Wildlife
What lives in Channel Islands
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Channel Islands: 42 mammals, 354 birds, 10 reptiles, 3 amphibians and 256 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Sea otter
Enhydra lutris nereis
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Rare
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Historical
By group
Species counts
Present or probably present per the NPS list. “Listed” includes species the NPS has evaluated but marks unconfirmed or not in park.
- Mammals
- 42
- 44 listed · 1 non-native
- Birds
- 354
- 357 listed · 5 non-native
- Reptiles
- 10
- 11 listed
- Amphibians
- 3
- 4 listed
- Fish
- 258
- 273 listed
Endangered Species Act
12 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Fur Seal | Arctocephalus townsendi | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Rorqual (Sei Whale) | Balaenoptera borealis | Rare | Endangered | |
| Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Uncommon | Endangered | |
| Finback Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Endangered | ||
| Sea Otter | Enhydra lutris nereis | Threatened | ||
| Sperm Whale | Physeter catodon | Endangered | ||
| Marbled Murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Short-tailed Albatross | Diomedea albatrus | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Loggerhead | Caretta caretta | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Green Sea Turtle | Chelonia mydas | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Leatherback | Dermochelys coriacea | Occasional | Endangered |
Mammals
All 42 mammals recorded in Channel Islands
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Dolphin | Delphinus delphis | Abundant | ||
| California Sea Lion | Zalophus californianus | Common | ||
| Northern Elephant Seal | Mirounga angustirostris | Common | ||
| Blue Whale | Balaenoptera musculus | Uncommon | Endangered | |
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | Uncommon | ||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Uncommon | ||
| Gray Whale | Eschrichtius robustus | Uncommon | ||
| Harbor Seal | Phoca vitulina | Uncommon | ||
| Minke Whale | Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Fur Seal | Callorhinus ursinus | Uncommon | ||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | Uncommon | ||
| Risso Dolphin | Grampus griseus | Uncommon |
Show the other 30 mammals ↓The other 30
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis amphiala | Uncommon | ||
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Plecotus townsendii townsendii | Uncommon | ||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Occasional | ||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | Occasional | ||
| Guadalupe Fur Seal | Arctocephalus townsendi | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Long-eared Myotis | Myotis evotis | Occasional | ||
| Mexican Free-tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | Occasional | ||
| Northern Sea Lion | Eumetopias jubatus | Occasional | ||
| Red Bat | Lasiurus borealis | Occasional | ||
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | Occasional | ||
| Western Mastiff Bat | Eumops perotis | Occasional | ||
| Channel Islands Gray Fox | Urocyon littoralis | Rare | ||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Rare | ||
| Humback Whale | Megaptera novaeangliae | Rare | ||
| Killer Whale | Orcinus orca | Rare | ||
| Rorqual (Sei Whale) | Balaenoptera borealis | Rare | Endangered | |
| Black Rat | Rattus rattus | Non-native | ||
| Dall's Porpoise | Phocoenoides dalli | |||
| False Killer Whale | Pseudorca crassidens | |||
| Finback Whale | Balaenoptera physalus | Endangered | ||
| Harbor Porpoise | Phocoena phocoena | |||
| Pacific Beaked Whale | Mesoplodon stejnegeri | |||
| Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin | Tursiops truncatus | |||
| Pacific White-sided Dolphin | Lagenorhynchus obliquidens | |||
| Pygmy Sperm Whale | Kogia breviceps | |||
| Right Whale Dolphin | Lissodelphis borealis | |||
| Rough-toothed Dolphin | Steno bredanensis | |||
| Sea Otter | Enhydra lutris nereis | Threatened | ||
