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. The Results of the 2014 Tricolored Blackbird Statewide Survey confirm that this species is in rapid decline. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rwi0SF8r8o.

Blackbirds 193

Blackbirds California 2014 2013 193

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. My first view of them was at a distance. Their size doesn’t escape you.

California Condor 224

California Condor California Idaho North America 224

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 176

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 176

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 168

Chipmunks North America California Sparrows 168

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

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

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 220

Chile Birds South America North America 220

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 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.

San Francisco 159

San Francisco North America Seals Sanctuary 159

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.

North America 193

North America 2014 California Birds 193

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 111

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 111

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 201

Mexico Bahamas South America Panama 201

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

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 196

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 196

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

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 233

North America Birds San Francisco Suffering 233

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2019

Between our many residents and migratory species, birding in central Mexico is a joy. For example, I have commented before on how common names in English may make sense up north, but do not down south. This photos, however, is from southern California. But in the winter, both species head for Mexico.

Mexico 145

Mexico United States North America Ethics 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2013

I mean, granted, he does live near the North Atlantic, the one ocean pretty much bereft of albatrosses (it wasn’t always that way, by the way). They range across the Pacific in search of food, which is why pelagic birders in Monterey can tick them off their California Province list. Perhaps he’s just unlucky.

Albatross 157

Albatross Hawaii North America California 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 226

California North America Costa Rica Niger 226

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 157

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 157

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 183

Sacramento Wildlife United States North America 183

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

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

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.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Research Pennsylvania Ohio 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

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. To show how adaptive this species is, the following photograph was sent to me by one of my readers and I use it with her permission.

Hunters 184

Hunters Hunting North America Game 184

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 159

Los Angeles San Diego Alaska North America 159

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 155

Geese South Dakota Sacramento Arkansas 155

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. The least common species of hummingbird I see here is the Calliope Hummingbird ( Stellula calliope ). The male is the only hummingbird in North America with a rufous back.

North America 227

North America Breeders America Breeding 227

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 195

California North America Breeding America 195

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

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 238

North America Factory Alligators Trafficking 238

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

The Lab operates All About Birds , which has free and authoritative information on identification and bird biology, as well as Birds of North America. It’s Macaulay Library contains a wealth of photos and audio recordings for approximately 10,000 species. There’s an excellent History of American Birding.

UCLA 125

UCLA North America Los Angeles America 125

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Certainly what I would consider to be an under birded area, eBird.com lists 232 species on 397 total check lists. On my last couple of visits, California Gulls, Ring-billed Gulls, Ruddy Ducks, Common Gallinule, Western Grebe, Eared Grebe and Pied-billed Grebes were on the water. One raft along had over 380 birds in it.

Mexico 138

Mexico Tucson Arizona Ducks 138

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2016

The country of Mexico as a whole, is host to 27 different species of doves, with the California Baja Sure home to six. With a large number of sub-species in many of these doves, I have listed the actual sub-species for this area. A common migratory species, is the Mourning Dove , Zenaida macroura marginella.

San Jose 100

San Jose North America Mexico America 100

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 237

California Eagles North America Breeding 237

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2016

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. Shrikes by the numbers: The family Laniidae is composed of 31 species of shrike, around the globe. Sometimes reality is so unfair! Of those eleven, two, the L.i. Migrans and L.i.

Butcher 124

Butcher Birds North America Mexico 124

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 239

Penguins Puffins 2008 Sharks 239