Birds

Male Anna's Hummingbird by John Emerson

From oak woodlands to grassland savannas to the coastal shore, the many diverse habitats of the Santa Monica Mountains support a wide variety of resident and migrating birds. More than 380 species - nearly half the North American total - can be seen year-round including shorebirds, songbirds, woodpeckers, and raptors. At Malibu Lagoon alone, more than 250 species have been recorded. Of all the species found in the recreation area, about one-third reside and breed here.

Migration is an especially amazing time, when literally millions of birds pass through or settle in for the season. Large populations come and go, following the food sources that suit their breed along the Pacific Flyway. The region's Mediterranean weather make the mountains and coastline the perfect place for seasonal stopovers. Birders (or birdwatchers) also flock to the Santa Monica Mountains in search of our many specialties and vagrants.