U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Tijuana SloughNational WildlifeRefugeTijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve

Birdlist

“The coming and goingof the birds is more or lessa mystery and a surprise.We go out in the morning,and no thrush or vireo isto be heard; we go out again,and every tree and grove ismusical; yet again, and all issilent. Who saw them come?Who saw them depart?”- John Burroughs,“Wake Robbin”

Introduction

For nearly 40 years, the Tijuanaestuary and river valley have been amagnet for birds and bird watchers.Today, the area continues to delightbirders, wildlife photographers andnature lovers from around the world.This bird list covers the estuary, rivervalley and the adjacent communitiesof Imperial Beach and Nestor to thenorth, Spooner’s Mesa to the south,and the ocean visible from shore tothe west.

The Tijuana River valley hasexperienced enormous changes in itshabitats over the decades. Manyspecies of birds have appeared anddisappeared with these changes.Much of the data on birds in theTijuana River valley reflects pastconditions — more extensiveagriculture, different crops, fewertrees, flooded swamps…

Current conditions (1997) are so newthat the status of many species isunclear. Some species that onceoccurred frequently are now rare orabsent. Although this list encompassesall species ever recorded here, theirstatus by season is an estimate basedon their response to currentconditions.

– Philip Unitt, Department of Birds andMammals, San Diego Natural HistoryMuseum

Tijuana River National EstuarineResearch Reserve, of which TijuanaSlough National Wildlife Refuge is apart, lies along the Pacific Flywayand is designated as a “GloballyImportant Bird Area” by theAmerican Bird Conservancy. TheAudubon Society’s 1997 Christmasbird count documented over 370species of birds in the estuary andriver valley.

Tijuana SloughNWR

Tijuana RiverNERR

Bird List Key

Seasons

Key toHabitats

c - Common – species seen onnearly every visit at the properseason, usually in good numbers(>10 per day)

u - Uncommon – species seen onmost visits at the properseason, usually in smallnumbers (<10 per day).

o - Occasional – species not seen onmost visits, even at the properseason, but small numbers canbe expected nearly every yearwith repeated searching.

r - Rare – species seen onlysporadically, not annually; asfew as one record.

* - Species breeds or probablybreeds regularly.

(*) - Species breeds sporadically orbred formerly.

The current breeding status of manyspecies is uncertain, requiringongoing surveys.

Sp - Spring, March through MayS - Summer, June through AugustF - Fall, September through

OctoberW - Winter, November through

February

California least ternsKen Morris/USFWS

Common Name Sp S F W

Green Heron* u u u uBlack-crowned Night-Heron (*) u u u uYellow-crowned Night-Heron r r r r

IbisWhite-faced Ibis o r o o

StorkWood Stork r r

WaterfowlGreater White-fronted Goose r rSnow Goose r rRoss’ Goose rBrant o o oCanada Goose r rWood Duck rGreen-winged Teal u u uMallard* u u c cNorthern Pintail c c cBlue-winged Teal o r oCinnamon Teal (*) c o c cNorthern Shoveler c c cGadwall (*) u o u uEurasian Wigeon o oAmerican Wigeon c c cCanvasback rRedhead o

Birds of Tijuana River NERR

Common Name Sp S F W

GrebesPied-billed Grebe* u u u uHorned Grebe oEared Grebe u u uWestern Grebe u c cClark’s Grebe r r u u

LoonsRed-throated Loon* r r u uPacific Loon o oCommon Loon u u u

Fulmars, and ShearwatersNorthern Fulmar r r rSooty Shearwater r r r rShort-tailed Shearwater rBlack-vented Shearwater o o

TropicbirdsRed-billed Tropicbird r

Boobies and GannetsBlue-footed Booby rBrown Booby r

Pelicans and CormorantsBrandt’s Cormorant u u u uDouble-crested Cormorant c u c cAmerican White Pelican r r rCalifornia Brown Pelican c c c c

