In an effort to learn more about the birds that occur in our county, this is a request for information on bird sightings, mainly for the Los Angeles County North American Bird files, but also for the general public knowledge. A current county checklist may be found here.
This list does not include the Channel Islands in Los Angeles County; however we are interested in all trip reports from the islands (Santa Catalina and San Clemente), particularly if they include counts of species. Any sighting can be reported privately to us, but please report rarities (unless on private property) to the Los Angeles County list serve (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LACoBirds/).
Observations that we would like reports of include: all rarities, including all CBRC review species (with documentation; see: here), all records of endangered/threatened species, and "Bird Species of Special Concern" (see below); departure and arrival dates for all migratory species, arrival dates of migrants (i.e. the first fall migrant passerines away from breeding areas may show up while breeding birds are still present) high counts, "out of season" ("summer" birds "wintering" and "winter" birds "summering") sightings, records away from usual habitats, or absence of a species where/when it was expected. We request that breeding records be submitted using standard Breeding Bird Atlas Codes if possible (https://www.uwgb.edu/birds/wbba/breedcodes.htm).
Ebird (http://ebird.org) is especially useful for reporting birds, and we welcome you to forward us trip reports.
For protected species and those of conservation concern (click here for a list), we encourage observers to submit sighting forms to the California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB), found here. A list of protected bird species known to occur in Los Angeles County is provided at the end of this document. Sightings of many of these sensitive species are urgently needed, particularly from poorly-known locations such as private property and remote areas of the county. Agencies use this database to track species' distributions, and conservations rely on these records to fight for critical bird habitat.
The following species are significant enough in Los Angeles County that wish to receive reports, including date, location and number, on *any* sightings of them made within the county.
Taking field notes on all is recommended, but asterisked (*) species are those that are truly rare region-wide, and they should be accompanied with a complete description, including photos/video.:
Fulvous Whistling-Duck*
Any (wild) goose except Canada
Trumpeter Swan*
Tundra Swan
Eurasian Wigeon
Common (Eurasian) Teal*
Garganey*
Tufted Duck*
Long-tailed Duck
Black Scoter
White-winged Scoter
King Eider*
Harlequin Duck*
Chukar
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Yellow-billed Loon*
Red-necked Grebe*
albatross (any)
petrel* (Pterodroma sp.) (any)
Flesh-footed Shearwater*
Buller's Shearwater
Short-tailed Shearwater
Manx Shearwater*
Ashy Storm-Petrel
Wilson's Storm-Petrel*
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel*
Least Storm-Petrel
tropicbird (any)*
booby (any)*
Magnificent Frigatebird*
American Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Reddish Egret
Cattle Egret
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron*
Wood Stork*
Roseate Spoonbill*
California Condor*
Mississippi Kite*
Northern Goshawk*
Bald Eagle
Harris's Hawk*
Broad-winged Hawk*
Swainson's Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk*
Rough-legged Hawk*
Crested Caracara*
Yellow*/Black*/Clapper rail
Sandhill Crane
Mountain Plover
Pacific Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover*
Piping Plover*
American Oystercatcher*
Gray-tailed Tattler*
Hudsonian Godwit*
Bar-tailed Godwit*
Red-necked/Little stint*
White-rumped Sandpiper*
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper*
Rock Sandpiper*
Curlew Sandpiper*
Red Knot
Stilt Sandpiper*
Buff-breasted Sandpiper*
South Polar Skua
Long-tailed Jaeger*
Laughing Gull*
Franklin's Gull
Little Gull*
Black-headed Gull*
Lesser Black-backed Gull*
Yellow-footed Gull*
Glaucous Gull*
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Black Skimmer
Sandwich Tern*
Gull-billed Tern*
Common Murre
Thick-billed Murre*
Xantus's Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet
Craveri's Murrelet
Ancient Murrelet
Horned/Tufted Puffin*
White-winged Dove
Ruddy Ground-Dove*
Inca Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
Grove-billed Ani*
Any owl other than Barn, Great Horned and Western Screech-Owl
Common Nighthawk*
Whip-poor-will*
Chimney Swift*
Broad-billed Hummingbird*
Violet-crowned Hummingbird*
Broad-tailed Hummingbird*
Red-headed Woodpecker*
Gila Woodpecker*
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker*
Greater Pewee*
Least Flycatcher*
Gray Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe*
Vermilion Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher*
Great Crested Flycatcher*
Brown-crested Flycatcher*
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher*
Tropical Kingbird*
Thick-billed Kingbird*
Eastern Kingbird*
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher*
Northern Shrike*
All vireos except Hutton's, Warbling and Cassin's
Pinyon Jay*
Yellow-bellied Magpie
Purple Martin
Winter Wren
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Northern Wheatear*
Gray-cheeked Thrush*
Wood Thrush*
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird*
Sage Thrasher
Brown Thrasher*
Bendire's Thrasher*
wagtail* (any)
Red-throated Pipit*
Sprague's Pipit*
Bohemian Waxwing*
Any "eastern" wood-warbler (e.g., Black-and-white, American Redstart)
Any "southwestern" wood-warbler (e.g., Lucy's, Grace's)
Yellow-breasted Chat
Hepatic*, Summer and Scarlet* tanagers
Pyrrhuloxia*
Northern Cardinal*
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting*
Dickcissel*
Cassin's Sparrow*
American Tree Sparrow*
Clay-colored Sparrow
"Red" Fox Sparrow
Lark Bunting*
"Large-billed" Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow*
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow*
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow*
Any longspur*
Bobolink
Tricolored Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird*
Common Grackle*
Bronzed Cowbird*
Orchard Oriole*
Baltimore Oriole*
Red Crossbill
Evening Grosbeak*
Species Detail: We are very interested in receiving details on the following species within the parameters listed.
Brant: All non-coastal records, and all records outside the March-April migration window.
Wood Duck: All records away from areas with resident populations (Franklin Canyon Res., Descanso Gardens, L.A. Arboretum).
Dabbling Ducks (Anas): Breeding records of all species except Mallard. All records of over-summering (May-July) birds except Mallard, Gadwall, and Cinnamon Teal. Late summer/fall arrival of all species except Mallard, Gadwall and Cinnamon Teal. High Counts. All records of Eurasian Wigeon. Records of hybrids. Records of birds on the ocean.
Diving Ducks: Records for any species (except Ruddy Duck) between 1 May and 30 September; breeding records for any species; records of Redhead away from Piute Ponds; Greater Scaup (away from Playa del Rey/NW L.A. Co. reservoirs); Common Goldeneye (away from Playa del Rey/NW L.A. Co. reservoirs), [Barrow's Goldeneye is UNRECORDED in the county!], Hooded Merganser (away from Los Angeles River, Santa Monica Mtns., Rancho Los Encinos, and other regular wintering areas), Common Merganser on coastal slope, including the ocean; Red-breasted Merganser and scoters away from the ocean.
Partridges: All records of Mountain Quail away from San Gabriel Mtns., and reports from below approximately 3500 feet.
Loons: Summer records (15 June - 31 Aug.); counts of migrants (i.e., birds/unit time); records away from the ocean or flying overland; arrival dates of fall migrants. (note: only Common Loon is expected away from the coast).
Grebes: All breeding records and counts of nests except Pied-billed Grebe. Pied-billed Grebe on the ocean. Arrival and departure dates for Horned, Eared, Western (for both breeding and non breeding birds) and Clark's Grebes (for both breeding and non breeding birds); records of Horned Grebes away from the ocean; records of Horned and Eared Grebes between 1 June and 15 Sept. High counts of flocks/"rafts" of Aechmophorus grebes.
Northern Fulmar: High counts, sightings from shore, and all records between 1 June and 31 Aug.
Shearwaters: High counts of all species and all counts from shore. All winter records of Pink-footed and Sooty shearwaters (1 Nov. - 31 Mar.); spring records of Black-vented Shearwater (1 Mar. - 31 July).