| Sperm Whale | Physeter catodon | Endangered | ||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis |
Birds
354 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
354 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularia | ||
| Clark's Grebe | Aechmophorus clarkii | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Tricolored Blackbird | Agelaius tricolor | ||
| Rufous-crowned Sparrow | Aimophila ruficeps | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Eurasian Wigeon | Anas penelope | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | ||
| Red-throated Pipit | Anthus cervinus | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Island Scrub Jay | Aphelocoma insularis | ||
| Surfbird | Aphriza virgata | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone | Arenaria interpres | ||
| Black Turnstone | Arenaria melanocephala | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Marbled Murrelet | Brachyramphus marmoratus | Threatened | |
| Brant | Branta bernicla | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| McCown's Longspur | Calcarius mccownii | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Sanderling | Calidris alba | ||
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Red Knot | Calidris canutus | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | ||
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| California Quail | Callipepla californica | Non-native | |
| Anna's Hummingbird | Calypte anna | ||
| Costa's Hummingbird | Calypte costae | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | ||
| Lawrence's Goldfinch | Carduelis lawrencei | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Purple Finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Pigeon Guillemot | Cepphus columba | ||
| Rhinoceros Auklet | Cerorhinca monocerata | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi | ||
| Snowy Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | ||
| Mountain Plover | Charadrius montanus | ||
| Semipalmated Plover | Charadrius semipalmatus | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Ross' Goose | Chen rossii | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Threatened | |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Columba fasciata | ||
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus borealis | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Prairie Warbler | Dendroica discolor | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Dendroica dominica | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | ||
| Grace's Warbler | Dendroica graciae | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Hermit Warbler | Dendroica occidentalis | ||
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | ||
| Short-tailed Albatross | Diomedea albatrus | Endangered | |
| Laysan Albatross | Diomedea immutabilis | ||
| Black-footed Albatross | Diomedea nigripes | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | ||
| Pacific-slope Flycatcher | Empidonax difficilis | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Gray Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| Tufted Puffin | Fratercula cirrhata | ||
| Horned Puffin | Fratercula corniculata | ||
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Northern Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialis | ||
| Common Snipe | Gallinago gallinago | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Pacific Loon | Gavia pacifica | ||
| Red-throated Loon | Gavia stellata | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Guiraca caerulea | ||
| Black Oystercatcher | Haematopus bachmani | ||
| American Oystercatcher | Haematopus palliatus | ||
| Wandering Tattler | Heteroscelus incanus | ||
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Harlequin Duck | Histrionicus histrionicus | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | ||
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Herring Gull | Larus argentatus | ||
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | ||
| California Gull | Larus californicus | ||
| Mew Gull | Larus canus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Glaucous-winged Gull | Larus glaucescens | ||
| Heermann's Gull | Larus heermanni | ||
