Top COMMON BIRDS In California (ID Guide With Photos)

Did you spot a vibrant feathered friend flitting through your Californian garden? Curious to uncover the mystery behind its colorful plumage?  

Identifying birds in the Golden State can be a delightful yet challenging endeavor, given the plethora of feathered friends that call California home. As part of the western U.S., California boasts a diverse array of avian species, making it a bird-watcher’s paradise.

In this guide, we’ll explore the most common birds of California, many of which are also familiar sights as California backyard birds, and uncover the secrets of the wild birds that grace this picturesque landscape.

What are the common birds found in California?

The 36 most common birds found in the state of California are:

• House Finch
• Mourning Dove
• Lesser Goldfinch
• Black Phoebe
• California Towhee
• Verdin
• California Quail
• American Robin
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Northern Mockingbird
• House Sparrow
• American Crow
• Common Starling
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• House Wren
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Bullock’s Oriole
• Barn Swallow
• Violet-green Swallow
• Yellow Warbler
• Western Bluebird
• Anna’s Hummingbird
• Lazuli Bunting
• Common Ground Dove
• California Scrub-Jay
• Steller’s Jay
• Chipping Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Band-tailed Pigeon
• Allen’s Hummingbird
• California Thrasher
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Blue Jay
• Northern Flicker

While many of these California birds are year-round residents, some are migratory birds that only occur in the Golden State during the summer or winter months.

Now let’s dive into the details, and take a closer look at each of these common species in order to get the full scoop:

House Finch

Scientific name: Haemorhous mexicanus

The House Finch is a common small bird in California, and is mostly found in settled areas, ranging from small towns to large metropolitan centers.

Adult male House Finches can be identified by the bright red feathers on the head and upper breast, although in some cases they are slightly more orange or yellowish in color.

The females lack any red coloration, and instead have grayish streaks on a brown background.

The House Finch was originally a western bird, and it wasn’t until the 1940s that this bird was discovered in New York and other places on the east coast of the US.

The eastern House Finch population began to grow in the 1950s and 60s, and by the year 2000, it had expanded so far west that it connected with the original western population.

The House Finch is entirely herbivorous, and feeds on seeds, buds, and fruits.

If you set up a bird feeder in your backyard, you can expect House Finches to be among the first birds to visit it. 

The House Finch is found throughout California all year round, and while it doesn’t migrate, it does move to areas with more food outside of the breeding season.

Mourning Dove

Scientific name: Zenaida macroura

Mourning Doves are one of the most common birds in North America, especially around farms and suburban areas. 

These birds are almost entirely grayish-brown with pale undersides. The wings and the tail are pointed, and there are small black dots on the sides of their faces. 

When viewed up close, a grayish blue eyering as well as pink legs and toes are great distinguishing features of mourning doves. 

The Mourning Dove is a common dove in California, and can be seen throughout the state year-round. During the winter they also frequent open woodland, but avoid large forests. 

Lesser Goldfinch

Scientific name: Spinus psaltria

The Lesser Goldfinch is a common breeding bird in California, and occurs in a broad swath across the southern half of the state.

Adult males have a black cap and black wings, which contrast with bright yellow underparts. Their black wings have a white stripe, which is most obvious in flight. 

Females and juveniles are olive green, with lighter underparts and dark wings with a white wing bar.

The Lesser Goldfinch is a year-round resident in California, and outside of the breeding season it likes to forage in flocks, mainly feeding on thistles.

Black Phoebe

Scientific name: Sayornis nigricans

The Black Phoebe is easily recognizable because of its striking black and white appearance. 

Adults males and females look similar, and have a black head and chest with a dark gray back, and a white belly and under tail.

Juveniles are broadly similar to adult birds but have brown feather fringes on their wings and back.

The Black Phoebe is common in coastal California all year round and can be easily observed because it is not afraid of people.

It often perches in the open and catches insects while flying. One of its unique behaviors is that it waves its tail up and down when it is perched.