Storm-Petrels: All records from shore, and all records 25 Oct. - 10 Apr. Records of Leach's Storm-Petrel away from vic. Cortez Bank. Subspecies identify of Leach's Storm-petrel.
Pelicans: All records of American White Pelican away from Sepulveda Basin, Santa Fe Dam and Legg Lake. Brown Pelican: high counts at roosting locations, age ratios, sightings away from the ocean and coastal lagoons/river channels, any nesting evidence.
Cormorants: Any nesting records; all summer counts. Brandt's/Pelagic cormorants away from the immediate coast.
Bitterns: All records of Least Bittern away from known breeding areas (Ballona Freshwater Marsh, El Dorado Recreation Area, Legg Lake)
Herons and Egrets: All breeding records (any species), including nest counts (except Black-crowned Night Heron at Piute Ponds). Counts from roosts of over 40 of an individual species. Records of Least Bittern away from Ballona Freshwater Marsh. Records of White-faced Ibis except those in Lancaster area in spring.
Vultures: All suspected breeding records of Turkey Vulture; roosts/ any counts of more than 50 birds.
Osprey: Any nesting evidence.
Eagles: All records of Golden Eagle away from Antelope Valley in winter.
White-tailed Kite: Breeding records, location of roosts (or counts of >3 birds). All records from the Los Angeles Basin from 1 Feb. - 1 July.
Harriers: All records from 1 May - 31 Aug., and all records away from Antelope Valley, especially of over-wintering birds.
Accipiter: Records of Sharp-shinned Hawk from 15 Apr. - 20 Sept. Records of migratory movement involving multiple birds.
Buteo: All records of Ferruginous Hawk away from the Antelope Valley, and arrival/departure dates. Records of Red-shouldered Hawk from the Antelope Valley or from montane areas.
Falcons: All breeding records except of American Kestrel. All Prairie Falcon records away from the Antelope Valley in winter. All records of Merlin from 20 Apr. - 15 Sept. and all records of non- columbarius subspecies.
Rails: All breeding records, records from 1 May - 31 July, except of American Coot.
Plovers: Arrival and departure dates for adults and juvenile Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, records of summering birds (incl. all June records; indicate plumage and condition, age if possible). High (>30) counts of Snowy Plovers, all inland records and coastal sightings away from Zuma Beach, Malibu Lagoon, Santa Monica, Dockweiler, Hermosa, and Cabrillo beaches; all records after 30 Mar. and of potentially breeding birds.
Black Oystercatcher: All breeding records.
Stilts/Avocets: All breeding records; over-wintering records of American Avocet away from lower Los Angeles River.
Sandpipers: Arrival and departure dates for adults and juveniles (indicate plumage and condition, age if possible). Local high counts of birds from areas where shorebird migration is familiar to the observer. Spotted Sandpiper records between 15 May - 30 July from potential breeding habitat (lakes/streams). All records of Solitary, Baird's and Pectoral sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilson's Phalarope aside from late summer records on the lower Los Angeles River and in the Lancaster area. Records of Wandering Tattler, Dunlin, Sanderling, Surfbird, Turnstone (either), Whimbrel. Records of phalaropes away from immediate coast and Lancaster area; counts of phalaropes inshore in excess of 100 birds. Red Phalarope away from open ocean, and all records between 15 April - 15 Sept. Winter records of Short-billed Dowitcher.
Jaegers/Skuas: All inland and from-shore records. Counts of more than 10 individuals; migration counts including duration of observations, all records 1 Nov. - 31 Mar., and 1 June - 31 July.
2-year Gulls: Arrival and departure records of Bonaparte's Gulls, counts of flocks >500 birds. Onshore and summer records of Black-legged Kittiwake; all records of Sabine's Gull onshore and outside of spring/fall migration periods (include age with reports, if possible).
3-year Gulls: Records of Mew Gull away from coast, and all records from 1 May - 30 Sept. Heermann's Gull records away from the immediate coast, high counts (>100) during migration and winter. Include age with reports.
