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Introduced and Exotic Birds of Santa Barbara County

This page provides information on several non-native bird species known to have occured in Santa Barbara County. This list does not include captive birds found in zoos, enclosed aviaries, private collections, or hybrid combinations involving exotics. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. Birds listed here are annotated with the following:

 

 1. (In) Introduced: Any Non-native bird species that is part of a self-sustaining breeding population. These are considrered naturalized, established, and included on the California state checklist by the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC). These are also included on the Santa Barbara County Bird List found on this website and contribute to the county total.

 2. (Ex) Exotic: Any Non-native bird species that might be found in the wild such as an escaped or released cagebird, free- roaming gamefowl or waterfowl. (Ex) also applies to any bird that is believed to have arrived to the county by ship assistance or vagrancy from a relocated population. These birds are are not part of a self-sustaining breeding population and do not contribute to the county total.

 3. (R) Reintroduced: One species, California Condor, is a historically native bird species removed from the wild in 1987 with the intent of saving it from extinction. Successful captive-breeding and reintroduction programs result in released birds and possibly birds from wild hatching being found in the county.

 4. (SIn) Supplemental Introduced: Any bird species included on the main list but additional records exist likely involving an escaped cage bird thought to originate from the illegal pet trade (i.e. a vagrant from Mexico), or a banded bird reintroduced intentionally or unintentionally back into the wild.  

 

The California Bird Records Committee maintains a Watch List of established naturalized bird species not yet accepted to the State List. Consult this CBRC watch list for updates that affect the main list. Taxonomic sequence below follows that of the Clements Checklist which is used by eBird. You can report any new Introduced or Exotic bird not found on this list using eBird. See the recent Change to eBird Exotic and Introduced Species article for more information.

 

Santa Barbara Audubon
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Ducks, Geese & Swans (Anatidae) Graylag Goose (Anser anser) (Ex) Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) (Ex) Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (Ex) Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) (Ex) Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) (Ex) Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) (Ex) Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) (Ex) Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) (Ex) Guineafowl (Numididae) Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) (Ex) New World Quail (Odontophoridae) Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) (Ex) Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) (Ex) Partridges and Turkeys (Phasianidae) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) (In) Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (Ex) Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) (Ex) Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) (Ex) Chukar (Alectoris chukar) (In) Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) (Ex) Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) (In) Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (In) African Collared- (Ringed Turtle-) Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) (Ex) Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) (In) New World Vultures (Cathartidae) California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) (R) Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (SIn) Hawks, Kites, Eagles and Allies (Accipitridae) Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) (Ex) Cockatoos (Cacatuidae) Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) (Ex) Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae) Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) (Ex) Western Rosella (Platycercus icterotis) (Ex) Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) (Ex) Rosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) (Ex) Fischer’s Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri) (Ex) New World Parrots (Psittacidae) Lilac-crowned Parrot (Amazona finschi) (Ex) Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix) (Ex) Burrowing Parakeet (Cyanoliseus patagonus) (Ex) Jays and Crows (Corvidae) White-throated Magpie-Jay (Calocitta formosa) (Ex) Oriental/Eurasian Magpie (Pica serica/pica) or Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) (Ex) White-eyes, Yuhinas, and Allies (Zosteropidae) Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex) (Ex) Starlings (Sturnidae) European Starling (Sternus vulgaris) (In) Weavers and Allies (Ploceidae) Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) (Ex) Northern Red Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus) (Ex) Waxbills and Allies (Estrildidae) Double-barred Finch (Stizoptera bichenovii) (Ex) Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata) (Ex) Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora) (Ex) Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) (In) Orange-cheeked Waxbill (Estrilda melpoda) (Ex) Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava) (Ex) Indigobirds (Viduidae) Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) (Ex) Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah (Vidua obtusa) (Ex) Old World Sparrows (Passeridae) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (In) Finches and Allies (Fringillidae) Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) (Ex) Yellow-fronted Canary (Crithagra mozambica) (Ex) European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (Ex) Icteridae (Troupials and Allies) Troupial sp. (Icterus icterus/croconotus/jamacaii) (Ex) Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) (SIn) Tanagers and Allies (Thraupidae) Red-crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata) (Ex) Saffron Finch (Paroaria coronata) (Ex)

(In) Introduced species

(Ex) Exotic, Escapee, or Ship Assisted Arrival

(R) Reintroduced species

(SIn) Supplemental Introduced species

 

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