Sparrows are Here and Winter is Coming!

Sparrows are Here and Winter is Coming!

BY JULIE AMATO

It’s the middle of October, and despite the mini heat wave we’re experiencing, a Hermit Thrush took an exploratory stroll around our yard yesterday.  The arrival of this winter bird tells me that the seasons are indeed changing.  Each week brings new visitors to our yard, joining our year-round residents at our feeders.

Highlights of the past month

This October has been the Month of the Sparrow in our yard.

An Adult White-crowned Sparrow in our yard

White-crowned Sparrows, faithful winter residents of Santa Clara County, first arrived in our yard in mid-September, showing up in one’s or two’s.  Early one October morning, I opened the blinds and discovered a dozen of them, briskly foraging on the ground.  The White-crowned’s had arrived, in force!  They are now a constant presence in our yard, in mixed groups of adults and juveniles - look for black and white crown stripes on the adults and brown and gray crown stripes on the young ones.  Their songs, melodic trailing whistles, float through the air and reach me throughout the day.  (White-crowned’s songs are well studied, and the birds are known to have different dialects depending on where they live.)

A Lincoln’s Sparrow pays us a visit

Mixed in with that group of a dozen White-crowneds was a small sparrow that looked like it had been dipped in soot.  My mind registered it as some sort of aberrant crowned sparrow, but when I looked more closely, I suspected that it was a different species.  After days of waiting for the bird to show up, and several mishaps of not being quick enough with my camera, I finally snapped some blurry photos of this shy bird.  To my delight, my visitor was a Lincoln’s Sparrow, a first for our yard and a first for me!

A Golden-crowned Sparrow forages in our yard

Golden-crowned Sparrows, also winter residents, are arriving from the north too.  They appeared in our yard about a week after we saw our first White-crowned’s, and so far have been less numerous.  One day I watched a Golden-crowned that had plonked itself squarely in the middle of our platform feeder, munching sunflower seeds and defending the feeder from some bemused House Finches that were used to dominating their favorite food cache.  UC Santa Cruz researchers have found that Golden-crowned’s have rich social lives - they live in communities and form lifelong friendships.

I mentioned in my last post that Yellow-rumped Warblers arrive like clockwork in our neighborhood in early October - last year, I recorded my first yard sighting on October 3.  I am happy to report that this year, our first Yellow-rumped of the winter showed up on...October 3!  A coincidence, yes, but delightful nonetheless.

Our year-round resident birds are still here and getting ready for the winter.  Male House Finches are getting redder, with color slowly spreading like a blush across their heads and breasts; the color is still quite pale, not the deep fire-engine red of later in the winter.  Dark-eyed Juncos, on the other hand, mostly seem to have their adult plumage now - well-defined black hoods contrasting with their pink bills and brown backs.

Nuttall’s Woodpecker at our bird bath

The Chestnut-backed Chickadees in our yard have had a lot to say lately - on two separate days, I listened as they loudly called back and forth for extended periods of time, in the first case for a full eleven minutes (yes, I timed it!)!  They were alone in the yard during this sequence, and I wondered what they were talking about.  We have watched a White-breasted Nuthatch conduct a thorough inspection of overhead wires - my husband saw it glean a spider from out of a tangle of wire.  Nuttall’s Woodpeckers drum on poles, and one has been spotted several times taking a quick sip from our bird bath.  Occasionally we think we hear a Barn Owl at night - a scream overhead, then silence.  Of course, whenever we wait and listen for it, it never obliges.   Its ephemeral nature only increases our thrill when we are lucky enough to hear it.

What’s happening in November

Right now, I’m getting ready for the annual start of Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Each winter, together with tens of thousands of others across the U.S. and Canada, I count birds in my yard and submit the information to the Lab.  The data are analyzed by scientists to help us better understand trends in bird populations.  FeederWatch starts in November.  Participation is simple and fun, a natural extension of backyard birding - consider joining in!

Our first Yellow-rumped Warbler this winter

In November, I’m expecting to see and hear Yellow-rumped Warblers more frequently - listen for their squeaky chek call as they flit through your backyard trees.  These birds are too shy to come to my feeders, unlike the Townsend’s Warbler.  This small yellow-and-black warbler with the Lone Ranger mask showed up at our feeders for the first time last November; a male Townsend’s was a daily visitor throughout the winter.

In the woodpecker family, we are still waiting to catch a glimpse of a Red-breasted Sapsucker, newly arrived from its summer grounds further north.  Tapping on a tree, and a flash of a blazing red head, will alert you to this bird’s presence.  One of our largest woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker, will sometimes show up in backyard trees during the winter.  Look for a big bird with a heavily spotted breast and colorful tail feathers.  A bright red splash of a moustache marks the males of the red-shafted subspecies (the most common type in our area).  The birds make a variety of loud calls that will let you know that they have arrived.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets occasionally pass through our yard in the winter - last year, I saw our first one in November.  These tiny olive-green balls can be identified by their compact shape and large eyes highlighted by pale eye-rings.  They are rarely still, preferring to flit in the trees rather than come to feeders.  

