Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park

Eaton Canyon is a 190-acre natural area at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in Pasadena, offering foothill birding just 15 minutes from downtown LA. The canyon's mix of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, and riparian habitat along Eaton Creek supports an impressive diversity of resident and migrant birds.

The nature center sits at the mouth of the canyon, with trails leading up along the creek to a waterfall. California Quail are abundant, and the sage scrub hosts the federally threatened California Gnatcatcher. Spring brings breeding Phainopeplas, Ash-throated Flycatchers, and Costa's Hummingbirds, along with migrant warblers and flycatchers in the riparian corridor. The canyon is also excellent for raptors — Red-tailed Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, and occasionally Golden Eagles soar over the ridgelines.