Birds of Orange County, California
Compiled by Peter J. Bryant, mainly from the photographs of John Avise, University of California, Irvine
Click on images or names to open. 278 species illustrated

Exotic species, yellow background

Taxonomy From the American Ornithological Union (1998)

 

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) GAVIIFORMES:Gaviidae (Loons)   


Common Poorwill,
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

 
Common Loon,
Gavia immer

Pacific Loon,
Gavia pacifica

Red-throated Loon,
Gavia stellata
PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae (Grebes)

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
       
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Hydrobatidae (Storm Petrels)   Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)

Ashy Storm-petrel,
Oceanodrama homochroa
   
Black-footed Albatross,
Diomedia nigripes

Northern fulmar,
Fulmarus glacialis
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels) cont.

Buller's Shearwater,
Puffinis bulleri

Pink-footed Shearwater,
Puffinus creatopus

Sooty Shearwater,
Puffinus griseus

Black-vented Shearwater,
Puffinus opisthomelas

Manx Shearwater,
Puffinus puffinus
PELECANIFORMES
Sulidae (Gannets and Boobies) Pelecanidae (Pelicans)  

Brown Booby,
Sula leucogaster

Red-footed Booby,
Sula sula

American White Pelican,
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Brown Pelican,
Pelecanus occidentalis
 
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)  

Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus

Neotropic Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Pelagic Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Brandt's Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
 
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)    

White-faced Ibis,
Plegadis chihi

Roseate Spoonbill,
Platalea ajaja
     
CICONIIFORMES
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Great Egret,
Ardea alba

Great Blue Heron,
Ardea herodias

American Bittern,
Botaurus lentiginosus

Cattle Egret,
Bubulcus ibis

Green Heron,
Butoroides virescens

Little Blue Heron,
Egretta caerulea

Reddish Egret,
Egretta rufescens

Snowy Egret,
Egretta thula


Tricolored Heron,
Egretta tricolor


Least Bittern,
Ixobrychus exilis

Black-crowned Night Heron,
Nycricorax nycticorax
       
ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae (Swans, Geese and Ducks)

Egyptian Goose,
Alopochen aegyptiacus

Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons

Graylag (Barnyard) Goose,
Anser Anser

Swan Goose, Anser cygnoides

Brant,
Branta bernicla

Canada Goose,
Branta canadensis

Cackling Goose,
Branta hutchinsii

Snow Goose,
Chen caerulescens

Ross' Goose,
Chen rossi
 

Mandarin Duck,
Aix galericulata

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

Eurasian Wigeon,
Anas penelope

Mallard,
Anas platyrhynchos

Gadwall,
Anas strepera

Lesser Scaup,
Aythya affinis

Redhead,
Aythya americana

Ring-necked Duck,
Aythya collaris

Canvasback,
Aythya valisineria

Bufflehead,
Bucephala albeola

Common Goldeneye,
Bucephala clangula

Domestic Muscovy Duck,
Cairina moschata

Hooded Merganser,
Lophodytes cucullatus

Surf Scoter,
Melanitta perspicillata

Red-breasted Merganser,
Mergus serrator

Ruddy Duck,
Oxyura jamaicensis
   
FALCONIFORMES
Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies)

Cooper's Hawk,
Accipiter cooperii

Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Accipiter striatus

Red-tailed Hawk,
Buteo jamaicensis

Red-shouldered Hawk,
Buteo lineatus

Ferruginous Hawk,
Buteo regalis

Swainson's Hawk,
Buteo swainsoni

Northern Harrier,
Circus cyaneus

White-tailed Kite,
Elanus leucurus

Bald Eagle,
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
 
Falconidae (Falcons)  

Merlin,
Falco columbarius

Prairie Falcon,
Falco mexicanus

Peregrine Falcon,
Falco Peregrinus

American Kestrel,
Falco sparverius
 
Cathartidae (Vultures) Pandionidae (Osprey)      

