| xx |
|
The Wild Birds of La Cresta Ridge and Ravine
|
|
Kinglet
Regulus satrapa L 4" (10cm)
Golden-crowned kinglets are birds of coniferous forests, especially spruce, in all seasons. It is much rarer to find one in deciduous habitat. They pick for food among clumps of needles and on cones, from which they can often be spotted hanging upside down as they probes between the scales. Even high in the trees the brightly striped head and the golden crown are distinctive and easy to spot.
The song is a variable three-part series of high thin see notes, the third part typically lower, faster, and somewhat jumbled.
return to top
|
|
Kinglet
|
|
Ruby Throated
Hummingbird
|
Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris L 3 (10cm)
This 3 3/4-inch-long garden jewel makes its home in swamps, woodlands, parks, and gardens in much of eastern North America.Males stake out territories at luxuriant stands of flowers or at feeders, where they aggressively defend against competing males.Females construct elaborate, walnut shell-sized nests on slender, downward sloping twigs in trees or large shrubs. Rubythroats are strongly migratory.
return to top
|
|
Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
Favorite habitat for the Titmouse are oak trees. Even one oak tree can produce an abundance of resources for wildlife. They seem to prefer The Coast live oak. The Titmouse eats insects and spiders gleaned from foliage, branches or bark. They are very rarely seen on or near the ground. They also eat berries and acorns. They spend most of their feeding time up in the oaks. They will visit the bird bath for a drink, especially in the summer.The Oak Titmouse does not migrate. It is a year long resident.
return to top
|
|
Titmouse
|
|
Black Capped
Chickadee
|
Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus (5 inches / 13 centimeters)
The distinguishing vocalization "chick-a-dee-dee" of the Black-capped Chickadee is one of the most complex vocalizations in the animal kingdom. Depending on slight variations in the phrases, the call can convey separate, unique messages: in addition to acting as a contact call or as an alarm call, chickadees also use their call to relay information about an individual's identity or to indicate that they recognize a particular flock.The Black-capped Chickadee is a fairly tame and common backyard bird through much of North America, often found in small flocks foraging through woodlands or at feeders. Black-capped Chickadees are a small active bird with a black cap, white cheeks, and a black bib.
return to top
|
|
House Finch
C. cassinii 5.0 to 5.75 inches
Male House Finches display extreme color variation, ranging
from pale yellow to bright red.
The House Finch is an abundant bird often associated closely with human habitation. The House Finch prefers edge habitat, these finches require a source of water, as well as structures for perching and nesting. House Finch abundance is closely correlated with the size of the local human population. Everywhere, the House Finch is a gregarious bird, forming loose flocks in breeding season. They roost in close proximity to each other. These vegetarian birds are strongly attracted to feeders, where they prefer small sunflower seeds
return to top
|
|
House Finch
|
|
American Goldfinch
|
American Goldfinch
Carduélis trístis
With its bright golden body and melodious singing, the American Goldfinch, is easily mistaken for a canary. Indeed, this bright and cheerful specimen is sometimes called the “wild canary.”
It inhabits woodlots, weedy fields, brushy thickets and seed-bearing trees, while preferring a home located near a water source.
The preferred foods of the Goldfinch are dandelion, thistle, sunflower, and elm seed. Hence, this bird is not difficult to attract to feeders. With its love for thistle seed, an offering of such may be placed in a garden or backyard feeder and this will serve as a magnet for these birds. Because the Goldfinch will supplement its summer diet with various insects, it is a beneficial little bird.
return to top
|
|
White Crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
The White-crowned sparrow eats mainly grass and forb seeds. They will also eat insects and spiders especially in the breading season as these provide more protein. They feed on or near the ground in open ares near cover. The White-crowned sparrow population in higher elevations and northern areas migrates to southern California and Mexico in the winter. Coastal inhabitants stay put. The White-crowned sparrow likes moist brushy habitats. The White-crowned sparrow usually nests near the ground in dense cover. In forest ares they will use a willow in a maintain meadow or a low conifer branch near the meadow. In coastal areas they use a shrub for nesting.
