A CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The following list contains all 355 species, 350 of them native, that have been recorded in Contra Costa County, California, through 8/1/1998. Primary sources for the list are the following: "Checklist of the Birds of the East Bay Region" (1989, Richard A. Erickson), "The Distribution of the Birds of California" (1944, Grinnell and Miller), "Directory to the Bird-Life of the San Francisco Bay Region" (1927, Grinnell and Wythe), Western Birds, Field Notes (under all of it’s titles), "The Quail" (newsletter of Mt. Diablo Audubon Soc.), "The Gull" (newsletter of Golden Gate Audubon Soc.), and "The Kite Call" (newsletter of Ohlone Audubon Soc.).
Abundance Codes Status Codes Suffixes to Status Codes a=many 1,000’s or more P=perennial a=autumn status for trans. c=many 100’s or low 1,000’s R=permanent resident when different from spring f=dozens or low 100’s S=summer visitor s=spring status for trans. u=up to 12 or 24 T=transient when different from aut. r=a few found regularly W=winter visitor *=confirmed breeder or near regularly 1=reintroduction of all or part of the population x=extremely rare, casual
Species Abundance Status Comments
Red-throated Loon fW All 3 loons are most common in Richmond
Pacific Loon uW area, uncommon to rare elsewhere
Common Loon xS,fW
Yellow-billed Loon xW 1 record, Richmond
Pied-billed Grebe c*S,cW,aT
Horned Grebe cW
Red-necked Grebe rW most from Rich., rare on inland reservoirs
Eared Grebe fW
Western Grebe uS,aW significant numbers of Western and Clark's
Clark's Grebe uS,aW summer in non-breeding habitat
Laysan Albatross xW 1 record
Northern Fulmar xTs 1 record
Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel xTa 1 record from 1937
Leach's Storm-Petrel xTa 1 rec. from fall '60, picked up in Orinda
American White Pelican rS,uW,fT most on inland reservoirs
Brown Pelican cS,cTa,uW,uTs Richmond, rare to Pittsburg, 2 inland recs.
Double-crested Cormorant c*S,aW only inland Cormorant, nests Richmond Br
Brandt's Cormorant rS,uW Richmond only
Pelagic Cormorant u*R Richmond only, nests on W. Brothers Is.
Magnificent Frigatebird xTa 1 record, fall of '91 Pt. Pinole
American Bittern r*R n. marshes, e. county. Declining rapidly
Least Bittern xTs 1 record: Waterfront Rd. 4/94
Great Blue Heron f*R
Great Egret f*R
Snowy Egret f*R
Cattle Egret uW very rare away from Central Valley
Green Heron u*S,rW hard to find in winter
Black-crowned Night-Heron u*R
White-faced Ibis uW increasing in recent years, east co. only
Tundra Swan cW east county, accidental elsewhere
Greater White-fronted Goose cW east co., regular at duck ponds
Snow Goose cW east co., regular at duck ponds
blue rW less than 5 recs., all east co.
Ross' Goose uW east county
Brant rWT Richmond only
Canada Goose c*R introduced population established and
moffitti c*R still increasing
minima rW
leucopareia rW
Wood Duck r*S,uW known breeder only at Discovery Bay
Green-winged Teal cW
crecca xW 1 rec.
Mallard f*S,cW
Northern Pintail r*S,cW
Blue-winged Teal rW reliable only at McNabney Marsh
Cinnamon Teal u*S,fTa,fW,cTs
Northern Shoveler r*S,aW known to breed only at McNabney Marsh
Gadwall r*S,cW
Eurasian Wigeon rW regular at McNabney Marsh, Rich.
American Wigeon xS,aW
Canvasback cW
Redhead rW mostly Richmond
Ring-necked Duck xS,fW Inland reservoirs, espec. Marsh Creek
Tufted Duck xW most records from Mallard Res.
Greater Scaup uS,aW Richmond birds are almost exclusively
Lesser Scaup cW Greaters, most inland are Lesser
King Eider xS 1 rec., Brooks Is. summer of '84
Harlequin Duck xSWT Brooks Is., pair currently resident
Oldsquaw xS,rW Brooks Is., 2 inland recs.
Black Scoter rW Richmond only
Surf Scoter uS,aW east to Martinez, only a few inland recs.
White-winged Scoter rS,uW Richmond only, 1 inland rec.
Common Goldeneye cW
Barrow's Goldeneye uW rare and local, reliable at Clifton Court
Bufflehead xS,cW
Hooded Merganser rW local at watershed reservoirs, golf courses
Common Merganser rS,uW mostly watershed reservoirs
Red-breasted Merganser rS,fW Richmond, annual at Clifton Court
Ruddy Duck u*S,aW
Turkey Vulture f*R
Osprey r*SWT breeds Pt. Pinole, Briones Res.
