Meet the Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Cranes, dancing, © Ray Rozema

This month, let’s learn about a tall and graceful wading bird called the Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis). This species has one of the longest histories in fossil records for birds still alive today. The earliest Sandhill Crane fossil is estimated to be 2.5 million years old. They are social birds and usually live in pairs or family groups throughout the year. Pairs remain together for life and are known for their dancing skills. Although the dancing occurs most often in the breeding season, the cranes can dance all year long. During courtship, pairs may perform elaborate "dances” by spreading their wings, leaping into the air, and calling to each other.

Every year, Sacramento Valley residents welcome the Sandhill Cranes’ fall arrival. The birds’ familiar calls prompt us to look upward. Seeing them fly so high with their broad, outstretched wings is always amazing and humbling. We realize they have flown such a long distance to be here. Throughout the winter, Sandhill Cranes can usually be found in large numbers at area Delta hotspots such as Stone Lakes, Cosumnes River Preserve, Staten Island, and Woodbridge Ecological Reserve.

The majority of Sandhill Crane are migratory. There are five known ‘subspecies’ of Sandhill Cranes. Two of these migratory subspecies are seen in the Sacramento Valley, the Greater (A. c. tabida) and Lesser (A. c. canadensis). The three other subspecies are non-migratory and live year-round in Mississippi, Florida, and Cuba.

Because Sandhill Cranes use upper currents of warm air (or thermals) to obtain lift, they are able to soar for many hours without consuming much energy. Not having to flap their wings conserves energy. When Sandhill Cranes fly, their necks are outstretched, their feet trail behind their tails, and they are often in a V formation.

Sandhill Cranes, © Paul Miller

What do Sandhill Cranes look like?

Sandhill Cranes, adult and juvenile © Mary Forrestal

At first glance, Sandhill Cranes look somewhat similar to herons. However, the two have a few different physical characteristics. Sandhill Cranes have shorter bills and also have characteristic hind-end feathers which hang down towards the ground which herons lack. Adult Sandhill Crane males and females are similar. They have long, slender bodies, are mainly ashy-gray (but can also have tan or orangish-tan feathers in summer caused by iron oxide staining from the soil in some locations), have yellowish eyes, long necks, long dark legs, have bright red forehead skin patches that partially encircles their eyes, broad, pointed, and fingered wings, long, dark, sharp, and pointed bills, short tails, and white cheeks, chins, and throats. Their wingtips are a little darker than the rest of their wings, which is easier seen in flight. Immature birds lack the red crown and white cheeks. Instead, they have pale to rust-colored crowns, brownish heads, gray underparts, and their necks, backs, and wings are mottled with a rusty color. Much of the rust-brown color will fade by the first winter; but full adult plumage is not reached for over two years.

Of the two subspecies of Sandhill Crane seen in the Sacramento Valley region, the Greater subspecies is slightly larger than the Lesser. The Greater also has a larger red crown area.

Where do Sandhill Cranes live or nest?

Sandhill Crane, © Chris Conard

Sandhill Cranes are found at various times of the year in open grasslands, savannas (areas mixed with scattered trees and grasslands), meadows, coastal areas, marshes, river valleys, agricultural fields, edges of large bodies of water, shallow wetlands for roosting at night, tundra, and boreal habitats. During migration and winter, unrelated cranes come together to form huge flocks that forage (hunt for food) and roost (rest) together. These large groups number sometimes in the thousands!

In spring, the migratory subspecies of Sandhill Cranes travel north to breed in Canada, Alaska, Siberia, and a few areas in the northern-most United States. In winter, they migrate south to central California, the far-southern U.S., or Mexico. They spend the daytime in croplands, pastures, grasslands, or wetlands. At night, they roost in areas where shallow water surrounds them which tends to discourage predators. Seasonal rain and the planned flooding of fields provide them with larger and safer roosting areas. They can form large flocks in winter of over 10,000.

Sandhill Cranes were named for one of their migratory stopover points (or staging areas). Large numbers of cranes congregate from February to early April on the edge of the Nebraska Sandhills on the Platte River basin. Birds migrating to their northern breeding grounds use this crucial area to rest and consume nourishing food before they finish their long journey.

Sandhill Cranes are ground nesters and nest once per year in open wetlands, marshes, fields, and prairies. Of the two subspecies that come to the Sacramento Valley, the Lesser subspecies nests in far-northern tundra habitat and the Greater subspecies nests in grasslands or muddy ground further south. Sandhill Cranes prefer to nest in areas where plants are growing in standing water. Their nests may actually float on the water and are anchored to nearby plants. Nests are 30-40 inches across and 4-6 inches high. Sometimes Sandhill Cranes will also nest on dry ground. Sandhill Cranes build their nests out of surrounding plant material and there are usually two eggs per nest (sometimes 1 or 3). Both parents help build and tend to the nest Males will also guard the nest. At the time of hatching, the chicks are well-developed, covered with down, active, and have open eyes. The young usually leave the nest within a day after hatching and will then follow their parents. Both parents feed their young until the young learn to feed themselves. Sandhill Cranes will defend both themselves and their young from aerial predators by jumping and kicking. If land predators such as dogs, foxes, and coyotes attack, the birds begin to hiss and will advance forward with open wings and pointed bills. Sandhill Cranes may both kick and use their bills to stab a predator. Their sharp bills can be lethal; even coyotes have been killed. The young begin to fly at 2-3 months of age, just in time to join their parents on their first fall migration journey. They will remain in close proximity to their parents for about 9-10 months.

What do Sandhill Cranes eat?

Sandhill Crane foraging for food © Mary Forrestal

Sandhill Cranes have a varied diet and are said to be opportunistic feeders. They will change their diet to what’s available in their current habitat. Sandhill Cranes are omnivorous which means they eat foods of both plant and animal origin. Their diet consists mostly of plants (berries, bulbs, tubers) and grains. They readily eat cultivated foods such as corn, wheat, and cottonseed. Sandhill Cranes will also eat invertebrates, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.They often probe for food underground by inserting their bills below ground level. Except during the breeding season, Sandhill Cranes mostly forage in flocks.

What do Sandhill Cranes sound like?

Sandhill Cranes do not have a voice box (or larynx) like humans to produce sound. Their tracheas (or windpipes) are extremely long and reach from their necks to their sternums (or breastbones)! The unique anatomy of their tracheas enables Sandhill Cranes to produce their long-ranging sounds. The calls made by Sandhill Cranes have been described as either loud or soft, distinctive, rattling, rolling, sharp, bugling, or yodeling. Young birds have a very different call which has been described as being high-pitched or squeaky. Some say they sound like crickets.

