SAN DIEGO COUNTY AVIAN RECORDS DATABASE, 2002-2026
–Paul Lehman, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt
Database Link: SD County Records Jul 2026
Quick Usage Guide: This is a PDF file and can easily be searched in a browser or PDF reader with the Find feature, typically typing CTRL-F (PC) or CMD-F (Mac) to begin a search.
This database includes avian records and other information of interest from late 2002 to early April 2026—essentially since the pre-publication cut-off date of records for the San Diego Bird Atlas by Philip Unitt (2004). Also included are earlier records of interest not found in, or data-corrected from, Unitt (2004) and Unitt (1984; The Birds of San Diego County).
Sources used for this database were primarily the San Diego County seasonal reports compiled four times annually by McCaskie to 2020, monthly reports compiled by Lehman since then, a database maintained by Unitt of county records published in the journal North American Birds and of specimens housed at the San Diego Natural History Museum, and data gleaned from eBird. Other sources included a limited, select search of San Diego County Christmas Bird Count data and the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) database. Many thanks to the following individuals for their substantial assistance: Eric G. Kallen, Sara B. Mayers, Jane Mygatt, Andrew Newmark, Bruce Rideout, Justyn T. Stahl, Bob Thériault, Richard E. Webster, and Ryan S. Winkleman. The following observers also provided input on data
contained in earlier drafts: Paulette Ache, Christopher Adler, Kathy Aldern, Eitan Altman, Ruslan Balagansky, Dave Batzler, Jim Beckman, Lance Benner, Steve Brad, John Bruin, Sean Buchanan, Barbara L. Carlson, Nancy Christensen, Elizabeth Copper, Gretchen Cummings, Isabelle Davignon, Jay Desgrosellier, Dean DiTommaso, Peter A. Ginsburg, Tito Gonzalez, Alison Hiers, Terry Hurst, Dan Jehl, Eve Martin, John A. Martin, Marcie Mason, Jimmy McMorran, Brennan Mulrooney, Gretchen Nell, Kim Roth Nelson, Jan Nordenberg, Robert T. Patton, Jim Pea, Dave Povey, Lisa Ruby, Tuck Russell, Matt Sadowski, Britta L. Shain, Susan E. Smith, Chris K. Staurovsky, Paula Theobald, Millie & Peter Thomas, Sally Veach, Stan Walens, Kathryn Wendel, Barbara Wise, and Jim O. Zimmer.
Some date-spans published in North American Birds and its predecessors, in the SDFO Skimmer, and in California Bird Records Committee reports were incomplete or otherwise incorrect. Many of these have been corrected here using eBird data, personal field notes, and comments received from contributors. Undoubtedly some needed corrections remain.
Still needed is a thorough analysis of Christmas Bird Count data to acquire some additional highs and lows and to help properly assess winter population trends. There is also additional information still to glean from such sources as rare/endangered/threatened species surveys.
Input from the birding public is eagerly sought. If you have corrections or new information to include in any of the species accounts, please send PL any such improvements. No addition or correction is too small, including even minor typos. The plan is to continue to make the data as accurate as possible, and to keep this document current. This electronic publication can be modified easily. Periodic updated versions will be announced via the SanDiegoRegionBirding listserv and re-posted on the San Diego Field Ornithologists website.
–Paul Lehman (lehman.paul@verizon.net)
Jul 2026