Meet the Wood Duck

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Male Wood Duck, Image by Chris Conard

This month, let’s learn about the magnificent Wood Duck. Wood Ducks are medium-sized ducks and are a North American species. They are found in many states in the U.S., as well as in southern Canada and western Mexico. The Wood Duck is one of the few duck species that remain in the Sacramento Valley year-round. They are listed in a category or group called perching ducks because they perch in trees to preen or rest.

Some sources also include Wood Ducks in a group called dabbling ducks. Dabblers are ducks that feed close to the surface of the water and will either swim and skim the water’s surface or tilt their bodies head first into the water with their tails pointing upwards to grab food which is slightly underwater.

Adult male ducks are called drakes and adult female ducks are called hens. Wood Duck drakes have feathers of many different colors. Their appearance is an example of how beautiful nature can be; when you spot one, it’s as if an artistic masterpiece is gliding on the water.

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Male Wood Duck, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

What do Wood Ducks look like?

Wood Ducks have large heads that have a crest that droops backwards, fairly short bills, long squared-off tails, and have a white border along their dark wings.

Wood Duck drakes have both green and purple on their heads. They also have bold white lines on their heads, cheeks, and neck areas. Wood Ducks have dramatic red eyes, reddish bills, black backs and tails, black and blue colored wings, tanish-yellow sides, reddish-brown chest and rump areas, and white bellies. 

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Wood Duck male and two females, Image by Mary Forrestal

Wood Duck hens are much less colorful. Except for a white belly, white throat, and white markings on their wings, they are mostly gray and brown. Wood Duck hens also have a bold white, teardrop-shaped patch around their eyes. 

Juvenile (or young) Wood Ducks look fairly similar to hens. Juveniles, however, have spots on both their chests and bellies; whereas Wood Duck hens only have spotting on their chests.

Where do Wood Ducks live?

As the name suggests, Wood Ducks ‘require wooded cover for nesting’. They prefer wooded swamps or marshes; but can also be found in freshwater wetlands, shady ponds, creeks, shallow lakes, and quiet rivers. By using the strong claws on their feet, Wood Ducks can climb up into trees and perch securely on branches. They usually nest in tree holes (or cavities) too; but are not capable of digging holes for their nests. Wood Ducks must find holes that are already present and often use the ones that woodpeckers have made in the past. They will also use man-made nest boxes, which has helped increase their numbers. Hens use their own down feathers to put around the eggs in their nests.

Male Wood Duck, Image by Craig Swolgaard

Occasionally, Wood Ducks will nest either close to the ground or far from the water’s edge. However, they prefer their nests to be hanging over (or near) a body of water. Wood Duck ducklings typically jump from the nest the day after they hatch! Having water or wet ground below the nest will ensure a soft landing for the young birds. After jumping from the nest, the tiny ducklings immediately know how to swim, walk, and find food on their own. Wood Duck hens will watch over their brood (or young) for several weeks. The ducklings can be seen riding on their mother’s back while she swims. Although adult Wood Ducks usually sleep or roost on the water, hens with young often sleep along water banks or on logs that are tucked away from danger. The ducklings learn to fly at 8 or 9 weeks of age.

What do Wood Ducks eat?

Adult Wood Ducks mainly eat plant material. They enjoy eating seeds, aquatic plants, acorns, nuts, and berries; but they also will also eat insects, clams, snails, tadpoles, and salamanders. Therefore, adult Wood Ducks are omnivores. (Omnivores are animals that eat a variety of foods that include both plants and animals.) When there are no aquatic feeding areas nearby, Wood Ducks will search for food in open areas, such as agricultural fields. Juveniles only eat invertebrates (animals without a backbone) or sometimes small fish. As they age, their diet changes and they start eating plant material.

What do Wood Ducks sound like?

Wood Duck drakes have a soft, whistle-like call while hens have louder calls. You can listen to the calls of Wood Ducks below:

Meet the Pied-billed Grebe

Adult Pied-billed Grebe, Image by Chris Conard

This month, let’s talk about Pied-billed Grebes. They are water birds, frequently seen swimming alone on bodies of water around the Sacramento region. Pied-billed Grebes spend a lot of time underwater; so it helps to scan the water repeatedly to see if one will surface.

Pied-billed Grebes are found in Canada, the United States, Central America, and in parts of South America. Populations that live in the southern regions of their range stay year-round. However, where water freezes in winter, Pied-billed Grebes migrate (move from one region to another according to the seasons) south before winter comes. 

Pied-billed Grebes have an amazing ability to alter or control their buoyancy (the ability to float). If they wish to sink down underwater to escape danger, they have the ability to trap additional water in their feathers. The extra water increases their weight and down they go without leaving a single ripple on the water! Conversely, Pied-billed Grebes can simply release this stored water from their feathers and raise back up, just like an elevator! They frequently have only their heads peaking out from the water, like a submarine.

Pied-billed Grebes have a few different ways to hide or leave an area if intruders come around. Besides diving or sinking slowly into the water, they use is a crash-dive (belly flop). This is done by: first, pulling their head and rump above their belly and then, plunging into the water causing a big splash. This can frighten or startle potential predators and give Pied-billed Grebes time to swim away. In addition, they will swim long distances underwater to find safe areas.

Pied-billed Grebes are not often seen in flight. They are strong fliers; but are not great at flying around objects or in tight spaces. Also, Pied-billed Grebes must make a long running start on the water’s surface before they can lift up into the air. They usually just stay in the water unless they are migrating, which is done at night.

Adult and Juvenile Pied-billed Grebes, Image by Mary Forrestal

What do Pied-billed Grebes look like?

Pied-billed Grebes look somewhat like ducks; but they are members of an entirely different family of birds. The word ‘grebe’ in Latin means “feet at the buttocks (or rear end)”. The legs of Pied-billed Grebes are placed far back towards the rear which is common among diving birds. This adaptation helps them to be skillful swimmers and hunters in water; but it also causes them to be very awkward on land. The word ‘pied’ means “two colors” and refers to the two-toned bill color they have during nesting season.

Pied-billed Grebes are small diving birds with short necks, large heads, short, thick bills, and dark eyes. Male and female Pied-billed Grebes look alike. Their bills, in the nesting season, have a thick, black, vertical band that wraps around an otherwise bluish-silver or white bill. Pied-billed Grebes, overall, are dark brown birds with shiny and soft feathers. In the winter, they become reddish-brown and their bills become dull in color. They have gray feathers on the sides of their necks and body. Adult birds have a white ring encircling their eyes called an eye-ring and also have a black patch on their throats and necks in the nesting season. Pied-billed Grebes have essentially no tail to speak of. They only have a little bunch or tuft of feathers on their rear ends with white feathers on the underside. 

Whereas ducks have webbed feet, Pied-billed Grebes have lobed feet. This means their feet have individual toe segments with gaps in-between. Having lobed feet is the reason they are extremely fast swimmers, even in water with dense vegetation. Because of this unique foot structure, there is less resistance in the water. Below are sketches of a lobed foot and a webbed foot:                                          

Lobed Foot

Webbed Foot

Juvenile birds are a reddish-brown color with black and white striped heads. Young chicks also have a pinkish-red or yellow area of skin on their bills near their eyes and have black, white, and orange stripes on their heads.

