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
Jon Fisher
Rare Bird Alert - October 31, 2025

Lesser Nighthawk | Williamson’s Sapsucker | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Western Cattle Egret | Broad-winged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Sage Thrasher | Lapland Longspur | Chestnut-collared Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Tennessee Warbler | American Redstart | Cape May Warbler | Blackburnian Warbler | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Summer Tanager | Indigo Bunting

Rare Bird Alert

Rare Bird Alert - February 12, 2021

Barrow's Goldeneye | Inca Dove | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | California Condor | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | "Prairie" Merlin | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Warbling Vireo | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak

Rare Bird Alert - February 6, 2021

Barrow's Goldeneye | Spotted Dove | Broad-billed Hummingbird | Pacific Golden-Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | California Condor | Broad-winged Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | GREATER PEWEE | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cliff Swallow | Sage Thrasher | American Pipit (japonicus) | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Black-throated Green Warbler | Painted Redstart

Rare Bird Alert - January 29, 2021

"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal | Barrow's Goldeneye | Spotted Dove | Broad-billed Hummingbird | American Oystercatcher | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Swainson's Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | GREATER PEWEE | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Bell's Vireo | Cassin's Vireo | Sage Thrasher | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | "Red" Fox Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Baltimore Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - January 22, 2021

"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal | Barrow's Goldeneye | American Oystercatcher | Pacific Golden-Plover | Spotted Dove | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Swainson's Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Yellow-bellied Spasucker | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Flycatcher | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | GREATER PEWEE | Dusky Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Bell's Vireo | Cassin's Vireo | American Pipit (japonicus) | Red Crossbill | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - January 16, 2021

"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal | Barrow's Goldeneye | American Oystercatcher | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Swainson's Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | GREATER PEWEE | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher| Dusky Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin's Vireo | American Pipit (japonicus) | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart

Rare Bird Alert - January 8, 2021

White-winged Dove | Vaux's Swift | Pacific Loon | American Oystercatcher | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Neotropic Cormorant | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Williamson's Sapsucker | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | Western Kingbird | GREATER PEWEE | Hammond's Flycatcher | Dusky Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Bell's Vireo | Cassin's Vireo | American Pipit (japonicus) | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Baltimore Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak

Rare Bird Alert - January 1, 2021

Pacific Golden-Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Pacific Loon | Little Blue Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Kingbird | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin's Vireo | American Pipit (japonicus) | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Lucy's Warbler | Nashville Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | American Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - December 26, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - December 26, 2020

Sandhill Crane | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Swainson's Hawk | "Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Northern "Yellow-shafted" Flicker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Kingbird | Dusky Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Pacific Wren | American Pipit (japonicus) | Grasshopper Sparrow | Clay-colored Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | MacGillivray's Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - December 18, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - December 18, 2020

White-winged Scoter | Long-tailed Duck | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Neotropic Cormorant | Little Blue Heron | California Condor | Broad-winged Hawk | Rough-legged Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | "Prairie" Merlin | "Black" Merlin | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Western Kingbird | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Bell's Vireo | Red-throated Pipit | American Pipit (japonicus) | Clay-colored Sparrow | Lapland Longspur | "Red" Fox Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | Dark-eyed "Pink-sided" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Baltimore Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - December 11, 2020

Rare Bird Alert - December 11, 2020

Red-necked Grebe | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Pacific Loon | American Bittern | Little Blue Heron | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Broad-winged Hawk | Swainson's Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Hammond's Flycatcher | Dusky Flycatcher | Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin's Vireo | Lapland Longspur | Clay-colored Sparrow | "Red" Fox Sparrow | Dark-eyed "Gray-headed" Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Scott's Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Palm Warbler | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Black-headed Grosbeak

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