White-tailed Kite f*R
Bald Eagle rW winters small numbers on reservoirs
Northern Harrier f*S,cW
Sharp-shinned Hawk r*SW,uT very local nester
Cooper's Hawk u*SWT
Northern Goshawk xWTa
Red-shouldered Hawk f*R com. and increasing, especially in eucs.
Broad-winged Hawk xW 2 winter recs.
Swainson's Hawk u*ST,rW rare nester, now found in winter
Red-tailed Hawk c*R
Ferruginous Hawk uW mostly east county
Rough-legged Hawk uW mostly east county, irruptive
Golden Eagle u*R
American Kestrel f*S,cW
Merlin rW
Prairie Falcon r*R local breeder, more widespread in win.
Peregrine Falcon r*S,rW very local breeder
Ring-necked Pheasant (I) f*R apparently decreasing
Wild Turkey (I) u*R increasing in central county
California Quail f*R decreasing in suburban areas
Yellow Rail W not recorded since 1868!
Black Rail u*R can be common in northern marshes
Clapper Rail r*R local in Richmond and northern marshes
Virginia Rail u*S,cW
Sora u*S,fW
Common Moorhen u*R decreasing, mostly n. marshes, e. county
American Coot f*S,aW
Sandhill Crane uW east county only, mostly Holland Tract
Black-bellied Plover uS,cW
American Golden-Plover xTa Richmond
Pacific Golden-Plover xTa Richmond, east county
Snowy Plover rW,xT local at Pt. Pinole, 1 inland rec.
Semipalmated Plover rS,fW,cT
Killdeer r*S,cW
Mountain Plover xW east county, not since 1989
Black Oystercatcher r*R Richmond only, east to Pt. Pinole
Black-necked Stilt f*s,cW
American Avocet u*s,cWT
Greater Yellowlegs rS,cW
Lesser Yellowlegs xS,uW,fT
Solitary Sandpiper xT mostly Shell Marsh
Willet uS,aW
Wandering Tattler xWTs,rTa Regular at Richmond
Spotted Sandpiper x*S,uWTs,fTa extremely local breeder
Whimbrel rS,uW,cTs,fTa
Long-billed Curlew rS,fW
Marbled Godwit uS,aW
Ruddy Turnstone rW rare in Richmond, mostly Albany Cres.
Black Turnstone fW Richmond only, east to Pt. Pinole
Surfbird xW,rT Richmond only
Red Knot fWT Richmond only, very rare inland
Sanderling cW Richmond only, very rare inland
Semipalmated Sandpiper xTa most from Richmond Sewer
Western Sandpiper xS,aW
Least Sandpiper xS,aW
Baird's Sandpiper xTa Richmond Sewer, McNabney Marsh
Pectoral Sandpiper xTa Richmond Sewer, McNabney Marsh
Dunlin aW
Ruff xW 2 records
Short-billed Dowitcher cW,aT
Long-billed Dowitcher cW
Common Snipe fW especially east co. flooded fields
Wilson's Phalarope uT especially McNabney Marsh
Red-necked Phalarope uT McNabney Marsh, Iron House Sewer
Red Phalarope xW,rT rare in Richmond
Pomarine Jaeger xTa 1 record from Richmond
Parasitic Jaeger rTa Richmond
Long-tailed Jaeger xTa 1 record from Pt. Pinole
Laughing Gull xTa
Franklin's Gull xW 2 records
Common Black-headed Gull xW 1 record
Bonaparte's Gull xS,fW
Heerman's Gull uSTa,xWTs Richmond only, acc. at Mart. and inland
Mew Gull xS,cW
Ring-billed Gull fS,aW
California Gull fS,aW
Herring Gull cW
Thayer's Gull fW declining due to dump closures
Western Gull f*S,aW regular east to Martinez
Glaucous-winged Gull rS,cW
Glaucous Gull rW rare and local, Richmond and CCF
Black-legged Kittiwake xW only 2-3 recs., 1 inland
Sabine's Gull xTa very rare Martinez and CCF
Caspian Tern c*S huge colony at Brooks Is.
Elegant Tern cSTa
Common Tern rTa hard to find, mostly Rich.
Arctic Tern xTa just 1 rec.
Forster's Tern fP perennial but does not breed
Least Tern r*S a few pairs nest at Pittsburg
Black Tern rT east county, especially CCF
Black Skimmer rT Richmond, especially Brooks Is.
Common Murre xW,rTa Richmond, most common alcid
Pigeon Guillemot xS,rTa Richmond
Marbled Murrelet xWTa Richmond
Ancient Murrelet xTa 2 recs., both inland!
Rock Dove (I) c*R
Band-tailed Pigeon u*S,cW
White-winged Dove xW 1 rec.
