Compiled by David Yee Revised July 1997 by David Yee and Waldo Holt
This checklist contains 328 native and 5 introduced species. The names and taxonomic order conforms to changes made in the 41st supplement to the A.O.U. Checklist of North American Birds, 6th edition. The following seasonal abundance categories reflect a species status at prime locations in the proper habitat only. Out of necessity they are somewhat arbitrary.
An effort to show true relative densities rather than detectability has been made. Abbreviations are as follows:
c = common, almost always present, often in high numbers.
fc = fairly common, usually present, sometimes in considerable numbers.
u = uncommon, should be present but often hard to detect because numbers are few, occasionally found in considerable numbers.
r = rare, not normally present but occurs annually, usually in very small numbers. Also pertains to very localized breeders with small breeding populations.
(Above symbols all indicate species that are believed to be of annual occurrence.)
cas = casual, four or more records for a given season but not recorded annually. Some species may be common in a given year.
acc = accidental, three or less records in a given season.
h = historical, formerly recorded, now extirpated in San Joaquin County.
R = resident, most species nest in area.
S = summer resident, usually includes periods of migration.
W = winter visitor, usually includes periods of migration.
M = migrant, includes both of the two following categories.
Sp = spring “migrant”, most northbound.
F = fall “migrant”, most southbound.
* = nests in county.
(*) = Formerly nested in county.
+ = suspected nester in county.
(species) = introduced species.
Red-throated Loon rW
Pacific Loon accFW
Common Loon uW
Pied-billed Grebe fcR *
Horned Grebe uW
Red-necked Grebe accFW
Eared Grebe fcW,rS *
Western Grebe cW,casS
Clark’s Grebe cW,casS
STORM-PETRELS to CORMORANTS
Leach’s Storm-petrel accF
American White Pelican uW,rS
Brown Pelican accF
Double-crested Cormorant cW,rS
Fulvous Whistling-Duck hM
Tundra Swan cW
Whooper Swan accW
Trumpeter Swan casW
Greater White-fronted Goose cW
Snow Goose cW
Ross’ Goose fcW,accS
Brant accW
Canada Goose cW,uS *
Wood Duck uR *
Green-winged Teal fcW,casS *
Mallard cR *
Northern Pintail cW,casS *
Blue-winged Teal rM,casW
Cinnamon Teal cM,uW,rS *
Northern Shoveler cW,rS +
Gadwall uW,rS *
Eurasian Wigeon rW
American Wigeon fcW
Canvasback cW,casS *
Redhead rW,casS +
Ring-necked Duck fcFW,uSp,casS
Tufted Duck accW
Greater Scaup rW
Lesser Scaup cW,rS
Harlequin Duck accW
Oldsquaw accW
Surf Scoter accFW
White-winged Scoter accSpF
Common Goldeneye uW,accS
Barrow’s Goldeneye casW
Bufflehead fcW,accS
Hooded Merganser rW
Common Merganser cW
Red-breasted Merganser accWSp
Ruddy Duck cW,uS *
Osprey rR *
White-tailed Kite fcR *
Bald Eagle rW
Northern Harrier fcW,uS *
Sharp-shinned Hawk uW
Cooper’s Hawk uW,rS *
Northern Goshawk accW
Red-shouldered Hawk fcR *
Broad-winged Hawk accF
Swainson’s Hawk fcS,rW *
Red-tailed Hawk cw,fcS *
Ferruginous Hawk uW
Rough-legged Hawk fcW
Golden Eagle uW,rS *
American Kestrel cW,fcS *
Merlin rW
Peregrine Falcon rW,casS