If you have trees with berries in your yard, be on the outlook for Cedar Waxwings, which may arrive in large flocks to gorge themselves on the fruit.  They make a soft high-pitched wheezing sound that is unmistakable once you’ve learned it.  And finally, American Robins often congregate in yard trees in the winter - in the past, they’ve started to arrive in my yard in November.

Getting into backyard birding

Just like us, birds have a rhythm and pattern to their days.  Try observing your yard or patch at different times of the day.  Who are the “early birds”?  Who closes out the day?  Who is active in the middle of the day?  If you watch and listen regularly, you’ll soon be able to predict which birds you’re likely to see when.

What birds are in your yard?

What are you seeing and hearing in your yard now?  All observations are good, and species ID’s aren’t necessary!  (In fact, we can help with that.)  Drop us a note or send a photo or sound clip to backyardbirds@scvas.org.  We’ll share a sample of submittals on our website.

More resources

This winter, count birds at home for science!  Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, starts in November.  For information about how to participate, see the FeederWatch website or sign up for their introductory webinar.

For more information about backyard bird feeding, see our Backyard Birding page.

To learn more about backyard bird species, see our list of common backyard birds in Santa Clara County and read all about our backyard bird of the month.

Julie’s Backyard Bird List (September 23 - October 20, 2020)

1. Mourning Dove

2. Anna’s Hummingbird

3. Turkey Vulture

4. Cooper’s Hawk

5. Barn Owl (maybe!)

6. Nuttall’s Woodpecker

7. Black Phoebe

8. California Scrub-Jay

9. American Crow

10. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

11. Oak Titmouse

12. White-breasted Nuthatch

13. Bewick’s Wren

14. Northern Mockingbird

15. Hermit Thrush

16. House Finch

17. Lesser Goldfinch

18. Dark-eyed Junco

19. White-crowned Sparrow

20. Golden-crowned Sparrow

21. Lincoln’s Sparrow

22. California Towhee

23. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Photo Credits:

White-crowned Sparrow by Brooke Miller (top)

All other photos by Julie Amato and Francesco Meschia

Summer Highlights and Fall Delights

Summer Highlights and Fall Delights

BY JULIE AMATO

It’s September, and the first White-crowned Sparrow of winter has just turned up at our backyard feeders, a young bird foraging in the shade of a tree.  What a surprise!  In the last two years, I first noticed White-crowns in our yard in November, although I’d seen them in parks before then.  Was I so busy before that I failed to spot them in the yard earlier in the fall?  Have they been pushed south sooner by the wildfires up and down the coast?  Or is it merely random?  Regardless, the arrival of this lovely bird is a delightful harbinger of the changing seasons.

Summer highlights in the yard

But first, summer, the season that’s just coming to a close.  

It’s been a busy summer in our yard.  A band of streaky young House Finches has dominated our feeders, foraging together and generally making a lot of noise.  Loud squabbles break out from time to time, as they jockey for position at the feeders, but these are short-lived, and the teenage birds seem to enjoy hanging out together and splashing around in the “pool” (aka the bird bath).  Quieter, but also numerous, are a group of young Dark-eyed Juncos that frequent the yard, especially at the beginning and end of the day, and forage on the ground.  Occasionally one gives chase to the other, making a distinctive call that sounds like a laser beam from a sci-fi movie, and the white edges of their tails flash through the dark canopy of the trees.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees, usually one or two at the most, are also regular feeder visitors.  One morning, I watched one take a leaf bath in a tree, rubbing against leaves speckled with dew drops, then shaking its feathers dry.  A male and female White-breasted Nuthatch (the former with a black crown, the latter with a gray one) also stop by nearly every day.  When I see one of them hopping down the trunk of a tree, upside down, approaching a feeder and making soft chirps (the Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes this sound as a “yink”), I know that I can add a second nuthatch to my yard count - I’ve learned that the chirps are contact calls.  Sure enough, another nuthatch almost always appears in short order.

