12. My Friend’s Backyard – North Los Altos, CA (Apr 27)

Date: April 27th, 2020 – https://ebird.org/checklist/S68137885

Location: North Los Altos, CA – 37.383, -122.114 – Elevation: 45m/132ft

 

Site Description: This week I elected to go birding in a friend’s backyard because the yard is large and has many tall trees, smaller shrubbery, and open grass available for birds to move around in. Also, this backyard typically has lots of insects, so I was hoping that birds may be drawn to this yard or this area in general to feed on the insects and catch them mid-air. This yard also shares a fence on three sides with other large yards containing an excess of wildlife and shrubbery, so I see lots of birds pass through this yard and the neighboring yards often. There are also many power lines nearby as well as taller trees than can be seen from the yard. On this morning, I was able to see three American Crows on a power line that ran across a street only two houses over. I also was able to spot many swallow species including the Tree Swallow (2 individuals), which has an iridescent blue coloration on the backside paired with a sharp white chest and underside area, and the Barn Swallow (2), which appears cone-shaped when perched and has a slightly flattened head, no visible neck, and broad shoulders that taper to long, pointed wings.¹ For the Barn Swallow, the tail extends far beyond the wingtips and the long outer feathers give the tail a deep fork; this species has a particularly cool wing patterning from above when the wings are spread during flight. I was able to see several Bushtits (6) moving quickly through the dirt covered areas and small bushes and foraging on the ground. This has become one of my favorite bird species as I have proceeded through this class because they are very round, small, and cute. They are tiny, kinglet-sized birds that are very pump and large-heads with no visible neck and short stubby bills. They are smaller than a chickadee and have a relatively drab coloration all over – the ones that I spotted on this morning were very clearly Bushtits and easily identifiable based on their shape (small, round, plump), and behavior (moving quickly through vegetation in a group, continuously making soft chips and twitters). It’s always fun to observe their foraging behavior as they frequently hang upside down and grab small insects and spiders from leaves. I was not surprised to see this species in this yard because Bushtits are commonly found in heavily wooded areas within suburbs and this particular backyard has lots of plant life and tall trees.² I spotted two Ruby-crowned Kinglets and two White-crowned Sparrows, which I had seen before in nearby backyards and was not particularly surprised to see on this day. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets were easily identifiable based on their morphology consisting of a tiny stature, a large head, almost no neck, and a thin tail. They are olive green birds with a prominent white eyering and distinct white wingbar contrasting the dark colors next to it. The ruby-crown was not visible until I was looking at this set of birds for quite some time, so I almost mistook it for a Hutton’s Vireo, which has a very similar coloration and morphology pattern besides the ruby crown. The White-crowned Sparrows are a group of birds we have been seeing since the beginning of the semester – they are large and grey-ish as compared to other Sparrows and have a long tail and small orange-yellow bill. The most identifiable pattern on this bird is the very bold white and black strips that run from the front to the back of the head. They are very clear to see because they are contrasted by the mottled brown coloration that appears all over the rest of the body. Three species that I had not yet personally witnessed and I was more surprised to see on this morning were the American Robin (1), Cedar Waxwing (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3). American Robins can be seen in yards and expanses of greenery, particularly where earthworms and others of their favorite foods can be found, so it was not surprising to see them on this day. They are very distinctly colored with a “warm” orange color on the breast and grey-brown backside. They also have a very distinct sing-songy call that can be easily identified after hearing once or twice. The Cedar Waxwing is a bird I have had my eye out for during these past few weeks since we should be seeing more of them during this migratory time. This bird was easily identifiable because it had a short neck and wide bill coupled with a unique coloration – they exhibit a pale brown color on the head and chest which fades to a soft gray on the wings and to a pale yellow on the underside.3 There is a narrow black mask on the face which is neatly outlined in white. I believe this bird had one of the most fascinating color patterns I’ve seen – the coloration that fades delicately from one color to another and combined with the distinct outline on the head is beautiful. The third species I had not expected to see was the Yellow-rumped Warbler. This was a species I had not yet seen in person, but I knew to look out for the yellow coloration on the rump and underside. The ones I saw were very grey and exhibited a patterning with lots of grey all over combined with very minimal white on the wings and the backside in general. There was some yellow around the face area and near the base of the wings, but I did not get the change to see the yellow of the rump before the bird flew away. According to the regional differences, the subspecies that I am seeing is called the “Audubon’s” Warbler, which is local to the Mountainous West as opposed to the “Myrtle” Warbler of the Eastern U.S. and Canada.4 Pictures below show the environmental conditions of the backyard where I went birding, including lots of vegetation, alongside an image of a Barn Swallow, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

 

Species Account: Tree Swallow – Tachycineta bicolor (Passeriformes > Hirundinidae) The tree swallow is a very common and widespread bird that tends to be found in various habitats, most often in fields and wetlands. Adults have a coloration that appears as an iridescent blue-green that tends to be much more dark in poor lighting with a bright white color patch on the underside. Immatures are much less distinctly colored than adults tend to be and females are duller with more brown in their upperparts.5 Tree Swallows have blackish flight feathers and a thin black eye mask. Tree Swallows are often confused with bluebirds because of their distinct blue coloration. Tree Swallows can be distinguished from their close relative the Barn Swallow based on their tail shape – Barn Swallows have long, deeply forked tails, unlike the shallow forked tail of the Tree Swallow. Barn Swallows also have reddish throats and peachy bellies.6 Tree Swallows are streamlined small songbirds with long, pointed wings and short, squared or slightly notched tails. Their bills tend to be short and flat and their relative size is slightly larger than a Bank Swallow, but a typical size for a Swallow species in general. The foraging behavior of the Tree Swallow is targeting small, aerial insects that are captured in their mouths during acrobatic flight. They often forage low over water or fields and may pick items from the surface of the water while flying. They can be observes perched in bushes to eat berries and sometimes feeding on the ground especially in cold weather. Their diet consists of mostly insects (especially in the summer) and some berries. They feed on many beetles, flies, winged ants, and others. Also may eat spiders, and will eat sand fleas. Unlike other Swallow species, Tree Swallows eat much vegetable material – bayberries are the main plant food. After breeding, Tree Swallows gather in large flocks to molt and migrate together and in the non breeding season, they form massive communal roosts. Tree Swallows can be found many places – they breed in open habitats such as fields and wetlands, usually near water.7 They tend to nest in artificial boxes as well as tree cavities. Foraging flocks are commonly seen over wetlands and water. The male Tree Swallow arrives on nesting territory before female and courtship involves the male showing the female potential nesting sites. Tree Swallows often choose new mates each year. Natural nest sites are in holes in dead trees, or in old sapsucker holes in live trees, but often also make use of nest boxes. Tree Swallows have a relatively wide distribution that spans North America including the United States, Canada, and parts of Mexico and Central American countries. Tree Swallows migrate north relatively early in the Spring and southward migration begins as early as July, but peaks in early fall. They can be seen migrating by day in large flocks. Tree Swallows are somewhat commonly seen in backyards and places frequented by larger groups of people, which is why I was able to spot two in the backyard of a friends house on rest on the skinny branches of a small tree in the corner of the yard. They looked like they were scanning the area and ready to take off at any moment to catch insects mid-air. The first thing I was able to notice about the morphology of the pair of birds was the iridescent blue coloration on the back side, which led me to believe that I may be seeing bluebirds. However, after taking a second look, I was able to notice that the body shape looked much more like a swallow. I was especially able to see the distinct body shape and wing shape when one of the birds took off in flight. After investigating which swallows have this distinct coloration patterns, I was able to positively identify this pair of birds as two Tree Swallows. Below you can find two distribution maps of the Tree Swallow and several views of different Tree Swallows, including the last photo which is a view of a female with much more subtle coloration (hardly any blue).

Narrative: I began birding this week in my friend’s backyard at around 9:06am on April 27th and stopped birding 138 minutes later. I witnessed 9 bird taxa during this period of time and many of the species were gathered in lower shrubbery and trees as opposed to in the open grass like I had observed in my own backyard. I saw the most about of birds in dense trees and bushes, but also saw a number of birds in taller trees and along power lines, fences, etc. I’ve been improving on my skills of identifying birds based on their calls, which has aided in my ability to positively ID birds after having guesses as to which species I am seeing based on morphology and coloration. I did not fulfill my goal of birding at various times throughout the day, but I hope in my future independent birding endeavors I am able to diversify the birds I am seeing and the locations I am targeting as well as the time of day when I am electing to go birding. Although I have seen a lot of birds in various habitats throughout this semester, I didn’t get the chance to see some bird species multiple times, and I would like to be able to see the in-person view of many of these birds numerous times as opposed to pictures and drawings. The weather on this morning was sunny with a high of 75°F and a low of 49°F8. At the point when I was birding, the weather was warm but comfortable. I don’t imagine this weather was extremely uncomfortable for bird species, but I don’t think I saw as many birds as I was expecting to see after being outside for this amount of time.

Additional Photos & Media: See below photos for additional images of the bird habitats in my friend’s backyard.

Sources:

¹ “Barn Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/id

² “Bushtit Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bushtit/id.

“Cedar Waxwing Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id.

4 “Yellow-rumped Warbler Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/id.

5 “Tree Swallow.” eBird, The Cornell Lab, https://ebird.org/species/treswa.

6 “Tree Swallow.” Audubon, 29 Dec. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/tree-swallow#.

“Tree Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/id.

Pelmorex Weather Networks Inc. “Los Altos, CA Window._config.masthead_has_content = True;” The Weather Network, www.theweathernetwork.com/us/last-24-hours/california/los-altos.San Rafael, CA Monthly Weather.”

