Checklist of the Birds of San Francisco City

 

 

 

 

 

Date: Feb 1, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Hugh Cotter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seasons

 

 

 

 

 

W: Winter - Nov., Dec., Jan., Feb.

 

 

 

 

 

Sp: Spring - March, April, May, June

 

 

 

 

 

S: Summer - June, July

 

 

 

 

 

F: Fall - August, Sept., Oct., Nov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend -Seasonal

 

 

 

 

Code

These apply to "appropriate" habitat.

 

 

 

 

 

A= Abundant: conspicously present and much more numerous than most species in a given habitat

 

 

 

 

1

Cm= Common: to be expected on every outing in "large" numbers

 

 

 

 

1

Fc= Fairly Common: to be expected on every outing in "moderate" numbers

 

 

 

 

2

U= Uncommon; seen on most but not all outings: "few" individuals seen on any one occasion

 

 

 

 

3

R= Rare: not seen on most outings: only a few individuals likely to be seen each season or year

 

 

 

 

4

Cs= Casual: not seen every year, very unlikely to be seen

 

 

 

 

5

X= Accidental: less than five records total.  May apply to unusual out of season records of " regular" species.

 

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legend

 

 

 

 

Code

Abundant/Common: to be expected on every outing in "large" numbers

 

 

 

 

1

Fairly Common: to be expected on every outing in "moderate" numbers

 

 

 

 

2

Uncommon; seen on most but not all outings: "few" individuals seen on any one occasion

 

 

 

 

3

Rare: not seen on most outings: only a few individuals likely to be seen each year

 

 

 

 

4

Casual: not seen every year, very unlikely to be seen

 

 

 

 

5

Accidental: less than five records total. 

 

 

 

 

6

* Indicates species currently on the CBRC Review List

 

 

 

 

 

(PA) Indicates species currently under review with the CBRC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W

Sp

S

F

 

Anseriformes - Screamers, Swans, Geese, and Ducks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anatidae - Swans, Geese, and Ducks

 

 

 

 

 

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons

U

R

X

U

4

Snow Goose Chen caerulescens

Cs

Cs

~

Cs

4

Ross's Goose Chen rossii

Cs

Cs

~

~

4

Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii

Cs

Cs

~

CS

4

Canada Goose Branta canadensis

Fc

Fc

U

Fc

2

Brant Branta bernicla

R

R

X

R

4

Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus

Cs

X

~

~

5

Wood Duck Aix sponsa

R

R

R

U

4

Gadwall Anas strepera

U

U

R

R

3

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope

R

R

~

~

4

American Wigeon Anas americana

Cm

Fc

~

Fc

2

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Cm

Cm

Cm

Cm

1

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors

Cs

Cs

X

Cs

5

Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera

R

R

~

R

4

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

Fc

U

~

U

3

Northern Pintail Anas acuta

R

R

~

R

4

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca

R

R

~

R

4

Canvasback Aythya valisineria

U

U

~

U

4

Redhead Aythya americana

X

~

~

X

6

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

Fc

Fc

~

Fc

2

Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Cs

Cs

~

~

5

Greater Scaup Aythya marila

A

Fc

~

Fc

2

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis

U

U

~

U

3

King Eider Somateria spectabilis *

X

~

~

~

6

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus

Cs

Cs

X

X

5

Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata

A

Cm

U

Fc

2

Black Scoter Melanitta nigra

U

U

R

U

3

White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca

Fc

U

X

U

3

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis

R

Cs

~

~

4

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola

Cm

Fc

~

U

2

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Fc

U

~

U

2

Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica

Cs

~

~

~

5

Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

U

R

~

~

4

Common Merganser Mergus merganser

Cs

X

~

X

5

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator

Fc

Fc

~

U

3

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis

Cm

Cm

U

Fc

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galliformes - Gallinaceous Birds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Odontophoridae - New World Quail

 

 

 

 

 

California Quail Callipepla californica

U

U

U

U

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaviidae - Loons

 

 

 

 

 

Gaviiformes - Loons

 

 

 

 

 

Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata

Fc

Fc

R

U

2

Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica

U

Cm

U

Fc

2

Common Loon Gavia immer

Fc

Fc

U

Fc

2

Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii *

X

~

~

~

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Podicipediformes - Grebes

 

 

 

 

 

Podicipedidae - Grebes

 

 

 

 

 

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

Cm

Cm

Cm

Cm

1

Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus

Fc

U

~

U

3

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena

R

R

~

Cs

4

Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

Fc

U

~

Fc

3

Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis

A

A

Fc

Cm

1

Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii

U

U

R

U

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procellariiformes - Tube-nosed Swimmers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procellariidae - Shearwaters and Petrels

