The Birds of the Last Mile

Reprinted from: Swanson Hydrology & Geomorphology, WATSONVILLE SLOUGH RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT PLAN

This list includes bird species known to have occurred in the area of the Watsonville Sloughs, Santa Cruz County, California through August 2002. The area considered for this list includes the watersheds of Watsonville, Gallighan, Harkins, Hanson and Struve Sloughs, and the Pajaro River mouth (lagoon and beach, exclusive of the ocean).

 

Bird records from approximately the last 50 years are included, although most information is from the mid-1980s to the present. Information was taken principally from the county bird records maintained by the Santa Cruz Bird Club (including information from the Moss Landing Christmas Bird County and Santa Cruz County Breeding Bird Atlas) and from my personal studies.

Quick find bird groups (click group to find birds):

PELECANIDAE (Pelicans)

ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns)

ANATIDAE (Swans, Geese, and Ducks)

CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers and Relatives)

RECURVIROSTRIDAE (Avocets and Stilts)

SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers and Relatives)

 

Annotations

 

“*“               Species confirmed to nest in the area defined during 1978-2002.

“*?“             Species suspected to nest in the area defined during 1978-2002, but nesting not yet confirmed.

“x”               Species recorded only rarely (e.g., fewer than 5 times per year; some not even annually) in recent decade (1993 - 2002)

“p”               Species occurs principally at the Pajaro River mouth and Watsonville Slough downstream  of Shell Road, but rarely or not at all elsewhere in the area defined.

“I”                Species introduced.

 

FAMILY: GAVIIDAE (Loons)                                       

Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)                          x, p

Pacific Loon (Gavia arctica)                                     x, p

Common Loon (Gavia immer)                                  x, p

FAMILY: PODICIPEDIDAE (Grebes)                          

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)                   *

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)                             p

Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)                   x, p

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)                           

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)            

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkit)

                     

FAMILY: PROCELLARIDAE (Shearwaters, Fulmars, Petrels)     

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarusglacialis)                         x, p

FAMILY: PELECANIDAE (Pelicans)                            

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)  

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)                    p

FAMILY: PHALACROCORACIDAE (Cormorants)      

Brandt’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)         x, p

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)    

Pelagic Cormorant (Pha1acorax pelagicus)                x, p

FAMILY: ARDEIDAE (Herons and Bitterns)              

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)                 *

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)                          

Great Egret (Ardea alba)                                       

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)                                   

Cattle Egret (Bubulucus ibis)                                 

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)                          *

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)    *

FAMILY: THRESKIORNITHIDAE (Ibises and Spoonbills)         

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)                             x

FAMILY: CATHARTIDAE (American Vultures)          

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)                              

FAMILY: ANATIDAE (Swans, Geese, and Ducks)    

Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)          x

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)                            x

Ross’ Goose (Chen rossii)                                       x

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)                         

Brant (Branta bernicla)                                           x, p

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)                         x

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)                                         x

Gadwall (Anas strepera)                                         *

Eurasian Wigeon (Ana spenelope)                            x

American Wigeon (Anas americana)                        

Mallard (Anaspia platyrhynchos)                              *

Garganey (Anas querquedula)                                 x

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)                             

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)                            *

Northern Shoveler (Anas c!ypeata)                           *

Northern Pintail (Antis acuta)                                 

Green-winged Teal (Antic crecca)                           

Canvasback (Aythja valisineria)                              

Redhead (Aythja americana)                                   x

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)                         

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)                                 p

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)                                 

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)                         p

White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)                     x, p

Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis)                                x, p

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)                              

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)                

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)                 x, p

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)              

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)                   x

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)                p

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)                            *

FAMILY: ACCIPITRIDAE (Hawks, Harriers and allies)   

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)                                    

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)                          *

Bald Eagle (Halieaeetus leucocephalus)                   x

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)                            *?

