10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

Sixteen species that have been recorded in the United States are covered: six Myiarchus flycatchers and ten Kingbird ( Tyrannus ) flycatchers. As with the first volume, I was surprised to see the inclusion of a species that has only been seen in the U.S. Introductory Material Sixteen species, 190 pages.

Los Angeles 185

Los Angeles North America Species America 185

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2024

Osborn, a passionate field biologist who participates to the core of her being three re-introduction projects aimed at saving three very different, endangered species: Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Crow (‘Alala)*, and California Condor. This is the most intense, tragic section.

California Condor 185

California Condor Falcons California Birds 185

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

I didn’t know what species of woodpecker it was, but I knew it was just in the clearing on the other side of the road. Black-backed Woodpeckers are non-migratory, although there have been documented intermittent irruptions of the species outside their normal range. Point Reyes Station, California. Siegel and, D.

Woodpeckers 172

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 172

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2022

Invariably, when we get to Wood Duck ( Aix sponsa ) – a species rarely seen in winter here in eastern Upstate New York – someone will smirk and ask, “Do wooden ducks count?” “Summer or Wood Duck” from The Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851).

2018 226

2018 Ducks France New York 226

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. The 39 owls include five endemic Caribbean species.

North America 229

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 229

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Simply put, wilderness areas are the most protected public lands in America. At more than 15 million acres, California is the only other state with more than 5 million acres of wilderness. But the true reward will be some of America’s most remote, spectacular, and pristine natural areas. The longer answer is below.

Puerto Rico 262

Puerto Rico Alaska Protection Research 262

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

American White Pelicans spend their winter months along the Gulf states, California, parts of Arizona, and Mexico down into Central America. No matter how many times I see them, this particular species remains breathtaking. I’m talking, of course, about “my” flock of American White Pelicans.

Pelicans 237

Pelicans United States Canada Arizona 237

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2020

Guiding aside, Howell is a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences and the author of many books, including Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America (Princeton). We have tended to a liberal (= realistic) direction when recognising species.” Well, this is one interesting claim.

Chile 207

Chile Birds South America North America 207

10,000 Birds

JULY 31, 2019

The Yellowthroat group is an odd collection of bird species. The one migratory species, aptly named the Common Yellowthroat , can be seen almost anywhere in North America. Another one, the Masked Yellowthroat , can be found in five unconnected resident territories over much of South America. See the difference?

Mexico 197

Mexico Bahamas South America Panama 197

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

The Spotted Towhee ( Pipilo maculatus ) is probably the most common of the five western Towhees of North America. Here is another look at the Spotted Towhee and a short video I found containing all the songs and calls of this Western species. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuL885n0z8Y. v=NuL885n0z8Y. v=NuL885n0z8Y.

Chipmunks 167

Chipmunks North America California Sparrows 167

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

White-tailed Kite in action- a classic airport species in Costa Rica. Turf farms in wooded regions are wide open oases for grasspipers and other species adapted to natural lawns. These are the three main species that urge us to scan a grassy field with puddles in September and October. Odd habitats attract odd birds.

Costa Rica 162

Costa Rica Ecuador North America Peru 162

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. That is where I found this group of nearly 100 Tundra Swans northeast of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge as they flew in to the flooded agricultural fields.

California 108

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 108

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. Click on photos for full sized images. A few Heermann’s Gulls flew in later.

California 175

California North America Alaska Breeding 175

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. I was lucky to work with the species on Tern Island in French Frigate Shoals.

Albatross 157

Albatross Hawaii North America California 157

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2016

Of the four species of gnatcatchers found in North America, two are regularly seen here on the Baja California Sur, and the other two make the rare occasional visit. The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is with out doubt the most widely found of the species, but the California Gnatcatcher is the most recognized.

California 100

California North America Species Research 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

The Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) is North America’s smallest swallow. The report identifies 33 species that do not meet the Watch List criteria but are declining rapidly in many areas. The main reason for this rapid decline, as in the case of most species, is loss of habitat. Click on photos for full sized images.

