1

California Native Birds

DeAnzaCollegeBiology6C:EcologyandEvolu7on

BruceHeyer

RedTailedHawk(ButeoJamaicensis)Accipitridae(hawks)

•  Broad,roundedwingsandashort,widetail.

•  Thetailisusuallypalebelowandcinnamon‐redabove

•  Fliesinwidecircleshighaboveground.

•  Brownabove,andpaleunderbelly

•  Habitat:Inopencountry,perchonfences,poles,trees,etc.

2

TurkeyVultureCathartesaura

Cathar7dae(vultures)•  Largedarkbirds,haveafeatherlessredheadand

palebill.Darkfeathers(brown,lookblackfromfather).Havepaleundersideoffeathers(“two‐tone”appearance)

•  Commonlyfoundinopenareas.•  Veryfewwingbeats,characteris7csoaring.

CaliforniaQuailCallipeplacalifornicaPhasianidae(partridges)•  Plump,short‐neckedgamebirdswitha

smallheadandbill.Theyflyonshort,verybroadwings.Bothsexeshaveacomma‐shapedtopknotoffeathersprojec7ngforwardfromtheforehead.

•  Adultmalesarerichgrayandbrown,withablackfaceoutlinedwithboldwhitestripes.Femalesareaplainerbrownandlackthefacialmarkings.BothsexeshaveapaVernofwhite,creamy,andchestnutscalesonthebelly.

•  Liveinscrublandsanddesertareas.

•  Dietconsistsofseeds,somevegeta7on,andinsects

3

MourningDoveZenaidamacrouraColumbidae(doves)

•  Plumpbodies,smallbillandshortlegs.Pointedtail.Usuallygreyish‐tanwithblackspotsonwings.White7pstotailfeathers.

•  Beatwingsrapidly,andpowerfully.•  Foundeverywhere.•  Usuallyfeedsonseeds.

RockDove(Pigeon)Columbalivia

Columbidae(doves)•  Largerthanmourningdoves,largebodies,

smallheadsandfeet.Wide,roundedtailsandpointedwings.

•  Generallyblue‐gray,withiridescentthroatfeathers,brightfeet.Tailusuallyhasdark7ps

•  Prevalentintowns,alsofeedsonseeds.

4

AmericanCrowCorvusbrachyrhynchosCorvidae(crows&jays)

•  Large,straightbill.Haslonglegsandashorttail,withroundedorsquarededge.

•  Allblackfeathers,o^englossy.•  Highlyadaptableandliveeverywhere—naturaland

humanhabitats.•  Eatawidearrayoffood—seeds,nuts,insects,small

animalsandfish.Alsoeatsgarbage.

CommonRavenCorvuscorax

Corvidae(crows&jays)•  Massivebird,withthickneck,shaggyneck

feathers,veryprominentbeak.Longer,narrowerwingsthancrow,andmoreslender“fingers”andwing7ps.

•  En7relyblack.•  Generallyfoundinthemountains,where

ithasanomnivorediet.

5

CaliforniaScrubJayAphelocomacalifornicaCorvidae(crows&jays)

•  Longfloppytail,hunchedoverposture,blueandgrayabove,andpaleunderside.Lookdark.Bluestriponneck.Darkbill.

•  Generallyfoundinshrubsandscrubs.•  Generallyhasanomnivorediet.

Steller’sJayCyanoci9astelleriCorvidae(crows&jays)•  Largehead,withfeathersinapointed

forma7on,roundedwings,longtail,andchunkybody.Songbirds.

•  Theyhaveblackhead,andbluebodies,lackapaleunderbelly.

•  Generallylivesinforests,intrees,andfollowsanomnivorediet.

6

California(Brown)TowheePipilocrissalisFringillidae(finches&sparrows)•  Hasshortroundedwings,longtail,

andthickseed‐crackingbeak.•  Uniformbrown,apatchofno7ceably

warmerbrownunderthetail.•  Generallyfoundinscrubsandbushes.•  Feedsonseed

•  Roundedhead,shortsturdybill,longtail(alargerversionofasparrow).

•  Generallydarkgreyorbrown,whiteoutertailfeathers,apinkishbill.