4-year Gulls: All records of Western, Thayer's, Herring and Glaucous-winged Gull from the Antelope Valley, and records of Thayer's and Herring from 1 May - 30 Sept. Arrival and departure dates of all species (except Western). Include age with reports.
Terns: Breeding records of all species (except Least Tern at Venice beach tern exclosure). Inland records of all species except Forster's and Caspian, and Black Tern away from Lancaster area in spring. High counts (>20) and summer records of Forster's and Royal Tern (15 Apr. - 31 Aug.). Winter records of Elegant Tern (1 Nov. - 15 Feb.) and concentrations of >200 birds.
Alcids: Any alcid seen from shore. Pigeon Guillemot records away from the Channel Islands and all records 1 Oct. - 29 Feb. Counts of Cassin's Auklet >20; Non-winter records of Rhinoceros Auklets (15 Apr. - 31 Sept.), and counts >10.
Doves: All records of Spotted Dove away from East Los Angeles (area bounded by I-10, 110 Fwy., 710 Fwy, and Slauson Ave.). All breeding records of Eurasian Collared-Dove, and sightings away from Antelope Valley and Pico Rivera areas. All breeding records of Common Ground Dove, and sightings away from lower San Gabriel River/extreme southeastern L.A. Co. Concentrations of 200+ doves or pigeons (aside from Rock Pigeon).
Cuckoos: Any records of Greater Roadrunner below 2000' in Los Angeles Basin (incl. San Fernando Valley, eastern Santa Monica Mtns.). All breeding records.
Owls: Breeding records of Western Screech-Owl away from San Gabriel Mtns., and any indication of migratory movement (any species).
Nightjars: Records of migrants; records of Lesser Nighthawks away from the Antelope Valley, and all records between 20 Sept. - 15 Apr. All records of Common Poorwill away from the San Gabriel Mtns., and all records from 1 Nov. - 15 Apr.
Swifts: All records of Black Swift between 20 May - 10 Aug., and any breeding evidence. All records of Vaux's Swift from 15 May - 15 Aug., and all concentrations greater than 500 birds.
Hummingbirds: All records of Calliope Hummingbird away from San Gabriel Mtns. foothills in spring. Black-chinned Hummingbird records 15 Sept. - 31 Mar. All records of Costa's Hummingbird from Los Angeles Basin (incl. San Fernando/San Gabriel Valley floors) and coast, eastern Santa Monica Mtns. (east of 405 Fwy.). All records of Rufous Hummingbird from 15 Apr. - 20 June and 1 Sept. - 31 Dec., and all breeding records of Allen's Hummingbird away from the immediate coast.
Kingfisher: All breeding records and all records from 1 May - 15 July.
Woodpeckers: Records of Williamson's Sapsucker below 7500'. Records of Red-breasted Sapsucker from 15 May - 31 Aug. below c. 3500' elevation, and arrival and departure dates from the lowlands and desert. Records of Red-naped Sapsucker along the coast. Photos of hybrid sapsuckers. Records of Ladder-backed Woodpecker away from the floor of the Antelope Valley. Records of Hairy Woodpecker away from the Santa Clara River and the San Gabriel/Liebre Mtns. All records of White-headed Woodpecker below 5000'.
Flycatchers: Arrival and departure dates for regular species; records of Olive-sided Flycatcher and Western Wood-Pewee from 1 Oct. - 20 Apr. and all records below 2000' between 15 June - 30 July. Any Empidonax records from October 15 - March 20, and Willow Flycatcher records outside the migration period (spring: 15 May - 15 June; fall: 10 August - 31 Sept.), including breeding behavior. All breeding records of Say's Phoebes away from Antelope Valley and Santa Clara River. All winter records of Ash-throated Flycatcher and Western Kingbird (20 Sept. - 15 Mar.) Counts of Cassin's Kingbirds in excess of 20 birds.
Shrikes: All records of Loggerhead Shrike away from Antelope Valley, and all breeding evidence.
Vireos: All breeding records of Warbling and Cassin's vireo, and winter records (October 10 - March 10). All records of Hutton's Vireo away from wooded breeding sites.
