Southern California Winter 2025–2026

Sub-regional Compilers

Samuel Bressler (Orange), David M. Compton (Santa Barbara), Tom M. Edell (San Luis Obispo), Kimball L. Garrett (Los Angeles), Kelli K. Heindel (Kern), Chris and Rosie Howard (Inyo), Alexander E. Koonce (San Bernardino), Guy McCaskie (San Diego and Imperial), David Pereksta (Ventura), David Rankin (Riverside), Larry Sansone (photo editor), Justyn T. Stahl (San Clemente Island).

Abbreviations: N.E.S.S. (north end of the Salton Sea, Riverside Co); S.E.S.S. (south end of the Salton Sea, Imperial Co). Museum collections abbreviated in the text are: SDNHM (San Diego Natural History Museum).

Because most rarities in s. California are seen by multiple observers, only the observer(s) initially finding and/or identifying the bird are included. Documentation for species on the California Bird Records Committee (C.B.R.C.) review list (see www.californiabirds.org) is forwarded to the C.B.R.C. and archived at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo. The symbol # indicates that a specimen has been deposited in the indicated collection.

Waterfowl through Grebes

Two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, now a casual straggler to California, remained at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Riverside Co 27 Jan–28 Feb+ (Becky Knight).

A Trumpeter Swan was present near Bishop, Inyo Co 5–8 Dec (Jonathan E. Becknell). The only Tundra Swans reported were nine on Soda Lake at the Carrizo Plain National Monument on 2 Dec (Jann Bugge).

Two Wood Ducks, rare at the Salton Sink, were photographed at S.E.S.S. (Garst Road) 21 Dec (Melissa Petullo). Two Mexican Ducks near Imperial (Harris Road), Imperial Co 5 Dec (Lucas Stephenson) and another one at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 8 Jan (Samuel Bressler) add to the ever-increasing number now being identified in southeastern California. A male Eurasian Green-winged Teal was inland in Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 26 Jan–28 Feb+ (Bridget Spencer).

A King Eider reported on Morro Bay from 14 Dec into April (Daniel Richards) was only the second known in San Luis Obispo Co. An adult male Surf Scoter on Fig Lagoon near Seeley, Imperial Co 24 Jan (John Ritchie) may have been an exceptionally early spring migrant, but one on Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Inyo Co 12 Nov–15 Dec (Diane Stevens), up to three at Quail Lake, Los Angeles since November to 10 Jan (m.ob.), up to five at N.E.S.S. (North Shore) 29 Jan–11 Feb (Charity Hagen, Robert L. McKernan), and one at N.E.S.S. (Salton Sea Recreation Area Headquarters) 31 Jan (Thomas A. Benson) were all believed to be wintering locally. A White-winged Scoter in Imperial Beach, San Diego Co 19 Dec–31 Jan (Paul E. Lehman) was the southernmost of the nine reported along the coast south of Point Conception; one at the N.E.S.S. (Salton Sea Recreation Area) 6 Jan (Michah Silver) was well inland. A Black Scoter at the mouth of the Tijuana River, San Diego Co 19 Dec–22 Jan (Grigory Heaton) was the southernmost of the 17 reported along the coast south of Point Conception; in addition a Black Scoter was inland at N.E.S.S. (North Shore) 7 Jan–11 Feb (Robert L. McKernan). A Long-tailed Duck on the South San Diego Bay Salt Works 25 Nov–23 Dec (Robert T. Patton) was the southernmost of the eight reported along the coast; others at S.E.S.S. (Young Rd.) 3 Dec (Samuel Bressler) and S.E.S.S. (Rock Hill) 12–17 Jan (Laban Wenger) were both far inland where very rare. Single Barrow’s Goldeneyes at Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co 8 Dec–2 Feb (Mike Simon), on the Colorado River at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 1 Jan (Brian Daniels), and at N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 21 Jan (Robert L. McKernan) were inland; in addition one was on the coast at the San Luis Obispo Creek Lagoon in Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Co (Barry and Virginia Langon-Lassagne).

A Red-necked Grebe on San Diego Bay, San Diego Co 22 Nov–14 Feb (Mike and Tera Ray) was the southernmost of the eleven reported from along the coast; in addition, a rare inland individual was on Lake Elsinore, Riverside Co 19 Dec (Charity Hagen) and another was on the Salton Sea (Salt Creek Beach) 19 Dec (Charity Hagen).

Doves through Hummingbirds

The Ruddy Ground Dove found at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co on 11 Oct was still present 28 Feb (Adrian W. Hinkle). Six White-winged Doves were reported from the coast and offshore islands, where rare.