•  Generallyfoundinconiferousforests.

•  Generallyfeedonseedsandinsects.

Dark‐EyedJuncoJuncohyemalisFringillidae(finches&sparrows)

7

HouseFinchCarpodacusmexicanus

Fringillidae(finches&sparrows)•  Rela7velyflatheads,largebeaks,andsmallbodies.Theyhavelongtails,andshort

wings.•  Malesareredcoloredaroundthefaceandupperchest,withbrownstreaksonback,

bellyandtails.Femalesaregreyish‐brownallover.•  Foundeverywhere—humanhabitats,naturalhabitats,etc.Feedonseeds,budsand

fruits.

SongSparrowMelospizamelodiaFringillidae(finches&sparrows)•  Mediumsideandfairlybulky,roundedhead,

andshort,sturdybeak.Broadwings,andlongroundedtail.

•  Havethickbrownstreaksalloverbody.Streaksvarywithloca7on.

•  Preferopennaturalhabitats.•  Mainlyeatseedsandfruit,andsomeinsects.

8

•  Smallbillandlongtail.Brownstreaksonbody.Lookslikeatypicalsparrow.

•  Blackandwhitestripsonthecrown.Palepinkoryellowbill.

White‐CrownedSparrowZonotrichialeucophrysFringillidae(finches&sparrows)

BarnSwallowHirundorus?caHirundinidae(swallows)•  Steelyblueback,wings,andtail,andrufous

totawnyunderpartsandacinnamon‐coloredthroat.

•  longouterfeathersgivethetailadeepfork.

•  Theyrarelyglide,preferringtoexecutequick,7ghtturnsanddives.

•  Feedonflyinginsects,prefersopenhabitats.

9

CliffSwallowPetrochelidonpyrrhonotaHirundinidae(swallows)

•  Small,long‐wingedstockysongbird.Chubbierthanthebarnswallow.

•  Long,pointedwingsandasquaretail.Hasasmallbill

•  Dark‐coloredthroatandapalerump

•  Liveinopenareasandcliffs.•  Feedonflyinginsects.

Violet‐greenSwallowTachycinetathalassina

Hirundinidae(swallows)

•  Eatflyinginsects

•  Small,slendersongbirdwithasmallbillandlongwings.

•  Faceandundersideofbodyiswhite,andhasashinygreenishbronzeback.•  Adultmalehasamul7coloreduppersidewithaniridescentemeraldgreenback,

some7meswithvioletglossontheuppertailcoverts.Femalesaredrabcolored.

•  TheyliveinOpenorbrokendeciduous,coniferous,andmixedwoodlands.Likestreesinopenareas.

10

Brewer’sBlackbirdEuphaguscyanocephalusIcteridae(blackbirds)

•  Smallbirdwithafairlylongtail,roundhead,andlong,thick‐basedbeak.Haslonglegs.

•  Malesareglossyblackalloverwithastaringyelloweyeandabluesheenontheheadgradingtogreenishiridescenceonthebody.

•  Femalesareplainerbrown,darkestonthewingsandtail,withadarkeye

•  Liveinopenhabitsandfeedonseeds,grains,andinsects.

Red‐WingedBlackbirdAgelaiusphoeniceusIcteridae(blackbirds)

•  Eatinsects,seeds,corn,andwheat•  Theyarefoundinmanyvarie7esoffieldsandmarshes•  Slender,conicalbillandamedium‐lengthtail.•  They'recoloringisanevenglossyblackwithred‐and‐yellowshoulderbadges.•  Femalesarecrisplystreakedanddarkbrownishoverall,paleronthebreastand

o^enshowawhi7sheyebrow.

11

WesternMeadowlarkSturnellaneglecta

Icteridae(blackbirds)

•  Flathead,long,slenderbill,andaround‐shoulderedposturethatnearlyconcealsitsneck.Thewingsareroundedandshortforthebird’ssizeandthetailisshort,s7ff,andspiky.

•  YellowundersidewithintricatelypaVernedbrown,blackandbuffupperparts.Ablack“V”crossesthebrightyellowbreast;itisgrayinwinter.Contras7ngstripesofdarkbrownandlightbuffmarkthehead.

