Northern California is a great place for birdwatching or birding, with a wide variety of habitats and species to observe.

Here are some of the top birdwatching locations in Northern California:

  1. Point Reyes National Seashore: Located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, this park offers a wide variety of habitats, from beaches to forests to grasslands. Some of the birds you might see here include brown pelicans, snowy plovers, great blue herons, and red-tailed hawks.
  2. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge in Glenn County is home to a variety of waterfowl, including ducks, geese, and swans. You might also see sandhill cranes, black-necked stilts, and American avocets.
  3. Mono Lake: Located in the Eastern Sierra region, Mono Lake is a saline lake that attracts a variety of waterbirds, including gulls, phalaropes, and tundra swans.
  4. Mount Diablo State Park: This park in Contra Costa County has a variety of habitats, from chaparral to oak woodland to mixed conifer forest. You might see golden eagles, peregrine falcons, California quail, and western bluebirds.
  5. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve: Located near Carmel, this reserve offers coastal habitats that are home to a variety of seabirds, including pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. You might also see harbor seals and sea lions.
  6. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge in Humboldt County is home to a variety of waterbirds, including shorebirds, waterfowl, and terns. You might also see bald eagles and peregrine falcons.
  7. Lassen Volcanic National Park: This park in Shasta County has a variety of habitats, from high-elevation forests to meadows and wetlands. You might see white-headed woodpeckers, gray jays, and Clark’s nutcrackers.
  8. Big Sur: This coastal region in Monterey County is home to a variety of seabirds, including pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. You might also see California condors, peregrine falcons, and red-tailed hawks.
  9. Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve: This marsh is an important habitat for migratory birds and is home to a variety of species such as the great blue heron, egrets, and various types of ducks. Click here for more information about Half Moon Bay Birdwatching
  10. Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve: This reserve is a great spot for bird watching and is home to over 340 species of birds, including the endangered snowy plover and the California clapper rail. Click here for more information about Santa Cruz Birdwatching

These are just a few of the many great bird watching locations in Northern California. With so many habitats and species to observe, there’s always something new and exciting to see.