Up to 14 Vaux’s Swifts around Griffith Park/Elysian Valley, Los Angeles Co during January and February (Jon Fisher, Marcus England, David Bell) and one over Lake Hodges, San Diego Co on 8 Jan (Steven Lima) were evidently wintering locally. Single Broad-billed Hummingbirds, rare visitors from west Mexico, were near Lake Hodges, San Diego Co 6 Jan (Stacy McCline), in Redlands, San Bernardino Co 13–28 Feb+ (Ezra Murray), and in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co 20 Dec (John Callender).

Cranes through Shorebirds

A Sandhill Crane near Bishop 9 Dec–15 Feb (Chris and Rosie Howard) was at an unexpected location.

Only four Pacific Golden-Plovers were known to be wintering along the coast. Up to 135 Mountain Plovers near Westmorland (Lack Road and the New River) 15 Jan–28 Feb+ were the only ones known in the Imperial Valley this winter; in addition, one at Harper Dry Lake, San Bernardino Co 18 Feb (John Bax) and 18 at the Carrizo Plain National Monument 4 Dec (Doug Drynan) were at former known wintering locations. Single Mountain Plovers on the coast at the Ocean Dunes State Recreation Vehicle Area, San Luis Obispo Co 6 Jan (Mia Lindahl), the Santa Maria River estuary, Santa Barbara Co 16 Dec–12 Jan (Hope Caliendo), and at the San Diego River mouth, San Diego Co 9–10 Jan (Daniel Irons) were unexpected.

A Hudsonian Whimbrel, exceptionally rare inland in winter, was at the N.E.S.S. (Whitewater River delta) 26 Feb (Dessi Sieburth) and another was at the S.E.S.S. (Lack & Young) 17 Jan (Justyn T. Stahl). Up to 16 Sanderlings remained inland on the Salton Sea at Salt Creek (Robert L. McKernan) through the winter. The Stilt Sandpiper found on the coast at Bolsa Chica during the fall was still present 11 Feb (fide Samuel Bressler), providing the fourth winter record for Orange Co. The Little Stint, on the south San Diego Bay Salt Works the past seven winters, was present 29 Aug–21 Apr (Matt Sadowski). Up to two Solitary Sandpipers, rare in winter, were near Seeley (Sunbeam Rest Area), Imperial Co 18 Jan–28 Feb+ (Justyn Stahl, John Ritchie) and another was inland at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co 18 Dec–22 Feb (Curtis A. Marantz); additional single birds remained along the coast at Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec–9 Feb (Brad Rumble), in La Mirada, Los Angeles Co 12–21 Jan (Jonathan Rowley), at Whelan Lake in Oceanside, San Diego Co 20 Nov–28 Feb+ (Sally Veach), and at nearby Del Mar (Fairbanks Ranch) 29 Dec–28 Feb+ (Donna Mancuso). A Wilson’s Phalarope, rare in winter, remained at S.E.S.S. (Bowles Road) 16 Dec–31 Jan (m.ob.).

Murrelets through Loons

Eleven Scripps’s Murrelets over the 30-Mile Bank off San Diego 6 Dec (Paul E. Lehman) were early arrivals to San Diego Co’s offshore ocean waters. An Ancient Murrelet in Imperial Beach, San Diego Co 20–25 Dec (Heather Ridgeway) was the southernmost of the eight reported from along the coast, with two in San Diego Co, one in Los Angeles Co, and five in San Luis Obispo Co. A Tufted Puffin, rare off Southern California, was over the Santa Barbara Channel off Santa Barbara Co 11 Dec (Bernardo Alps).

Up to three Black Skimmers on Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 21–27 Feb (Ron F. Beck) were the northernmost in Southern California this winter. A first-winter Little Gull on south San Diego Bay 21 Dec (Matt Sadowski) was unfortunately taken by a Peregrine Falcon (# SDNHM). Twelve Laughing Gulls reported along the coast were more than expected. A Short-billed Gull at N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 4 Feb (Robert L. McKernan) was the only one reported well inland. A Vega Gull, first seen in MacArthur Park in Los Angeles on 31 Dec (Andrew Birch), was at South San Diego Bay 10–15 Feb (Matt Sadowski). Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Lake Isabella, Kern Co 4 Jan (Bob and Susan Steele) and one at Silverwood Lake, San Bernardino Co 11–17 Jan (Thomas A. Benson) were the northernmost of the twenty-six reported.

A Red-throated Loon on Lake Perris. Riverside Co 14 Dec–2 Jan (David Rankin) and two at the Brock Research Center, Imperial Co 9–25 Jan (Lucas Stephenson) were well inland where rare. A Pacific Loon, also rare well inland, was on Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 2–5 Jan (Aaron Gyllenhaal).

