BACKYARD BIRD OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
Spring is here, and it’s a wonderful time to observe birds in our neighborhoods!
Late winter and early spring bring the changing of the avian guard, as your March and April observations show. The birds that winter here are departing for their breeding grounds elsewhere, and our summer birds, which nest here, are arriving from the places where they spend the colder months (of course, our year-round resident birds have been here all along).
Swallows have arrived in large numbers, and you’ve spotted Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Violet-green Swallows, and Cliff Swallows soaring along the creeks and flying through your neighborhoods (Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows are also common here). You’ve noticed when Hooded Orioles, birds that favor the California suburbs, first showed up in your yards, having traveled from their wintering spots in Mexico. Bullock’s Orioles, less-common backyard birds, have also appeared in their preferred habitats.
Spring is a glorious time to see a variety of hummingbirds that are migrating through our area or arriving to nest here. You’ve seen Black-chinned Hummingbirds, Rufous Hummingbirds, and possibly Allen’s Hummingbirds in your yards, in addition to our year-round Anna’s Hummingbirds.
Winter birds seem to have largely departed by now, and a number of you noted the last days that you saw these species in your yards and neighborhoods. These birds include Pine Siskins, White-crowned Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Townsend’s Warblers. Before leaving, some of these birds developed bright and bold breeding plumage.
Of course, spring is the breeding season, and you’ve noticed birds gathering nesting material and building nests, including a probable returning pair of Cooper’s Hawks, as well as Warbling Vireos and California Thrashers. A pair of Oak Titmice were seen in a tree cavity, and another pair of titmice are already raising a brood in a nest box.
As always, you enjoyed observing the (sometimes comical!) behaviors of our regular backyard birds, and savoring moments of delight and connection with the birds around us, like Mallards, Wild Turkeys, Red-shouldered Hawks, Acorn Woodpeckers, Steller’s Jays, American Crows, Bewick’s Wrens, American Robins, and California Towhees.
New birds in this edition
In April, you added two new species and a hybrid bird to our All Around Town collective bird list:
A Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilocus alexandri) visited a hummingbird feeder in a San Jose yard. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are spring and summer residents of Santa Clara County, migrating here from their winter grounds in Mexico. They nest along urban streams in the valley.
Two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (Polioptila caerulea) visited a Cupertino yard, where they gathered nesting material. These small songbirds breed in our county, migrating here from points further south where they spend the winter. Gnatcatchers are more often found in wooded areas bordering chaparral and are not typical backyard birds.
A hybrid White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow was seen in a San Jose yard. Although the two crowned sparrow species are closely related to each other, documented hybrids are rare. These hybrid birds don’t necessarily look alike, with individuals taking on different characteristics of each parent.
See the stories and photographs below for identification tips for these three birds.
Here are your backyard bird observations from March and April:
A Cooper’s Hawk collects a stick to build a nest in Doug’s neighborhood.
Doug Beattie (Sunnyvale) tells us that the Cooper’s Hawks that nested in his neighborhood last year seem to have returned for this year’s breeding season:
“We noticed that a pair of Cooper's Hawks had begun roaming our neighborhood and returning to a specific spot each morning. We were excited because last spring and summer, a pair of Cooper's Hawks nested here and successfully hatched and raised four chicks. Sure enough, within a few days, we spotted some nesting activities on our daily walks. The birds were calling for each other, collecting sticks to build a nest, and the male was catching food for his mate each day.”
One of the breeding pair of Cooper’s Hawks eats a meal, observed by Doug.
“We watched the hawks work diligently to build the nest over the next few weeks, with nearly all of the activity happening in the early morning hours. Both the male and female built the nest, calling back and forth to each other during the process. Each morning, the male brings food back for the female and makes several attempts to mate. We hope they are as successful as last year and will be keeping a close eye on them!”
One of the hawks in Doug’s neighborhood launches itself into the air.
A beautifully colored Wild Turkey, photographed by Michelle. The blue face, bright red neck, and the presence of a snood (the red pouchy flesh over the bill) mark this bird as a male. Wild Turkeys can be found in backyards in and near the foothills and mountains of our county.
Michelle Viegas (Cupertino) was walking at Rancho San Antonio in late March when she came upon this Wild Turkey. She says: “I loved the metallic green hues that completely stood out on a partially cloudy day.”
