Allen's Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

These tiny cuties are always flying around in the backyard. I have seen many of them nest in one of our orange trees, they always scold us when we walk past the tree. 

Traits Include: 

• Incredibly small in size
• Mostly rust colored, with white peeping through on belly
• Males have an orange throat and greenish back

Location:

 

This is the Female...

I Can't figure out if this fluffy little thing is a female or an immature or both.

Finally we have the Male...with his very bright orange throat..

 

Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch 

Spinus psaltria 

I spotted this guy in my backyard. Never seen one before. He got pretty close to me, but I was too slow to get a super close up shot of him unfortunately.  

Traits Include:

• Males are a bright yellow.
• Black forehead.
• Black to dark green back.   
• Very small size (smaller than the American goldfinch. 

Locations:

 He wasn't the most cooperative bird i'm afraid...

A little camera shy perhaps..

 

Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler

Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler

Setophaga coronata 

Spotted one in my backyard and one at El Dorado Park...
They can also be referred to as the Audubon's warbler. These is another type of yellow-rumped warbler that is referred to as the Myrtle warbler..which has a white throat instead of a yellow one.  

Traits include: 

•  Males have a yellow crown, rump, shoulder patch, and throat.
•  Grey head and back. 

Location:

 

This one was in my backyard..hopping around..

And this guy was sitting in the shade at the park...just chillin...

White Crowned Sparrow

White Crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys 

One of these little fellas was spotted at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, and the other in my backyard. 

Traits include:

• Black and white striped crown
• Yellowish, pink bill
• Grey breast

Location:

  

This is the cutie hanging out in my backyard

And this guy was at the wetlands

 

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

These two were found at a large pond in El Dorado Park.

Traits include:

• Adults have a black crown and back. 
• White below and gray wings
• They are a bit stout 
• Immature has a brown and white pattern.   

Locations:

This is an average adult 

Close up shot

And this is what an immature one looks like

Clark's Nutcracker

Clark's Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana 

This guy was spotted Near Mammoth, Ca. Mistaken as a woodpecker by Lewis and Clark, this rascal pecks at nuts and cones. 

Traits include:

• Light gray body and black wings and tail
• Long bill
• Usually seen in coniferous forests near tree line.
• Similar personality to crows.    

Location:

Osprey

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

This bird of prey is also referred to as Sea Hawk, Fish eagle, or Fish Hawk. 

Traits Include:

• White head with a dark stripe through the eye.
• Usually next to large bodies of water
• Eats fish
• Length of about 21-25 in. with a wingspan of up to 6 feet.    

Location:

White Eared Bulbul

White Eared Bulbul

Pycnonotus leucotis

Traits Include:

• White spot around ear area
• Bright yellow bottom
• Black Head and Grey Body 

Location:

 

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe 

Sayornis Nigricans

Traits Include:

• White Belly and black face, chest, and back.
• He's a flycatcher,so you will always see him chasing flies.
• Likes to stand on posts, signs, and pointy things in general 

• Incredibly fuzzy head!

Location:

Map courtesy of ASU

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Catharus guttatus

This Thrush was spotted alone in Orange County, CA. I mistook him for a American pipit, they are incredibly similar looking. You may also find him in The Hobbit waking up the dragon Smaug and at the hidden door into Erebor ;] (Sorry, nerdy moment)

Traits include:

Length:5 to 6 1/2 inches. 

Thin Bill

Dark Vertical Streaks running along chest and fading at belly. 

Location:

   

Bushtit

Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus 

These bushtits were spotted in Orange County, Ca. 

Traits Include:

• Very small greyish round cotton ball of cuteness.
• Length 3-4 in. 

Location:

Map courtesy of ASU

  

These little rascals are almost always in big groups. 

Bushtits do not like to stay still at all. They are constantly moving and picking little bugs from bushes and trees.