10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2014

The Northern Flicker ( Colaptes auratus ) is the third largest woodpecker in North America if you count the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This is a video I shot last weekend during the Christmas Bird Count. But we are seeing them in California. Birds California Intergrade Northern Flicker woodpeckers'

California 172

California North America Woodpeckers America 172

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2011

The California Quail ( Callipepla californica ) is the California state bird, inhabiting scrub, broken chaparral and woodland edges primarily in California, Oregon, Washington and Baja California. At this age, they are also able to make short flights, a highly desirable trait for game birds.

California 231

California Eggs Gophers Rattlesnake 231

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

APRIL 25, 2012

Living in Northern California offers nature lovers many opportunities to view wildlife in there native habitat. Most of the Osprey breeding in North America are migratory, only Florida, the Caribbean and Baja California host non-migratory breeders 1. To see all of our Bird Love Week posts, just click here.

California 211

California North America Sacramento Breeders 211

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2014

More than 99% of the population of Tricolored Blackbirds ( Agelaius tricolor ) live within the state of California and form the largest colonies of any North American passerine bird 1. Therefore the actual numbers of birds killed are grossly underestimated. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

Blackbirds 191

Blackbirds California 2014 2013 191

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2012

The newest bird on the brink to capture her fertile imagination is the California Condor, on which she graciously shares her research and ruminations: Sometimes as a writer you recognize there’s been something overlooked in your midst—something quietly abiding. I enjoyed my time with these birds of earth’s past.

California Condor 218

California Condor California Idaho North America 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2024

a handful of times, only to realize how important it is to have a resource that will help birders differentiate amongst these very similar looking birds. Fork-tailed Flycatcher is a seven-page bird, partly because the account includes a vagrancy chart (another new feature). Introductory Material Sixteen species, 190 pages.

Los Angeles 190

Los Angeles North America Species America 190

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2012

So, you will be reading two reviews of this book in 10,000 Birds. To be fair, Howell has also written about hummingbirds and finding birds in Mexico, which to my mind are a little easier to comprehend. This is the first field identification guide on tubenoses in North America. Here’s Alan’s review. )

North America 159

North America Albatross America Species 159

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2013

The male (seen below) has a black cap and, in Washington, Oregon, California, and Baja California, nearly all males have green backs. References: 1 Birds of North America Online. Birds goldfinches Lesser Goldfinch West Coast' You can hear the intricate call of the Lesser Goldfinch here.

California 169

California Species North America Oregon 169

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. Bird communication is a complex and evolving science.

North America 279

North America Research Birds Groups 279

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

” Note how well camouflaged this bird is atop a snag in its natural habitat of burned coniferous forest. Range map courtesy of South Dakota Birds and Birding. I approached carefully as I listened to the ever growing sound of the drumming, not wanting to flush a bird I had only seen once before. Siegel and, D.

Woodpeckers 174

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 174

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2020

If you want to write a bird guide, you should have guided people yourself. Howell and Fabrice Schmitt: both of them are international bird tour leaders with WINGS. Birds of Chile – A Photo Guide has 240 pages and more than 1,000 photos accompanied by a brief text to make bird ID easy. And that is what recommends Steve N.

Chile 212

Chile Birds South America North America 212

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2018

At the signing ceremony, President Carter stated : We are setting aside for conservation an area of land larger than the State of California. For comparison, Yosemite NP in California is about 760,000 acres. ANILCA lands are not just vast, they are critical for an extraordinary variety of birds. Gates of the Arctic NP (7.5

Alaska 221

Alaska United States Puffins Wildlife 221

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

When it comes to one’s most exciting bird sightings, of course, it all comes down to context. I wouldn’t change my central Mexican endemics for any other region’s birds. So my favorites for 2019 includes a good number of birds that are rather common elsewhere, but were firsts for me. But it still is not easy.

Austria 153

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 153

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2020

The birding world has been debating whether honorific common bird names ( e.g. , Clark’s Nutcracker or Baird’s Sandpiper ) should be changed. This once-niche issue moved into the broader birding world ( including 10,000 Birds ) with a petition to change the name of what was then called the McCown’s Longspur.

Birds 250

Birds Laws 2020 Jordan 250

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

The Bank Swallow ( Riparia riparia ) is North America’s smallest swallow. The recently released 2014 State of the Birds Report lists the Bank Swallow as one of the common birds in steep decline. The bird on the left of the photo is doing the digging. Some of the birds must have already paired up.

North America 191

North America 2014 California Birds 191

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

Birds are supposed to have feathers and birds without feathers look incomplete, like they left home with shaving cream on their ear and toothpaste spots on their shirt. The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. T urkey Vulture, photo by Dawn Puliafico.

California Condor 190

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 190

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2015

So what does climate change mean for birds? Though all birds will be somehow impacted by climate change, I think it is important to note that not all will suffer. Though all birds will be somehow impacted by climate change, I think it is important to note that not all will suffer. Whats in it for birds?

North America 226

North America Birds San Francisco Suffering 226

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

Their taxonomic status long has been unclear due to their overall similarity and the fact that in eastern North America and Cuba, they hybridize. But some recent work by James Maley and others is shedding more light on these secretive and fascinating birds. They are pale, thick-billed birds of mangrove environments.

Species 230

Species North America Cuba Louisiana 230

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2019

With about two-thirds of the United States on the verge of a dangerous heatwave, I’m hesitant to endorse any libation but shockingly cold ice water for our readers in eastern North America this weekend. Our feature this week is a 2017 Chardonnay from Blue Quail Wine of Hopland, California. Blue Quail Chardonnay (2017).

2017 116

2017 California United States North America 116

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2014

The Spotted Towhee ( Pipilo maculatus ) is probably the most common of the five western Towhees of North America. Birds Allen''s Chipmunk California Quail Golden-crowned Sparrow Spotted Towhee Steller''s Jay' Birds Allen''s Chipmunk California Quail Golden-crowned Sparrow Spotted Towhee Steller''s Jay'

Chipmunks 168

Chipmunks North America California Sparrows 168

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

MAY 8, 2013

The Black Oystercatcher ( Haematopus bachmani ) can be found along the Pacific Coast of North America from Alaska to Baja California. I found these two on the North Jetty at Humboldt Bay foraging and relaxing on the rocky outcroppings. Birds Black Oystercatcher oystercatcher West Coast' I hope you did too.

North America 160

North America Alaska California Birds 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2015

They nest on large inland lakes in western North America and migrate to the Pacific coast in winter, however they maintain local populations year-round in California. Here in Northern California, Clear Lake is one of the four lakes that support 76% of the total number of nesting grebes in the state 1. What a great bird!

California 145

California North America Eggs America 145

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. These factors have caused the IUCN to rate this bird as “Near Threatened” 2. You know what one of my favorite things is about bird blogging? Click on photos for full sized images. v=FUBX_tlHySc.

San Francisco 159

San Francisco North America Seals Sanctuary 159

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. These two water management wetlands are amongst the very best birding and photography locations in south Florida. I’m out guiding a lovely couple from California. If not THE best.

North America 233

North America Factory Alligators Trafficking 233

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2023

The second thing to note is that this is an excellent and courageous book that tackles a group of birds whose field identification has stumped the most skilled birders. ” This builds and expands on a classic series of articles by Bret Whitney and Kenn Kaufman that appeared Birding magazine between 1985 and 1987.* known-identity).”**

Los Angeles 225

Los Angeles North America America Species 225

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. Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding. References: 1 North American Birds Online.

California 109

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 109

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

JULY 7, 2020

They looked out their windows and across their patios and up from their apartment terraces and saw–birds. This is a delightful book, large (8-1/2 by 11 inches), filled with Sibley’s distinctive artwork and an organized potpourri of research-based stories about the science behind bird’s lives.

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2020

I Love Birds!: 52 Ways to Wonder, Wander, and Explore Birds with Kids. Her children’s books–which include the charming Mama Build a Little Nest , other picture books, and chapter books–evince an easy familiarity with birds, their science and birding ethics. How many birds do you see?

Los Angeles 264

Los Angeles 2019 Birds 2014 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2021

There is the Varied Thrush , a northern bird that barely reaches northern Baja California in winter. That puts me in some sort of select club, because this is one tough bird to see! But fear not, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America does: “Sits still for prolonged periods.”

Mexico 264

Mexico North America 2017 America 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2022

Odd habitats attract odd birds. Or rather, I should say that out of place habitats attract lost birds. Although Costa Rica is noted for tropical forests and their subsequent wealth of birds and biodiversity, us local birders also have our own, out of the way habitat hotspots. Birds that Would Have Flown Over and Kept on Going.

Costa Rica 162

Costa Rica Ecuador North America Peru 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2013

One of the nice things about living in New Zealand and being the beat writer for that place is that I can pretty much make sure Corey feels jealous of my year list year in year out, regardless of how few birds I have seen and how many he has seen. Even I’ve managed to see them there, and I am a hopeless birder.

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. This bird was perched along a country road where I was able to stop the car and acquire some close-up photos of him or her. References: 1 Birds of North America Online.

Nevada 160

Nevada North America Utah Oregon 160

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2016

As a boy growing up, I scoured every bird book I could get my hands on. I guess it is that gruesome boyhood interest in any bird that would use thorns and barbwire to impale its prey on. Now with several years of exploring the California Baja Sur, I have come to expect to see shrikes on nearly every of my routes and guided trips.

Butcher 120

Butcher Birds North America Mexico 120

10,000 Birds

MAY 23, 2016

The first to publish was New Jersey and since then six more states have come out: Colorado, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Texas and New York. Word is that Arizona is about to be released and Minnesota, North Carolina and other states are in the pipeline. But not everyone wants a field guide that covers the birds of a single state.

North America 108

North America North Carolina New Jersey New York 108