Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
California and Nevada Region
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Our Fine Feathered Friends...and More!

The diverse habitats of Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge are home to over 200 species of birds and numerous other fish and wildlife species. The refuge is located in the heart of California’s Central Valley along the Pacific Flyway. When combined with neighboring natural areas, it is part of a vast landscape corridor that serves as a sanctuary for many resident and migratory fish, wildlife, and plant species.

Burrowing owl

Existing and newly created wetlands are a focal point for many Pacific Flyway migrants. Waterfowl, shorebirds, and wading birds rest and feed on mudflats, wetlands, and lakes. Some wetland species, such as mallards, black-necked stilts, and pied-billed grebes, remain to breed. Valley oaks, cottonwoods, and willows form lush riparian corridors along creeks, lakes, and waterways. These riparian zones support active egret, heron, and cormorant rookeries. Woodlands also support migratory forest-dependent birds, such as Wilson’s warblers, and resident mammals, such as opossums, raccoons, and skunks. Grassy uplands provide habitat for coyotes, western meadowlarks, and rodents. The skies above are patrolled by more than 15 species of birds of prey, ranging from great horned owls to Swainson’s hawks.

Throughout the year you will see a rich variety of wildlife on the refuge. This checklist documents 213 bird species and 24 other wildlife species within the Stone Lakes NWR project boundary. It is a work in progress and will be revised from time to time. We encourage birders to report their observations, especially unusual birds, to the refuge headquarters. To learn basic birding skills, visit the Birding 101 page.

Habitats: o - Open water, lakes, creeks, ponds; m - Marshes, tule and cattail stands; s - seasonal wetlands, mudflats, flooded fields; r - Riparian forests; g - Grasslands; a - Aerial, usually observed in flight; wide - Widespread, found in a variety of habitats; u - urban

Seasons: Sp - Spring, March through May; S - Summer, June through August; F - Fall, September through November; W - Winter, December through February

Abundance: a - Abundant, expected to be observed 80 to 100 percent of the time in appropriate habitat; c - Common: 60 to 80 percent; u - Uncommon: 30 to 60 percent; o - Occasionally: 10 to 30 percent; r - Rare: 0 to 10 percent; * - Birds known to nest locally; ! -Threatened/Endangered Species; # - Observed less than 10 times in the past 10 years

Bird List (PDF)

Common Name
Habitat
Sp
S
F
W
Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe*
oms
c
u
a
a
Horned Grebe
os
r
-
r
r
Eared Grebe
oms
r
r
r
r
Western Grebe
o
r
r
o
o
Clark's Grebe
o
r
r
o
o
 
Pelicans & Cormorants
American White Pelican
os
c
u
o
o
Double-crested Cormorant
o
c
c
o
c
 
Bitterns, Herons & Egrets
American Bittern*
m
o
o
o
u
Least Bittern
m
r
r
r
-
Great Blue Heron*
wide
a
a
a
a
Great Egret*
wide
a
a
a
a
Snowy Egret*
ms
c
u
c
c
Cattle Egret
g
-
-
r
r
Green Heron*
mr
o
o
o
o
Black-crowned Night-Heron*
mr
o
o
o
o
 
Ibises
White-faced Ibis
sg
o
o
o
-
 
Waterfowl
Greater White-fronted Goose
oga
o
-
u
c
Snow Goose
osga
-
-
-
r
Ross' Goose
osga
-
-
-
r
Canada Goose*
osg
o
o
o
o
Tundra Swan
osa
-
-
-
o
Wood Duck*
osr
c
c
c
c
Gadwall*
msg
c
r
r
c
Eurasian Wigeon
s
-
-
-
r
American Wigeon
s
c
-
c
a
Mallard*
msg
a
a
a
a
Blue-winged Teal
s
r
-
r
r
Cinnamon Teal*
msg
c
o
o
c
Northern Shoveler
s
a
r
u
a
Northern Pintail
s
u
r
c
c
Green-winged Teal
s
c
-
c
c
Canvasback
os
r
-
-
c
Redhead
os
r
-
-
r
Ring-necked Duck
os
o
-
-
c
Greater Scaup
os
-
-
-
#
Lesser Scaup
os
u
-
-
u
Bufflehead
os
o
-
-
c
Common Goldeneye
os
-
-
-
u
Barrow's Goldeneye
os
-
-
-
#
Hooded Merganser
os
r
-
-
o
Common Merganser
os
r
-
-
r
Ruddy Duck*
os
o
r
r
o
 
Vultures
Turkey Vulture*
a
a
a
a
a
 
Osprey, Kites, Eagles & Hawks
Osprey
ra
r
r
r
-
White-tailed Kite*
wide
c
c
c
c
Bald Eagle
a
-
-
-
#
Northern Harrier*
msga
a
c
a
a
Sharp-shinned Hawk
ra
o
o
o
o
Cooper's Hawk*
ra
u
u
c
c
Red-Shouldered Hawk*
ra
a
a
a
a
Swainson's Hawk*
rsga
o
c
u
-
Red-tailed Hawk*
wide
a
a
a
a
Ferruginous Hawk
sa
-
-
-
r
Rough-legged Hawk
mga
-
-
-
r
Golden Eagle
sga
o
o
o
o
 