| Glaucous Gull | Larus hyperboreus | ||
| Western Gull | Larus occidentalis | ||
| Bonaparte's Gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Thayer's Gull | Larus thayeri | ||
| Short-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus griseus | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Marbled Godwit | Limosa fedoa | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| White-winged Scoter | Melanitta fusca | ||
| Black Scoter | Melanitta nigra | ||
| Surf Scoter | Melanitta perspicillata | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | Non-native | |
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Painted Redstart | Myioborus pictus | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Ashy Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma homochroa | ||
| Leach's Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma leucorhoa | ||
| Black Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma melania | ||
| Least Storm-Petrel | Oceanodroma microsoma | ||
| Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | ||
| Mourning Warbler | Oporornis philadelphia | ||
| Macgillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Otus flammeolus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | ||
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Common Peafowl | Pavo cristatus | Non-native | |
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Red-billed Tropicbird | Phaethon aethereus | ||
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Pelagic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax pelagicus | ||
| Brandt's Cormorant | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Red Phalarope | Phalaropus fulicaria | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasent | Phasianus colchicus | Non-native | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Yellow-billed Magpie | Pica nuttalli | ||
| Nuttall's Woodpecker | Picoides nuttallii | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| Lesser Golden-Plover | Pluvialis dominica | ||
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola | ||
| Horned Grebe | Podiceps auritus | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Cassin's Auklet | Ptychoramphus aleuticus | ||
| Flesh-footed Shearwater | Puffinus carneipes | ||
| Pink-footed Shearwater | Puffinus creatopus | ||
| Sooty Shearwater | Puffinus griseus | ||
| Black-vented Shearwater | Puffinus opisthomelas | ||
| Vermillion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapillus | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| Allen's Hummingbird | Selasphorus sasin | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Red-breasted Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus ruber | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Black-chinned Sparrow | Spizella atrogularis | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Long-tailed Jaeger | Stercorarius longicaudus | ||
| South Polar Skua | Stercorarius maccormicki | ||
| Parasitic Jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus | ||
| Pomarine Jaeger | Stercorarius pomarinus | ||
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia | ||
| Elegant Tern | Sterna elegans | ||
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | ||
| Royal Tern | Sterna maxima | ||
| Arctic Tern | Sterna paradisaea | ||
| Spotted Dove | Streptopelia chinensis | ||
| Ringed Turtle-Dove | Streptopelia risoria | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Brown Booby | Sula leucogaster | ||
| Blue-footed Booby | Sula nebouxii | ||
| Red-footed Booby | Sula sula | ||
| Ancient Murrelet | Synthliboramphus antiquus | ||
| Craveri's Murrelet | Synthliboramphus craveri | ||
| Xantus' Murrelet | Synthliboramphus hypoleucus | ||
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Bendire's Thrasher | Toxostoma bendirei | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Tryngites subruficollis | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | ||
| Common Murre | Uria aalge | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Lucy's Warbler | Vermivora luciae | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Vermivora virginiae | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ||
