Roughly 40% of birds migrate. Not all species migrate the same distance, direction, nor at the same time. Migration is far more complex than I am stating here, but some birds migrate long distances, some short distances, some to different latitudes, and some to different altitudes. In some cases, males, females, and young migrate at different times. While migration occurs in the spring and the fall, some species don’t just pass through our area; They migrate in and out but stay for the entire winter or summer. And of course, we have many resident species that are here year-round, but they will mate, breed, and change plumage or song with the seasons.

Occasionally, some birds of a particular species leave earlier or later than their ‘scheduled’ time and are considered rare in our area because they are out of season. Occasionally a bird will migrate in the wrong direction and show up where it doesn’t belong. Birders are particularly fond of chasing these rarities.

• Spring migration: March to mid-June. Some birds may start to attempt to switch to their spring songs as early as late January. We, along with them, have to remember those songs again.
• Fall migration: Mid-July to Mid-November. Young birds will be making their way back along with returning adults. Plumages will vary considerably. Shorebirds will start in June/July and other birds not until August.

When some representative birds come to Long Beach
(and other southern California coastal areas)
- not a complete list -