Bird species richness, abundance and activity were compared between a control area (CA) of mature coastal sage scrub and a burned area (BA) near Los Angeles, California. Data were collected in paired samples on 80 species of birds from January 1983 to May 1984. The CA provided more habitat requirements for more individuals and species of birds throughout the year than the BA. Nonresidents used highly seasonal food sources that were little used by resident species. The BA was an adequate foraging area only during the spring and did not offer the same variety of vegetation types as the CA. Fire was found to decrease bird species richness in coastal sage scrub, unlike the pattern found in chaparral bird communities.