California backyards are full of birdwatching surprises, and some species show off colors you wouldn’t expect. These 13 unusually colored birds are a treat for anyone who loves wildlife.
I’ve spotted a few myself, and their vibrant hues never fail to catch my eye. Keep your binoculars handy—you might just see one flutter by in your own yard.
1. Western Tanager
Flaming red-orange faces contrast dramatically with bright yellow bodies on these striking visitors. Males display the most vivid colors during breeding season across California’s wooded areas.
Their unexpected tropical appearance often startles first-time spotters, as they seem more suited to rainforests than suburban gardens. Listen for their distinctive chirping calls when fruit trees bloom in your California yard.
2. Lazuli Bunting
Brilliant turquoise blue heads and backs make male Lazuli Buntings impossible to miss. Their rusty-colored breast bands and white bellies complete an eye-catching color palette unlike most California birds.
Females sport more subtle brown tones but still carry hints of the striking blue. Throughout California gardens, these jewel-like birds prefer brushy areas and feeders stocked with small seeds.
3. Hooded Oriole
Sunshine-yellow bodies topped with distinctive black hoods give these birds their name. Males sport flame-orange shoulder patches that flash brilliantly when they fly between California palm trees.
Females show more subtle yellow-green coloration but remain striking nonetheless. Their curved bills help them sip nectar from flowers across Southern California yards, where they weave remarkable hanging nests.
4. Violet-green Swallow
Iridescent purple-green backs shimmer in sunlight as these aerial acrobats zip through California skies. Their pristine white underbellies and faces create stunning contrast against their metallic upper parts.
Unlike their barn swallow cousins, these beauties prefer California’s wooded neighborhoods. They perform impressive aerial displays while catching insects above backyard gardens, their colors flashing with each graceful turn.
5. Black-headed Grosbeak
Cinnamon-orange bodies paired with striking black-and-white wings create a Halloween-colored visitor to California feeders. Males display bold black heads while females show more subtle striped patterns.
Their massive seed-crushing bills easily handle large sunflower seeds at backyard stations. Throughout California’s oak woodlands and suburban areas, their rich, robin-like songs fill spring mornings with cheerful melodies.
6. Cedar Waxwing
Silky tan feathers blend into yellow-tipped bellies on these sophisticated visitors. Their black masks and crested heads add dramatic flair, while distinctive red waxy wingtips look like drops of sealing wax.
California berry bushes attract flocks of these birds during winter months. Their soft, high-pitched whistles announce their arrival as they descend upon fruit-bearing plants in suburban yards across the Golden State.
7. Varied Thrush
Slate-blue backs contrast dramatically with bright orange eyebrows, throats, and underparts on these woodland visitors. A bold black breast band cuts across the orange, creating a uniquely patterned appearance unlike any other California bird.
During winter months, these normally secretive birds venture into Northern California yards. They forage quietly on the ground beneath trees and shrubs, bringing unexpected color to gray winter days.
8. Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brilliant golden-yellow heads and necks pop dramatically against coal-black bodies. Their startling appearance makes them impossible to confuse with any other California visitor, even for novice birdwatchers.
Though they typically prefer wetland habitats, they sometimes venture into California yards near marshes. Their harsh, buzzing calls sound like rusty gates opening – unmistakable when you hear them in your garden.
9. Bullock’s Oriole
Fiery orange bodies with contrasting black-and-white wings make these orioles walking flames. Males display black caps and facial markings while females wear more muted yellows with gray wings.
Their specialized bills allow them to sip from California hummingbird feeders. Throughout Central California gardens, they weave remarkable hanging nests from plant fibers, creating architectural masterpieces in tall trees.
10. Phainopepla
Glossy jet-black feathers shimmer with blue-purple iridescence in sunlight. Males resemble sleek, crested cardinals dipped in midnight ink – a striking sight among California’s desert-adjacent communities.
Females wear more subtle gray plumage but share the distinctive crest. These unique birds frequent Southern California yards with berry-producing plants, especially those with mistletoe growing in nearby trees.
11. Acorn Woodpecker
Clown-like faces with red caps, white eyes, and black-and-white patterns make these woodpeckers unmistakable. Their unique coloration resembles theatrical makeup, creating some of California’s most recognizable avian residents.
Large groups maintain extensive granaries in dead trees throughout California oak woodlands. Their raucous, laughing calls and distinctive appearance bring character to suburban yards bordering wooded areas across the state.
12. Costa’s Hummingbird
Males display spectacular iridescent purple throat gorgets that flare dramatically to the sides. This royal purple crown and throat contrast with their emerald-green backs, creating jewel-like brilliance in Southern California gardens.
Smaller than many other hummingbirds, they pack remarkable color into their tiny frames. These desert-adapted birds frequent California yards with tubular flowers and hummingbird feeders, especially in the state’s drier regions.
13. Townsend’s Warbler
Bold black-and-yellow faces with distinctive eye patches create miniature masked marvels. Their intricate head patterns combine with yellow-green bodies to form some of California’s most ornately decorated winter visitors.
During migration, these tiny birds bring tropical colors to California conifer trees. They flit through backyard evergreens hunting for insects, their bright markings flashing like holiday ornaments among the needles.