return to top
|
|
White Crowned
Sparrow
|
|
Cedar Waxwing
|
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum L 7 ?" (8cm)
Named for its fondness for cedar berries and the waxy red tips on its wing feathers, the sleek looking, dapper bird is easily recognized by its delicate yellow-brown plumage, its crest, and the distinctive black mask. It breeds from central Canada through the northern US, but in winter, flocks can descend on fruit and berry trees almost anywhere from the US/Canada border south through Mexico. A flock can strip the fruit from a holly or cedar tree in an amazingly short time and they rarely hang around one area for more than a day or two.
return to top
|
|
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula L 8 ?" (22 cm)
Baltimore orioles epitomize orioles as North American birders know them. They have a bright orange rump and underparts, black hood and back, broad shortish tails, and long straight bills adept at gleaning nectar and catching insects. Adult females are brownish olive above and orange below.
return to top
|
|
Baltimore Oriole
|
|
Red-winged Blackbird
|
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus (Length: 7.25 inches)
Perhaps the most abundant North American bird, and certainly one of the most studied, is the Red-winged Blackbird, which is also one of the most highly polygynous of all bird species. They will nest in hayfields, swamps, and other wet upland habitats, Red-winged Blackbirds are primarily associated with freshwater marshes. Males don't breed until they are two years old, and they must secure and defend a territory to mate successfully. Their courtship displays and territorial defenses are identical: they spread their tail and wings, raising their scarlet epaulet feathers, and sing their familiar oak-a-lee song. Red-winged Blackbirds are fierce defenders of their nests, harassing hawks, crows, and other large birds that pass over.Territorial singing subsides in late July or early August as the young leave the nest.
return to top
|
|
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
Like many bird species, the American Robins population was greatly diminished by the use of DDT. Now they are back in full force.The American Robin builds its nest from twigs, mud, and herbs, usually in a shrub or tree but occasionally on the ground. The American Robin is not a long distance migrant. It only moves a little when it is too cold and there is not an abundance of food where it is, otherwise this bird stays put. This bird survives by being able to use most any habitat, as well as eating most anything. The American Robin feeds on high protein foods during the breeding season. This includes earthworms, beetles, caterpillars, and snails, as well as other arthropods. They can be quite helpful in reducing garden pests.
return to top
|
|
American Robin
|
|
Mourning Dove
|
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
The Mourning Dove is found throughout California. It is found in the desert in the summer (not in winter). These birds are probably able to survive the deserts in summer because they spend most of their time on the ground where the temperatures are cooler and they are protected from the harsh desert winds. They move out of higher elevations in winter as snow prevents them from foraging on the ground.The morning dove likes small herbaceous plants with bare dirt in between. They also like to have a perch near by to fly to in danger. They like grass seeds including our native grasses Stipa (Nesella)etc. They do not like it when there is dense vegetation. They like clean open areas in chaparral. They like to eat wild flower seeds. So control the nonnative weeds and help out your native wildflowers. This in turn will help ground feeding birds.
return to top |
|
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
The California Towhee likes dense cover and leaf litter. Leaf litter is good for many birds as well as most California native plants. This is our shade demonstration garden at our San Luis nursery location. The California Towhees love it and can be heard and seen scratching around in the leaf litter. (Notice, no weeds, grass etc.)The California Towhee forages in the leaf litter by scratching, with both feet at once, in a fast hopping motion. They feed on seeds and insects within the leaf litter or occasionally on berries or seeds in bushes.Range of the California TowheeThe California Towhee is found in brushy areas west of the Sierras. It is not found in central California as this area lacks the appropriate scrubby plant communities.Habitat /plant communities used by the California TowheeThe California Towhee enjoys scrubby habitats with leaf litter. They will use open woodlands with dense under story.
return to top
|
Ca |
California Towhee
|
|
California Quail
|
California Quail
Callipepla californica
The California Quail eat mainly seeds which it picks and scratches from the ground much as a chicken. It favor's legume (Pea family) seeds. However, it consumes many other seeds as well. Some of its favorite legumes to eat are lupines including Sky lupine, Lupinus nanus and other Lupine species.This bird also can be seen picking at vegetation, arthropods, and fruits which are near or on the ground. They will hop up to pluck food from shrubs. They also eat arthropods especially young quail, probably needing the high protein and fat for growth. The California Quail nests on the ground or under bushes. Feral and house Cats are devastating to quail populations. Young birds are able to fly 10 days after hatching. The picture on the right was taken in the demonstration garden about 10 ft from the front porch of our house.