Turkey Vulture,
Cathartes aura

Osprey,
Pandion haliaetus
     
GALLIFORMES
Odontophoridae (Quail) Phasianidae (Pheasants and relatives)  

California Quail,
Callipepla californica
 
Common Peafowl,
Pavo cristatus
   
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)

American Coot,
Fulica americana

Common Moorhen,
Gallinula chloropus


Sora,
Porzana carolina

Virginia Rail,
Rallus limicola

Ridgway's Rail,
Rallus longirostris
CHARADRIIFORMES
Alcidae (Auks)

Pigeon Guillemot,
Cepphus columba

Rhinoceros Auklet,
Cerorhinca monocerata

Cassin's Auklet,
Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Craveri's Murrelet,
Synthliboramphus craveri

Xantus's Murrelet,
Synthliboramphus hypoleucus

Common Murre,
Uria aalge
       
Charadriidae (Plovers)

Snowy Plover,
Charadrius alexandrinus

Semipalmated Plover,
Charadrius semipalmatus

Killdeer,
Charadrius vociferus

Wilson's Plover,
Charadrius wilsonia

Black-bellied Plover,
Pluvialis squatarola
Laridae (Skuas, Jaegers, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers)

Black Tern,
Chlidonius niger

Gull-billed Tern,
Gelochelidon nilotica

Herring Gull,
Larus argentatus

California Gull,
Larus californicus

Mew Gull,
Larus canus

Ring-billed Gull,
Larus delawarensis

Glaucous-winged Gull,
Larus glaucescens

Heermann's Gull,
Larus heermanni

Western Gull,
Larus occidentalis

Bonaparte's Gull,
Larus philadelphia

Franklin's Gull,
Larus pipixcan

Thayer's Gull,
Larus thayeri

Black-legged Kittiwake,
Rissa tridactyla

Black Skimmer,
Rynchops niger

Long-tailed Jaeger,
Stercorarius longicaudus

Least Tern, Sterna antillarum

Caspian Tern, Sterna caspica

Elegant Tern, Sterna elegans

Forster's Tern, Sterna fosteri

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo

Royal Tern, Sterna maxima

Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaca
     
Hematopodidae (Oystercatchers) Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)  

Black Oystercatcher,
Haematopus bachmani

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus

Black-necked Stilt,
Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet,
Recurvirostra americana
 
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Snipes)

Spotted Sandpiper,
Actitis macularia

Surfbird,
Aphriza virgata

Ruddy Turnstone,
Arenaria interpres

Black Turnstone,
Arenaria melanocephala

Sanderling,
Calidris alba

Dunlin,
Calidris alpina

Baird's Sandpiper,
Calidris bairdi

Red Knot,
Calidris canutus

Stilt Sandpiper,
Calidris himantopus

Western Sandpiper,
Calidris mauri

Pectoral Sandpiper,
Calidris melanotos

Least Sandpiper,
Calidris minutilla

Semipalmated Sandpiper,
Calidris pusilla

Willet,
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Wilson's Snipe,
Gallinago delicata

Wandering Tattler,
Heteroscelus incanus

Dowitcher,
Limnodromus sp.

Marbled Godwit,
Limosa fedoa

Bar-tailed Godwit,
Limosa lapponica

Long-billed Curlew,
Numenius americanus

Whimbrel,
Numenius phaeopus

Red Phalarope,
Phalaropus fulicaria

Red-necked Phalarope,
Phalaropus lobatus

Wilson's Phalarope,
Phalaropus tricolor

Ruff,
Philomachus pugnax

Lesser Yellowlegs,
Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs,
Tringa melanoleuca
     
COLUMBIFORMES CUCULIFORMES
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)   Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Band-tailed Pigeon,
Columba fasciata

Rock Pigeon,
Columba livia

Mourning Dove,
Zenaida macroura
 
Greater Roadrunner,
Geococcyx californianus
STRIGIFORMES
Strigidae (Typical Owls)

Northern Saw-whet Owl,
Aegolius acadicus

Long-eared Owl,
Asio otus

Great Horned Owl,
Bubo virginianus

Western Screech-Owl,
Megascops kennicottii

Burrowing Owl,
Speotyto canicularia
Tytonidae (Barn Owls)        

Barn Owl,
Tyto alba
       
APODIFORMES
Apodidae (Swifts)   Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

White-throated Swift,
Aeronautes saxatalis

Vaux's Swift,
Chaetura vauxi
 
Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilochus alexand

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds), cont.