California Towhee

Scientific name: Melozone crissalis

California Towhees are almost entirely dark gray, except for small areas of dark brown around their bill and under the tail. 

While these Towhees are originally native to the chaparral, they are also commonly found in urban neighborhoods, as they have adapted well to human habitats.

California Towhees forage for seeds and insects on the ground, and will only come to ground feeders. They are year-round residents in the coastal areas of California. 

Verdin

Scientific name: Auriparus flaviceps

The Verdin is characterized by a slender body and an unusually slim beak that is more reminiscent of a warbler.

The colors of male and female Verdins are broadly similar, although the male’s yellow plumage is generally brighter.

The back, neck, and wings of adults are unassuming gray, contrasting with a startlingly bright yellow face, as well as piercing dark eyes.

And while it is an energetic feeder, twitching its tail as it goes, it can sometimes be difficult to spot, since it usually forages alone.

The Verdin is a regular breeding bird in the arid regions of southern California, including the Mojave Desert, where it can be seen all year round. 

California Quail

Scientific name: Callipepla californica

The California Quail is the state bird of California and is also known as the Valley Quail.

This small bird is a ground dweller, which means it spends a significant amount of time on the ground as opposed to flying.

It is known for its showy crest which is black for the males and brown for the females.

California Quails are dark gray and black with white spots and streaks, which make them stand out amongst other birds. 

Despite having wings and the ability to fly, California Quails are excellent runners and can even reach speeds of twelve miles per hour.

They are very social birds and like to stay in groups. One advantage of this is that they will have many eyes looking out for predators which in turn keeps them safer.

California Quails are omnivorous and for the most part enjoy feeding on seeds, acorns, berries, leaves, flowers, bulbs, and insects.

American Robin

Scientific name: Turdus migratorius

The American Robin is actually a thrush, but got its name from early settlers in North America who noticed its resemblance with the European Robin.

The orange chest of the American robin makes it easy to identify this type of bird. It mostly forages for food on the ground with the help of its powerful legs and stout yellow beak.

In the fall and winter, it feeds on fruit and searches for snails and worms amid the fallen leaves. It frequently congregates in big roosts in the non-breeding season.

The American Robin is a superb singer, with a song that is melodious and flowing, similar to many other thrushes.

They construct their bulky nests out of twigs at a very variable height, from the ground all the way up to the canopy of the trees.

In a typical year, American robins will have between two and three broods.

While the original habitat of American Robins was woodlands, they have adjusted superbly to the expansion of human settlements, and are now found in suburban areas as common breeding birds.

This thrush is a partial migratory bird, with its northernmost populations in Canada and the northern USA being entirely migratory.

In California, the American Robin is found all year round, and likes to form flocks that roost together during the winter.

Dark-eyed Junco

Scientific name: Junco hyemalis

Dark-eyed Juncos are small gray-colored sparrows that are common breeding birds in the mountains of California. They can also be seen in other parts of the state during winter. 

Male juncos are gray with a white belly, while females and immature birds are duller and browner.

These birds breed in coniferous as well as mixed forests of western California and during winter they can be found in a variety of habitats, including backyards, forests, and meadows.

They feed on seeds which they pick up from the ground, and can be easily recognized by the high pitched sounds they make while foraging.

Northern Mockingbird

Scientific name: Mimus polyglottos

The melodious whistling song of the Northern Mockingbirds can be heard in many parts of California, and is most often heard at night.

Its overall appearance is dark gray, although its black wings have white stripes (which are especially conspicuous in flight, flashing like bright signals).

It is a common backyard bird in California, with both sexes resembling each other. In addition to the black wings, the tail is also black, and has white margins.

It has a dark eyestripe that contrasts with the yellow eye, while the underparts are buff white. Juvenile birds look similar to adults, but are covered with spots and streaks.

The Northern Mockingbird is a common songbird, and a year-round resident in California. It is also a summer visitor in the northernmost states as well as Canada. 

This bird is the only mockingbird species found in North America. It prefers wooded areas as well as urban habitats with sufficient tree growth, such as parks and golf courses.