Albatrosses through Storks

A Waved Albatross photographed 37 km southwest of Piedras Blancas Point, San Luis Obispo Co on 23 Jan (Melody Baran) is, remarkably, the second seen off California; the previous sighting, almost certainly of the same individual, was of a bird photographed over the Cordell Bank off Marin Co on 5 October 2025 establishing the first record for North America. A Laysan Albatross was found on a street in Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo Co 17 Feb (Julie Hanson). A Leach’s Storm-Petrel at Point La Jolla in La Jolla, San Diego Co 8 Jan (Paul E. Lehman) was unexpectedly close to the shore. Single Manx Shearwaters were off Leucadia, San Diego Co 8 Dec (Jimmy McMorran), over the San Pedro Channel, Los Angeles Co 2 Dec (Jon S. Feenstra), off Spooner Cove, San Luis Obispo Co 14 Dec (Reef W. Comer), and off Morro Bay 17 Jan (Steve Tillmann).

A Masked Booby was 173 miles south southwest of Point Piedras Blancas on 24 Jan (Tammy Russell), A long staying Blue-footed Booby was still with the colony of Cocos Boobies at Santa Barbara Island on 28 Jan (Bernardo Alps).

The long staying and wandering Wood Stork frequenting Southern California since at least the year 2000 was at the San Diego Wild Animal Park near Escondido, San Diego Co on 14 Jan (Caitie Masterson), then at the Prado Basin, Riverside Co 15–21 Jan (David McMichael).

Herons through Falcons

Up to three Little Blue Herons at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co through the winter were the only ones known away from coastal San Diego Co. Single Tricolored Herons were on south San Diego Bay 12 Sep–28 Feb+ (Allison Helm), at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co through the winter (fide Samuel Bressler) and at the Santa Ana River mouth through 10 Feb (fide Samuel Bressler); up to two frequented the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co since fall to 20 Jan (David Pereksta). The Reddish Egret found inland at N.E.S.S. in October remained through 10 Dec (Robert L. McKernan); one at Ormond Beach, Ventura Co 6 Dec (Alexander McBroom) was the northernmost on the coast. A remarkable 174 Yellow-crowned Night Herons were counted at the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co 14 Dec (David Pereksta), far and away the highest count ever made on the Pacific Coast north of Mexico. An immature Roseate Spoonbill remained at the S.E.S.S. (Bowles Road) 4 Dec–17 Feb (Samuel Bressler).

Two Black Vultures photographed near Bard (Living Waters) 6 Feb (Henry Detweiler) provided the second record of this species in Imperial Co. Up to half-a-dozen Harris’s Hawks remained in Jacumba, San Diego Co and Shelter Valley, San Diego Co though the fall (m.ob.). A Zone-tailed Hawk over Atascadero 20 Dec (Daisy and Refugio Garcia), only the fourth known in San Luis Obispo Co, was the northernmost of the twenty reported from the coastal lowlands and mountains; well inland, a Zone-tailed Hawk was photographed near Westmorland (Lack Road and the New River) on 8 Feb (Matt Sadowski) and an adult was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 2 Dec–29 Jan (Lucas Stephenson) followed by an immature there on 8 Jan (Dave Dom). Only two Rough-legged Hawks were known wintering in Round Valley—a far cry from the numbers wintering in Inyo Co 30 years ago; single individuals at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo Co 12 Jan–12 Feb (Russ A. Namitz) and at the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, Ventura Co 7 Jan–28 Feb (John McCormack) were the only others reported.

Since Northern Saw-whet Owls were believed to be casual winter visitors to the Lower Colorado River Valley, the presence of possibly as many as twenty at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 17 Jan–6 Feb (Matt Brady) was totally unexpected.

Single Williamson’s Sapsuckers in Studio City, Los Angeles Co Nov– 25 Jan (Rebecca Marschall) and in Glendale, Los Angeles Co 13 Jan–7 Mar (Maggie Perlman) were in the coastal lowlands, where rare in winter. One photographed along the Colorado River in Blythe, Riverside Co on 15 Feb (Chris Henry) was certainly unexpected. The Red-headed Woodpecker found at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park in the fall remained through 9 Jan (Russel D. Kokx).

A Crested Caracara was along Turri Road near Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo Co 24 Feb (Ron F. Beck), another was photographed in Huntington Beach on 28 Feb (fide Samuel Bressler) and one first reported at the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co 14 Dec was still present 7 Jan (David Pereksta).