•  Liketoliveinopengrasslands,meadows,prairies,andsomeagriculturalfields

•  Eatbothgrainandweedseedsalongwithinsects

NorthernMockingbirdMimuspolyglo9osMimidae(mockingbirds)

•  Havesmallheads,along,thinbillwithahintofadownwardcurve,andlonglegs.Theirwingsareshort,rounded,andbroad,makingthetailseempar7cularlylonginflight.

•  Haveanoverallgray‐brown,paleronthebreastandbelly,withtwowhitewingbarsoneachwing.Awhitepatchineachwingiso^envisibleonperchedbirds.

•  It’shabitatrangesfromtowns,suburbs,backyards,parks,forestedges,andopenland

•  Theyeatinsectsandfruit.

12

BushNtPsaltriparusminimus

Paridae(chickadees&7ts)

•  Verysmallbird.

•  Longtailandshortwings.

•  Plaingray‐brownwithoutmarkings

•  Foundinmountains,woodlands,andsuburbanareas

•  Eatssmallinsectsandspiders

Chestnut‐BackedChickadeeParusrufescensParidae(chickadees&7ts)

•  Boldlyblackandwhiteonthehead,withabackcoloredarichchestnutTheflankscanbeeitherrichbrown(northofSanFrancisco)ordullgray(centralandsouthernCalifornia).

•  Eatmainlyinsectsbutalsofeedonseeds,berries,andfruitpulp.

•  Liveinforeststhatlinethecoast

•  Tiny,large‐headedbutsmall‐billed,witharatherlong,narrowtailandshort,roundedwings.

13

Oak(Plain)TitmouseParusinornatus

Paridae(chickadees&7ts)

•  Small,drab,graybirdwithsmalltu^onhead.

•  Livesinwarm,dryoakandoak‐pinewoodlandsatlowtomid‐eleva7ons.

•  Eatsseedsandterrestrialinvertebrates.

House(English)SparrowPasserdomes?cus

Passeridae(Eurasiansparrows)•  HouseSparrowsare

chunkier,fullerinthechest,withalarger,roundedhead,shortertail,andstouterbillthanmostAmericansparrows.

•  Liveinci7es,towns,etc.,usuallyinplacesnearpeople.

•  Eatgrains,seeds,andinsectsbesidesscrapsofhumanfood.

•  Theirbacksareno7ceablystripedwithbuff,black,andbrown.

•  Maleshavegrayheads,whitecheeks,ablackbib,andrufousneck

•  Femalesareaplainbuffy‐brownoverallwithdingygray‐brownunderparts.

14

AcornWoodpeckerMelanerpesformicivorusPicidae(woodpeckers)

•  Medium‐sizedwoodpecker.

•  Hasasolidblackbackandchest,andit’sheadisblack,white,andred.

•  Theredcrownonmalescoversthenapeofitsnecktoitsforehead.

•  Femalesonlyhaveredonthebackoftheircrown,andhaveablackandwhiteforehead.

•  Preferredhabitatisoakandpine‐oakforests

•  Eatsinsects,acorns,saps,andfruit.

NuPall’sWoodpeckerDendrocoposnu9alliPicidae(woodpeckers)

•  Black‐and‐whitebarredback,withunbarredblackregionattopofback.Asmallsizedwoodpecker.

•  Foundprimarilyinoakwoodlandsandinriparianwoods.Feedsoninsectsandsomefruit

•  Malewithforeheadblack,streakedwithwhiteoncenterofcrown,redonrearcrownanduppernape.

•  Femalewithforehead,crown,andnapeblackwithsomewhitestreaking.Nored.

15

AmericanRobinTurdusmigratoriusTurdidae(thrushes)

•  Comparedwithmales,femaleshavepalerheadsthatcontrastlesswiththegrayback.

•  Robinsexistalloverthecon7nent,butmainlyinopenwoodlandareas•  Theirdietconsistsofinsectsandfruit.

•  Fairlylargesongbirdswithalarge,roundbody,longlegs,andfairlylongtail.

•  Theyaregray‐brownbirdswithwarmorangeundersidesanddarkheads.