| Plumbeus Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Gray Vireo | Vireo vicinior | ||
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Sabine's Gull | Xema sabini | ||
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris' Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula | ||
| Varied Thrush | Zoothera naevia |
Reptiles
10 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
10 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loggerhead | Caretta caretta | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Green Sea Turtle | Chelonia mydas | Occasional | Threatened | |
| Yellow-bellied Racer | Coluber constrictor | |||
| Leatherback | Dermochelys coriacea | Occasional | Endangered | |
| Southern Alligator Lizard | Elgaria multicarinata | Common | ||
| Santa Cruz Island Gopher Snake | Pituophis catenifer pumilis | Uncommon | ||
| Island Fence Lizard | Sceloporus occidentalis becki | Common | ||
| Western Terrestrial Garter Snake | Thamnophis elegans | |||
| Side-blotched Lizard | Uta stansburiana | Common | ||
| Island Night Lizard | Xantusia riversiana | Rare |
Amphibians
3 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
3 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-bellied Slender Salamander | Batrachoseps nigriventris | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific Slender Salamander | Batrachoseps pacificus | Common | ||
| Pacific Treefrog | Hyla regilla | Common |
Fish
258 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
258 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern spearnose poacher | Agonopsis sterletus | |||
| Island Kelpfish | Alloclinus holderi | Common | ||
| Bigeye thresher | Alopias superciliosus | Probably Present | ||
| Thresher shark | Alopias vulpinus | |||
| Barred surfperch | Amphistichus argenteus | Common | ||
| Calico surfperch | Amphistichus koelzi | |||
| Wolf-eel | Anarrhichthys ocellatus | Rare | ||
| High cockscomb | Anoplarchus purpurescens | |||
| Sablefish | Anoplopoma fimbria | |||
| Rockweed gunnel | Apodichthys fucorum | |||
| Guadalupe cardinalfish | Apogon guadalupensis | Occasional | ||
| Pacific argentine | Argentina sialis | |||
| Spurred hatchetfish | Argyropelecus hemigymnus | |||
| Silvery hatchetfish | Argyropelecus sladeni | |||
| Shiny loosejaw | Aristostomias scintillans | |||
| Coralline sculpin | Artedius corallinus | Common | ||
| Scalyhead sculpin | Artedius harringtoni | |||
| Smoothhead sculpin | Artedius lateralis | |||
| Bonyhead sculpin | Artedius notospilotus | Probably Present | ||
| Topsmelt | Atherinops affinis | Abundant | ||
| Jacksmelt | Atherinopsis californiensis | Abundant | ||
| White seabass | Atractoscion nobilis | Uncommon | ||
| Tube-snout | Aulorhynchus flavidus | Abundant | ||
| Swallowtail damselfish | Azurina hirundo | Occasional | ||
| Finescale triggerfish | Balistes polylepis | Occasional | ||
| Bathylagus wesethi | Bathylagus wesethi | |||
| Kelp perch | Brachyistius frenatus | Common | ||
| Red brotula | Brosmophycis marginata | Occasional | ||
| Green jack | Caranx caballus | Occasional | ||
| Narrowtooth shark | Carcharhinus brachyurus | |||
| White shark | Carcharodon carcharias | Occasional | ||
| Ocean whitefish | Caulolatilus princeps | Uncommon | ||
| Monkeyface prickleback | Cebidichthys violaceus | Uncommon | ||
| Swell shark | Cephaloscyllium ventriosum | Common | ||
| Basking shark | Cetorhinus maximus | Occasional | ||
| Orangethroat pikeblenny | Chaenopsis alepidota | Uncommon | ||
| Smallhead flyingfish | Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus | Uncommon | ||
| Black croaker | Cheilotrema saturnum | Rare | ||
| Spotted cusk-eel | Chilara taylori | Uncommon | ||
| Spotfin burrfish | Chilomycterus reticulatus | Occasional | ||
| Mosshead warbonnet | Chirolophis nugator | |||
| Roughback sculpin | Chitonotus pugetensis | |||
| Blacksmith | Chromis punctipinnis | Abundant | ||
| Gulf sanddab | Citharichthys fragilis | |||
| Pacific sanddab | Citharichthys sordidus | |||
| Speckled sanddab | Citharichthys stigmaeus | |||
| Longfin sanddab | Citharichthys xanthostigma | |||
| Woolly sculpin | Clinocottus analis | Common | ||
