Birds of Orange County, California
Compiled by Peter J. Bryant, from the photographs of John Avise, University of California, Irvine
(Click on images or names to open)

Taxonomy From the American Ornithological Union (1998)

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae (Swans, Geese and Ducks)

Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
Brant,
Branta bernicla
Canada Goose,
Branta canadensis
Cackling Goose,
Branta hutchinsii
Ross' Goose,
Chen rossi

Wood Duck,
Aix sponsa
Northern Pintail,
Anas acuta
American Wigeon,
Anas americana
Northern Shoveler,
Anas clypeata
Green-winged Teal,
Anas crecca

Cinnamon Teal,
Anas cyanoptera
Blue-winged Teal,
Anas discors
Eurasian Wigeon,
Anas penelope
Mallard,
Anas platyrhynchos
Gadwall,
Anas strepera

Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
Redhead, Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola

Hooded Merganser,
Lophodytes cucullatus
Surf Scoter,
Melanitta perspicillata
Red-breasted Merganser,
Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck,
Oxyura jamaicensis 		 
GALLIFORMES        
Odontophoridae
(Quail)		 Phasianidae (Pheasants)      
         
PODICIPEDIFORMES (Grebes) : Podicipedidae (Grebes)

Clark's Grebe,
Aechmophorus clarkii
Western Grebe,
Aechmophorus occidentalis
Horned Grebe,
Podiceps auritus

Eared Grebe,
Podiceps nigricollis
Pied-billed Grebe,
Podilymbus podiceps
COLUMBIFORMES (Sandgrouse, Pigeons and Doves) CAPRIMULGIFORMES APODIFORMES CUCULIFORMES
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) Caprimulgidae (Nightjars) Apodidae (Swifts) Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) Cuclidae (Cuckoos)
GRUIFORMES: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) GAVIIFORMES: Gaviidae (Loons)   
  Common Loon,
Gavia immer
Pacific Loon,
Gavia pacifica
Red-throated Loon,
Gavia stellata
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Hydrobatidae (Storm Petrels) Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)  

Ashy Storm-petrel,
Oceanodrama homochroa 		 
Pink-footed Shearwater,
Puffinus creatopus
Black-vented Shearwater,
Puffinus opisthomelas
 
PELECANIFORMES
Sulidae (Gannets and Boobies) Pelecanidae (Pelicans) Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)

Brown Booby,
Sula leucogaster
American White Pelican,
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican,
Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Brandt's Cormorant,
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
CICONIIFORMES
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Great Egret,
Ardea alba
Great Blue Heron,
Ardea herodias
American Bittern,
Botaurus lentiginosus
Cattle Egret,
Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron,
Butoroides virescens

Little Blue Heron,
Egretta caerulea
Reddish Egret,
Egretta rufescens
Snowy Egret,
Egretta thula
Least Bittern,
Ixobrychus exilis
Black-crowned Night Heron,
Nycricorax nycticorax
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)      

White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi 		       
CHARADRIIFORMES        
Alcidae (Auks)    

Rhinoceros Auklet,
Cerorhinca monocerata
Cassin's Auklet,
Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Xantus's Murrelet, Synthliboramphus hypoleucus 		   
Charadriidae (Plovers)    

Snowy Plover,
Charadrius alexandrinus
Semipalmated Plover,
Charadrius semipalmatus
Black-bellied Plover,
Pluvialis squatarola 		   
Laridae (Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers)

Gull-billed Tern,
Gelochelidon nilotica
Herring Gull,
Larus argentatus
California Gull,
Larus californicus
Mew Gull,
Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull,
Larus delawarensis

Glaucous-winged Gull,
Larus glaucescens
Heermann's Gull,
Larus heermanni
Western Gull,
Larus occidentalis
Bonaparte's Gull,
Larus philadelphia
Thayer's Gull,
Larus thayeri

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger
Least Tern, Sterna antillarum
Caspian Tern, Sterna caspica
Elegant Tern, Sterna elegans
Forster's Tern, Sterna fosteri

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
Royal Tern, Sterna maxima 		     
Hematopodidae (Oystercatchers) Recurvirostridae
(Stilts and Avocets) 		     

Black Oystercatcher,
Haematopus bachmani 		       
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Snipes)

Spotted Sandpiper,
Actitis macularia
Surfbird,
Aphriza virgata
Ruddy Turnstone,
Arenaria interpres
Black Turnstone,
Arenaria melanocephala
Sanderling,
Calidris alba

Dunlin,
Calidris alpina
Red Knot,
Calidris canutus
Western Sandpiper,
Calidris mauri
Pectoral Sandpiper,
Calidris melanotos
Least Sandpiper,
Calidris minutilla

Willet,
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Wilson's Snipe,
Gallinago delicata
Wandering Tattler,
Heteroscelus incanus
Dowitcher,
Limnodromus sp.
Marbled Godwit,
Limosa fedoa

Long-billed Curlew,
Numenius americanus
Whimbrel,
Numenius phaeopus
Red Phalarope,
Phalaropus fulicaria
Red-necked Phalarope,
Phalaropus lobatus
Wilson's Phalarope,
Phalaropus tricolor

Ruff,
Philomachus pugnax
Lesser Yellowlegs,
Tringa flavipes
Greater Yellowlegs,
Tringa melanoleuca 		   
STRIGIFORMES CORACIIFORMES PICIFORMES  
Strigidae (Typical Owls) Tytonidae (Barn Owls) Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) Picidae (Woodpeckers)  

Burrowing Owl, Speotyto canicularia 		       
FALCONIFORMES
Accipitridae (Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies)

Cooper's Hawk,
Accipiter cooperii
Sharp-shinned Hawk,
Accipiter striatus
Red-tailed Hawk,
Buteo jamaicensis

Red-shouldered Hawk,
Buteo lineatus
Ferruginous Hawk,
Buteo regalis

Swainson's Hawk,
Buteo swainsoni
Northern Harrier,
Circus cyaneus
White-tailed Kite,
Elanus leucurus
Bald Eagle,
Haliaeetus leucocephalus 		 
Falconidae (Falcons)  

Merlin,
Falco columbarius
Prairie Falcon,
Falco mexicanus
Peregrine Falcon,
Falco Peregrinus
American Kestrel,
Falco sparverius 		 
Cathartidae (Vultures) Pandionidae (Osprey)      

Turkey Vulture,
Cathartes aura
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus		      
PASSERIFORMES (Songbirds)
Aegithalidae (Bushtits) Alaudidae (Larks) Bombycillidae (Waxwings) Cardinalinae (Finch-like Species) Corvidae (Jays, Crows and Ravens)
Emberizinae (Sparrows and Allies) Fringillidae (Finches) Hirundinidae (Swallows) Icterinae (Blackbirds, Orioles and Allies) Laniidae (Shrikes)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers) Motacillidae (Pipits and Wagtails) Muscicapidae Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) Ptilogonatidae (Silky-Flycatchers)
Sturnidae (Starlings) Thraupinae (Tanagers) Timaliinae (Babblers) Troglodytidae (Wrens) Turdinae (Thrushes)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) Vireonidae (Vireos)      
Back Bay Birds (Avifauna of Upper Newport Bay, California)