Birds of Pajaro Dunes
Habitat:
Scrub: Land area between the slough and beach extending to southern border of Sunset Beach.
Slough: Lower Watsonville Slough starting at the border of Pajaro Dunes.
Mouth: Mouth of the Pajaro River visible from Pelican Point.
Beach: Sandy beach area between Pajaro Dunes and ocean.
Ocean:  Visible area just off Pajaro Dunes.
Occurrence:
C: Common to Abundant.  Moderate to large numbers; nearly always present and easily located.
F: Fairly Common.  Moderate to small numbers.  Usually present and easily located.
U: Uncommon.  Small numbers, usually present, but may require search.  Occurrence predictable and regular.
R:  Rare.  Very small numbers annually.  Often requires a specific search.  Occurrence predictable and regular.
X. Casual.  Few records.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
i: Irregular. Abundance varies substantially year to year; less numerous or absent some years.
        Habitat Occurrence
  Common Name Latin Name Nest Scrub Slough Mouth Beach Ocean Spring Summer Fall Winter
Waterfowl (Swans, Geese, Ducks) Anatidae
____ Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons     ü ü     X X U R
____ Snow Goose Chen caerulescens     ü ü     X X R R
____ Ross's Goose Chen rossii     ü ü     X X R R
____ Brant Branta bernicla     ü ü   ü C R U R
____ Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii     ü ü     R X U U
____ Canada Goose Branta canadensis     ü ü     U U F F
____ Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus     ü ü         R R
____ Gadwall Anas strepera ü   ü ü     C F F C
____ American Wigeon Anas americana     ü ü     R   U C
____ Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ü   ü ü     C C C C
____ Blue-winged Teal Anas discors     ü ü     R X U U
____ Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera ü   ü ü     C U U F
____ Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata     ü ü     U X U F
____ Northern Pintail Anas acuta     ü ü     U X U F
____ Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis     ü ü     U X F F
____ Canvasback Aythya valisineria     ü ü     U   F F
____ Redhead Aythya americana     ü ü     X   R R
____ Greater Scaup Aythya marila     ü ü     R X R U
____ Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis     ü ü     U X U U
____ Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata       ü   ü C U C C
____ White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca           ü U R U U
____ Black Scoter Melanitta nigra           ü R X R R
____ Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis       ü   ü X X X X
____ Bufflehead Bucephala albeola     ü ü     R X U C
____ Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula     ü ü     R X U F
____ Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica     ü ü           X
____ Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus     ü ü     R   U F
____ Common Merganser Mergus merganser       ü     U U U U
____ Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator       ü   ü F R U U
____ Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis     ü ü     F U F C
Loons: Gaviidae
____ Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata     ü ü   ü C R C F
____ Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica       ü   ü C R C C
____ Common Loon Gavia immer       ü   ü C R C F
Grebes: Podicipedidae
____ Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps     ü ü     C F C C
____ Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena           ü R X R R
____ Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus     ü ü   ü R   R U
____ Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis     ü ü   ü R X R U
____ Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis     ü ü   ü C F C C
____ Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii     ü ü   ü F F U F
Shearwaters, Petrels: Procellariidae
____ Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis           ü Fi Ri Fi Ci
____ Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus           ü U U C R
____ Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus           ü F C C U
____ Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris           ü R X U F
____ Black-vented Shearwater Puffinus opisthomelas           ü Ui   Ci Ci
Pelicans: Pelecanidae
____ American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos     ü ü     R U F U
____ Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis       ü   ü F C C F
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae
____ Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus           ü C C C C
____ Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus     ü ü   ü F U C C
____ Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus           ü F F F F
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae
____ Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens       ü   ü X R X  
Herons, Bitterns: Ardeidae
____ American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus     ü       R   R R
____ Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias     ü ü     F F F F
____ Great Egret Ardea alba     ü ü     U R F F
____ Snowy Egret Egretta thula     ü ü     U R F F
____ Green Heron Butorides virescens     ü       U U U U
____ Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax     ü ü     U U F F
Ibises, Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
____ White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi     ü ü     R X R R
American Vultures: Cathartidae
____ Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura       ü ü   F F U R
Osprey: Pandionidae
____ Osprey Pandion haliaetus       ü     U R U U
Birds of Prey: Accipitridae
____ White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus   ü ü       U U F F
____ Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus       ü     X X R R
____ Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus   ü ü ü     R R U U
____ Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus   ü         F U F F
____ Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii   ü         F U F F
____ Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus   ü         F F F F
____ Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis   ü ü       F F C C
Falcons: Falconidae
____ American Kestrel Falco sparverius   ü ü       U U F F
____ Merlin Falco columbarius   ü ü ü ü ü R   U U
____ Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus   ü ü ü ü ü U R U U
Rails: Rallidae
