Coyote Hills Regional Park

California · West

EasyOfficial Site View on eBird

Habitat

WetlandMarshGrasslandCoastal

Best Seasons

WinterFall

Difficulty

Easy

Best Months

October-March

Entrance Fee

$5 per vehicle parking

Hours

5:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily

About This Location

Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont sits along the southeastern edge of San Francisco Bay, where rolling green hills meet expansive salt marshes and seasonal wetlands. Over 200 bird species have been recorded here, making it one of the East Bay's premier birding locations with easy trails and excellent access to diverse bayshore habitats.

The park's network of levee trails winds through restored tidal marshes where Ridgway's Rails and Black Rails can be heard calling at high tide, while the bayshore mudflats attract massive flocks of shorebirds including Avocets, Willets, and Marbled Godwits. The grassy hilltops provide habitat for Burrowing Owls and White-tailed Kites, and the freshwater marsh boardwalk offers close views of ducks, coots, and occasional bitterns.

Location

Loading map...

Notable Species

Ridgway's Rail Burrowing Owl American Avocet White-tailed Kite Marbled Godwit Northern Harrier

Live Bird Data

Notable Sightings

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

3/4/2026Famosa Slough1 observed

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

3/4/2026Sunset Blvd. at Quintara St. intersection and vicinity1 observed

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

3/4/2026Sunset Blvd. at Quintara St. intersection and vicinity1 observed

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

3/4/2026Sunset Blvd. at Quintara St. intersection and vicinity1 observed

Red Crossbill

Loxia curvirostra

3/4/2026Lafayette Reservoir Dam-West1 observed

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

3/4/2026Lafayette Reservoir Dam-West1 observed

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

3/4/2026Rangeland Rd.1 observed

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris

3/4/2026stakeout Broad-billed Hummingbird, Salinas (2026)1 observed

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris

3/4/2026stakeout Broad-billed Hummingbird, Salinas (2026)1 observed

Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

3/4/2026Sapsucker Stakeout1 observed

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's)

Setophaga coronata

3/4/2026Thousand Oaks Park (SCL Co.)1 observed

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's)

Setophaga coronata

3/4/2026Thousand Oaks Park (SCL Co.)1 observed

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

3/4/2026Ramona Community Park1 observed

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

3/4/2026Tijuana Slough NWR--South McCoy Trail area1 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Mission Bay--De Anza Cove & Point1 observed

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

3/4/20263011 Pine Hills Road, Julian, California, US (33.076, -116.618)1 observed

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

3/4/2026Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Malibu US-CA 34.09152, -118.809221 observed

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

3/4/2026Pacific Commons Linear Park1 observed

Sandhill Crane

Antigone canadensis

3/4/2026Pacheco Lane Pond (40.8668,-124.1143)1 observed

Palm Warbler

Setophaga palmarum

3/4/2026Belvedere Park Lake1 observed

Birding Tips

1
Walk the Bayview Trail at high tide when rails are pushed to the marsh edges and calling
2
Check the hilltops for Burrowing Owls near the old ground squirrel burrows
3
The Alameda Creek Trail extension connects to additional bayshore birding areas

Amenities

Parking

Restrooms

Trails

Visitor Center

Nearby Attractions

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR
Dumbarton Bridge

More in California

Salton Sea

Desert oasis lake critical for Pacific Flyway shorebirds despite environmental challenges.

Point Reyes National Seashore

Pacific Coast peninsula with 490+ species and a magnet for rare vagrants.

Mono Lake

Ancient saline lake with millions of migratory birds and surreal tufa towers.

Birding Guides

Bird Identification Tips: How to ID Birds Like a Pro

11 min read

The Beginner's Guide to Birding

8 min read

How to Start a Birding Life List

9 min read

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Coyote Hills Regional Park for birding?▼

The best months to visit Coyote Hills Regional Park for birding are October-March. The best seasons are Winter and Fall.

What birds can I see at Coyote Hills Regional Park?▼

Notable species at Coyote Hills Regional Park include Ridgway's Rail, Burrowing Owl, American Avocet, White-tailed Kite, Marbled Godwit, Northern Harrier. The area supports wetland, marsh, grassland, coastal habitats.

How difficult is birding at Coyote Hills Regional Park?▼

Birding at Coyote Hills Regional Park is rated as Easy. The trails and viewing areas are accessible for birders of all experience levels.

Is there an entrance fee at Coyote Hills Regional Park?▼

The entrance fee at Coyote Hills Regional Park is $5 per vehicle parking. Hours: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily.

What amenities are available at Coyote Hills Regional Park?▼

Coyote Hills Regional Park offers the following amenities: Parking, Restrooms, Trails, Visitor Center.