Sandhill Crane pairs have duet calling sessions when they call to each other in unison. It’s thought that these events create a strong pair bond. The female makes two calls for every one from the male.

You can listen to Sandhill Cranes’ sounds below.

This article was compiled by Jane Van Kessel.

Sources include Cornell’s All About Birds and Cornell’s Birds of the World, National Audubon Society Field Guide, 150 Frequently Seen Birds of California’s Great Valley, pages 76-77, National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition, page 162, Wikipedia, National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited

Sandhill Cranes, © Elliott Chasin

Meet the Oak Titmouse

Oak Titmouse, Image by Dana J. Miller

This month let’s learn about a song bird frequently seen and heard in the Sacramento Valley called the Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus). Oak Titmice are non-migratory birds and pairs usually remain together for life. Often small family groups are seen interacting and will forage (hunt for food) together throughout a wooded area. Titmice, tits, and chickadees are all included in the widespread family Paridae. Birds in this family group have the following similarities: they are small perching birds, are known to be extremely active, and have distinctive calls. It’s interesting to note that the five species of titmice are only present in North America. Only the Oak Titmouse is found in the Sacramento Valley.

How did the Oak Titmouse acquire its somewhat unusual name? “Tit” is an Old English term for “small”. In the distant past, a “titmouse” was referred to as a “titmase” because “mase or mose” were old terms for the word “bird”. Therefore, these two terms together would mean “small bird”. Over time, the name has changed from “titmase” to “titmouse” in our modern English language.  

What do Oak Titmice look like?

Oak Titmouse, Image by Ed Harper

Oak Titmice are usually described as plain, drab birds and may not initially attract the eye of most birdwatchers. In fact, the species name for Oak Titmouse is “inornatus” meaning “plain”. However, as one becomes familiar with their frequent vocalizations, perky acrobatics, and plain but cute physical appearance, birdwatchers quickly find them to be quite intriguing.

Oak Titmouse, immature, Image by Rich Howard

Oak Titmice are small, gray-brown birds with pointed crests (or tufts of head feathers), plain faces, short, stubby and rounded gray-black bills, dark eyes that stand out against their pale faces, solid colored wings, pale gray-white abdomens, and sometimes a yellowish-brown or grayish coloration on their flanks (or sides). Males and females are similar in appearance. Although usually partly visible, the crests of Oak Titmice can be lowered so that their heads appear more rounded. Juveniles birds are similar to adults but somewhat paler overall and their crests can be less prominent.

As you watch the Oak Titmouse you’ll notice they have different flight patterns including a direct flight, a fluttering flight, or an undulating flight (a smooth up and down motion). They move around on the ground by hopping.

 Where do Oak Titmice live and nest?

The Oak Titmouse is a locally common woodland species that is narrowly distributed from southwestern Oregon through California to northwestern Baja California. (Their range wraps around and excludes the San Joaquin Valley). There is also an outlying population in southern Baja California. They prefer open woodlands of dry oak or oak-pine woodlands; sometimes pinyon-juniper. Oak Titmice are usually at low to mid-elevations but can also be found at slightly higher elevations as long as adequate oak trees are present. Their desired habitats includes mixed oak woodlands, riparian woodlands, and residential plantings. Oak Titmice will also be seen in scrub oaks or other brush as long as there are woodlands are nearby. If you are looking for Oak Titmice in the Sacramento Area, anywhere with oak woodlands is a good choice. Locally, this included most parks along the American River Parkway, those in the Folsom Lake area, and many in Yolo County.

Oak Titmouse with nesting material, Image by Mary Forrestal

Oak Titmice nest and sleep in rotted-out tree cavities or stumps, fence posts or poles, eaves, occasionally pipes, abandoned woodpecker holes, holes in riverbanks, and amongst dense foliage provided by well-wooded backyards. Oak Titmice will also use nest boxes. If you are considering putting up a nest box for Oak Titmice, Cornell Labs has specific instructions here.

Oak Titmice are sometimes able to partially excavate (or to make a hole by digging) nest sites if the wood is very soft or decayed. They build their nests using grass, hair, bark fibers, moss, mud, and feathers and line their nests with soft materials such as feathers, fur, and moss. Females choose the nest site and alone incubate the eggs for around 14-16 days. Both parents bring food to the nestlings. The young leave their nest about 16-21 days after hatching. Parents continue to tend to their young for another three to four weeks after they leave the nest. Both parents will continue to defend this same territory throughout the year.

Oak Titmice do not form large flocks after the nesting season. This is interesting because most of the other species in the family Paridae do in fact gather into large flocks at this time. However, Oak Titmouse will sometimes join small mixed flocks in search of food. The joint effort likely helps them find food more successfully.

What do Oak Titmice eat?

Oak Titmouse, Image by Dana J. Miller-Blair

Oak Titmice eat seeds, nuts, and insects including: leafhoppers, treehoppers, plant lice, aphids, scale insects, caterpillars, beetles, ants, wasps, flies, and spiders. They will also eat suet, berries, acorns, and other small fruits. Oak Titmice often store food for later consumption.

Oak Titmice find insects on leaves but can also use their stout bill to uncover insects by pecking into crevices, pulling back plant material, and chipping away bark. They will sometimes catch insects in mid-air. Oak Titmice move about very actively, hang upside down on twigs, and call to each other frequently while searching for food. They have a reported hunting rate of 40 food-grabbing attempts every 15 minutes.

Oak Titmice will readily come to both seed feeders and sunflowers in residential yards. They will also feed on the ground but seem to prefer elevated sources of food.

Oak Titmouse, Image by Ed Harper

What do Oak Titmice sound like?

Oak Titmice are highly vocal birds. One early naturalist was quoted as saying “They’re the voice and soul of the oaks.” Another was quoted as saying: “What they lack in color, they make up in sound.” 

Oak Titmice have a familiar chatter-like call which both males and females utter throughout the year. Males sing less often during the non-breeding season. The calls of Oak Titmice have been described as nasal, harsh, shrill, chatter-like, or scratchy and sound like: see-dee-dee, chick-a-dee-dee, or tsick-dee-dee. Calls often start with a few high thin notes followed by single harsh scold like: is is is char or pi pi pi peeew. 

There is great variability in Oak Titmice songs. They are often composed of a series of rapid, whistled, and repeated syllables with the last part sometimes being of lower pitch. This pattern is also common with chickadees. The songs of Oak Titmice have been described as having sharp, robust notes sounding like teewee teewee teewee, weety weety weety, or “Peter, Peter, Peter”. They also have a song that sounds like a more uniform trill.


This article was compiled by Jane Van Kessel.

