Most commonly seen birds in California

Written by:
Stacker
March 14, 2023
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Most commonly seen birds in California

Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in California using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 369 count sites in California. States with less than 10 count sites were not included in rankings for each bird.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the U.S. and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.

The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.

Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in your state.

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#50. Mountain Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.95
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 42%
--- #2. Montana: 33%
--- #3. Nevada: 32%
--- #4. Wyoming: 28%
--- #5. Colorado: 27%
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#49. Pine Siskin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 2.43
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 49%
--- #2. Maine: 20%
--- #2. Colorado: 20%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
--- #5. Montana: 13%
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#48. Scaly-breasted Munia

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 6.5
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 5%
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#47. Red-winged Blackbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 6.92
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Delaware: 60%
--- #2. New Jersey: 56%
--- #3. New York: 48%
--- #4. Louisiana: 45%
--- #4. Illinois: 45%
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#46. European Starling

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 3.03
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Nebraska: 67%
--- #3. Indiana: 66%
--- #4. Ohio: 62%
--- #4. Missouri: 62%
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#45. Red-shouldered Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.08
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Florida: 15%
--- #2. North Carolina: 10%
--- #2. Georgia: 10%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 10%
--- #5. Alabama: 9%
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#44. Orange-crowned Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.13
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 25%
--- #2. Texas: 23%
--- #3. Nevada: 16%
--- #4. Mississippi: 8%
--- #5. California: 7%
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#43. White-throated Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 7%
- Average group size: 1.52
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 80%
--- #2. Arkansas: 79%
--- #3. Delaware: 77%
--- #4. Maryland: 72%
--- #5. Virginia: 69%
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#42. Common Raven

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 2.22
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alaska: 31%
--- #2. New Mexico: 18%
--- #3. Nevada: 16%
--- #4. Arizona: 15%
--- #5. California: 8%
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#41. Western Bluebird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 9%
- Average group size: 2.28
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 10%
--- #2. California: 9%
--- #3. Arizona: 6%
--- #4. Oregon: 3%
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#40. Pygmy Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 2.58
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Colorado: 18%
--- #2. California: 10%
--- #3. Arizona: 9%
--- #4. Oregon: 6%
--- #5. Nevada: 5%
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#39. Cedar Waxwing

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 10%
- Average group size: 7.91
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 25%
--- #2. Texas: 20%
--- #3. Georgia: 19%
--- #4. Louisiana: 15%
--- #5. South Carolina: 12%
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#38. California Quail

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 11%
- Average group size: 9.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 21%
--- #2. Idaho: 19%
--- #3. Utah: 17%
--- #4. California: 11%
--- #5. Oregon: 9%
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#37. Cooper's Hawk

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 12%
- Average group size: 1.02
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 32%
--- #2. Arizona: 26%
--- #3. New Mexico: 18%
--- #4. Illinois: 17%
--- #4. Mississippi: 17%
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#36. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 12%
- Average group size: 1.07
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Georgia: 27%
--- #2. Louisiana: 25%
--- #3. South Carolina: 23%
--- #4. Texas: 20%
--- #4. Washington, D.C.: 20%
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#35. Fox Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 12%
- Average group size: 1.52
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 27%
--- #2. Washington: 15%
--- #3. California: 12%
--- #4. Oklahoma: 7%
--- #5. Missouri: 5%
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#34. Purple Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 12%
- Average group size: 2.26
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Mississippi: 50%
--- #2. Arkansas: 32%
--- #3. Alabama: 27%
--- #4. North Carolina: 25%
--- #5. Missouri: 24%
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#33. Townsend's Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- Average group size: 1.18
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 24%
--- #2. California: 14%
--- #3. Washington: 12%
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#32. Northern Flicker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 14%
- Average group size: 1.22
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 79%
--- #2. Colorado: 66%
--- #3. Montana: 65%
--- #4. Washington: 63%
--- #4. Nevada: 63%
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#31. Black Phoebe

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 1.06
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 15%
--- #2. Arizona: 1%
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#30. Downy Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 90%
--- #2. Minnesota: 89%
--- #2. Arkansas: 89%
--- #4. Missouri: 88%
--- #4. Iowa: 88%
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#29. Acorn Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 1.98
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 15%
--- #2. Oregon: 8%
--- #3. Arizona: 6%
--- #4. New Mexico: 3%
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#28. American Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 15%
- Average group size: 3.79
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 77%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 76%
--- #2. Wisconsin: 76%
--- #4. Michigan: 74%
--- #5. Missouri: 73%
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#27. Band-tailed Pigeon

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 16%
- Average group size: 4.63
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 16%
--- #2. Washington: 6%
--- #3. Oregon: 2%
--- #4. Arizona: 1%
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#26. Northern Mockingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 1.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Tennessee: 62%
--- #2. Louisiana: 60%
--- #3. Mississippi: 58%
--- #4. Alabama: 55%
--- #5. South Carolina: 53%
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#24. Steller's Jay (tie)

