March Birding in San Diego

California Thrasher. Photo by Steve Brad

March marks the beginning of the breeding season, especially in the warmer microhabitats. Male breeders begin staking out their territories and attempting to attract mates with loud singing from conspicuous perches. Listen for the California thrashers especially. Migration picks up steam by late March, with warblers, vireos, grosbeaks, and orioles stopping by in riparian and oak woodlands for resting and refueling. Migrating thrushes and sparrows are equally evident in the brushy chaparral and grasslands. Ducks and shorebirds begin leaving for northern climes.