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii

 

 

Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

 

 

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

 

 

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

 

 

Eastern Phoebe *

Sayornis phoebe

 

 

Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

 

 

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

(CSC)

 

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

 

 

Great Crested Flycatcher *

Myiarchus crinitus

 

 

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

(CSC)

 

Tropical Kingbird *

Tyrannus melancholicus

 

 

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

 

 

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

 

 

Eastern Kingbird *

Tyrannus tyrannus

 

 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher *

Tyrannus forficatus

 

 

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

(CSC)

 

Northern Shrike *

Lanius excubitor

 

 

White-eyed Vireo *

Vireo griseus

 

 

Bell’s Vireo *

Vireo bellii

(FE) (SE)

 

Gray Vireo

Vireo vicinior

(CSC)

 

Yellow-throated Vireo *

Vireo flavifrons

 

 

Plumbeous Vireo *

Vireo plumbeus

 

 

Cassin's Vireo

Vireo cassinii

 

 

Blue-headed Vireo *

Vireo solitarius

 

 

Hutton’s Vireo

Vireo huttoni

 

 

Warbling Vireo

Vireo gilvus

 

 

Philadelphia Vireo *

Vireo philadelphicus

 

 

Red-eyed Vireo *

Vireo olivaceus

 

 

Yellow-green Vireo *

Vireo flavoviridis

 

 

Steller’s Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri

 

 

Western Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma californica

 

 

Pinyon Jay

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

 

 

Clark’s Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

 

 

Black-billed Magpie *

Pica hudsonia

 

 

Yellow-billed Magpie *

Pica nuttalli

watch list

 

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

 

 

Common Raven

Corvus corax

 

 

Horned Lark

Eremophila alpestris

(CSC)