Anna's Hummingbird,
Calypte anna

Costa's Hummingbird,
Calypte costae

Rufous Hummingbird,
Selasphorus rufus

Calliope Hummingbird,
Stellula calliope
 
CORACIIFORMES
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)        

Belted Kingfisher,
Megaceryle alcyon
       
PICIFORMES
Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Northern Flicker (red-shafted form), Colaptes auratus

Acorn Woodpecker,
Melanerpes formicivorus

Lewis's Woodpecker,
Melanerpes lewis

Nuttall's Woodpecker,
Picoides nuttallii

Downy Woodpecker,
Picoides pubescens

Hairy Woodpecker,
Picoides villosus

Red-naped Sapsucker,
Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
 
PASSERIFORMES (Songbirds)
Aegithalidae (Bushtits) Alaudidae (Larks) Bombycillidae (Waxwings) Cardinalidae (Cardinals)

Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Horned Lark,
Eremophila alpestris

Cedar Waxwing,
Bombycilla cedrorum

Blue Grosbeak,
Guiraca caerulea

Lazuli Bunting,
Passerina amoena
Cardinalidae
(Cardinals, cont.)
Chamaeidae (Wrentit) Corvidae (Jays, Crows and Ravens)

Black-headed Grosbeak,
Pheyticus melanocephalus

Wrentit,
Chamaea fasciata

Western Scrub-jay,
Aphelocoma californica

American Crow,
Corvus brachyhynchus

Common Raven,
Corvus corax
Emberizidae (Sparrows and Allies)

Rufous-crowned Sparrow,
Aimophila ruficeps

Grasshopper Sparrow,
Ammodramus savannarum

Lark Sparrow,
Chondestes grammacus

Dark-eyed Junco,
Junco hyemalis

Swamp Sparrow,
Melospiza georgiana

Lincoln's Sparrow,
Melospiza lincolnii

Song Sparrow,
Melospiza melodia

Savannah Sparrow,
Passerculus sandwichensis

Fox Sparrow,
Passerella iliaca

Spotted Towhee,
Pipilo maculatus

Black-chinned Sparrow,
Spizella atrogularis

Brewer's Sparrow,
Spizella breweri

California Towhee,
Pipilo Crissalis

Chipping Sparrow,
Soizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow,
Spizella pallida
Emberizidae (Sparrows and Allies, cont.)   Estrildidae (Weaver Finches)

Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla

White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophyrs
 
Nutmeg Mannikin,
Lonchura punctulata
 
Fringillidae (Finches)

Lawrence's Goldfinch,
Carduelis lawrencei

Lesser Goldfinch,
Carduelis psaltria

American Goldfinch,
Carduelis tristis

House Finch,
Carpodacus mexicanus

Purple Finch,
Carpodacus purpureus
Hirundinidae (Swallows)  

Cliff Swallow,
Hirundo pyrrhonota

Barn Swallow,
Hirundo rustica

Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Tree Swallow,
Tachycineta bicolor
 
Icteridae (Blackbirds, Orioles and Allies)

Red-winged Blackbird,
Agelaius phoeniceus

Tricolored Blackbird,
Agelaius tricolor

Brewer's Blackbird,
Euphagus cyanocephalus

Bullock's Oriole,
Icterus bullockii

Hooded Oriole,
Icterus cucullatus

Brown-headed Cowbird,
Molothrus ater

Great-tailed Grackle,
Quiscalus mexicanus

Western Meadowlark,
Sturnella neglecta

Yellow-headed Blackbird,
Xanthocephalus xanthocephales
Laniidae (Shrikes) Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) Motacillidae (Pipits)  

