Term
Dark-eyed Junco
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Field Marks: Plain, ustreaked gray to reddish-brown upperparts
Gray to black hood contrasting w/ white abdomen
Flanks reddish brown to gray
Pink bill
White puter retrices
Sex: Females tend to have paler hoods and flanks
Habitat: Coniferous forests
Life History: Most populations migratory
Primarily occurs in CA in winter
Previously divided into 5 species, now 1 species w/ several groups
Song: simple trill, no change in pitch, call is high, hard smacking stip |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Green-tailed Towhee GTTO
Field Marks:
•Olive-green upperparts with bright greenish-yellow wings and tail
•Gray head and breast with contrasting rufous crown and white throat
•Long tail
•Stout bill
•Large size
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Scrub and woodland habitats
Life History:
•Short-distance neotropical migrant
•Secretive, and poorly studied |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Spotted Towhee SPTO
Field Marks:
•Brownish-gray to black upperparts with white spots and streaks
•Underparts white with rufous flanks
•Long tail
•Stout bill
•Large size
Sex:
•Sexes similar, but females tend to be paler, with more brown or gray than black plumage
Habitat:
•Scrub and woodland habitats, associated with dense brush
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Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA; some populations migratory
•Forage on the ground using a “double-scratch” maneuver |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Rufous-crowned Sparrow RCSP
Field Marks:
•Gray overall
•Rufous crown, eye stripe, streaks and spots on backs and upper wings
•Pale gray supercilium, thin white eye ring, white and dark streaks on malar
Sex:
•Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Grassland habitats with mixed shrubs and rocks
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Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA
•Typically occur in pairs, often on rocky hillsides
•Rather secretive, but vocal |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
California Towhee CATO
Field Marks:
•Gray-brown overall with cinnamon undertail coverts
•Long tail
•Stout bill
•Large size
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Chaparral, riparian woodlands
Life History:
•Nonmigratory; occurs year round in CA
•Relatively tolerant of urban and suburban areas
Conservation:
•CA Endangered Species and Federal Threatened species – Inyo subspecies eremophilus only, an isolated population of fewer than 150
•Causes include habitat degradation from development, fire, grazing, non-native plants, and OHVs |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Chipping Sparrow CHSP
Field Marks:
•Brown streaked wings and back
•Gray nape, rump, and unstreaked breast
•Two pale wing bars
•Brown to rufous crown, with pale supercilium and dark eye line
•In alternate plumage, crown becomes brighter rufous with white supercilium and black eye line
•Short, sharp-pointed, pinkish bill
•Long, notched tail
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Coniferous forests, especially near edges
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•May molt head feathers up to six times a year |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Brewer's Sparrow BRSP
Field Marks:
•A brown and gray, small streaky sparrow
•No strong contrasting regions, but facial regions are all bordered by darker feathers giving a neat, tidy appearance
•Very small pink bill with dark upper stripe
Sex:
•Monomorphic
Habitat: Chaparral, sagebrush shrub-steppe
Life History:
•2 sub-species, may be separate species; typical CA form a bird of sagebrush scrub, more general scrubby and open habitats in winter
•Insectivorous in summer, seeds in winter |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Black-chinned Sparrow BCSP
Field Marks:
•Brown streaked wings and back
•Gray head, rump, and unstreaked underparts
•Short, sharp-pointed pinkish bill
•Long, notched tail
Sex:
•In alternate plumage, males have black lores, chin, and throat
Habitat: Chaparral, sagebrush shrub-steppe
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Vesper Sparrow VESP
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown streaked upperparts and white streaked underparts
•Whitish eye ring and malar, extending around cheek
•Pale center of cheek patch with dark edges
•Indistinct gray supercilium
•White outer tail rectrices
•Rufous lesser coverts (rarely visible)
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands
Life History:
•Partially migratory; occurs in CA in winter
•Named for its habit of singing into the evening (Vespers refer to evening prayers) |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Vesper Sparrow VESP
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown streaked upperparts and white streaked underparts
•Whitish eye ring and malar, extending around cheek
•Pale center of cheek patch with dark edges