Sapana Kapadia (San Jose) says: “I shot this video of a California Towhee (above) while I was in my backyard. The bird suddenly hopped on the fence from my neighbor’s yard. The curious bird is checking if there are any seeds on the ground that fell from the bird feeder.”
She continues: “California Towhees are really cute. I notice that they are always in pairs. These moments outdoors in my backyard, admiring the birds, help me take a break from my daily routine.”
Francesca Kukralová (Santa Clara) wrote to us in early April: “Spring is my favorite season and I have been enjoying seeing the birds that come with it. Violet-green, Northern Rough-winged, and Cliff Swallows have all made an appearance during my strolls along the San Tomas Aquino Creek. The White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows and the Yellow-rumped Warblers are still around, and I have seen the breeding plumage on all of them. For the past two months or so, I have been hearing one American Robin and one Bewick's Wren singing regularly outside my apartment around 5 AM, before the sun has risen. Sometimes, they are joined by the voice of a California Towhee.”
She continues: “I encountered a Belted Kingfisher on a couple of my walks by the creek. It had a messy-looking chestnut belt, so it was either a female or an immature one.”
“Also while walking by the creek one late afternoon, I saw a Cooper's Hawk flying through the air. A female Mallard was also flying past, and the hawk took a swoop at it. The duck abruptly changed direction and dove down towards the creek, while the hawk turned and flew off into the sunset. Since the duck was about the same size as the hawk, I was a little surprised that it attempted a swoop. Maybe it was just practicing?”
Francesca also observed a pair of Mallards swimming in a swimming pool.
Editor’s Note: Mallards are often found in urban areas, sometimes in surprising places! To discourage ducks from using a swimming pool, keep your pool covered when not in use, float bright inflatables on the surface, and most importantly, don’t feed the birds. If Mallards do nest in your yard, be aware that the birds and their young, as well as their eggs and their active nests, are protected by law and cannot be disturbed.
If Mallards have nested near a pool, you may eventually discover ducklings swimming in it. If this happens, provide a non-slip ramp to help the baby birds get out. Ducklings can’t fly, nor can they step out of a pool, so if there is no easy way for them to walk out, they may drown.
The hybrid crowned sparrow observed by Chris. Note the central yellow stripe typical of a Golden-crowned Sparrow, superimposed on the white and black head stripes of a White-crowned Sparrow.
Chris Henry (San Jose) writes: “Before school on April 16, I observed a third county record White-crowned x Golden-crowned Sparrow hybrid at my bird feeder!”
Chris is also doing a local “Big Year” project. He writes: “I wanted to challenge myself to be in the top twenty eBirders in Santa Clara County in 2024.” Chris has been documenting each bird species he finds in a video series, which you can find on his YouTube channel, Birding with Chris.
Cedar Waxwings in Molly’s neighborhood. These birds are often seen in large flocks.
In mid-April, Molly Graham (Mountain View) told us: “Starting at the beginning of the year, we saw more and more Cedar Waxwings. I estimated a couple dozen were in my tree at one point early in March, and possibly even more in my neighbor's tree last week. I always hear them first, but more frequently as they're flying by. When they hang out around here they seem to favor the tops of the sweetgum trees in the neighborhood.”
A Yellow-rumped Warbler partakes of walnuts offered by Molly. Note the deep saturated gray color and the bright lemon patches, typical of a Yellow-rumped in breeding plumage.
“The last I saw of the Townsend's Warblers that have been visiting since early fall was the first week of March, and the Yellow-rumped Warblers in my yard continued until late March.”
One of a pair of American Crows that visited Molly’s yard in March.
“So far I've seen young Dark-eyed Juncos and various finches showing up in increasing numbers in April. There was also a pair of American Crows that would visit my yard frequently for peanuts my neighbor left out (and walnuts I started leaving out), and I often saw them carry nesting material to the nearby redwoods. They both disappeared around late March and about two or three weeks later I started seeing them again, so I'm assuming they may have been incubating.”
A petite Pine Siskin perches on a branch of a sweetgum tree, observed by Molly. Note the yellow barring in the wing and the thin pointed bill, making it different from other members of the finch family, to which this bird belongs.
“The large flock of Pine Siskins in the neighborhood was going strong but the numbers have greatly decreased in April (which the other finches seem happy about since they get to have more access to the feeder).”
Molly continues: “To my surprise the Red-breasted Nuthatches have been continuing into spring. A mated pair has been seen at my feeder consistently since the irruption last fall and I saw them as recently as today. I haven't seen as much of the White-breasted Nuthatches but I definitely still hear them every day.”