Where do Pied-billed Grebes live?

Adult Pied-bill Grebe, Image by Larry Hickey

Look for Pied-billed Grebes in marshes, lakes, ponds, and other slow-moving bodies of water that have plants growing in the water. They use water plants and grasses for shelter and to make nests. During both migration and in the winter, Pied-billed Grebes are also seen in coastal bays. 

Both male and female Pied-billed Grebes help to build floating nest platforms that support open bowl style nests. They use tender water plant material for constructing these structures. Pied-billed Grebes place their nests near the water’s edge in shallow water or in between the stems of plants in somewhat deeper water. They use vegetation, such as cattails, growing in the water to anchor their nest platforms.

Very soon after birth, baby Pied-billed Grebes leave their nest and are able to swim, dive, and catch food. They frequently climb onto the backs of their parents and can remain there for about 1-3 weeks. Some young birds will simply swim and follow their parents or they will cling to the rear feathers of their parents. Both parents help feed their young. At about 10 weeks after hatching, young birds head out on their own. By then, they are capable of finding enough food by themselves.

The population of Pied-billed Grebes has drastically declined over the past several years. They are no longer seen in some states where they used to be in the past. Our remaining wetland habitats need to have strong laws that preserve and protect them. We need to keep our wetlands free of pollutants and trash so that Pied-billed Grebes and other wildlife can continue to exist.

What do Pied-billed Grebes eat?

Pied-billed Grebes eat crayfish, small fish, frogs, spiders, shrimp, mussels, snails, tadpoles, seeds, some plant material, and insects. They dive underwater for the majority of their foods; but are also seen catching insects on the water’s surface or in the air.

It’s amazing; but Pied-billed Grebes eat a large quantity of their own feathers! They do this to prevent sharp shells and other foods from entering and damaging their intestines. The feathers act like a shield or a strainer inside their stomachs!

What do Pied-billed Grebes sound like?

Pied-billed Grebes are usually not all that vocal except during the nesting season. You can listen now to their sounds:

Sacramento Audubon Family Friendly Field Trip: Beals Point

Rock Wren, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Join Sandra Steurer on Saturday, June 4 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm at Beals Point, part of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, for a Family Friendly Field Trip.

This is a great spot for family members of all ages, and this is a good time to find a nice variety of birds. Join Sandra on a 2 to 3 mile walk in the oak woodlands with views of the lake. Recently, in addition to expected species, specialty birds such as Phainopepla, Rock Wrens, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow have been found. There could be some patches of uneven trail. The trip will end before noon. 

Meeting Location: Meet in the parking lot of the Beals Point unit of the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (turn left as you enter the parking lot, to park near the first row).

Directions: The entrance to Beals Point is on Oak Hill Drive off Auburn-Folsom Rd, about 2 miles south of Douglas Blvd and about 3 miles north of Greenback Lane. This is a great trip for beginning birders. 

Parking & Fees: The entrance fee is $12 per car, or you may use a state (not county) park pass.

COVID 19 Precautions:

• All participants, including field trip leaders, must be vaccinated.

• Field trip participants should maintain adequate social distance.

• Field trips leaders are authorized by the Sacramento Audubon Board to cancel field trips stated precautions are not met.

What To Do If You Find a Baby Bird

House Sparrow Fledgling, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Have you every seen a baby bird in its nest? It is that time of year when, if we are lucky, we get to see baby birds. But what should you do if you find a baby bird out of its nest? The answer may surprise you, but most of the time, you should not do anything.

Fledglings are larger baby birds, with feathers, and the ability to hop. You will often see them fluttering their wings and begging for food. For many species of birds, fledglings leave the nest before they are fully capable of flight. The parents remain nearby helping the young bird. For this reason, if you find a fledgling out the nest, the best practice is to leave it alone. It is doing what it’s supposed to do by trying to leave the nest. If the fledgling is in a dangerous spot, it’s all right to move it. However, don’t move it too far as the parents are probably close by.

Fledgling California Quail with Mother, Image by Ray Rozema

If you find a nestling, it may need your help. Nestlings are small, typically naked, and can only drag themselves on the ground. First look for the nest and try to return it. It’s a myth that baby birds won’t be accepted back by the parents. If a the nest is too high to reach, National Audubon recommends placing “the baby in a shoe box or hanging basket in the tree or shrub that holds the nest. The parents can hear the chick's calls from a relatively long distance”. If a nest can’t be found, a wildlife rehabilitation center is your next step.

Stellar Jay with nestlings, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

For more information and ideas on what to do if you find a baby bird, check out these resources:

California Raptor Center: What You Should Do If You Find a Baby Raptor
National Audubon: When You Should - and Should Not Help A Baby Bird
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: I Found a Baby Bird - What Should I Do?

Common Merganser with Fledglings, Image by Ray Rozema

Meet the Spotted Towhee

Adult Male Spotted Towhee,
Image by Chris Conard

This month let’s learn about an attractive bird called the Spotted Towhee. Towhees are in the same Family (or in the same bird classification group) as sparrows. Spotted Towhees live mainly in Western North America; but their range is from Canada down to Guatemala in South America. They are resident birds in the Sacramento Valley. This means they live in this area year-round and do not migrate away. However, Spotted Towhee populations that nest in colder, northern regions will migrate to warmer locations for the winter. 

There is a species of bird that is very similar to the Spotted Towhee which is found east of the Great Plains, called the Eastern Towhee. Eastern Towhees look very much like Spotted Towhees; but they don’t have the bright white spots and wing bars. Some scientists suggest that the bold white spots on Spotted Towhees in the Western U.S. help them blend into the frequently sun-dappled undergrowth. This may allow them to be better camouflaged (or not easily seen).

Adult Female Spotted Towhee, Image by Larry Hickey

What do spotted Towhees look like?

Once you see a Spotted Towhee, you'll appreciate their beautiful colors! They are fairly large for a sparrow and are about the size of an American Robin. Spotted Towhees have round bodies, short necks, and long, fan-shaped tails. They have red eyes, pinkish legs, and thick, dark, pointed beaks. Spotted towhees have rufous (reddish-brown) sides or flanks, white bellies, and white spots and white wing bars on their backs and wings. The outer corners at the end of their tails are white as well; so when they fly, you can see a flash of white. Males have jet black heads, throats, backs, and tails. In contrast, the heads, throats, backs, and tails of female birds are a dark brown or a grayish-black. Juvenile birds are mostly brown with brown streaking and tanish spots. 

Where do Spotted Towhees live?

Look for Spotted Towhees in open, shrubby habitat with thick undergrowth that they use for shelter. They frequently build their nests on the ground inside a shallow hole, with the rim of the nest at ground level. Spotted Towhees may also build their nests a few feet above the ground. It’s the female of the pair that builds the nests. Leaves, grasses, twigs, pine needles, weeds, rootlets, strips of bark, and occasionally animal hair may be used for nest building. It’s interesting that Spotted Towhees don't usually build their nests inside dense thickets or shrubs, the areas where they frequently stay or hide. Instead, their nests tend to be out in the open somewhat under trees. There is almost always either a log, some tall grass, or a bush in front of the nest. When Spotted Towhees are in the process of building their nests, they are very careful not to reveal the nest location. 

Usually two times a year, the female Spotted Towhee lays around 2-6 eggs. She incubates the eggs (sits on and keeps the eggs warm) for 12-14 days. Both parents help feed the baby birds or hatchlings. Young birds leave the nest around 9-11 days after hatching; but can stay near their parents for some time before leaving the area.

Adult Male Spotted Towhee, Image by Chris Conard

What do Spotted Towhees eat?

During the nesting season, Spotted Towhees mostly eat a variety of high protein foods such as: beetles, weevils, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, spiders, millipedes, snails and wasps. In Winter, they switch to eating seeds, plants, acorns, and berries. In residential backyards, Spotted Towhees will eat bird seed that is scattered on the ground.

 What do Spotted Towhees sound like?

Spotted Towhees can be quite secretive and can remain hidden in thick bushes and dense underbrush. But in Spring and early Summer, male Spotted Towhees are known to  sing from high perches. The song of the Spotted Towhee is variable depending on which region one hears the bird. You can listen to the calls and songs of Spotted Towhees now.

Meet the Osprey

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Male Osprey, Image by Ray Rozema

This month, let’s talk about a magnificent bird called the Osprey. Ospreys are raptors (birds that eat other animals) and are found in many parts of the world. They are usually seen alone or in pairs; but they can also be in small groups. While some Ospreys stay in the Sacramento Valley for the winter, many migrate in the Fall to Central and South America. It was reported in 2008 that a female Osprey started her Fall migration from the state of Massachusetts. After some short visits to several countries along the way, she ended up along a remote river in the South American country of Suriname! Scientists learned about this bird’s travels after they attached a miniature satellite transmitter to her back. This Osprey flew over 3000 miles in 13 days to find a perfect spot to stay for the winter!

What do Ospreys look like?

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Female Osprey, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Ospreys are medium to large, slender raptors that have long, broad wings. They have brown backs, brown upperwings, and brown upper tail feathers. Male Ospreys’ chests are completely white; whereas female birds have a finely patterned, dark ‘necklace’ on their otherwise white chest. There are two colors on their underwings: there is a solid white area in front, and in back there are areas with brownish-black markings. Ospreys also have a dark patch on their front underwings. They have white heads except for a small dark area on the top. Ospreys have a brown stripe that runs across their eye area and continues across their cheeks. This dark mask on their face acts to reduce the glare that occurs when the sun shines on the water! On the underside of their tails, you can see the same barred pattern that is also present on part of the rear underwing. In flight, Ospreys hold their wings with a slight bend in the middle; so their wings are in the shape of the letter M. Young birds have a white fish scale-like pattern on their backs and have tannish colored chests.

Where do Ospreys live?

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Osprey landing in a nest, Image by Ray Rozema

You can find Ospreys living near open bodies of water of either freshwater or saltwater. They are found soaring along seacoasts, lakes, rivers, ponds, and estuaries (areas near where the ocean tide meets with a river or stream). Ospreys lay 1 to 4 eggs and they nest once per year. The nests are quite large and look like a pile of disorderly sticks or twigs. Ospreys use bark, sod, grasses, vines, algae, and other materials to line their nests. Frequently, it’s the male that brings in nest-building material and the female designs the nest. You can often see Osprey nests in the top of bare trees (or tree snags), on boulders, flat ground, utility poles, or other man-made structures. Special-made platforms have been put up for Ospreys to nest on. These platforms have helped to increase the number of Ospreys in some areas where their population had decreased. 

What do Ospreys eat? 

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Osprey carrying a fish, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

The diet of Ospreys is almost entirely fish! Occasionally, they have been seen eating small reptiles, birds, and mammals. Ospreys are unique among North American raptors because they are able to locate and catch fish when flying over water. After bringing their feet and heads into a forward position, they will grasp fish near the surface of the water and carry them away. Ospreys can position their toes so that two toes are pointing forward and two are in the back which makes it easier to grasp and hold prey. In addition, they have tiny, curved spikes (or barbs) on the soles of their feet that help them to grip slippery fish.

What do Ospreys sound like?

Ospreys can be quite vocal at times. Their calls have been described as a series of short chirps or whistles. You can listen to Ospreys calling below.

Meet the Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Image by Larry Hickey

This month let’s learn about a frequent visitor in our yards called the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Ruby-crowned Kinglets stay in the Sacramento area in the fall and winter. They are migratory birds, which means they move from one region or habitat to another according to the seasons. In the Spring, Ruby-crowned Kinglets will fly in search of woodland or forest habitats where there are tall, coniferous (cone-bearing) trees to nest in. Most Ruby-crowned Kinglets migrate to the far northern states and Canada; but birds in the western states usually fly east to the foothills or mountains to find the types of tall trees they like. After the nesting season is over, some birds migrate as far south as Mexico for the winter. Sometimes Ruby-crowned Kinglets can be seen traveling in flocks along with other species.

What do Ruby-crowned Kinglets look like?

Ruby-crowned Kinglet male with red crown patch, Image by Larry Hickey

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are mainly olive-gray green above with a lighter color (yellowish beige, olive buff, or a dull white) on the chest and abdomen. The male sometimes will have a red or orange patch of feathers on the top of it’s head (or crown). Most of the time this patch is hidden; but this flashy color on the head can appear suddenly when a male Ruby-crowned Kinglets becomes excited or agitated. Except for this head patch, both male and female adults, as well as juvenile (or young) birds, look alike. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have bright white rings along the sides of their eyes and have two white wing bars; the second white wing bar is more noticeable and longer in length. There is a smudgy, black area below the second white wing bar. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have fairly large heads, (compared to their tiny body size). They have short and thin tails, tiny and straight bills, and have very thin black legs. 

It may be difficult to get a good look at Ruby-crowned Kinglets because they always seem to be darting from one spot to another. However, when not nesting, they often come down to low bushes or trees in search of food; so you probably will get many chances to see one. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also flick their wings a lot, which is a behavior that may help you identify them.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Image by Larry Hickey

Where do Ruby-crowned Kinglets live?

In Fall and Winter, you can find Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the Sacramento area in many different wooded habitats, such as nature areas, parks, or suburban yards. In the Spring, Ruby-crowned Kinglets migrate to find dense forests with tall evergreen trees to nest in. Usually their nests are about 40 feet off the ground and can be as high as 90-100 feet! Ruby-crowned Kinglets prefer spruce and fir trees for nesting; but they are sometimes found nesting in other tree species in meadows or in mountain-shrub habitat. The female picks a nest site and builds a cup-shaped nest while the male may look for their food. Nests are made using moss, roots, bark strips, feathers, plant down or fluff, spiderwebs, cocoon silk, tree needles, and twigs, and other plant material. Webs and silk make the nests able to stretch; so as the babies get larger, so does the nest!! There are usually 4-10 eggs laid in the nest; but there can be up to 12! Ruby-crowned Kinglet females usually only lay eggs once per year. The female incubates (sits on the eggs and keeps them warm) for around 14 days. After the babies hatch, both parents help feed them. They will be ready to leave the nest in about 16 days.

What do Ruby-crowned Kinglets eat?

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are mainly insectivorous birds (they eat insects, worms, or other invertebrates). They will eat spiders, wasps, ants, bark beetles, aphids, flies, leafhoppers, bugs, and caterpillars, and both insect and spider eggs. Ruby-crowned Kinglets also eat seeds, tree sap, and berries, such as poison-oak berries and dogwood berries. Inside tree canopies, they will hover and peck looking for insects on leaves and branches. Ruby-crowned Kinglets can also catch flying insects in mid-air.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem to be constantly flicking their wings when they look for food. Some experts think this is a way to scare insects out of their hiding places so that they can be caught and eaten. Others think Ruby-crowned Kinglets flick their wings when they are excited.

What does a Ruby-crowned Kinglet sound like?

If you learn the sounds of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, it may help you find them. You can frequently hear them calling and sometimes they will also sing here in the Sacramento Valley. It is interesting that they are pretty loud for such a tiny bird! You can listen now:

Safe Materials to Offer Nesting Birds

Nature is so incredibly amazing! Most birds are extremely skilled at building nests without any help from people. But often our fascination with birds inspires us to want to make it easier for them. If you decide to offer birds nesting material in your yard, make sure you only offer safe materials. Synthetic or man-made materials are not recommended. Provide birds with natural materials that are safe for them to use and haven’t been treated with chemicals. Some bird species can start to nest early in the year; so you may want to have materials available in your yard by January or February. Remember to refresh your supply for later nesters throughout the spring.

Bushtit near nest, Image by Larry Hickey

Safe materials to offer nesting birds:

• Twigs or small sticks

• Leaves and other yard debris - Ask your parents to leave fallen leaves and twigs in an area of your yard because they make excellent nesting material for many birds. Providing nooks in your backyard where leaves and twigs collect will provide a variety of materials for the birds to choose from when they are building nests. Birds may even pick through your compost pile looking for suitable nest material. Allow spiders to make webs in your plants. Some birds use spider webs when they build their nests, such as hummingbirds.

• Dried grass clippings - Only if the grass hasn’t had chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals applied to it.

• Mud - In Spring, routinely add water to an area of plain soil in your yard to make a mud bed. In the Sacramento area, Barn and Cliff Swallow, American Robin, and Black Phoebe use mud for building their nests.

• Moss - Hummingbirds use moss for their nests along with spider webs!

• Strips of fallen tree bark

• Pine needles

• Straw (available at feed stores)

• Cattails

Materials NOT to offer birds:

• Yarn or string - Both can get tangled around a bird's legs or feet. Also, many yarns are synthetic (made of plastic). It is recommended to use natural materials.

• Human hair - Even though hair is natural, birds can become tangled in it!

• Dryer lint - When it rains, holes form in a nest made with dryer lint. After it dries, dryer lint becomes crumbly and the nest falls apart. Dryer lint can also have chemicals in it that are harmful to birds.

• Pet fur - Birds’ legs or feet can become tangled in pet fur. Pet fur may also be harmful to birds if the pet was treated with flea and tick medications or other chemicals.

• Fabric scraps - Even fabrics made with natural fibers can get tangled around birds feet and much fabric contains synthetic materials.

• Plastic of any kind, aluminum foil, and cellophane are not recommended

Anna’s Hummingbird in nest, Image by Larry Hickey

How to Provide Safe Nesting Material:

• In piles on the ground (works well for leaves and twigs)

• In clean wire-mesh suet cages, or in mesh bags hung on tree trunks, fence posts, or railings

• Pushed into tree crevices or openings

• Draped over plants

• In open-topped berry baskets

• Spiral wire hangers made especially for putting out nest material (one type looks like an oversized honey-dipper)

Hopefully you will soon see a wild bird collecting nesting material in your yard! Good luck!

Yellow-billed Magpie carrying nesting material, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

White-tailed Kite carrying nesting material, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Information in this article came from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s allaboutbirds.org, www.ourherbgarden.com, and the National Audubon Society.

Meet the Great Egret

Great Egret, Image by Larry Hickey

This month, let’s learn about an elegant bird called the Great Egret. It is a member of the heron family and is found on all continents except for Antarctica. You may have seen a Great Egret near your home by a creek or along a roadside drainage ditch. The Great Egret lives year-round in the Sacramento Valley; but is considered to be a partially migratory species. Flocks in more northern areas may travel southward to enjoy a warmer climate during the winter months. Great Egrets can travel as far south as the West Indies or southern Central America. They fly fairly slow; but are powerful flyers. The population of Great Egrets has made a great comeback since the late 1900’s when their feathers were used for hat decorations, etc. This practice was banned in 1910. Great Egrets are now under the protection of bird conservation laws. The National Audubon Society’s organizational symbol is that of a Great Egret in flight!

What do Great Egrets look like?

Great Egret, Image by Larry Hickey

Great Egrets are completely white in color except for their orange-yellow bills and dark legs. Male and female Great Egrets look exactly alike. They are over three feet tall and have impressive wingspans of almost five feet. Great Egrets have long curved necks, long legs, and long toes. They also have long bills that are very sharp and are shaped like a dagger. Great Egrets tuck in their long necks and position their long legs behind their bodies during flight. At the start of nesting season, these beautiful birds become even more spectacular when they grow long, graceful, white plumes of feathers from their backs, which curl over their tails, called aigrettes. Great Egrets also develop an area of skin on their faces that turns a neon-green color this time of year! 

Great Egret with aigrettes, Image by Larry Hickey

Where do Great Egrets Live?

Great Egrets usually stay in habitats that have areas of either saltwater or freshwater nearby. They are seen near marshes, ditches, canals, ponds, tidal flats, rivers, streams, swamps, lakes, estuaries (or water passages where the ocean tide meets a river current), and flooded farm fields. Great Egrets are usually solitary birds when not nesting. But they also can gather together from surrounding areas to form a place where a large group can rest or sleep, called a communal roost. Frequently, several pairs build nests in the same tree and form a colony; but occasionally a pair may nest alone. Great Egrets often share colonial nesting sites, or rookeries, with other egret species, herons, and other wading birds as well. They build their nests in trees, thickets, or shrubs 10-90 feet above water or ground. Nesting colonies are usually located in extremely tall trees. Great Egrets build large platform-style nests using sticks and line the nests with plant material. Both parents help to build the nest, incubate (to sit on and keep the eggs warm) the eggs, and feed their young. The young will be able to fly in 6-7 weeks after hatching.

Great Egret, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

What do Great Egrets Eat?

The preferred food of a Great Egret is fish; but they also eat crustaceans, aquatic insects, grasshoppers, frogs, snakes, rodents, mice, rats, rabbits, and many other small animals. Because of their powerful bills and quick responses, they are skilled hunters in both shallow water and on dry ground. In shallow water, Great Egrets wade slowly. Then, without moving, they wait for a fish to come near. Their spear-like bill is able to grab the fish in an instant. 

