Farallon National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Sanctuary · United States

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Photo © USFWS Pacific Southwest Region

Photo © USFWS Pacific Southwest Region — CC0 1.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Windswept granite peaks rising abruptly from the Pacific, the Farallon Islands form a wildlife sanctuary of extraordinary seabird abundance and ecological significance just twenty-seven miles west of San Francisco. The archipelago's rocky outcrops and sea stacks—sculpted by millennia of Atlantic swell and transformed by the region's cool, dry Mediterranean climate—support one of North America's largest concentrations of breeding seabirds. The islands themselves remain largely barren of trees; instead, low scrubland and bare rock dominate, creating ideal nesting habitat for species dependent on open ground and cliff faces. The cold California Current that bathes these islands year-round brings nutrient-rich upwelling waters that sustain massive populations of small fish and marine invertebrates, the foundation of an intricate food web. Seabirds of prey patrol the narrow channels between islands, while larger marine mammals haul out on rocky shores, their presence a testament to the sanctuary's role as a critical refuge in an otherwise heavily developed coastal region.

For wildlife photographers and seabird enthusiasts, the Farallons represent a pilgrimage site where the sheer density and diversity of breeding colonies offer unparalleled opportunities to witness natural history on a dramatic scale. The dry season, stretching from late spring through early autumn, coincides with peak breeding activity, when birds return en masse to raise young amid the guano-whitened rocks. The islands' isolation and strict protection ensure minimal human disturbance, allowing behaviors and interactions rarely seen elsewhere to unfold with remarkable intensity. Access is necessarily limited—visitors do not land on the islands themselves—but boat-based wildlife viewing from the waters surrounding the sanctuary provides privileged sightlines to nesting colonies, roosting aggregations, and the constant aerial choreography of birds in pursuit of fish. The interplay of low-angle light across granite and churning Pacific waters creates the atmospheric conditions that photographers prize, while the prolific avian activity guarantees images that capture both the sublime and the visceral nature of wild seabird colonies.

Website fws.gov/refuge/farallon

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Branta bernicla

Branta canadensis

Branta hutchinsii

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Northern Pintail

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Melanitta perspicillata

Bucephala albeola

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Anna's Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

Selasphorus calliope

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Zenaida macroura

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Podiceps auritus

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Aechmophorus clarkii

Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus bachmani

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva

Charadrius vociferus

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Phalaropus fulicarius

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Wandering Tattler

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Black Turnstone

Arenaria melanocephala

Calidris virgata

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Calidris subruficollis

Calidris ptilocnemis

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Sterna paradisaea

Thalasseus elegans

Swallow-tailed Gull

Creagrus furcatus

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Black-tailed Gull

Larus crassirostris

Heermann's Gull

Larus heermanni

Short-billed Gull

Larus brachyrhynchus

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Larus occidentalis

Larus hyperboreus

California Gull

Larus californicus

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Larus glaucoides

Long-tailed Jaeger

Stercorarius longicaudus

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Pomarine Jaeger

Stercorarius pomarinus

South Polar Skua

Stercorarius maccormicki

Rhinoceros Auklet

Cerorhinca monocerata

Fratercula cirrhata

Fratercula corniculata

Cassin's Auklet

Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Pigeon Guillemot

Cepphus columba

Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus

Yellow-billed Loon

Wilson's Storm Petrel

Oceanites oceanicus

Black-footed Albatross

Phoebastria nigripes

Fork-tailed Storm Petrel

Hydrobates furcatus

Least Storm Petrel

Hydrobates microsoma

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Kermadec Petrel

Pterodroma neglecta

Sooty Shearwater

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Northern Gannet

Red-footed Booby

Sula dactylatra

Blue-footed Booby

Brandt's Cormorant

Urile penicillatus

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

Pelecanus occidentalis

Pandion haliaetus

Swallow-tailed Kite

Elanoides forficatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

American Barn Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Athene cunicularia

Short-eared Owl

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Sayornis phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Empidonax flaviventris

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

American Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

American Grey Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Western Warbling Vireo