A Hairy Woodpecker is an unusual visitor to Molly’s neighborhood. Hairy Woodpeckers are a bit larger than Downy Woodpeckers, and are often distinguished from Downies by the length of their bill. A Hairy Woodpecker’s bill is about as long as its head; a Downy’s is noticeably shorter than its head.
“In late March a Hairy Woodpecker flew into my tree. It was the first time I've seen one in the immediate area. It flew in and out super fast and I haven't seen it since. Flying overhead I've seen a Northern Harrier getting chased off by a few very small birds, as well as Northern Rough-winged Swallows and a Great Blue Heron.”
Other one-time or occasional visitors to Molly’s neighborhood included Black Phoebes, Western Bluebirds, American Robins, and Golden-crowned Sparrows.
A male Hooded Oriole spotted by Molly. Hooded Orioles are spring and summer residents of Santa Clara County, arriving here each year to build their nests and raise their young.
Molly adds: “On March 26, I heard the first of the Hooded Orioles arrive in my neighborhood, and this year they decided that the tree by my bedroom window was a prime spot to call from. I hear them every morning and often in the afternoons. One day, I looked up into my tree and there were two male orioles, although one quickly chased the other off.”
“On April 12, I had my first confirmed sighting of a female Hooded Oriole in my neighborhood. I've since seen both the male and female oriole going from tree to tree, but I'm not sure if I've seen them together at any point.”
A female Hooded Oriole spotted by Molly. Females lack the “hood” of the males, and are yellow overall with black and white wings. For a guide to oriole identification, see the last section of the August 2022 edition of All Around Town.
Anjali Mallya (Cupertino) says: “April has been a great month for backyard birding. Common everyday sightings include Mourning Dove, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Mockingbird, Western Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, California Towhee, and Spotted Towhee.”
“I have also been able to observe some interesting behaviors, like a Northern Mockingbird feeding on the berries of the Japanese castor plant outside my kitchen window. It would grab a mouthful and fly away, then come back for more. In another instance, a cute little House Finch was perched right outside the window. It was so close that I could have reached out and touched it, if not for the glass separating us. With this close encounter, I felt like it said ‘bye’ just before it flew away.”
A Dark-eyed Junco filmed by Anjali sings its typical song, a soft and gentle trill.
“I was also able to observe a Dark-eyed Junco closely - it was singing but its bill was closed at all times. It was interesting to observe the neck feathers vibrate to the sound it made.”
A Spotted Towhee filmed by Anjali sings its characteristic song - two short notes followed by a buzzy trill.
Anjali continues: “During my neighborhood walks, the chance sightings that made my day were that of a Spotted Towhee singing and a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk perched on a lamppost. I also spotted Mallards in Saratoga Creek which runs parallel to Lawrence Expressway.”
A male Acorn Woodpecker surveys the scene and preens in Anjali’s yard. Males have a large red patch on their crown, bordering a white forehead. Females also have a red crown, but it’s smaller than the males’ and borders a black forehead.
“The best sighting of the month was that of an Acorn Woodpecker in my backyard. I heard a cooing Mourning Dove, so I looked out my window to find the dove and instead I spotted this woodpecker. I was super excited as it was the first time I saw it in my backyard. I owe it to the cooing dove for this rare sighting.”
Steven Rice (Palo Alto) sent us some pictures he took on a neighborhood walk. He writes: “The Bewick’s Wren sang a completely different song than the wrens near my home.”
A Bewick’s Wren sings heartily, photographed by Steven.
A male Western Bluebird displays deep blue and coppery-orange colors.
A Black Phoebe, observed by Steven, perches on a fence.
An Oak Titmouse at the cavity in Mary Ann’s locust tree.
Mary Ann Robertson (Los Altos) writes: “A pair of Oak Titmice are the current occupants of a hole in a dead part of the locust tree in my backyard as of March 30. The hole was made in October 2022 by a Downy Woodpecker and has been investigated by various birds over the years, including two Pygmy Nuthatches in August 2023 and now the titmice in March. I spotted a Northern Flicker in the tree on March 22 but don’t know if it checked out the hole. It is fascinating to watch the comings and goings in my tree!”
A female Northern Flicker (females lack the red cheek stripe that males have) in Mary Ann’s tree.
