Conservation - Endemic Species

Birds

Catalina Island

Endemic Birds

Catalina Island has a rich assortment of bird species. For avid bird watchers there’s a checklist below to track bird sightings. Can you find them all?

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Swans, Geese, and Ducks

Greater White-Fronted, Anser albifrons
Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
Ross’s Goose, Chen rossii
Brant, Branta bernicla
Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii
Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
Gadwall, Anas strepera
American Wigeon, Anas americana
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera
Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Redhead, Aythya americana
Ring-necked, Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup, Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
Surf Scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter, Melanitta americana
Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis

New World Quail

California Quail, Callipepla californica

Pheasants, Partridges, and Turkeys

Chukar, Alectoris chukar
Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo

Loons

Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica
Common Loon, Gavia immer

Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
Western, Aechmophorus occidentalis
Clark’s Grebe, Aechmophorus clarkii

Albatrosses

Short-tailed Albatross, Phoebastria albatrus

Shearwaters and Petrels

Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus
Sooty Shearwater, Puffinus griseus
Short-tailed Shearwater, Puffinus tenuirostris
Black-vented Shearwater, Puffinus opisthomelas

Storm-Petrels

Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Ashy Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma homochroa
Black Storm-Petrel, Oceanodroma melania

Tropicbirds

Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Frigatebirds

Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens

Boobies and Gannets

Masked Booby, Sula dactylatra
Blue-footed Booby, Sula nebouxii
Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster

Cormorants

Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Pelicans

American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis

Bitterns and Herons

Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
Great Egret, Ardea alba
Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron, Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Ibises and Spoonbills

White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi

New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Kites, Eagles, and Hawks

White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
Cooper’s Hawk, Accipiter cooperii
Swainson’s Hawk, Buteo swainsoni
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola
Sora, Porzana Carolina
Common Gallinule, Gallinula galeata
American Coot, Fulica Americana

Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet, Recurvirostra Americana

Oystercatchers

American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

Plovers

Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
Snowy Plover, Charadrius nivosus
Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferous

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius
Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria
Wandering Tattler, Tringa incana
Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
Willet, Tringa semipalmata
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres
Black Turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala
Red Knot, Calidris canutus
Surfbird, Calidris virgata
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminata
Sanderling, Calidris alba
Dunlin, Calidris alpina
Baird’s Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii
Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis
Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri
Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson’s Snipe, Gallinago delicata
Wilson’s Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius

Skuas

South Polar Skua, Stercorarius maccormicki
Pomarine Jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Common Murre, Uria aalge
Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus Columba
Scripps’s Murrelet, Synthliboramphus scrippsi
Guadalupe Murrelet, Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus
Cassin’s Auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Rhinoceros Auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata
Tufted Puffin April, Fratercula cirrhata

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
Bonaparte’s Gull, Chroicocephalus Philadelphia
Heermann’s Gull, Larus heermanni
Mew Gull, Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Western Gull, Larus occidentalis
California Gull, Larus californicus
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Thayer’s Gull, Larus thayeri
Glaucous-winged Gull, Larus glaucescens
Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus
Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri
Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus
Elegant Tern, Thalasseus elegans
Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
African Collared-Dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
Eurasian Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Spotted Dove, Streptopelia chinensis
White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura

Cuckoos and Roadrunners

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus

Barn Owls

Barn Owl, Tyto alba

Typical Owls

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia
Long-eared Owl, Asio otus
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus

Nightjars

Lesser Nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis
Common Poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Swifts

Black Swift, Cypseloides niger
Vaux’s Swift, Chaetura vauxi
White-throated Swift, Aeronautes saxatalis

Hummingbirds

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri
Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna
Costa’s Hummingbird, Calypte costae
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Allen’s Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin

Kingfishers

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers and Allies

Lewis’s Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis
Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber
Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Picoides nuttallii
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus

Caracaras and Falcons

Crested Caracara, Caracara cheriway
American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
Merlin, Falco columbarius
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus

Tyrant Flycatchers

Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus virens
Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
Hammond’s Flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
Gray Flycatcher, [Empidonax wrightii
Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya
Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens
Cassin’s Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
Thick-billed Kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus virticalis
Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus

Shrikes

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus

Vireos

Gray Vireo, Vireo vicinior
Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons
Cassin’s Vireo, Vireo cassinii
Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius
Hutton’s Vireo, Vireo huttoni
Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus

Jays, Magpies, and Crows

Pinyon Jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Clark’s Nutcracker, Nucifraga Columbiana
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven, Corvus corax

Larks

Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Purple Martin, Progne subis
Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green, Tachycineta thalassina
Northern Rough-winged, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica

Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits

Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus

Nuthatches

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea

Creepers

Brown Creeper, Certhia americana

Wrens

Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
Pacific Wren, Troglodytes pacificus
Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris

Gnatcatchers

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea

Dippers

American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula

Thrushes

Western Bluebird, Sialia Mexicana
Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides
Townsend’s Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
Swainson’s Thrush, Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos

Starlings

European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris

Wagtails and Pipits

Red-throated Pipit, Anthus cervinus
American Pipit, Anthus rubescens
Sprague’s Pipit, Anthus spragueii

Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum

Silky-flycatchers

Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens

Longspurs

Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus

Wood-Warblers

Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea
Tennessee Warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina
Orange-crowned Warbler, Oreothlypis celata
Lucy’s Warbler, [Oreothlypis luciae
Nashville Warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla
Virginia’s Warbler, Oreothlypis virginiae
MacGillivray’s Warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei
Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina
American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanea
Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia
Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler, Setophaga caerulescens
Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Setophaga nigrescens
Townsend’s Warbler, Setophaga townsendi
Hermit Warbler, Setophaga occidentalis
Black-throated Green Warbler, Setophaga virens
Canada Warbler, Cardellina Canadensis
Wilson’s Warbler, Cardellina pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens

New World Sparrows

Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
Brewer’s Sparrow, Spizella breweri
Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis
Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys
Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris’s Sparrow, Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned Spar, Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis

Cardinals and Allies

Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra
Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea
Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue Grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena
Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
Painted Bunting, Passerina ciris
Dickcissel, Spiza americana

Blackbirds and Allies

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor
Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus
Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullockii
Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
Scott’s Oriole, Icterus parisorum

Finches and Allies

House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus
Pine Siskin, Spinus pinus
Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Spinus Lawrencei
American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis
Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus