Rare Bird Alert
Jon Fisher
Rare Bird Alert - December 5, 2025

Eurasian Wigeon | Surf Scoter | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Western Cattle-Egret | Manx Shearwater | Swainson’s Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Williamson’s Sapsucker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | GREATER PEWEE | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Western Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin’s Vireo | Lapland Longspur | Thick-billed Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Sagebrush Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Ovenbird | Black-and-white Warbler | MacGillivray’s Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Northern Parula | Blackburnian Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Scarlet Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak | Indigo Bunting 

Rare Bird Alert
Jon Fisher
Rare Bird Alert - November 22, 2025

Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Phalarope | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Western Cattle-Egret | White-headed Woodpecker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Warbling-Vireo | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Cape May Warbler | Blackburnian Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Scarlet Tanager

BIRDS OF THE SEASON
Susan Castor
Birds of the Season — November 2025

Following a comparatively mild summer on the coastal slope, mid-October brought some unusually early substantial rainfall to the county. November added significantly to that total. That’s a definite plus for bird habitats and should also greatly reduce the potential for wildfires.

Los Angeles County’s active birders found a remarkable number and diversity of vagrants this fall. The deserts, mountains, coastal slope and offshore waters and islands were all productive for notable birds. In large part, increased coverage is responsible for an increase in the rare birds detected, especially since the populations of many of these birds are in decline.

Inaccessible to the public, San Clemente Island has long been the envy of southern California birders due its impressive annual list of fall vagrants, including some mega-rarities. But increasing coverage of nearby Santa Catalina Island in fall has proved very worthwhile. By contrast, this island has easy public access and hosted a long list of rare birds this October and November.

Many parks and natural areas on the coastal slope held interesting passerines. The Piute Ponds, though coverage suffered due to closure during the government shutdown, still managed a number of good birds.

Birds of the Season — November 2025
Rare Bird Alert
Jon Fisher
Rare Bird Alert - November 15, 2025

Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Red Phalarope | Leach’s Storm-Petrel | Western Cattle-Egret | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Pacific Wren | Red-throated Pipit | Lapland Longspur | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Grace’s Warbler | Back-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert
Jon Fisher
Rare Bird Alert - November 7, 2025

Surf Scoter | Pacific Golden-Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Eastern Phoebe | Lapland Longspur | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Painted Bunting

Rare Bird Alert

Rare Bird Alert - December 4, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - December 4, 2020

Trumpeter Swan | Tundra Swan | White-winged Scoter | Black Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | "Black" Merlin | Tropical Kingbird | Western Kingbird | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Hammond's Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin's Vireo | Lapland Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Green-tailed Towhee | RUSTY BLACKBIRD | Black-and-white Warbler | Lucy's Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak | Blue Grosbeak

Rare Bird Alert - November 27, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - November 27, 2020

Tundra Swan | Black Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Broad-billed Hummingbird | Sandhill Crane | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | American Bittern | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Swainson's Hawk | Short-eared Owl | "Black" Merlin | Tropical Kingbird | Dusky Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Gray Vireo | Clay-colored Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Lucy's Warbler | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak

Rare Bird Alert - November 20, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - November 20, 2020

Eurasian Wigeon | White-winged Scoter | Black Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Red-necked Grebe | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Pacific Loon | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Swainson's Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Eastern Phoebe | Verdin | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - November 13, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - November 13, 2020

Tundra Sawn | White-winged Scoter | Black Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Sandhill Crane | MASKED BOOBY | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Swainson’s Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | “Prairie” Merlin | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin’s Vireo | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Red-backed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Orchard Oriole | Scott’s Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager | Painted Bunting

Rare Bird Alert - November 6, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - November 6, 2020

Eurasian Wigeon | Surf Scoter | American Oystercatcher | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Eastern Phoebe | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | Dark-eyed “Red-backed” Junco | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Canada Warbler | Summer Tanager | Lazuli Bunting

Rare Bird Alert - October 30, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - October 30, 2020

Pacific Golden-Plover | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Short-eared Owl | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Red-throated Pipit| Lapland Longspur | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | "Large-billed" Savannah Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | Lucy's Warbler | American Redstart | Bay-breasted Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - October 23, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - October 23, 2020

White-winged Dove | Pacific Golden-Plover | Neotropic Cormorant | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Pacific Loon | Zone-tailed Hawk | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Bell’s Vireo | WHITE WAGTAIL | Lapland Longspur | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Black-and-white Warbler | Lucy’s Warbler | American Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - October 16, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - October 16, 2020

Pacific Golden-Plover | Neotropic Cormorant | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Bobolink | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Black-throated Blue Warbler | Palm Warbler | Indigo Bunting | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - October 9, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - October 9, 2020

Pacific Golden-Plover | American Bittern | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Least Flycatcher | WHITE WAGTAIL | Red-throated Pipit | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Bobolink | Ovenbird | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Painted Restart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - October 2, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - October 2, 2020

Eurasian Wigeon | White-winged Dove | Pacific Golden-Plover | Stilt Sandpiper | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Tropical Kingbird | Least Flycatcher | Purple Martin | Gray Catbird | WHITE WAGTAIL | Red-throated Pipit | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Northern Waterthrush | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Northern Parula | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak

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