Flycatchers

The region’s lone Dusky-capped Flycatcher, a returning wintering bird at Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co, remained from fall to 1 Mar (Steve M.). An expected contingent of some 26 Tropical Kingbirds were present on the coastal slope during the period, with additional birds in the Coachella Valley, Riverside Co at Palm Springs 28 Dec–19 Jan (Stephen Spector), Palm Desert 2 Jan (Alex Prieditis), and Mecca 3 Jan (Stephen J. Myers) as well as one at Calipatria (Hwy 111 & Alcott Rd), Imperial Co 16 Dec–31 Jan (Christine Schwarz). Returning wintering Thick-billed Kingbirds remained in Griffith Park, Los Angeles Co from fall to at least 11 Apr at the Mineral Wells/Wilson-Harding Golf Course area (Greg Slak) and from fall to 14 Feb at the nearby Merry-Go-Round area (James Strzelinski), at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario, San Bernardino Co from fall to 31 Mar (Thomas A. Benson), and at Alta Loma, San Bernardino Co from fall to 6 Apr (Thomas A. Benson). Rare winter Western Kingbirds were at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale, Los Angeles Co 3 Dec (Ralph Carlson), Huntington Central Park, Orange Co 7 Dec (Jim Colby, Lea Thai), Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co 21 Dec–02 Mar (Millie & Peter Thomas), and Ballona Freshwater Marsh in Playa Vista, Los Angeles Co 2 Jan (Darren Dowell). A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was in Switzer Canyon near Balboa Park in San Diego 20–27 Dec (Wendy Walker, Chris McCreedy).

A Greater Pewee in Montecito, Santa Barbara Co 24 Dec–17 Jan had returned for a third winter (Libby Patten et al.); others were in Monrovia Canyon Park, Los Angeles Co 27 Nov–28 Feb (Bree Ann Crofts, Timothy Aarons), Sycamore Canyon in Whittier, Los Angeles Co 15 Jan–23 Mar (Joyce Brady, Luke Tiller; undoubtedly the same individual that was seen here 11 Oct 2025 by Larry Schmahl et al.), and Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego Co 2 Jan (Sean Buchanan). Least Flycatchers, casual in winter, were at Chula Vista, San Diego Co 20–30 Dec (Thomas Ford-Hutchinson) and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 21 Dec (Adrian Hinkle). A below-average eight Hammond’s Flycatchers were found on the coastal slope, all in Los Angeles and Orange Cos, with the only others being along the lower Colorado River at Cibola, Imperial Co 4 Jan (Mark and Lucas Stepehenson) and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 11 Dec–28 Jan (Bradley Waggoner) with another there 31 Jan (Brian E. Daniels). Gray Flycatchers, normally present in double digits each winter, were oddly scarce this winter period, with only a single documented record on the coastal slope, at Mystic Lake, Riverside Co 18 Dec–21 Feb (Pema Zonglo, Joshua Joun, Celeste Mcguffey), along with five during the period at Palo Verde Ecological Reserve and nearby Blythe. Eleven Western Flycatchers were found this winter on the coastal slope, with another on the southeastern desert at Bard, Imperial Co 9 Feb (Chris A. Dean); one at Atascadero Creek in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 22 Feb (Mark Holmgren) was thought to be an early spring arrival. Eastern Phoebes included a returning winterer at Lake Lindero in Agoura, Los Angeles Co from fall to 5 Jan (John Moeller) and birds at Chatsworth, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec (Alexander DeBarros), Harriet Weider Regional Park in Huntington Beach 13 Dec–12 Feb (Jasmine C. Kay),  San Diego (University of San Diego) 11 Dec (iNaturalist), Whelan Lake near Oceanside, San Diego Co 13 Dec–21 Jan (Vincent Plourde), Hart Park in Bakersfield, Kern Co 22 Jan (Jack McDonough), San Jacinto Wildlife Area 23 Nov–28 Feb (m.ob.), and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve from fall to 14 Mar (m.ob.).

Vireos through Swallows

Rare winter Bell’s Vireos were at the Fullerton Arboretum, Orange Co 7 Dec–14 Feb (Brett Badeaux) and Rio de Los Angeles Park in Los Angeles 17 Jan–13 Feb (Joshua Mitchell); one continued from 12 Sep to 9 Dec at Cottonwood Creek Park in Encinitas, San Diego Co (Jimmy McMorran), and a singing bird at Upper Otay Lake, San Diego Co 28 Feb (Gjon C. Hazard) was an early spring arrival at a breeding location. Twelve Cassin’s Vireos were found during the period on the coastal slope; more unusual was one on the desert at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 18 Jan–7 Feb (Ben Zyla). Blue-headed Vireos were photographed in San Diego Co at Point Loma (Azalea Park) 30 Nov–7 Dec (John Bruin, Lisa Ruby) and Oceanside (Eternal Hills Cemetery) 14 Dec–1 Mar (Sally Veach). Some 59 Plumbeous Vireos were found in the coastal slope from Ventura Co south to San Diego Co, with additional birds in the interior at Lancaster City Park, Los Angeles Co 7 Nov–6 Mar (Luke Tiller), Pearblossom, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec–30 Mar (Noah Arthur), Julian, San Diego Co 19 Feb (Russ Smiley), near El Centro 5 Jan (Mark and Lucas Stephenson), and up to two at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro 5 Feb–1 Mar (Lucas Stephenson). A Western Warbling-Vireo at Harmon Park in Ventura 20 Dec (Matt Brady) was only the second to be found in winter in Ventura Co and the first for the Ventura Christmas Bird Count; another was in Aztec Park in La Mesa, San Diego Co 15 Jan (Jim Pawlicki), but the bird in Bohnett Park in Santa Barbara that had returned this past fall for its thirteenth winter was not seen into the winter period.