Eve Meier (San Jose) wrote to us in mid-April: “The orange trees in our yard finally have blossoms. With the blossoms come the Rufous Hummingbirds and Allen’s Hummingbirds, which I always get excited about.”
As of late April, Eve has seen a couple of male Rufous Hummingbirds and a couple of Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbirds in her yard.
Jennifer Oliver (San Jose) wrote in late April: “I’m excited to report that this has been the Spring of Hummingbirds in my yard. Maybe they have been here before and I missed them, I’m not sure, but this was the first year for me to see Rufous Hummingbirds, Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbirds, and just tonight my first Black-chinned Hummingbirds. It’s been wonderful!”
A male Rufous Hummingbird visits Jennifer’s feeder. Males have an orange belly and an iridescent red throat, or “gorget.” Most males also have an orange back, like this bird. Rufous Hummingbirds pass through our county during spring and fall migration.
Adult male Black-chinned Hummingbirds have a black chin and an iridescent purple throat. Females and immature birds can be difficult to tell apart from female and immature Anna’s Hummingbirds, but Anna’s usually have an iridescent red spot on their throat that Black-chinneds don’t have.
It is difficult to tell apart female or immature Rufous and Allen’s Hummingbirds, and male Allen’s Hummingbirds resemble some male Rufous Hummingbirds. For this reason, these birds are often listed as “Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbirds” by observers. Note the copper-colored tail feathers on some of these birds. Allen’s Hummingbirds migrate through here in the spring and fall; some stay and breed in our local area.
Jennifer continues: “One night I counted five Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbirds at the feeder at one time, and we’ve had at least one or two visiting every day for the last two or three weeks now.”
An Oak Titmouse nestling in Jennifer’s nest box. Note the light-colored bill and gape (the fleshy area at the base of the bill), marking it as a young bird.
She adds: “We also have another nest box full of Oak Titmice this year, and they should be leaving the nest any day. Today I saw several of them peeking out of the box, starting to get curious about the outside world.”
Teresa Cheng (Cupertino) tells us: “Early April saw the addition of a Bird Buddy (a bird feeder with a built-in camera) to our backyard. It took the birds a few days to discover it, but now there's a constant stream of Lesser Goldfinches, House Finches, and Acorn Woodpeckers coming to the feeder. Initially there were some Chestnut-backed Chickadees, but they've disappeared. A White-breasted Nuthatch makes an occasional appearance. Dark-eyed Juncos and Mourning Doves forage underneath the feeder. Unfortunately, squirrels have discovered how to make the leap from a wire cage to the feeder.”
A Warbling Vireo gathers nesting material offered by Teresa. Note this bird’s strong dark eyeline and the pale lemony wash on its flanks. Females collect nesting material and build the nest, which is cup-shaped and usually woven around forked branches in a tree for support.
“The most interesting visitors, however, were focused on nest building. Two Warbling Vireos visited one morning to collect some nesting material. I had seen them in the park behind our house, but this was the only time I saw them in the yard, and I've been checking regularly.
“Even more surprising, a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers also visited for nesting material. Once again I only saw them once.”
The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a small songbird with a white eyering. The males are distinctly blue-gray above, like the bird that Teresa photographed here; the females are all gray above. Both males and females build the nest, which is shaped like a cup and secured to a tree branch.
A California Scrub-Jay in LC’s yard. The scrub-jay is one of our two local bird species called “jays.” Compare this bird to the Steller’s Jays below, which look quite different.
LC Boros (San Jose) tells us: “Winter storms were a bit rough here at the ranch, but the gardens were inundated with sparrows who spent the months plumping up in anticipation of spring and their journeys north. Plus we have a somewhat sociable Spotted Towhee lurking about.”
“The storms not only brought strong winds but about 18 inches of rain, but the birds didn’t seem to mind that much. Our nuthatches in particular were super active as were our jays.”
Steller’s Jays working on how to best liquidate LC’s feeder
“This past year our Steller’s Jays learned that if they flew to the mixed nut feeder with enough force, they could cause a handful of nuts to fall to the ground. (The specialty feeder keeps the jays and squirrels from pilfering the seed feeders meant for our smaller songbirds.) Last month, we fashioned a tiny fence to contain the nuts and the birds soon learned that while they can still get to the nuts, they can no longer shake all the nuts out in an afternoon.”
“Another issue we have is a very persistent Cooper’s Hawk that likes to use our windows to help get a meal.”
A male Hooded Oriole enjoy’s LC’s bird bath.
