The 125th Christmas Bird Count in California

The 125th Christmas Bird Count period took place from December 14th, 2024, to January 5th, 2025. 124 counts were completed in California, with 379 native species and 17 established introduced species being recorded, for a grand total of 396 species. A major storm system on the weekend of December 14th-15th brought heavy rain and strong winds to most of Northern California and affected several counts; Crystal Springs, for example, dealt with over 1 inch of rain and 36 mph winds, and South Lake Tahoe dealt with temperatures as low as 12°F. Outside of that weekend, however, weather was largely mild and did not significantly affect most counts. The highest count in terms of number of species was San Diego with a remarkable 230, which set a new state record.

Overall, it was a good year for rare species, highlighted by California’s second state record of Juoanin’s Petrel in San Francisco, the northernmost California record of Thick-billed Kingbird in Benicia, the second California CBC record of Louisiana Waterthrush in Rancho Santa Fe, and the first Central Valley record of Field Sparrow in Springville. Species recorded in unusually large numbers include Solitary Sandpiper, Neotropic Cormorant, Vermilion Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Sage Thrasher, and Lucy’s Warbler. On the other hand, White-winged Scoter, Rough-legged Hawk, and Glaucous Gull were recorded in unusually low numbers. A full summary of rare species is below.

An Emperor Goose in Arcata was the first recorded on a California CBC since 2021, and a Brant in Woodland/Davis established a remarkable inland winter record of this typically coastal species. A Gadwall x Northern Shoveler in Salton Sea (Southern) was only the second CBC record of this hybrid for California. Six Eurasian Green-winged Teal was slightly above the historical average, while Tufted Duck was missed entirely for the first time since 2017. 13 Harlequin Ducks was in line with the recent 10-year average of 12.5, but well below the historical average. White-winged Scoter had one of its worst years on record, with only 19 individuals, well below the recent 10-year average of 242. Eight Long-tailed Duck was slightly below the recent 10-year average of 10.1.

Rare inland loons included a single Red-throated in Sherman Island and one Pacific in Folsom. Inland Red-necked Grebes were present in Elsinore and Lake Almanor. Perhaps the most remarkable record of the entire count period was a Jouanin’s Petrel found in poor condition in urban San Francisco, which subsequently died in rehab. This establishes just the second record for California and the United States. A major storm system on 12/14/2024 deposited several storm-petrels along the central California coast– Point Reyes, Crystal Springs, and Morro Bay each had one Leach’s, and Point Reyes also had one Fork-tailed. Two Brown Boobies in San Diego were the only boobies reported during the count period. 62 Neotropic Cormorants smashed the previous high count of 37 as this species continues its expansion through Southern California. Tricolored Herons were recorded in San Diego and Salton Sea (Southern), as this species continues to become more regular in California.

It was an excellent winter for Swainson’s Hawks, with 23 in their traditional wintering site in Sherman Island, and additional 10 reported in other counts. On the other hand, it was an exceptionally poor winter for Rough-legged Hawk as this species continues to decline in California; just 35 individuals was well below the recent 10-year average of 165. Five Zone-tailed Hawk, all in Southern California, was similar to the 10-year average of 4.5.

A Yellow Rail seen in San Jose was remarkable and established just the fifth CBC record for California. The only American Oystercatcher was a single bird in San Juan Capistrano. Six Pacific Golden-Plovers, all coastal, was typical. A remarkable five Solitary Sandpipers was the highest California CBC total since 1984; this species is typically found only in spring and fall, and is not recorded in most winters. The only Ruff of the period was one found in Hayward-Fremont. Del Norte produced the only Rock Sandpiper of the entire period; this species has significantly declined in California over the last several decades. The Little Stint returned to San Diego for its 8th winter. A Pectoral Sandpiper in Salton Sea (Southern) was an unusual mid-winter record; like Solitary Sandpiper, the species is typically found only in spring and fall.

Five Lesser Black-backed Gulls was about average for recent years. However, it was a very poor winter for Glaucous Gull with just two individuals, the lowest total since 1989. A single Lesser Nighthawk in Santa Barbara was a remarkable winter record. Rare Costa’s Hummingbirds in Northern California were in Palo Alto, Red Bluff, and Woodland-Davis. A Broad-tailed Hummingbird at a residential feeder in Ventura was an exceptional record and established just the seventh California CBC record. Two Rufous Hummingbirds in San Francisco, separated from the nearly identical Allen’s Hummingbird by rectrix shape, established just the third confirmed winter record for Northern California. 15 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers was similar to the recent 10-year average of 14.

