Last updated on April 30th, 2023 at 11:33 pm
Some of the world’s most enchanting birds with long tails aren’t found in California or anywhere else in the US. A breeding male long-tailed widowbird’s tail is 19 inches to 28 inches long. The species is native to Africa, but there are a few California birds with long tails.
Many California birds have long tails, such as grackles, magpies, scrub-jays, swallows, and thrashes. Ring-necked pheasants and Steller’s jays also have long tails. Long-tailed jaegers have streamers, but they only fly offshore along the coast while migrating.
Editor’s Note: We also wrote an ID Guide featuring birds in California that have long beaks.
1. American Robin
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) has a reasonably long tail extending well beyond its wingtips.
The robin is among the most common wild birds found at backyard or garden feeders in California, with a year-round presence in most state counties.
2. Band-Tailed Pigeon
The band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) has a long, rounded tail. The common name of this species is due to the pale gray band at its tail tip.
They are both a breeding species and a year-round resident in most regions of the golden state.
3. Barn Swallow
The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) has a long forked tail. The outer feathers of the tail are much longer than the rest, imparting the deep fork appearance.
Barn swallows breed in most parts of the state, except Southern California, as the species migrates through SoCal to winter in the south.
4. Black Phoebe
The black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a small and plump bird, nearly the size of a sparrow or smaller, which makes the squared, medium-long tail appear quite long.
Black phoebes are easily found in most parts of their natural habitat, which includes the entire coast of California, but rarely inland.
5. Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher
The black-tailed gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) is a tiny and slender bird with a long tail, which is often as long as the rest of the body of this songbird.
However, you may not find this bird in your backyard, garden, or region unless you are in Imperial and San Bernardino counties.
6. Brewer’s Blackbird
Brewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) has a reasonably long tail, given its robin-sized, well-proportioned body.
However, this songbird’s tail is shorter than that of great-tailed grackles.
Brewer’s blackbirds are common at backyard feeders, but you should use a platform or tray in your feeder.
7. Bushtit
The bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) is a tiny bird with a long tail. The species is smaller than the sparrow, which makes its tail look impressively long.
It’s a fairly common bird in many parts of California, but it’s an inconspicuous species, so spotting it isn’t very easy.
8. California Scrub-Jay
The California scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a lanky bird with a long tail. The rich azure color of the floppy tail may look dark blue or darker in low light.
If you wish to attract this striking songbird to your feeders, you can use sunflower seeds and crushed peanuts.
9. California Thrasher
The California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) has one of the longest tails for birds of its size, and it has a distinctly curved and strong bill.
Its bill and tail both are unmistakable features, but it’s hard to spot in the dense chaparral wildland.
If you are an avid birder, consider binoculars like the Zeiss Conquest HD Binocular from Amazon.com.
The brightness, clarity, and up to 18 millimeters of eye relief are an asset for birders. Plus, Zeiss uses LotuTec Protective Coating for this waterproof bin.
The Conquest HD has a limited lifetime warranty.
10. Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
The chestnut-backed chickadee (Poecile rufescens) is a tiny bird with a long and narrow tail.
The species also has a large head, given its entire body is at the most 4.7 inches long.
These chickadees are usually found throughout the year in the north and west, mostly along the coast.
11. Dark-Eyed Junco
The dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) is a medium-sized bird with a long and conspicuous tail.
The tail’s outer feathers are white. Dark-eyed juncos are a common wild bird in California with a breeding and wintering presence in the north and south, respectively.
12. Falcons: Peregrine, Prairie, Merlin, and American Kestrel
Many falcons have long tails, including the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
Prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus) have a medium-long tail.
The smaller American kestrel (Falco sparverius) has a long and square-tipped tail, while the merlin’s (Falco columbarius) tail is modestly long.
13. Great-Tailed Grackle
The great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) has a long and distinct tail that looks like a keel. The tapered tail is almost as long as the male grackle’s body.
The females are much smaller than the males, but their tails are also impressively long and slender.
14. House Finch
The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) doesn’t have a very long tail, but the short wings of this species make the tail look longer.
Also, the house finches found everywhere in California in all seasons have a shallow notch on their tails, unlike some finches that have a distinct notch.
15. Killdeer
The killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) has a long and pointed tail. The lanky bird has longer wings and legs than the robin, despite being almost the same size.
While the killdeer is a prevalent species throughout California, the bird isn’t drawn to feeders and forages on the ground.
16. Long-Tailed Jaeger
The long-tailed jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) has a fascinatingly long and pointed tail.
The breeding adults of this species have exceptionally long tail streamers.
However, the long-tailed jaeger is only a migratory bird in California, as their migratory patterns take them offshore.
17. Magpies: Black-Billed and Yellow-Billed
The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) has a long tail, almost the shape of a diamond, while the tail of a yellow-billed magpie (Pica nuttalli) is exceptionally long.
Both species have a perennial presence in the state with an overlapping range in the Central Valley.
For the color yellow, see also our article on yellow-bellied birds in Southern California.
18. Mourning Dove
Among the most prevalent species in the state and a common bird in backyards and gardens, the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) has a long and tapered or pointed tail.
This is a rather unique feature among all its cousins and subspecies found in North America.
19. Northern Mockingbird
The northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) has a long tail for its slender and medium size.
If you spot a flying mockingbird, its tail will appear longer due to its short wings.
This songbird has a perennial presence throughout California, and it will visit your feeder if the treat is interesting.
20. Oak Titmouse
The oak titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus) has a modestly long tail.
But the tail looks prominently long due to the small size of this species, which is a tad smaller than the western bluebird.
The oak titmouse is a permanent resident in many parts of California, including along the coast.
21. Ring-Necked Pheasant
The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) has a very long and pointy tail.
The large bird is easy to spot and identify, and you won’t need a pair of binoculars unless you are too far.
However, the wild game bird isn’t common or prevalent in much of California, except for the valleys.
22. Sparrows: Song and White-Crowned
The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) has a long and rounded tail. The white-crowned sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys) also has a long tail, but it isn’t rounded. Both species breed and winter in the state.
However, the song sparrow has a much larger permanent presence in California.
23. Steller’s Jay
Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a gorgeous bird with a long and full tail.
The species is mostly found in the northern regions of the state, along the coast, and inland in the mountains.
This bird is drawn to feeders, especially for crushed peanuts and suet, and it’s known for hoarding food.
24. Towhees: Brown (California) and Green-Tailed
The green-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) has a long tail, as well as the brown or California towhee (Melozone crissalis).
The native California towhee is larger than a sparrow but smaller than a robin. Both species have a permanent presence in limited ranges in the state.