Sources include Cornell’s All About Birds and Cornell’s Birds of the World, National Audubon Society Field Guide, 150 Frequently Seen Birds of California’s Great Valley, page 213, National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition, page 374, Wikipedia, Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance

Oak Titmouse, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Meet the Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper, adult © Ray Rozema

Click on the image above to see more pictures of the Spotted Sandpiper.

This month let’s learn about a unique shorebird that’s found across North America, called the Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius). Spotted Sandpipers are the most widespread sandpiper in North America. Their range is throughout North and Central America and includes the western Caribbean Islands. They are rare visitors to Europe, Russia, Siberia, and a few Pacific Ocean islands. Spotted Sandpipers are found at elevations from sea level to 15,400 feet. However, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey, populations of Spotted Sandpipers from 1966 to 2019 declined yearly which resulted in a total decrease of around 54%. Habitat loss is most likely the major cause of this decline and is due in part to wildfires. Fortunately, Spotted Sandpipers can adapt to many environmental changes and pressures.

Spotted Sandpipers are usually solitary birds. Sometimes there will be a few of birds in close proximity; but as a rule they are not seen in flocks. A helpful clue used to identify this species is that their rear ends are almost constantly bobbing up and down in a teetering or see-saw motion. Click here to see a video of a Spotted Sandpiper bobbing its tail. Even hatchlings exhibit this behavior. Additional clues for identification are that Spotted Sandpipers appear to lean forward when they walk and during flight they hold their wings stiff. They fly (often fairly low) using rapid wingbeats followed by glides. They glide with their wings held in a fixed, downward curved position. Spotted Sandpipers will sometimes perform a display when threatened by positioning their bodies upright and their bills forward, extending their wings outward and upward, raising their breast feathers, opening their bills, and fanning their tails!

In spring and fall, most populations of Spotted Sandpipers migrate long-distances. The exception is those that live year-round along the west coast of the U.S and in some inland regions of California. In these areas, they may be short-distance migrants. Breeding locations in the Sacramento Valley were first documented in the 1970’s. Spotted Sandpipers migrate both day and night; either alone or in small groups. This is interesting because most other shorebirds migrate in large flocks. 

What do Spotted Sandpipers look like?

Spotted Sandpipers get their name from the dark spots that appear on their white breast and belly during mating season. In addition, during the mating season, a pattern of brown and light brown is more distinct on their backs, wings, and heads. When breeding season ends, the breast and belly of adult birds gradually change to plain white. This occurs when Spotted Sandpipers molt (shed feathers so new ones can grow in). They also lose the patterning on their upper parts, becoming a solid brown. Their short, straight, yellow or reddish-orange bills also change appearance in mating season. When breeding the tip of the bill is black, this changes to tan or brown in winter. A broken white eye-ring, white supercilium (the line running across the top of the eye), and dark eyestripe below the supercilium are present year-round. When flying, Spotted Sandpipers have a noticeable white stripe on their upper wings (view photo here) and a white area under their wings (view photo here).

Spotted Sandpiper, adult, breeding plumage © Dana J. Miller-Blair
Click on the image above to see more pictures of the Spotted Sandpiper.

Spotted Sandpiper, non-breeding adult or juvenile © Daniel Lee Brown
Click on the image above to see more pictures of the Spotted Sandpiper.

Spotted Sandpipers are commonly confused with the similar Solitary Sandpiper. One distinct difference is a white wedge-shaped area on the Spotted Sandpiper that extends from the belly into their shoulder region. Refer to the photos above. The Solitary Sandpiper does not have this. You can see a picture of a Solitary Sandpiper here. You can also find images of other shorebirds found in the Sacramento Area in our Gallery of Birds and learn more about what shorebirds are found in our area at what times of year by checking out the Sacramento Area Birds Checklist.

Where do Spotted Sandpipers live and nest?

Throughout the seasons, Spotted Sandpipers are found in various habitats such as forest, scrub forest, rainforest, chaparral, savanna, grassland, gravel pits, coastal shores, and mudflats. You may think an ocean beach would be the best place to find a shorebird such as a Spotted Sandpiper. However, it’s more common to see this species of shorebird near fresh water than salt water. Spotted Sandpipers are found most often when walking or hopping along edges of rivers, lakes, streams, marshes, creeks, ponds, and other inland waterways. It’s mainly in winter that they are seen along ocean coasts and in mudflats. There are some great places to find Spotted Sandpipers locally, such as the parks along the American River Parkway or on the edges of Folsom Lake.

Spotted Sandpiper, non-breeding adult © Dana J. Miller-Blair
Click on the image above to see more pictures of the Spotted Sandpiper.

The nesting range of Spotted Sandpipers is vast and stretches from northern Alaska and Canada across most of the North American continent to the southern United States. In contrast, most other sandpiper species nest solely in arctic regions. Spotted Sandpiper nest sites are commonly found in forested areas near rivers or lakes but they can also be found in grasslands, forests, fields, lawns and parks, and other habitats where there is a body of water. In winter, Spotted Sandpipers can be found in most any habitat where water is present. They spend their winters along the Pacific Coast south from British Columbia and across the southern states south to South America.

The nesting behavior of Spotted Sandpiper pairs varies from region to region. In many regions, females spend the majority of their time defending their nesting territories while males concentrate on caring for the young. These duties are reversed in most other bird species in general. Because Spotted Sandpiper females often arrive at nesting locations before males do, they often choose the nesting sites. Both males and females help to build nests. Nests are usually within 300 feet of the water’s edge under trees or shrubs so that there is shelter for the hatchlings. The nest sites are simple depressions on the ground lined with grass, moss, and sometimes feathers. In some regions, females lay eggs at more than one nest site. A different male will attend to each clutch of eggs. Although males can be territorial too, females exhibit extremely aggressive behavior when they feel their nesting territories are threatened. Sometimes, a less aggressive tactic is used to lure predators away from the nests, called Broken Wing Display. After dropping low to the ground, a parent will pretend to be injured by flapping its wings and spreading its tail.

When the Spotted Sandpiper chicks hatch, they are covered with downy feathers and their eyes are wide open. They walk with a steady gait soon after hatching and will begin foraging (hunting for food). At 3-5 days, they will start to stalk moving prey. Chicks are able to fly a good distance by 18 days.

What do Spotted Sandpipers eat?

Spotted Sandpiper, non-breeding adult or juvenile, © Dana J. Miller-Blair
Click on the image above to see more pictures of the Spotted Sandpiper.