House Sparrow

Scientific name: Passer domesticus

The House Sparrow is a familiar urban songbird in California.

Adult males have upperparts that are primarily chestnut brown with dark streaks. The wings are chestnut brown with a white wingbar.

A great characteristic to identify males is by their gray crown and rump. Females are more drab, and are mostly buff gray with dark streaks on their back.

The House Sparrow is not a native bird of the lone state, but was introduced by European settlers. 

However it has successfully colonized the entire North American continent, and is now a common urban bird that is found in parks and backyards.

American Crow

Scientific name: Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crows are quite large California birds that are entirely black, including black beaks, legs, and eyes. Both adults and immature birds are completely black, and hard to distinguish from each other .

This is one of the most intelligent birds in the world. It also happens to be one of the most sociable, and it likes to pass the time by harassing other birds.

This is a common and easily recognizable black-colored bird in California. Similar to vultures and birds of prey, American Crows like to feed on roadkill, but rarely get hit by cars themselves.

Family groups of crows sleep together at night but split off during the day to go foraging. 

Outside of the breeding season, this bird forms massive flocks, sometimes topping out at thousands of birds.

The American Crow builds a big stick nest in trees, which it likes to reuse for many years. Old crows nests are also used by many other birds, including California birds of prey. 

American Crows are common in California in open forests and woodlands, as well as farmland and urban areas such as parks, golf courses, and large gardens. 

Common Starling (European Starling)

Scientific name: Sturnus vulgaris

The Common Starling (also known as European Starling) is a common backyard bird in the Golden State. Adult Common Starlings are uniformly black with a glossy sheen.

During winter, the black feathers of Common Starlings are covered with light spots, which can be a great characteristic to identify them.

This species is originally from Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but it was introduced to North America and many other parts of the world, where this bird has established itself as a successful breeding species within a short period of time.

Common Starlings inhabit open country with few trees as their original habitat, but they are also among the most successful urban birds, and are especially common in parks and gardens.

While Common Starlings nest in tree holes in the wild, they are also known to nest inside buildings and nest boxes in urban settings.

Unfortunately, native birds are sometimes driven out of their nesting sites by competing Starlings.

Similar to grackles and other blackbirds, Common Starlings form large flocks outside of the nesting season.

These flocks can contain more than a million individuals, and can be seen performing amazing aerial acrobatics.

Red-winged Blackbird

Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus

The Red-winged Blackbird is one the most abundant birds in California, and it is definitely the most common blackbird found in the Golden State during the summer.

The great thing about these California blackbirds is that you can easily distinguish males from females.

Male Red-winged Blackbirds are completely black except for the bright red feathers on their wings. In contrast, females (and juvenile birds) are a blackish brown color with white streaks.

Generally speaking, this blackbird lives in open fields and near water. This bird is often found in marshes, wetlands, and around lakes.

To find food, the Red-winged Blackbird travels many miles a day, especially outside of the nesting season.

While this blackbird is primarily a seed-eater during fall and spring, it switches to feeding almost exclusively on insects during summer.

Depending on where this bird is found, the Red-winged Blackbird is either a seasonal migrant (in the north of its range), or a resident (in the south of its range).

Red-winged Blackbirds roost in flocks up to millions of individuals strong, creating a deafening noise with their rapidly beating wings.

In spring, males are usually the first ones to arrive in order to claim a desirable territory before the females arrive.

During the mating season, the male will sing from a conspicuous perch and display the red shoulder patches on his feathers in order to attract the attention of females.

After a female chooses a mate, she builds her nest over shallow water in a thick stand of vegetation. Her chosen mate then aggressively defends the nest against other blackbirds.

The most successful males are bigamous, and can mate with multiple females at the same time.

Downy Woodpecker

Scientific name: Picoides pubescens

The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in the Golden State, and is most commonly found in east California.

While males are black and white with a small red patch on their nape, females are entirely black and white.

The wings of both sexes are black with white bars, which look like spots when the wings are folded.