Falcons
American Kestrel*
wide
a
a
a
a
Merlin
rga
r
-
-
o
Peregrine Falcon!
msga
r
-
r
r
Prairie Falcon
msga
r
-
-
r
 
Gallinaceous Birds
Ring-necked Pheasant*
rg
a
a
a
a
California Quail*
rg
c
c
c
c
 
Rails & Coots
Virginia Rail*
m
o
o
o
o
Sora*
m
o
o
o
o
Common Moorhen*
m
o
o
o
o
American Coot*
ms
c
o
o
a
 
Cranes
Sandhill Crane
sg
r
-
c
c
 
Shorebirds
Black-bellied Plover
s
o
-
u
c
Semipalmated Plover
s
r
-
r
-
Killdeer*
wide
a
a
a
a
Black-necked Stilt*
s
c
o
c
c
American Avocet*
s
o
u
o
o
Greater Yellowlegs
s
c
r
c
c
Lesser Yellowlegs
s
o
-
o
o
Solitary Sandpiper
s
#
-
#
-
Willet
s
#
-
-
-
Spotted Sandpiper
s
o
r
o
o
Whimbrel
sga
o
-
r
-
Long-billed Curlew
sga
o
r
o
o
Ruddy Turnstone
s
#
-
-
-
Sanderling
s
#
-
-
-
Semipalmated Sandpiper
s
-
-
r
-
Western Sandpiper
s
c
-
c
o
Least Sandpiper
s
c
o
c
a
Baird's Sandpiper
s
-
-
#
-
Pectoral Sandpiper
s
-
-
#
-
Dunlin
s
c
-
a
a
Ruff
s
#
-
-
-
Short-billed Dowitcher
s
-
#
-
-
Long-billed Dowitcher
s
c
-
c
c
Common Snipe
s
u
r
o
c
Wilson's Phalarope*
s
o
r
r
-
Red-necked Phalarope
s
r
-
r
-
 
Gulls & Terns
Bonaparte's Gull
osa
-
r
r
#
Mew Gull
osa
#
-
r
r
Ring-billed Gull
osa
o
-
c
c
California Gull
osa
o
r
c
c
Herring Gull
osa
o
-
-
c
Thayer's Gull
osa
-
-
#
-
Caspian Tern*
osa
o
r
o
-
Forster's Tern
osa
c
r
r
o
Black Tern
osa
#
-
-
-
 
Doves
Rock Dove*
u
c
c
c
c
Mourning Dove*
wide
c
c
c
c
 
Owls
Barn Owl*
wide
c
c
c
c
Western Screech-Owl
r
r
r
r
r
Great Horned Owl*
r
c
c
c
c
Burrowing Owl*
f
r
r
r
r
Long-eared Owl
srg
-
-
-
#
Short-eared Owl
msg
-
-
-
r
 
Swifts
Vaux's Swift
a
r
-
r
-
White-throated Swift
a
r
r
r
r
 
Hummingbirds
Black-chinned Hummingbird*
r
r
r
u
-
Anna's Hummingbird*
r
c
c
c
u
Rufous/Allen's Hummingbird
r
-
-
r
-
 
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher*
ra
c
c
c
c
 
Woodpeckers
Acorn Woodpecker
r
-
-
-
#
Red-breasted Sapsucker
r
-
-
r
r
Nuttall's Woodpecker*
r
c
c
c
c
Downy Woodpecker*
r
c
c
c
c
Northern Flicker*
r
c
o
c
c
 
Flycatchers
Olive-sided Flycatcher
r
r
-
o
-
Western Wood-Pewee*
r
r
-
o
-
Willow Flycatcher
r
r
-
o
-
Hammond's Flycatcher
r
#
-
r
-
Dusky Flycatcher
r
#
#
-
-
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
r
r
r
r
-
Black Phoebe*
mr
a
a
a
a
Say's Phoebe
sg
-
-
u
u
Ash-throated Flycatcher*
rg
u
c
r
-
Tropical Kingbird
rg
-
-
-
#
Western Kingbird*
rg
u
c
-
-
 
Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike*
gr
u
u
u
u
Northern Shrike
gr
-
-
-
#
 
Vireos
Cassin's Vireo
r
r
-
r
-
Hutton's Vireo
r
r
r
r
r
Warbling Vireo
r
u
-
u
-
 
Jays, Magpies & Crows
Western Scrub-jay*
rs
a
a
a
a
Yellow-billed Magpie*
rsg
o
o
o
o
American Crow*
rsg
c
c
c
c
 
Larks
Horned Lark
g
o
-
c
c
 
Swallows
Tree Swallow*
msra
a
a
o
r
Violet-green Swallow
msra
-
-
r
-
Northern Rough-winged Swallow*
msra
u
o
r
-
Cliff Swallow*
msra
a
a
o
-
Barn Swallow*
msra
c
c
c
-
 