Great Egret parents feed their hatchlings (or babies) partially digested food that is regurgitated (food brought up again to the mouth). The parents will feed their babies this way until the young are able to eat solid foods.

What do Great Egrets Sound Like?

Most of the time, Great Egrets are fairly quiet birds. But if one is disturbed or when in a breeding colony, Great Egrets can make some interesting sounds. Listen to the Great Egret now:

Meet the Barn Owl

Adult Barn Owl, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month, let’s learn some facts about the Barn Owl. You may not ever have seen a Barn Owl because they are nocturnal birds (awake and active at night). Barn Owls live here in the Sacramento Valley and are one of the most widespread species of birds in the world! Although Barn Owls aren’t considered to be a migratory species, young owls do travel long distances to find their own home after they learn to fly and hunt. You won't hear them flying overhead because their flight is totally silent! Barn Owls have exceptional hearing and also have excellent nighttime vision. Because their eyes can't move like ours can, they have to turn their heads in order to look around. Barn Owls can turn their heads around really far!

What do Barn Owls Look Like?

Barn Owls have rounded wings, squared-off and short tails, and long legs. They are around 14-20 inches in length and their wingspan is about 4 feet. Female Barn Owls are larger than male Barn Owls.

Barn Owls have a white face, chest, and belly. They have dark eyes, long toes, sharp talons (claws), and lightly-colored feathered legs. Barn Owls have reddish-brown, golden-brown, or gray color pattern on their heads, backs, and upper wings. There are scattered small spots over these areas. Even though Barn Owls have beautifully colored feathers, they often appear to be entirely white when seen flying at night. This is probably because of their light underwing color and their white faces and chests.

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Adult Barn Owl roosting in a nest box, Image by Jane Van Kessel

The faces of Barn Owls are curved inward. This specific facial structure is called a facial disc. Barn Owls have short, stiff feathers that outline their face in the shape of a heart. 

It’s difficult to tell females and males apart; but if you get a close look, female Barn Owls usually have several dark spots on their chests. Males usually have pure white chests (or just a few spots). Females may also have darker feathers outlining their faces and can have darker tails too.

Where do Barn Owls Live?

Barn Owls can live in a vast range of habitats but usually live at low elevations. They do not survive in extreme cold regions. Barn Owls fly at night over grasslands, deserts, marshes, and agricultural fields where they hunt for food. They nest and roost (rest) in hollow trees, inside holes in cliffs or riverbanks, in old barns, in church steeples, and in hay stacks. Barn Owls look for a hole or covered platform to roost and lay eggs in. They will ‘gladly’ use nest boxes when available. It is very important for Barn Owls to have a place that will keep them dry! If they become wet, they are no longer silent fliers. In order for Barn Owls to be successful at hunting and to eat their meals, their feathers need to be dry. 

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Adult Barn Owl, Image by Jane Van Kessel

Barn Owls usually reuse old nests that have been used for many years rather than build new ones. On average, females lay 4 to 7 eggs. Each egg is laid about 2 to 3 days apart. The male Barn Owl brings food to the female while she incubates the eggs (sits on and keeps the eggs warm). After hatching, the male brings food to the mother and babies for several weeks. Both parents will hunt and bring food to the nest after the babies grow larger. Young Barn Owls start flying 50 to 70 days after hatching. The parents then begin to teach the young owls how to hunt. Around 3 to 5 weeks after learning to fly, the young owls individually leave to find their own places to live.

What do Barn Owls Eat?

Small mammal species that are active at night make up most of the Barn Owl’s diet. These include mice, rats, voles, and rabbits. Barn Owls will occasionally prey on small birds as well. 

Adult owls, in general, eat their prey whole. Owls, however, can not digest fur, feathers, and bones. So you may find what’s called an owl pellet on the ground that an owl has coughed up. Owl pellets look like furry, oval clumps on the ground.

Even though Barn Owls have great nighttime vision, it’s their excellent hearing that makes it possible for them to locate prey in total darkness! Barn Owls can both hear and locate prey easily in darkness because of two factors: the curved dish-like structure of their facial discs and because their ears are not located straight across from each other. This uneven ear location actually helps them hear better! The ears on Barn Owls are hidden on the sides of their heads. The left ear is located above eye level and the right ear is below eye level. There are other species of owls that have the same interesting anatomy.

What do Barn Owls Sound Like?

If you are trying to listen for Barn Owls at night, don't listen for typical owl-like hoot sounds. Barn Owls don’t make hoot sounds! Instead, their sounds have been described as shrieks, screams, yells, screeches, hisses, clicks, purrs, and snoring sounds!

Meet the Mourning Dove

This month, let’s learn about the Mourning Dove. This bird is frequently seen in the Sacramento area. Mourning Doves are often spotted on telephone wires or when looking for seeds on the ground.

The word ‘mourning’ means to grieve or have great sorrow. Early naturalists described the Mourning Dove’s song as being sad or sorrowful. Mourning Doves, like most birds, use their unique sounds to communicate with other birds in their species or to claim their territories.

Mourning Dove, Adult, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

You can find Mourning Doves throughout the United States, southern Canada, some parts of Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and further south into Central America. In Fall, many Mourning Doves that had nested in the North begin to migrate south in flocks.

The Mourning Dove is a very strong flier. It usually flutters at first when it first takes off to fly; but once in the air, it soars gracefully and is quite fast. Migrating Mourning Doves can fly thousands of miles to get to their winter resting areas!

Mourning Doves will usually fly away when disturbed or frightened; but occasionally they use body displays, such as fanning their tails, to try to scare off intruders that come near. When a predator comes too close to the nest, sometimes Mourning Dove parents will fly away from their nest and pretend they are injured on the ground. Then, hopefully the predator will focus on the adult Mourning Dove and forget about the eggs or young birds in the nest. This is called a nest-distraction display.

What Do Mourning Doves Look Like?

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Mourning Dove, Adult, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Mourning Doves are mostly light-brown or light-gray in color. These two colors blend into the open-country habitats where Mourning Doves frequently live. They have slender bodies with small heads, black spots on their wings, and have long, fan-shaped, and pointed tails that have white outer-tail feathers. Males and females look pretty much the same. However, when a male and female are next to each other, you can see that the male’s chest and throat area have a light pinkish tone; whereas the female’s throat and chest are light brown or tan. The male has a bluish-gray area on the crown (top of his head). Juvenile Mourning Doves have more dark spots on their wings than the adult birds do. Juveniles also have an interesting pattern on their wings that look like a group of fish scales.

Where do Mourning Doves Live?

Mourning Doves live in many open or semi-open habitats including suburban yards, city parks, roadsides, agricultural fields, grasslands, and lightly wooded areas. They need trees around their habitat for protection and nesting. Mourning Doves don’t usually stay in swampy areas, dense forests, or in the far North. However, this species has adapted well to living near humans. 