Young Cooper’s Hawk in our yard (Photo: Julie Amato)

A young Cooper’s Hawk has been practicing its hunting skills in our yard.  In the late afternoon, it swoops in, making an awkward pass at one of our feeders, then perching in a tree.  It is neither fast enough nor agile enough to nab a songbird - this is not entirely its fault, as it’s impossible to gain much momentum in our yard, which is full of obstacles like fences, trees, and bushes.  This does not mean that the hawk doesn’t give our local songbirds quite a fright.  Each time it shows up, they flee in terror, calling out and dispersing in all directions - or nearly all of them do.  One afternoon I watched and listened as an Oak Titmouse, perched safely above the hawk in an impenetrable tangle of small branches, sounded an alarm call for nearly twenty minutes.  The hawk was impressively patient, seemingly willing to wait out the titmouse and resume hunting, yet it lacked the element of surprise and eventually gave up.  I have not seen it catch anything yet, but it has returned week after week and I can only assume that it’s finding food somewhere else in the neighborhood - or in my yard when I’m not looking.

Black-headed Grosbeak at our feeders (Photo: Francesco Meschia)

The summer’s biggest surprise was the arrival of a new-to-our-yard bird at the end of July, what I first thought, with a distracted glance, was a very large House Finch.  I did a double-take when an actual House Finch turned up and was clearly about half the size of the Very Big Finch.  The big bird had black and white stripes on its face, a pale orange breast streaked with brown, and a hefty bill that was crushing our unshelled sunflower seeds at an impressive rate.  I did my research and was delighted to discover that our unusual visitor was a Black-headed Grosbeak, either an immature or an adult female bird.  She visited us two days in a row, planting herself squarely in the middle of our platform feeder and working her way through our seed offerings, and we have not seen her since.  Was she on her way south for the winter?  We wish her well on her journey.

What to look and listen for now

As we head into October, the first full month of fall, I’ll be looking for signs that my juvenile visitors are growing up, changing their young-bird feathers for more adult ones, and generally watching for the completion of the molting process and the emergence of the feathers that our neighborhood birds will sport through the winter.  

Male Brown-headed Cowbird in molt (Photo: Francesco Meschia)

Many birds are molting now, shedding their juvenile feathers for adult ones, or simply replacing old with new.  Red patches are beginning to show on some of the teenage House Finches, marking them as males.  The other day, a young male Brown-headed Cowbird showed up, sporting a patchwork mix of colored feathers that will eventually sort themselves out into brown on the head and black everywhere else.  

Starting on October 1, I’ll also keep my eyes peeled for the return of Yellow-rumped Warblers, faithful winter residents of the Bay Area, with their buttery bright rump and throat patches and their squeaky calls.  They rarely come to my feeders, but they flit through the trees in my yard nearly every day in the fall and winter.  Why will I start looking for them on the first of the month?  Because according to my records, during the past two years, they first showed up in my yard on October 3 (2019) and October 2 (2018).  I’m documenting a new yard this year, so it’s not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, but still, I could set my watch by them.  

(After writing the above paragraph, I have learned that migrating songbirds are dying by the hundreds of thousands, even millions, in the West this fall, and warblers are among the birds that have been affected.  Wildfires may be part of the problem, but there are probably other ecological factors too.  This saddens me, and I will greet each warbler that passes through my yard with gratitude and joy.)

Last October, a Red-breasted Sapsucker showed up in my yard several times, and towards the end of the month, I had my first sighting of a flock of Cedar Waxwings.  I’m eager to find out if I’ll see them again this month, or perhaps some other winter residents, arriving a bit early for their stay in our valley.

Getting into backyard birding

Whether you’re new to backyard birding or not, a wonderful way to get to know your yard birds is to simply spend a little time with them every day (and you don’t need a yard to enjoy the pastime - any place with a view will do).  Sit comfortably, inside or outside, and watch and listen for ten or fifteen minutes.  Don’t worry about figuring out exactly what species you’re observing - just experience the moment, allowing the birds’ looks, calls, and behavior to spark your curiosity and affection.  The best way to learn something about birds - and to have fun while doing so! - is to make a habit of spending time with them.  Trust that you’ll gradually answer your questions, while developing a connection with nature that will enrich your life.

What birds are in your yard?

What are you seeing and hearing in your yard this October?  All observations are good - species ID’s aren’t necessary!  (In fact, we can help with that.)  Drop us a note or send a photo or sound clip to backyardbirds@scvas.org.  We’ll share a sample of submittals on our website.

More resources

To learn more about backyard bird species, see our list of common backyard birds in Santa Clara County and read all about our backyard bird of the month! 

Julie’s September yard bird list 

1. Mourning Dove

2. Anna’s Hummingbird

3. Cooper’s Hawk

4. Black Phoebe

5. California Scrub-Jay

6. American Crow

7. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

8. Oak Titmouse

9. White-breasted Nuthatch

10. Bewick’s Wren

11. Northern Mockingbird

12. House Finch

13. Lesser Goldfinch

14. Dark-eyed Junco

15. White-crowned Sparrow

16. Golden-crowned Sparrow

17. California Towhee

18. Spotted Towhee

19. Brown-headed Cowbird

Banner photo credit: House Finch by Carter Gasiorowski

House Finch

House Finch

by Dave Zittin

Perhaps one of the most common backyard birds is the House Finch. The bright red head of most male House Finches, especially during breeding season, causes even the non-birder to comment on the “pretty red bird” they saw in their backyard. 