Spotted Sandpiper catch their prey by pecking at visible insects on the ground or in shallow water, grabbing insects in flight, lunging at moving prey such as small fish, or picking insects and spiders off plants. They also sometimes poke their bills into sand or mud in search for food and will occasionally swim and dive for prey. Their diet includes almost anything that is small enough for them to eat. One source described them as “opportunistic carnivores”. They eat insects, crustaceans, occasionally small fish, and dead animals (or carrion). Included on their list of acceptable foods are: flies, fly larvae, grasshoppers, spiders, crickets, beetles, caterpillars, worms, snails, small crustaceans (crabs and crayfish), mollusks, and small fish. Often Spotted Sandpipers will dip their prey into water prior to ingesting it; but the reason for this behavior is uncertain. Females eat larger quantities of food in the breeding season due to their high metabolic energy usage when laying eggs. Chicks feed themselves as they walk and peck at the ground in search of soft-bodied morsels.

What do Spotted Sandpipers sound like?

One often hears a Spotted Sandpiper’s two or three note call when they take off from a shore. Listen also for their piercing high-pitched whistle alarm call along shores when they are warning a threat to stay back.

Their vocalizations have been described as a clear and abrupt peet-weet; or weet, weet, weet, or peet weet weet and also as a soft trill. Their alarm call is a repeated whistle pweet, pweet and their display song is a rolling, clear, whistled tototowee, tototowee. You can listen to the Spotted Sandpiper now.

The sounds of Spotted Sandpipers are from xeno-canto.org. More Spotted Sandpiper vocalizations can be found at: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Actitis-macularius.

This article was compiled by Jane Van Kessel.

Sources include Cornell Lab’s All About Birds and Birds of the World, 150 Frequently Seen Birds of California’s Great Valley, page 93, Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, Second Edition, page 129, by David Allen Sibley, National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 2017 edition, page 180, Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman, page 182, eBird.org, NatureWorks New Hampshire PBS, Sacramento County Breeding Birds: A Tale of Two Atlases and Three Decades of Change by Edward R. Pandolfino, Lily A. Douglas, Timothy D. Manolis, and Chris Conard, page 91, National Audubon (online) Bird Guide, Wikipedia, Animal Diversity Web

Meet the Western Meadowlark

Western Meadowlark, Image by Ray Rozema

This month, let’s learn about a song bird that lives year-round in California’s Central Valley, the Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta). They are regularly found from the Pacific Ocean across to Michigan and up to Canada and south to northern Mexico. Western Meadowlarks are permanent residents in the western and south-central parts of their range. In contrast, the populations in the northern U.S. and Canada migrate south for the winter. Some winter as far away as northern Mexico.

The Western Meadowlark is a vividly colored species and has a glorious song. No wonder six states in the U.S. have designated the Western Meadowlark to be their state bird! Meadowlarks are not related to birds in the lark family. Instead, they are closely related to blackbirds and orioles. In some Midwest states, Western Meadowlarks are referred to as thunderchunks. This is because their vocalizations can be quite loud and they are “plump or chunky-shaped” birds. One will often hear Western Meadowlarks sing or call prior to seeing them. If you are lucky, you may see one perched on a fence or on the ground foraging (or searching for food). Unfortunately, one may only get a brief glimpse of these birds before they quickly vanish into vegetation. When taking off in flight, they start with brief, quail-like bursts; then they alternate between quick flaps and short, stiff glides.

Western Meadowlark in flight, Image by Larry Hickey

Take a minute to look at the second part of the Western Meadowlark’s scientific name “neglecta.” Western Meadowlarks were given this name because for a very long time they weren’t appreciated. They were thought to be individuals of another species called the Eastern Meadowlark. It wasn’t until the mid 1850’s that Western Meadowlarks were identified as a separate species. There is also a third and recently recognized (2022) meadowlark species, called the Chihuahuan Meadowlark. The ranges of these species overlap in specific areas but not in the Sacramento Valley. All three species are similar in shape, color, and pattern. However, they have different vocalizations and have some slight differences in their physical structure and/or plumage color.

What do Western Meadowlarks look like?

Western Meadowlark, adult, Image by Susie Nishio

Western Meadowlarks are around 9 inches in length. Female birds look similar to males but are slightly duller. In the spring and summer, Western Meadowlarks have bold yellow throats and chests with contrasting black V-shaped necklaces, tannish-brown and black plumage on their backs, tails, and wings, tan sides (or flanks) with dark streaks and spots, fairly short tails with white outer tail feathers (seen more often in flight on takeoff and landing), long, slender, slate or clay-colored bills, dark eyes, and long pink legs. Their heads are striped with light brown and black bands. Their light colored middle band changes to a bright yellow from the eye to the bill. Juvenile birds have paler bellies, less streaking of their flanks, pinkish bills, and the black chest Vs are absent.

After Western Meadowlarks molt and grow new feathers in the fall, the new feathers have a veil (or covering) over them which is tan or buff in color. During this time, Western Meadowlarks are less colorful. By early spring, this covering wears off and their breast plumage becomes a bright yellow which remains throughout the summer.

Where do Western Meadowlarks live and nest?

Many people do not see any value in non-developed dry fields. However, these dry grass fields are very desirable and  critically necessary habitats for Western Meadowlarks. Western Meadowlarks actually avoid areas with dense trees and shrubs and require wide open spaces to nest and hunt for food. One can find them in open grasslands, meadows, prairies, agricultural fields, weedy fields, pasturelands, and along marshes. They are very sensitive to human disturbance and will abandon their nests if they feel at all threatened.

Western Meadowlark, Image by Ed Harper

Western Meadowlark females select nest sites on the ground and in a concealed location. Their nests are usually located in a slightly depressed spot (or slightly lower than the surface). The females independently construct cup-shaped nests out of grasses which takes 6-8 days to build. Frequently, the females also construct domed-shaped coverings over the nests to protect them from the sun and/or rain, etc. They make these “domes” by weaving grasses and shrub stems together and will anchor them to surrounding shrubs. Female Western Meadowlarks will also make tunnels going from the nest to the grasslands to have safe passage for foraging: both for herself and her future fledgelings. The female also solely incubate the young. The incubation period lasts for about two weeks. Males protect the nesting territory and will aggressively chase intruders away. Males also bring insects to the nest that the female will feed to the young. The young leave the nest (or fledge) in about 10-14 days after hatching and begin to learn how to forage. The parents continue to care for them for two additional weeks until they are able to skillfully fly.

What do Western Meadowlarks eat?

Western Meadowlark, Image by Ed harper

The diet of Western Meadowlarks changes with the seasons. They eat mainly grains in the winter and early spring, switch to insects during the nesting season, and consume weed seeds in the fall. In the early 1900’s, grain growers thought that Western Meadowlarks greatly harmed their crops. After research was done, it was discovered that these birds actually eat a great number of crop-damaging insects!

