9 Must-See Birds in Sacramento

As a state capitol, Sacramento has everything you want in an important city: historic regions from the Gold Rush era, plentiful museums, and nature preserves featuring unique local wildlife. While the city is buzzing with exciting things to do, it is also close to many natural areas that offer escape and tranquility, and birds. The next time you’re in the area, check out some popular birding spots and look for these must-see birds in Sacramento!

Sandhill Crane

Habitat and Range: The sandhill crane has a rather dispersed population in the United States. They typically breed in Canada and winter in the Southwest and Florida. But some find their way to central portions of California. You can find them in the Central Valley during winter, where they live near pastures, grasslands, and wetlands.

Features and Coloring: They are tall and heavy-bodied birds with long legs and long necks. They have gray and rusty-brown plumage, with red skin on their crown.

Diet: Insects, aquatic plants, rodents, reptiles, baby birds, seeds, and berries

Vocalizations: Loud bugle calls, moans, and hisses

Nests: A mound of plant material in marsh vegetation

Peregrine Falcon

Habitat and Range: Peregrine falcons migrate throughout most of the United States, but California is one of the few states with year-round residents. The best time to find these raptors is during winter in Sacramento wildlife areas. You can spot them in open areas near lake edges.

Features and Coloring: They are one of the largest falcons on the continent and feature long, pointed wings and long tails. These birds are bluish-gray above and streaky white below, with yellow feet, bills, and eyering.

Diet: Birds and small mammals

Vocalizations: Harsh, rasping calls

Nests: A simple scrape on a cliff ledge or other structure

Surf Scoter

Habitat and Range: The surf scoter breeds in Northern Canada and Alaska and winters along the United State’s coastlines. Occasionally, some make their way inland around Sacramento. You will likely spot one during foul weather as groups move away from the coasts and take shelter.

Features and Coloring: These are medium-sized seaducks with large, sloping beaks and thick necks. Adult males are black with white patches and orange bills.

Diet: Mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, fish, and some plant material

Vocalizations: Gurgling calls and soft whistles

Nests: A shallow depression hidden under low trees away from water

Rufous Hummingbird

Habitat and Range: The rufous hummingbird breeds in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, migrate through the Southwest, and winter in Mexico. You will find this species in Sacramento during their migration, where they stop to rest in meadows.

Features and Coloring: These small hummingbirds have short wings, tapered tails, and long, straight bills. They have bright orange bodies with white undersides and iridescent red throats. 

Diet: Nectar and insects

Vocalizations: Fast chips and wing hums

Nests: A compact grass and moss cup well hidden in trees and shrubs

Snowy Plover

Habitat and Range: The snowy plover lives year-round along California’s coast, while some populations inhabit areas further inland. They live in open sandy areas near water, such as shores, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers.

Features and Coloring: They are small shorebirds with short necks, large heads, and plump bodies. Adults are sandy brown above and white beneath. They also have black patches on their faces and necks during summer.

Diet: Crustaceans, insects, and marine worms

Vocalizations: Sweet, whistled calls

Nests: A shallow scrape on open bare ground

Long-Eared Owl

Habitat and Range: The long-eared owl spends winters in Sacramento and most of California. However, there are some populations that live year-round in the state. These owls inhabit many different habitats, such as woodlands, conifer groves, meadows, and prairies.

Features and Coloring: They are long and slender for owls and have prominent ear tufts and orange facial discs. Their plumage features intricate patterns of black, brown, and buff.

Diet: Small mammals, birds, rodents, bats, and reptiles

Vocalizations: Mostly silent but produce “whoo” notes during the breeding season

Nests: They use abandoned nests from other birds

Cassin’s Vireo

Habitat and Range: The Cassin’s vireo breeds throughout most of California before migrating to Mexico for the winter. They inhabit a variety of forests, including deciduous, mixed, and coniferous. Although, they prefer pine, fir, and mixed forests in the interior of the state.

Features and Coloring: These small songbirds have sturdy frames, short bills, and long wings. They are olive-green above and white below with gray heads.

Diet: Insects, spiders, fruits, and berries

Vocalizations: Halting songs and harsh, raspy calls

Nests: A bulky grass and bark cup placed in a tree fork

Evening Grosbeak

Habitat and Range: Evening grosbeaks spend winters in Sacramento and throughout most of the state. Some even live year-round in Northern California. During winter, you will primarily find them in deciduous and coniferous forests. However, they may also inhabit urban and suburban areas, especially lots close to bird feeders.

Features and Coloring: These finches are large and heavyset with thick, conical bills. They also have thick necks, short tails, and broad chests. Males are bright yellow and black with prominent wing patches. Females are primarily gray with a green tinge and black and white wings.

Diet: Seeds, berries, and insects

Vocalizations: Short, uneven warbles and sweet piercing calls

Nests: A loose twig cup lined with grass and placed on a horizontal tree branch away from the trunk

Tundra Swan

Habitat and Range: The tundra swan spends winters in Northern and Central California, especially near the coast. You will find them in large bodies of water, such as estuaries, lakes, bays, rivers, and ponds. You can also see them foraging in flocks on agricultural fields.

Features and Coloring: They are very large, heavy-bodied waterfowl with long necks and sloping bills. Their plumage is entirely white, and their beaks are black with yellow spots at the base. They also have black legs and feet.

Diet: Seeds and aquatic vegetation

Vocalizations: Smooth, high-pitched bugling

Nests: A low mound of plant material near open water

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/johnrandallalves