A List of Birds in Redwood National Park

The birds that live in or near Redwood National Forest in Northern California include forest dwellers and a seagoing species that uses the trees in which to nest. These birds take advantage of the different ecosystems that exist within the park, as there are prairies, coastline, rivers and deep forests. Some have a wide geographic distribution and reside in other parts of the U.S., while other species are strictly regional, living only on the West Coast.

  1. Marbled Murrelet

    • The marbled murrelet is an odd seabird that is seemingly short and pointed on both ends, with a petite pointy bill as well as tail. The adults are a mixture of white and different shades of brown and are rarely longer than 10 inches in length. It has the ability to dive in search of prey such as fish, which it keeps up with by using its wings to “swim” underwater. The marbled murrelet builds its nest in the tops of the conifer trees along the coast in the Redwood National Forest, which is unheard of with other seabirds. The species will stay at sea during the winters, returning in the spring to breed. Logging of the trees in which it nests poses a great threat to this bird, which has a geographic range as far to the north as Alaska.

    Osprey

    • The presence of the Klamath River, Smith River and Redwood Creek in the park, plus its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, means that you may spy an osprey when visiting. This raptor, known in some parts as a fish hawk, is one of North America’s largest birds of prey, reaching lengths of almost 2 feet, with some having a wingspan of almost 70 inches. It subsists almost solely on the many different kinds of fish it can catch, diving from above right into the water to grab them with its sharp talons. The osprey builds a huge nest of sticks, mud, vines and other things. When you see an osprey flying with a fish, it will always have it positioned headfirst in its talons. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website, this makes it easier to fly as it hauls away its prize.

    Allen's Hummingbird

    • The National Park Service website states that birds such as the red-tailed hawk, song sparrow and the black phoebe are common species found in the grassland prairies of Redwood National Forest. Another is the Allen’s hummingbird, which winters in Mexico and Central America but breeds in Coastal California, with the park within its spring and early summer range. The Allen’s hummingbird consumes nectar from wildflowers, tiny insects and the sap of trees. It is 31/2-inches long and like all hummingbirds, it is a skilled flier, able to hover and fly backwards at will.

    Steller's Jay

    • The Steller’s jay is one of two jays in North America with a crest on its head, the other being the blue jay. It too is dark blue, with an almost black head. A loud bird, it has the capability to imitate other birds and animals. The Steller’s jay prefers coniferous forests, so the Redwood National Forest is prime territory for this bird. It eats almost anything it can digest and will gladly take scraps from picnickers in the park. Over a foot in length as an adult, this species builds a nest almost a foot and a half wide and then lines it with pine needles. You can recognize one just by its movements, as it employs quick hops when on the ground and up in the limbs of a tree.