Salton Sea - south end
California · Southwest
Moderate
October-May
$7 per vehicle
Open daily, sunrise to sunset
About This Location
Salton Sea - south end is a productive birding destination in California, with 342 species recorded on eBird. This desert and chaparral habitat attracts Snow Goose, Northern Shoveler, and Green-winged Teal among many others. The unique desert and riparian habitats support specialty species alongside wintering and migrating birds.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
White-crowned Sparrow (Dark-lored)
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Solitary Sandpiper
Tringa solitaria
Red-necked Phalarope
Phalaropus lobatus
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
White-crowned Sparrow (oriantha)
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
Vaux's Swift
Chaetura vauxi
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Long-billed Curlew
Greater Yellowlegs
Least Sandpiper
Ring-billed Gull
White-faced Ibis
Western Cattle-Egret
Western Kingbird
Marsh Wren
Great-tailed Grackle
Common Yellowthroat
Birding Tips
- 1
Start birding at dawn when desert birds are most active before the heat.
- 2
Check around water sources, which concentrate desert species.
- 3
Carry extra water and sun protection; mornings are the prime birding window.
- 4
Check eBird hotspot data before visiting to see recent sightings and what species are being reported.
- 5
Bring quality optics — a good pair of binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) makes all the difference in species identification.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Salton Sea State Recreation Area
- Sonny Bono NWR
- Salvation Mountain
More in California
California Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in California →