updated 1/23/04

Calaveras County (CA) Seasonal Bird check list

Calaveras County is located in California on the West Slope of the central Sierra Nevada mountain range, from approximately 200 feet elevation to about 7000 feet elevation. Many vegetation zones are represented, from the fields of the Central Valley in the west to the Conifer Forest in the East (including rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, cities, and farms). Therefore this list includes many species that are common in one area and absent in another. Some knowledge of habitat requirements is useful in using this check list. No attempt has been made to classify species at to habitat other than separating them into observations & probability above and below 3000 feet elevation and even here there will be some overlap - especially from year to year.

 

Season Codes
Spring :   March through May
Summer : June through August
Fall:     September through November
Winter:  December through February

 

Abundance Codes

Classification is based on how often an observer can expect to see or hear a species
in suitable habitat during a given season.

C common to abundant (almost certain to be seen or heard)
F Fairly common (present but may not be seen on every outing)
U Uncommon (not likely to be seen on more that 50% of outings)
R Rare (not likely to be seen more than a few times per season)
I Irregular (may be locally common one year, absent the next)
X Extremely rare, one or two records only, out side of normal range

L Local - species that may be found fairly commonly in a very localized area

* = confirmed or probable breeder - real confirmation of nesting is lacking for many of these
so additional reports are needed and appreciated.

*(1) The last nesting record (and report) for Harlequin Duck was 1976 on Mokelumne River
above Salt Springs Reservoir (3900')

 

BIRD

< 3000'

 

 

 

 

>3000'

 

 

 

 

<=reported or probable at or
below 3000' elevation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

>=reported or probable at or
above 3000' elevation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALAVERAS CO. BIRD LIST

 

Spring

Summer

Fall  

Winter

 

Spring

Summer

Fall  

Winter

Red-throated Loon

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Pacific Loon

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Loon

<

 

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Pied-billed Grebe *

<

F

F

C

C

>

U

U

R

R 

Horned Grebe

<

 

 

R

U

 

 

 

 

 

Red-necked Grebe

<

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Eared Grebe

<

U

 

U

U

>

R

R

R

 

Western Grebe *

<

C

C

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Clark's Grebe *

<

C

C

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Blue-footed Booby

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

American White Pelican

<

R

R

R

R

>

R

R

 

 

Double-crested Cormorant

<

R

R

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

American Bittern

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron

<

U

U

U

U

>

U

U

U

U

Great Egret

<

C

C

C

C

>

 

 

 

U

Snowy Egret

<

 

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

Green Heron

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black-crowned Night-Heron

<

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

White-faced Ibis

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey Vulture *

<

C

C

C

C

>

F

F

F

U

Greater White-fronted Goose

<

X

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Goose

<

R

 

R

R

>

R

 

 

R

Canada Goose *

<

U

U

U

U

>

R

R

R

R

Brant

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tundra Swan

<

R

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Wood Duck *

<

U

U

U

U

>

U

U

U

U

Gadwall

<

U 

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Eurasian Wigeon

<

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Wigeon

<

F

 

F

F

 

 

 

 

 

Mallard *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Blue-winged Teal

<

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinnamon Teal

<

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Shoveler

<

U

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Pintail

<

C

R

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Green-winged Teal

<

R

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Canvasback

<

F

 

F

F

 

 

 

 

 

Redhead

<

 

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-necked Duck

<

U

 

F

F

>

U

 

U

F

Greater Scaup

<

 

 

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Lesser Scaup

<

R

 

R

R

>

 

 

R

R

Harlequin Duck *(1)

 

 

 

 

 

>

X

X

 

 

Surf Scoter

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bufflehead

<

U

 

F

F

>

R

X

R

 

Common Goldeneye

<

R

 

U

U

>

 

 

U

U

Barrow's Goldeneye

<

 

 

 

R

>

R

 

 

R

Hooded Merganser

<

 

 

U

U

>

R

 

R

U

Common Merganser *

<

F

 

F

F

>

U

U

U

U

Red-breasted Merganser

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruddy Duck

<

F

 

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Osprey *

<

F

F

F

F

>

R

R

R

 

White-tailed Kite *

<

R

R

R

R

>

R

 

 

 

Bald Eagle

<

LF

 