Prairie Falcon uW,rS *
Greater Yellowlegs fcW
Lesser Yellowlegs uM,rW
Spotted Redshank accF
Solitary Sandpiper casF
Willet rF,casSp,accW
Wandering Tattler accF
Spotted Sandpiper uM,rW
Whimbrel fcSp,rF
Long-billed Curlew uW
Marbled Godwit rM,casW
Ruddy Turnstone casM
Black Turnstone accF
Red Knot accSpF
Sanderling rF,casSp,accW
Semipalmated Sandpiper rF,casSp
Western Sandpiper cM,fcW,accS
Least Sandpiper cW
White-rumped Sandpiper accSp
Baird’s Sandpiper rF,accSp
Pectoral Sandpiper rF,accW
Dunlin cW
Stilt Sandpiper accSp,casF
Ruff accWF
Short-billed Dowitcher rM
Long-billed Dowitcher cW
Common Snipe fcW,rS +
Wilson’s Phalarope fcM,accW
Red-necked Phalarope fcM
Red Phalarope casF,accSp
(Rock Dove) cR *
Band-tailed Pigeon casWSp,accSF
Mourning Dove cR *
Yellow-billed Cuckoo accF,hS (*)
Greater Roadrunner rR +
Barn Owl cR *
Western Screech Owl fcR *
Great Horned Owl fcR *
Burrowing Owl fcR *
Long-eared Owl casW
Short-eared Owl rW
Northern Saw-whet Owl accW
Lesser Nighthawk rS *
Common Nighthawk accSp
Common Poorwill rS,accW +
Olive-sided Flycatcher rM
Western Wood-Pewee uM,rS *
Eastern Wood-Pewee accS
Willow Flycatcher uF,rSp,hS (*)
Least Flycatcher accF
Hammond’s Flycatcher rM
Dusky Flycatcher rSp,accF
Gray Flycatcher rSp
Pacific-slope Flycatcher fcM
Black Phoebe fcW,uS *
Eastern Phoebe accSp
Say’s Phoebe uW,rS *
Vermillion Flycatcher accW
Ash-throated Flycatcher fcS *
Tropical Kingbird accF
Cassin’s Kingbird casS *
Western Kingbird cS *
Northern Shrike accW
Loggerhead Shrike uR *
Mountain Chickadee accW
Chestnut-backed Chickadee accF
Oak Titmouse cR *
Bushtit cR *
Red-breasted Nuthatch rW,accS *
White-breasted Nuthatch uR *
Brown Creeper rW
Rock Wren cR *
Canyon Wren rR *
Bewick’s Wren cR *
House Wren uW,cS *
Winter Wren rW
Marsh Wren cR *
American Dipper accW
Dusky Warbler accF
Golden-crowned Kinglet uW
Ruby-crowned Kinglet cW
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher uSp,rF,casWS +
Western Bluebird cW,fcS *
Mountain Bluebird uW
Townsend’s Solitaire accW
Swainson’s Thrush uSp,casF
Hermit Thrush fcW
American Robin cW,fcS *
Varied Thrush uW
Wrentit fcR *
Gray Catbird accW
Northern Mockingbird cR *
Sage Thrasher accWSp
Brown Thrasher accW
Bendire’s Thrasher accW
California Thrasher fcR *
American Pipit cW
Bohemian Waxwing accW
Cedar Waxwing cW
Phainopepla uR *
(European Starling) cR *
Green-tailed Towhee accSpF
Spotted Towhee cR *
California Towhee cR *
Rufous-crowned Sparrow uR *
Chipping Sparrow rM,rW
Clay-colored Sparrow accFW
Brewer’s Sparrow accSp
Black-chinned Sparrow accSp
Vesper Sparrow rW
Lark Sparrow cW,fcS *
Black-throated Sparrow accF
Sage Sparrow rR +
Lark Bunting accW
Savannah Sparrow cW
Grasshopper Sparrow casS +
Fox Sparrow cW
Song Sparrow cR *
Lincoln’s Sparrow fcW
Swamp Sparrow rW
White-throated Sparrow rW
Golden-crowned Sparrow cW
White-crowned Sparrow cW
Harris’s Sparrow casW
Dark-eyed Junco cW,accS +
American Bittern uR *
Least Bittern hS (*)
Great Blue Heron cR *
Great Egret cR *
Snowy Egret uW,rS
Cattle Egret rW,casS
Green Heron uR *
Black-crowned Night Heron uR *
White-faced Ibis casW,uM,rS
VULTURES
Turkey Vulture fcW,uS *
California Condor hW
(Ring-necked Pheasant) cR *