Loggerhead Shrike,
Lanius ludovicianus

Northern Mockingbird,
Mimus polyglottos

California Thrasher,
Toxostoma redivivum

American Pipit,
Anthus rubescens
 
Paridae (Titmice)      

Oak Titmouse,
Baeolophus inornatus

Mountain Chickadee,
Poecile gambeli

     
Parulidae (New-world Warblers)

Yellow-rumped Warbler,
Dendroica (Setophaga) coronata

Black-throated-Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens

Hermit Warbler,
Dendroica occidentalis

Yellow Warbler,
Dendroica petechia

Blackpoll Warbler,
Dendroica striata

Townsend's Warbler,
Dendroica townsendi

Common Yellowthroat,
Geothlypis trichas

Yellow-breasted Chat,
Icteria virens

Black-and-White Warbler,
Mniotilta varia

MacGillivray's Warbler,
Oporornis tolmiei

Prothonotary Warbler,
Protonotaria citrea

Orange-crowned Warbler,
Vermivora celata

Tennessee Warbler,
Vermivora peregrina

Nashville Warbler,
Vermivora ruficapilla

Wilson's Warbler,
Wilsonia pusilla
Passeridae
(Old World Sparrows)
Ploceidae
(Weavers)
Polioptilidae
(Gnatcatchers)
Ptilogonatidae
(Silky Flycatchers)

House Sparrow,
Passer domesticus

Orange Bishop,
Euplectes franciscanus

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher,
Polioptila caerulea

California Gnatcatcher,
Polioptila californica

Phainopepla,
Phainopepla nitens

Regulidae (Kinglets)

Sittidae (Nuthatches) Sternidae (Starlings) Thraupidae (Tanagers)  

Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
Regulus calendula

White-breasted Nuthatch,
Sitta carolinensis

European Starling,
Sternux vulgarus

Western Tanager,
Piranga ludoviciana
 
Troglodytidae (Wrens)

Cactus Wren,
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Marsh Wren,
Cistothorus palustris

Rock Wren,
Salpinctes obsoletus

Bewick's Wren,
Thryomanes bewickii

House Wren,
Troglodytes aedon
Turdidae (Thrushes)

Hermit Thrush,
Catharus guttatus

Swainson's Thrush,
Catharus ustulatus

Varied Thrush,
Ixoreus naevius

Western Bluebird,
Sialia mexicana

Mountain Bluebird,
Sialia currucoides

American Robin,
Turdus migratorius
       
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Olive-sided Flycatcher,
Contopus borealis

Western Wood-pewee,
Contopus pertinex


Pacific-slope Flycatcher,
Empidonx difficilis

Ash-throated Flycatcher,
Myiarchus cinerascens

Vermillion Flycatcher,
Pyrocephalus rubinus

Black Phoebe,
Sayornis nigricans

Eastern Phoebe,
Sayornis phoebe

Say's Phoebe,
Sayornis saya

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher,
Tyrannus forficatus

Western Kingbird,
Tyrannus verticalis
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) cont.     Viduidae (Whydahs)

Cassin's Kingbird,
Tyrannus vociferans
     
Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura
Vireonidae (Vireos)

Bell's Vireo, Vireo belli

Cassin's Vireo, Vireo cassinii

Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus

Hutton's Vireo, Vireo huttoni

Plumbeous Vireo, Vireo plumbaeus
PSITTACIFORMES (Parrots)
Psittacidae (parrots, cockatoos, and relatives)  

Red-lored Parrot,
Amazona autumnalis


Lilac-crowned Parrot,
Amazona finschi


Yellow-headed Parrot,
Amazona oratrix

Red-crowned Parrot,
Amazona viridigenalis

Mitred Parakeet,
Aratinga mitrata

Rose-ringed Parakeet,
Psittacula krameri
       
Back Bay Birds (Avifauna of Upper Newport Bay, California)
Return to Natural History of Orange County, California