It was an excellent year for wintering flycatchers. Remarkable was an Olive-sided Flycatcher in Puente-Chino Hills; though common as a breeder, the species is very rare in winter. Two Greater Pewees were reported– one returning for its second winter in Carpinteria, and one in its first winter in San Diego. Two Least Flycatchers were present in Sherman Island and San Diego. 18 Gray Flycatchers nearby doubled the recent 10-year average of 9.8. Six Hammond’s Flycatchers was above the recent 10-year average of 3.5, and likewise 14 Western Flycatchers was well above the recent 10-year average of 9.2. Eight Eastern Phoebes was above the 10-year average of 4.6. Vermilion Flycatchers again set a new state high count with 253 (previous high, 189) as they continue their expansion; rare Northern California records included Arcata, Del Norte, Hayward-Fremont, Peace Valley, San Francisco, and Woodland-Davis. Three Dusky-capped Flycatchers were recorded with individuals in their first winter in Crystal Springs and Oceanside-Vista-Carlsbad, and an individual returning for its second winter in Pasadena-San Gabriel Valley. The only Ash-throated Flycatcher was one in Santa Barbara. 17 Tropical Kingbirds were slightly above the recent 10-year average of 14.5. A remarkable Thick-billed Kingbird in Benicia established the northernmost California record and was the only one reported during the count period. Western Kingbirds were recorded in Rancho Santa Fe and Calero-Morgan Hill. The only Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was one returning for its tenth winter in San Diego.

Six Plumbeous Vireos, all from Southern California, was below the recent 10-year average of 8.8. Four Cassin’s Vireos, on the other hand, was more average. The only Warbling Vireo reported was one in Santa Barbara returning for its 12th winter, establishing a remarkable longevity record. Two Winter Wrens were well documented in Santa Barbara and Sherman Island. It was generally a poor winter for irruptive montane species, but Golden-crowned Kinglets were the exception– 2210 individuals were reported across 66 counts. It was also an exceptional winter for Sage Thrasher, with 77 individuals reported across 14 counts, smashing the previous high count of 29 individuals in 1991. Two Gray Catbirds were in San Diego and San Juan Capistrano, and a single Brown Thrasher was in Santa Barbara. A White Wagtail in Santa Cruz established just the 5th record of this Old World species for California CBCs. It was a poor CBC period for longspurs; six Lapland Longspur was well below the recent 10-year average of 12, and single Chestnut-collared in Sherman Island and two Thick-billed in Tejon Ranch were the only rarer longspurs. The only Snow Bunting was one in Hayward-Fremont.

An Ovenbird in San Diego provided the first record for that count. A Louisiana Waterthrush in Rancho Santa Fe was just the second California CBC record. Five Northern Waterthrush was above the recent 10-year average of 2.8. 13 Black-and-white Warblers, however, was well below the recent 10-year average of 19.2. Four Tennessee Warblers was about average, as was eight American Redstarts. Eight Lucy’s Warblers set a new state high count, breaking the previous record of 5 from the year before. 24 Nashville Warblers was slightly lower than the 10-year average of 28. The only Virginia’s Warbler was one returning to Arcata for its second winter. A MacGillivray’s Warbler in Long Beach-El Dorado provided a rare winter record for California. The only Northern Parula in the count period was in Ventura. Two Magnolia Warblers were in Moss Landing and Santa Cruz. 59 Yellow Warblers set a new state high count, edging out the previous record of 54 in 2012. The only Chestnut-sided Warbler was one returning to Santa Barbara for its second winter. Three Grace’s Warblers were reported– one in San Francisco establishing the first record for the San Francisco Bay Area, one in San Diego returning for its second winter, and one in Rancho Santa Fe returning for its sixth winter. 56 Black-throated Gray Warblers was typical, while 13 Hermit Warblers was slightly below the 10-year average of 17.2. The only Black-throated Green Warbler was in Coastal Orange County, and the only Painted Redstart was returning for its second winter in Kern River Valley. 51 Wilson’s Warblers was slightly above the 10-year average of 45.3.

14 Grasshopper Sparrows was the highest recorded total of this species since 2017. Two Nelson’s Sparrows were at traditional wintering locations in saltmarshes in Arcata and Hayward-Fremont. Six Clay-colored Sparrows was about average. A Black-chinned Sparrow in San Fernando Valley provided an exceptional winter record and was the first California CBC record since 2011. Two Field Sparrows in Crystal Springs and Springville were the third and fourth California CBC records, with the Springville bird providing the first Central Valley record. It was a good year for Brewer’s Sparrow with 91 reported across 9 counts, as well as Black-throated Sparrow with 501 across 6 counts. Two Fox Sparrows of the eastern “Red” subspecies group were in Arcata and Folsom. Two Harris’s Sparrows in Anza-Borrego and Western Sonoma County is a typical count for recent years, though well below historical counts as the species has declined significantly in California. It was a poor winter for Swamp Sparrows, with only 20 reported (recent 10-year average is 50.2).

The only Hepatic Tanager was one returning for its second winter to Santa Barbara. A Scarlet Tanager in Crystal Springs was just the fourth California CBC record; however, the bird was likely a late migrant as not it was not seen in the period following the count. 24 Summer Tanagers and 76 Western Tanagers was fairly typical. The only Rose-breasted Grosbeak was in San Diego, and seven Black-headed Grosbeaks was well above the recent 10-year average of 3.9. An adult male Painted Bunting returned for its second winter to Carpenteria. 8 Orchard Orioles was slightly above the 10-year average of 6.4, as was 12 Hooded Orioles (10-year average is 8.4). 37 Bullock’s Orioles was slightly below the 10-year average of 45.6, and only one Baltimore Oriole was recorded, in San Diego. 12 Scott’s Orioles were about average.

            A huge thank you to all who participated in a California Christmas Bird Count. Collecting this data would not be possible without your effort, and we hope you will join us again next year!