(Wild Turkey) rR *
California Quail cR *
Black Rail rS,accW +
Virginia Rail fcW,uS *
Sora fcW,uS *
Common Moorhen fcR *
American Coot cW,uS *
Sandhill Crane cW
Black-bellied Plover fcW,casS
American Golden-Plover rF,casSp
Pacific Golden-Plover rM,rW
Snowy Plover rM
Semipalmated Plover uM,accS
Killdeer cR *
Mountain Plover accW
Black-necked Stilt cW,fcS *
American Avocet uW,fcS *
Parasitic Jaeger accF
Laughing Gull accS
Franklin’s Gull rF,casWSp
Little Gull accWSp
Black-headed Gull accWSp
Bonaparte’s Gull cW,casS
Heermann’s Gull accF
Mew Gull uW,accS
Ring-billed Gull cW,rS
California Gull cW,uS
Herring Gull fcW
Thayer’s Gull rW
Western Gull casW,accF
Glaucous-winged Gull casW
Glaucous Gull casW
Black-legged Kittiwake accW
Sabine’s Gull casF
Caspian Tern fcM,rS,accW
Common Tern casF
Arctic Tern accSpF
Forster’s Tern fcW,uS *
Least Tern casSp
Black Tern rM,hS (*)
Black Swift accSpF
Chimney Swift accF
Vaux’s Swift rM
White-throated Swift rW,uS *
Black-chinned Hummingbird fcS *
Anna’s Hummingbird cR *
Costa’s Hummingbird rSp,casS,accW +
Calliope Hummingbird uSp,casF
Broad-tailed Hummingbird accSp
Rufous Hummingbird cM
Allen’s Hummingbird casM
Belted Kingfisher fcW,uS *
Lewis’ Woodpecker uW,rS *
Acorn Woodpecker cR *
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker accW
Red-naped Sapsucker casW
Red-breasted Sapsucker uW
Nuttall’s Woodpecker cR *
Downy Woodpecker fcR *
Hairy Woodpecker rR +
Northern Flicker cW,fcS *
Bell’s Vireo hS (*)
Blue-headed Vireo accF
Cassin’s Vireo uM,casW
Plumbeous Vireo accWSp
Hutton’s Vireo uW,rM,casS *
Warbling Vireo cM,accS *
Steller’s Jay rR +
Western Scrub-jay cR *
Yellow-billed Magpie cR *
American Crow cR *
Common Raven fcR *
Horned Lark cR *
Purple Martin accSp,hS (*)
Tree Swallow cS,uW *
Violet-green Swallow uM,rS *
Northern Rough-winged Swallow fcS,accW *
Bank Swallow uF,rSp
Cliff Swallow cS *
Barn Swallow cS *
Orange-crowned Warbler cM,uW +
Nashville Warbler uM
Virginia’s Warbler accFW
Northern Parula accSpF
Yellow Warbler cM,hS,accW (*)
Chestnut-sided Warbler accF
Magnolia Warbler accSp
Black-throated Blue Warbler accF
Yellow-rumped Warbler cW
Black-throated Gray Warbler uM,rW
Townsend’s Warbler uM,rW
Hermit Warbler rM
Prairie Warbler accF
Palm Warbler accFW
Blackpoll Warbler accF
Black-and-white Warbler casW
American Redstart casF
Northern Waterthrush accF
MacGillivray’s Warbler uM
Common Yellowthroat fcR *
Wilson’s Warbler cM
Hooded Warbler accSp
Yellow-breasted Chat rS *
Summer Tanager accSpF
Western Tanager cM,accW
Rose-breasted Grosbeak accF
Black-headed Grosbeak cS *
Blue Grosbeak fcS,accW *
Lazuli Bunting uM,rS *
Bobolink accF
Red-winged Blackbird cR *
Tri-colored Blackbird uR *
Western Meadowlark cR *
Yellow-headed Blackbird uW,casS *
Rusty Blackbird accFW
Brewer’s Blackbird cR *
Great-tailed Grackle rR +
Brown-headed Cowbird cS,fcW *
Orchard Oriole accF
Hooded Oriole uS,accW *
Bullock’s Oriole cS,accW *
Baltimore Oriole accF
Purple Finch uW
Cassin’s Finch casW
House Finch cR *
Red Crossbill accWSp
Pine Siskin uW
Lesser Goldfinch cR *
Lawrence’s Goldfinch uSp,rS,casF *
American Goldfinch cR *
Evening Grosbeak casW
(House Sparrow) cR *