11. My Own Backyard – Los Altos, CA (Apr 20th)

Date: April 20th, 2020 – https://ebird.org/checklist/S67682384

Location: South Los Altos, CA – 37.383, -122.114 – Elevation: 45m/132ft

Site Description: This week I decided to go birding in my own backyard after doing “traveling” birding excursions for the past few weeks. I’ve been in my backyard a lot since the shelter-in-place order has begun, and the volume of birds that fly in and out of this space is much larger than I thought. Also, the amount of birds that can be seen in neighboring yards, along fences, and above the outskirts of my yard on power lines and power poles is incredible. My backyard is partially natural wildlife – tall and full trees, bushes and hedges, flower beds – alongside some unnatural items such as artificial grass. I wasn’t sure how many birds would be drawn to this area on this particular day because it  was quite hot out and the turf grass makes the backyard much hotter overall. Also, there is not much shade within my backyard because the taller trees cast shade in the neighboring yards instead of mine, so I figured birds may not be drawn to this particularly hot area. I was surprised to observe several birds during the 89 minutes that I recorded on eBird. Although it was hot in my backyard, I was carefully to stay quiet and not move much in hopes that my presence wouldn’t deter birds from entering my yard and/or being seen. With binoculars, I was shocked at how many birds I could see land in the taller trees and power lines of neighboring yards, and how well I was able to see these birds and identify their species based on morphology and call. I’m glad I was able to switch my birding routine to stationary this week instead of traveling because I thought I would feel more helpless and stuck being only in my backyard, but I was relieved at how many birds I was able to take a good look at when I was patient. I also sat in my backyard only an hour after the sprinklers had finished, so I believe some of the birds that landed in my backyard were drawn to the water-rich flower beds and bushes. I saw some species that I was more accustomed to seeing, especially on my traveling birding adventures including Common Ravens (7 individuals) and American Crows (8). I was surprised to see a Hairy Woodpecker on a power pole in the yard next to mine! I had not seen a single woodpecker since being home in Los Altos, even when I had spent several hours walking through parks with many tall trees that could be natural homes to various types of woodpeckers. I immediately saw the bird on my side of the power pole and knew it was a woodpecker because of the way it was grabbing the pole and poking and the wood. It had a coloration pattern that was mostly black with some white dots on the back and a completely white underside.¹ It was distinguishable from other woodpeckers based on the two distinct white stripes seen on either side of the face from the bill to the back of the head as well as the red patch toward the back of the head (allowing me to identify this individual as a male). I also saw two Mourning Doves, which is not surprising since I have seen this species a lot in my front yard and in the hedges and bushes surrounding my house. I was surprised to see two White-Breasted Nuthatches, which were small birds with a relatively large head and no neck. I saw this pair of birds clinging to the bark of a tall tree next to a fence in my yard. They are typically gray-blue on the backside,² though the ones I saw were much more gray than blue and had a distinct white underside. They also had a wide stripe that ran along the top of their head, like a “hood.” I saw two House Sparrows, though I was expecting to see many other types of Sparrows. I often see other types of sparrows in my backyard, front yard, and along the streets in my neighborhood, though I only saw House Sparrows on this morning. I also saw a six House Finches, which I have seen in my backyard on many occasions. These individuals were distinguishable as finches because of their small body, fairly large beak, and long, flat heads. This group of finches were identifiable as House Finches because they had a light red coloration around the face and upper underside. Because some of the individuals in the group were females, not all of the birds exhibited the bright red coloration, but I could tell they all belonged to the same species. One collection of birds I had seen, which I have been seeing more often in recent weeks, are Juncos. Because the Dark-eyed Junco is a slate color and does not have many conspicuous traits, it is sometimes hard to identify. In this case, I was able to identify this pair of Dark-eyed Juncos based on their long tail and pinkish-white bill, along with their behavior which was hopping around the bushes and shrubbery of my backyard. I am hoping I get the chance to see more Sparrows and Swallows as we move deeper into the migratory season.  The below images show views of habitats in my backyard where I commonly spotted birds as well as a couple pictures of species I saw including the Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, House Finch, and Dark-eyed Junco.

Species Account: European Starling – Sturnus vulgaris (Passeriformes > Sturnidae) One of the most interesting facts about the European Starling is that all of the individuals in North America (more than 200 million European Starlings ranging from Alaska to Mexico) descended from 100 birds set loose in New York’s Central Park in the early 1890’s. The European Starling is a stocky and dark bird overall and are among the continent’s most numerous songbirds. They have short tails, triangular wings, and long pointed bills. Interestingly, they are covered in white spots during the winter, but turn a much more consistent glossy black color during the summer. A close look at the European Starling will reveal some remarkable plumage: in breeding season, there are hints of purple and green iridescence on the body with a yellow bill.3 The juvenile European Starling is a light brown color with similar overall morphology to that of a Mourning Dove with slightly smaller stature. The one European Starling that ventured into my backyard was dark and glossy all over with some small white dots on the backside. At first, I thought the bird may be a Crow or Raven, but after observing the coloration and hearing its call, I knew it wasn’t a bird I had seen many times before. The individual I saw had a very distinct shiny-iridescent coloration pattern that appeared slightly green-purple – a very unique patterning! This was the main morphological feature that allowed me to narrow in on the European Starling as my identification and confirm that this was the bird I was seeing. I will certainly be looking for more European Starlings in my backyard in the near future now that I understand they are drawn to backyard-type environments. Year round, the European Starling can be found flying through open skies and gathering in lawns in large, noisy flocks. European Starlings are often regarded as pests, but are extremely adaptable, tough, and have a comparatively high intelligence.4 This species is sociable during most seasons and typically gather in large flocks in fall and winter. These flocks consequently break up during the breeding season, where males reveal a specific skill for mimicry: male European Starlings interrupt their wheezing and sputtering songs with perfect imitations of other birds. Starlings are common around cities and towns, which is why many people observe this specie in their own backyards. They are also often drawn to bird feeders. Their behavior patterns are somewhat unique as well – they can be seen working their way across the grasses of lawns, cities, parks, and fields, often moving in a slight zig-zag line and hurrying while stabbing their bills into the ground every few steps. In the countryside (and away from high levels of human activity) they can be seen perched in groups at the tops of trees or flying over fields or roads in tight flocks.5 European Starlings forage mostly on the ground in open areas, often probing in soil with their pointed yellow bill. They can sometimes be seen feeding on fruit up in trees and rarely will catch flying insects in the air. Their diet consists of mostly insects, berries, and seeds, though the diet can be quite varied among individuals and between regions. They will eat mostly insects when available, particularly beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and caterpillars with the occasional spider, snail, earthworm, and other invertebrate. They will come to bird feeders for a variety of items. The migration pattern of the European Starling follows a precise pattern year to year: southern birds are largely permanent residents, while many (but not all) northern birds move toward the south in the fall. They will be observed migrating mostly by day and rarely by night. Below you can find a distribution map of the European Starling, showing its abundance all over the United States and much of Canada, alongside a profile of the European Starling from All About Birds and a couple images of the European Starling during various times of the year.

Narrative: I began birding in my backyard at 9:07am on April 20th and stopped birding 89 minutes later for a total time of just under one and a half hours. I observed 9 bird taxa during this time and most of the species I saw were gathered around our bird feeders, flower boxes, near the large trunks of taller trees, and foraging in the low bushes and shrubbery. I saw the largest number of birds in trees and the second largest number in bushes and hedges. I was surprised how easily I was able use my binoculars to see the details of some individual birds as they were moving around in the low shrubbery. In the future, I will be sure to sit outside and observe birds for longer in hopes that I can witness a larger number of birds over time. One aspect of birding that I had not considered much was the time of day that I am birding. For most of my independent birding experiences, I have elected to observe birds in the early mornings, but I believe in the future I will start dedicating time in the afternoons and evenings to go birding. I know that the largest number of birds can typically be seen in the morning, but I am hoping to witness a wider variety of birds by altering my timing and ideally I will be able to see birds I have not seen before. The weather on this day was sunny with a high of 78°F and a low of 65°F6 – even early in the morning when I was birding, the weather was very warm. I believe remaining stationary gave me a better opportunity to focus on the vocalizations of birds this week, so I am hoping to further improve my skills of categorizing and identifying birds based on their calls in the next few weeks.