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)                  

Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)                          

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)                     *

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)                         x

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)                      

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)                            x

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)                       

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)                           

FAMILY: FALCONEDAE (Caracaras and Falcons)    

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)                         *

Merlin (Falco columbarius)                                     

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)                         

Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)                              x

FAMILY: PHASIANIDAE (Quails, Pheasants, and Relatives)  

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)             , i (extirpated) 

California Quail (Callipepla californica)                     *

FAMILY: RALLIDAE (Rails, Gaffinules, and Coots)  

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)                                  *

Sora (Porzana carolina)                                          *

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)                    *

American Coot (Fulica americana)                            *

FAMILY: CHARADRIIDAE (Plovers and Relatives)  

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)                 p

Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva)                       x

Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)                    , p

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)      

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)                                 *

Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus)                    x, p

FAMILY: RECURVIROSTRIDAE (Avocets and Stilts)      

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)              *

American Avocet (Recuvirostra americana)                *

FAMILY: SCOLOPACIDAE (Sandpipers and Relatives)  

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)                 

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)                         

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)                        

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)                     x, p

Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus)                x, p

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia)                      

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)                             

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)              

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)                               p

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria intepres)                        p

Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)                x, p

Surfbird (Aphiza virgata)                                         x, p

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)                                    x, p

Sanderling (Calidris alba)                                      

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)                

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)                         

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)                         

Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)                           

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)                   

Dunlin (Calidńs alpina)                                          

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidtis himantopus)                       x

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)                                     x

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)           

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)    

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)                       

Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)                  

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)             

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria)                        x, p

FAMILY: LARIDAE (Gulls and Tems)                         

Pomerine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)                 x, p

Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)                 p

Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla)                                 x, p

Franklin’s Gull (Larus pipixcan)                                x, p

Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus philadelphia)                      

Heermaun’s Gull (Larus heermanni)                          p

Mew Gull (Larus canus)                                         

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)                       

California Gull (Larus californicus)                           

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)                               

Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayeri)                                  

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)                           

Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)               

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)                           x

Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini)                                    x, p

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)                  x, p

Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)                                 

Royal Tern (Sterna maxima)                                    x, p

Elegant Tern (Sterna elegans)                                 p

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)                                p

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)                                x, p

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)                                

Least Tern (Sterna antillarum)                                 x, p

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)                                   x

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)                              x, p

FAMILY: ALCIDAE (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)       

Common Murre (Uria aalge)                                     x, p

FAMILY: COLUMBIDAE (Pigeons and Doves)          

Rock Dove (Columba livia)                                      i

Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata)                    

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)                          *

FAMILY: TYTONIDAE (Barn Owls)                            

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)                                             *

FAMILY: STRIGIDAE (Typical Owls)                          

Western Screech-Owl (0lus kennicotti)

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus.)                      

Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)                

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)                         

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)                                   

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)                             x

FAMILY: APODIDAE (Swifts)                                      

Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi)                                 

White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)             x

FAMILY: TROCHILIDAE (Hummingbirds)                 

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)                        

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)                 

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasln)                  *

FAMILY: ALCEDINIDAE (Kinglishers)                        

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)                            

FAMILY: PICIDAE (Woodpeckers and Wrynecks)   

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes fonnicivorous)           *

Red-naped Sapsucker (Spiyrapicus nuchalis)              x

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus rubber)

Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii)                   *

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens)                  *

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)                       *

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)                          *    

FAMILY: TYRANNIDAE (Tyrant Flycatchers)           

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)                 *

Westem Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)             *

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)                       x

Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)            *

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)                            *

Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myarchus cinerascens)       

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)               x    

Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)                    x    

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)                    

FAMILY: LANIIDAE (Shrikes)                                     

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)                   *

FAMILY: VIREONIDAE (Typical Vireos)                    

Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii)                                

Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni)                                 *

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)                                   *    

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)                             x

FAMILY: CORVIDAE (Jays, Magpies, and Crows)   

Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)                             *    

Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma caljfornica)             *

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)                   *

Common Raven (Corvus corax)                                *?  

