Birds of California with Kids: A Nature Explorer Guide (+ Free Map)

California is one of the great birding states in America — more bird species have been recorded here than in any other state. From the foggy seabird cliffs of Point Reyes to the desert oases of the south, from the salt marshes of San Francisco Bay to the alkaline shores of Mono Lake, California packs an astonishing range of habitats and birds into a single state. Anna's Hummingbirds buzz through backyard gardens year-round, California Quail scurry in coveys through the chaparral, and Western Scrub-Jays flash blue through the oak woodlands. For families who love birds, California offers a lifetime of discovery.

This guide maps the best spots to find birds in California with kids. Give your young explorer a mission before you go with Nature Explorer Club's Birds of California Activity Book to track every bird your family discovers.

Best Spots for Birding in California

We mapped the best birding locations in California so you can plan your adventure before you go.

1. Point Reyes National Seashore — One of the premier birding destinations in North America, with over 490 recorded species. Its mix of coastal cliffs, lagoons, and forests draws seabirds, shorebirds, and rare migrants, especially in fall.
2. Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve — A rich tidal estuary near Monterey teeming with shorebirds, herons, pelicans, and sea otters. The accessible trails make it easy for families to see masses of birds up close.
3. Monterey Bay, near Moss Landing — One of the finest seabird and marine-life spots on the West Coast, where deep offshore waters bring pelicans, gulls, terns, and migrating shorebirds close to shore.
4. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve — A restored coastal wetland in Orange County with an easy loop trail past thousands of shorebirds, terns, and herons — one of the best family birding spots in Southern California.
5. Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary — A beloved birding spot on the North Coast where a former wastewater site became a haven for ducks, egrets, and shorebirds, with flat, easy trails ideal for kids.
6. Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego — A coastal point with sweeping ocean views, great for spotting seabirds and, in winter, migrating gray whales offshore alongside the resident chaparral birds.
7. Mono Lake — A vast, otherworldly alkaline lake on the eastern Sierra that hosts millions of migrating eared grebes and phalaropes, plus nesting California Gulls, against unforgettable tufa-tower scenery.
8. Marin Headlands — Home to one of the best hawk-watch sites on the West Coast, where thousands of raptors funnel past each fall as they migrate south along the coast.
9. Angeles National Forest — A mountain refuge above Los Angeles where pine and oak forests host woodpeckers, jays, and mountain songbirds far from the city below.
10. Pigeon Point — A historic lighthouse point on the San Mateo coast, excellent for seabirds and winter views of migrating whales just offshore.

Make the Adventure Real The Birds of California Activity Book turns your trip into a hands-on mission for ages 7–12 — with a species tracker, fun facts, drawing pages, games, and puzzles. Shop the Book Get the Full CA Set

Family Tips for Birding in California

• Walk a coastal wetland boardwalk. Bolsa Chica, Elkhorn Slough, and Arcata Marsh put masses of birds within easy view on flat, stroller-friendly trails — the easiest spectacular birding in the state.
• Visit the Marin Headlands in fall for the hawk migration. September and October bring thousands of migrating raptors past the ridge — one of the West Coast's great wildlife spectacles.
• Look for Anna's Hummingbirds in any garden. Unlike most hummingbirds, they live in California year-round — plant a salvia or set up a feeder and they'll appear.
• Bring binoculars and the Merlin Bird ID app. Binoculars bring distant shorebirds into focus, and the free Merlin app names birds from photos and songs in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions: Birds of California with Kids

What is the state bird of California?

The California Quail is the state bird — a plump, ground-dwelling bird with a distinctive curved black plume on its head. Quail travel in family groups called coveys and prefer running to flying. Their cheerful "chi-ca-go" call is a common sound in chaparral, parks, and gardens across the state.

Where is the best place for birding in California with kids?

Coastal wetlands like Bolsa Chica in the south and Elkhorn Slough or Arcata Marsh in the north are ideal — flat, accessible, and packed with birds. Point Reyes is world-class for variety, and Mono Lake offers an unforgettable setting alongside its massive bird flocks.

When is the best time for birding in California?

Birding is rewarding year-round. Fall brings the famous Marin Headlands hawk migration and rare coastal migrants. Winter fills the wetlands with ducks and shorebirds. Spring brings nesting season and desert birds, and many of California's signature species — quail, scrub-jays, Anna's hummingbirds — are present all year.

Do hummingbirds really live in California all year?

Yes — Anna's Hummingbird is a year-round California resident, unusual among North American hummingbirds. Males perform spectacular diving display flights and their iridescent pink heads flash in the sun. A garden with tubular flowers or a nectar feeder will draw them in any season.

What makes California birding special?

California has more bird species than any other state, thanks to an extraordinary range of habitats — coast, desert, wetland, forest, and high mountains — packed into one state. That diversity means families can see seabirds, desert birds, and mountain birds all within a single trip.

Also Exploring California's Nature?

Read our family guides to Butterflies of California with Kids, Wildflowers of California with Kids, Leaves of California with Kids, and Seashelling in California with Kids.