Downy Woodpeckers are non-migratory, and can be seen all year round throughout North America, except for the arid regions in southern states.

You can tell this woodpecker apart from the Hairy Woodpecker by its smaller size and short bill. 

While Downy Woodpeckers don’t migrate, they like to move around outside of the breeding season, in search of areas with plentiful food.

Their preferred habitat is deciduous or mixed forest, where they feed on insects and insect larvae found under the bark of trees. During winter they also eat berries and seeds.

Hairy Woodpecker

Scientific name: Picoides villosus

The Hairy Woodpecker looks similar to the Downy Woodpecker, but has a longer, thicker bill, and is a much larger bird overall.

Both the male and the female have black upperparts with white bars on the wing feathers, which look like spots when the wings are folded.

The male has a very small red patch on the back of its head, which is considerably smaller than the red patches on other woodpecker species.

The Hairy Woodpecker is a common breeding bird found throughout North America, and can be seen in California year-round.

This woodpecker breeds in both coniferous and deciduous forests, and is even found in parks and other urban areas with trees.

House Wren

Scientific name: Troglodytes aedon

The House Wren is a small songbird with a relatively long beak. Compared to other wrens, it has a long tail, which it likes to cock up.

At a distance, House Wrens resemble uniformly brown birds, but when viewed close up, you can discern subtle barring on their wings and tail.

This small bird has a surprisingly loud voice, and if you hear one singing next to you, it appears almost deafeningly loud, drowning out all other birdsong in the vicinity.

In contrast to the Rock Wren, which is a year-round resident in California, the House Wren is a summer visitor in California, where it can be found from May to August.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Scientific name: Setophaga coronata

While the sexes of the Yellow-rumped Warbler are dissimilar, they both have a yellow rump. 

This warbler exists in several variations, and the eastern population that can be found in California are also called “Myrtle Warblers”.

These California birds have blueish-gray upperparts with dark streaks, as well as a yellow rump and yellow flanks.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is a summer breeding bird in northern California, and a winter visitor in the southern parts of the state, where it can be seen from August through April.

Bullock’s Oriole

Scientific name: Icterus bullockii

Bullock’s Oriole is a western bird species that is a summer breeding bird in the western half of California.

Adult males are flaming orange coupled with a jet black back and a black neck. They also have a large white patch on the wing, and an orange face with a black throat.

Juveniles and females are more grayish-yellow with orange on their face and chest. Endemic to the western United States, it spends the winter in Mexico.

Bullock’s Oriole forages for food on the upper branches of trees and shrubs, searching for fruits and insects.

You can encounter these California orioles in open woodlands close to rivers and streams, as well as in parks and orchards.

Barn Swallow

Scientific name: Hirundo rustica

The Barn Swallow inhabits nearly all of North America south of the Arctic circle and may be found in a wide variety of habitats.

It has iridescent blue upperparts that shimmer in various shades of dark blue when the sunlight hits them.

Its underside is reddish-orange, including a chestnut orange forehead and throat, as well as a light reddish-orange belly.

The deeply forked tail of Barn Swallows is another great feature you can use to identify this bird. 

However, keep in mind that immature barn swallows have a duller plumage than adults, as well as a shorter tail that is less forked.

The Barn Swallow  used to nest in caves and hollow trees, but nowadays it prefers to do so beneath the overhangs of buildings and bridges, as well as inside barns (which explains how it got its name).

These swallows in California are still a reasonably common sight in most areas. However, the overall numbers of Barn Swallows have been steadily decreasing, especially in the northern section of their range.

This decline is likely a result of the loss of foraging areas and nesting opportunities.

The Barn Swallow feeds on flying insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, and catches them closer to the ground than other species of swallows. In its winter quarters it also feeds on termites.

It is a strictly migratory bird, and spends the winter in Central and Southern America.

Violet-green Swallow

Scientific name: Tachycineta thalassina

This beautiful swallow is a bird of the western USA, and is found as a summer visitor throughout California.

While this bird initially looks like it has an entirely dark upper side, when it catches the sunlight, you’ll notice the iridescent green plumage on its back.

