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BBS Route · California · BCR 32

Morro Bay Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 119 species recorded across 25 survey years, still active.

119Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
25Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1973–2019Span
7Observers

Bird Species Found on California Morro Bay

Top 40 of 119 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Morro Bay route.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
BushtitAegithalidae812019+109%1975
Brown PelicanPelecanidae612018+983%1981
Spotted TowheePasserellidae412019+232%1975
Oak TitmouseParidae212019+233%1975
American CrowCorvidae192019+24%1975
California TowheePasserellidae182019-15%1975
WrentitSylviidae182019-25%1975
California QuailOdontophoridae142019-65%1975
House FinchFringillidae142019-81%1975
Heermann's GullLaridae14199319×1986
Turkey VultureCathartidae112019-34%1975
White-crowned SparrowPasserellidae112019-70%1975
House SparrowPasseridae112019-30%1975
California Scrub-JayCorvidae102019-55%1975
American RobinTurdidae102018+440%1991
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae102019+225%2012
Acorn WoodpeckerPicidae92019+350%1977
Anna's HummingbirdTrochilidae92019-10%1975
Steller's JayCorvidae92013+400%1983
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae82019-90%1975
Tree SwallowHirundinidae72006+106%1977
Violet-green SwallowHirundinidae72018-56%1977
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae62005-55%1975
Wilson's WarblerParulidae62013+117%1976
Swainson's ThrushTurdidae62019+8%1976
American GoldfinchFringillidae62018+133%1977
Song SparrowPasserellidae52019+12%1975
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae51991-37%1976
Hermit ThrushTurdidae51975+400%1974
Western GullLaridae42019-73%1978
Black PhoebeTyrannidae42019+17%1975
Lesser GoldfinchFringillidae42019-44%1975
Black-headed GrosbeakCardinalidae42019-80%1975
Orange-crowned WarblerParulidae42019-29%1975
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae42019+300%2013
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae32019-38%1975
Nuttall's WoodpeckerPicidae32019+43%1975
European StarlingSturnidae32019+9%1975
Chestnut-backed ChickadeeParidae32019+533%1977
Western BluebirdTurdidae32019-46%1976

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. A route is a sample, not a census.