LF

LF

>

R

R

R

R

Northern Harrier *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Sharp-shinned Hawk *

<

U

U

F

F

>

U

U

U

U

Cooper's Hawk *

<

U

U

F

F

>

U

U

U

U

Northern Goshawk *

 

 

 

 

 

>

F

F

F

F

Red-shouldered Hawk *

<

F

F

F

F

>

R

R

R

R

Swainson's Hawk

<

R

R

R

X

 

 

 

 

 

Red-tailed Hawk *

<

C

C

C

C

>

F

F

F

F

Ferruginous Hawk

<

U

 

F

F

 

 

 

 

 

Rough-legged Hawk

<

U

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Eagle *

<

F

F

F

F

>

U

U

U

U

American Kestrel *

<

C

C

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Merlin

<

 

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Peregrine Falcon *

<

R

R

R

R

>

R

R

R

R

Prairie Falcon *

<

U

U

F

F

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-necked Pheasant

<

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Grouse *

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

R

R

R

Wild Turkey *

<

F

F

F

F

 

F

F

F

F

Mountain Quail *

<

R

R

R

R

>

F

F

F

F

California Quail *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Virginia Rail *

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

U

R

 

Common Moorhen *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

American Coot *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Sandhill Crane

<

U

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Black-bellied Plover

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semipalmated Plover

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Killdeer *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

R

Black-necked Stilt

<

R

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Avocet

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greater Yellowlegs

<

U

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Lesser Yellowlegs

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solitary Sandpiper

<

 

 

X

 

  

  

 

 

 

Spotted Sandpiper *

<

R

R

 

 

>

F

F

R

R

Whimbrel

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Long-billed Curlew

<

R

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

Marbled Godwit

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Sandpiper

<

 

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Least Sandpiper

<

 

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Dunlin

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-billed Dowitcher

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-billed Dowitcher

<

U

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Common Snipe

<

U

 

R

R

>

R

R

R

R

Wilson's Phalarope

<

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Franklin's Gull

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bonaparte's Gull

<

R

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

Mew Gull

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Ring-billed Gull

<

 

 

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

California Gull

<

U

U

U

U

>

U

U

U

 

Glaucous-winged Gull

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Herring Gull

<

 

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Thayer's Gull

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Western Gull

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

Caspian Tern

<

 

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forster's Tern

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Tern

<

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rock Dove *

<

U

U

U

U

>

R

R

R

R

Band-tailed Pigeon *

<

R

R

R

R

>

F

C

F

F

Mourning Dove *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Greater Roadrunner *

<

X

X

X

X

 

 

 

 

 

Barn Owl *

<

R

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Flammulated Owl *

<

X 

X

 

 

>

R

R

R

 

Western Screech-owl *

<

R

R

R

R

>

U

F

U

U

Great Horned Owl *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Northern Pygmy-Owl *

<

U

U

 

 

>

F

F

F

F

Burrowing Owl *

<

LF

LF

LF

LF

 

 

 

 

 

Spotted Owl *

 

 

 

 

 

>

U

U

U

U

Long-eared Owl *

<

R

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Short-eared Owl *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Saw-whet Owl *

<

R

R

 

 

>

R

R

R

R

Lesser Nighthawk

<

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Nighthawk *

<

U

U

 

 

>

U

U

R

 

Common Poorwill *

<

U

U

 

 

>

U

U

U

 

Black Swift

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

R

 

 

Vaux's Swift *

<

R

R

R

 

>

R

R

R

 

White-throated Swift *

<

U

U

U

U

>

F

F

U

U

Black-chinned Hummingbird *

<

R

R

R

 

>

R

R

 

 

Anna's Hummingbird *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

F

U

Calliope Hummingbird *

<

R

R

R

 

>

U

U

 

 

Rufous Hummingbird

<

R

R

R

 

>

U

F

U

 

Allen's Hummingbird

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belted Kingfisher *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Lewis's Woodpecker *

<

UI

RI

UI

UI

>

RI

RI

RI

RI

Acorn Woodpecker *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Williamson's Sapsucker *

<

 

 

 

R

>

R

R

R

R

Red-naped Sapsucker

<

 

 

 

 

>

 

 