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 2.68
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 44%
--- #1. Washington: 44%
--- #3. Nevada: 21%
--- #4. Colorado: 18%
--- #5. California: 17%
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#24. Eurasian Collared-Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 2.68
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 69%
--- #2. South Dakota: 67%
--- #3. Wyoming: 61%
--- #4. Idaho: 48%
--- #4. Colorado: 48%
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#23. Song Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 1.31
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Washington: 59%
--- #3. Oregon: 56%
--- #4. Rhode Island: 50%
--- #5. Delaware: 47%
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#22. Allen's Hummingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 18%
- Average group size: 1.42
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 18%
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#21. Bushtit

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 19%
- Average group size: 5.12
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Mexico: 43%
--- #2. Oregon: 40%
--- #3. Washington: 29%
--- #4. Colorado: 27%
--- #5. Nevada: 26%
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#20. Hermit Thrush

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 22%
- Average group size: 1.09
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 22%
--- #2. North Carolina: 17%
--- #3. Georgia: 16%
--- #4. South Carolina: 11%
--- #5. Virginia: 10%
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#19. Nuttall's Woodpecker

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 24%
- Average group size: 1.16
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 24%
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#18. House Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 24%
- Average group size: 3.7
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. Iowa: 88%
--- #3. Illinois: 87%
--- #4. Nebraska: 79%
--- #5. Indiana: 74%
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#17. White-breasted Nuthatch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 25%
- Average group size: 1.38
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. West Virginia: 93%
--- #2. Maine: 85%
--- #2. Vermont: 85%
--- #4. Connecticut: 84%
--- #4. Massachusetts: 84%
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#16. American Crow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 29%
- Average group size: 2.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Maine: 49%
--- #2. Oklahoma: 45%
--- #3. North Carolina: 39%
--- #4. Vermont: 37%
--- #5. Georgia: 34%
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#15. Bewick's Wren

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 31%
- Average group size: 1.11
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 31%
--- #1. Washington: 31%
--- #3. Texas: 22%
--- #4. Nevada: 16%
--- #4. Arizona: 16%
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#14. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 37%
- Average group size: 2.14
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 48%
--- #2. Oregon: 39%
--- #3. California: 37%
--- #4. Alaska: 3%
--- #5. Montana: 2%
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#13. Spotted Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 38%
- Average group size: 1.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington: 71%
--- #2. Oregon: 60%
--- #3. Nevada: 53%
--- #4. New Mexico: 52%
--- #5. Utah: 48%
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#12. Golden-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 41%
- Average group size: 2.88
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 41%
--- #2. Oregon: 36%
--- #3. Washington: 31%
--- #4. Nevada: 5%
--- #5. Alaska: 3%
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#11. Oak Titmouse

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 43%
- Average group size: 1.34
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 43%
--- #2. Oregon: 4%
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#10. Yellow-rumped Warbler

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 43%
- Average group size: 1.48
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Louisiana: 70%
--- #2. South Carolina: 68%
--- #3. Florida: 66%
--- #3. Georgia: 66%
--- #5. North Carolina: 58%
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#9. American Robin

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 43%
- Average group size: 2.54
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 70%
--- #2. Arkansas: 64%
--- #3. Tennessee: 59%
--- #4. Nevada: 58%
--- #5. Oklahoma: 55%
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#8. California Scrub-Jay

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 59%
- Average group size: 1.59
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 59%
--- #2. Oregon: 55%
--- #3. Nevada: 37%
--- #4. Washington: 12%
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#7. California Towhee

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 61%
- Average group size: 1.48
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. California: 61%
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#6. Anna's Hummingbird

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 1.72
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 73%
--- #2. Washington: 66%
--- #3. California: 63%
--- #4. Arizona: 55%
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#5. Mourning Dove

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 66%
- Average group size: 3.56
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Washington, D.C.: 100%
--- #2. New Jersey: 90%
--- #3. West Virginia: 88%
--- #3. Delaware: 88%
--- #5. Rhode Island: 87%
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#4. Lesser Goldfinch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 66%
- Average group size: 4.78
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 68%
--- #2. California: 66%
--- #3. Arizona: 57%
--- #4. Oregon: 55%
--- #5. Utah: 45%
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#3. Dark-eyed Junco

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 67%
- Average group size: 3.74
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Oregon: 96%
--- #2. Washington: 94%
--- #3. New Jersey: 93%
--- #3. Rhode Island: 93%
--- #5. Connecticut: 92%
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#2. White-crowned Sparrow

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 67%
- Average group size: 4.76
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nevada: 74%
--- #2. California: 67%
--- #3. Arizona: 59%
--- #4. New Mexico: 36%
--- #5. Utah: 21%
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#1. House Finch

- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 81%
- Average group size: 5.1
- States with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Utah: 97%
--- #2. Arizona: 94%
--- #3. New Mexico: 90%
--- #4. Ohio: 87%
--- #5. Colorado: 86%
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