Vireo swainsoni

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

Plumbeous Vireo

Bombycilla cedrorum

Eremophila alpestris

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

Salpinctes obsoletus

Troglodytes pacificus

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Certhia americana

Dumetella carolinensis

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Oreoscoptes montanus

Toxostoma rufum

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Ixoreus naevius

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus guttatus

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Catharus minimus

Turdus migratorius

Passer domesticus

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

Anthus rubescens

Grey-crowned Rosy Finch

Leucosticte tephrocotis

Haemorhous purpureus

Haemorhous mexicanus

Loxia curvirostra

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

American Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Cassin's Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

Chondestes grammacus

Calamospiza melanocorys

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

Brewer's Sparrow

Spizella breweri

Red Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Harris's Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Pooecetes gramineus

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Melospiza georgiana

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Pipilo maculatus

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Icterus cucullatus

Icterus spurius

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Leiothlypis luciae

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Connecticut Warbler

Oporornis agilis

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Mourning Warbler

Geothlypis philadelphia

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga coronata

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Setophaga nigrescens

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Setophaga occidentalis

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Cardellina canadensis

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Spiza americana

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Passerina amoena

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Anser caerulescens

Spatula cyanoptera

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Anas platyrhynchos

Aythya valisineria

Histrionicus histrionicus

White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

Melanitta americana

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Barrow's Goldeneye

Bucephala islandica

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Oxyura jamaicensis

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Chaetura pelagica

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Costa's Hummingbird

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Black-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Rallus obsoletus

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Pluvialis squatarola

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Upland Sandpiper

Bartramia longicauda

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Calidris canutus

Calidris pugnax

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Calidris acuminata

Calidris alpina

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Calidris minuta

Western Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Sternula antillarum

Hydroprogne caspia

Sterna forsteri

Leucophaeus atricilla

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Marbled Murrelet

Brachyramphus marmoratus

Scripps's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus scrippsi

Craveri's Murrelet

Synthliboramphus craveri

Red-tailed Tropicbird

Phaethon rubricauda

Red-throated Loon

Laysan Albatross

Phoebastria immutabilis

Short-tailed Albatross

Phoebastria albatrus

Leach's Storm Petrel

Hydrobates leucorhous

Ashy Storm Petrel

Hydrobates homochroa

Band-rumped Storm Petrel

Hydrobates castro

Black Storm Petrel

Hydrobates melania

Murphy's Petrel

Pterodroma ultima

Hawaiian Petrel

Pterodroma sandwichensis

Pterodroma cookii

Flesh-footed Shearwater

Ardenna carneipes

Manx Shearwater

Puffinus puffinus

Black-vented Shearwater

Puffinus opisthomelas

White-faced Ibis

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rough-legged Buzzard

Ferruginous Hawk

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Falco mexicanus

Small-billed Elaenia

Elaenia parvirostris

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorum

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Great Crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus crinitus

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Eastern Warbling Vireo

White-eyed Vireo

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Clark's Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Phainopepla nitens

Riparia riparia

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Phylloscopus fuscatus

Cistothorus palustris

Thryomanes bewickii

Troglodytes hiemalis

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Red-flanked Bluetail

Tarsiger cyanurus

Eastern Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla tschutschensis

Fringilla montifringilla

Haemorhous cassinii

Acanthis flammea

Smith's Longspur

Calcarius pictus

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Calcarius ornatus

Plectrophenax nivalis

Black-chinned Sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

Artemisiospiza belli

LeConte's Sparrow

Ammospiza leconteii

Nelson's Sparrow

Ammospiza nelsoni

Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

Quiscalus quiscula

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Virginia's Warbler

Leiothlypis virginiae

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

Setophaga citrina

Setophaga pinus

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Common Killer Whale

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Northern Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Lasiurus frantzii

Steller Sea Lion

Eumetopias jubatus

California Sea Lion

Zalophus californianus

Northern Elephant Seal

Mirounga angustirostris

Eschrichtius robustus

Megaptera novaeangliae

Risso's Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Pacific White-sided Dolphin

Aethalodelphis obliquidens

Northern Right-whale Dolphin

Lissodelphis borealis

Northern Fur Seal

Callorhinus ursinus

Balaenoptera musculus

Balaenoptera physalus

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