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Checklist of the Birds of Santa Cruz County, California
Prepared by David L. Suddjian
Santa Cruz Bird Club
Updated December 31, 2004
This seasonal checklist was developed from records compiled by the Santa Cruz Bird Club. These include species files of reports of many thousands of observations, Christmas Bird Count data, Breeding Bird Atlas data, data from dozens of field studies and hundreds of published and unpublished references. The list follows the taxonomy of the 7th Edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologist's Union, 1998) and supplements. Treatment of records of rarities follows the decisions of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) as published in Western Birds, except as noted. Records included here that were not reviewed by the CBRC, or are still pending decision, are so noted. Abundance codes most closely match the patterns of the recent 10-year period, with emphasis on the recent five-year period for species whose status is in flux. The specific number of records is given for species with three or fewer county records.
The common “four-season” checklist format is used here. Unfortunately, the patterns of seasonal occurrence for many species do not fit neatly into that format. The user is advised to consider “functional seasons,” as dictated by the timing of migration for various species whose occurrence does not match the calendar terms. For example, southbound "fall" migrants occur principally during the summer months for some species, or "spring" breeding populations may return by late January. Where some species bend our usual seasonal boundaries, codes were placed in the seasonal columns that best expressed the overall pattern of occurrence. Therefore, the breeding population of Allen's Hummingbird arrives in late January and February, but this was treated as a "spring" pattern. Many shorebirds, absent in late spring and early summer for only a brief period between migrations, were not shown as present during summer, even though "fall" migrants may appear by late June. There are many such instances where the four-season format cannot be made to match the actual patterns of occurrence.
Please send inquiries and corrections to dsuddjian@aol.com. A print-ready copy (in MS Word) will be emailed upon request.
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Key to the Status Codes
C Common To Abundant. Moderate to large numbers in proper habitats in the indicated season(s). Nearly
always present and easily located.
F Fairly Common. Moderate to small numbers in proper habitats in the indicated season(s). Usually
present and easily located. May occur locally in large numbers under optimal conditions.
U Uncommon. Small numbers in proper habitats in the indicated season(s). Usually present but may require
searching to locate.
R Rare. Very small numbers annually (or virtually annually) in proper habitats in the indicated season(s).
Often requires a specific search to locate. Occurrence predictable and regular.
X Casual. Few records in the indicated season(s).
i Irregular. Abundance varies substantially year to year from principal code; less numerous or absent some years.
l Local. Typically occurs at few localities or only in a small portion of the county during the indicated
season(s).
e Extirpated. Formerly regularly present in indicated season(s), but unrecorded for 20+ years. Parentheses ( )
around codes indicate known or approximate former status where there are no recent records.
* Breeding Species. Breeding confirmed in the county. Parentheses (*) indicates former nesting, now
discontinued for at least 10 years.
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Fulvous Whistling-Duck (X) (?) former status uncertain; no recent recs.
Greater White-fronted Goose X X U R
Emperor Goose X X 3 records; 1 not reviewed by CBRC
Snow Goose X X R R
Ross's Goose X X R R some overwintering linger thru summer
Cackling Goose R X U U
Canada Goose * U Ul F Fl population increasing
Brant C R U R
Tundra Swan R R
Wood Duck * U U U U
Gadwall * C F F C
Eurasian Wigeon R R
American Wigeon R U C
Mallard * C C C C
Blue-winged Teal R X U U
Cinnamon Teal * C Ul U F
Northern Shoveler * U X U F 1 breeding record
Northern Pintail U X U F
Garganey X 1 record
Green-winged Teal U X F F
Canvasback U F Fl
Redhead X R R
Ring-necked Duck U X U F
Tufted Duck X X
Greater Scaup R X R U
Lesser Scaup U X U U
Harlequin Duck X X X pattern of winter records, but infrequent
Surf Scoter C U C C
White-winged Scoter U R U Ul quite low numbers in recent years
Black Scoter R X R R
Long-tailed Duck X X X X most records from winter
Bufflehead R X U C
Common Goldeneye R X U F
Barrow's Goldeneye X
Hooded Merganser R U F
Common Merganser * Ul Ul Ul Ul
Red-breasted Merganser F R U U
Ruddy Duck * F Ul F C
Wild Turkey * U U U U introduced; population increasing
Mountain Quail * Rl Rl Rl Rl
California Quail * C C C C
Red-throated Loon C R C F
Pacific Loon C R C C
Common Loon C R C F
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Pied-billed Grebe * C F C C
Horned Grebe R R U
Red-necked Grebe R X R R
Eared Grebe R X R U
Western Grebe C Fl C C
Clark's Grebe F Fl U F
Laysan Albatross R X X R
Black-footed Albatross C C R U
Short-tailed Albatross e (C?) (C?) former status poorly known
Family: Procellariidae
Northern Fulmar Fi Ri Fi Ci
Murphy's Petrel X 1 record
Cook's Petrel X 1 record; also 1 "Cookilaria" sp.