FrigatebirdsMagnificent Frigatebird r r

Bitterns, Herons and EgretsAmerican Bittern (*) r r r oLeast Bittern* o o o rGreat Blue Heron u u u uGreat Egret (*) u u u uSnowy Egret (*) u u c uLittle Blue Heron (*) o o o oTricolored Heron r r o oReddish Egret r r o oCattle Egret (*) r r r r

Green heron© Phillip Roullard

Waterfowl, continued next page

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

Red-tailed Hawk* u u u uFerruginous Hawk o rRough-legged Hawk r rGolden Eagle o o

FalconsAmerican Kestrel* u u u uMerlin o oPeregrine Falcon o o o oPrairie Falcon o o

Gallinaceous BirdsCalifornia Quail* u u u u

RailsBlack Rail - extirpatedClapper Rail* u u u uVirginia Rail u u uSora u u uCommon Gallinule* u u u uAmerican Coot* c u c c

PloversBlack-bellied Plover c u c cPacific Golden-Plover r rAmerican Golden Plover r rSnowy Plover* u u c cWilson’s Plover rSemipalmated Plover c r c uKilldeer* c c c cMountain Plover o o

OystercatchersBlack Oystercatcher r r r

Stilts and AvocetsBlack-necked Stilt* c c c cAmerican Avocet* c u c c

ShorebirdsGreater Yellowlegs u c uLesser Yellowlegs o u oSolitary Sandpiper r oWillet c c c cShorebirds, continued next page

Waterfowl, continued

Ring-necked Duck r oGreater Scaup r rLesser Scaup u c cOldsquaw r r rBlack Scoter rSurf Scoter c u c cWhite-winged Scoter r rCommon Goldeneye rBufflehead u u cRed-breasted Merganser u o u uRuddy Duck (*) c u c c

VulturesTurkey Vulture r uCalifornia Condor - extirpated

Osprey, Kites, Eagles and HawksOsprey o o o oWhite-tailed Kite* u u u uMississippi Kite rBald Eagle rNorthern Harrier* u u u uSharp-shinned Hawk u uCooper’s Hawk* u u u uRed-shouldered Hawk o o u uBroad-winged Hawk r rSwainson’s Hawk r rZone-tailed Hawk r

Light-footedclapper rail© Shari Erickson

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

Herring Gull o r o uThayer’s Gull r oYellow-footed Gull r rWestern Gull c c c cGlaucous-winged Gull r oGlaucous Gull rBlack-legged Kittiwake rSabine’s Gull rGull-billed Tern o oCaspian Tern c c c uRoyal Tern u u u uElegant Tern c c cCommon Tern u r c rForster’s Tern c c c cCalifornia Least Tern* u u uBlack Tern r o

SkimmersBlack Skimmer u u u u

SeabirdsCommon Murre r r rMarbled Murrelet rXantus’ Murrelet rCraveri’s Murrelet rAncient Murrelet r rCassin’s Auklet rRhinoceros Auklet r

Shorebirds, continued

Spotted Sandpiper u r u uWhimbrel u o c uLong-billed Curlew u o c uMarbled Godwit c c c cRuddy Turnstone u r u uBlack Turnstone o o oSurfbird o rRed Knot u c uSanderling c u c cSemipalmated Sandpiper rWestern Sandpiper c o c cLeast Sandpiper c r c cBaird’s Sandpiper r oPectoral Sandpiper oSharp-tailed Sandpiper rDunlin u c cStilt Sandpiper rBuff-breasted Sandpiper rRuff r rShort-billed Dowitcher c u c cLong-billed Dowitcher c c c

SnipeCommon Snipe o u u

PhalaropesWilson’s Phalarope u cNorthern Phalarope c cRed Phalarope o o o

JaegersPomarine Jaeger rParasitic Jaeger r r r

Gulls and TernsLaughing Gull r r r rFranklin’s Gull r r rBonaparte’s Gull c o r cHeermann’s Gull u c c cBelcher’s Gull rMew Gull r uRing-billed Gull c u c cCalifornia Gull c o c c Northern phalarope