Western Meadowlarks’ diet includes grain, weed seeds, beetles, caterpillars, sow bugs, snails, spiders, ants, cutworms, grasshoppers, and crickets. They will occassionally eat eggs from other grassland birds and roadkill in extreme winters. In the winter, they will often feed in flocks.

The long, slender bill of the Western Meadowlark is perfect for grabbing insects. Western Meadowlarks also have very powerful muscles used to open and close their bills. Because they have these extra strong muscles, they are able to use a special foraging technique called gaping. First they penetrate the soil with their long bills and then force open their bills wide underground. This creates a hole in which Western Meadowlarks find buried insects and larvae.

What do Western Meadowlarks sound like?

Western Meadowlark, Image by Chris Conard

The beautiful and familiar song of a Western Meadowlark can perk up a listener’s ears and spirits. Western Meadowlarks’ vocalizations have been described as “whistles that speed up to a bubbling jumble”, “watery sounds”, “bell-like”, “warbles”, “a dull rattle in flight”, “a sharp chuck or chuk note”, and “flute-like gurgles going down the scale”. You can listen to the Western Meadowlark now and may wish to come up with your own description(s).

The sounds of Western Meadowlarks are from xeno-canto.org. More Western Meadowlark vocalizations can be found at: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Sturnella-neglecta.

Meet the Killdeer

This month let’s learn about an interesting shorebird in the plover family called a Killdeer, (Charadrius vociferus). Killdeers somewhat tolerate human presence so it is fairly easy to observe them, at least from a distance. Their calls are frequently heard before they are seen. They tend to vocalize after the slightest disturbance or whenever a potential predator comes into view. Killdeers make a call that sounds similar to their name and this is why they were given their common name. The species name, vociferus, means “shouting” or “yelling” in Latin so that name is quite fitting too.

Adult Killdeer, Image by Ed Harper

Killdeer populations can be found in many regions of the U.S. and in Newfoundland, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. 

Killdeer populations are either “resident” species or “medium-distance migrants”. In the Sacramento region they live here year-round. This is also the case for other populations in the southern half of the U.S. and along the Pacific coast. In contrast, the populations that nest in the colder, northern states migrate south for the winter. Some populations migrate as far south as South America! It is interesting that migrating Killdeers often fly over populations that are non-migratory.

Killdeers are often solitary birds or are seen in pairs during the nesting season. They are not known to gather into large flocks but may form small groups when lingering in their summer habitats or during migration.

Killdeers travel by walking or running on the ground or by direct flight with rapid wing beats. They are good swimmers but aren’t seen in the water very often.

What do Killdeers look like?

Adult Killdeer, Image by Paul Miller

Killdeers are tall, slender birds about the size of American Robins. Adult males and females look similar. They have two distinctive, dark chest bands with the upper band continuing around the neck. It's the only plover in North America with two breast bands and is the largest of the ringed plovers. Their chest bands contrast greatly with their white chests. Some sources report that the chest bands and/or facial markings of females are duller. Killdeers have bright white collars, red eye rings, short dark bills, white foreheads, white stripes behind their eyes, long flesh-colored legs, long tails, grayish-brown backs with reddish feather edges, brown heads with areas of black and white, orange rumps, and brown upper tail feathers. Their wings are long and pointed which enable them to fly fast and maneuver quickly. Black feathers with a white central band are visible on outstretched wings. In flight, they have noticeable orange (or rusty) midline tail feathers.

Adult Killdeer, Image by Larry Hickey

Killdeer chicks, Image by Ray Rozema

Juvenile birds with their downy feathers are similar to adults but are smaller and only have one dark chest band. They have white abdomens, foreheads, necks, and chins. There is a light reddish or rufous color on their undersides near the rear. Their upper parts are tanish-brown with black. Because of their smaller size and single chest band, young Killdeers could be incorrectly identified as being other plover species. Pictures of other plovers (and many other birds) that can be found in the Sacramento Area are available in the Gallery of Birds, specifically the Shorebirds section.

Where do Killdeers live and nest?

Killdeers are usually found in short vegetation, up to one inch in height or in areas with sandy or gravelly surfaces. They are seen both in natural environments and human-modified habitats. Their close proximity to humans puts Killdeers at a huge risk for pesticide poisoning since they forage and nest on surfaces that are often sprayed with toxins. Killdeer prefer open or semi-open areas such as sandbars, shores of rivers, ponds, and lakes, mudflats or lagoons, fields, lawns, driveways, meadows, athletic fields, gravel parking lots, wetlands, airports, and golf courses. Killdeers are a type of shorebird but a dry prairie is just as welcoming to a Killdeer as a river shore. Most other shorebird species remain close to water. 

There are many good locations in the Sacramento Area to find Killdeer. You can learn more about some these locations in Where to Go Birding.

Killdeer with eggs, Image by Chris Conard

The nest sites of Killdeers are well camouflaged. Because their egg shells have a speckled design that makes them resemble pebbles, their eggs blend well into the environment. Their nests are simple depressions in the ground about 3-3.5 inches across and are often made in gravel parking lots, on bare soil, lawns, parks, short grass fields, along river edges, and on farmland that has short vegetation due to cattle grazing. They may place their nests in open dry areas but will also require shallow water or mudflats where their young can forage. Killdeers occasionally nest on gravel rooftops making it difficult for the fledglings to descend to the ground to find food. One interesting fact is that after laying their eggs, Killdeers will  frequently add light-colored items to their nests, such as white stones or sea shells, along with grass, twigs, and/or trash.

Incubation (or sitting on the eggs to keep them warm) is done by both parents for 22-28 days. In very hot climates, adults will sometimes shade the eggs with their bodies. They will also attempt to keep the eggs cool by placing their water-soaked belly feathers next to the eggs.

Adult Killdeer displaying, Image by Susie Nishio

Because Killdeers nest on the ground, they use several tactics to try to keep their eggs safe. They often vocalize loudly at predators and turn to expose their orange rump feathers as a warning. Adult Killdeer also pretend to be injured in order to lure predators away from the nest. Called “the broken-wing distraction display,” they will drag their bodies and wings on the ground while hopping on one leg. This distraction display can be dangerous for Killdeers, but they are usually able to fly away before a predator gets too close. In addition, when it appears that a large animal could crush the eggs in its path, an adult Killdeer will fluff up their feathers, fan its tail over its head, and then run towards the threat while loudly vocalizing. Their goal is to startle the animal so that it changes its direction, avoiding the nest. One more method Killdeers use is to have several false nest sites. They will go to the false sites if predators come around. The predators eventually tire of examining empty nests and will leave the area!