Corvids: Records of Clark's Nutcrackers below 7500'. All records of Steller's Jay below 3000' and away from known breeding habitat. Western Scrub-Jays in the Antelope Valley, and all records of "Woodhouse's" scrub-jay (interior form). All American Crows away from coastal slope. Counts of >100 Common Ravens away from Antelope Valley.
Larks: All records of Horned Lark away from Antelope Valley. Arrival and departure dates of flocks.
Swallows: Arrival dates for the usual species; records of any species except Tree Swallows from 1 Oct. to 15 Feb.; summer records of Bank Swallow (June/July) and counts of multiple birds; winter counts of more than 10 Tree; Cliff and No. Rough-winged swallow breeding records from natural substrates (i.e., cliffs).
Chickadees, Titmice, Bushtits: Summer records of Mountain Chickadee below 3000'. Records of Verdin away from the eastern Antelope Valley. Records of Oak Titmouse away from breeding areas; Bushtits in Antelope Valley.
Nuthatches: Records of Red-breasted Nuthatch below 6000' from 1 Apr. - 31 Aug., and all records along the coast. All records of Pygmy Nuthatch and Brown Creeper below 5000'. Records of White-breasted Nuthatch away from known breeding habitat (identify to subspecies if possible).
Wrens: Records of Canyon, Rock and Cactus wrens away from known breeding sites; non-desert breeding records of Cactus Wren. All records of Marsh Wren from April 15 - July 31 away from Piute Ponds and Harbor Reg. Park.
Dipper: All records away from permanent streams in San Gabriel Mtns.
Red-whiskered Bulbul: All records away from San Gabriel Valley/Northeast Los Angeles.
Kinglets/Gnatcatchers: All records of California Gnatcatcher away from Bonelli Park (San Dimas) and Palos Verdes Peninsula, and all breeding activity. Breeding activity of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Arrival and departure dates for Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and all kinglet records 10 May - 15 Sept., incl. breeding evidence.
Thrushes: All records of Mountain Bluebird away from Antelope Valley. All records of Townsend's Solitaire below 6000'. Records of Western Bluebirds in the Antelope Valley and along the immediate coast. Records of fall-migrant Swainson's Thrush. Arrival and departure dates of Hermit and Swainson's Thrush, and any indication of breeding activity.
Wrentit: All records from urbanized areas, coastal plain, and Antelope Valley; and away from areas of normal residence in Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mtns., Puente Hills, and San Jose Hills.
Thrashers: Records of Northern Mockingbird above 5000'. Records of California Thrasher in urbanized areas or along immediate coast south of Santa Monica.
Starlings: Records of large concentrations or away from urban habitats.
Pipits: Arrival and departure dates for migrants and the wintering flocks of American Pipit. All records of the Japonicus subspecies or otherwise unusual-looking American Pipit.
Waxwings/Phainopepla: High counts (>300) of Cedar Waxwing, and all summer records. Phainopepla in urbanized areas or along immediate coast south of Santa Monica.
Wood-Warblers: All summer (1 June - 30 July) records of any wood-warbler other than Orange-crowned and Common Yellowthroat. All summer records of Yellow-rumped Warbler below 5000' (20 May - 30 Aug.). All potential breeding records of the Orange-crowned Warbler subspecies sordida away from the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Arrival and departure dates for all species (except Orange-crowned). Records from 20 Oct. - 20 Mar. for any species except Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Gray and Townsend's Warblers and Common Yellowthroat.
Tanagers: Arrival dates of Western Tanager, records away from breeding areas (San Gabriel Mountains pine forest and foothill canyons) 1 June - 10 Aug., and all winter records.