Additional Photos & Media: See below photos for additional images of the bird habitats in my own backyard.

Sources:

¹ “Hairy Woodpecker Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hairy_Woodpecker/id.

² “White-breasted Nuthatch Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/id.

“European Starling.” eBird, The Cornell Lab, https://ebird.org/species/eursta.

4 “European Starling.” Audubon, 29 Dec. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/birdbird/european-starling.

5 “European Starling Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/id.

6 Pelmorex Weather Networks Inc. “Los Altos, CA Window._config.masthead_has_content = True;” The Weather Network, www.theweathernetwork.com/us/last-24-hours/california/los-altos.San Rafael, CA Monthly Weather.”

10. Los Altos Foothills Loop (Apr 15)

Date: April 15th, 2020 – https://ebird.org/checklist/S67315805

Location: South Los Altos, CA – 37.383, -122.114 – Elevation: 45m/132ft

Site Description: This week I took a long walking loop beginning and ending at my house where I walked through a variety of bird habitats. The most notable habitat I saw that I had not explored since being home in Los Altos was walking near bodies of water! Much of my walk was along a stream near my house and I walked over several bridges that can be good homes and nesting sites for a variety of birds. Walking through many neighborhoods, I observed a variety of foliage and differing levels of human activity. Some of the spaces I walked through were highly frequented by people on their walks and had more of a suburban environment: paved roads, taller trees, grassy spaces in peoples yards that are lined with other foliage such as bushes and hedges. As I got further from my house, I was able to walk along a stream that consisted of a more secluded habitat: no paved roads (only walking paths), heavily wooded areas with massive trees and dense shrubbery, and other undisturbed wildlife. I’m glad I was able to walk through both of these environments because I saw many birds I was accustomed to seeing on my more familiar walking path (such as Ravens and Crows), and saw some that I had not seen yet as I ventured into a less frequented area. One bird species that was cool to see that I had not yet observed in Los Altos was the Black Phoebe, which I almost mistaken for a type of blackbird upon first glance. The Black Phoebe has a distinctive white patch on it’s lower chest and underside which makes it  more identifiable. I also saw two types of Swallows: the barn Swallow and Cliff Swallow. The Barn Swallows were quite small and their tail had a very distinct “deep fork” shape.¹ The coloration of this type of Swallow is a steely blue color on the backside, wings, and tail whereas the underside is a more orange or rufous tone. The individuals I saw had a more tan or brown underside than the photos I have seen, which sometimes have a very bright orange coloration. The contrast of coloration on the face – a blue crown that is brighter than the blue of the body alongside a cinnamon-colored forehead and throat – was very cool to see. On the other hand, the Cliff Swallow has an overall brownish with a rufous-orange throat and white underparts. However, in good lighting, Cliff Swallows exhibit a metallic, dark-blue back that can look somewhat similar to that of a Barn Swallow. Cliff Swallows also have rich, brick-red faces and a bright buff-white forehead patch that looks a little like a headlamp. The individuals I saw had a distinct fanned tail that is a somewhat sharp square shape and quite broad wings.² These two Swallow species are much less round than other birds I have been observing lately. I also observed Chestnut-backed Chickadees (2), which my attention was drawn to based on the call. This species is particularly round and has a year-round distribution pattern (therefore, does not experience much migration), gathered around the Pacific Northwest. Because chickadees are commonly seen in backyards and are drawn to bird feeders, I have seen many chickadees in my backyard in recent weeks. Some other commonly species I observed this week that we’ve witnessed before on our field trips were Wrentits (4), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (6), and California Towhees (5). I am hoping I will be able to see more birds I am not as familiar with in the coming months because of the increased migration during this time. As we discussed in class, Tanagers and Orioles should be spotted more frequently around this time, so I am keeping my eye out for Western Tanagers as well as Bullock’s and Orchard Orioles. I am hoping to see a wider variety of Swallows and become more accustomed to identifying them based on their morphology and vocalizations. I’d love to see a White-throated Swift at some point in the near future, and one bird I may be able to see soon (and identify based on their call) is the Cedar Waxwings (which I’m sure we would have seen in class had we not transitioned to distance learning). I believe I have been hearing the calls of American Robins recently, but have not been able to see one, so I am hoping I get the chance to see an American Robin in the next couple weeks. See images below for a contrast between the Barn Swallow and Cliff Swallow as well as views of the path I walked in order to observe these bird species.