Mourning Doves usually build their nests in trees; but will nest in shrubs or even on the ground if they have to. They have been seen nesting in hanging pots or other structures. From February to November each year, female Mourning Doves can lay eggs up to six different times! Two eggs are laid each time. Their nests are not constructed very well and are usually made of grass or pine needles and a few twigs piled loosely on top of each other. The male brings nest-building materials to the female and the female builds the nest. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs (sitting on and keeping them warm). In about two weeks after hatching, the young birds will fledge (leave the nest). The father will continue to bring food to the fledglings for another two weeks. After that, the young birds must look for seeds on their own. The young birds by this time can fly very well and may leave to find areas of their own.

Mourning Dove cooling off in a backyard pond, Image by Mary Forrestal

What Do Mourning Doves Eat?

The diet of Mourning Doves is almost entirely made up of seeds. Occasionally, they eat insects, peanuts, berries, and snails. Mourning Doves walk around, pecking at the ground, to search for seeds. Each day, they try to eat and collect a large amount of seeds. The seeds are stored in an area in their throats called the crop. Later, when the birds are resting, the seeds stored inside the crop will digest ( break down into small particles so that their bodies can use the food for energy and nutrients). 

Newly hatched baby birds are fed what’s called pigeon milk or crop milk. This ‘milk’ is made by the parents. It is a partially-digested food that is regurgitated (or brought up again into the mouth after eating). Over the next few weeks, the parents will gradually offer seeds to their young, which will eventually replace the milk. 

What do Mourning Doves Sound Like?

Mourning doves are well known for their soft cooing song. People often mistake their song to be the call of an owl. When Mourning Doves take-off flying or when they are landing, their wings make a fluttering, whistle-like sound. Listen to the Mourning Dove now.

Meet the Great Horned Owl

Adult Great Horned Owl, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month let’s talk about the Great Horned Owl. Its name alone makes it clear that this is quite a special species! It has a huge range and is found all over North America and in some parts of South America as well. It’s even found in far northern regions if there are trees present. The Great Horned Owl is nocturnal (active at night); but is sometimes active in the late afternoon or early morning, especially when food supplies are low. Even though they are fairly large birds, their soft feathers and special wing structure makes them able to fly silently! Also, they can fly up to 40 mph! They have excellent night vision; but because their eyes don’t move in their sockets, Great Horned Owls must move their heads in order to look around. This is pretty easy for them because their necks can rotate 270 degrees!

What do Great Horned Owls look like?

Great Horned Owls have a barrel-shaped body, large yellow eyes, a large head, a fairly short tail, and short yet very wide wings. Depending on the region they live in, these owls have a few different color tones. Some are more whitish, some very dark, and some are a pale gray. This is thought to be because Great Horned Owls are non-migratory birds (remain in their area year-round). Their feathers can be orangish-brown, white, black, or gray. They have two high or peaked feather groupings on the top of their heads, which look like ears; but they are not! Their ear openings are further down on the sides of their heads. Like many owls, one ear is lower than the other. This ‘unusual’ ear placement actually improves their hearing and makes locating food extremely easy! A Great Horned Owl’s hearing is about ten times better than a human; and they can hear sounds up to ten miles away! Their talons (or claws at the end of their toes) are very powerful.

Adult Great Horned Owl, Image by Jane Van Kessel

Where do Great Horned Owls live?

They can be found in forests, river valleys, lake shores, agricultural areas, and sometimes in wooded suburban and urban areas, mostly around golf courses or parks. Great Horned Owls are very early nesters compared to most birds and start their nests in early winter. It has been said that these owls are a bit lazy when it comes to building their own nests. Usually, they simply reuse an old nest of a hawk or other large bird. They also nest in tree hollows (holes or cavities inside trees), caves, tree stumps, or abandoned structures. While the male does the hunting for food while the female sits on the eggs, both parents will feed the babies after they hatch. Baby Great Horned Owls are cared for and fed by their parents for several months. The parents stay fairly close to the area after the nesting season; but the young owls leave the area. The young owls fly far away in the Fall and find new areas to live in. A pair of nesting Great Horned Owls won't allow others to nest in their area.

Juvenile Great Horned Owl, Image by Jane Van Kessel

What do Great Horned Owls eat?

Great Horned Owls don't seem to be very picky about what they eat. They will eat many species; but their diet is mostly that of mammals. Great Horned Owls are one of the only predators of skunks! They have a terrible sense of smell; so they aren't bothered at all if a skunk should spray them. They also eat birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

When perched in trees, Great Horned Owls are usually well camouflaged (the ability to not be seen easily) and usually fly down to the ground to catch prey. They also may glide along the ground to look for food. Their short, wide wings also make it easy to fly in dense forests or in heavily planted landscapes; but hunting success increases when owls hunt in more open spaces.

Adult Great Horned Owl, Image by Jane Van Kessel

What do Great Horned Owls sound like?

Some people label the familiar hooting sound of the Great Horned Owl as a call. Most researchers now label the hooting sound as a song. Many people also confuse the daytime song of the Mourning Dove with that of the Great Horned Owl, which is heard at night. The song of the Mourning Dove is added below; so you can compare the two. Let’s listen now:

Meet the Black Phoebe

This month, let’s talk about the Black Phoebe. This bird is a member of the flycatcher family. If you live in the Sacramento Valley, you probably have seen them in your yard or in a neighborhood park. Black Phoebes seem to do well living among humans and are not as ‘shy’ as other species of flycatchers seem. 

Adult Black Phoebe, Image by Larry Hickey

What do Black Phoebes look like?

Black Phoebes are black on their heads, wings, and upper breast. They have a white contrasting belly. Their bill, legs, and feet are black. Males and females look the same. Young (or juvenile) birds have brown feathers (or plumage) and have two light brown wing bars. The feathers of young birds will darken as they age.

Juveniles are brown and have light-brown wing bars, Image by Mary Forrestal

Where do Black Phoebes live?

The range of the Black Phoebe is from the southern Oregon coast, into California, and down through Central and South America. There are also populations living in parts of the southwestern United States. While there are a few populations that migrate to warmer climates for winter, most Black Phoebes remain in the same area year-round.

Black Phoebes almost always live near a water source. This is because they use mud to build their nests and because water attracts the insects that they eat. They live near streams, creeks, ponds, rivers, and along coastal areas. However, they also are often found living near people’s homes or in neighborhood parks. Just as long as water (or mud) is available, Black Phoebes seem satisfied. 

Black Phoebes often build their nests on vertical surfaces and favor sites with overhead protection. In natural habitats, Black Phoebes nest in rock faces, coastal cliffs, boulders, or tree hollows. In urban or suburban areas, they have adapted well to nesting in man-made structures, such as eaves of buildings, abandoned wells, and irrigation canals (or culverts). By using mud, they can plaster their nests onto walls under the eaves of buildings, creating a perfect nest site. Black Phoebes frequently come back to the same nest or nesting spot year after year! Their nests are built well and last because they are strong. Black Phoebes are also quite territorial; so you usually won’t find another pair nesting close by.

It’s the Black Phoebe female that constructs a cup-shaped nest. She is also the one who sits on the eggs to keep them warm (this is called incubation). The Black Phoebe’s nest has an outer shell made of a mixture of mud and grass and is lined inside with soft plant fibers and/or animal fur or hair. When the young hatch, both parents are active in feeding their babies.