Titmice & Bushtits
Oak Titmouse*
r
u
u
u
u
Bushtit*
r
a
a
a
a
 
Nuthatches & Creepers
White-breasted Nuthatch*
r
u
u
u
u
Brown Creeper
r
-
-
#
#
 
Wrens
House Wren*
r
c
c
c
u
Winter Wren
r
-
-
-
r
Bewick's Wren*
mr
u
u
u
u
Marsh Wren*
m
a
a
a
a
Rock Wren
g
#
#
#
#
 
Kinglets & Gnatchatchers
Golden-crowned Kinglet
r
r
-
u
u
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
r
c
-
c
a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
r
#
-
r
-
 
Thrushes
Western Bluebird
rg
#
-
-
#
Mountain Bluebird
r
-
-
-
#
Swainson's Thrush
r
o
-
o
-
Hermit Thrush
r
o
-
o
o
American Robin*
rg
c
u
c
c
Varied Thrush
r
-
-
r
r
 
Babblers
Wrentit*
r
c
c
c
c
 
Mockingbirds & Thrashers
Northern Mockingbird*
rg
o
o
o
o
 
Starlings
European Starling*
rs
a
a
a
a
 
Wagtails & Pipits
American Pipit
sg
c
-
u
c
 
Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
r
u
-
u
u
 
Warblers
Orange-crowned Warbler
r
c
r
c
r
Nashville Warbler
r
r
-
r
-
Yellow Warbler
r
c
r
c
-
Yellow-rumped Warbler
r
c
-
c
a
Black-throated Gray Warbler
r
o
-
u
r
Townsend's Warbler
r
o
-
o
-
Hermit Thrush
r
r
-
r
-
MacGillivray's Warbler
r
o
-
u
-
Common Yellowthroat*
mr
c
c
c
u
Wilson's Warbler
r
c
-
c
-
Canada Warbler
r
-
#
-
-
Northern Waterthrush
m
#
-
-
-
Yellow-breated Chat
r
#
-
-
-
 
Tanagers
Western Tanager
r
u
r
u
-
 
Towhees & Sparrows
Spotted Towhee*
r
a
a
a
a
California Towhee*
r
u
u
u
u
Chipping Sparrow
g
#
#
-
-
Vesper Sparrow
g
#
-
-
-
Savannah Sparrow
gs
a
-
a
a
Fox Sparrow
r
o
-
r
o
Song Sparrow*
mr
c
c
c
c
Swamp Sparrow
g
-
-
#
-
Lincoln's Sparrow
gs
u
-
-
o
White-throated Sparrow
gs
r
-
-
r
White-crowned Sparrow
gs
r
-
c
a
Golden-crowned Sparrow
gs
r
-
c
a
Dark-eyed Sparrow
r
u
-
u
c
 
Grosbeaks & Buntings
Black-headed Grosbeak*
r
c
c
-
-
Blue Grosbeak*
r
u
u
-
-
Lazuli Bunting*
r
u
u
-
-
 
Icterids
Red-winged Blackbird*
mg
a
a
a
a
Tricolored Blackbird
mg
o
o
r
r
Western Meadowlark*
g
a
a
a
a
Yellow-headed Blackbird
m
r
r
-
-
Brewer's Blackbird*
us
a
a
a
a
Brown-headed Cowbird*
wide
c
c
c
o
Hooded Oriole
r
r
-
-
-
Bullock's Oriole*
r
u
u
-
-
Great-tailed Grackle*
sg
r
r
r
r
 
Finches
Purple Finch
r
-
-
-
#
House Finch*
wide
a
a
a
a
Pine Siskin
r
-
-
r
-
Lesser Goldfinch*
g
-
-
r
r
American Goldfinch*
g
c
c
c
c
 
Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow*
u
c
c
c
c
 
 
Mammals
Black-tailed Deer
rsg
r
r
r
r
Virginia Opossum
r
c
c
c
c
Black-tailed jackrabbit
sg
c
c
c
c
Desert Cottontail
g
c
c
c
c
Western Gray Squirrel
sg
u
u
u
u
California Ground Squirrel
rg
u
u
u
u
Beaver
mr
a
a
a
a
California Vole
gr
c
c
c
c
Muskrat
om
c
c
c
c
Coyote
wide
c
c
c
c
Raccoon
mr
c
c
c
c
Striped Skunk
wide
u
u
u
u
River Otter
or
c
c
c
c
Mink
om
o
o
o
o
Gray Fox
gr
o
o
o
o
 
Amphibians
Pacific Treefrog
rm
c
c
c
r
Bullfrog
omr
c
c
c
r
 
Reptiles
Western Fence Lizard
sg
c
c
c
c
Gopher Snake
sg
u
c
u
r
Common Kingsnake
sg
u
c
u
r
Common Garter Snake
sm
u
c
u
r
Elegant Garter Snake
sm
u
c
u
r
Western Yellowbelly Racer
rg
u
c
u
r
Western Pond Turtle
om
u
u
u
r
Red-eared Slider
om
u
u
u
u
 

Bird List (PDF)

PDF Bird List
Last updated: April 21, 2008