•Indistinct gray supercilium
•White outer tail rectrices
•Rufous lesser coverts (rarely visible)
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands
Life History:
•Partially migratory; occurs in CA in winter
•Named for its habit of singing into the evening (Vespers refer to evening prayers) |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Lark Sparrow LASP
Field Marks:
•Brownish gray streaked upperparts
•Plain whitish underparts with bold central spot
•Harlequin face pattern
•Two pale wing bars
•White outer rectrices
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA
•In courtship, males perform a turkey-like strutting, with tail upright, flashing white outer tail feathers |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Black-throated Sparrow BTSP
Field Marks:
•Smooth grayish-brown back and pale underparts
•Black, triangular throat patch
•White supercilium and malar
•Blackish tail with white tips on outermost rectrices
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Desert scrub
Life History:
•Some subspecies migratory; primarily occurs in CA in breeding season, year round in extreme southeastern CA
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Bell's Sparrow BESP
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown upperparts with grayer head, darker tail
•White underparts with a dark breast spot
•Buffy-gray flanks with dusky streaks
•White eye ring and supraloral spot
•White malar stripe bordered by dark lateral throat stripe
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Chaparral, sagebrush shrub-steppe
Life History:
•Some subspecies migratory; occurs year-round in CA
•Tends to run on the ground from shrub to shrub
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern – Bell’s subspecies belli only
•Federal Threatened Species – San Clemente subspecies clementeaeonly
•Causes include loss of habitat due to livestock, fire, & fire suppression |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Savannah Sparrow SASP
Field Marks:
•Brownish or grayish streaked upperparts
•Whitish underparts streaked with brown
•Whitish median crown stripe and beige to yellow supercilium
•Short, notched tail
•Outer rectrices may be paler than rest, but not white
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands and marshes
Life History:
•Most populations migratory; occurs year-round in CA
Conservation:
•CA Endangered Species – Belding’s subspecies beldingi only
•CA Species of Special Concern – Large-billed subspecies rostratus only
•Causes include loss of wetland habitat |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Grasshopper Sparrow GRSP
Field Marks:
•Grayish-brown back with intricate pattern of rufous and black spots
•Grayish streaked nape
•Cream-buff unstreaked breast
•White median crown-stripe, buffy face, and yellow supraloral spot
•Short tail with very pointed rectrices
•Large bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Named for its grasshopper-like song |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Fox Sparrow FOSP
Field Marks:
•Brown to gray upperparts with slightly redder wings and tail
•White underparts with large triangular spots
•No wing bars
•Usually yellow bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Riparian woodland, chaparral
Life History:
•All populations migrate to varying degrees
•Both breeding and wintering populations occur in different parts of CA
•Much geographic variation in plumage
•Some ornithologists propose splitting it into as many as four species
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Song Sparrow SOSP
Field Marks:
•Brownish gray streaked upperparts, with varying amounts of rufous
•Coarse dark streaks on whitish underparts converge in central spot
•Broad gray supercilium and brown lateral throat stripe
•Long, rounded, brownish-gray tail
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Marshes, scrub, brushy woodlands
Life History:
•Some populations migratory; occurs year-round in CA
•One of the most diverse and widespread songbirds in North America
•24 diagnosable subspecies
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern – several subspecies: Suisun (maxillaris), Alameda (pusillula), and San Pablo (samuelis)
•Causes include loss of tidal marsh habitat around SF Bay
•San Clemente and Santa Barbara populations (graminea) extirpated due to loss of habitat by fire and introduction of hares |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Lincoln's Sparrow LISP
Field Marks:
•Brownish-gray, finely streaked upperparts
•Buffy breast band with fine streaks
•White abdomen
•Broad gray supercilium and buffy malar
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Riparian woodlands, especially with dense brushy areas
Life History:
•All populations migrate
•Both breeding and wintering populations occur in different parts of CA
•Secretive and poorly studied |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
White-crowned Sparrow WHSP
Field Marks:
•Brownish-gray streaked back with pale gray-brown rump and nape
•Dingy grayish-brown, unstreaked underparts
•Black and white crown stripes (brown and gray in young birds)
•Pinkish, orange, to yellow bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Grasslands, scrub, brushy woodlands
Life History:
•Most subspecies migratory, wintering in CA; some populations resident
•May be the best studied songbird
•Forms flocks in winter, sometimes mixing with Golden-crowned Sparrow |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Emberizidae
Golden-crowned Sparrow GOSP
Field Marks:
•Brownish-gray streaked back with pale gray-brown rump and nape
•Dingy grayish-brown, unstreaked underparts
•Gold forecrown bordered by black (yellow and brown in young birds)
•Gray and yellow bicolored bill
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Riparian woodlands
Life History:
•Nearctic migrant
•Forms flocks in winter, sometimes mixing with White-crowned Sparrow
•Little known about its breeding biology |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Sturnidae
European Starling EUST
Field Marks:
•Dark, glossy plumage with purplish and greenish iridescence
•Short, square tail
•Pointed wings
•Long bill, yellow in breeding season
•Plumage speckled when fresh, in fall in winter, gradually wearing off
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat:
•Habitat generalist, avoiding undisturbed forest and desert
Life History:
•Occurs year round in CA
•Spread from an introduction of 100 individuals in Central Park, NYC in 1890 and 1891, to around 200 million individuals today
Conservation:
•Intense competitor for nesting cavities, displacing native species
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Motacillidae
American Pipit AMPI
Field Marks:
•Gray-brown upperparts with buffy underparts
•Underparts vary from heavily streaked to entirely unstreaked
•Slender, short, straight bill
•White tips on outer rectrices
•Pale supercilium
•Long, usually dark legs, with long hallux claw
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Marshes and grasslands, especially near coast
Life History:
•Nearctic migrant
•Ground-dwelling, walking while constantly bobbing tail
•Forms large wintering flocks |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing CEDW
Field Marks:
•Gray-brown upperparts and underparts, with pale yellow abdomen
•Black face mask with white edges and black chin
•Prominent crest
•Yellow or orange tipped tail
•Whitish undertail coverts
•Waxy red tips on the secondaries
Sex: Monomorphic
Habitat: Woodlands and forests, especially near berries
Life History:
•Migratory, occurring in CA mainly in winter
•Diet specialized on sugary fruits
•Somewhat nomadic, wandering in flocks searching out fruit
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Ptiliogonatidae
Phainopepla PHAI
Field Marks:
•Glossy black to gray upperparts and underparts
•Ragged, crested head
•Long tail
•Red iris
Sex:
•Female is dark gray with pale gray edging on all wing feathers
•Male is glossy black with white wing patch on primaries
Habitat: Riparian and oak woodlands
Life History:
•Short-distance migrant, but occurs in CA year-round
•Conspicuous, often seen perching in tree tops
•Name means “shining robe” in Greek |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Orange-crowned Warbler OCWA
Field Marks:
•Upperparts plain dusky olive-green
•Underparts greenish-yellow, faintly streaked
•Yellow undertail coverts
•No wing bars
•Crown with concealed brownish-orange patch
•Short dark eye line
•Sharply pointed bill
Sex:
•Female tends to be duller, with smaller or less distinct crown patch
Habitat: Woodlands, chaparral
Life History:
•Migratory, but occurs year round in CA |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Nashville Warbler NAWA
•Bright yellow underparts with white abdomen
•Yellow undertail coverts
•No wing bars
•Crown with rufous patch
•Bold white eye ring
•Sharply pointed bill
Sex:
•Female tends to be duller, with indistinct crown patch
Habitat: Forests, especially with shrubby undergrowth
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Favors second-growth for nesting habitat, and may actually benefit from logging or fires |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Lucy's Warbler LUWA
Field Marks:
•Upperparts uniformly gray with off-white underparts
•White undertail coverts
•No wing bars
•Reddish crown and rump patch
•Pale eye line
•Sharply pointed bill
Sex: Females with paler, diffuse, or no crown patch
Habitat:
•Riparian woodlands of the desert, associated with mesquite
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Nests almost entirely in the lower Sonoran desert
•One of the smallest New World warblers, and one of the few that nests in cavities
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
MacGillivray's Warbler MAWA
Field Marks:
•Olive upperparts with yellow underparts
•Yellow undertail coverts
•Gray hood
•No wing bars
•Bold white eye-arcs
Sex: Male has darker gray hood
Habitat: Riparian woodlands, with dense understory
