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

60 birds were recorded seen in California in March in our iNaturalist sample; 1 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 March

Red-tailed Hawk9,082 obs.

Anna's Hummingbird8,610 obs.

Mallard8,429 obs.

White-crowned Sparrow7,943 obs.

House Finch7,356 obs.

Canada Goose6,168 obs.

Dark-eyed Junco6,045 obs.

Western Bluebird6,016 obs.

California Scrub-Jay5,984 obs.

Black Phoebe5,803 obs.

California Towhee5,556 obs.

Lesser Goldfinch5,298 obs.

All birds seen in California in March

#	Species	Scientific name	Family	Obs.	Peak in state
1	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	9,082	Jan (past peak)
2	Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	Hummingbirds	8,610	Apr (rising)
3	Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	8,429	Apr (rising)
4	White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	New World Sparrows	7,943	Jan (past peak)
5	House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	7,356	Apr (rising)
6	Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	6,168	Apr (rising)
7	Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	New World Sparrows	6,045	Apr (rising)
8	Western Bluebird	Sialia mexicana	Thrushes	6,016	Apr (rising)
9	California Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	5,984	Apr (rising)
10	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers	5,803	Apr (rising)
11	California Towhee	Melozone crissalis	New World Sparrows	5,556	Apr (rising)
12	Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus psaltria	Finches, Euphonias, and Allies	5,298	Apr (rising)
13	Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers	5,279	Aug (rising)
14	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	New World Warblers	5,271	Jan (past peak)
15	Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	5,098	Jan (past peak)
16	American Coot	Fulica americana	Rails, Gallinules, and Coots	5,043	Jan (past peak)
17	Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	Pigeons and Doves	5,026	Apr (rising)
18	Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	4,767	Jan (past peak)
19	Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	New World Sparrows	4,760	Apr (rising)
20	Great Egret	Ardea alba	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	4,707	Jan (past peak)
21	Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	New World Vultures	4,540	Apr (rising)
22	Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies	4,466	Apr (rising)
23	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos	Mockingbirds and Thrashers	4,184	Apr (rising)
24	Double-crested Cormorant	Nannopterum auritum	Cormorants and Shags	4,162	Jan (past peak)
25	Common Raven	Corvus corax	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	4,066	Apr (rising)
26	American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Crows, Jays, and Magpies	4,023	Apr (rising)
27	Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	3,835	Jan (past peak)
28	Black-crowned Night Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns	3,824	Apr (rising)
29	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	Woodpeckers	3,748	Apr (rising)
30	Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	3,563	Apr (rising)
31	Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	New World Sparrows	3,467	Jan (past peak)
32	American Robin	Turdus migratorius	Thrushes	3,323	Apr (rising)
33	Cooper's Hawk	Astur cooperii	Hawks, Eagles, and Kites	3,196	Jul (rising)
34	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Old World Sparrows	2,782	Apr (rising)
35	Willet	Tringa semipalmata	Sandpipers and Allies	2,774	Jan (past peak)
36	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	Long-tailed Tits and Bushtits	2,706	Apr (rising)
37	Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	New World Sparrows	2,698	May (rising)
38	American Wigeon	Mareca americana	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,621	Jan (past peak)
39	Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,597	Jan (past peak)
40	Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	New World Blackbirds and Orioles	2,521	Apr (rising)
41	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,516	Jan (past peak)
42	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis	Pelicans	2,357	Sep (rising)
43	Allen's Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	Hummingbirds	2,354	Apr (rising)
44	Nuttall's Woodpecker	Dryobates nuttallii	Woodpeckers	2,286	Mar (peak)
45	Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	Plovers and Lapwings	2,211	Apr (rising)
46	Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	Typical Owls	2,192	Apr (rising)
47	California Quail	Callipepla californica	New World Quails	2,155	Apr (rising)
48	Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	2,095	Oct (rising)
49	Northern Shoveler	Spatula clypeata	Ducks, Geese, and Swans	2,001	Jan (past peak)
50	Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	Grebes	1,949	Jan (past peak)

Birds Seen in California in March

Top birds in March

All birds seen in California in March