Streaked Shearwater X 1 record
Pink-footed Shearwater U U C R
Flesh-footed Shearwater X X R X
Greater Shearwater X 1 record
Wedge-tailed Shearwater X 1 record
Buller's Shearwater X F
Sooty Shearwater F C C U
Short-tailed Shearwater R X U F
Manx Shearwater X X X perhaps “R” in fall
Black-vented Shearwater Ui Ci Ci
Family: HYDROBATIDAE
Wilson's Storm-Petrel R
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Ui R Ui
Leach's Storm-Petrel R? R? status poorly known
Ashy Storm-Petrel X F X
Black Storm-Petrel X F X
Least Storm-Petrel Ui
Family: PHAETHONTIDAE
Red-billed Tropicbird X 1 rec. identified to sp.; others Sp., Fa. & Wi.
Family: Sulidae
Masked/Nazca Booby X 1 record; juv. not identifiable to species
Brown Booby X
Red-footed Booby X 1 record; not accepted by CBRC
Family: Pelecanidae
American White Pelican Rl Ul Fl Ul population increasing
Brown Pelican F C C F
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Brandt's Cormorant * C C C C 3 breeding localities
Double-crested Cormorant * F Ul C C 3 breeding localities
Pelagic Cormorant * F F F F
Family: Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird X R X
Family: Ardeidae
American Bittern * R Rl U U
Least Bittern (X) (X) 3 or 4 records, but none since 1961
Great Blue Heron * F F F F
Great Egret * U R F F 1 breeding locality
Snowy Egret U R F F
Little Blue Heron X X X 3 records
Cattle Egret X X R R few records since 1995
Green Heron * U U U U
Black-crowned Night-Heron * U U F F nests irregularly from year to year
Family: Threskiornithidae
White-faced Ibis R X R R
Family: Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture * F F U R
California Condor e (*) (F?) (F?) (F?) (F?) former breeding res., status uncertain
Family: Accipitridae
Osprey * U R U U 2 breeding localities
White-tailed Kite * U U F F
Bald Eagle X X R R
Northern Harrier * R R U U
Sharp-shinned Hawk * F U F F
Cooper's Hawk * F U F F
Northern Goshawk X X X
Red-shouldered Hawk * F F F F
Broad-winged Hawk X R X
Swainson's Hawk R R X
Red-tailed Hawk * F F C C
Ferruginous Hawk X R R
Rough-legged Hawk X R R
Golden Eagle * U U U U
Family: Falconidae
Crested Caracara X 1 record
American Kestrel * U U F F
Merlin R U U
Peregrine Falcon * U R U U
Prairie Falcon X X R R
Family: Rallidae
Yellow Rail X(U?) (R?) 1 recent record; former status uncertain
Black Rail e (X?) former status uncertain
Clapper Rail e (R?) (R?) former status uncertain
Virginia Rail * U U F F
Sora * U Rl U U few breeding records
Common Moorhen * R Rl R U
American Coot * C F C C
Family: Gruidae
Sandhill Crane X X 3 records
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover C R C C
American Golden-Plover X 3 modern records
Pacific Golden-Plover X R X
Snowy Plover * Ul Ul Fl Fl
Semipalmated Plover F X F Rl
Killdeer * U U F C
Mountain Plover X X 3 records
Family: Haematopodidae
Black Oystercatcher * U U U U
Family: Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt * Ul Ul Fl Fl
American Avocet * Rl Rl Ul Ul
Family: Scolopacidae
Greater Yellowlegs F F U
Lesser Yellowlegs R U R
Solitary Sandpiper R R X
Willet C Ul C C
Wandering Tattler U X U R recently very rare or absent Nov - Mar
Spotted Sandpiper * U Rl U U
Whimbrel F R F U
Long-billed Curlew F X F U numbers increasing in recent years
Marbled Godwit C U C C
Ruddy Turnstone R R R declined in recent years
Black Turnstone C C C
Surfbird F F F
Red Knot X X R X
Sanderling C R C C
Semipalmated Sandpiper R
Western Sandpiper C X F Rl
Least Sandpiper C F Ul
Baird's Sandpiper X R
Pectoral Sandpiper X R
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper X 1 record
Rock Sandpiper X X X
Dunlin C F Ul
Stilt Sandpiper X
Buff-breasted Sandpiper X 2 records
Ruff R
Short-billed Dowitcher F F X
Long-billed Dowitcher F F Ul
Wilson’s Snipe R U U
Wilson's Phalarope U U
Red-necked Phalarope C C X
Red Phalarope C X C Fi
Family: Laridae
South Polar Skua X X U
Pomarine Jaeger F X F R
Parasitic Jaeger U X F X
Long-tailed Jaeger U
Laughing Gull X X
Franklin's Gull R R X
Little Gull X X X
Bonaparte's Gull C R C U
Heermann's Gull U C C C
Mew Gull U X F C
Ring-billed Gull U R F C
California Gull C U C C
Herring Gull U X U F
Thayer's Gull R X U U
Western Gull * C C C C
Glaucous-winged Gull F R C C
Glaucous Gull X X R
Sabine's Gull U U
Black-legged Kittiwake Ui Ri Ui Fi
Caspian Tern F F R X
Royal Tern X X
Elegant Tern R C C X
Common Tern F R F X
Arctic Tern F F
Forster's Tern C Fl U Fl
Least Tern R R R X
Black Tern R R X
Black Skimmer R R R X
Family: Alcidae
Common Murre C C C C
Thick-billed Murre X
Pigeon Guillemot * C C R X
Marbled Murrelet * F F U U limited inland breeding distribution
Long-billed Murrelet X 3 records, 2 pending CBRC review
Xantus's Murrelet R U X
Craveri's Murrelet R R
Ancient Murrelet Ui X Ui Fi
Cassin's Auklet F F C C
Parakeet Auklet (X) 1 record of beach-cast specimen
Rhinoceros Auklet * F U F C 1 breeding locality
Horned Puffin X X X
Tufted Puffin R R U R
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Columbidae
Rock Pigeon * C C C C introduced
Band-tailed Pigeon * C C C C
Eurasian Collared-Dove X introduced; also 2 non-wild resident populations
White-winged Dove X X most records from fall
Mourning Dove * C C C C
Common Ground-Dove X 1 record
Family: Cuculidae
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (*) X (U) X few recent records; historic nesting
Greater Roadrunner e(*) (U) (U) X(U) (U) 1 recent record; former breeding resident
Family: Tytonidae
Barn Owl * U U U U
Family: Strigidae
Flammulated Owl (X) 1 record
Western Screech-Owl * C C C C
Great Horned Owl * F F F F
Snowy Owl (X) 1 record
Northern Pygmy-Owl * U U U U
Burrowing Owl * X X Rl Rl only 1 recent breeding record
Spotted Owl X several reports are problematic
Long-eared Owl * R R R R
Short-eared Owl X R R
Northern Saw-whet Owl * C C C C
Family: Caprimulgidae
Lesser Nighthawk X X X
Common Nighthawk X X
Common Poorwill * R Ul R R status not well known
Family: Apodidae
Black Swift * R R X possibly recently extirpated as breeder
Chimney Swift X X
Vaux's Swift * F U U X
White-throated Swift * Ul Ul Ul Ul
Family: Trochilidae
Black-chinned Hummingbird R X R
Anna's Hummingbird * C C C C
Costa's Hummingbird R X X
Calliope Hummingbird R X
Rufous Hummingbird U R R X?
Allen's Hummingbird * C F R breeding migrants arrive in Jan.
