« Back to Leaders & Staff

Jon Dunn

Jon Dunn has lived much of his life in California, where he became a birder at age eight, an event triggered, he says, by the life-altering appearance of a bright adult male Hooded Oriole in his garden. Jon has extensive knowledge of the identification and distribution of North American birds, and has published numerous papers in a wide variety of journals. He has also long been interested in Asian avifaunas. Jon co-authored the sixth and seventh editions of National Geographic Society’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America. He was the Chief Consultant/Editor for the first five editions. He is the co-writer and host of the two-video set Large and Small Gulls of North America, as well as co-author (with Kimball Garrett) of Birds of Southern California: Status and Distribution and the Peterson Field Guide to Warblers. Jon has been a member of the Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of the American Ornithologists’ Society since 2000 and has served over 30 years on the California Bird Records Committee. Jon served on the Board of Directors for Western Field Ornithologists for some two decades during which time he served as president.  In 2012, Jon was the recipient of the ABA’s Roger Tory Peterson Award, given for a lifetime of achievements in promoting the cause of birding. Beyond birds, Jon has a keen interest in politics, history, and the cinema, and a keen appreciation for the poetry and music of Leonard Cohen. Read an interview with Jon on BirdWatchingDaily.com.

Photo: Jo Heindel

Upcoming Tours with Jon

Testimonials for Jon

Everything about the tour exceeded my expectations. Never in the field have I been surrounded by so many expert and delightful people, both American and Cuban. I am 85 and have birded all over the world. This Cuba trip ranks with the best of my birding experiences. Of course, having Jon Dunn for the leader had much to do with this.

- Ralph J. on Cuba

Jon is just a wonderful leader in every way. He is gracious, patient, so knowledgeable, gives equal time to everyone. For me personally, his eclectic interests (butterflies, history, music, taxonomy, politics) are a real draw. He is also an excellent and safe driver. Two examples - he always meets people he knows or who know him ("I met you 40 years ago.....you probably don't remember me...." and he is always helpful with birders from outside our group - telling them where to look, patient, etc. Never any sense of competition or "we know something you don't know". Also, at the Willcox ponds, he gave us a 15 minute primer on shorebird ID that was the best I've ever heard - how to approach them - literally and figuratively. And, as usual, when we are looking for rare species, he knows JUST where to pull over the van to spot the bird - usually within 2 minutes!

- Carolyn G. on Arizona: Second Spring

I could not imagine a better leader. Outstanding skill locating birds by call and assisting everyone in the group an opportunity to observe. Also, outstanding skill in history of the region. His discussions of historical activities were very interesting and entertaining.

- Evord K. on Georgia and South Carolina

Jon is a great leader, entertaining, full of stories especially history but also in a broad range of subjects which kept the rides and tour interesting.

- Dana L. on California: Central and Southern

It was an unforgettable privilege to bird with Jon Dunn who is such an authority on California and North American birds and a very skilled teacher.

- Charles F. on California: Central and Southern