Juvenile Black Phoebe, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

What do Black Phoebes eat?

The main diet of the Black Phoebe is insects, mainly flying insects. They will eat bees, wasps, flies, beetles, bugs, grasshoppers, crickets, dragonflies, termites, and spiders. If you see one out in the open, calling frequently, perched low, and dipping and fanning its tail, it is probably busy scanning for insects to eat. When Black Phoebes spot an insect, they quickly take flight, chase the insect, and often catch it in mid-air! Occasionally, Black Phoebes will look for insects while they are on the ground; but, most of the time, they look for food when perched on low branches or on other low perches. Black Phoebes will also catch insects when they are flying over bodies of water. They will sometimes hover in the air and grab spiders on plants or trees. Black Phoebes have even been seen catching and eating small minnows just below the water’s surface!

What do Black Phoebes sound like?

Black Phoebes are quite vocal and have a familiar song and calls. They also use a contact call that is heard sometimes when two birds are flying close to each other. Kaufman describes the call note as a “sharp ringing peep” sound and the song as “thin, shrill whistles.” You can listen to their song and calls below:

Meet the Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month, let’s learn about the Red-tailed Hawk! You can often see this hawk along a roadside either soaring in the air or perched on telephone poles and fence posts as it hunts for food. The Red-tailed Hawk has a vast range in North America, which includes all across the United States. Most Red-tailed Hawks live in their areas year round. Only those that are in the far northern regions migrate south to warmer habitats for the winter.

What does a Red-tailed Hawk look like?

Red-tailed Hawks have long, broad wings and short, wide tails. A Red-tailed Hawk can be positively identified when flying overhead by the dark line on the top edge of the inner part of its underwing. These darkened lines on the upper wing edges are called patagial markings. No other raptor in our region has this characteristic. Another way to identify a Red-tailed Hawk is when you see its red tail! That makes sense. Actually, the tails of adult Red-tailed Hawks are red on top and whitish below; but the red color shows through the white when they are soaring up in the sky. It’s good to keep in mind that young birds won’t have red tails until they are around two years old! Most Red-tailed Hawks have light-colored abdomens with a streaky darker band that runs across the belly and continues under their wings. Birderwatchers call this the belly band. Red-tailed Hawks usually have dark heads. Their backs, shoulders, and upper wings are a rich brown color and often there are mottled white patches or markings on the back shoulder area. The descriptions of individual Red-tailed Hawks can be quite unique and they vary in color from region to region as well.

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Red-tailed Hawk,
Image by Daniel Lee Brown

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Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk,
Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Where do Red-tailed Hawks live?

Red-tailed Hawks live in many different habitats. They are frequently seen in open country, agricultural areas, and are seen sailing over homes or developed areas too. Red-tailed Hawks usually require some amount of open space with trees nearby. They build their nests in tall trees, often the tallest tree in a cluster, or on cliff ledges, towers, nest platforms, and occasionally buildings. Both the male and female help with nest building and incubation (keeping eggs warm by sitting on them). After the young hatch, the male usually brings food to the nest and the mother then feeds the brood.

What do Red-tailed Hawks eat?

The Red-tailed Hawk diet is mainly small mammals, like voles, rats, rabbits, and ground squirrels; but they also eat birds and reptiles. Occasionally, they will eat bats, frogs, and toads. The Red-tailed Hawk does most of its hunting from a perch. However, they also may hunt while flying. 

Red-tailed Hawk, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

What do Red-tailed Hawks sound like?

The call of the Red-tailed Hawk is a loud, high-pitched, hoarse scream. It will immediately get your attention! Since the call of the Red-tailed Hawk is much more dramatic than that of other raptors, their call is often used in movies and television shows or commercials. Bald Eagles, for example, have much weaker or softer calls. You can listen to the call of a Red-tailed Hawk below.

Meet the Nuttall’s Woodpecker

This month let’s talk about a bird you may frequently hear and see in your yards, the Nuttall’s Woodpecker. The Nuttall’s is one of several woodpecker species that can be seen in our region. It was named after an English naturalist named Thomas Nuttall in 1843. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are found primarily in California (and sometimes in northern Mexico) to the west of both the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascades.

Two Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, Image by Larry Hickey

What does a Nuttall’s Woodpecker look like?

Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are about seven inches long and are mostly black with white barring (or spots) on its back, wings, and outer tail. They have a black face with white stripes and have a short black bill. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers have a white belly with black spots running along the sides of their bellies. The male has a red “crown” patch on the back of its head. Juvenile birds look a lot like the adults; except they have some white color on their heads.

Where do Nuttall’s Woodpeckers live?

Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are “cavity nesters” which means they use holes inside live or dead trees to lay their eggs and protect their young. A new cavity is created every year; and this is usually the job of the Nuttall’s male. The entrance hole is about two inches wide. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers usually nest in cottonwood, willow, sycamore, or oak trees. They even line the bottom of their nest cavities with wood chips to help cushion their eggs! Both parents help with incubation (sitting on the eggs) and raising their young. Young birds leave the nest at about one month after hatching. After Nuttall’s have finished raising their young, their old nests are frequently used by other birds that are incapable of making cavities. While Nuttall’s Woodpeckers prefer oak woodlands and riparian areas (land near rivers or streams); they will go anywhere there are trees and often are seen in populated areas.

You may see and hear the Nuttall’s Woodpecker in your backyard. Image by Mary Forrestal

What do Nuttall’s Woodpeckers eat?

Although you find Nuttall’s Woodpeckers frequently among oak trees, they are not really fond of acorns. They like to eat insects and really enjoy eating both adult beetles and beetle larva. They also eat caterpillars, ants, bugs, termites, and millipedes, in addition to, berries and other fruits, poison oak seeds, and sap. They flutter their wings to help themselves balance when searching for food on small twigs. Nuttall’s don’t use their bills to drill when they look for insects under the bark of trees. Instead, they use their bills to pry and flake away pieces of bark; and then to probe to find insects. One can actually watch them turn their heads from side-to-side when they peer into bark crevices seeking insects!

What do Nuttall’s Woodpeckers sound like?

Like many birds, you frequently can hear a Nuttall’s Woodpecker before you spot one. They have a rattle-like call that is quite loud and it quickly becomes a familiar sound to many birdwatchers. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers also drill or “drum” at the bark of trees. (heard in second recording below). Woodpeckers of all species do this for three reasons: either to communicate with other birds or claim a territory, to drill a hole for a nest, or to sometimes look for insects or sap. You can listen to the Nuttall’s Woodpecker below:

Meet the Western Bluebird

No matter how many times you’ve seen one before, there isn’t a more beautiful site than to see a Western Bluebird perched on a park fence. They seem at home in the suburban park setting.

Western Bluebirds, along with American Robins and Hermit Thrushes, are members of the Thrush family. Like many thrushes, they are social birds. Except when nesting, flocks of Western Bluebirds are often seen feeding together. Their year-round range is from California, into the southern Rocky Mountains, Arizona, and New Mexico in the Untied States and most of Mexico. Their breeding range extends up to the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Montana. Depending on how far north they were nesting, some Western Bluebirds do migrate to warmer areas in the winter. It is interesting that, unlike most songbirds which migrate during the night, Western Bluebirds migrate mainly in the daytime!