| Calico sculpin | Clinocottus embryum | |||
| Mosshead sculpin | Clinocottus globiceps | |||
| Bald sculpin | Clinocottus recalvus | |||
| Pacific saury | Cololabis saira | |||
| Snubnose pipefish | Cosmocampus arctus | Uncommon | ||
| Deepwater blenny | Cryptotrema corallinum | Rare | ||
| Showy bristlemouth | Cyclothone signata | |||
| Shiner perch | Cymatogaster aggregata | Abundant | ||
| Bigeye lightfish | Danaphos oculatus | |||
| Whiptail ribbonfish | Desmodema lorum | |||
| California headlightfish | Diaphus theta | |||
| Black perch | Embiotoca jacksoni | Abundant | ||
| Striped seaperch | Embiotoca lateralis | Abundant | ||
| Northern anchovy | Engraulis mordax | Abundant | ||
| Bull sculpin | Enophrys taurina | |||
| Petrale sole | Eopsetta jordani | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific hagfish | Eptatretus stouti | Uncommon | ||
| Masked prickleback | Ernogrammus walkeri | |||
| Threeline prickleback | Esselenia carli | |||
| Twoline prickleback | Esselenia laurae | |||
| Spotted kelpfish | Gibbonsia elegans | Uncommon | ||
| Crevice kelpfish | Gibbonsia erythra | Uncommon | ||
| Striped kelpfish | Gibbonsia metzi | Uncommon | ||
| Opaleye | Girella nigricans | Abundant | ||
| Rex sole | Glyptocephalus zachirus | Uncommon | ||
| Lined clingfish | Gobiesox eugrammus | Rare | ||
| Northern clingfish | Gobiesox maeandricus | Uncommon | ||
| California clingfish | Gobiesox rhessodon | Rare | ||
| California moray | Gymnothorax mordax | Uncommon | ||
| Rock wrasse | Halichoeres semicinctus | Uncommon | ||
| Brown Irish lord | Hemilepidotus spinosus | |||
| Zebra perch | Hermosilla azurea | Rare | ||
| Horn shark | Heterodontus francisci | Common | ||
| Giant kelpfish | Heterostichus rostratus | Common | ||
| Kelp greenling | Hexagrammos decagrammus | Occasional | ||
| Bigmouth sole | Hippoglossina stomata | |||
| Spotted ratfish | Hydrolagus colliei | Occasional | ||
| Spotfin surfperch | Hyperprosopon anale | |||
| Walleye surfperch | Hyperprosopon argenteum | Uncommon | ||
| Silver surfperch | Hyperprosopon ellipticum | Uncommon | ||
| Rockpool blenny | Hypsoblennius gilberti | Uncommon | ||
| Mussel blenny | Hypsoblennius jenkinsi | Uncommon | ||
| Rainbow seaperch | Hypsurus caryi | Common | ||
| Garibaldi | Hypsypops rubicundus | Common | ||
| Pit-head sculpin | Icelinus cavifrons | |||
| Threadfin sculpin | Icelinus filamentosus | |||
| Yellowchin sculpin | Icelinus quadriseriatus | |||
| Spotfin sculpin | Icelinus tenuis | |||
| Medusafish | Icichthys lockingtoni | |||
| Ragfish | Icosteus aenigmaticus | |||
| Idiacanthus antrostomus | Idiacanthus antrostomus | |||
| Shortfin mako | Isurus oxyrinchus | Occasional | ||
| Longfin mako | Isurus paucus | Occasional | ||
| Smooth stargazer | Kathetostoma averruncus | |||
| Spiny boxfish | Lactoria diaphana | Occasional | ||
| Lampanyctus ritteri | Lampanyctus ritteri | |||
| Moonfish | Lampris regius | |||
| Lavender sculpin | Leiocottus hirundo | Uncommon | ||
| Bay goby | Lepidogobius lepidus | |||
| Rock sole | Lepidopsetta bilineata | |||
| Pacific scabbardfish | Lepidopus fitchi | |||
| Halfblind goby | Lethops connectens | Occasional | ||
| California grunion | Leuresthes tenuis | Uncommon | ||
| California smoothtongue | Leuroglossus stilbius | |||
| Slimy snailfish | Liparis mucosus | Rare | ||
| Showy snailfish | Liparis pulchellus | Rare | ||
| Bigfin eelpout | Lycodes cortezianus | |||
| Slender sole | Lyopsetta exilis | |||
| Bluebanded goby | Lythrypnus dalli | Uncommon | ||
| Zebra goby | Lythrypnus zebra | Uncommon | ||
| Halfmoon | Medialuna californiensis | Common | ||
| Pacific hake | Merluccius productus | Uncommon | ||
| Reef perch | Micrometrus aurora | Rare | ||
| Dwarf perch | Micrometrus minimus | Rare | ||
| Dover sole | Microstomus pacificus | Uncommon | ||
| Ocean sunfish | Mola mola | Uncommon | ||
| Gray smoothhound | Mustelus californicus | Rare | ||
| Brown smoothhound | Mustelus henlei | Rare | ||
| Myctophum nitidulum | Myctophum nitidulum | |||
| Bat ray | Myliobatis californica | Abundant | ||
| Sailfin sculpin | Nautichthys oculofasciatus | |||
| Sarcastic fringehead | Neoclinus blanchardi | Common | ||