Species Account: Black Phoebe – Sayornis nigricans (Passeriformes > Tyrannidae)  The Black Phoebe is a small, plump/round songbird with a relatively large head and medium (sometimes long), square tail. Their bill tends to be straight and thin. Compared to other birds, the Black Phoebe is smaller than a Western Scrub-Jay and larger than an American Goldfinch. The coloration of the Black Phoebe is largely a sooty gray color than can appear blackish. This dark color appears on the upper parts and chest with a typically darker black head. The underside below the chest is a distinct white and the wing feathers have a distinct pale gray at the tips. Black Phoebes are usually found on low perches near water and make short flights to catch insects. The section of trees where I saw the Black Phoebes was near a stream and near a two bridges that allow pedestrians to pass over the stream. They exhibit a lot of movement when they are perched, mostly a “pumping” of their tails up and down continuously. Fortunately for birding, this species sits in the open on low perches to scan for insects.4 I was able to spot the Black Phoebes that I did see because of this pumping behavior – as I was walking past some smaller trees, I saw the movement of one Black Phoebe, which drew my attention to a few more individuals in the same area. In the same set of trees, there is a collection of small shrubs and bushes next to the walking path where I saw some Wrentits. One was on the path and when I waited for more to emerge, a couple more came out of the bushes. The nests of Black Phoebes can be found in mud cups anchored in protected nooks, typically under a bridge or in holes of buildings. Because there are many bridges near where I saw this collection of Black Phoebes, I will be sure to look around the bridges and trees very close to the water the next time I walk in case I can spot a nest. Black Phoebes can be quite noisy because they often keep up a string of sharp “chip” calls. Sometimes the call of the Black Phoebe is also described as a sharp whistled call. I did notice the call of the Black Phoebe once I observed them for a while, but I would not have been able to identify the Black Phoebe based on call alone. Black Phoebes are almost always found near water (streams, rivers, lakes, and the Pacific Ocean), so as long as there is water present and a ledge or overhang nearby where they can place a mud nest, Black Phoebes may be found. The feeding behavior of the Black Phoebe is foraging by watching from a perch and darting out to catch insects mid-air, typically just above the water. Sometimes the Black Phoebe can be seen hovering over foliage and shrubbery in order to pick insects out of bushes. They have been observed taking insects from the ground, especially in cooler weather. Interestingly, the indigestible parts of insects are coughed up as pellets. Their diet consists of almost entirely insects including beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, wild bees, wasps, flies, moths, and caterpillars.5 The Black Phoebe is largely a permanent resident, but departs in fall from the highest elevations and from the northern edge of their range in the southwest. After taking this walk along the stream, I am realizing how many bird species I had been missing out on that are typically found near some sort of water. Though we had previously seen Black Phoebes near water on our field trips, I did not know that they are almost always found extremely close to the water (particularly with nests just above the water). Now that I am realizing how many birds species gather near water, I will be sure to set aside time to explore different spaces for birding that are close to bodies of water or moving water. I hope to see other species of flycatchers as well because their overall behavior and foraging is fascinating to see. Below are three views of the Black Phoebe as well as a distribution map of the Black Phoebe in the United States. As can be seen on the map, the Black Phoebe is largely found on the California Coast and the very southern tips of the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Narrative: I departed my house, at 1:07pm on April 15th and stopped birding 172 minutes later (for a total time of just under three hours). I was birding along my walk, which spanned 5.4 miles in total. I witnessed nine bird taxa during these three hours, most of the species being spotted near areas that were less frequented by humans. In particular, I saw more birds along the stream and near dirt paths as opposed to near peoples homes and paved roads. I saw the value in observing birds that are common near water and will make an effort to seek out other bird habitats near water in my future birding trips. The only frustration I had this week during my birding excursion was that the birds I was seeing were not very numerous – I was able to spot a bird but typically I see more birds nearby of the same species. This week, when I saw a lone bird, typically I would only see one or two other individuals nearby rather than a collection of the same birds that often help me in identifying the species because I gain a better sense of the morphology and coloration from many individuals. The weather on this day was mostly cloudy with a high of 67°F and a low of 51°F.6 I am still hoping to identify more birds based on their vocalizations even when I do not see the individual bird. I am still hoping improve my identification skills of swallows, swifts, and sparrows since there are very many different species of these larger collections of birds.

Additional Photos & Media: See below photos for additional images of the bird habitats and other wildlife along my walk.

Sources:

¹ “Barn Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barn_Swallow/id.

² “Cliff Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/id.

“Black Phoebe Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Phoebe/id.

“Black Phoebe.” eBird, The Cornell Lab, https://ebird.org/species/blkpho.

“Black Phoebe.” Audubon, 29 Dec. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-phoebe#.

Pelmorex Weather Networks Inc. “Los Altos, CA Window._config.masthead_has_content = True;” The Weather Network, www.theweathernetwork.com/us/last-24-hours/california/los-altos.San Rafael, CA Monthly Weather.”