Mourning Dove c*R
Yellow-billed Cuckoo xS 1 rec., July '98 Richmond
Greater Roadrunner r*R extremely elusive, most Mt. Diablo area
Barn Owl f*R
Flammulated Owl xTs 1 rec.
Western Screech-Owl f*R
Great Horned Owl c*R
Northern Pygmy-Owl r*R surprisingly local
Burrowing Owl f*R population plummeting catastrophically
Long-eared Owl xS(*?),rW nests at Pine Canyon, MDSP?
Short-eared Owl r*R declining, mostly east co., n. marshes
Northern Saw-whet Owl u*R watershed areas west of I-680
Lesser Nighthawk rS(*?),rW presumably nests at CCF
Common Nighthawk xTs
Common Poorwill f*S,xW
Black Swift rTs,xTa check freeway overpasses, only 1 fall rec.
Vaux's Swift uT
White-throated Swift f*R common nester in freeway overpasses
Black-chinned Hummingbird u*S Delta
Anna's Hummingbird c*R
Costa's Hummingbird xW,rT rare migrant, 2 winter recs.
Calliope Hummingbird uTs no fall records
Rufous Hummingbird xW,fT all winter selasphorus recs. assumed to
Allen's Hummingbird c*S be Rufous
Belted Kingfisher u*S,fW more widespread in win., local breeder
Lewis' Woodpecker rWT now very rare, never proven nesting
Acorn Woodpecker f*R
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker xW 2 county recs.
Red-naped Sapsucker rW now annual
Red-breasted Sapsucker uW
Williamson's Sapsucker xW 1-2 records
Nuttall's Woodpecker f*R
Downy Woodpecker f*R
Hairy Woodpecker u*R absent from east county
Northern Flicker c*R
yellow-shafted rW
Pileated Woodpecker rR(*?) Possibly resident at Pinehurst Rd.
Olive-sided Flycatcher u*S
Western Wood-Pewee f*S
Willow Flycatcher rTs,fTa fairly easy in east co. in late Aug-mid Sept
Least Flycatcher xTa one record
Hammond's Flycatcher uTs can be com. in canyons of Diablo Range
Dusky Flycatcher rTs,xTa Dusky and Gray recorded annually in Spr.
Gray Flycatcher rTs but carefully eliminate Hammond's
Pacific-slope Flycatcher c*S,xW
Black Phoebe f*R
Eastern Phoebe xTa 1 record
Say's Phoebe r*S,fW very rare and local nester in Diablo Range
Ash-throated Flycatcher f*S
Tropical Kingbird xTa just one record
Cassin's Kingbird xT just 2 records
Western Kingbird f*S most common in east co.
Horned Lark c*R
Purple Martin rTs rare spring transient, no fall records
Tree Swallow u*SW,fTs,aTa local breeder at reservoirs and in east co.
Violet-green Swallow f*S
N. Rough-winged Swallow f*S nests in freeway overpasses
Bank Swallow rST no breeding habitat
Cliff Swallow a*S
Barn Swallow c*S,xW
Steller's Jay c*R
Western Scrub-Jay c*R
Clark's Nutcracker xWTa
Black-billed Magpie xWTa 1 record
Yellow-billed Magpie r*R now breeding in east co. but very locally
American Crow a*R
Common Raven u*R steadily increasing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee c*R absent from east co.
Oak Titmouse c*R absent from east co.
Bushtit c*R
Red-breasted Nuthatch u*R just one east co. record
White-breasted Nuthatch f*R just one east co. record
Pygmy Nuthatch r*R local breeder in Berk. Hills in Mont. Pines
Brown Creeper u*R
Rock Wren u*R
Canyon Wren r*R local in Diablo Range, mostly Mt. Diablo
Bewick's Wren c*R
House Wren f*S,uW
Winter Wren r*S,fW local breeder in Berkeley Hills
Marsh Wren c*R
American Dipper xW no nesting habitat, not found since '88
Golden-crowned Kinglet fW,cTa irruptive, most com. late Oct-mid Nov
Ruby-crowned Kinglet aW
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher f*S,xW
Western Bluebird c*R
Mountain Bluebird rW irruptive, most found in Deer Valley area
Townsend's Solitaire rWT irruptive, most in Toyon on Mt. Diablo
Swainson's Thrush c*S
Hermit Thrush r*S,cW very local breeder in Berkeley Hills
American Robin c*S,aW
Varied Thrush fW
Wrentit c*R extirpated from east co.?