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Fulmar  Fulmarus Glacialis

R

R

~

Cs

4

Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus

~

Cs

Cs

R

4

Buller's Shearwater Puffinus bulleri

~

~

~

X

6

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

Cs

U

Cm

U

2

Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris

X

~

~

~

6

Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus*

~

X

~

~

6

Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas

Cs

~

U

U

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hydrobatidae - Storm-Petrels

 

 

 

 

 

Black Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma melania

X

~

~

~

6

Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma furcata

X

X

~

X

5

Ashy Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma homochroa

~

~

X

Cs

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelecaniformes - Totipalmate Swimmers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sulidae - Boobies and Gannets

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii *

~

~

~

X

6

Red-footed Booby Sula sula *

~

~

~

X

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pelecanidae - Pelicans

 

 

 

 

 

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Cs

Cs

Cs

Cs

4

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Cm

U

Cm

Cm

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants

 

 

 

 

 

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus

Cm

Cm

Cm

Cm

1

Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus

A

A

A

A

1

Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus

U

U

U

U

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anhingidae - Darters

 

 

 

 

 

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga*

X

X

X

~

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fregatidae - Frigatebirds

 

 

 

 

 

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

~

~

X

~

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ciconiiformes - Herons, Ibises, Storks, American Vultures, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ardeidae - Bitterns and Herons

 

 

 

 

 

American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus

X

X

~

X

6

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis

~

~

~

X

6

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Great Egret Ardea alba

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Snowy Egret Egretta thula

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Cs

~

~

Cs

5

Green Heron Butorides virescens

R

U

R

R

3

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills

 

 

 

 

 

White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi

~

X

X

X

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cathartidae - American Vultures

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

U

U

U

U

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Falconiformes - Diurnal Birds of Prey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accipitridae - Kites, Eagles, Hawks, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

R

U

U

U

2

White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus

R

R

X

R

4

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Cs

Cs

~

R

5

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus

R

R

~

U

4

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus

U

U

Cs

Fc

3

Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii

U

U

U

U

3

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

X

X

~

Cs

5

Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus

X

X

~

R

4

Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni

~

Cs

X

R

5

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis

~

~

~

R

4

Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus

X

~

~

Cs

5

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Cs

Cs

~

R

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Falconidae - Caracaras and Falcons

 

 

 

 

 

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

U

U

U

U

2

Merlin Falco columbarius

U

R

~

R

3

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

U

U

U

U

3

Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus

~

X

~

Cs

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gruiformes - Cranes, Rails, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rallidae- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

 

 

 

 

 

Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis

~

~

~

X

6

Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris

~

X

~

X

6

Virginia Rail Rallus limicola

U

U

U

U

3

Sora Porzana carolina

U

U

U

U

3

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Cs

Cs

Cs

Cs

5

American Coot Fulica americana

A

A

A

A

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charadriiformes - Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charadriidae - Plovers and Lapwings

 

 

 

 

 

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola

Fc

Fc

U

Fc

2

American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica

~

~

~

X

6

Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva

X

~

~

X

6

Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus

U

U

R

U

3

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus

U

U

R

U

3

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Cm

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers

 

 

 

 

 

Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani

U

U

U

U

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recurvirostridae - Stilts and Avocets

 

 

 

 

 

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus

Cs

Cs

~

Cs

5

American Avocet Recurvirostra americana

U

U

U

U

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca

U

U

R

U

3

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes

~

X

~

Cs

5

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria

~

X

~

Cs

5

Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Cm

Fc

U

Fc

2

Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus

U

U

~

U

3

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia

U

U

R

U

3

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus

U

U

R

U

3

Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus

U

U

R

U

3

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica*

~

~

~

X

6

Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa

Fc

Fc

R

Fc

2

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

R

R

~

R

4

Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala

Fc

Fc

R

U

2

Surfbird Aphriza virgata

U

U

~

R

2

Red Knot Calidris canutus

Cs

X

~

R

5

Sanderling Calidris alba

Cm

Fc

R

Fc

1

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla

~

~

~

Cs

5

Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri

U

U

R

U

3

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla

Fc

Fc

R

U

3

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii

~

~

X

R

4

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos

~

~

~

Cs

5

Dunlin Calidris alpina

U

U

X

U

3

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

~

~

~

X

6

Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea*

~

~

~

X

6

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus

R

U

R

U

3

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus

Cs

Cs

~

R

4

Wilson's Snipe Gallinago gallinago

U

R

~

R

4

Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor

~

X

~

X

5

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus

R

U

~

U

3

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria

R

R

~

R

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laridae - Skuas, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

 

 

 

 

 

Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus

Cs

X

X

R

4

Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

Cs

R

R

U

3

Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus

~

~

~

Cs

5

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla

X

~

~

~

6

Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan

~

X

~

X

5

Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia

R

U

R

U

3

Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni

U

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Mew Gull Larus canus

A

Fc

Cs

Fc

2

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis

Fc

U

U

Fc

2

California Gull Larus californicus

Fc

Fc

U

Fc

1

Herring Gull Larus argentatus

U

R

Cs

U

2

Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri

U

R

Cs

U

3

Western Gull Larus occidentalis

A

A

A

A

1

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens

Cm

Cm

X

U

2

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus

Cs

~

~

~

4

Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla

~

R

~

Cs

5

Sabine's Gull Xema Sabini

~

~

~

R

5

Caspian Tern Sterna caspia

~

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Elegant Tern Sterna elegans

~

X

U

Fc

2

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

~

R

~

U

4

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

~

Cs

~

R

5

Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri

U

Fc

Fc

Fc

3

Least Tern Sterna antillarum

~

Cs

Cs

X

4

Black Tern Chlidonias niger

~

~

~

X

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcidae - Auks, Murres, and Puffins

 

 

 

 

 

Common Murre Uria aalge

U

Fc

Fc

Cm

2

Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba

Cs

U

U

U

3

Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus

U

R

~

R

3

Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus

R

~

~

R

4

Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Cs

~

~

Cs

5

Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata

~

R

~

~

5

Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata

~

X

~

~

6

Horned Puffin Fratercula corniculata

~

X

~

~

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbiformes - Sandgrouse, Pigeons, and Doves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Pigeon Columba livia

A

A

A

A

1

Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata

U

U

U

U

2

Eurasian collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

~

Cs

~

Cs

5

White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica

~

~

~

X

6

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

A

A

A

A

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuculidae - Cuckoos and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roadrunners

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus

~

~

~

X

6

Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus

~

~

~

X

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strigiformes - Owls

 

 

 

 

 

Tytonidae - Barn Owls

 

 

 

 

 

Barn Owl Tyto alba

Cs

Cs

Cs

R

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strigidae - Typical Owls

 

 

 

 

 

Western Screech-Owl Otus kennicottii

R

R

R

R

4

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus

U

U

U

U

3

Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca*

X

~

~

~

6

Northern-Pygmy Owl Glaucidium gnoma

X

~

~

~

6

Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia

Cs

Cs

CS

Cs

5

Long-eared Owl Asio otus

X

~

~

X

6

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

~

~

~

Cs

5

Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius funereus

Cs

~

~

Cs

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caprimulgiformes - Goatsuckers, Oilbirds, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

Caprimulgidae - Goatsuckers

 

 

 

 

 

Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis

~

X

~

~

6

Common Poorwill Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

~

X

~

X

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apodiformes - Swifts, and Hummingbirds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apodidae - Swifts

 

 

 

 

 

Black Swift Cypseloides niger

~

R

~

Cs

4

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

~

X

~

~

6

Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi

~

U

~

U

3

White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis

U

U

U

U

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

 

 

 

 

 

Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri

~

~

~

X

6

Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Costa's Hummingbird Calypte Costae

~

~

~

X

6

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope

~

Cs

~

X

5

Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus

~

X

~

~

6

Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus

X

R

~

X

3

Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin

Cs

Cm

Fc

R

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers, Rollers, Hornbills, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers

 

 

 

 

 

Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon

U

U

R

U

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piciformes - Puffbirds, Toucans, Woodpeckers, and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picidae - Woodpeckers and Allies

 

 

 

 

 

Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis

X

~

~

Cs

5

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus

R

R

~

U

4

Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis

~

X

~

~

6

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

Cs

~

~

Cs

5

Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis

~

~

~

X

6

Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber

U

R

~

R

3

Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus

X

~

~

~

6

Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii

R

R

R

R

4

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus

U

U

U

U

3

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Fc

U

X

U

2

Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

~

X

~

~

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passeriformes - Passerine Birds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers

 

 

 

 

 

Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi

~

U

U

R

2

Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus

~

U

R

U

3

Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii

~

R

~

U

3

Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus

X

~

~

Cs

5

Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii

X

R

~

R

4

Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri

~

R

~

R

4

Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii

~

X

~

X

5

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis

X

Fc

U

Fc

2

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans

Fc

Fc

Fc

Fc

2

Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya

U