A Birdwatcher's Paradise
Birds of the Central Coast
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Central Coast Birds
During the past decade, birdwatching has become one of our country's most popular
pursuits. California's Central Coast is one of the best places for birdwatching.
Birds come in all shapes and sizes. Nearly 600 species of birds have been recorded
in California. They stand alone in marshes and fly in flocks of thousands far out to sea.
You can find shorebirds along the coast as you walk the beaches of Cayucos,
Cambria and San Simeon. Then head to the hills for soaring hawks and eagles,
spotting plenty of songbirds along the way.
The Central Coast is situated along the Pacific Flyway, the path birds take during their
winter migration between southern wintering grounds and northern breeding sites.
Many birds who spend the winter in warmer, southern areas migrate north to California
to take advantage of our abundant animal life. Birds from Alaska and Canada spend
the winter on the Central Coast or pass through in migration. Some species which
breed here winter at home, but most migrate to Mexico or Guatemala. Many individual
birds return to the same wintering and breeding grounds several years in a row.
Northbound migration occurs from late February until early June, southbound from July
into September.
Along Central Coast wetlands and beaches, look for sandpipers, plovers, avocets,
herons and egrets. Seabirds like albatrosses, storm-petrels, and shearwaters, remain
far out to sea, coming ashore only to breed. Coastal seabirds like the brown pelican,
loons, cormorants and gulls stay closer to shore.
Raptors are birds of prey that are active in the daytime. In California this includes
vultures, hawks and eagles, and falcons. The California Condor is found nowhere else
in the world.
Many woodpeckers are year-round residents. The acorn woodpecker and northern
flicker are often seen.
Songbirds are abundant. Sparrows, flycatchers, wrens, finches. The list seems
endless at times.
Nocturnal owls seem to hoot from every tree while hundreds of Brant descend upon
Morro Bay every fall.
The Central Coast is truly a bird-watcher's paradise.
During the past decade, birdwatching has become one of our country's most popular
pursuits. California's Central Coast is one of the best places for birdwatching.
Birds come in all shapes and sizes. Nearly 600 species of birds have been recorded
in California. They stand alone in marshes and fly in flocks of thousands far out to sea.
You can find shorebirds along the coast as you walk the beaches of Cayucos,
Cambria and San Simeon. Then head to the hills for soaring hawks and eagles,
spotting plenty of songbirds along the way.
The Central Coast is situated along the Pacific Flyway, the path birds take during their
winter migration between southern wintering grounds and northern breeding sites.
Many birds who spend the winter in warmer, southern areas migrate north to California
to take advantage of our abundant animal life. Birds from Alaska and Canada spend
the winter on the Central Coast or pass through in migration. Some species which
breed here winter at home, but most migrate to Mexico or Guatemala. Many individual
birds return to the same wintering and breeding grounds several years in a row.
Northbound migration occurs from late February until early June, southbound from July
into September.
Along Central Coast wetlands and beaches, look for sandpipers, plovers, avocets,
herons and egrets. Seabirds like albatrosses, storm-petrels, and shearwaters, remain
far out to sea, coming ashore only to breed. Coastal seabirds like the brown pelican,
loons, cormorants and gulls stay closer to shore.
Raptors are birds of prey that are active in the daytime. In California this includes
vultures, hawks and eagles, and falcons. The California Condor is found nowhere else
in the world.
Many woodpeckers are year-round residents. The acorn woodpecker and northern
flicker are often seen.
Songbirds are abundant. Sparrows, flycatchers, wrens, finches. The list seems
endless at times.
Nocturnal owls seem to hoot from every tree while hundreds of Brant descend upon
Morro Bay every fall.
The Central Coast is truly a bird-watcher's paradise.
| Learn about Morro Bay's Wild Turkeys. |
| If you find a sick or injured bird on the Central Coast Call Pacific Wildlife Care at (805) 543-WILD. |
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Bird Fest 2008