Western Birds

Our flagship journal

Western Birds is WFO’s peer-reviewed scientific journal, published quarterly and dedicated to advancing the study of birds throughout western North America—including Hawaii, the northeastern Pacific Ocean, and western Mexico.

Each issue features original research, regional reports, field studies, and expert analyses contributed by ornithologists, field biologists, land managers, students, and committed birders.

Access Western Birds
Browse current and past issues through our Open Journal System (OJS)
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Learn more about author guidelines
Western Birds is made possible by WFO members, volunteers, and the scientific community who contribute their expertise.
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Why WFO Publications Matter

WFO’s publications ensure that high-quality field science, student research, regional knowledge, and long-term datasets remain accessible to birders, researchers, and conservation practitioners.

Your membership and donations help sustain this work—from printing special publications to supporting the Western Birds editorial intern and expanding research opportunities for emerging professionals.

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Sabine's Gull

WFO Special Publications

WFO publishes a range of scientific resources that document avian life across the West. These works provide researchers, conservation practitioners, students, and birders with deeper insight into western North American birds.

Studies of Western Birds

Studies of Western Birds, a monograph series of Western Field Ornithologists, publishes original scholarly contributions to field ornithology from both professionals and amateurs that are too long for inclusion in Western Birds. The region of interest is the Rocky Mountain and Pacific states and provinces, including Alaska and Hawaii, western Texas, northwestern Mexico, and the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Subject matter may include studies of distribution and abundance, population dynamics, other aspects of ecology, geographic variation, systematics, life history, migration, behavior, and conservation. To date, there are five volumes.
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Volume 1

California Bird Species of Special Concern

A foundational reference focused on the status and conservation needs of California’s most vulnerable bird species.
Free Download
Volume 2

The Biology of a Desert Apparition: LeConte’s Thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei)

A comprehensive monograph on one of the West’s most elusive desert specialists.
Price: $17.00–$20.00
Volume 3

Trends and Traditions: Avifaunal Change in Western North America

An in-depth look at long-term shifts in bird distribution, abundance, and ecology across western landscapes.
Price: $27.00–$36.00
Volume 4

The Birds of Gambell and St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

A landmark volume documenting one of North America’s most extraordinary birding locations.
Price: $29.00–$40.00
Volume 5

Birds of Inyo County, California, Including Death Valley National Park

An authoritative reference covering a region rich in desert, mountain, and riparian birdlife.
Price: $26.00–$35.00
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Black-Headed Grosbeak

Field List of California Birds

Price: $3.00
The official checklist of the California Bird Records Committee. WFO currently has the list that was updated in 2024. These hard copies are printed on card stock and are durable for use in the field. The checklist can be purchased for $3 each, or 10 for $25.
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Newsletter

WFO’s quarterly newsletter shares organizational updates, member stories, student program highlights, and announcements from across the WFO community.
Read the News

Other Resources

Rare Birds of the West

Explore notable and unusual bird observations across the western region.
Visit Rare Birds

The Euphonia

Quarterly Journal of Mexican Avifauna (1992 - 1994)
Visit The Euphonia

Thank You for Supporting WFO

Your support makes it possible to publish science, educate the next generation, and create unforgettable birding experiences across western North America.
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