North America 189

North America 2014 California Birds 189

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2021

There was a time when I thought each bird species had its own individual song. Then I found out that there was this vocalization called a ‘call,’ so I thought each bird species had its own individual song (but just the males) and individual call. There’s more than one song per warbler?

North America 279

North America Research Birds Groups 279

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. With the breeding colony concentrated on one small island this species is vulnerable to a catastrophic weather event. References: 1 Birds of North America Online , 2 BirdLife International. v=FUBX_tlHySc.

San Francisco 159

San Francisco North America Seals Sanctuary 159

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

MAY 8, 2013

The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. In any case, our hang-ups with vultures clearly stem from our own issues rather than any inherently bizarre trait of the species themselves. Vultures famously feed on carrion. Dead things. Here’s the kicker though.

California Condor 186

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 186

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 216

California North America Costa Rica Niger 216

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. That said, there are many species we should be extremely concerned about. The Pika’s story is shared with a number of montane bird species.

North America 222

North America Birds Suffering San Francisco 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

Between our many residents and migratory species, birding in central Mexico is a joy. This photos, however, is from southern California. I find the concept of a “leg man” offensive, but when it comes to these two species, their legs are the only practical way to distinguish them (dark for the Western, yellow for the Least).

Mexico 141

Mexico United States North America Ethics 141

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2019

I am originally from California, so it is easy for me to deal with a geography defined by a low coastal mountain range, a central valley, and a much higher inland range (in California, the Sierra Nevada). As a birder, I was eager to find the quickest ways to reach these species from my home.

Mexico 114

Mexico Birds Nevada Sparrows 114

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

For most avian migrants heading south towards Mexico, Central and South America, crossing thru the Arizona desert areas can provide very few water, food and resting areas. Certainly what I would consider to be an under birded area, eBird.com lists 232 species on 397 total check lists. One raft along had over 380 birds in it.

Mexico 134

Mexico Tucson Arizona Ducks 134

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

The survey was commissioned by National Flyway Council (NFC), which implements the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), which, in turn, aims to maintain abundant waterfowl populations in North America. Thus, birders like natural areas close to home with rare species, and perhaps some ducks. This is not a surprising result.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

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

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 15, 2020

Plus a few truly difficult species. Sure, it is an introduced species in Germany. I do not have a life list for those birds I saw in my youth, 45 years ago, in California. So seeing this beautiful (though common) European species was a special treat. Mandarin Ducks, Munich, Germany. But they were still Mandarin Ducks!

Austria 150

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 150

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2019

A pair of Great Horned Owls ( Bubo virginianus ) painted by John James Audubon for The Birds of America. Para Maria de los Tecolates is a California red wine blend from Stolpman Vineyards of Santa Barbara County, released every year since 2014.

2017 139

2017 Owls Game California 139

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. Their habitats vary widely in both rural and urban landscapes; open habitats are preferred and the species generally shuns only extensively forested areas and wetlands 1.

Hunters 178

Hunters Hunting North America Game 178

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2017

” In North America it is more often called chasing, though the British usage is starting to catch on there, especially among younger birders 1. A very rare find in Northern California. For the past several years I have been taking advantage of our many National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) here in Northern California.

California 100

California North America Wildlife Campaign 100

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. Be patient as it loads, it’s worth a listen.

California 186

California North America Breeding America 186

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. All alcid species alive today can fly, but with difficulty. See Cairns et al.

Penguins 228

Penguins Puffins 2008 Sharks 228

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 156

Los Angeles San Diego Alaska North America 156

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Cinnamon Teal ( Anas cyanoptera ) pair by Larry Jordan (click on photos for full sized images) Winter is the time to visit the National Wildlife Refuges in California. ” The Cinnamon Teal ( Anas cyanoptera ) is one of the least abundant dabbling ducks in North America. References: 1 Birds of North America Online , 2 U.S.

Sacramento 174

Sacramento Wildlife United States North America 174

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 151

Sacramento Wildlife North America Ducks 151