California Bird Watching and Feeding Information

California is a great place to watch and feed birds. Birdbaths, misters and drippers are especially effective in attracting birds in the drier parts of the state. Ground feeding may attract the California Quail as well as several dove species. Species such as Black-headed Grosbeak, Steller's Jay, Bullock's Oriole and Lesser Goldfinch are popular feeder birds. Each of these species is shown in the Nifty Fifty mini-guide.

The Nifty Fifty

The Nifty Fifty is a mini-guide to the birds of California. It includes descriptions, images, video and songs of 50 of the most often observed birds of California. View the guide by clicking here or on the Nifty Fifty link on the left.

If the guide does not load, try downloading the free Flash player.

California Quail- California State Bird

Bird feeding

Developing bird-friendly habitat in your yard is the best way to attract a greater variety of species and to support local and migrating species. Native plants provide food and cover, are more insect and disease resistant than non-native species, and may require less water. A list of bird-friendly native plants for California are available by following the link on the left.

Bluebirds

California is home to both the Western and Mountain Bluebirds. Both species have benefited in parts of their ranges by active bluebird trails established to support their population.

Bluebirds are usually found in fields, open woodlands, parks or along golf courses or other open areas, including suburban locations with open spaces and scattered tress.

The Mountain Bluebird can be found in higher elevations in open meadows in coniferous forests.

The Mountain Bluebird is well known for its hovering flight as it hawks for insects.

Western Bluebird

Bluebirds can be attracted to peanut butter mixes, suet and fruit. Raisins soaked in hot water to soften them are well received. The bluebird's special favorite is mealworms.

Nesting
In California nesting can commence early spring and can continue well into the summer. Two and sometimes three broods may be produced. Watch for House Sparrows trying to use the next box and immediately remove any House Sparrow nesting material.

Visit the bluebird section for detailed information on feeding bluebirds or building your own bluebird house.

Hummingbirds

Several species of hummingbirds can be found in California. Watch for Anna's, Allen's and Rufous Hummingbirds at your feeders.

Visit the hummingbird section for details on attracting hummingbirds as well as images of all regularly occurring hummingbirds.

Allen's Hummingbird

Purple Martins

Purple Martins nest along California coastal areas and in parts of Northern California. Check the Purple Martin section for information on martins in California.

Detailed Purple Martin information is available in the Purple Martin section.

Purple Martin, male

Birding

California provides birders with a variety of excellent birding locations. The long coast line, mountains and near-desert areas attract a large number of different species.

The birding section of this site has tips on birding locations and bird identification. The state-based birding information section provides more localized information.

California Resource Information

California Department of Fish and Game - Watchable Wildlife

Altacal Audubon Society
PO Box 3671
Chico, CA 95927

Buena Vista Audubon Society
PO Box 480
Oceanside, CA 92049-0480
760-439-2473

Central Sierra Audubon Society
PO Box 3047
Sonora, CA 95370
209-532-0570

Conejo Valley Audubon Society
PO Box 4782
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359

Eagle Lake Audubon Society
463-535 Raines Road
Janesville, CA 96114
Gerald Nordstrom, President

Eastern Sierra Audubon Society
PO Box 624
Bishop, CA 93515
760-872-7846

El Dorado Audubon Society


Fresno Audubon Society
PO Box 9324
Fresno, CA 93791

Golden Gate Audubon Society
2530 San Pablo Avenue
Suite G
Berkeley, CA 94702
510-843-9912
Fax 510-843-5351

Kern Audubon Society
PO Box 3581
Bakersfield, CA 93385

Kerncrest Audubon Society
PO Box 984
Ridgecrest, CA 93556

La Purisima Audubon Society
P.O. Box 2045
Lompoc, CA 93438
805-733-5501

Laguna Hills Audubon Society
PO Box 2654
Laguna Hills, CA 92654

Los Angeles Audubon Society
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90093
323-876-0202
Fax 323-876-7609

Madrone Audubon Society
PO Box 1911
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
707-546-7492

Marin Audubon Society
48 Ardmore Rd

Mendocino Coast Audubon Society
PO Box 2297
Mendocino, CA 95437

Monterey Peninsula Audubon Soc
PO Box 221158
Carmel, CA 93922
831-626-6605

Morro Coast Audubon Society
PO Box 1507
Morro Bay, CA 93443-1507
805-772-7273

Mt. Diablo Audubon Society
Concord, CA

Mt. Shasta Area Audubon Society
PO Box 530
Mt Shasta, CA 96067

Napa-Solano Audubon Society
PO Box 10006
Napa, CA 94581
707-224-6133

Ohlone Audubon Society
1922 Hillsdale Street
Hayward, CA 94541
510-538-3550

Palomar Audubon Society
2525 White Oak Place, Apt. A
Escondido, CA 92027
760-746-8315

Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon
2309 247th St
Lomita, CA 90717

Pasadena Audubon Society
1750 N. Altadena Drive
Pasadena, CA 91107

Peregrine Audubon Society
P.O. Box 311
Ukiah, CA 95482

Plumas Audubon Society
PO Box 3877
Quincy, CA 95971

Pomona Valley Audubon Society
Claremont, CA 91711
909-607-2836
Fax 909-621-8588

Redbud Audubon Society
PO Box 5780
Clearlake, CA 95451
707-279-1242

Redwood Region Audubon Society
PO Box 1054
Eureka, CA 95502
707-822-5666

Sacramento Audubon Society
PO Box 160694
Sacramento, CA 95816-0694
916-709-2308

San Bernardino Valley Audubon
PO Box 10973
San Bernadino, CA 92423

San Diego Audubon Society
4891 Pacific Hwy., Suite 112
San Diego, CA 92110
619-682-7200
Fax 619-682-7212

San Fernando Valley Audubon Society
PO Box 7769
Van Nuys, CA 91407-7769
818-347-3205

San Joaquin Audubon Society
PO Box 7755
Stockton, CA 95267

Santa Barbara Audubon Society
5679 Hollister Ave. Suite 5B
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-1468

Santa Clara Valley Audubon Soc
22221 McClellan Road
Cupertino, CA 95008
408-252-3747
Fax 408-252-2850

Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society
PO Box 35
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
310-779-0966

Sea & Sage Audubon Society
PO Box 5447
Irvine, CA 92616
949-261-7963
Fax 949-261-8357

Sequoia Audubon Society
P.O.Box 620292
Woodside, CA 94062-0292
650-529-1454

Sierra Foothills Audubon Society
PO Box 1937
Grass Valley, CA 95945

Stanislaus Audubon Society
4428 Bluff Creek Dr.
Modesto, CA 95352

Tulare County Audubon Society
1407 W. Laurel Ave
Visalia, CA 93277

Ventura Audubon Society
PO Box 24198
Ventura, CA 93002

Whittier Audubon Society
14015 Bayside Dr.
Norwalk, CA 90650
562-863-7778

Wintu Audubon Society
PO Box 94533
Redding, CA 96099-4533

Yolo Audubon Society
P.O. Box 886
Davis, CA 95617

Yosemite Area Audubon Society
4540 Ashworth Road
Mariposa, CA 95338
209-742-5579

Additional resources

If you have suggestions for additional resources for watching or feeding birds in Alabama, please submit them using this form. The resource does not need to be a particular location.

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