Two Steller’s Jays of the interior subspecies macrolopha remained at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve through at least 3 Jan (Lucas Stephenson), and the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay present there in fall continued to 26 Feb (Dessi Sieburth, Logan Kahle).

An Oak Titmouse at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Orange Co 18 Jan (Claudia Sandell, Angela Li, Kathy Blackmarr) was a surprising find on the immediate coast of that county.

Quite rare in winter, at least three Bank Swallows were at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area 31 Jan–12 Feb (Curtis A. Marantz), and up to three were at the Calipatria Algae Plant, Imperial Co 17 Dec–9 Feb (Chris A. Dean). Barn Swallows were exceptionally numerous in Los Angeles Co this winter, with such high counts as 20 at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 9–20 Jan (Femi Faminu, Jack Wickel, Chris A. Dean) and 20 at the Glendale Narrows Riverwalk, Glendale 5 Jan (Jono Miller); the count of 40 at Piute Ponds 13 Feb likely included many spring migrants. Counts of Barn Swallows at the Calipatria Algae Farms reached triple digits from 16 Dec to 15 Jan, with high counts of 250 on 27 Dec and 15 Jan (m.ob.). Swallow-watching at the Calipatria Algae Farms reached fever pitch this winter after the discovery of two Cave Swallows during the Salton Sea (South) Christmas Bird Count on 16 Dec (Al Demartini, Terry Brauner, m.ob.); counts grew over time, with peak counts of 22 on 19 Dec (Lucas Stephenson), 20 on 20 Dec (Ethan Monk), 24 on 21 Dec (Mark Wilson), and 12 on 6 Jan (Connor Cochrane); small numbers remained to 9 Feb when Henry Detwiler counted six birds. A Cave Swallow in Ormond Beach 22 Dec–18 Jan (Becky Turley, Marie Barnidge-McIntyre) established a first record for Ventura Co; both this bird and the first birds in Imperial Co on 16 Dec were initially misidentified as Cliff Swallows, a species that is very rare in the region in December.

White-eyes through Pipits

Swinhoe’s White-eyes once again appeared on San Clemente I., with four birds at Wilson Cove 17 Jan (Jimmy McMorran).

In a winter with no irruptions of nuthatches or other montane birds, a Red-breasted Nuthatch still reached Riverview Cemetery in Brawley, Imperial Co 19 Jan (Patricia Langen) and a Pygmy Nuthatch was at the Antelope Valley Country Club in Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec (Nick and Mary Freeman).

A Northern House Wren at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park 8 Feb (Colin Dillingham) was a month earlier than the earliest Inyo Co spring migrant, so may have wintered there. A Winter Wren was along Escondido Creek in Olivenhain, San Diego Co 3 Jan–22 Feb (Gjon C Hazard), and another candidate for this species, closely similar to the more expected Pacific Wren, was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 1–3 Jan (Curtis A. Marantz).

A Gray Catbird at San Simeon Point 14 Jan–5 Feb (Seth Greene, m.ob.) was the sixth for San Luis Obispo Co and first there since 2018; others were on the UCLA Campus in Westwood, Los Angeles Co 12 Dec–6 Feb (Andy Kleinhesselink), Santa Catalina I. 14 Dec (Maria Dominguez),  Carlsbad, San Diego Co 27 Dec–3 Jan (Patti Langen), Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma 30 Jan–8 Feb (Marcus Stephens), and in Inyo Co at Lone Pine 13 Dec (Russell D. Kokx) and

Furnace Creek Ranch 23–27 Jan (Van Pierszalowski; possibly same bird seen 19 Oct).

A Swainson’s Thrush at the Encinitas Community Park, San Diego Co 29 Dec–28 Feb+ (Paul E. Lehman) was one of the few ever to winter in the region. The few Varied Thrushes that reached the region this winter were scattered as far south as the Tijuana River Valley 12–20 Dec (Jeffrey Ollson) and West Hills Park in San Diego 16–22 Jan (Adrian Hinkle) and on the desert at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 18 Dec–10 Jan (Robert Fowlie).

