Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day: Spotting Seasonal Visitors in Orange County

World Migratory Bird Day, celebrated on May 10, highlights the epic journeys of millions of birds that travel thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds. Here in Orange County, we’re fortunate to be situated along the Pacific Flyway, a major migratory route that brings a wide variety of feathered visitors to our local habitats.

From coastal wetlands to oak woodlands and riparian corridors, the lands managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy provide vital resting and feeding areas for these birds on the move. This season, keep your eyes and ears open for some of our most charismatic migratory species, including:

• Western Tanager – With its bright yellow body and flame-red head, this songbird adds color to our woodlands during spring migration. The Western Tanager is known to migrate to Orange County from the coast to the foothills of the local mountain areas. Their typical earliest arrival timeframe in Orange County is at the end of March.
• Yellow Warbler – Often spotted flitting through willows and cottonwoods, this cheerful bird sings a “sweet-sweet-sweet, I’m so sweet” tune. These small, bright yellow birds with yellow-green backs are known to migrate to Orange County as part of a stop during their migration along the Pacific Flyway or for breeding purposes.
• Swainson’s Hawk – A long-distance traveler, this raptor flies thousands of miles from South America to breed in North America, sometimes seen soaring over grasslands. Orange County, situated along the Pacific Flyway, is a great area to spot them as they make their way north or southward during their spring or fall migration.
• Wilson’s Phalarope – These elegant shorebirds stop at inland wetlands like the San Joaquin Marsh to rest during their journey north. During their migration, they can appear in large numbers along the Orange County coast during the summer season, providing a rare and captivating sight for birdwatchers and enthusiasts.
• Barn Swallow – Recognizable by their forked tails and cobalt blue color, these swallows return each spring to build nests under bridges and eaves. Barn Swallows undertake an annual migration that spans vast distances, from as far apart as Alaska to Argentina, with various stopping points in between, including Orange County.

World Migratory Bird Day is a reminder of how important our local open spaces are to global conservation efforts. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just starting, it is a wonderful time to get outside and appreciate the incredible wildlife that depends on these native wildlands.

To learn more about the bird species that our native wildlands support, join one of IRC’s guided bird walks or other related programs.

• Bright Birds of Spring in Baker Canyon – Bird Walk
• Bright Birds of Spring in Saddleback Wilderness – Bird Walk