These green birds readily accept nesting boxes, and other nest cavities in urban areas. They are most often observed hunting insects over California rivers and lakes.

During the cold season they migrate south to spend the winter in Mexico and Central America.

Yellow Warbler

Scientific name: Setophaga petechia

Also known as the American Yellow Warbler, this songbird lives up to its name.

Adult males have a brilliant yellow color, except for their wings, which are just slightly darker and have two pale wingbars.

They also have reddish stripes on the breast and the yellow sides. Adult females are very similar to the males, but have less black streaking and are thus more uniformly yellow.

These bright yellow-colored California birds are summer visitors in the state during the months from May to late August.

This species is found in open habitat with low thickets and scrubland, which makes it easy to observe.

Western Bluebird

Scientific name: Sialia mexicana

The Western Bluebird is the most common bluebird species found in California.

It is a breeding bird and year-round resident in the northern half of California, and also occurs in southern parts of the state during the winter season.

Male Western Bluebirds have a deep shade of blue on their heads and backs, which contrasts with reddish orange feathers on the chest.

Female and juvenile birds on the other hand, have more subdued hues, with gray-brown upperparts and a lighter gray underside. 

While Western Bluebirds are migratory birds in northern parts of their range, they are permanent residents in the Golden state.

These birds nest in treeholes or nestboxes, but have suffered from the competition with House Sparrows and European Starlings, which are more aggressive and chase bluebirds away from their nest sites.

The population of these California bluebirds underwent a dramatic decline at the end of last century, due to lack of nesting holes and competition with Common Starlings.

However, thanks to the efforts of numerous California citizens providing nest boxes for Western Bluebirds, these birds are a common sight in California once more.

Anna’s Hummingbird

Scientific name: Calypte anna

A compact Calypte hummingbird species that thrives in human habitats, Anna’s Hummingbird is the smallest bird found in California.

This intrepid hummingbird has steadily and relentlessly increased its breeding range since the early 1900’s, spreading from coastal California to more interior regions of the continent.

And as part of this expansion of its range, Anna’s Hummingbird has colonized urban areas in California and other desert states of the southwestern United States. 

This tiny bird is now a common backyard bird in California, where it nests in gardens, parks, and other urban areas. 

Anna’s Hummingbirds are highly adaptive when foraging for food, and are able to utilize a broad range of nectar sources, including flowering trees and shrubs from different continents. 

Lazuli Bunting

Scientific name: Passerina amoena

The Lazuli Bunting is a gorgeous little songbird of the western United States that visits and breeds in northern California during the summer.

The hood, neck, and rump of adult males are light blue, while the wings are dark gray with a white wingbar. Males also have a chestnut orange breast and a white belly throughout the summer months.

Females are buff-brown in color with black wings and a pale blue rump.

The Lazuli Bunting may be found in California during the breeding season, which runs from May to August, before migrating to Mexico for the winter.

Common Ground Dove

Scientific name: Columbina passerina

The Common Ground Dove is a small dove that’s about the size of a sparrow. It is one of the species of birds found in the southern US states, and is common throughout southern California.

The overall coloration of Common Ground Doves is brownish gray, with chestnut tones on the wings. In combination with their small size, the subdued dusty color makes these birds hard to spot on the ground.

Often you won’t notice these birds until you flush them from the ground, and see them flying away. 

Another great way to identify them is by their repetitive coo-ing call, which is audible even if you can’t catch a glimpse of the bird since it’s hidden in thick scrub.

Common Ground Doves are year-round residents in the southern parts of the state. They readily visit ground bird feeders that offer shelled sunflower seeds and other seeds.

In their original desert habitat, these birds are opportunistic breeders that raise their young after plentiful rainfall leads to an abundance of seeds.

They nest on the ground, which makes them vulnerable to cats. This explains why these birds are so well camouflaged, which allows them to blend in with their surroundings.