9. Grant Park – Los Altos, CA (Apr 7)

Date: March 31st, 2020 – https://ebird.org/checklist/S66869211

Location: Grant Park – Los Altos, CA – 37.383, -122.114 – Elevation: 48m/157ft

Site Description: This week, I went birding at my local park, Grant Park, which is about a 15 minute walk away from my house. I spent 183 minutes (a little over 3 hours) walking 4.2 miles in a loop beginning from my house and following some tree-lined streets as I walked through the park, sitting on a bench at the park for a while, and continued home. The topography of this region is overall quite flat as most of the streets, including the park, are residential and within a suburb. The walk had many trees and bushes, but the park was where I was able to observe the highest number of birds. The park has lots of taller trees that are resting spots for soaring birds as well as some medium sized trees and lots of bushes, grass, and hedges. Previously, I have struggled with identifying birds as they are flying above because the lighting is not favorable to note their coloration and general morphology, but this time I felt it was easier to identify the birds I had seen on many occasions such as Turkey Vultures, Rock Pigeons, American Crows, and Common Ravens. This week I saw a slightly different variety of birds than I have been seeing since I have been home in Los Altos, which is likely because I spent the majority of my time at a park with many bird habitats as opposed to the car-lined streets near my home. I saw Mourning Doves, which I have seen in almost every eBird-tracked excursion for the last few weeks. I believe I am getting better at identifying this species because it  has a distinct body shape and behavior, plus I am not needing to differentiate it from other dove species such as the White-winged Dove or Eurasian-collared Dove. The Mourning Doves I have seen exhibit dark wing spots and a longer tail than most other birds I am observing. Upon researching more about dove species during this time of year, I discovered that sometimes Mourning Doves can be found in groups with other dove species,¹ so I will need to look closer at the flocks of doves I have been seeing to ensure that I am not assuming they are all the same variety of dove. As mentioned above, I was able to identify many bird species that were commonly seen on our pre-quarantine field trips such as the Rock Pigeon (12 individuals), Turkey Vulture (4), American Crow (5), and Common Raven (9). Like I observed last week, I saw more Anna’s Hummingbirds (2), but saw a variety of other hummingbird species more distantly that I was not able to certainly identify as either Anna’s or Allen’s. I saw multiple Red-winged Blackbirds, which I had not seen since being home. Initially I thought the Red-winged Blackbirds may have just been either Ravens or Crows, but because of their smaller size, I was prompted to look closer. I was then able to observe the red coloration on the tops of their wings (near the shoulder), though many identification sites claim that there should be a yellow color beside the red patch on the wings,² which I did not observe. Perhaps the birds were not in a position that I was able to properly see the coloration, or the yellow stripe is not as pronounced on these individuals as it is on some others in other regions. I was excited to see White-crowned Sparrows because the black and white coloration of their heads is very distinct and I could identify them very quickly. I also observed two California Towhees, which I had not seen in a very long time. Because Towhees are essentially large sparrows, I was able to identify the behavior and patterns of the Towhee almost immediately as similar to that of a sparrow. However, their beaks are larger and wider than most sparrow species and their color pattern is relatively matte brown and drab. As far as California Towhee are concerned, males look the same as females,3 which makes the individuals seen together easier to identify. I am finding it easier to identify birds based on their behaviors, particularly foraging behavior and flight patterns. Typically I am able to quickly note the behavior of the bird (or many birds seen together) and group them with some birds that I know well and exhibit similar behaviors. This makes it easy for me to categorize the individual into a general group such as sparrow, chickadee, swallow, kinglets, hawks, etc. Then, if I am able to take a second look, I can typically note the coloration pattern and body shape that helps me narrow in on a particular species. I hope in the coming weeks I can focus on identifying individual birds better by sounds and calls. I am also hoping to see some more diverse bird-types during this more heavily migratory time. A few species I hope I am able to spot include Cliff, Bank, and Barn Swallows as well as Flycatchers, American Robins, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. See images below for pictures of (1) A Mourning Dove, (2) White-winged Dove, (3) Eurasian-collared Dove (good for comparison), (4) Red-winged Blackbird – note the red AND yellow coloration atop the wings near the shoulders, and (5) California Towhee as well as views of the park where I spent most of my time birdwatching.

Species Account: White-crowned Sparrow – Zonotrichia leucophrys (Passeriformes > Passerellidae) The White-crowned Sparrow is relatively large compared to other sparrows, though it  maintains distinctive sparrow characteristics including a small bill and long tail. The head of the White-crowned Sparrow can sometimes be slightly peaked, but is often smooth and flat. The overall coloration of the bird is a drab pale-ash gray with sharp black and white stripes on the head near the crown and leading away from the eyes. The bill tends to be a yellow color but can sometimes appear a pale pink. White-crowned sparrows tend to be found near the ground and in low shrubbery near the edges of brushy habitat. Their behavior including hopping on the ground or on branches around waist level or below, though they can be found in the open ground with bushes and hedges nearby.4 A good place to look for White-crowned Sparrows is in places where somewhat thick brush (including bushes, trees, etc.) meet with open or grassy ground available for foraging. I saw three of these individuals on the open path that was lined with bushes. When people would walk by, the sparrows would hop or fly into the bushes, but when there were few people, they could even be seen venturing into the open grass field. This species is most often seen by spectators in the Winter and early Spring (so we may be seeing fewer of these individuals as we head further into the Springtime). As many bird species do, the White-crowned Sparrow has some regional differences in morphology. This that breed along the Pacific Coast (ones we are more accustomed to seeing) will exhibit very yellow bills and duller white head stripes whereas those that breed from Alaska to Hudson Bay will have more orange bills and white or gray lores. Individuals that breed east of the Hudson Bay and in the Rockies will have pink-is bills and black lores that are connected to their black head stripe. These distinctive morphological differences indicate that the mating of these birds is quite regionally specific and there is not much mixing between regions (otherwise we would observe more of a gradient of these characteristics rather than distinctive regional differences).4 A good method of identifying the White-crowned Sparrow from the White-throated Sparrow (though they are quite similar visually), is that the White-crowned variety has a bill that is always brighter than the White-throated. Importantly, immature individuals of this species are always browner and do not display the distinctive crown coloration, making the younger White-crowned Sparrows slightly more difficult to group appropriately.5 The diet of the White-crowned Sparrow consists of mostly seeds, other vegetable matter, and sometimes insects. During the winter, their diet is almost entirely seeds, which transitions into vegetable matter during the other seasons including flowers, some mosses, berries, and small fruit. During the summer, insects can more easily be found and their diet can include various insects including spiders.6 Their feeding behavior, as I observed, was largely foraging while hopping along the ground. Sometimes they will feed in low shrubs and can make short flights to catch insects while flying, though the simplest and most common foraging strategy involves searching open areas for seeds. Oftentimes, they will forage in flocks. When I saw these three individuals in Grant Park, I believe more White-crowned Sparrows were in the bushes nearby, but there was lots of movement among the birds on the path and within bushes because the foot traffic was very heavy. Many populations of White-crowned Sparrows along the Pacific Coast are permanent residents, in contrast to those from northern and mountain regions which exhibit strongly migratory behavior. Migratory behavior occurs at night. I am now having a much easier time identifying individuals as sparrows, especially after observing their foraging and flight behavior as well as their morphology and coloration. The White-crowned Sparrow was particularly easy to identify this afternoon because the black and white stripes were easily seen using my binoculars. Even so, after discovering that the juveniles differ in coloration from the mature White-crowned Sparrows, I believe I may have seen more individuals than I originally thought. I hope I am able to see more sparrow species during this migratory time, as well as sparrows in larger numbers. I will continue to look for sparrows alongside the paths of parks and in shrubbery that lies close to the ground. The images below show a distribution map of the White-crowned Sparrow in the United States as well as a couple views of the morphology of this species. The last image shows the juvenile individual, which clearly lacks the distinctive white and black stripes on the crown.