Family: Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher * U U U U
Family: Picidae
Lewis's Woodpecker X X X
Acorn Woodpecker * C C C C
Williamson's Sapsucker X X 2 records, 1 recent
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker R X
Red-naped Sapsucker X R R
Red-breasted Sapsucker * R Rl U U
Nuttall's Woodpecker * F F F F
Downy Woodpecker * F F F F
Hairy Woodpecker * F F F F
Northern Flicker * F F C C
Pileated Woodpecker * U U U U
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Tyrannidae
Olive-sided Flycatcher * U U R
Greater Pewee X 1 record
Western Wood-Pewee * F F U
Willow Flycatcher R U X
Least Flycatcher X X X
Hammond's Flycatcher R R
Gray Flycatcher X X
Dusky Flycatcher R R X
Pacific-slope Flycatcher * C C C R
Black Phoebe * F F F F
Eastern Phoebe X X X
Say's Phoebe R X U U
Dusky-capped Flycatcher X X
Ash-throated Flycatcher F F R
Tropical Kingbird R X
Cassin's Kingbird X X
Western Kingbird * U Rl U X 2 breeding records
Eastern Kingbird X X
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher X X
Family: Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike * Rl Rl U U
Family: Vireonidae
White-eyed Vireo X 1 record, under CBRC review
Bell's Vireo X 1 record
Plumbeous Vireo X X
Cassin's Vireo * F F R X
Blue-headed Vireo X
Hutton's Vireo * F F F F
Warbling Vireo * C C F X
Philadelphia Vireo X X 3 records
Red-eyed Vireo X X
Yellow-green Vireo X 2 records
Family: Corvidae
Steller's Jay * C C C C
Western Scrub-Jay * C C C C
Pinyon Jay X 3 records
Clark's Nutcracker X Ri Ri absent most years
Yellow-billed Magpie X X X few modern records
American Crow * C C C C
Common Raven * F F F F
Family: Alaudidae
Horned Lark * Rl Rl U R 1 recent breeding locality
Family: Hirundinidae
Purple Martin * Rl Rl R tiny breeding population at two localities
Tree Swallow * C C F Ul
Violet-green Swallow * C C F Ul
Nor. Rough-wi. Swallow * U U R X
Bank Swallow (*) R R formerly nested
Cliff Swallow * C C U
Barn Swallow * C C U R recent pattern of migrants in early winter
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Paridae
Mountain Chickadee X 1 record
Chestnut-backed Chickadee * C C C C
Oak Titmouse * U U U U
Family: Aegithalidae
Bushtit * C C C C
Family: Sittidae
Red-breasted Nuthatch * Ul Ul Fi Fi
White-breasted Nuthatch * Ri Ri R R apparently irregular breeder
Pygmy Nuthatch * C C C C
Family: Certhiidae
Brown Creeper * F F F F
Family: Troglodytidae
Rock Wren X X X records suggest historic breeding
Canyon Wren (*) X X former resident; presumably nested
Bewick's Wren * C C C C
House Wren * Ul Ul U U
Winter Wren * F F F F
Marsh Wren * F F F F
Family: Cinclidae
American Dipper * U U U U
Family: Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet * F F Fi Fi
Ruby-crowned Kinglet U X C C
Family: Sylviidae
Dusky Warbler X 2 records
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * U Ul U Ul
Family: Turdidae
Western Bluebird * Ul Ul Ul Ul declining; rare over most of county
Mountain Bluebird X X 2 or 3 records
Townsend's Solitaire X X R
Swainson's Thrush * C C F
Hermit Thrush * C C C C
American Robin * C C C C
Varied Thrush * R R Fi Fi
Family: Timaliidae
Wrentit * C C C C
Family: Mimidae
Gray Catbird X X X spring and fall recs. unreviewed by CBRC
Northern Mockingbird * F F F F
Sage Thrasher X X X
Brown Thrasher X 3 records
California Thrasher * F F F F
Family: Sturnidae
European Starling * C C C C introduced
Family: Motacillidae
Eastern Yellow Wagtail X 1 record
Black-backed Wagtail X 1 record; 1 or 2 others of White/Black-b. sp.