FAMILY: ALAUDIDAE (Larks)                                     

Homed Lark (Eremophila alpestris)                           x

FAMILY: HIRUNDINIDAE (Swallows)                        

Purple Martin (Progne subis)                                   x

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)                          *

Violet-green Swallow (Thchycineta thalassina)          *

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)     *      

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)                                 x(extirpated as breeder)    

Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota)                           *    

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)                               

FAMILY: PARIDAE (Titmice)                                       

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)         *

Oak Titmouse (Baeolpphus inornatus)                      *

FAMILY: AEGITHALIDAE (Bushtit)                            

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)                               

FAMILY: SITTIDAE (Nuthatches)                              

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis)

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)                             *

FAMILY: CERTHIIDAE (Creepers)                             

Brown Creeper (Certhia arnericana)                          *

FAMILY: TROGLODYTIDAE (Wrens)                         

Bewick’s Wren (Thryornanes bewickii)                      *

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)                            

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)                    

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)                          *    

FAMILY: REGULIDAE (Kinglets)                                 

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)               

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)               

FAMILY: SYLVIIDAE (Gnatcatchers and Old World Warblers)        

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)              

FAMILY: TURDIDAE (Thrushes, Robins, Bluebirds and allies)

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)                          x

Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)                    *    

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)                          

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)                        *

Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)                             

FAMILY: TIMALIIDAE (Wrentit and allies)               

Wrentit (Chamaea fasciata)                                    *    

FAMILY: MIMIDAE (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)  

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)                 *

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)                *

FAMILY: STURNIDAE (Starlings)                               

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)                         *,i

FAMILY: MOTACILLIDAE (Wagtails and Pipits)       

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)                          

FAMILY: BOMBYCILLIDAE (Waxwings)                    

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)                    

FAMILY: PARIILIDAE (Wood Warblers)                   

Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)                 x

Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celala)              *    

Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)                  x

Virginia’s Warbler (Vermivora virginiae)                    x    

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)                        *(extirp’ted as breeder?)   

Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica)      x

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)                    x    

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica ilgrescens)  

Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi)

Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis)                   x

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)                         x

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)                        x

Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)                       x

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta vaira)                 x

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)                    x

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)                               x

Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis)         x

Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia)                x    

MacGillivray’s Warbler (Oporornistlolmieo)                x

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)                *

Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia puslIla)                          *

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)                       x

FAMILY: THRAUPIDAE (Tanagers and affies)         

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)                              x

Western Tanager (Piranga judoviciana)                   

FAMILY: EMBERIZIDAE (Towhees, Sparrows, Longspurs and allies)      

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)                          *    

California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis)                           *

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)                      x    

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)                     x

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)                    x    

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)                     x    

Savannah Sparrow (Passer-culus sandwicheniii)         *(extirp’ted as breeder?)   

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’ Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)                        x

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonottichia atricapilla)      

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)       *

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)                           

FAMILY: CARDINALIDAE (Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings and allies)     

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)    x

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) *

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)                            x

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)                         

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)                           x    

FAMILY: ICTERIDAE (Blackbirds, Orioles and allies)     

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)                              x

Red-winged Blackbird (Aegelaius phoeniceus)            *    

Tricolored Blackbird (Aegelaius tricolor)                    *(extirpated as breeder)    

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)                 *(extirpated as breeder?)  

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)       x

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)                       x    

Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)            *    

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)              *

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)                    *

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)                          *

Bullock’s Oriole (Icteus bullockii)                             *

FAMILY: FRINGILLIDAE (Finches)                             

Purple Finch (Carpodacus pupureus)                         *

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)                       *

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)                              x

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)                                  

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)                        *

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)                       *

FAMILY: PASSERIDAE (Weaver Finches)                 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)                         *, i