© Shari Erickson

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

DovesBand-tailed Pigeon r rDomestic Pigeon* c c c cWhite-winged Dove r o rMourning Dove* c c c cCommon Ground-Dove (*) oRuddy Ground Dove r

CuckoosYellow-billed Cuckoo (*) r rGreater Roadrunner* o o o o

OwlsBarn Owl u u u uGreat Horned Owl u u u uBurrowing Owl* u u u uLong-eared Owl (*) r r r rShort-eared Owl r r o

GoatsuckersLesser Nighthawk (*) r r o rCommon Nighthawk rPoorwill r r

SwiftsBlack Swift rVaux’s Swift u u rWhite-throated Swift o o o

HummingbirdsBroad-billed Hummingbird r rBlack-chinned Hummingbird* c c cAnna’s Hummingbird* c c c c

Costa’s Hummingbird* u u c uCalliope Hummingbird r rRufous Hummingbird c c rAllen’s Hummingbird u u

KingfishersBelted Kingfisher u u u

WoodpeckersLewis’ Woodpecker rAcorn Woodpecker rRed-naped Sapsucker o oRed-breasted Sapsucker o oLadder-backed Woodpecker rNuttall’s Woodpecker* u u u uDowny Woodpecker* u u u uHairy Woodpecker rNorthern Flicker u u u

FlycatchersOlive-sided Flycatcher o oGreater Pewee rWestern Wood-Pewee u uWillow Flycatcher (*) u r uLeast Flycatcher rHammond’s Flycatcher u uDusky Flycatcher rGray Flycatcher o rWestern Flycatcher c c rBlack Phoebe* c c c cEastern Phoebe r rSay’s Phoebe u r c cFlycatchers, continued next page

© Shari Erickson

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

Flycatchers, continued

Vermilion Flycatcher r o rAsh-throated Flycatcher u u rTropical Kingbird o rCassin’s Kingbird* u u c rThick-billed Kingbird rWestern Kingbird c u cEastern Kingbird rScissor-tailed Flycatcher r r

LarksHorned Lark* u u u u

SwallowsPurple Martin r rTree Swallow c c uViolet-green Swallow c oNorthern Rough-winged Swallow c u c rBank Swallow r oCliff Swallow* c c uBarn Swallow c o c r

Jays, Magpies and CrowsScrub-Jay* u u u uAmerican Crow* u u u uCommon Raven u u u u

VerdinVerdin r r

BushtitsBushtit* c c c c

NuthatchesRed-breasted Nuthatch rWhite-breasted Nuthatch r

CreepersBrown Creeper r r

WrensBewick’s Wren* c c c cHouse Wren* u u c cWinter Wren r rMarsh Wren* c u c cWrentit* c c c c

Kinglets, Bluebirds and ThrushesGolden-crowned Kinglet r rRuby-crowned Kinglet c c cBlue-gray Gnatcatcher u uBlack-tailed GnatcatcherCalifornia Gnatcatcher* u u u uWestern Bluebird rMountain Bluebird r rTownsend’s Solitaire r rSwainson’s Thrush u uHermit Thrush u u uWood Thrush rAmerican Robin o oVaried Thrush r r

Mockingbirds and ThrashersGray Catbird rNorthern Mockingbird* c c c cSage Thrasher r o oBendire’s Thrasher r r rCalifornia Thrasher* u u u uLe Conte’s Thrasher

Wagtails and PipitsRed-throated Pipit oSprague’s Pipit rAmerican Pipit c c o o

CaliforniagnatcatcherKen Morris/USFWS

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

WaxwingsCedar Waxwing c c c

PhainopeplaPhainopepla o r

ShrikesLoggerhead Shrike* u u u u

Starlings and MynasEuropean Starling* c c c c

VireosLeast Bell’s Vireo* u u r rCassin’s Vireo o o oHutton’s Vireo rBlue-headed Vireo rWarbling Vireo u uPhiladephia Vireo rPlumbeous Vireo r oRed-eyed Vireo r rYellow-green Vireo r