Red-throated Pipits are regular fall visitors to the region, but few have wintered; this winter one was in San Diego (South Clairemont Recreation Center) 23 Jan–7 Apr (Adrian Hinkle). Always difficult to find, Sprague’s Pipits wintered near Calipatria, with one east of there 20 Dec (Will Gallagher), one near the Calipatria Prison 5 Jan (Brian Browne), and up to two near Albright and Bowles Roads 10 Jan–28 Feb (Jason Vassallo).

Longspurs through Icterids

A Lapland Longspur was near the Calipatria Prison 17 Dec–21 Jan (Dessi Sieburth), and a flock of four was in agricultural fields north of Bakersfield, Kern Co 28 Jan (Jack McDonough); more atypically, one was in urban Victory Park in Pasadena, Los Angeles Co 13 Dec (Luke Tiller). Chestnut-collared Longspurs were in San Diego Co at Brown Airfield 18 Dec (Dan Jehl) and Imperial Beach (Camp Surf) 3 Dec (Bridget Spencer). Two different Thick-billed Longspurs continued from fall at the A & G Sod Fields in Palmdale, with one on 6 Dec (Colin Dobson, Debbie Bartz) and another on 7 Dec (Collin Vassallo, John Mark Simmons, Orian Monette); two were at the Brown Airfield 18 Dec–7 Jan (Angela Johnson) and up to three were near the Calipatria Prison 17 Dec–11 Jan (Dessi Sieburth).

Grasshopper Sparrows are localized and hard to find in winter, so seven along the coast in San Luis Obispo Co 28 Dec+ and three on Cruzan Mesa in Santa Clarita, Los Angeles Co 27 Dec–3 Jan (John F. Garrett) were of note; in Imperial Co one was at Bard 1–19 Jan (Marty Freeland). The only Lark Bunting of the period was in the Cuyama Valley west of New Cuyama, Santa Barbara Co 21 Dec (Nick A. Lethaby). Only seven Clay-colored Sparrows were reported during the period on the coastal slope, with another in the San Joaquin Valley at Bakersfield, Kern Co 25 Jan (John C. Wilson). A “Red” Fox Sparrow was at the Santa Ysabel Preserve near Julian, San Diego Co 21 Jan (Steven Lima). Rare as far south as Southern California, an American Tree Sparrow was at Buckley Ponds east of Bishop, Inyo Co 4 Jan (Forrest English). Three Harris’s Sparrows during the period were at Morro Bay 12 Dec–10 Mar (Kaaren L. Perry), Ormond Beach, Ventura Co 18 Dec–3 Jan (John Mueller), and on the desert at Ridgecrest, Kern Co 6 Dec–14 Feb (Meghan and Melanie Branson). White-throated Sparrows are too numerous to report tallies in the coastal regions; the few on the deserts this winter included up to four through January at Furnace Creek Ranch and one well south near El Centro 5 Jan–2 Feb (Kenneth Z. Kurland). About 33 Swamp Sparrows were found on the coastal slope during the period, with another six on the deserts. Wintering Green-tailed Towhees were in good numbers, with fifteen in San Diego Co alone.

A Yellow-headed Blackbird in Los Alamos 26 Feb (Michael I. Christie) was a rare winter occurrence for Santa Barbara Co as was one in Lone Pine 29 Jan (Russell D. Kokx) for Inyo Co. California’s first Chihuahuan Meadowlark, discovered 11 Nov in Bard, Imperial Co (Adrian Hinkle, Christopher Hinkle), was last documented on 19 Jan (Gjon C. Hazard). Thirteen Orchard Orioles were present along the coast, including a winter high count of five in San Luis Obispo Co and one at Wilson Cove on San Clemente I. 15 Jan–14 Feb (Jimmy McMorran). Some twenty Hooded Orioles region-wide during the period was below average; since spring arrivals routinely appear the last week of February it can be hard to determine the status of birds discovered late in the winter period. Triple digit numbers of Bullock’s Orioles were present during the winter, most on the urban coastal slope of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Cos; another three were in the Blythe and Cibola areas of the lower Colorado River in late December and early January. Sixteen Baltimore Orioles were on the urban coastal slope, with two sites in Los Angeles Co (El Nido Park in Torrance and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles) each hosting three individuals during the period. Unusual in winter was a single Bronzed Cowbird in a flock of Brewer’s Blackbirds at Palm Springs International Airport, Riverside Co 8–23 Feb (Shoshanna Bauer).