R

R

Red-breasted Sapsucker *

<

U

U

U

U

>

F

C

F

U

Nuttall's Woodpecker *

<

F

F

F

F

>

R

R

R

R

Downy Woodpecker *

<

F

F

F

F

>

U

U

U

U

Hairy Woodpecker *

<

U

U

U

U

>

F

F

F

F

White-headed Woodpecker *

 

 

 

 

 

>

C

C

C

C

Black-backed Woodpecker *

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

R

R

R

Northern Flicker *

<

F

F

F

F

>

C

C

C

C

Pileated Woodpecker *

 

 

 

 

 

>

F

F

F

F

Olive-sided Flycatcher *

<

U

U

R

 

>

C

C

R

 

Western Wood-pewee *

<

U

U

R

 

>

C

C

R

 

Willow Flycatcher *

<

 

R

R

 

>

U

U

 

 

Hammond's Flycatcher *

 

 

 

 

 

>

F

F

R

 

Dusky Flycatcher *

 

 

 

 

 

>

F

F

U

 

Pacific-slope Flycatcher *

<

F

F

R

 

>

C

C

R

 

Black Phoebe *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Say's Phoebe

<

C

U

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Ash-throated Flycatcher *

<

F

F

U

 

>

U

U

U

 

Western Kingbird *

<

F

C

U

 

>

U

U

R

 

Loggerhead Shrike *

<

R

R

R

R

>

R

R

R

 

Cassin's Vireo *

<

F

C

F

 

>

F

C

U

 

Hutton's Vireo *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Warbling Vireo *

<

U

U

 

 

>

C

C

U

 

Red-eyed Vireo

  

  

  

  

  

>

  

  

X

 

Steller's Jay *

<

U

U

U

U

>

C

C

C

C

Western Scrub-jay *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Clark's Nutcracker *

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

R

R

R

Yellow-billed Magpie *

<

C

C

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

American Crow *

<

U

U

U

U

>

R

R

R

R

Common Raven *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Horned Lark *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Purple Martin

<

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Swallow *

<

C

C

U

 

>

F

F

U

 

Violet-green Swallow *

<

C

C

U

 

>

C

C

U

 

Northern Rough-winged Swallow *

<

C

C

U

 

>

F

F

R

 

Cliff Swallow *

<

C

C

U

 

>

F

F

U

 

Barn Swallow *

<

C

C

U

 

>

C

C

U

 

Mountain Chickadee *

 

 

 

 

 

>

C

C

C

C

Chestnut-backed Chickadee *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Oak Titmouse *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Bushtit *

<

C

C

C

C

>

F

C

F

F

Red-breasted Nuthatch *

<

U

U

U

U

>

C

C

C

C

White-breasted Nuthatch *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Pygmy Nuthatch *

 

 

 

 

 

>

R

R

R

R

Brown Creeper *

<

 

 

R

R

>

C

C

C

C

Rock Wren *

<

U

U

U

U

>

U

U

U

U

Canyon Wren *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

C

U

U

Bewick's Wren *

<

C

C

C

C

>

F

C

F

F

House Wren *

<

F

F

F

 

>

U

U

U

U

Winter Wren *

<

U

U

U

 

>

F

F

F

F

Marsh Wren

<

R

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

American Dipper *

<

U

U

U

U

>

F

F

F

F

Golden-crowned Kinglet *

<

R

R

R

U

>

C

C

C

C

Ruby-crowned Kinglet *

<

F

F

C

C

>

C

F

C

C

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher *

<

R

R

 

 

>

U

U

U

 

Western Bluebird *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

Mountain Bluebird *

<

R

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Townsend's Solitaire *

 

 

 

 

 

>

U

F

U

U

Swainson's Thrush

<

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hermit Thrush *

<

U

R

U

U

>

F

F

U

U

American Robin *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Varied Thrush

<

 

 

UI

UI

>

FI

 

FI

CI

Wrentit *

<

C

C

C

C

>

F

F

F

F

Northern Mockingbird *

<

F

F

F

F

>

 

R

R

R

Sage Thrasher

<

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

California Thrasher *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

European Starling *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

American Pipit

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Cedar Waxwing

<

R

 

U

U

>

UI

 

UI

UI

Phainopepla *

<

C

C

C

C

 

 

 

 

 

Orange-crowned Warbler *

<

C

C

U

 

>

C

C

F

 

Nashville Warbler *

<

U

R

U

 