Killdeer hatchlings hatch with eyes open and a full cover of downy feathers. Soon after their feathers dry, their parents lead them to an area of dense vegetation with cover so they can look safely for food. The hatchlings hunt and feed for themselves. However, both parents watch over and protect them. If the parents sound an alarm call, the chicks instinctively flatten themselves on the ground and remain motionless. Parents and young remain in close association until the young can fly about a month after hatching. 

Killdeer adult and chick, Image by Ed harper

What do Killdeers eat? 

Killdeer are beneficial because they control insects that are considered garden and crop pests such as grasshoppers. They also feed on invertebrates such as earthworms, centipedes, flies, beetles, spiders, snails, crayfish, fly larvae, and aquatic insect larvae. Kildeers will occasionally eat berries, seeds left in agricultural lands, and small vertebrates such as frogs or minnows.

Killdeer often forage (or hunt for food) in the daytime, but may also hunt at night when it’s safer, especially in the non-breeding season. When on the ground and foraging, they will often start to run or walk, then will pause suddenly and bring their heads upwards flashing their striking throat bands, and then bring their heads back down and start moving again. This behavior is thought to help startle prey so they come to the surface. Killdeers also use a technique called foot stir or foot-trembling. This is when they stand on one foot while shaking or patting the other foot in mud or shallow water. The vibrations created by their foot movements make the hidden prey rise upwards so that they can be seen and caught. Additionally, Killdeer forage in fields and have been known to follow farmers’ plows which help to expose earthworms and grubs.

What do Killdeers sound like?

Many people are familiar with the Killdeers’ shrill, piercing, far-carrying, mournful, two-syllable kill-deer call that is often heard. All Killdeer sounds are high-pitched, from 1-4 syllables and their sounds can be drawn out. Calls have been described as kil-deee, kee-di-de-de, dee-dee-dee, fill-deee, deee, tyeeeeeee-deew-deew, deeekee-di-di-di. During flight, their calls are a repeating kil-deer or kee-deeyu. Their alarm call is a fast trill. You can listen to Killdeers calling now.

Meet the Northern Pintail

Northern Pintails, male and female, Image by Larry Hickey

This month let’s learn about a duck species that is often found in the Sacramento area called the Northern Pintail (Anus acuta). Northern Pintails are widespread and found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are in a group of ducks called dabbling ducks which prefer to be in shallow water where marsh plants grow. Dabbling ducks seldom dive; but rather will search for food near the water’s surface. Although Northern Pintails are abundant over many regions throughout the world, their numbers have steadily declined for decades due to habitat loss or change. Their wetland and prairie habitats are continually being converted and fragmented. In addition, some experts say that a series of drought years on the northern plains may drastically reduce nesting success there.

Most Northern Pintail populations are migratory birds (relocating depending on the season) and are one of the first duck species to migrate every spring and fall. They time their spring migration well and arrive in their northern nesting range as soon as the ice melts. Large flocks of Northern Pintails migrate at night and can fly great distances at speeds up to 65 miles per hour due to their slender bodies and their 3-foot wingspan. They nest in the northern-central parts of the United States, Canada, Greenland, in northern Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia. 

Northern Pintails usually spend their winters south of their nesting range where it is warmer and food is more plentiful, usually in the southern United States or Mexico. They arrive in the Sacramento Valley after their nesting season is over and are quite common here from October through mid-March. Occasionally Northern Pintails are seen in our valley in other months as well. In the winter they gather in large flocks; but are accepting of other waterfowl and are often seen among several different bird species. They are comfortable either when waddling on land or swimming in water but can quickly take flight and maneuver through the air with great skill. When at great heights, they will use a zig-zag flight pattern when descending to look for food on land.

What do Northern Pintails look like?

Northern Pintail, male, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

When both on water and in flight, Northern Pintails are often described as elegant or handsome. Males have very long central pin-like tail feathers (which become even longer in the nesting season). This is why the species got its name. Northern Pintails are sometimes referred to as sprigs or sprig-tails because hunters said their tails resemble plant stems. 

Northern Pintails have smallish heads, slim bodies, long and slender necks, and long narrow wings. Their slim bodies and long necks are a way to separate them from other duck species. During the nesting season, males look very different from females. Adult males have eye-catching white neck stripes, white chests, chocolate brown heads and throats, gray sides and backs that are finely speckled with black, white rump patches, blue-gray bills which have a central black stripe running to the tip, slate-gray legs and feet, and long black tails. During flight, one can see a brilliant metallic (or iridescent) green or bronze patch on the inner wings. These inner wing patches are called specula, (the singular is speculum). There is a bright white trailing edge on the specula as well. Female Northern Pintails are more uniform in color. They have grayish-brown heads, backs, and wings, brown sides, pointed tails, blue-gray bills with black blotching, bronze-brown specula with a white trailing edge, and slate-gray legs and feet. They have a scalloped pattern on both their backs and chests. The plainer plumage (overall feather coloration) of the females makes them camouflage well while sitting on nests. Immature birds look similar to adult females but have dark bills, dark brown to tan heads, and have speckled white and brown bellies.

Both adult males and females have a similar drab coloration in their molting season, a four-week period after nesting is complete. During this time, Northern Pintails are a mottled brown and white all over with dark bills and pale, unmarked faces. This plumage is called eclipse plumage. Northern Pintails are flightless as they molt and become secretive as they wait for new wintering feathers to grow.

Where do Northern Pintails live and nest?

Northern Pintail, male, Image by Mary Forrestal

At various times of the year and in different regions, Northern Pintails are found along coasts and estuaries, in prairies, agricultural fields, flooded fields, shallow wetlands, meadows, grasslands, marshes, on or near streams, creeks, lakes, ponds, rivers, and even in treeless, in Arctic regions, also known as tundra, and in the far northern regions of the world also known as boreal habitat.

Female Northern Pintails often choose their nest sites further away from water than many other duck species. The nest site is a small clearing or shallow depression on the ground surrounded by low grasses or plants The female lines her nest with grasses, sometimes twigs and leaves, and her own down feathers. Only females incubate the eggs (sit on eggs to keep them warm) and the incubation period lasts for three to four weeks. Soon after the ducklings hatch, the mother leads them to the nearest body of water where they immediately swim and forage for themselves. Ducklings look for dead insects on the surface of the water. The mother stays close by the young birds for 4-6 weeks. The ducklings are able to fly in about 38-52 days after hatching. Female Northern Pintails will defend her chicks from predators by flying towards the threat to attempt to scare them or by leading predators away by pretending to be injured.

National Wildlife Refuges and agricultural fields are great places to look for Northern Pintails. There are several locations in the Sacramento Valley region to locate these ducks including: the Cosumnes River Preserve, Stone Lakes National Wildlife Preserve, the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve.

