Birds in California in February: What to Photograph (60 Species)

60 birds were recorded seen in California in February in our iNaturalist sample; 0 of the top 50 are at their peak this month. The list is ranked by number of research-grade observations.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Top birds in February

Red-tailed Hawk10,231 obs.

White-crowned Sparrow8,036 obs.

Anna's Hummingbird7,689 obs.

Mallard6,193 obs.

Yellow-rumped Warbler5,869 obs.

Black Phoebe5,768 obs.

House Finch5,529 obs.

American Coot5,482 obs.

Great Egret5,454 obs.

California Scrub-Jay5,117 obs.

Western Bluebird5,091 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco5,019 obs.

All birds seen in California in February

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	10,231	Jan (past peak)
2	White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	New World Sparrows	8,036	Jan (past peak)
3	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	7,689	Apr (rising)
4	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	6,193	Apr (rising)
5	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	New World Warblers	5,869	Jan (past peak)
6	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers	5,768	Apr (rising)
7	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	5,529	Apr (rising)
8	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	5,482	Jan (past peak)
9	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,454	Jan (past peak)
10	California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	5,117	Apr (rising)
11	Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Thrushes	5,091	Apr (rising)
12	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	5,019	Apr (rising)
13	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	4,992	Jan (past peak)
14	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	4,889	Jan (past peak)
15	Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	4,713	Aug (rising)
16	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	4,565	Apr (rising)
17	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	4,396	Jan (past peak)
18	California Towhee	Melozone crissalis	New World Sparrows	4,359	Apr (rising)
19	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	4,176	Apr (rising)
20	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	4,137	Jan (past peak)
21	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	3,994	Apr (rising)
22	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	3,775	Apr (rising)
23	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	New World Sparrows	3,639	Jan (past peak)
24	American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	3,542	Jan (past peak)
25	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	3,499	Apr (rising)
26	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	3,493	Jan (past peak)
27	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	3,475	Apr (rising)
28	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	3,451	Apr (rising)
29	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,394	Apr (rising)
30	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	3,310	Apr (rising)
31	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	3,258	Apr (rising)
32	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Woodpeckers	3,217	Apr (rising)
33	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	2,746	Jul (rising)
34	Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	2,690	Jan (past peak)
35	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	Falcons and Caracaras	2,681	Jan (past peak)
36	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,672	Jan (past peak)
37	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,570	Jan (past peak)
38	Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya	Tyrant Flycatchers	2,546	Jan (past peak)
39	Willet	Tringa semipalmata	Sandpipers and Allies	2,429	Jan (past peak)
40	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	2,424	Apr (rising)
41	Allen's Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	Hummingbirds	2,374	Apr (rising)
42	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits	2,302	Apr (rising)
43	Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Grebes	2,188	Jan (past peak)
44	Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	New World Sparrows	2,176	May (rising)
45	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Corthylio calendula	Kinglets	2,064	Dec (rising)
46	Nuttall's Woodpecker	Dryobates nuttallii	Woodpeckers	2,025	Mar (rising)
47	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	1,995	Apr (rising)
48	Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	1,925	Jan (past peak)
49	Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	1,921	Apr (rising)
50	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	1,886	Jan (past peak)

Birds Seen in California in February

Top birds in February

All birds seen in California in February