For those of you interested in learning more about Swinhoe’s White Eyes and
their status in various parts of California, the following webinar to the
LA County Birders group, from a researcher studying them (Devin DeRaad,
PhD) is very informative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFv1F6G7QUk
It’s been a little while since I watched this webinar, but if I remember
right, Dr DeRaad seemed to think the Bay Area population was likely sourced
from more recently released captive birds, rather than dispersing birds
from the established SoCal population.
In terms of their status here on eBird, I’ve chatted with various local
reviewers about this over the last several years, in trying to understand
the origins of birds I’ve seen locally.
My understanding is that when the current exotic/provisional system was
introduced by eBird, local reviewers requested eBird central change the
status of this species from provisional to exotic escapee for all Bay Area
counties. This eBird status change did happen, though it’s not certain this
was in response to that request. This request was based on the following:
- At the time at least, there was a big gap in records between the
Southern California population and those in the bay (I think that gap was
roughly between San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties at the time),
though the distribution may be different now
- The first birds reported in the bay (Contra Costa County, Bay Point, I
believe) were color banded, suggesting escaped captive birds
- The timing and location patterns of early observations didn’t match
the patterns one might expect for birds dispersing from the Southern
California population - and suggested instead possible escapees. As the rese
- At the time of this discussion - several years ago, there were not yet
breeding records for the bay. Reviewers also noted that there was less
abundant food here - while southern California’s lush tropical flowering
and fruiting vegetation supports a booming population.
Of course breeding records now exist in the bay, so the picture is now
different - though that wouldn’t necessarily change the origins of the Bay
Area population.
I am paraphrasing here, from various correspondence, so please pardon any
inaccuracies or info I missed.
I hope that’s helpful.
Happy Birding,
Zac Denning
Albany
On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 6:09 PM Bruce Mast via groups.io <cathrasher4=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Who exactly is "eBird" in this context? Are these decisions left to the
> discretion of county reviewers or is this a more centralized decision
> process emanating from Cornell or thereabouts?
>
> Bruce Mast
> Oakland
>
> On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:59 PM Adam Winer via groups.io <awiner=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> I hate that I know this stuff, but the ABA rules are (highlight added by
>> me):
>>
>> "an individual of an introduced species may be counted only *when part
>> of, or straying from*, a population that meets the first seven criteria
>> of the ABA Checklist Committee’s Criteria for Determining Establishment
>> of Exotics
>> <https://www.aba.org/criteria-for-determining-establishment-of-exotics/>" >>
>> The Swinhoe's White-eye population in Southern California meets this
>> criterion. The impossible question to answer is whether a bird seen in San
>> Francisco is "straying from" the Southern California population, or is it
>> an independent escaped bird? If you think it isn't a stray from southern
>> CA, how close do you have to be to Santa Barbara (the seeming northern end
>> of its range) to be countable? eBird treats Morro Bay records as countable,
>> San Jose (and further north) as not. I suspect this was not an
>> evidence-based decision.
>>
>> Deferring to eBird is reasonable, making up your own mind is allowed.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:47 PM David Armstrong via groups.io
>> <darmstrong99...> wrote:
>>
>>> Whether to add it to one's personal list would be a matter of
>>> preference, but as of now it is categorized as "Exotic/Escapee" in eBird at
>>> least as far as SF is concerned, I assume due to the paucity of records.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Monday, August 31, 2026 at 05:33:28 PM PDT, Alvaro Jaramillo via
>>> groups.io <chucao...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> David
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I am not in the listing game, but one thing you said confused me. If
>>> it is on the official California list, does that not make it countable no
>>> matter where in California it is seen?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> Alvaro
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Alvaro Jaramillo
>>>
>>> <alvaro...>
>>>
>>> www.alvarosadventures.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From:* <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> *On Behalf Of *David
>>> Armstrong via groups.io
>>> *Sent:* Monday, August 31, 2026 8:23 PM
>>> *To:* SF Birds <sfbirds...>
>>> *Subject:* Re: [SFBirds] Swinhoe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Roberta and SF Birders
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Presumably David is referring to Swinhoe's White-eye
>>> <https://ebird.org/species/swiwhe1>, which has established a large
>>> population in Southern California, and has been steadily working its way up
>>> the coast with sightings by Dom and others in SF, as well as in East Bay
>>> locations. It's not considered countable here yet but it is on the official
>>> California list.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> The "Calliope Tree" refers to an eBird hotspot
>>> <https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2021839>on Lincoln Golf Course and in
>>> particular to a flowering eucalyptus that hosted a Calliope Hummingbird a
>>> couple of falls back (and is a magnet for birds in general). You can access
>>> this area by parking along Clement Street near the corner of 40th Ave.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hope this helps
>>>
>>> David Armstrong
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Monday, August 31, 2026 at 05:15:12 PM PDT, Roberta Guise <
>>> <roberta...> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This assumes a lot of institutional knowledge and accrued arcana. Alas,
>>> some of us are not quite there yet. And perhaps I missed a previous email
>>> about this..
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What’s Swinhoe?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Where’s the Calliope tree?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Warmly,
>>> Roberta
>>>
>>> Roberta Guise | Reputation cultivator (she/her)
>>> c: 415-420-6276 <(415)%20420-6276>
>>>
>>> https://www.guisemarketing.com/ >>>
>>> Guise Consulting + Marketing
>>>
>>> Where leading authorities are made
>>>
>>> Author of the forthcoming book, “The Reputation Formula”
>>>
>>>
>>> ***********************************************
>>> Former National Board Director, Institute of Management
>>> Consultants USA (IMC USA)
>>>
>>> Past President,
>>>
>>> IMC USA NorCal Chapter
>>>
>>> linkedin.com/in/robertaguise
>>> @robertaguise
>>>
>>> **********************************************
>>>
>>> *From: *<SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> on behalf of David
>>> Webster via groups.io <davisigno...>
>>> *Date: *Monday, August 31, 2026 at 16:34
>>> *To: *SF Birds <SFBirds...>
>>> *Subject: *[SFBirds] Swinhoe
>>>
>>> In the Calliope tree - not banded
>>>
>>>
>
>