Northern Pintail, male and female, Image by Larry Hickey


What do Northern Pintails eat?

In the fall and winter, Northern Pintails eat the seeds and nuts of weeds and grasses, and when available, will also take advantage of agricultural waste field grain. They are agile on both land and on water. Their bills are not only efficient at scooping up aquatic insects and plant seeds when in water but also at picking up seeds and grains when waddling on land. In both spring and summer, Northern Pintails will eat roots, algae, and new growth on aquatic plants. In the summer they eat protein-rich aquatic insects, mollusks, snails, crustaceans, and sometimes tadpoles and small fish. Northern Pintails forage (or search for food) either on or near the water’s surface. Their extra long necks allow them to reach further underwater than the other species of dabbling ducks. They find a good amount of food underwater in the mud. When foraging, Northern Pintails often tip their entire bodies so that their length is perpendicular to the water and pointing their tails toward the sky. They also will forage by dipping their heads and necks underwater as their bodies are swimming horizontal on the water.

Northern Pintails foraging for food. Image by Mary Forrestal

What do Northern Pintails sound like?

The male and female Northern Pintails have different calls. The male’s call is usually higher in pitch. Some of the males’ calls are described as a “choop”, “geeheee”, “whee", or a soft “wheezy whistle". Females’ calls have been described as a coarse nasal “quack” or “croak" and also a “ke” or “kuk” sound. Ducklings’ calls are often a repeated soft “peep" or a louder repeated “peep" when in distress. You can listen to the calls of Northern Pintails now.

Meet the Lincoln Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Image by Mary Forrestal

This month, let’s learn about a small-to-medium sized sparrow, called the Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii). Lincoln’s Sparrows are medium-distance migrants (or birds that change location depending on the season). They migrate into the Sacramento Valley starting in September and leave again in the spring around April to find nesting sites. Lincoln’s Sparrows have a reputation of being shy or elusive birds and often remain hidden under thick groundcover or bushes. There have been limited studies about Lincoln’s Sparrows because the majority nest in cold, northern (or boreal) regions. They tend to be solitary birds but sometimes they travel and forage with small groups of mixed sparrow species, especially during migration. There are three subspecies of Lincoln’s Sparrows, each having slight differences in coloration and size.

What do Lincoln’s Sparrows look like? 

Lincoln Sparrow, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

At first glance, Lincoln’s Sparrows appear to be rather plain brownish-gray birds. However, when studying them more closely, the fine detail and harmonizing colors of their plumage (feathers) are very attractive. One author described the Lincoln’s Sparrow as “wearing a fine tailored suit.” Their pale breasts and sides are streaked with very thin dark lines and tinged with a buff color. In comparison, the closely related Song Sparrow has thicker streaking on the breast and a longer tail. Lincoln’s Sparrows also have thin, fairly small conical bills, dark eyes surrounded by pale eye rings, a thin brown eye line that runs from the back of their eyes down towards their neck region. A central dark spot on their breast may be present. They also have broad gray eyebrows (or supercilium), a gray face, a white chin region with tiny dark streaks, both buffy (or light brownish-yellow) and black cheek streaks, gray and brown backs with dark streaking, and reddish-brown or rusty edges on their wings and tails.

Lincoln Sparrow, Image by Jane Van Kessel

Lincoln’s Sparrows have stripes on their crowns (or the tops of their heads). There is a central gray crown stripe bordered by two reddish-brown stripes streaked with black. Lincoln’s Sparrows can “raise up” their crown feathers forming a crest or peak. Juveniles look similar to adult birds but are more heavily streaked overall and do not have the buffy breast that's typical with adult plumage.

 

Where do Lincoln’s Sparrows live and nest? 

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Image by Chris Conard

The Lincoln’s Sparrow nesting range is across Canada all the way east to Newfoundland, in eastern and far-northern California, and parts of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Wyoming, usually from June-August.

In the summer, Lincoln’s Sparrows frequently nest in mountainous areas under willow and alder thickets or in wet meadows with sedges (grass-like plants) in wetlands. Their nests are also located near patches of cottonwoods or black spruce, areas with sphagnum moss present, and in shrubby areas near streams. Lincoln’s Sparrows are ground nesters and the females construct cup-shaped nests that are usually located under thick cover. Often females will first dig out a depression in the ground for their nests before gathering materials. They weave together willow bark and dried grasses and sedges to make the outer part of the nest. Then, they line the nests with soft plant material. Lincoln’s Sparrow females incubate their eggs (sit on eggs to keep them warm). Both parents help to feed the nestlings who are able to fly a distance of about 30 feet on the sixth day of life. Young birds fledge (or leave) the nests at around 9-12 days after hatching and their parents may continue to care for them for 2-3 additional weeks. 

Lincoln’s Sparrows spend their winters along the Pacific Coast south from British Columbia, in central and southern California, several southern states in the U.S., Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. Lincoln’s Sparrow habitats in wintertime include many types of forests, weedy pastures, and shrubby fields. They can also be found around the edges or ponds and marshes.

What do Lincoln’s Sparrows eat?

Lincoln Sparrow, Image by Jane Van Kessel

Lincoln’s Sparrows primarily eat the seeds of weeds and grasses in the winter and switch to eating both seeds and  insects, such as beetles, flies, caterpillars, moths, leafhoppers, ants, and aphids in the summer. They spend a lot of time on the ground under dense thickets foraging (hunting) for food and frequently will scratch the ground’s surface to uncover seeds or insects. They will sometimes look for food when perching in low trees or bushes and can use aerial maneuvers to catch moths.

 

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Image by Ray Rozema

What do Lincoln’s Sparrows sound like?

Lincoln’s Sparrows have a loud wren-like song that has been described as buzzy, warbling, trilling, or bubbly and is commonly heard near their nesting territories. During nesting season, males often perch and sing to claim their territories. Males use specific calls to “hopefully” scare intruders away from their nest sites. In the winter months especially, Lincoln’s Sparrows are often hidden and secretive. It’s their unique call(s) that can help birders identify and possibly see them. They have calls that sound like a buzzy “zeee” or “zeet”, a buzzing “zrrr-zrrr-zrrr”, and a flat “chup” or “chep”. You can listen to the song and calls of Lincoln's Sparrows now.

Meet the Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs, Image by Ray Rozema

This month let’s learn about a shorebird in the sandpiper (or Scolopacidae) family called Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca). Greater Yellowlegs are elegant-looking wading birds that are around 11-14 inches in length. They were often hunted in the 1900’s and were considered to be “fine game birds.” Their population seems to be fairly stable today.

