10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

So, I was very excited when I heard that Rick Wright was writing a book about sparrows, the first treatment of North American sparrows since 2001, possibly the first book about sparrows of North America, depending on your definition of that geographic area. They’re all birds of North America! Mexico border.

North America 158

North America Sparrows America United States 158

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

It’s a masterful example of how scientific illustration can inform and be enjoyable to look at, and I’d love to have these plates in mini card form to carry around with me when I visit California. The spectrograms are much easier to read in this volume, larger and darker. ” A fantastic idea!

Los Angeles 191

Los Angeles North America Species America 191

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2015

Here are some things I’ve learned from the Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean by Scott Weidensaul: The Burrowing Owl is the only North American owl species where the male is larger than the female, albeit, only slightly larger. And the term is ‘non-reversed size dimorphism.’).

North America 233

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 233

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2016

I spent some time with fellow Audubon members on the Northern California coast last weekend where we were treated with some great views of a first winter Mew Gull ( Larus canus ), commonly known as the Common Gull in Eurasia. If I make it up to the Canadian coast or Alaska I will most likely find a breeding adult to photograph.

California 175

California North America Alaska Breeding 175

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

Heermann’s Gulls form large breeding colonies on arid islands in the Gulf of California, Mexico, from March through July. The largest colony exists on Isla Raza, where an estimated 90–95% of the total world population breeds 1. This photo by Basar from Wikipedia Commons shows the adult in breeding plumage. v=FUBX_tlHySc.

San Francisco 159

San Francisco North America Seals Sanctuary 159

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2013

But he does live in the States, and America does have albatrosses, and they can be easily seen in California, which is not only in the States but is actually a place I’m fairly sure he visits. The important thing is that I get to see albatrosses and he doesn’t.

Albatross 157

Albatross Hawaii North America California 157

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 22, 2014

This past weekend I took a trip to the small town of Portola in Plumas county for a Northern California Audubon Council meeting hosted by Plumas Audubon Society. They are listed as a Species of Special Concern in Utah, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, and as Threatened in California. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

Nevada 160

Nevada North America Utah Oregon 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

elegans ) are the largest rails in the Americas. Their taxonomic status long has been unclear due to their overall similarity and the fact that in eastern North America and Cuba, they hybridize. King Rails occur widely in eastern North America, in eastern and central Mexico, and in Cuba. Clapper Rail of the grayish U.S.

Species 230

Species North America Cuba Louisiana 230

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2013

The Pygmy Nuthatch ( Sitta pygmaea ) is a non-migratory bird that lives primarily in Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pine forests in western North America. These Pygmy Nuthatches were seen in June nesting in a pine tree at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northern California. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

North America 166

North America America Collecting California 166

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

Now you know why the most numerous and widespread of the two swan species in North America used to be known as the Whistling Swan.

California 110

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 110

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

The Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) is North America’s smallest swallow. These birds have lost more than half their global population, and the 33 species combined have lost hundreds of millions of breeding individuals in just the past 40 years. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

North America 191

North America 2014 California Birds 191

10,000 Birds

JUNE 18, 2013

When you think of southern California in June there are a variety of things that could come to mind. My arrival in southern California didn’t happen until 14 June but the bird had stuck around and was reported daily on the local birding listservs. Not bad for southern California in June!

Los Angeles 157

Los Angeles San Diego Alaska North America 157

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2013

The Cascade Range, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, extends from Northern California to Southern British Columbia. Undoubtedly one of the most interesting aspects of Burney Falls for birders is that it is one of the few locations in California where nesting Black Swifts ( Cypseloides niger ) can be found.

California 221

California North America Costa Rica Niger 221

10,000 Birds

APRIL 27, 2011

According to Birds of North America Online , the Great-tailed Grackle’s ( Quiscalus mexicanus ) breeding range has been expanding northward for several years. I must say that I agree with their assessment because we have been seeing more of them in northern California every year.

California 190

California North America Breeding America 190

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2013

The Godwit Days Spring Migration Bird Festival in Arcata and Eureka on the north coast of California was fabulous! The Surfbird outside of the breeding season can be found along almost the entire Pacific Coast of the Americas, from southeastern Alaska all the way to Tierra del Fuego in southern Chile.

Alaska 173

Alaska Chile 2013 Breeding 173

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Like many warblers the Nashville Warbler breeds in North America and winters in Mexico. I feel rather fortunate having this visitor to my yard as Birds of North America Online states that they are an “uncommon fall migrant in California” usually in August and September.

Nashville 191

Nashville North America Jordan Mississippi 191

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

The Mourning Dove ( Zenaida macroura) is among the most abundant and widespread terrestrial birds endemic to North and Middle America. Even though the female lays only two eggs per nest attempt, they enjoy a protracted breeding season in which multiple nesting attempts can occur every 30 days, and in Southern locations, nearly year round.

Hunters 181

Hunters Hunting North America Game 181

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2015

The Blue-winged Teal ( Anas discors ) is not that common in California except along the coast, so I was pretty excited to discover several pair and a few non-paired individuals of the species at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge on the day I had reserved photo blind #2. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

Sacramento 152

Sacramento Wildlife North America Ducks 152

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2013

The entire Golden-crowned Sparrow population migrates within North America between winter and summer ranges… arriving in California in September and October, often foraging with White-crowned Sparrows. Resources: 1 Birds of North America Online.