A male Bullock’s Oriole at LC’s home. Bullock’s are less common backyard birds than Hooded Orioles, which are more widely dispersed in our county. Bullock’s Orioles favor oak woodlands and wooded areas along waterways.
LC continues: “But spring is now finally here, as a couple of weeks ago the orioles returned from down south. We will start putting out the jam feeders as we’ve spotted them gathering nesting materials.”
A California Thrasher gathers nesting material. These birds tend to be found close to or in the foothills and mountains of our county.
“Our California Thrasher pair were also busy getting their nest in order.”
One of the rehabilitated Wild Turkeys on LC’s property
“Lastly, the orphan Wild Turkeys we released here way back in October still come and go. They usually go down the mountain right before a storm and then show back up a few days later. They are pretty chill though and are quite happy to share the north garden food offerings with the other ranch residents.”
Emma Shelton (Menlo Park) sent us her yard and neighborhood list for January through mid-April:
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
California Gull
Turkey Vulture
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
California Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Emma writes: “The ups and downs of seeing birds based on wet or dry weather has been interesting. Sometimes they don’t care about the rain and wander about the yard; sometimes they go into hiding.”
A Nuttall’s Woodpecker visits Emma’s feeder. Compare the horizontal white stripes on the bird’s back with the back of the Downy Woodpecker below.
“We almost always get a sighting of either or both Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers - they like the feeders and seem to enjoy the suet cakes too.”
A Downy Woodpecker visits Emma’s home. Note the small bill and the black back with a single vertical white stripe, very different from the pattern on the back of the Nuttall’s Woodpecker.
“The White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows showed up again in late September last year, and were plentiful in the yard under the feeders until the rainy weather just before the Christmas Bird Count. They then left for a few weeks and returned on January 9! They were regulars in the yard until recently. The last sighting was on April 14.”
“The Pine Siskins returned, but not in great numbers. The last sighting was in early March.”
“Since late December last year, we’ve had regular sightings of Yellow-rumped Warblers on the feeders or in the bushes. This lasted until late March.”
She adds: “Kind of a thrill is seeing Western Bluebirds in a lot of places around here, from Arastradero Preserve to Edgewood Park. A few days ago I found a small coast live oak around the corner with several!”
Deanne spotted this male House Finch, its red color echoing the color of the flowers.
Deanne Tucker (Los Altos) shared some photos from her yard with us.
A Pygmy Nuthatch perches on a branch, photographed by Deanne.
An American Robin poses on ivy in the rain (photo by Deanne). Robins love to eat ivy berries!
Happy backyard birding this spring, everyone!
What birds are you seeing and hearing in your yard and neighborhood?
Send your stories, lists, photos, sketches, videos, and audio clips to backyardbirds@scvas.org. We’ll feature them in our next edition of All Around Town.
Bird species reported to All Around Town from October 2020 onwards
Species in bold are reported for the first time in this edition.
Greater White-fronted Goose
Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
California Quail
Wild Turkey
Indian Peafowl (feral)
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Vaux’s Swift
White-throated Swift
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Allen’s Hummingbird
American Coot
Killdeer
Long-billed Curlew
Wilson’s Snipe
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
White-tailed Kite
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Barn Owl
Western Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Acorn Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Western Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Hutton’s Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller’s Jay
California Scrub-Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Bushtit
Wrentit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
House Wren
Bewick’s Wren
European Starling
California Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird
Varied Thrush
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Scaly-breasted Munia
House Sparrow
House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Western Meadowlark
Hooded Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Northern Waterthrush
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Summer Tanager
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Painted Bunting
A hybrid White-crowned x Golden-crowned Sparrow, hybrid ducks, domestic ducks, unidentified gull species, and Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbirds have also been reported to All Around Town.
References
All About Birds website, www.allaboutbirds.org. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY.
Birds of the World. Edited by S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home
Breeding Bird Atlas of Santa Clara County, California by William G. Bousman. Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Cupertino, CA. 2007.
A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us by Matt Ritter. Heyday Books, Berkeley, CA. Second Edition: 2022.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Handbook of Bird Biology. Edited by Irby J. Lovette and John W. Fitzpatrick. John Wiley & Sons: Chichester, West Sussex, UK. Third Edition: 2016.
Ducks in your pool and nesting in your yard. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, accessed in May 2024.
eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. http://www.ebird.org
Credits
All Around Town is compiled by SCVAS Member Julie Amato.
Banner Photo: Warbling Vireo by Teresa Cheng