Wood-Warblers

An Ovenbird played hide-and-seek with birders 2 Dec–10 Apr on the lower Los Angeles River at Willow St. in Long Beach (Jeff Boyd; m.ob.). Northern Waterthrushes were at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara 21 Jan (Sue Cook, Steve Caldwell) and Bonelli Regional Park, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec–2 Jan (Michael San Miguel), along with four in coastal San Diego Co 20 Dec–29 Mar. The returning Louisiana Waterthrush along Stevens Creek in Solana Beach, San Diego Co remained from 31 Oct to 23 Mar (Logan Kahle). An ultra-rare Blue-winged Warbler was at the Arundel Barranca in Ventura 4 Dec (Logan Kahle, Dessi Sieburth). The Black-and-white Warbler count on the coastal slope during the period was about 32, along with a surprising record in the far northern interior at Bishop, Inyo Co 12 Dec (Barbara Kelley). A Prothonotary Warbler at Carpinteria 7 Dec–10 Jan (Eric Culbertson et al.) established only the second winter record for Santa Barbara Co; another was at Del Mar, San Diego Co 25 Nov–29 Jan (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/328544863). An exceptional 38 Tennessee Warblers were present on the coastal slope during the period, including birds on Santa Cruz I. 2 Dec (Nick Lethaby) and in Avalon on Santa Catalina I. 7–13 Dec (Laura Vandezande, Naresh Satyan); additional birds were well inland at Murrietta, Riverside Co 1 Dec (Adam Jackson) and (almost certainly having wintered locally) Jacumba, San Diego Co 4 Mar (Paul E. Lehman).

Always rare on the coast and in winter, Lucy’s Warblers were at Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Co 4–6 Dec (Tom M. Edell), SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co 8–14 Jan (Chris A. Dean), DeForest Park in Long Beach 22–26 Jan (Chef Ito), and Vista Hermosa Park in Los Angeles 1 Feb (Joshua Mitchell). Over 75 Nashville Warblers wintered in the coastal counties, with an outlying record at N.E.S.S. (Hayes St.) 14 Jan (Robert L. McKernan). MacGillivray’s Warblers, the scarcest winterer among the widespread “western” warblers, were at San Luis Obispo 28 Feb–1 Mar (Herb D. Elliott), SoFi Stadium in Inglewood 11 Jan (Naresh Satyan), returning for a second winter at Edison Park in Seal Beach, Orange Co 17 Nov–3 Mar (Robert A. Hamilton), La Mesa, San Diego Co 4 Dec (Jean Dittmyer), and Colina del Sol Park in San Diego 25 Dec–2 Jan (Paul E. Lehman). The Kentucky Warbler found at Paradise Point on Mission Bay, San Diego Co 23 Nov remained to 7 Dec (Elizabeth and Kevin Wyrwich); most surprising was the presence of another in the far northern interior at Bishop (Community Garden), Inyo Co 4–14 Dec (Chris and Rosie Howard).

Some 19 American Redstarts were on the coastal slope from Los Angeles Co south during the period, with another eight in the Imperial Valley and lower Colorado River and others on the desert at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 2–16 Feb (Zen Byla) and Mecca, Riverside Co 3 Jan (Stephen J. Myers). A Cape May Warbler on San Nicolas I. 2–4 Dec (Christian Shwartz) was the first in Ventura Co in decades; another returned for its fifth winter at the Loyola Marymount University Campus in Westchester, Los Angeles Co 18 Oct–7 Mar (Kevin Lapp) and two were in San Diego Co at Solana Beach 25 Jan–4 Mar (Alex Abela) and Otay Mesa 29 Jan–28 Feb (Paul E. Lehman). There was a good showing of winter Northern Parulas, with nine on the coastal slope and six on the Riverside and Imperial Co deserts. San Diego Co hosted three winter Bay-breasted Warblers, at Serra Mesa 12 Dec–16 Apr (Paul E. Lehman), Berry Park in Nestor 1 Jan–20 Mar (Adrian Hinkle), and Otay Mesa 22 Feb–11 Mar (Paul E Lehman); a very late fall vagrant was at Furnace Creek Ranch 3–4 Dec (Adam Panto). Blackburnian Warblers were at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura 6 Jan (Marnie Barnidge-McIntyre, Alexander McBroon), Long Beach (vic. Cherry Ave./Bixby Rd.) 14 Feb–4 Mar (Kim Moore), and Whaley Park in Long Beach 17 Feb–4 Mar (Vincent Baker).

