Endangered and Threatened Bird Species
in Ventura County
 
This listing is compiled by comparing DFG's official listing of Endangered and Threatened Species with Ventura County Audubon's sightings list, Walter Fuller's and Roger Pariseau's personal sightings at Ormond Beach.

"(RECOVERED)" on DFG's listing refers to the Federal "delisting" of some California
threatened or endangered species. Yes, this unexplained terminology is confusing!
 
Search Cornell University's All About Birds
to learn more about other avian species.
 
Of the hundreds of avian species found in California, 31 are considered "endangered" or "threatened" by the Federal Government and/or by the State of California. Of these 31 species, 19 are found in Ventura County with 18 of them living at Ormond Beach.

Some 469 different bird species have been seen somewhere in Ventura County! 110+ reside at Ormond Beach.
(* = Personally observed and photographed at or over Ormond Beach Wetlands area.)
  1. * American Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum, Family: Falcons
    Length: 16~20 inches – Wingspan: 43~46 inches
    Weight: 1.3 pounds
    California: Endangered, 27 June 71
    Federal: Delisted, 25 Aug 99 – Migratory
    Status: Decreasing to Stable – Breeds: March thru July
 Peregrine Falcon
F/P
  1. * Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Family: Hawks and Eagles
    Length: 34~43 inches – Wingspan: 6~8 feet
    Weight: 9.1 pounds
    California: Endangered, 2 Oct 80
    Federal: Delisted, 8 Aug 07 – Migratory
    Status: Stable to increasing – Breeds: April thru Aug.
 Bald Eagle
P
  1. * Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia, Family: Hirundinidae, Swallows
    Length: 4.75~5.5 inches – Wingspan: 8.5 inches
    Weight: 0.5 ounce
    California: Threatened, 11 Jul 89
    Federal: Not listed – Migratory
    Status: Stable – Breeds: Mar. thru Jul.
    Also seen at Santa Clara River
    2.  
 Bank Swallow from nps.gov
P
  1. * Belding's Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis beldingi, Family: Rails, Gallinules, Coots
    Length: 5.25~6.25 inches – Wingspan: 8~9.5 inches
    Weight: 0.8 ounce
    California: Endangered, 10 Jan 74
    Federal: Not Listed – Migratory
    Status: Stable to declining – Breeds: March to August

 Belidng's Savannah Sparrow
F/P
  1. * California Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, Family: Pelicans
    Length: 48~50 inches – Wingspan: 78~84 inches
    Weight: 8.2 pounds
    California: Endangered, 27 Jun 71
    Federal: Endangered, 13 Oct 70; Delisting proposed, 20 Feb 08 – Migratory
    Status: Declining locally – Breeds: March to April
California Brown Pelican
F/P
  1. * California Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris obsoleus, Family: Rails, Gallinules, Coots
    Length: 14~16 inches – Wingspan: 19~21 inches
    Weight: 11.4 ounces
    California: Endangered, 27 Jun 71
    Federal: Endangered, 13 Oct 70 – Migratory
    Status: Stable – Breeds: Mar.~Jul.

 California Clapper Rail
P
  1. * California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus, Family: American Vultures
    Length: 43~55 inches – Wingspan: 8~9.5 feet
    Weight: 22.3 pounds
    California: Endangered, 27 Jun 71
    Federal: Endangered, 11 Mar 67 – Nonmigratory
    Status: Declining – Breeds: N/A - hand raised by humans
 California Condor
P
  1. * California Gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica, Family: Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers
    Length: 4.25 inches – Wingspan: 5.5~6 inches
    Weight: 0.2 ounce
    California: Not Listed
    Federal: Threatened, 30 Mar 93 – Nonmigratory
    Status: Declining – Breeds: Feb. thru Aug.
     
 California Gnat Catcher
F/P
  1. * California Least Tern, Sterna antillarum browni, Family: Gulls and Terns
    Length: 8~9 inches – Wingspan: 20 inches
    Weight: 1.5 ounces
    California: Endangered, 27 Jun 71
    Federal: Endangered, 13 Oct 70 – Migratory
    Status: Improving locally – Breeds: April thru Sept.
     