Sparrows 162

Sparrows Alabama North America New Jersey 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2012

Cliff Swallows migrate to North America from their wintering grounds in South America to nest in large colonies, sometimes numbering in the thousands. In addition to their homing tendency, breeding swallows are attracted to old nests. Completed nests during this breeding season cannot be touched without a permit from the U.S.

San Diego 165

San Diego illegal California South America 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2015

I doubt we have to worry about Herring Gulls , Ruby-throated Hummingbirds or California Towhees going extinct, though their abundance and distribution will surely shift in time. Here’s a peek at what our avifauna, here in North America, may be in for… Yes, I am aware this isn’t a bird…but hear me out.

North America 227

North America Birds San Francisco Suffering 227

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2011

We are fortunate in Northern California to have four lakes that support 76% of the total number of nesting grebes in California 1. Eagle Lake, Lake Almanor and Clear Lake have all been identified as Audubon California Important Bird Areas (IBA), meaning that they provide essential habitat for breeding, wintering, and migrating birds.

California 231

California Eagles North America Breeding 231

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2016

I live at 1600 foot (488 meter) elevation in Oak Savannah/ Gray Pine habitat in Northern California. According to the range maps this bird is a breeding resident of the West in montane conifer or mixed-species forest dominated by pines and oaks at 1,600–2,700 meter elevation 1. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

California 100

California North America America Breeding 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2014

Across the world’s northern oceans, 24 species of auklets, murres, puffins, guillemots, and related seabirds make a living catching food beneath the waves and breeding, often in large colonies, on coastlines and islands. Alcids are thought to have originated along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean during the Eocene or even the Paleocene.

Penguins 233

Penguins Puffins 2008 Sharks 233

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2012

They may also breed outside their normal breeding range following major winter irruptions 1. A small flock arrived in mid-March not quite in full breeding plumage. The grosbeaks were gone for a couple of months and returned at the end of May in full breeding plumage. References: 1 Birds of North America Online a.

Jordan 173

Jordan North America Breeding Birds 173

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

This photos, however, is from southern California. Up north, Black-chinned and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are model citizens; their almost-identical females do their civic duty by breeding on different sides of North America. Our more common Eastern Bluebird … …but occasionally, they may be Western.

Mexico 143

Mexico United States North America Ethics 143

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

Colusa National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in California’s Central Valley. v=HYPyMs3_v88 During autumn migration, hundreds of thousands of Greater White-fronted Geese travel the Pacific Flyway to Washington and Oregon, some travelling directly to the Central Valley of California.

Geese 171

Geese Wildlife Sacramento South Dakota 171

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2011

I spent this past weekend at the coast, travelling to Arcata for a Northern California Audubon Council meeting hosted by the Redwood Region Audubon Society. They leave their breeding grounds in early summer to move down the coast, some travelling as far south as the Gulf of California.

Sanctuary 210

Sanctuary North America Breeders Alaska 210

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

Every autumn, tens of thousands of Snow Geese arrive in California’s Sacramento Valley following their long journey from the Canadian Arctic (click on photos for full sized images). The Ross’s Goose is the smallest variety of the white geese that breed in North America.

Geese 154

Geese South Dakota Sacramento Arkansas 154

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2012

Here in Northern California I am fortunate to have at least three of the western hummingbirds of North America visiting my yard. She will begin breeding in April. The male is the only hummingbird in North America with a rufous back. She is the latest of our local breeders, not nesting usually until mid-May.

North America 221

North America Breeders America Breeding 221

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

I’m focusing on Turkey Vultures here because they are undoubtedly the species most birders in North America (the home of 10kB) are most familiar with, but the name vulture applies to birds found around the globe. The California Condor has a story well-known by anyone with an interest in birds. Here’s the kicker though.

California Condor 190

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 190

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

It actually makes a lot of sense, the geographic features of the isthmus between North America (including Mexico, because Mexico is part of North America) and South America cut across political lines, as do birds. It is the first bird field guide to every country of Central America (plus the islands governed by those countries).

America 214

America El Salvador Costa Rica Honduras 214

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

“Out West” to most Floridians might mean California or Arizona or might even refer to the Gulf Coast of Florida. I’m out guiding a lovely couple from California. Nearly every species of heron and egret in North America forage only feet away, some of them in their dazzling breeding displays.

North America 233

North America Factory Alligators Trafficking 233

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2012

The Green-winged Teal ( Anas crecca carolinensis ) is North America’s smallest dabbling duck and taken by hunters second only to the Mallard. Luckily for them, even though they nest on the ground, they usually breed far from human habitation, under heavy vegetative cover. Click on photos for full sized images.

Ducks 175

Ducks North America Hunters California 175

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2011

With an 8 to 9 1/2 foot wingspan and weighing in at up to 30 pounds, it rivals the California Condor for size and weight. They occur mainly in western and southern portions of North America, breeding inland in colonies on remote islands and wintering along warm southern coasts 1. During the day prey is probably located by sight.

Pelicans 165

Pelicans Fish California Condor North America 165

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2019

such as California Condors and Passenger Pigeons. His parents moved where opportunity beckoned, taking him from San Angelo, Texas, to Columbus, New Mexico, then to Dallas, and finally on to California. Author Sherrida Woodley thinks deeply about dearly departed birds. She’s already written about Rachel Carson: Secret Birder.

Falcons 191

Falcons California Condor Alaska Texas 191

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

I found these beauties at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, one of the many locations the Black-necked Stilt breeds in the California Central Valley (map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds ). References: 1 Birds of North America Online a.

South Dakota 194

South Dakota Jordan Sacramento North America 194