Date: 8/6/26 4:21 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] California Bird Atlas summary for San Bernardino County through early August 2026
First, thank you to everyone who has participated in the California Bird Atlas and contributed observations to San Bernardino County. Now that the breeding season is winding down for most species, I am providing a brief summary of atlas progress for San Bernardino County. If you are not yet a part of the atlas and want to join, please visit https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home. If you are already participating and want to know where in San Bernardino County you can make an impact, please explore the San Bernardino County atlas page or contact me directly.
Tom <Bensonthomasabenson...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Blocks with data 430/1995 (22%)Blocks with confirmed species 226/1995 (11%)Species coded 216Species confirmed 159Number of atlasers 368Effort hours 3065
With 160 species confirmed, San Bernardino is the third-most speciose county in the state with respect to the atlas, trailing only Los Angeles (178) and San Diego (174) counties. If all the species that breed in the county were documented, it would have 210+ species confirmed, potentially ranking it as the top county in the state.
BLOCKS
Blocks with highest number of confirmed species [Atlas block (# species confirmed) - notable hotspots]Prado Dam CE (53) - Prado Regional Park and Chino Creek WetlandsSan Bernardino North CW (44) - CSU San BernardinoBig Bear Lake NW (43) - Bluff Lake, Metcalf Meadow, Metcalf BayMorongo Valley CW (35) - Big Morongo Canyon Preserve & Covington ParkPrado Dam NW (34) - Lake Los Serranos, Hickory Creek Park et al., Morningside ParkVictorville SE (33) - Mojave Narrows Regional ParkDevore SE (32) - Glen Helen Regional Park
While these atlas blocks are off to a good start, only about ½ to ⅓ of the species potentially breeding in these blocks have been documented. During the remaining four years of the atlas, these blocks will benefit from both general atlasing and, especially, focused efforts targeting “missing” species, probably away from well-worked hotspots.
Of the remaining 1988 atlas blocks in the county, 7 blocks have 20-29 species confirmed, 30 blocks have 10-19 species confirmed, 182 blocks have 1-9 species confirmed, and 1769 blocks have no species confirmed. Most of the atlasing in the county has been conducted on the coastal slope or in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountains, with more limited efforts in the deserts in the upper Mojave River valley, along the I-15 corridor, in the eastern Mojave Desert, in Joshua Tree National Park, and along the Colorado River. The vast majority of the desert remains unsurveyed. Clearly, much atlasing work still needs to be done throughout the county. While many areas of the county are remote or difficult to access, many are accessible via paved roads within an hour drive of population centers in Orange and Los Angeles counties. These include all the blocks on the coastal slope, and many of the blocks in the mountains, upper Mojave River valley, and the vicinity of Joshua Tree National Park, all of which would benefit from additional atlas effort. For those of you who live in San Bernardino County, consider atlasing at home, in your neighborhood, or at a local park to help confirm additional species in undercovered blocks.
SPECIESTop 10 [Species (# blocks confirmed)]Common Raven (77)House Finch (58)Western Bluebird (43)House Sparrow (40)Black Phoebe (36)Mallard (29)European Starling (27)Red-tailed Hawk (26)Bushtit (26)Lesser Goldfinch (25)
The following species were not confirmed during the first year of the atlas, although some late breeders might still be confirmed before the end of the year. While many of the species on these lists are very localized, secretive, nocturnal, or difficult to access, some are uncommon to common breeders that are widespread in appropriate habitat.
Unconfirmed species [Definite or probable breeders]Muscovy DuckCinnamon TealChukarInca DoveCommon Ground DoveCommon NighthawkCommon PoorwillBlack SwiftCalliope HummingbirdVirginia RailRidgway’s RailLeast BitternGolden EagleZone-tailed HawkWestern Screech-OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlNorthern Pygmy-OwlFlammulated OwlGila WoodpeckerDowny WoodpeckerGilded FlickerPeregrine FalconPrairie FalconRed-crowned AmazonLilac-crowned AmazonGray FlycatcherGray VireoPlumbeous VireoPinyon JayClark’s NutcrackerJuniper TitmousePurple MartinWrentitSwinhoe’s White-eyeRuby-crowned KingletGolden-crowned KingletCanyon WrenCrissal ThrasherMountain BluebirdTownsend’s SolitaireHermit ThrushScaly-breasted MuniaPin-tailed WhydahAmerican PipitPine SiskinGrasshopper SparrowBrewer’s SparrowVesper SparrowTricolored BlackbirdBronzed CowbirdVirginia’s WarblerHermit Warbler Hepatic Tanager
Unconfirmed Species [Possible - historical, occasional, or potential breeders]Blue-winged TealYellow-billed CuckooBroad-tailed HummingbirdSoraSnowy PloverGreat EgretAmerican BitternTurkey VultureOspreySwainson’s HawkBelted KingfisherMitred ParakeetRed-masked ParakeetWillow FlycatcherRed-whiskered BulbulWhite-crowned SparrowNashville WarblerIndigo Bunting
