Elkhorn Slough is one of the premier bird watching sites in the western United States. More than 340 species visit or find permanent refuge here, a remarkable number given the slough’s relatively small size. This roster of birds includes several rare and endangered species, such as the Brown Pelican, Snowy Plover, and Peregrine Falcon.The tremendous number and variety of birds at the slough attracts thousands of bird watchers from across the country each year.

Our birding guide will help you find the importing birding hotspots around the Slough. Our sightings blog will let you know what's been seen lately.

Elkhorn Slough Bird Checklist - coming soon!

Currently we are featuring the following birds:

Acorn Woodpecker

Brown Pelican

Caspian Tern

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Great Horned Owl

Snowy Plover

White-tailed Kite

More about birds in Elkhorn Slough:

• TECHNICAL REPORT: Ruegg, Kristen. 2010. Selected shorebirds: factors that control distribution and abundance in Pacific Coast estuaries and a case study of Elkhorn Slough, California.
• RESEARCH: Bird Monitoring Programs in Elkhorn Slough