California Scrub-Jay

Scientific name: Aphelocoma woodhouseii

The California Scrub Jay was called the Western Scrub Jay until a few years ago, and was thought to belong to a single species that occurs throughout the western United States.

However, in 2016 it was split into two different species, the California Scrub Jay (found along the Pacific Coast), and the Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay (found further inland). The population in California belongs to the former species.

This bird is the most widespread jay species in the Golden State, and is a common bird throughout California, except for the Mojave Desert.

Adult males and females look the same, and have an azure blue upper head, wings, and tail, as well as dark gray shoulders and a light gray belly. The largely blue body contrasts with a white throat streaked with gray.

These jays are year-round residents that can be encountered in a variety of lightly wooded habitats and scrub land. 

Steller’s Jay

Scientific name: Cyanocitta stelleri

Steller’s Jay is a medium-sized member of the jay family, and is easily recognized due to the dark blue body combined with its striking crest.

It is a common breeding bird in northern California, but is absent from the more arid areas in the south, including the Mojave Desert.

Both males and females look similar, and have a dark gray to blackish head, nape, and upper back, while the rest of the body is dark admiral blue. 

While it is found year-round within its breeding range, in some years Steller’s Jays undertake irruptive movements towards the south, and show up in areas where they normally don’t occur.

Chipping Sparrow

Scientific name: Spizella passerina

The Chipping Sparrow is a common bird in many man made habitats, including backyards, gardens, and parks.

Adult birds can be recognized by their chestnut crown, which contrasts with a white supercilium (or eyebrow stripe) and black eye stripe. 

The Chipping Sparrow is a widespread and common breeding bird in California, where it can be seen as a summer visitor from May through October.

These birds migrate south and spend the winter in the southern USA, as well as Mexico and Central America.

Song Sparrow

Scientific name: Melospiza melodia

The Song Sparrow is an inconspicuous little brown bird, but can be recognized by its dark breast markings that merge into a central black spot.

The back is reddish brown with dark brown streaks, and the reddish wings have two white wingbars. 

The Song Sparrow is a common summer visitor in California, where it can be seen from April to October. 

It spends the winter in more southern states, and also in Mexico. Song Sparrows prefer fields and meadows with scrubs and dense bushes.

Band-tailed Pigeon

Scientific name: Patagioenas fasciata

The Band-tailed Pigeon is a bird of the Pacific coast and the Southwestern USA.

The Band-Tailed Pigeon is the only native pigeon of California, and is found throughout the state.

It is a migratory bird in the north of the state, and a year-round resident in the south of the state.

Band-tailed Pigeons used to be shy forest birds, but have become more and more comfortable around humans, and are now commonly observed visiting platform feeders.

These pigeons are most often found in mature forests, where they forage at the top of tall trees, which makes them difficult to observe.

When flying, they resemble rock pigeons, but can be identified by the pale band at the end of their tail.

Another great distinguishing feature of Band-tailed Pigeons is their partial white neck ring, although juvenile pigeons don’t have this characteristic.

Allen’s Hummingbird

Scientific name: Selasphorus sasin

Allen’s Hummingbirds are summer birds along the coast of California, and live in the chaparral and scrub habitats found at the coastline.

Male Allen’s Hummingbirds are easy to recognize due to their combination of rufous brown, coppery red throat, and emerald green. Females are similar, but lack the red throat.

And while they are migratory birds that spend the winter in Mexico, they are among the earliest birds to return to California in spring.

A great way to attract these hummingbirds to your backyard is by putting up a sugar water feeder. You can also attract hummingbirds by planting native flowers and flowering shrubs. 

California Thrasher

Scientific name: Toxostoma redivivum

Both adult and juvenile California Thrashers are almost entirely gray brown, except for a cream colored throat and darker cheeks.

These thrashers are common in California chaparral, and occur year-round in a wide swathe along the coast.

The most distinctive feature of these birds is the long bill that is thick and downcurved. And while they are common in chaparral and scrub land, it’s often hard to see them since they are very secretive.