 California Least Tern
F/P
  1. * Inyo California Towhee, Pipilo crissalis eremophilus, Family: New World Sparrows
    Length: 8 inches – Wingspan: 11~11.5 inches
    Weight: 1.9 ounces
    California: Endangered, 2 Oct 80
    Federal: Endangered, 3 Aug 87 – Nonmigratory
    Status: Increasing – Breeds: Apr. to Aug.

 Inyo California Towhee
F/P
  1. * Least Bell's Vireo, Vireo bellii pusillus, Family: Vireos
    Length: 5.5 inches – Wingspan: 8.5 inches
    Weight: 0.3 ounce
    California: Endangered, 2 Oct 80
    Federal: Endangered, 2 May 86 – Migratory
    Status: Declining to reduction of riparian habitat – Breeds: May - June
 Least Bell's Vireo
F/P
  1. * Light-footed Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris levipes, Family: Rails, Gallinules, Coots
    Length: 14~16 inches – Wingspan: 19~21 inches
    Weight: 11.4 ounces
    California: Endangered, 27 Jun 71
    Federal: Endangered, 13 Oct 70 – Migratory
    Status: Stable – Breeds: Spring

 Light-Footed Clapper Rail
F/P
  1. * San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi, Family: Shrikes
    Length: 7.5 inches – Wingspan: 12.5 inches
    Weight: 1.0 ounce
    California: Not Listed
    Federal: Endangered, 11 Aug 77 – Migratory
    Status: Declining – Breeds: Jan. to July

 San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike
F/P
  1. * San Clemente Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli clementeae, Family: New World Sparrows
    Length: 5.5 inches – Wingspan: 8.5 inches
    Weight: 0.5 ounce
    California: Not Listed
    Federal: Threatened, 11 Aug 77 – Most migrate
    Status: Stable? – Breeds: Apr. thru Sept.

    2.  
 San Clemente Sage Sparrow
F
  1. * Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii extimus, Family: Tyrant Flycatchers
    Length: 5.75 inches – Wingspan: 8~9 inches
    Weight: 0.5 ounce
    California: Endangered, 2 Jan 91
    Federal: Endangered, 29 Mar 95 – Migratory
    Status: Stable? – Breeds: Apr. to July

 Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
P
  1. * Swainson's Hawk, Buteo sawinson, Family: Hawks and Eagles
    Length: 17~22 inches – Wingspan: 4~4.5 feet
    Weight 1.5~2.5 pounds
    California: Threatened, 17 Apr 83
    Federal: Not listed – Migratory
    Status: Stable – Breeds: April thru Aug.
 Swainson's Hawk - NWS
F/P
  1. * Western Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus, Family: Plovers
    Length: 6~7 inches – Wingspan: 13.5 inches
    Weight: 1.4 ounces
    California: Not Listed
    Federal: Threatened, 5 Apr 93 – Some migrate
    Status: Improving locally – Breeds: Feb. thru July

 Western Snowy Plover
F/P
  1. Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, Family: Cuculidae, Cuckoos, Roadrunners, Anis
    Length: 10.5~12.5 inches – Wingspan: c.19~21 inches
    Weight: 1.95~2.29 ounces
    California: 26 Mar 88
    Federal: Not listed – Migratory
    Status: Stable? – Breeds: Apr. thru Sept.
    Seen at Santa Clara River
    2.  
 Yellow-billed Cuckoo © Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
F/P
  1. * Xantus's Murrelet, Synthliboramphus hypoleucus, Family: Murres and puffins
    Length: 10 inches – Wingspan: 16 inches
    Weight: 5.9 ounces
    California: Threatened, 22 Dec 04
    Federal: Not listed – Migratory
    Status: Stable to declining – Breeds: Jan. thru July solely on the Channel Islands

 Xantus's Murrelet
F/P
(* = Personally observed and photographed at or over Ormond Beach Wetlands area.)
 
• USF&W: Endangered and threatened birds in the U.S.
• USF&W: Endangered and threatened animals in California
• DF&G: Complete listing of endangered and threatened species
• DF&G: Species Accounts – Threatened and Endangered Birds
• DF&G: California Bird Species of Special Concern
• Ventura Audubon Society Bird List
• Ormond Beach Wetlands

Page Originated: 04 Aug 04, Updated: 24 Oct 08
Oxnard Coastal Wetlands / Threatened Bird Species in Ventura County / Webmaster