Narrative: I departed my house, at 9:13am on April 7th and stopped birding 183 minutes later (for a total time of just over three hours). I was birding during my entire walk as I ventured along tree and bush-lined residential streets, ending up at a park about two miles from my house. The walk was just over 4 miles long in total. I witnessed nine bird taxa during these three hours, many of which were inhabiting the park as opposed to the busier yards and streets I walked past. I did not see as many birds flying above as I have seen on other birding trips and the large majority of birds I noted in eBird were foraging on the ground or in small bushes at the park. One challenge I had this week was being patient with birds coming out of hiding. Many of the birds remained in their bushes and shrubs for a long time until people had not walked past for many minutes, which was frustrating because I had to wait a relatively long time to observe many of the birds (and the main reason why this birding experience was longer than others).  The weather on this day was partly cloudy with a high of 64°F and a low of 51°F.7 As was discussed in our weekly check-in, I am hoping to be able to identify more birds based on sound alone, or at least use the vocalizations of birds to aid in quicker identification. I am also hoping to keep a close eye out for American Robins since we should be seeing more of those during this time of year. I am particularly hoping to improve my identification skills of swallows, swifts, and sparrows since I should be seeing more of these week by week. This was a good park to go birding in when no one was walking by, but I hope to be able to walk further to other parks in the next couple weeks.

Additional Photos & Media: See below photos for additional images of Grant Park and the plant life alongside my walk to and from the park.

Sources:

¹ “Common Dove and Pigeon Species in the United States.” Migratory Birds, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/surveys-and-data/HarvestSurveys/DovePigeonFactSheet.pdf.

² “Red-winged Blackbird Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/id.

“California Towhee Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Towhee/id.

“White-crowned Sparrow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/id.

“White-crowned Sparrow.” eBird, The Cornell Lab, https://ebird.org/species/whcspa.

“White-crowned Sparrow.” Audubon, 29 Dec. 2019, “Mourning Dove.” Audubon, 16 Dec. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/white-crowned-sparrow#.

7 Pelmorex Weather Networks Inc. “Los Altos, CA Window._config.masthead_has_content = True;” The Weather Network, www.theweathernetwork.com/us/last-24-hours/california/los-altos.San Rafael, CA Monthly Weather.”

8. South Los Altos, CA (Mar 31st)

Date: March 31st, 2020 – https://ebird.org/checklist/S66538383

Location: South Los Altos, CA – 37.383, -122.114 – Elevation: 48m/157ft

Site Description: This week, I went birding along my walk in South Los Altos, CA. I spent 130 minutes (a little over 2 hours) walking 3.7 miles in a loop around my neighborhood. The topography of this region is overall very flat since it is a residential area, but has lots of foliage as compared to the more people-heavy neighborhoods nearby. The walk I took is lined by many taller trees, hedges and shrubs outside of peoples homes, and small bushes that I often hear movement in. One struggle that I am having with identifying birds is that I can hear them in bushes and trees before I see them and then when I get closer or when I get a quick look at them, they immediately fly away. I am also having some trouble identifying birds when they are flying above because I cannot get a very clear look at their coloration patterns, although many of the soaring birds I’ve seen near my house in the recent weeks have somewhat distinct morphology. As mentioned in class, I am seeing many swallow species with the migration season upon us, but we did not see too many different swallows in class so I am having to look many times at my Sibley guide and the individual bird to get an idea of which species I am seeing. This time, I believe I saw a group of Tree Swallows, which I had never seen before and has a bright blue coloration pattern – at first glance I thought it may be a bluebird or Jay of some kind. However, the individuals with a striking blue-ish coloration were in the same grouping as those with a more dull grey-black coloration, but the same body shape.¹ This led me to conclude that I was seeing male and female tree swallows. Their flight pattern was consistent with that of a swallow and I could observe some of their fly-catching behavior, which was incredible to see. Other bird species I saw that were more commonly spotted on our pre-Spring Break outings included the American Crow (19 individuals) and the Common Raven (8). One species I was excited to see (and have seen everyday that I have taken a walk) is the Anna’s Hummingbird. I am glad we were able to see so many of these individuals during our class because now I am able to appreciate their coloration and flight patterns when I look more closely and can differentiate between the Anna’s Hummingbird and the Allen’s Hummingbird quickly. Their hovering behavior is so distinct and very cool to observe. Particularly because hummingbirds are commonly seen in backyards and suburban areas,² I am glad I am able to see so many individuals even though we are not venturing to Marin any longer. Another species I was able to spot was the California Scrub-Jay, which I have seen intermittently in my backyard moving around in the trees and sometimes in planters. I am typically able to quickly identify this bird based on their long tails and hunched posture along with their blue backside and grey underbelly. Scrub-Jays are often found in backyards, pastures and orchards where they are able to forage. They are usually found in lower and drier habitats than the Stellar’s Jay,3 which I was also able to spot this week. See images below for views of the path I walked along with an image of a Tree Swallow, one of an Anna’s Hummingbird, and one of a California Scrub-Jay (I tried to find images that most closely resembled the morphology and coloration I saw in the field).