Male House Finch. Photo by Dave Zittin.

Attracting them to backyards 

House Finches are easily attracted to backyard seed feeders and will eat just about any seed that is available on the market for birds.  It does not matter where the seeds are placed, in a feeder or on the ground, they will be devoured by this species. Their strong, conical beak gives them the ability to crack open and remove husks in order to get at the nutritious seed inside. If you give them in-shell sunflower seeds, there will be a lot of husks on the ground which can be messy if you are feeding them over a patio or deck, but House Finches will have no problem removing the husks. 

Description 

The prominent red color on most male House Finches is due to their consumption of carotenoids which are a group of yellow-orange pigments that give color to carrots, flamingos, salmon, and many other living things. House Finches are unable to produce their own colors and the carotenoids in their diet make their way into their feathers giving them their characteristic colors. Sometimes, the diet of the male House Finch does not include enough of the “correct” pigments and it will end up showing a yellow or mustard-like color. Research shows that females select red males, the brighter the better, which suggests that their mate-to-be is probably going to be more successful at food gathering when it comes time to feed the young than a male with a color other than red. The female is a more drab gray and has numerous blurry, brown streaks on the breast and belly. 

Yellow Male House Finch. Photo by Brooke Miller.

Female House Finches. Photo by Dave Zittin

Distribution 

House Finches are widespread. Initially they were found in the southwestern United States. They were introduced to the east coast as escaped cage birds in the 1930s and have spread over a large area in the east. The western population has been making its way north from the Southwest. Today the House Finch occurs in the U.S. west of the Rockies from the Mexican border north to the Canadian border, and in most of the eastern half of the country. There are also introduced populations in Hawaii. 

Similar species 

House Finches - especially the bright, red males - are sometimes mistaken for Purple Finches. Purple Finches are larger and not commonly found in backyards. The stripes on the side of the belly of the Purple Finch are red whereas those of the House Finch are dark brown. 

Explore

• Visit All About Birds: House Finch for more information on this bird.

• Learn more about House Finches in Santa Clara County (eBird)

• Read about House Finch Eye Disease

More Backyard Bird Information

• View more common Santa Clara County Backyard Birds

• Visit our Backyard Birding page

• Read our Notes and Tips from a Backyard Birder series

• Tell us what you’re seeing in your yard! Send your notes, photos, and sound clips to backyardbirds@scvas.org. We’ll feature your submittals on our website.

Banner Photo: House Finch by Dave Zitten

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco

by Dave Zittin

This small sparrow species is common in Santa Clara County. Although they tend to be found in forested areas, they seem to be at home in our backyards, especially if there is something to eat. On the California Coast they can be found throughout the year. They will eat suet, but seem to prefer grain.

Dark-eyed Junco. Photo: Brooke Miller

The black head and the auburn-colored back of the adult bird makes this species easy to identify. Watch their tails, especially when they fly. The outer feathers are white. It has been suggested that the white feathers advertise “I see you” to a predator and you will be wasting your time if you try to catch me.

Immature juncos resemble the adult in size and shape, but do not have the solid adult colors seen on the head, breast and belly, Instead these areas on the immature bird show obvious streaking. However, both the immature and the adult juncos do have white outer tail feathers that are especially obvious when the bird flies away from the observer.

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Juvenile Dark-eyed Junco. Photo: Dave Zittin

Brood parasitism is when an individual relies on another individual to rear its young. Dark- eyed Juncos are often the hosts of such parasitism by the Brown-headed Cowbird. In the photo showing two birds, the larger, gray bird is an immature Brown-headed Cowbird which is being raised by a Dark-eyed Junco and the photo shows the junco about to feed the cowbird. Don't be surprised to see this in your backyard someday especially if you have feeders that draw juncos.

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Dark-eyed Junco feeding juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird. Photo: Dave Zittin

Explore

• Visit All About Birds: Dark-eyed Junco for more information on this bird.

More Backyard Bird Information

• View more common Santa Clara County Backyard Birds

• Visit our Backyard Birding page

• Read our Notes and Tips from a Backyard Birder series

• Tell us what you’re seeing in your yard! Send your notes, photos, and sound clips to backyardbirds@scvas.org. We’ll feature your submittals on our website.

Banner Photo: Dark-eyed Junco by Dave Zittin

28 Common Backyard Birds You Need to Know

Check out these common backyard birds of Santa Clara County.

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