California Quail need bushes and trees for cover and roosting. In the nursery, their favorite roosting spot is in the willows along the seasonal creek.
return to top
|
|
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
In the early 1930s this grand game bird was on the verge of extinction. But today, thanks to hunters and wildlife restoration programs, the wild turkey is abundant and thriving in its homeland. Wild turkeys are native to North America. Between 5,000 and 6,000 feathers cover the body of an adult turkey in patterns called feather tracts. A turkey's feathers provide a variety of survival functions-they keep him warm and dry, allow him to fly, feel and show off for the opposite sex. The head and upper part of the neck are featherless, but if you look close, you can see little bumps of skin on the bare area. Two major characteristics distinguish males from females: spurs and beards. Wild turkeys have excellent vision during the day but don't see as well at night. They are also very mobile. Turkeys can run at speeds up to 25 mph, and they can fly up to 55 mph. Hens will lay a clutch of 10 to 12 eggs during a two-week period, usually laying one egg per day. She will incubate her eggs for about 28 days. Wild turkeys like open areas for feeding, mating and habitat. A varied habitat of both open and covered area is essential for wild turkey survival. Lack of quality habitat was a problem in the past, but with the passing of the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937, an excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition, wildlife restoration programs now have money to use to restore wild turkeys and wild turkey habitat.From only 30,000 turkeys in the early 1900s to nearly 7 million today, this intriguing species has truly made an awesome comeback.
return to top . |
|
Wild Turkey
|
|
Northern Flicker
|
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
The Northern flicker uses its incredibly long tongue to grab ants. Ants represent a large portion of their diet. They also eat other insect as well as seeds, nuts, and small fruits. Woodpeckers can be quite helpful in reducing insect pest populations. It excavates very large nest cavities that in latter seasons are used by larger cavity nesting birds.The Northern Flicker especially likes wooded areas. At the nursery they can be seen feeding on Oaks. They also like conifers of all kinds. Woodpeckers require dead snags as well as dead branches. If you want to attract woodpeckers to your garden do not remove this dead wood. The Northern flicker excavates its on nest cavity. In later years these cavities are used by larger secondary cavity nesters like the American Kestrel.
return to top |
|
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stellere
Steller's Jay prefers dense coniferous forest areas in California.The Steller's jay eats almost everything. Theses things include seeds, acorns, fruits, insects, carrion, bird eggs, young birds, and of course camp scraps.The Steller's jay usually nests in a conifer. They are very secretive nesters. Usually they are quite a loud bird but they are silent around their nests.
return to top
|
St |
Steller Jay
|
|
Western Scrub Jay
|
Western Scrub Jay
Aphelocoma californica
Jay's are the sentinels of the forest.They shriek loudly to announce your entry into the forest. The western scrub jay is an omnivorous bird eating most anything. Its most notorious cuisine consists of other bird eggs and baby birds. They also eat acorns, seeds, fruits and nuts. They like to store acorns in the soil, not a very long term storage site. Many of these acorns are forgotten and later germinate. They love dog food and cat food. They can be quite obnoxious.The western scrub jay is found in most of California.
return to top
|
|
Egret
(Egretta thula)
In the latter part of the 19th century and into the early twentieth, snowy egret plumes were very popular on hats. The result was that these birds were hunted until they were nearly extinct. Their main foods are fish, crabs, amphibians, and insects. Egrets breed once a year, and females lay three to five greenish blue eggs that hatch in three to four weeks. Their platform-like nests are built primarily of twigs and are located in trees (about seven feet, more or less, above the ground) or even on the ground.
return to top
|
|
Egret
|
|
Great Horned Owl
|
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus L 22" (56cm)
The great horned owl is one of the most widespread and abundant owls in the world. It is easily recognized by its massive size, ear tufts, and white throat. Its primary needs are large trees and old crow and hawk nests. It is a perch and drop hunter that favors wood edges where it can watch for medium-sized mammals such as rabbits. It is one of the earliest nesters, laying eggs in January over much of its range.