Red-throated Pipit X
American Pipit U C C
Family: Bombycillidae
Bohemian Waxwing X 1 record
Cedar Waxwing * C X C C 2 records of breeding evidence
Family: Ptilogonatidae
Phainopepla X X
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Parulidae
Tennessee Warbler X R X
Orange-crowned Warbler * C C F U
Nashville Warbler R R R
Virginia's Warbler X X
Lucy's Warbler X X
Northern Parula * R X X 1 breeding record, others probable
Yellow Warbler * F F F X
Chestnut-sided Warbler X R
Magnolia Warbler X R X
Cape May Warbler X X
Black-throated Blue Warbler X X
Yellow-rumped Warbler * C Fl C C
Black-thr. Gray Warbler * F F U R
Black-throated Green Warbler X X
Townsend's Warbler C X C C
Hermit Warbler * F F U U
Blackburnian Warbler X X
Grace’s Warbler X 1 record; under CBRC review
Prairie Warbler X X
Palm Warbler X U R
Bay-breasted Warbler X 1 record
Blackpoll Warbler X R
Black-and-white Warbler X R R
American Redstart * R X R X 1 breeding record
Prothonotary Warbler X X
Ovenbird X X
Northern Waterthrush X R X
Kentucky Warbler X 2 records
Connecticut Warbler X 2 records
Mourning Warbler X 1 record
MacGillivray's Warbler * U Rl U X
Common Yellowthroat * F F F F
Hooded Warbler * X X X X 1 breeding record
Wilson's Warbler * C C C R
Canada Warbler X X
Painted Redstart X 1 record
Yellow-breasted Chat * R Rl X few recent breeding records
Family: Thraupidae
Summer Tanager R R X
Scarlet Tanager X X 2 records
Western Tanager * F F F R
Family: Emberizidae
Green-tailed Towhee X X X
Spotted Towhee * C C C C
California Towhee * C C C C
Rufous-crowned Sparrow * Rl Rl Rl Rl 1 breeding locality
American Tree Sparrow X X
Chipping Sparrow * Ul Ul R R
Clay-colored Sparrow X U X
Brewer's Sparrow X
Black-chinned Sparrow * Rl Rl breeds at only 2 localities
Vesper Sparrow X R X
Lark Sparrow * Ul Ul Ul Ul declining in recent years
Black-throated Sparrow X 1 record
Sage Sparrow * Rl Rl Rl Rl breeds at only 2 localities
Lark Bunting X X 1 recent record
Savannah Sparrow * Ul Ul F F
Grasshopper Sparrow * F F R R
Le Conte's Sparrow X 1 record
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow X 1 record
Fox Sparrow U F F
Song Sparrow * C C C C
Lincoln's Sparrow U F F
Swamp Sparrow X U U
White-throated Sparrow R U U
Harris' Sparrow X X X
White-crowned Sparrow * C F C C nesting limited to immediate coast
Golden-crowned Sparrow C X C C
Dark-eyed Junco * C C C C
Lapland Longspur R X
Chestnut-collared Longspur X 1 record
Family: Cardinalidae
Rose-breasted Grosbeak R R R R most records late May to Sept.
Black-headed Grosbeak * C C F X
Blue Grosbeak R R
Lazuli Bunting * F Fl U X
Indigo Bunting R X R X
Painted Bunting X
Dickcissel X X
Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Family: Icteridae
Bobolink X X
Red-winged Blackbird * C C C C
Tricolored Blackbird * Fl Fl Fl Fl 2 recent breeding localities
Western Meadowlark * Ul Ul F F
Yellow-headed Blackbird R X R X
Rusty Blackbird X 3 records
Brewer's Blackbird * C C C C
Common Grackle X 1 record; not accepted by CBRC
Great-tailed Grackle * Ul Ul Ul Ul increasing; nesting known in one area
Brown-headed Cowbird * F F Fl Fl
Orchard Oriole X X X
Hooded Oriole * F F X X
Baltimore Oriole X X X
Bullock's Oriole * F F R R
Family: Fringillidae
Brambling X 1 record
Purple Finch * F F F F
Cassin's Finch X X exceptional invasion Fall 1996
House Finch * C C C C
Red Crossbill * Fi Fi Ci Ci less numerous than codes most years
Pine Siskin * F F Ci Ci
Lesser Goldfinch * F F F F
Lawrence's Goldfinch * Fil Fil Ri Ri
American Goldfinch * F F Ci Ci
Evening Grosbeak Ri Uil Uil less numerous than codes most years
Family: Passeridae
House Sparrow * C C C C introduced