Discover 218 Species of Birds Along the American River
If you love birds—or have ever wanted to learn more about them—Sailor Bar on the American River is a wonderful place to begin.
Located along the American River Parkway in Fair Oaks, Sailor Bar offers an extraordinary variety of habitats within a relatively compact area. The river, riparian forests, oak woodlands, ponds, gravel bars, open areas and mature trees provide food, shelter and nesting habitat for an impressive variety of birds.
In fact, at least 218 species of birds have been recorded at Sailor Bar. Sacramento County’s Sailor Bar All Persons Trail Vision Plan identifies the area as the #2 eBird hotspot along the lower American River, with 218 species recorded—just three species behind William B. Pond at the time of the plan’s publication.
Heron Rookery Tree
A Different Birding Experience Around Every Bend
One of the things that makes Sailor Bar so special for birdwatching is the diversity of its landscape.
Along the river, keep an eye out for birds that depend on the riparian environment. Willow, alder, cottonwood and other riverside vegetation provide habitat for a wide variety of songbirds and other wildlife. In the oak woodland and more open areas, you may encounter hawks, woodpeckers, finches, sparrows and many other species.
The pond and surrounding vegetation provide another opportunity to discover birds. Depending on the season, birders may encounter Pied-billed Grebes, Mallards, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-shouldered Hawks, Hutton’s Vireos, Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes and Lincoln’s Sparrows, among many others.
And don’t forget to look up. Raptors, herons and other large birds can make a spectacular appearance overhead or in the trees.
Birding Through the Seasons
There is no single “best” time to go birding at Sailor Bar because the bird community changes throughout the year.
Spring brings returning migrants and the activity of nesting birds. Summer offers opportunities to observe resident species as well as birds raising their young. Fall migration can bring new species through the area, while winter offers its own rewards, including seasonal visitors and birds that are easier to spot among the more open vegetation.
That means every visit to Sailor Bar can be different.
A walk you take in January may reveal an entirely different collection of birds than the same walk in May or October.
You Don’t Have to Be an Expert Birder
One of the great things about birding at Sailor Bar is that you don’t have to know the names of the birds before you arrive.
Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them, slow down, and listen.
And bring your smartphone!
Let Merlin Help You Identify What You Find
If you’re new to birdwatching, one of the best companions you can have in the field is Merlin Bird ID, the free bird-identification app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Merlin can help identify a bird in several ways. You can answer simple questions about what you see, take a photograph, or—one of the most exciting features—use Sound ID to listen to the birds singing around you. Merlin provides real-time suggestions of birds it thinks you may be hearing.
Merlin is particularly useful at Sailor Bar because sometimes you hear a bird before you ever see it.
That mysterious song coming from somewhere in the trees? Let Merlin listen.
The bird that disappeared before you could get a good look? Take a photograph and let Merlin suggest possibilities.
The unfamiliar bird sitting across the river? Use Merlin’s identification tools to help narrow down what you are seeing.
Merlin is not a substitute for learning to identify birds yourself—and it isn’t always right. The Cornell Lab recommends treating its suggestions as a starting point and comparing the bird, photograph or recording with the information provided by the app.
That’s actually part of the fun.
Use Merlin as your birding coach. Over time, you’ll begin recognizing the songs, calls, shapes, colors and behaviors on your own.
Explore Sailor Bar’s 218 Recorded Species
For birders who want to go beyond a casual walk, the Sailor Bar eBird hotspot is an invaluable resource.
eBird is a worldwide citizen-science project where birdwatchers record their observations. The Sailor Bar hotspot provides a comprehensive record of the birds that have been documented at the site.
With 218 species recorded, the list gives you an excellent idea of just how rich Sailor Bar’s birdlife can be—and it can turn your next visit into a birding adventure.
Before heading out, take a look at the Sailor Bar species list and pick a few birds you’d especially like to find. Then bring your binoculars, open Merlin, and start exploring.
Explore the Sailor Bar eBird species list
More Than Just Birdwatching
Birding at Sailor Bar is about more than checking species off a list.
It is about standing quietly beside the American River and hearing the calls of birds in the trees. It is watching a Great Blue Heron move along the shoreline. It is spotting a hawk circling overhead or a songbird moving through the willows. It is discovering that the “little brown bird” you’ve walked past a hundred times has a name—and a fascinating story.
And because Sailor Bar is part of the American River Parkway, birding is just one part of a much larger natural experience.
Here, the river, trees, wildlife and changing seasons come together to create a place where there is always something new to see, hear and learn.
Come Discover the Birds of Sailor Bar
Whether you are an experienced birder with a life list, a photographer looking for your next subject, a family introducing children to nature, or someone who simply enjoys walking along the river, Sailor Bar is a remarkable place to discover the birds of the American River.
Bring your binoculars.
Bring your curiosity.
Download Merlin.
And give yourself time to stop, look and listen.
You may be surprised by how many birds are waiting to be discovered at Sailor Bar.
A great place to start: Explore the Sailor Bar eBird hotspot before your visit and see how many of its 218 recorded species you can find.