| Yellowfin fringehead | Neoclinus stephensae | Uncommon | ||
| Onespot fringehead | Neoclinus uninotatus | |||
| Pygmy poacher | Odontopyxis trispinosa | |||
| Rosy sculpin | Oligocottus rubellio | |||
| Fluffy sculpin | Oligocottus snyderi | |||
| Purple brotula | Oligopus diagrammus | |||
| Lingcod | Ophiodon elongatus | Common | ||
| Snubnose sculpin | Orthonopias triacis | Common | ||
| Spotted cusk-eel | Otophidium taylori | |||
| Señorita | Oxyjulis californica | Abundant | ||
| Painted greenling | Oxylebius pictus | Abundant | ||
| Reef finspot | Paraclinus integripinnis | |||
| Kelp bass | Paralabrax clathratus | Abundant | ||
| Spotted sand bass | Paralabrax maculatofasciatus | Occasional | ||
| Barred sand bass | Paralabrax nebulifer | Rare | ||
| California halibut | Paralichthys californicus | |||
| Filetail cat shark | Parmaturus xaniurus | |||
| English sole | Parophrys vetulus | Uncommon | ||
| Sharpnose seaperch | Phanerodon atripes | Rare | ||
| White seaperch | Phanerodon furcatus | Uncommon | ||
| Crisscross prickleback | Plagiogrammus hopkinsi | |||
| Starry flounder | Platichthys stellatus | Uncommon | ||
| Thornback | Platyrhinoidis triseriata | Uncommon | ||
| Rock sole | Pleuronectes bilineatus | |||
| C-O sole | Pleuronichthys coenosus | Uncommon | ||
| Curlfin turbot | Pleuronichthys decurrens | Uncommon | ||
| Diamond turbot | Pleuronichthys guttulatus | Rare | ||
| Spotted turbot | Pleuronichthys ritteri | |||
| Hornyhead turbot | Pleuronichthys verticalis | Uncommon | ||
| Specklefin midshipman | Porichthys myriaster | Uncommon | ||
| Plainfin midshipman | Porichthys notatus | Uncommon | ||
| Blue shark | Prionace glauca | Uncommon | ||
| Scythe butterflyfish | Prognathodes falcifer | Occasional | ||
| California flashlightfish | Protomyctophum crockeri | |||
| Darter sculpin | Radulinus boleoides | |||
| Smoothgum sculpin | Radulinus vinculus | |||
| Big skate | Raja binoculata | |||
| California skate | Raja inornata | |||
| Longnose skate | Raja rhina | |||
| Starry skate | Raja stellulata | |||
| Stripefin ronquil | Rathbunella alleni | Uncommon | ||
| Bluebanded ronquil | Rathbunella hypoplecta | Uncommon | ||
| Rubberlip seaperch | Rhacochilus toxotes | Common | ||
| Pile perch | Rhacochilus vacca | Common | ||
| Shovelnose guitarfish | Rhinobatos productus | Rare | ||
| Blackeye goby | Rhinogobiops nicholsii | Abundant | ||
| Slender clingfish | Rimicola eigenmanni | Rare | ||
| Kelp clingfish | Rimicola muscarum | Rare | ||
| Spotfin croaker | Roncador stearnsi | |||
| Roughcheek sculpin | Ruscarius creaseri | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific bonito | Sarda chiliensis | Uncommon | ||
| Pacific sardine | Sardinops sagax | |||
| Pacific chub mackerel | Scomber japonicus | Uncommon | ||
| California scorpionfish | Scorpaena guttata | Common | ||
| Cabezon | Scorpaenichthys marmoratus | Common | ||
| Rainbow scorpionfish | Scorpaenodes xyris | Occasional | ||
| Kelp rockfish | Sebastes atrovirens | Abundant | ||
| Brown rockfish | Sebastes auriculatus | Uncommon | ||
| Redbanded rockfish | Sebastes babcocki | |||
| Gopher rockfish | Sebastes carnatus | Uncommon | ||
| Copper rockfish | Sebastes caurinus | Uncommon | ||
| Greenspotted rockfish | Sebastes chlorostictus | |||
| Black-and-yellow rockfish | Sebastes chrysomelas | Uncommon | ||
| Starry rockfish | Sebastes constellatus | Rare | ||
| Calico rockfish | Sebastes dalli | |||
| Splitnose rockfish | Sebastes diploproa | |||
| Widow rockfish | Sebastes entomelas | |||
| Pink rockfish | Sebastes eos | |||
| Yellowtail rockfish | Sebastes flavidus | Occasional | ||
| Chilipepper | Sebastes goodei | Common | ||
| Rosethorn rockfish | Sebastes helvomaculatus | |||
| Squarespot rockfish | Sebastes hopkinsi | |||
| Shortbelly rockfish | Sebastes jordani | |||
| Cowcod | Sebastes levis | Rare | ||
| Mexican rockfish | Sebastes macdonaldi | Occasional | ||
| Quillback rockfish | Sebastes maliger | Occasional | ||
| Black rockfish | Sebastes melanops | Rare | ||
| Blackgill rockfish | Sebastes melanostomus | |||
| Vermilion rockfish | Sebastes miniatus | Uncommon | ||
| Blue rockfish | Sebastes mystinus | Common | ||
| China rockfish | Sebastes nebulosus | Occasional | ||