WesternBluebirdSialiamexicana

Turdidae(thrushes)

•  Medium‐sizedsongbirdwithalarge,roundhead.

•  Itswingsandtailblueisacobaltblueandithasadarkredchest.Italsohassomedarkredonitsback.

•  Femalestendtohavemoreofagraycoloringthanblue.

•  Livesinopenconiferousanddeciduousforests

•  Eatsinsects,fruits,andseeds.

16

EuropeanStarlingSturnusvulgarisSturnidae(starlings)

•  Theyhaveshorttailsandlong,slenderbeaks.Inflighttheirwingsareshortandpointed,makingthemlookratherlikesmall,four‐pointedstars(andgivingthemtheirname).

•  Theyarepurplish‐greeniridescentwithyellowbeaks;inwintertheirplumageisbrownandcoveredinbrilliantwhitespots.

•  Liveinareasnearpeople.

•  Theyeatmainlyinvertebratesandinsects.

BlackPhoebeSayornisnigricansTyrannidae(flycatchers)•  Asmall,blacksongbirdwithawhitebelly.

•  Thejuvenileplumageissimilartoadult’s,butbrowner,withtwocinnamonwingbars,cinnamon7pstothefeathersontheupperparts.

•  Foundinopenareasnearwater,alongcliffs,streams,lakes,agriculturalareas,andparks.O^enfoundaroundbuildings.

•  It’sdietconsistsofinsects,somesmallberriesandsmallfish.

17

MallardAnasplatyrhynchosAna7dae(ducks&geese)

•  Males:Brightgreenhead,chestunutbrownbreast,white‐greybody.Greenishyellowbill.

•  Female:Brownishallover(camouflage),yellowororangebill.

•  Generallyfoundinwetlands.

CanadaGooseBrantaCanadensis

Ana7dae(ducks&geese)•  Longneck,large,flatbill,webbedfeet

andlargebodies•  Waterbirds;generallyfoundaround

waterbodies—lakes,ponds,rivers,etc.

•  Blackheadandwhitecheeks,blackneck,brownback,andtanchest.

•  Moveinflocks,ina“V”forma7on.

18

AmericanAvocetRecurvirostraamericanaRecurvirostridae(s7lts)

•  It’salargeshorebirdwithlonglegsandalong,upturnedbill.

•  Ithasawhitestomachandblackback.It’sneckandheadiseitherrustyorgraycolored.

•  Livesinshallow,freshandsaltwaterwetlands.Eatsaqua7cinvertebrates.

Black‐NeckedSNltHimantopusmexicanusRecurvirostridae(s7lts)•  Alargeshorebirdwithverylong,thinred

legs.Hasalong,thin,straightblackbill.•  Hasablackface,hindneck,andback.Its

throatandundersideiswhite.

•  Inhabitswetlandsandshorelines

•  Theyeataqua7cinvertebratesandfish.

19

KilldeerCharadriusvociferusCharadriidae(plovers)

•  Characteris7callylarge,round,head.Shortbillandlargeeyes.Longtail.Brownontop,paleonunderside.

•  Haveblackbandsonchest,andwhitepatchesonhead.Orangerumpobviousinflight.

•  Generallyfoundingrasslands,andfeedsongroundinsects.

GreatBlueHeronArdeaherodiasArdeidae(herons)

•  Descrip7on:largeblue‐greybird,Sshapedneck,longthickbill,whitestriponcrown,yellowbill.

•  Generallyfoundaroundcalmwaters/seacoasts.•  Stabspreywithquickpecksofthebill(generally

inwater)

20

GreatEgretCasmerodiusalbusArdeidae(herons)

•  Largewhitebird,whiteheron.Long,straight,yellowbill.Sshapedneck.Longlackfeetandlegs.

•  Foundinmarshyareas.•  Feedsonwetlandcreatures.Alsokillsprey

withquickstabsofbill.

SnowyEgretEgre9athula

Ardeidae(herons)•  Mediumsizebird,thin,long,

neckandallwhitefeathers.•  Blacklegsandyellowfeet(feet

colorisdifferencebetweengreatandsnowyegrets).

•  Darkbill