WarblersBlue-winged Warbler rGolden-winged Warbler rTennessee Warbler r oOrange-crowned Warbler c c cNashville Warbler u uVirginia’s Warbler o r

Lucy’s Warbler r rParula Warbler r rYellow Warbler* c c u oChestnut-sided Warbler r r rMagnolia Warbler rCape May Warbler rBlack-throated Blue Warbler rYellow-rumped Warbler c c cBlack-throated Gray Warbler u o rTownsend’s Warbler u u uHermit Warbler u oBlack-throated Green Warbler rBlackburnian Warbler rYellow-throated Warbler rGrace’s Warbler rPine Warbler rPrairie Warbler rPalm Warbler r o oBay-breasted Warbler rBlackpoll Warbler r oBlack-and-white Warbler r r o rAmerican Redstart r r o rProthonotary Warbler r rWorm-eating Warbler rOvenbird rNorthern Waterthrush r oConnecticut Warbler rMourning Warbler rMacGillivray’s Warbler o u rCommon Yellowthroat* c c c cHooded Warbler rWilson’s Warbler u u rCanada Warbler rPainted Redstart rYellow-breasted Chat* u u r

TanagersHepatic Tanager rSummer Tanager r oScarlet Tanager rWestern Tanager u u

Least Bell’s vireo© Shari Erickson

Common Name Sp S F W Common Name Sp S F W

Grosbeaks and BuntingsRose-breasted Grosbeak oBlack-headed Grosbeak* u u uBlue Grosbeak* u u oLazuli Bunting u uIndigo Bunting r oPainted Bunting rDickcissel rLark Bunting r r r

Towhees and SparrowsGreen-tailed Towhee r o oSpotted Towhee* u u u uCalifornia Towhee* c c c cRufous-crowned Sparrow* o o o oChipping Sparrow u c uClay-colored Sparrow r o rBrewer’s Sparrow r o rBlack-chinned Sparrow r rVesper Sparrow o oLark Sparrow u uBlack-throated Sparrow rSage Sparrow - extirpatedBelding’s Savannah Sparrow* c c c cGrasshopper Sparrow rSharp-tailed Sparrow r rFox Sparrow o oSong Sparrow* c c c cLincoln’s Sparrow c c cSwamp Sparrow o rWhite-throated Sparrow r rGolden-crowned Sparrow u u uWhite-crowned Sparrow c c cHarris’ Sparrow r rDark-eyed Junco u u uMcCown’s Longspur rLapland Longspur r rChestnut-collared Longspur rBobolink r oHouse Sparrow* c c c c

Blackbirds, Meadowlarks and OriolesRed-winged Blackbird* c c c cTricolored Blackbird (*) o oWestern Meadowlark* c c c cYellow-headed Blackbird r r o rRusty Blackbird r rBrewer’s Blackbird* c c c cGreat-tailed Grackle* u u u uBrown-headed Cowbird* c c c cHooded Oriole* c c oStreak-backed Oriole rBullock’s Oriole r rScott’s Oriole r rOrchard Iriole r r

FinchesHouse Finch* c c c cLesser Goldfinch* c c c cLawrence’s Goldfinch (*) o r o oAmerican Goldfinch* c c c cEvening Grosbeak rPine Siskin r o o

Belding’ssavannahsparrow© Shari Erickson

Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge301 Caspian WayImperial Beach, CA 91932Telephone: 619/575 2704FAX: 619/575 6913

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servicehttp://www.fws.gov

Refuge Information1 800/344 WILD

Cover photo snowy egretInside cover photo brown pelicans© Phillip Roullard

January 1999