Eight Chestnut-sided Warblers on the coastal slope during the period were augmented by birds on the southeastern deserts at Picacho State Recreation Area, Imperial Co 17 Dec–1 Jan (John Sterling), Mecca, Riverside Co 3 Jan (Stephen Myers), Blythe 7 Jan (Matt Grube, Curtis A. Marantz, Liga Auzins, Bradley Waggoner), and El Centro (Evergreen Cemetery) 18–19 Jan (Bridget Spencer). Black-throated Blue Warblers were at the San Diego State University campus in San Diego 4 Dec–9 Jan (Marcus Stephens) and La Jolla 8 Jan–3 Feb (Paul Mulholland); another at the Chino Creek Wetlands 11 Dec–13 Jan (Jhoneil Centeno) established only the second winter record for San Bernardino Co. A Pine Warbler found in November at Good Shepard Catholic Cemetery, Huntington Beach (Jim Pike) was present to 8 Feb, and another was at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area in El Monte, Los Angeles Co 7–19 Dec (David Bell); one at Belvedere Park Lake in East Los Angeles 1 Mar–8 Apr (Joshua Mitchell) had undoubtedly wintered at this locality. The fourteen Palm Warblers near the coast this winter were not unexpected, but the deserts also produced records at N.E.S.S. (Oasis) 16 Dec (Geoff Veith), Furnace Creek Ranch 29 Dec (Marc Chamberlain), and Buckley Pond east of Bishop 1 Jan (Carolyn Gann).

The winter’s lone Prairie Warbler was an adult male at Blythe 3 Jan–4 Feb (Lucas Stephenson). A hybrid warbler thought to be a Yellow-rumped x Grace’s Warbler was present at El Dorado Park in Long Beach 15 Feb–3 Mar (Tracy Drake). Returning wintering Grace’s Warblers were at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura 30 Nov–17 Feb (Spencer Seale; returning for third winter) and Del Mar (Crest Drive), San Diego Co 3 Jan–8 Mar (Susan E Smith; also present last winter), with additional first-time birds at Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co 12 Dec–23 Jan (John Callender et al.), Wardlow Park in Long Beach 28 Dec–24 Feb (Vincent Baker), Memory Garden Memorial Park in Brea, Orange Co 27 Dec–12 Jan (Sasha Cahill, Collin Silva), and Heritage Park in Chula Vista, San Diego Co 20 Dec–25 Jan (Marcus Stephens). Black-throated Green Warblers were at Avalon, Santa Catalina I. 5–14 Dec (Aaron Kreisberg; likely the same bird found there 25 Oct by Adrian Hinkle), the William L. Clark Library in Los Angeles 5 Nov–20 Mar (Rebecca Marschall), Azalea Park on Point Loma 30 Nov–3 Dec (John Bruin), Chula Vista Dec 16 Jan–20 Feb (Thomas Ford-Hutchinson), Lindo Lake, San Diego Co 3 Jan–28 Feb (Palomar Audubon), Brenner Park in Fullerton, Orange Co 13–28 Feb (Jonathan Rowley), and Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena 7–8 Mar (Darren Dowell). Wilson’s Warblers were widespread on the coastal slope, but one at the Mojave R. Fish Hatchery 27 Dec (Ezra Murray, Stephen J. Myers) was the first to be found in winter in the Mojave Desert portion of San Bernardino Co. The six Painted Redstarts found in Los Angeles and San Diego Cos included three birds returning from previous winters; another was at Mission Wash in Bard, Imperial Co 9 Feb (Sylvia Afable).

Cardinalids

Returning Hepatic Tanagers were at Griffith Park (Mineral Wells area) in Los Angeles 14 Dec–6 Feb (Andrew Birch; for its third winter) and in San Diego Co at San Diego (Wing Street Canyon) 25 Oct–28 Feb+ (Michelle Haglund; its third winter), Tierrasanta 13 Nov–16 Feb (Paul E. Lehman; male for its eighth winter joined by a female for her second winter 27 Nov–17 Jan), and Fallbrook 2 Dec (Justin Hartsell; its second winter); “new” birds were at Goleta 5 Nov–14 Jan (Sophie Cameron et al.), La Jolla (La Jolla Village Square) 20 Nov–22 Feb (Paul Mulholland), Escondido (Patterson Acres), San Diego Co 11 Dec (Mary Jo Hayes), and Point Loma (Cleator Park) 26 Jan–26 Feb (Paul E Lehman). Summer Tanagers wintered in moderate numbers on the coastal slope, with at least 28 birds from Ventura Co north and 125 from Los Angeles Co south; another six were found in Imperial Co during the period. Late for anywhere in the region, but exceptionally so for Inyo Co in the far northern interior, a Scarlet Tanager was present in Bishop 27–31 Dec (Nancy J. Overholtz). Fourteen Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on the coastal slope were exceeded by seventeen Black-headed Grosbeaks; an outlying Rose-breasted was at Furnace Creek Ranch 2–10 Dec (Adam Panto). A hatch-year Indigo Bunting was at Niland, Imperial Co 16 Dec (Grigory Heaton). Painted Buntings were at Middle Ranch on Santa Catalina I. 20 Dec (Destiny Saucedo) and Los Alamos, Santa Barbara Co 23 Dec (Stephanie Little).

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 10 Jun 2026.