Species Account: Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula (Passeriformes > Regulidae) Kinglets are quite small songbirds with relatively large heads as compared to the rest of their body, almost no neck between the head and body regions, and thin tails. They have very small, thin bills that are straight with no curvature. This bill shape is indicative of their diet: this species feeds largely on small insects. They typically feed on whatever is readily available, including small beetles, flies, leafhoppers, true bugs, caterpillars, and many others.4 In winter, they may also eat some berries and seeds. The feeding behavior of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is highly active as they are constantly moving from treetops to low brush, examining foliage, twigs, and the limbs of trees for insects. They will often exhibit a hovering behavior while taking items from foliage and they can sometimes be spotted catching insects in mid-air! Ruby-crowned Kinglets can vary widely in color between individuals with some appearing more drab and having a continuous color pattern throughout their body while others have more pronounced body color and a striking reddish coloration on the head. In general, Ruby-crowned Kinglets are olive-green birds with a prominent white eyeing and a noticeable white wingbar.5 This white wing bar is particularly noticeable because it lies next to a black wingbar. The “ruby crown” of the male is not always visible, but often can be spotted when the bird is moving. One helpful birding tip I read is that the plumage is similar to that of a Hutton’s Vireo, but has a tiny bill that is a nice identifier between the two.6 For a birder that is a bit newer to the practice of birding (like myself), the behavior of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet lends itself nicely to being spotted because they tend to be restless – which now that I am thinking about it, may be disadvantageous for avoiding predation although it’s advantageous for our own identification purposes. They tend to be lively, acrobatic birds that move quickly through foliage at the lower and middle levels (around eye height!). They are almost always flicking their wings while they are flying, so they can be noisy. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet gives off an energetic vibe as it moves very quickly. Their song resembles an excited musical chattering. They are most commonly found in a habitat containing tall, dense conifer forests that may include spruce, fir, and tamarack trees. Particularly during migration, they can be found in shrubby habitats, parks, and suburbs, which is convenient for our birding endeavors. Both parents of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet feed nestlings and the young leave the nests around 16 days after hatchling. Kinglets migrate a little earlier in the fall and later spring where peak migratory periods are October and April. The distribution of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the United States can be seen in the image below, where blue indicates where they can be found in the winter months and pink corresponds to common breeding grounds. Another identification tip that I found helpful while birding this past week was that the song of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is improbably loud and musical for such a small bird. The call is so loud that many observers who hear one before seeing it often assume it is a much larger species. The song is quite long, consisting of whistles and short clear notes.7 It was easy to identify the Ruby-crowned Kinglets that I saw during my walk on Wednesday because they were flitting around low shrubbery and I could hear them before I saw them. After patiently waiting with my binoculars for them to reveal themselves, I could see their distinctive round body shapes that lack a neck and their small bill. At first glance, I thought the Kinglets may be some sort of Wren (perhaps a House Wren) and the coloration was difficult to make out at first glance so their body almost resembled that of a Dark-eyed Junco. However, when I was able to get closer and when they moved into a position more favorable to observe their distinct coloration, the combination of their call, body shape, and coloration made it clear that I was seeing a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I was disappointed I was only able to observe the bright red “ruby crown” on one individual, but I believe they will be much easier to identify from now on after seeing the other individuals with slightly less distinctive morphology. I will continue to look for Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the shrubbery and all kinds of trees that surround me on my daily walks, and hope to witness some Kinglets when I go birding around my local parks. See below images for a U.S. distribution map and two views of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet (where the distinctive “ruby crown” is visible)

Narrative: I departed my house, binoculars in hand, at 11:10am on March 31st and stopped birding 130 minutes later (for a total time of two hours and 10 minutes). I spent two hours walking along a loop that began at my home and proceeded through a residential area and two small parks. The walk was 3.7 miles long. I witnessed seven bird taxa in this time period, although some birds I did not note on my eBird because I was not able to get a good enough look at them before they flew away. This was a particularly common issue when I was walking through the parks. I saw a massive amount of American Crows and Ravens flying above and in the very tall trees in the parks. The main challenge I had this week was that I would hear the birds moving through shrubbery, trees, hedges, and bushes, but was not able to identify them before they flew away. This was also an issue I had when I would see birds on the path ahead of me and tried to note their body shape from where I was currently standing, but once I tried to get closer or move to a side where I could make out their coloration or beak shape, they would fly away. The weather on this day was beautiful and sunny with a high of 65°F and a low of 44°F.8 As was discussed during our weekly check-in meetings, I am hoping to identify more birds that should be prevalent during migration and I am hoping to begin identifying birds based on call alone (or at least gaining a better sense for the bird based on the call and confirming my suspicions based on what I am seeing). I am particularly hoping to keep an eye out for more swallows (especially the Barn Swallow), Hutton’s Vireos, some sort of woodpecker species, and ideally some sort of hawk species. In the future, I will continue to bird in parks while I am walking because I believe this was a nice place to see a high volume of birds, particularly since there are fewer people out during this time. Because I am one of the only people in the park, I believe more birds are gathering without the fear of avoiding people and are less flighty and scared when I come closer.

Additional Photos & Media: See below photos for additional images the foliage alongside my walk on March 31st.

Sources:

¹ “Tree Swallow Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Tree_Swallow/id.

² “Anna’s Hummingbird Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/id.

3 “California Scrub-Jay Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Scrub-Jay/id.

“Ruby-crowned Kinglet.” Audubon, 29 Dec. 2019, “Mourning Dove.” Audubon, 16 Dec. 2019, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/mourning-dove.

5  “Ruby-crowned Kinglet Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ruby-crowned_Kinglet/id.

6 “Ruby-crowned Kinglet.” eBird, The Cornell Lab, https://ebird.org/species/ruckin.

7 Regulus calendula L 4 ¼” (11cm). “Ruby-Crowned Kinglet.” Bird Watcher’s Digest, 25 Sept. 2017, www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/identification/thrushes-allies/ruby-crowned-kinglet.php.

8 Pelmorex Weather Networks Inc. “Los Altos, CA Window._config.masthead_has_content = True;” The Weather Network, www.theweathernetwork.com/us/last-24-hours/california/los-altos.San Rafael, CA Monthly Weather.”

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