Northern Mockingbird c*R
Sage Thrasher xWT
California Thrasher f*R 1 east co. rec., very rare in Richmond area
American Pipit cW
Bohemian Waxwing xW 1 record
Cedar Waxwing xS,cW may nest occasionally in Berk. Hills
Phainopepla r*SW extremely rare nester around Mt. Diablo
Northern Shrike xW 1 record
Loggerhead Shrike f*R
European Starling (I) a*R
Plumbeous Vireo xTs 2 records
Cassin's Vireo u*S,xW
Hutton's Vireo c*R
Warbling Vireo c*S,xW
Red-eyed Vireo xT most records from Tilden Park
Tennessee Warbler xWT
Orange-crowned Warbler c*S,rW
Nashville Warbler xW,fTs,rTa most com. in canyons of Diablo Range
Virginia's Warbler xTa 1 record
Northern Parula xTa
Yellow Warbler r*S,cT extirpated as a breeder?
Chestnut-sided Warbler xTa several Tilden records
Magnolia Warbler xTs 1 record
Black-throated Blue Warbler xTa 3 records
Yellow-rumped Warbler cW
Audubon's cW breeds?
Myrtle fW
Black-throated Gray Warbler r*S,xW,fT 2 nest records from Mt. Diablo
Townsend's Warbler fWT
Hermit Warbler rW,fTs,uTa most common in spr. on Mt. Diablo
Blackburnian Warbler xTa apparently 1 fall record
Palm Warbler xTa just one record from 1965!
Blackpoll Warbler xTa
Black-and-white Warbler xSWT most recs. from Tilden
American Redstart xST most recs. from Tilden
Worm-eating Warbler xS 1 record from summer!
Ovenbird xT 3 records
Northern Waterthrush xWT about 5 records
MacGillivray's Warbler r*S local nester in Berleley Hills
Common Yellowthroat c*R
Hooded Warbler xSTs 5 recs. from Tilden Park!
Wilson's Warbler f*S
Canada Warbler xTa 2 records
Yellow-breasted Chat r*S only known to breed at Piper Slough
Summer Tanager xT
Western Tanager r*S,xW
Rose-breasted Grosbeak xSWT most records from Berk Hills feeders
Black-headed Grosbeak c*S
Blue Grosbeak u*S only 2 recs. away from east co.
Lazuli Bunting f*S
Indigo Bunting xST may now breed
Green-tailed Towhee xWTs 4 records from Mt. Diablo in May
Spotted Towhee c*R
California Towhee c*R absent from east county
Rufous-crowned Sparrow f*R
American Tree Sparrow xT 2 recs.
Chipping Sparrow u*S,xW,rT
Clay-colored Sparrow xTa now annual in Richmond area
Brewer's Sparrow xTa now annual
Field Sparrow xW 1 record
Black-chinned Sparrow u*S most years found only on Mt. Diablo
Vesper Sparrow rWTa now rare in winter
Lark Sparrow f*R
Sage Sparrow f*R
Lark Bunting xTa 1 record
Savannah Sparrow f*S,cW
Grasshopper Sparrow u*S,rW a few winter recs.
LeConte's Sparrow xTa 1 record
Fox Sparrow cW
iliaca rW
unalaschcensis cW
schistacea uWT
Song Sparrow
santaecrucis/gouldii c*R this is the race in the coast ranges
samuellis f*R salt marshes around Rich/Pt Pinole
pusillila u*R(?) now gone from El Cerrito area?
maxillaris c*R Suisun Bay
mailliardii f*R Delta
Lincoln's Sparrow cW most com. in weedy areas of east co.
Swamp Sparrow xWTa
White-throated Sparrow rW most from feeders in central county
Golden-crowned Sparrow xS,cW
White-crowned Sparrow u*S,aW
nuttalli u*R local breeder around Rich/El Cerrito
pugetensis cW
gambelii cW
Harris' Sparrow xWT virtually all records from feeders
Dark-eyed Junco c*R
slate-colored rW
gray-headed xTa 1 record
Lapland Longspur xW 2 records
Chestnut-collared Longspur xTa only 1 record?
Bobolink xS 1 record
Red-winged Blackbird a*R
Tricolored Blackbird f*R local breeder in east county
Western Meadowlark C*R
Yellow-headed Blackbird r*S,uW local in east co. in win., bred formerly
Brewer's Blackbird c*R
Great-tailed Grackle xW 2 records
Common Grackle xTs 1 record
Brown-headed Cowbird c*R
Orchard Oriole xT
Hooded Oriole u*S,xW
Baltimore Oriole xW 1 record
Bullock's Oriole f*S,xW
Purple Finch f*S,cW
Cassin's Finch xWT rare and irruptive, usually at feeders
House Finch c*R
Red Crossbill xS,rWT irruptive
Pine Siskin r*S,cW nests?
Lesser Goldfinch c*R
Lawrence's Goldfinch u*S,rW local nester in Diablo Range
American Goldfinch c*R,aTa
Evening Grosbeak rWT
House Sparrow (I) c*R