>

C

C

F

 

Yellow Warbler *

<

U

C

U

 

>

C

C

U

 

Yellow-rumped Warbler *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

F

Black-throated Gray Warbler *

<

R

R

R

 

>

C

C

F

 

Townsend's Warbler

<

R

 

R

R

>

R

 

U

R

Hermit Warbler *

<

R

 

 

 

>

C

C

U

 

Black-and-White Warbler

<

 

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

MacGillivray's Warbler *

<

R

 

R

 

>

C

C

F

 

Common Yellowthroat

<

R

 

R

 

>

R

 

 

 

Wilson's Warbler *

<

R

 

R

 

>

F

C

F

 

Yellow-breasted Chat

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Tanager

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Tanager *

<

U

U

 

 

>

C

C

U

 

Green-tailed Towhee *

 

 

 

 

 

>

U

U

U

 

Spotted Towhee *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

California Towhee *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Rufous-crowned Sparrow *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Chipping Sparrow *

<

R

R

R

 

>

C

C

C

 

Brewer's Sparrow

 

 

 

 

 

>

 

R

R

 

Black-chinned Sparrow

<

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vesper Sparrow

<

 

 

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Lark Bunting

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lark Sparrow *

<

U

U

U

U

 

 

 

 

 

Black-throated Sparrow

<

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sage Sparrow

<

R

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

Savannah Sparrow

<

F

F

F

F

>

R

R

R

 

Grasshopper Sparrow *

<

R

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fox Sparrow *

<

R

 

R

 

>

C

C

F

F

Song Sparrow *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

F

Lincoln's Sparrow *

<

F

U

F

U

>

F

F

U

R

Swamp Sparrow

<

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White-throated Sparrow

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

White-crowned Sparrow *

<

C

 

C

C

>

C

C

F

F

Golden-crowned Sparrow

<

R

 

F

F

>

R

R

R

R

Dark-eyed Junco *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

C

Black-headed Grosbeak *

<

F

F

U

 

>

C

C

U

 

Blue Grosbeak

<

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lazuli Bunting *

<

R

R

 

 

>

U

U

U

 

Red-winged Blackbird *

<

C

F

C

C

>

C

C

C

F

Tricolored Blackbird *

<

C

F

C

C

>

R

R

R

R

Western Meadowlark *

<

C

C

C

C

>

R

R

R

R

Yellow-headed Blackbird

< 

R 

 

 

 

>

R

 

 

 

Brewer's Blackbird *

<

C

C

C

C

>

C

C

C

F

Great-tailed Grackle

<

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown-Headed Cowbird *

<

F

F

R

R

>

F

F

R

 

Hooded Oriole

<

R

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bullock's Oriole *

<

F

F

 

 

>

R

R

 

 

Baltimore Oriole

<

 

 

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pine Grosbeak *

 

 

 

 

 

>

FI

FI

FI

 

Purple Finch *

<

R

R

R

R

>

C

C

F

F

Cassin's Finch *

<

R

 

 

R

>

U

U

U

U

House Finch *

<

C

C

C

C

>

 

R

R

 

Red Crossbill *

 

 

 

 

 

>

UI

UI

FI

FI

Pine Siskin *

<

RI

 

RI

RI

>

FI

F

F

FI

Lesser Goldfinch *

<

F

F

F

F

>

F

F

F

U

Lawrence's Goldfinch *

<

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Goldfinch

<

R

 

R

R

>

 

R

R

R

Evening Grosbeak *

<

R

R

R

 

>

UI

UI

UI

UI

House Sparrow *

<

C

C

C

C

>

U

U

U

U

 

This list is based on reported observations and long time records of many individuals plus various sources including the check list "Birds of the Stanislaus National Forest" as compiled by Sy Baldwin August 1995, the "Field Checklist of the Birds of Yosemite National Park" revised 1983, and the book "Birds of Yosemite" by David Gaines 1988 and Grinnell & Miller's "The Distribution of the Birds of California" 1944. Some abundance codes are probable from references rather than actual observations.

This information was most recently updated 1/10/04 (with 265 species) by Penelope Bowen, formerly Calaveras County Coordinator for the American Birding Association's "North American Birds".

Please send comments, corrections, suggestions to current coordinator:

John Sterling

email: ani@cal.net

 

                                                 
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