San Diego County offers some of the best birding opportunities in California and the entire United States. With a diverse landscape that includes beaches, deserts, mountains, wetlands, and forests, San Diego attracts over 500 species of resident and migratory birds throughout the year. For birders of all skill levels, there are many excellent locations to see a wide variety of species.
Why is San Diego County a top birding destination?
There are several key factors that make San Diego County exceptional for birding:
– Diverse habitats and ecosystems – From the coastal wetlands to the Anza-Borrego desert, San Diego has many different environments that attract different birds. This variety in a concentrated area allows birders to see many species.
– Migration hotspot – San Diego County’s location along the Pacific Flyway makes it an important stopover for migratory birds moving between their breeding and wintering grounds. Migrants like warblers, vireos, and swallows can be seen in spring and fall.
– Year-round residents – In addition to migrants, San Diego is home to many full-time resident species like California quail, Costa’s hummingbird, and Nuttall’s woodpecker. These can be seen at any time of year.
– Rare species – Several hard-to-find rarities like Tricolored Blackbird and Yellow-footed Gull can be found in San Diego and draw birders from across the country.
– Excellent access – San Diego has many birding hotspots that are easily accessible via roads and trails, along with helpful resources like experienced birding guides.
Best birding locations in San Diego County
Here are some of the top birding sites in San Diego County to explore:
San Diego Bay
San Diego Bay hosts thousands of resident and migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. During winter, the bay comes alive with ducks, grebes, loons, and herons. Shorebirds like Willets, Marbled Godwits, and Least Sandpipers forage on the mudflats during migration. Rarities like Reddish Egret and Tricolored Blackbird can also be found. Excellent sites include Chula Vista Nature Center, Shelter Island, and Point Loma.
La Jolla Coast
The rocky coastline around La Jolla provides excellent seabird and shorebird watching. Pelagic species like shearwaters, storm-petrels, and terns can be seen offshore, while shorebirds, gulls, and Snowy Plovers frequent the beaches. Sea caves like Sunny Jim Cave are home to nesting species like Black Oystercatcher.
Mission Bay & San Diego River
Mission Bay Park and the San Diego River floodplain host large numbers of resident and migratory waterfowl like ducks, herons, egrets, and ibis. Endangered species like Light-footed Ridgway’s Rail and California Least Tern nest here in summer. The river valley also attracts songbirds like orioles and warblers.
Anza-Borrego Desert
California’s largest state park is a top spot for desert species like Vermilion Flycatcher, Greater Roadrunner, Costa’s Hummingbird, and Gambel’s Quail. Raptors like Prairie Falcon and Golden Eagle patrol the skies over the badlands. Desert oases host migrants in spring and fall.
Cuyamaca Mountains
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near Julian offers a cool mountain retreat popular with montane species. Look for Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Brown Creeper in pine-oak forests. Cuyamaca Lake draws grebes, mergansers, and Bald Eagles during winter.
San Pasqual Valley
Northeast of San Diego near Escondido, San Pasqual Valley protects agricultural fields and riparian habitat along the San Dieguito River. This valley is a hotspot for raptors like White-tailed Kite, Ferruginous Hawk, and Merlin in winter. Resident and migratory sparrows, orioles, and buntings frequent the brushy fields.
Tijuana Estuary
Located just north of the Mexican border, this estuary features mudflats, salt marshes, riparian habitat, and dunes. It attracts shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, raptors like Northern Harrier and Peregrine Falcon, and species like Belding’s Savannah Sparrow.
Best times to go birding in San Diego County
While birds can be seen year-round, some periods offer better diversity and concentrations of species:
Winter (Dec – Feb) – Peak season for ducks, geese, shorebirds, loons, and grebes. Also when rare species turn up.
Spring migration (Mar – May) – Warblers, vireos, swallows, and other songbirds pass through the region.
Summer breeding season (Jun – Jul) – Resident birds like orioles and terns nest, along with endangered species like Least Tern.
Fall migration (Aug – Nov) – Southbound shorebirds and songbirds make stopovers along the coast and in the mountains.
Useful resources for birding in San Diego
To find birds and navigate the top birding sites in San Diego County, these resources are invaluable:
– San Diego Audubon Society – Nonprofit dedicated to bird conservation with info on hotspots.
– San Diego Bird Atlas – Detailed bird distribution maps and info for the county.
– San Diego County Birding Hotspots – E-book detailing the top birding locations.
– Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association – Info on birding in the Anza-Borrego desert region.
– San Diego Field Ornithologists – Bird survey data, rare bird alerts, and pelagic trip schedules.
– Sea & Sage Audubon – Leads bird walks and maintains the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine.
– Birding tour guides – Guides offer expert local knowledge for finding key species.
Conclusion
With an amazing diversity of habitats, San Diego County provides some of the best and most accessible birding opportunities found anywhere in the country. From shorebirds and waterfowl to desert species and songbird migrants, there are plenty of birds to see. Visiting hotspots like San Diego Bay, Mission Bay, the Anza-Borrego desert, and the Cuyamaca Mountains during peak seasons promises to reward birders with excellent sightings. The wealth of resources like local Audubon chapters and birding guides make it even easier to find birds. Whether a beginner or expert, San Diego County offers world-class birding.