Sparrows: Arrival and departure dates for all species; summer records of all 'winter' sparrows. Records of juncos other than 'Oregon' and "Slate-colored". Records of Brewer's Sparrow away from Antelope Valley in winter/migration. All records of Black-chinned Sparrow below 3000', and all records outside breeding season (20 Mar. - 15 Aug.). Records of Black-throated Sparrow away from eastern Antelope Valley, and all records 1 Sept. - 10 Mar. Records of Sage Sparrow away from north slope of San Gabriel Mtns. and Antelope Valley. Summer records of Savannah Sparrow (20 May - 20 July), esp. from potential breeding habitat. Records of "Belding's" Savannah Sparrow away from Ballona Wetlands. All summer records of Lincoln's Sparrow. Records of Green-tailed Towhee away from breeding areas in mtns. All records of Vesper Sparrow away from Antelope Valley in winter. All records of Lark Sparrow along immediate coast.
Grosbeaks/Buntings/Dickcissel: Records of Black-headed Grosbeak 15 Oct - 20 Mar. Records of Blue Grosbeak breeding activity away from western Santa Monica Mtns., Santa Clara River, and larger flood-control basins (e.g., vic. Sepulveda, Hansen dams). Records of Lazuli Bunting in winter (1 Nov. - 15 Mar.). Arrival/departure dates for migrants.
Blackbirds/Meadowlark: All records of 'Bicolored' subspecies of Red-winged blackbirds. Records of Great-tailed Grackles away from Antelope Valley, Hansen Dam, Sepulveda Basin, Ballona/Playa Vista area, Legg Lake/Whittier Narrows, El Dorado Reg. Park and Harbor Park. Yellow-headed Blackbird outside the April/May migration window. Counts of unusually large concentrations of any species.
Orioles: All records of Scott's Oriole away from the Antelope Valley during spring and summer. Arrival and departure dates of breeding species, and late fall/winter records of any species.
Finches: All coastal records of Lawrence's Goldfinch, plus breeding records and large concentrations (>20) of that species. All breeding records of American Goldfinch in urbanized areas or along immediate coast. Records of Purple Finch below 1500' between 15 Apr. - 15 Sept. Records of Cassin's Finches below 7000'. Records of Pine Siskins 1 May - 31 Sept.
***EXOTICS***: Records of multiple, non-established species are of interest (single budgies, cockatiels, etc. are not). All nesting records of parrots, and counts of species away from known areas of occurrence (please refer to and report to: (California Parrot Project). All breeding records of Nutmeg Mannikin and Orange Bishop.
Protected Bird Species of Los Angeles County: (please submit records to CNDDB)
Redhead (nesting)
Catalina California Quail
Brown Pelican (communal roosts)
Double-crested Cormorant (rookery)
Great Egret (rookery)
Great Blue Heron (rookery)
Least Bittern (nesting)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (rookery)
California Condor
Cooper's Hawk (nesting)
Golden Eagle
Ferruginous Hawk (wintering)
Swainson's Hawk (nesting)
Northern Harrier (nesting)
White-tailed Kite (nesting)
Black Eagle (wintering)
Osprey (nesting)
Prairie Falcon (nesting)
Peregrine Falcon (nesting)
Snowy Plover (nesting)
Mountain Plover (wintering)
Black Oystercatcher (nesting)
Caspian Tern (nesting)
Black Skimmer (nesting)
Forster's Tern (nesting)
Least Tern (nesting)
Elegant Tern (nesting)
Long-eared Owl (nesting)
Burrowing Owl
Flammulated Owl
Spotted Owl
Black Swift (nesting)
Olive-sided Flyatcher (nesting)
Willow Flycatcher (nesting)
Loggerhead Shrike (nesting)
Least Bell's Vireo (nesting)
Catalina Hutton's Vireo
Gray Vireo
Calif. Horned Lark
Purple Martin (nesting)
Coastal Cactus Wren
Marsh Wren (nesting)
California Gnatcatcher
Le Conte's Thrasher
Yellow Warbler (nesting)
Yellow-breasted Chat (nesting)
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow (nesting)
Bell's Sage Sparrow (nesting)
Belding's Savannah Sparrow
Large-billed Savannah Sparrow
Summer Tanager
Tricolored Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Merlin is technically still considered a Special Animal by the Dept. of Fish and Game, but is known to be fairly common in winter throughout the county.