| Speckled rockfish | Sebastes ovalis | |||
| Bocaccio | Sebastes paucispinis | Uncommon | ||
| Canary rockfish | Sebastes pinniger | Occasional | ||
| Grass rockfish | Sebastes rastrelliger | Uncommon | ||
| Rosy rockfish | Sebastes rosaceus | |||
| Greenblotched rockfish | Sebastes rosenblatti | |||
| Flag rockfish | Sebastes rubrivinctus | Rare | ||
| Stripetail rockfish | Sebastes saxicola | |||
| Halfbanded rockfish | Sebastes semicinctus | |||
| Olive rockfish | Sebastes serranoides | Uncommon | ||
| Treefish | Sebastes serriceps | Uncommon | ||
| Whitebelly rockfish | Sebastes vexillaris | |||
| Shortspine thornyhead | Sebastolobus alascanus | |||
| Longspine thornyhead | Sebastolobus altivelis | |||
| California sheephead | Semicossyphus pulcher | Abundant | ||
| Yellowtail jack | Seriola lalandi | Common | ||
| Queenfish | Seriphus politus | |||
| Pacific barracuda | Sphyraena argentea | Uncommon | ||
| Spiny dogfish | Squalus acanthias | Rare | ||
| Pacific angel shark | Squatina californica | Uncommon | ||
| Northern lampfish | Stenobrachius leucopsarus | |||
| Giant sea bass | Stereolepis gigas | Uncommon | ||
| Stomias atriventer | Stomias atriventer | |||
| California tonguefish | Symphurus atricauda | |||
| Barred pipefish | Syngnathus auliscus | |||
| Kelp pipefish | Syngnathus californiensis | Rare | ||
| Chocolate pipefish | Syngnathus euchrous | Rare | ||
| Barcheek pipefish | Syngnathus exilis | |||
| Bay pipefish | Syngnathus leptorhynchus | |||
| California lizardfish | Synodus lucioceps | Uncommon | ||
| Striped marlin | Tetrapturus audax | Rare | ||
| Pacific electric ray | Torpedo californica | Uncommon | ||
| King-of-the-salmon | Trachipterus altivelis | |||
| Jack mackerel | Trachurus symmetricus | Abundant | ||
| Leopard shark | Triakis semifasciata | Uncommon | ||
| Mexican Lampfish | Triphoturus mexicanus | |||
| Blind goby | Typhlogobius californiensis | Rare | ||
| Kelp gunnel | Ulvicola sanctaerosae | |||
| Round stingray | Urobatis halleri | |||
| Blacktip poacher | Xeneretmus latifrons | |||
| Bluespotted poacher | Xeneretmus triacanthus | |||
| Swordfish | Xiphias gladius | |||
| Black prickleback | Xiphister atropurpureus | Uncommon | ||
| Fantail sole | Xystreurys liolepis | |||
| Pink seaperch | Zalembius rosaceus | Rare | ||
| Shortspine combfish | Zaniolepis frenata | Uncommon | ||
| Longspine combfish | Zaniolepis latipinnis | Uncommon |
Where this comes from
NPSpecies is the National Park Service’s database of the species documented in each park. We show its vertebrate lists as published: a species is “present” when the park has confirmed it, “unconfirmed” when reports exist without verification, and “not in park” when the NPS has ruled it out (often tagged “historical” for animals that once lived there). Lists lag reality by months or years and seeing an animal is never guaranteed. Plants, insects and other invertebrates are not included here. Browse the full NPSpecies list for Channel Islands.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Channel Islands (CHIS) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Channel Islands National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Channel Islands wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Channel Islands?
- The NPS species list for Channel Islands does not include black bear, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there wolves in Channel Islands?
- The NPS species list for Channel Islands does not include gray wolf, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there mountain lions in Channel Islands?
- The NPS species list for Channel Islands does not include mountain lion, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Channel Islands?
- The NPS species list for Channel Islands does not include rattlesnakes, so there is no record of them in the park.
- How many animal species live in Channel Islands?
- The NPS species database lists 42 mammal, 354 bird, 10 reptile, 3 amphibian and 256 fish species as present or probably present in Channel Islands, including 12 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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