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Male Western Bluebird, Image by Mary Forrestal

What does the Western Bluebird look like?

The Western Bluebird male and female look a little different from each other. Like many birds, the male has more pronounced or bolder feather color. Male birds have bright blue colored wings, heads, throats, as well as part of their backs. Males also have a deep rust-orange color on their chest and shoulder areas along with a gray belly. Female Western Bluebirds are also blue and orange; but their color is duller overall. Females lack the bright blue feathers on their heads and throats that males have. Western Bluebirds have short tails and have thin, straight bills. Young or juvenile birds look quite different from their parents. They are brown and gray, with blue only on their tails and part of their wings. Juveniles also have light colored spots on both their chests and backs.

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Male Western Bluebird, Image by Mary Forrestal

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Female Western Bluebird, Image by Mary Forrestal

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Juvenile Western Bluebird, Image by Mary Forrestal

Where do Western Bluebirds live?

Western Bluebirds nest in “cavities” or holes. Unfortunately, their bills aren’t able to dig the holes that they need for nesting. So, frequently Western Bluebirds will use cavities made by woodpeckers in the past. They seek holes in both live and dead trees. Western Bluebirds also nest in man-made boxes or other man-made holes. Once a pair has chose a nesting site, the females do most of the work to construct the nest inside.

What do Western Bluebirds eat?

Western Bluebirds like to eat both insects primarily in summer and rely more on fruits and berries in the winter. They like the berries of mistletoe, juniper, and elderberry. Western Bluebirds will perch on low tree limbs or fences and then jump down when they spot an insect to eat. They are also seen catching insects in mid-air and looking for insects inside tree canopies.

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Female Western Bluebird with Bug, Image by Mary Forrestal

What do Western Bluebirds sound like?

The call of the Western Bluebird is a strong, low-toned whistle sound. Their song is not heard as often and is actually just a series of their call notes! You can listen to both the call and the song of the Western Bluebird now:

Nature Bowl 2021: The Family Challenge Edition!

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Announces

Nature Bowl 2021: Family Challenge Edition

Your challenge is to work together as a family to complete fun and educational nature-themed games and activities. Enjoy a scavenger hunt, find and become native species, invent a family game, figure out nature snapshots and create a nature commercial!

The Nature Bowl 2021: Family Challenge is open to all Californian families with school-age children. The contest runs from March 15 through May 14, 2021.

For more information, visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regions/2/Nature-Bowl

Sign Up Today by contacting genelle.treaster@wildlife.ca.gov

Meet the Belted Kingfisher

There are many species of kingfishers in the world, but only one, the Belted Kingfisher, inhabits North America. Their range extends from the northern parts of Canada, Alaska, throughout the United States, and down as far south as Panama in Central America.

Belted Kingfishers are very independent and solitary birds. You will often see them perched alone, over a body of water looking for food. Some Belted Kingfishers must migrate south in the winter to find water that isn’t frozen. However, in the Sacramento area, Belted Kingfishers stay year-round.

Male Belted Kingfisher, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

What does the Belted Kingfisher look like?

Belted Kingfishers are quite handsome birds with their stunning slate-blue feathers and bright white collar and belly. A tall crest of blue feathers is present on top of their heads and they have a striking slate-blue chest band.

Female Belted Kingfishers have a rusty-orange colored belly band, in addition to the blue chest band. This rusty-orange color also runs down the females’ flanks. Juvenile birds of both sexes have a faint or spotty rusty-orange belly band, like their mothers. This orange band disappears as the male Belted Kingfisher matures into adulthood. 

Female Belted Kingfisher, Image by Ray Rozema

Where do Belted Kingfishers live?

Look for Belted Kingfishers anywhere there is a smooth flat surface of water. You can find them near rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, estuaries, and coastlines. They build their nests in river levees or other types of banks. Belted Kingfishers dig their tunnels in these banks. They purposely avoid choosing nesting sites with lots of trees. Tree roots make it much too difficult to dig tunnels!

What do Belted Kingfishers eat?

Belted Kingfishers are mainly carnivores and prefer small fish and crayfish over other types of foods. If fish aren’t available, they will eat small amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, butterflies and moths, and other insects. Rarely, they even eat berries.

The Belted Kingfisher hunts by perching on a branch, overlooking a body of water; or by hovering (remaining in one place in the air, using rapid wing beats) over a body of water. When prey is spotted, Belted Kingfishers plunge into the water, head first. They have a special membrane that covers and protects their eyes as they enter the water.

What do Belted Kingfishers sound like?

The call of the Belted Kingfisher will most certainly get your attention! Their loud, rattle-like call is usually the first signal that a Belted Kingfisher is near. You can listen to them calling now:

A Bird Call - A Bird Song

What’s the Difference?

So what is the difference between a bird call and a bird song? They are both ways for birds to communicate. Humans, however, have put bird vocalizations into two main groups because birds use calls and songs on different occasions and for different purposes.

Calls are used to share a bird’s location with others in their species or to warn them of suspected danger. Calls are usually short in duration and are made up of just a few notes. Both male and female birds use calls. Birds’ calls are frequently heard throughout the year. This is not the case with songs. Calls are sometimes used to notify other birds in their flock, or family group, that a newly discovered food source is nearby. Young birds use begging calls to tell their parents that they wish to be fed.

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Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Songs are used when birds are claiming or protecting their territory or to attract a mate. Songs are also used for family bonding. They are frequently heard in the spring months and are more complex and musical than calls are. It was previously thought that male songbirds did most of the singing; but we now realize that many females also sing. The female Northern Cardinal is a good example of this and is extremely vocal. Birds that sing songs are usually inhabitants of dense areas or areas of low visibility, such as in forests, jungles, dense scrubland, or areas with tall grass. Birds that inhabit open areas, such as lakes, don’t have as much need for songs because they are more easily seen. Some species of birds have many different songs and some species only have one song. Odd as it may seem, there are songbirds that seldom sing or do not sing songs at all. Jays almost never sing and Cedar Waxwings do not sing at all.

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Image by Mary Forrestal

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Image by Larry Hickey

Starlings and Mockingbirds imitate songs of other songbirds and may imitate other sounds as well.

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Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Image by Daniel Lee Brown

There are some birds that do not have either calls or songs. These include storks, pelicans, and some species of vultures. However, most birds do have calls and many have both calls and songs.

Birds do not have a good sense of smell and must depend on vision and hearing for their survival. Therefore, their calls and songs are extremely important for communication out in the wild. There are other kinds of sounds that some birds make that aid in communication. Woodpeckers peck at or “drum” on trees. Here is the drumming of a Nuttell’s Woodpecker.

Image by Larry Hickey

Other birds make sounds with their wings or tails that help them communicate with one another. Here is the sound the male Anna’s Hummingbird makes with its tail feathers during an aerial dive display.

Image by Mary Forrestal

Want to learn more about Bird Songs? Check out these great resources:

• This video from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has this interactive page of birds and their songs.

• This article from National Audubon has some fantastic owl sounds.