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Breeding range has expanded with logging
•Some controversy over it’s name – originally called Tolmie’s Warbler by Townsend, and later changed by Audubon |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Common Yellowthroat COYE
Field Marks:
•Plain olive upperparts
•Yellow throat and breast with whitish abdomen
•Bright yellow undertail coverts
•No wing bars
Sex:
•Males have prominent black mask bordered by gray
•Females lack mask and have duller yellow underparts
Habitat:
•Marshes, riparian woodlands, with thick understory
Life History:
•Occurs year-round in CA, though some populations are migratory
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern – Saltmarsh subspecies sinuosa only
•Causes include loss of tidal marsh habitat in SF Bay area
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Yellow Warbler YEWA
Field Marks:
•Upperparts yellowish-green with bright yellow underparts
•Yellow undertail coverts
•Indistinct or no wing bars
•Yellow on inner webs of rectrices
Sex:
•Males brighter yellow with chestnut streaks on breast
•Females duller yellow with reduced or absent streaking on breast
Habitat:
•Riparian woodlands, associated with willow thickets
Life History:
•Long-distance neotropical migrant
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern
•Causes include loss of riparian habitat and cowbird parasitism |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Yellow-rumped Warbler YRWA
Field Marks:
•Gray upperparts and white underparts with black streaks
•White undertail coverts
•Yellow rump patch
•Dark cheek with contrasting white or yellow throat
•Two white wing bars
•White on outer rectrices
Sex:
•Males in alternate plumage with yellow crown patch
•Females in alternate plumage with duller upperparts
•Both sexes duller and browner overall in basic plumage
Habitat:
•Coniferous forests, but more widespread in winter
Life History:
•Migratory, some populations wintering or resident in CA
•Divided into two very similar subspecies: Myrtle’s and Audubon’s |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Black-throated Gray Warbler BTGW
Field Marks:
•Upperparts gray with black streaks
•Underparts white with black streaks
•White undertail coverts
•Dark crown and cheek patch, bordered by white stripes
•Small yellow spot on lores
•Two white wing bars
•Extensive white on outer rectrices
Sex:
•Male has black crown and throat
•Female has grayer crown and white, mottled throat
Habitat: Coniferous forests
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Poorly studied |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Townsend's Warbler TOWA
Field Marks:
•Upperparts olive green with black streaks or spots
•Yellow breast and flanks with black streaks
•Remaining underparts white, including undertail coverts
•Dark crown and cheek patch bordered by yellow stripes
•Two white wing bars
•Extensive white on outer rectrices
Sex:
•Male has black crown, cheek patch, and throat
•Female has dark olive crown and cheek patch, and yellow throat
Habitat: Coniferous forests
Life History:
•Migrant, wintering along CA coast and central America
•Joins mixed-species flocks in winter |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Hermit Warbler HEWA
Field Marks:
•Gray upperparts with whitish underparts
•White undertail coverts
•Yellow head with dark throat and nape
•Two white wingbars
•Extensive white on outer rectrices
Sex:
•Male has black throat and nape
•Female has more olive in throat and nape, mottled with yellow
Habitat: Coniferous forests
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Probably sister species to Townsend’s Warbler, and they may hybridize where their ranges overlap |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Wilson's Warbler WIWA
Field Marks:
•Plain yellowish olive upperparts with yellow underparts
•Yellow undertail coverts
•Bright yellow supercilium and lores
•No wing bars
Sex:
•Males have large glossy black cap
•Females usually have smaller black caps, mottled with olive
Habitat: Riparian woodlands
Life History:
•Neotropical migrant
•Frequently flicks and waves tail
•Flutters in mid-air while hawking insects |
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Term
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Definition
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Yellow-breasted Chat YBCH
Field Marks:
•Upperparts olive green to grayish
•Throat and breast bright yellow
•White abdomen and undertail coverts
•No wing bars
•White “spectacles” with dark lores and bill
•Very large size, long tail, and heavy bill
Sex:
•Females have grayish lores and paler lower mandible
•Males have black lores and uniformly black bill
Habitat:
•Scrub, forests, woodlands, associated with dense brush
Life History: Neotropical migrant
Conservation:
•CA Species of Special Concern
•Causes include loss of riparian habitat, and likely cowbird parasitism |
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