____ Virginia Rail Rallus limicola     ü       U U F F
____ Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus     ü ü     R R R U
____ American Coot Fulica americana ü   ü ü     C F C C
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae
____ Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani       ü     U U U U
Avocets, Stilts: Recurvirostridae
____ Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus ü   ü ü     C C C C
____ American Avocet Recurvirostra americana ü   ü ü     C C C C
Plovers: Charadriidae
____ Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola     ü ü ü   C R C C    
____ American Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva     ü ü ü   R   R R
____ Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva     ü ü ü   X   R X
____ Western Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus ü   ü ü ü   U U F F
____ Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus     ü ü ü   F X F R
____ Killdeer Charadrius vociferus ü   ü ü     U U F C
____ Mountain Plover Charadrius montanus       ü ü       X X
Sandpipers, Phalaropes: Scolopacidae
____ Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca     ü ü     C   C C
____ Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes     ü ü     R   U R
____ Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus     ü ü ü   C U C C
____ Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus       ü ü       R  
____ Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia     ü ü ü   U R U U
____ Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus       ü ü   C R F U
____ Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus       ü ü   F X F U
____ Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa     ü ü ü   C U C C
____ Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria intepres       ü ü   R   R R
____ Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala       ü     C   C C
____ Surfbird Aphriza virgata       ü     F   F F
____ Red Knot Calidris canutus       ü     X      
____ Sanderling Calidris alba     ü ü ü   C R C C
____ Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla     ü ü         R  
____ Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri     ü ü ü   C X F R
____ Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla     ü ü ü   C   F U
____ Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii     ü ü     X   R  
____ Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos     ü ü     X   R  
____ Dunlin Calidris alpina     ü ü ü   C   F U
____ Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus     ü ü         X  
____ Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus     ü ü     F   F X
____ Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus     ü ü     F   F U
____ Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata     ü ü     X      
____ Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago     ü ü     R R R R
____ Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor     ü ü     U   U  
____ Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus     ü ü   ü C   C X
____ Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius     ü ü   ü C X C Fi
Skuas, Jaegers: Stercorariidae
____ Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus       ü   ü F X F R
____ Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus       ü   ü U X F X
Gulls: Laridae
____ Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan       ü     R   R X
____ Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia       ü ü ü C R C U
____ Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni       ü ü ü U C C C
____ Mew Gull Larus canus       ü ü ü U X F C
____ Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis       ü ü ü U R F C
____ California Gull Larus californicus       ü ü ü C U C C
____ Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri       ü ü ü R X U U
____ Western Gull Larus occidentalis ü     ü ü ü C C C C
____ Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens       ü ü ü F R C C
____ Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus       ü ü ü X   X R
____ Sabine's Gull Xema sabini       ü   ü U   U  
____ Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla       ü ü ü Ri Ri Ri Ri
Terns: Sternidae
____ Caspian Tern Sterna caspia     ü ü ü ü F F R X
____ Elegant Tern Sterna elegans       ü ü ü R C C X
____ Common Tern Sterna hirundo       ü ü ü F R F X
____ Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea       ü ü ü F   F  
____ Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri     ü ü ü ü C F U F
____ Least Tern Sterna antillarum       ü     R R R X
____ Black Tern Chlidonias niger     ü ü     R   R X
Skimmers: Rynchopidae
____ Black Skimmer Rynchops niger       ü   ü R R R X
Auks, Murre: Alcidae
____ Common Murre Uria aalge           ü C C C C
____ Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba           ü C C R X
____ Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus           ü F F U U
____ Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus           ü Ui X Ui Fi
____ Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata           ü F U F C
Pigeon, Doves: Columbidae
____ Rock Pigeon Columba livia ü ü   ü     C C C C
____ Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata ü ü         C C C C
____ Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura ü ü ü ü     C C C C
Owls: Tytonidae
____ Barn Owl Tyto alba   ü ü       U U U U
Owls: Tytonidae
____ Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus   ü         F F F F
____ Long-eared Owl Asio otus   ü         R R R R
____ Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus     ü ü     X   R R
Swifts: Apodidae
____ Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi   ü ü       F U U X
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae
____ Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna ü ü         C C C C
____ Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus   ü         U R R X?
____ Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin ü ü         C F R  
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
____ Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon     ü ü     U C C C
Woodpeckers: Picidae
____ Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens   ü         F F F F
____ Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus   ü         F F F F
____ Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus   ü         F F C C
Flycatchers: Tyrannidae
____ Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi   ü         U U R  
____ Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus   ü         F F U  
____ Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii   ü         R   U X
____ Gray Flycatcher Empidonax traillii   ü         R      
____ Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis   ü         C C C R
____ Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans ü ü ü ü ü   F F F F
____ Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya     ü ü     R X U U
____ Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens   ü         R      
____ Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus   ü     ü       R X
____ Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis   ü         U R U X
Swallows: Hirundinidae
____ Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor ü   ü ü ü   C C F U
____ Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina   ü ü ü     C C F U
____ Bank Swallow Riparia riparia     ü ü     R   R  
____ Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota   ü ü ü     C C U  
____ Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ü ü ü ü ü   C C U R
Pipits: Motacillidae
____ American Pipit Anthus rubescens     ü   ü   U   C C
Kinglets: Regulidae
____ Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa   ü         F F Fi Fi
____ Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula   ü         U X C C
Waxwings: Bombycillidae
____ Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum   ü         C X C C
Wrens: Troglodytidae
____ Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii   ü         C C C C
____ Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes   ü         F F F F
____ House Wren Troglodytes aedon   ü ü       U U U U
____ Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris     ü       R R R R
Mimic Thrushes: Mimidae
____ Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis   ü         X   X X
____ Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos ü ü         F F F F
____ California Thrasher Mimus polyglottos   ü             R  
Thrushes: Turdidae
____ Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus   ü         R      
____ Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus   ü         C C C C
____ American Robin Turdus migratorius ü ü         C C C C
Bushtit: Aegithalidae
____ Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus ü ü         C C C C
Titmice, Chickadees: Paridae
____ Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens ü ü         C C C C
Nuthatches: Sittidae
____ Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis   ü         U U Fi Fi
____ White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis   ü             X  
____ Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta canadensis   ü         X      
Creepers: Certhiidae
____ Brown Creeper Certhia americana   ü         F F F F
Shrikes: Laniidae
____ Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus     ü ü     R R U U
Crows, Ravens, Jays: Corvidae
____ Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica ü ü         C C C C
____ American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos ü ü ü ü ü   C C C C
____ Common Raven Corvus corax   ü ü ü ü   F F F F
Starlings: Sturnidae
____ European Starling Sturnus vulgaris ü ü         C C C C
Vireos: Vireonidae
____ Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni   ü         F F F F
____ Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus   ü         C C F X
Wood Warblers: Parulidae
____ Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata   ü         C C F U
____ Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata   ü         C F C C
____ Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi   ü               R
____ Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis   ü         X      
____ Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum   ü ü       X      
____ American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla   ü             X  
____ Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas   ü ü       F F F F
____ Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla   ü         U   U  
Tanagers: Thraupidae
____ Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana   ü         X      
Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos: Emberizidae
____ Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus   ü         C C C C
____ California Towhee Pipilo crissalis ü ü         C C C C
____ Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis ü ü ü       F F F F
____ Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca   ü         U   F F
____ Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia   ü ü       C C C C
____ Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii   ü ü       U   F F
____ White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys ü ü ü       C F C C
____ Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla   ü         C X C C
____ Dark-eyed Junco Zonotrichia atricapilla   ü               U
Blackbirds, Orioles: Icteridae
____ Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus   ü ü ü     C C C C
  Tricolored Blackbird     ü ü ü     U     U
____ Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta   ü ü       U U F F
____ Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus ü ü ü ü ü   C C C C
____ Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus     ü       U U U U 
____ Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater ü ü         F F F F
____ Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii   ü         F F R R
Finches: Fringillidae
____ Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus ü ü         R     R
____ House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus ü ü ü ü ü   C C C C
____ Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus   ü         F F Ci Ci
____ Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria ü ü         F F F F
____ Lawrence's Goldfinch Carduelis lawrencei ü ü         R      
____ American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis   ü         F F Ci Ci
Weaver Finches: Passeridae
____ House Sparrow Passer domesticus ü ü         C C C C
 
The Friends of Pajaro Dunes is a non-profit organization that provides stewardship for the last mile of Watsonville Slough by preserving native habitat and wildlife, collaborating with the neighboring community and educating all who visit.
  Please help us by contributing to this effort.  Please send a check to:  Friends of Pajaro Dunes, 2661 Beach Rd Bldg #1, Watsonville, CA 95076.  Your contribution is tax deductible. 
  Thank you to Jim Liskovec, Patricia McQuade, Caroline Rodgers, David L. Suddjian (Santa Cruz Bird Club), Henry Robinson, Kay Schroer, and John Warriner.
   
  http://www.friendsofpajarodunes.org