return to top
|
|
Barn Owl
Tyto Alba L 16" WS 42" WT 1 lb (460 g)
Barn owls are medium-sized birds that hunt over grassy fields and marshes and are most likely to be seen at dusk, when field marks begin to fade. These owls are most frequently seen in flight and in fading light. The key to the barn owl is the overall pale and uniform color of most birds. Except for the snowy, the barn owl is the palest of the North American owls. Many, including females and some young birds, appear almost pure white below when they are in flight.
return to top
|
Ba |
Barn Owl
|
|
American Kestrel
or Sparrow Hawk
|
American Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk
alco sparverius L 10 ½" (27cm)
The small size and mostly reddish back make the American Kestrel one of most easily recognized falcons. There favorite prey—most often large insects and small birds and mammals. Crickets are a favorite food in summer. They favor open, weedy areas and wood edges. They are limited mostly by the need for larger cavities for nesting, especially old woodpecker holes Although they have been declining in some parts of the range, especially the northeast, they are doing better in recent years, probably because of the increasing popularity of nest box programs.
return to top
|
|
White-tailed Kites
Elanus leucurus
Once ranged from Georgia to Florida, across the southern United States and northern Mexico, to California and Oregon. The population was decimated during the 1800s and early 1900s. The medium sized raptor was shot as an another "chicken hawk" and for sport. In the 1920s only a remnant population of approximately 70 pairs remained, and these were in an isolated area of central California. Protection by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, education, changes in farming practices, and introduction of the house mouse were all likely factors to the recovery of this species.
White-tailed kite egg laying begins in late February and may continue until late May. This species is known to double-clutch, or lay a second clutch of eggs after the chicks from the first set have fledged. The favored nesting trees are California sycamore, California live oak, and willow.
return to top
|
|
White-tailed Kite
|
|
Red-tailed Hawk
|
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis (length: 18 - 25 inches Wingspan: 48 inches)
Red-tailed Hawks are most often seen soaring high above the ground, looking for food. They are very difficult to identify unless they come closer to the earth. This raptor grows up to 25 inches long and can weigh up to four pounds (heavy for a bird; remember, they have hollow bones!). Its wingspan can reach four feet. Red-tailed Hawks are large, stocky birds. They are brown with a white breast and a rust-colored tail. If you can get close enough, the tail is the best way to identify them. Young Red-tailed Hawks are more dull in color, have more streaks, and are missing the red in their tails. Red-tailed Hawks live in forests near open country. Nests are usually built near the edge of a stream, lake, or field.
return to top
|
|
Common Raven
Corvus corax Size - 56 - 67 cm (22.5 - 26.75 in)
Distinguishing Features - Completely black with purplish or violet reflections, most pronounced on back wings and tail. Male and female indistinguishable but female is slightly smaller. Widespread; prefers wide open spaces for foraging and woodlots for nesting; anywhere with an easily accessed supply of food. Built-up rural areas, roadsides and fields are their favourite habitat, as are garbage dumps. Generally in cavities of trees; sometimes on cliff ledges. The large nest is made of twigs, lined with any number of available soft materials, such as grass, moss, leaves or hair. Eggs, 3 - 4; greenish, spotted randomly with brown blotches.
return to top
|
|
Common Raven
|
|
Red-breasted
Sapsucker
|
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus ruber
The Red-breasted sapsucker moves south and down hill in winter in search of better food sources and warmer climates.The Red -breasted sap suckers prefers to drill sap wells in riparian species such as those in the willow and birch families. When the trunk gets sunburned it begins to bleed sap. The sapsuckers comes to eat sap and insects and peck more holes eventually girdling the trees.The Red-breasted sapsucker is a resident in northern California during the winter many birds will move south all the away into southern California. Sapsuckers peck holes into trees to produce sap wells. They eat this nutritious syrup as well as the insects that are attracted to it. The Red-breasted sapsucker also eats the cambium of the tree. Like many woodpeckers, the Red-breasted sapsucker loves ants. The Red-breasted sapsucker prefers to nest in coniferous or riparian habitats bordering moist open areas such as meadow and streams.
return to top
|
|
|
xx |
|
|
Birds
