Birds

The San Francisco Bay Area network of national parks supports over 250 different species of resident and migratory birds. Situated along the Pacific Flyway, the network hosts a variety of birds that stop to rest and feed on their amazing journeys. These transient populations range from equatorial regions as far south as the South American rainforests to polar regions as far north as the Canadian arctic. Bird surveys are one of the most widespread types of long-term monitoring in the United States. In addition to being common to most habitats, birds also function as a useful indicator of habitat extent and quality.

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  California Condors

  North America’s largest soaring land bird; the California condor is also one of the most endangered birds in the world.

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  Landbirds

  National Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area host some of the largest and most diverse assemblages of landbirds in the United States.

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  Northern Spotted Owls

  Northern spotted owls are considered to be an indicator species that helps gauge the ecological health of forest habitat.

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  Prairie & Peregrine Falcons

  Peregrine populations are recovering in Bay Area parks, and Pinnacles National Park hosts a very high density of nesting prairie falcons.

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  Western Snowy Plovers

  Western snowy plovers are small, federally threatened shorebirds that can be found in the Bay Area year round.