California, USA
The Golden State's diverse habitats — from the Salton Sea to Point Reyes to the Sierra Nevada — support 680+ species. California Condor recovery, Elegant Terns at Bolsa Chica, and fall vagrant traps draw birders year-round.
Recorded Species
680
Hotspots
100
Overview
Detailed habitat intelligence, species counts, and seasonal guidance will appear here as data is added to this region.
Hotspot Map
100 mapped locations · click a pin to exploreTop Hotspots
Andrew Molera SP--Big Sur River mouth
Birding Hotspot
Ano Nuevo SP--Visitors Center, Elephant Seals and trails
Birding Hotspot
Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary
Birding Hotspot
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve & Covington Park
Birding Hotspot
Bodega Bay--harbor and immediate vicinity
Birding Hotspot
Bolinas Lagoon
Birding Hotspot
Bolinas Lagoon--Pine Gulch
Birding Hotspot
Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Birding Hotspot
Bolsa Chica--walkbridge/inner bay
Birding Hotspot
Cabrillo National Monument
Birding Hotspot
California City Central Park
Birding Hotspot
Campbell Cove and Hole in the Head - ONLY
Birding Hotspot
Carmel River SB (beach, lagoon, and/or Cross Hill)
Birding Hotspot
Carmel River--Hwy 1 riparian (wading) and/or permit-only Odello
Birding Hotspot
China Lake NAWS--Sewage Ponds (restricted access)
Birding Hotspot
Coal Oil Point Reserve--Devereux Slough
Birding Hotspot
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Birding Hotspot
Coyote Point County Park
Birding Hotspot
Dairy Mart Ponds
Birding Hotspot
Deep Springs College (restricted access/advanced permission required)
Birding Hotspot
Desert Center--Lake Tamarisk
Birding Hotspot
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (no birding 8a-5p)
Birding Hotspot
Frank G. Bonelli RP/Puddingstone Reservoir and vicinity
Birding Hotspot
Furnace Creek Ranch--The Ranch at Death Valley
Birding Hotspot
Galileo Hill--Silver Saddle Ranch and Club
Birding Hotspot
Golden Gate Park - long traveling lists - use more specific hotspots where appropriate
Birding Hotspot
Hahamongna Watershed Park (formerly Oak Grove Park)
Birding Hotspot
Hansen Dam
Birding Hotspot
Harper Dry Lake
Birding Hotspot
Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park, Huntington Beach
Birding Hotspot
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Birding Hotspot
Huntington Central Park
Birding Hotspot
Huntington Central Park--East
Birding Hotspot
Huntington Central Park--West
Birding Hotspot
IRWD San Joaquin Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine
Birding Hotspot
Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park
Birding Hotspot
Laguna Grande Park
Birding Hotspot
Laguna Lake
Birding Hotspot
Lake Los Carneros Park
Birding Hotspot
Lake Merced - for long traveling lists - use more specific hotspots where appropriate
Birding Hotspot
Lake Merced--Concrete Bridge area
Birding Hotspot
Los Angeles River--Willow St.
Birding Hotspot
Madrona Marsh
Birding Hotspot
Malibu Lagoon--State Beach including Lagoon
Birding Hotspot
McGrath State Beach--general
Birding Hotspot
Mile Square Regional Park, Fountain Valley
Birding Hotspot
Mojave Narrows Regional Park
Birding Hotspot
Mono Lake County Park
Birding Hotspot
Moonglow Dairy (Fri-Sun only; closed Mon-Thur)
Birding Hotspot
Morro Bay SP--Marina/Boardwalk Trail
Birding Hotspot
Moss Landing--Jetty Road, north jetty & State Beach
Birding Hotspot
Natural Bridges SB
Birding Hotspot
Oasis Ranch
Birding Hotspot
Ocean Beach County Park and Santa Ynez River Estuary
Birding Hotspot
Ormond Beach--Arnold Rd.
Birding Hotspot
Oso Flaco Lake (not for beach/ocean)
Birding Hotspot
Palo Alto Baylands
Birding Hotspot
Palo Verde Ecological Reserve
Birding Hotspot
Pecho Road Willows
Birding Hotspot
Peck Rd. Water Conservation Park
Birding Hotspot
Pescadero Marsh and Natural Preserve--(North pond,lagoon and marsh trails east of Hwy 1)
Birding Hotspot
Pillar Point Harbor
Birding Hotspot
Pismo SB--Oceano Campground
Birding Hotspot
Piute Ponds (permit required)
Birding Hotspot
Playa del Rey/Ballona area
Birding Hotspot
Presidio--Battery Godfrey
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Dume
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station (restricted access)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Mugu SP--Sycamore Canyon
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Pinos--general (sea & shore Coral to Jewell, Crespi Pond & cypresses)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Pinos--seawatch only
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory--Palomarin
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Abbotts Lagoon
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Drakes Beach (DO NOT INCLUDE Horseshoe Pond or beach/estero beyond Horseshoe Pond)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Fish Docks (DO NOT INCLUDE Chimney Rock area)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--HISTORICAL Outer Point (PRE-1990s ONLY)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Lighthouse
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Mendoza Ranch (B Ranch)
Birding Hotspot
Pt. Reyes--Nunes Ranch (A Ranch) & Road Forks Pool
Birding Hotspot
Rodeo Lagoon (including beach and offshore)
Birding Hotspot
Salinas River NWR
Birding Hotspot
Salinas WTP (no public access)
Birding Hotspot
Salton Sea--north end (please consider using a more specific location)
Birding Hotspot
Salton Sea--south end (please use more specific locations)
Birding Hotspot
Salton Sea--Whitewater River Delta (restricted access)
Birding Hotspot
Salton Sea--Wister Unit
Birding Hotspot
San Diego River mudflats (including Robb Field & Quivira Way)
Birding Hotspot
San Elijo Lagoon--west
Birding Hotspot
San Jacinto Wildlife Area
Birding Hotspot
San Jacinto Wildlife Area--Mystic Lake
Birding Hotspot
San Simeon SP
Birding Hotspot
Santa Barbara Island (SBA Co.)
Birding Hotspot
Santa Clara River Estuary
Birding Hotspot
Sepulveda Basin--East of Woodley Ave
Birding Hotspot
Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR--Union Tract / Visitor Center
Birding Hotspot
Southeast Farallon Island (Farallon Islands NWR, restricted access)
Birding Hotspot
Upper Newport Bay
Birding Hotspot
Ventura Settling Ponds
Birding Hotspot
Wilder Ranch SP--Old Cove Landing Trail
Birding Hotspot
Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area
Birding Hotspot
Guided Experiences
Explore with a local expert
Request curated guided birding options for California, USA — matched to your dates, species targets, and experience level.
Request Guided ExperienceBest Time to Visit
"Point Reyes in May delivers incredible songbird diversity; Monterey pelagic trips August–November offer albatrosses and rare alcids."
Species Guide
🐦 Birds of California, USA
Iconic species profiles with conservation status, where to find them, and best timing.
View Species Guide →