As a relative of the Mockingbird, the California Thrasher is a very vocal songbird, with both sexes performing a territorial song, and sometimes singing together in duet. 

Unlike most other birds, the California Thrasher doesn’t fly away when disturbed, but instead runs away on the ground, rapidly disappearing among grasses and shrubs. 

White-crowned Sparrow

Scientific name: Zonotrichia leucophrys 

The White-crowned Sparrow is a familiar sight for bird enthusiasts across California, identifiable by its striking black and white striped head. These bold markings give the White-crowned Sparrow a distinguished, almost regal appearance. The most distinctive feature of these birds is their clean, crisp plumage without the long, thick, downcurved bill seen in some other species. 

Though primarily seen in open areas like fields and coastal sage scrub, these birds are also frequent visitors to suburban backyards, often hopping gracefully across lawns in search of seeds. Their melodic song and gentle presence add a serene charm to any garden they grace. 

White-crowned Sparrows are robust and adaptable, thriving in various habitats across California. In winter, they often form loose flocks, moving around in search of food and shelter. Despite their relatively common status, spotting a White-crowned Sparrow with its bright crown is always a delight, a reminder of the beauty and diversity of California’s avian population.

Blue Jay

Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata 

The Blue Jay is a vibrant and striking bird, easily recognizable by its bright blue plumage, white chest, and prominent crest. These intelligent and curious birds are common sights in Californian backyards, bringing a touch of vivid color with their bold blue feathers and distinctive markings. 

Belonging to the Corvidae family, Blue Jays are known for their complex social structures and remarkable vocal abilities. They can mimic the calls of other birds and even some mechanical sounds, showcasing their impressive adaptability and resourcefulness. Their diet is quite varied, often seen foraging for seeds, nuts, and small invertebrates. 

Blue jays exhibit fascinating behaviors such as “anting,” where they allow ants to crawl on their bodies to help control parasites. These birds are also known to be very territorial, often forming tight-knit family groups. Observing a Blue Jay in your backyard means you’re likely witnessing a bird with high intelligence and a developed system of communication.

Northern Flicker

Scientific name: Colaptes auratus 

The Northern Flicker, known scientifically as Colaptes auratus, is one of California’s most striking and fascinating avian inhabitants. This woodpecker species is renowned for its beautiful plumage, featuring a mix of browns, blacks, and a splash of vibrant red under the wings, which adds a vivid contrast against the more common hues of its feathering. 

The Northern Flicker is unique among woodpeckers for its ground-feeding habits. Unlike its relatives who predominantly peck at tree trunks, the Northern Flicker often searches for ants and beetles on the forest floor, a behavior that sets it apart from most other members of its family. Bird enthusiasts will often spot these birds hitching up tree trunks, displaying their distinctive white rump patch in flight. 

Aside from its dietary preferences, the Northern Flicker’s vocalizations are a treat for any birdwatcher’s ears. Its loud, rhythmic drumming and sharp wick-a-wick-a-wick call are characteristic sounds in California’s wooded areas. These calls are not just for communication but also play a role in establishing territory and attracting mates, showcasing the bird’s impressive adaptability in both behavior and habitat. 

What are the top 5 most common birds in California?

The top 5 most common birds in California are:

• House Finch
• Mourning Dove
• Black Phoebe
• Anna’s Hummingbird
• American Crow

Out of these 5 species, the House Finch is the most commonly seen backyard bird that lives in California, and is reported in 45% of eBird checklists submitted for California.

While all of these birds are common California backyard birds, they can also be found in more remote areas.

How can you attract birds to your yard in California?

The top 5 things you can do to get California birds to visit your backyard are as follows:

• Set up a feeder with sunflower seeds, or a bird seed mix
• Set up a bird bath
• Plant shrubs to provide nesting opportunities
• Plant native fruiting plants to provide foraging opportunities

Tip: If you want to attract Western Bluebirds to your backyard feeder, it’s best to offer berries and mealworms, since they’re not interested in seeds. For more backyard birding tips, checkout our comprehensive backyard birding guide.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our guide to the herons of California.