Greater Yellowlegs usually migrate (to change locations according to seasons) in small flocks in the spring and again in the fall and are considered medium- to long-distance migrants. They are often one of the first shorebirds to begin their spring migration.

Greater Yellowlegs are usually seen alone when they forage (hunt) for food. They move with rapid, jerking movements and a bobbing head. They have a high-stepping gait when they walk, will run with their necks extended when chasing prey, and will swim for short distances, usually when returning to shallower water or to escape from predators. Greater Yellowlegs have been referred to as “marshpipers” because they wade in deeper water than other sandpipers. At night, they roost (rest or sleep) in large flocks with other shorebird species.

Greater Yellowlegs nest in Canada and Alaska and often stay in mosquito-ridden, mossy swamps that have a considerable amount of dead vegetation. This inhospitable and remote habitat makes the Greater Yellowlegs one of the least-studied shorebirds on the continent. Many populations migrate south to their wintering grounds in southern California, near Baja, to Mexico, the West Indies, and to Central and South America. It’s hard to believe that there are populations of Greater Yellowlegs that migrate way down to the southern tip of Argentina!

Greater Yellowlegs are mostly seen in the Sacramento area from mid-June through April when they are not nesting in the north. They are very cautious birds and often are the first to sound an alarm when they think a threat is approaching. Their piercing alarm call alerts other birds in the area and helps humans to locate and identify the species.

What do Greater Yellowlegs look like?

Adult Greater Yellowlegs, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Female and male Greater Yellowlegs look similar. In addition to having long and graceful yellow-to-orange legs, they are slender birds with an upright posture. They have long, pointed, and blunt-tipped bills that are slightly upturned. The bill length of Greater Yellowlegs is 1.5 times the length of their heads. Their face, neck, heads, and abdomens are white but are speckled with brown and gray. The area in front and around their eyes is often solid white. Greater Yellowlegs also have dark brown wings with pale spotting. In flight, their feet extend beyond their tails and their white rump and white tail that has dark barring (markings) are visible. During nesting season, their bills change to solid black and they develop darker barring on their flanks (or sides) and there is darker streaking on their heads, necks, and sometimes their abdomens as well.

Juvenile birds in general are less heavily marked; but they have more spotting on their backs and wings. Their white breasts have distinct dark streaks.

Their bright yellow legs, erect posture, white rump and tail, and the lack of wing bars make it fairly easy to distinguish Greater Yellowlegs from other North American shorebirds. However, there is a smaller sandpiper species called Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) that greatly resembles Greater Yellowlegs. Birders tend to ignore plumage (or feather color) when attempting to distinguish between these two species. Instead, they look at structure and shape.

Greater Yellowlegs (left) with Lesser Yellowlegs (right), Image by Mary Forrestal

Greater Yellowlegs are bulkier and have longer and thicker bills than do Lesser Yellowlegs. There is often a frontal neck bulge on the Greater Yellowlegs whereas the neck shape of Lesser Yellowlegs is sleeker or smoother. In the non-breeding season, the base on the bills of Greater Yellowlegs is lighter in color than that of Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs have more distinct flank barring than do Lesser Yellowlegs. The size difference between these two species can usually only be appreciated when the birds are standing close to each other.

Where do Greater Yellowlegs live and nest?

During migration and in winter, Greater Yellowlegs are found in a wide variety of settings from coast to coast, including tidal flats, field, meadows, grasslands, coasts and shorelines, estuaries, rivers, streams, open beaches, mudflats, marshes, flooded agricultural fields, streams, shores of lakes, ponds, and sewage ponds. They nest both in the North American tundra (treeless Arctic regions) and in wet and muddy marshes or meadows in far northern coniferous forests.

Greater Yellowlegs’ well-camouflaged nests are located on the ground in slight depressions. The nests are often constructed on damp moss or peat and are lightly lined with twigs, grass, lichen, or leaves. Greater Yellowlegs’ nests are frequently near water and are often close to an object, such as a log, mound of moss, shrub, or tree. Adult birds will often perch on top of trees near their nesting sites to keep watch.

Nesting pairs are widely spaced apart so that the territory of each pair is maintained. There are 3 or 4 eggs laid in a nest and the nestlings hatch after around 23 days. It is believed that both parents help incubate the eggs (to sit on and keep eggs warm) and to feed the newly hatched young. The young leave the nest within 24 hours of hatching and can immediately find all their own food! The parents lead them to shallow ponds near grass and shrubs. The fledglings will begin learning to fly 18-25 days after hatching and the parents watch over them until that time. Parents protest loudly if predators come around.

Great Yellowlegs, Image by Rich Howard

What do Greater Yellowlegs eat?

Greater Yellowlegs are known to eat a variety of foods including insects, insect larvae, and other invertebrates, such as mollusks. They also eat small fish (such as minnows), crustaceans, snails, marine worms, frogs, seeds, and sometimes berries. Greater Yellowlegs forage in shallow water both in the day and nighttime and they swallow their food whole. Their bills are very sensitive, allowing the birds to feel the contents of the mud and sand as they stir the water and probe for food. Greater Yellowlegs are very active when foraging and are seen moving their heads back and forth while the tip of their bills are submerged in the water. The birds will often stab at the mud or the water’s surface to capture prey.

What do Greater Yellowlegs sound like?

Greater Yellowlegs are often extremely vocal. Their call is usually a 3 (sometimes 2 or 4) note whistle-like call that’s made during flight or right after they land. The third syllable is often lower in pitch. Their call has been described as “tew, tew, tew”, or “a series of sharp high-pitched notes”, or “a series of musical whistles”. Their song has been described as “a loud, ringing, whistled song”. In comparison, the flight call of Lesser Yellowlegs is only 1-2 notes.

These sounds of the Greater Yellowlegs are from xeno-canto. More Greater Yellowlegs vocalizations can be found at: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Tringa-melanoleuca

Meet the Yellow Warbler

In 2025 the Yellow Warbler was split into two species: the Northern Yellow Warbler and the Mangrove Yellow Warbler.

The Northern Yellow Warbler is the species found in the Sacramento Region and consists of the migratory northern population that breeds in shrubland and riparian habitats across Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

The Mangrove Yellow Warbler is the resident southern population that lives year-round in mangroves along the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, and on the fringes of Caribbean islands.

Yellow Warbler, adult male, Image by Ray Rozema 

This month, let’s learn about one of the many beautiful warbler species called the Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia. Yellow Warblers are not known to nest in significant numbers in the Sacramento Valley. However, there have been recent confirmed nests at the Cosumnes River Preserve. Yellow Warblers are one of the first warbler species to start their migrations. Birders in our region eagerly anticipate the arrival of Yellow Warblers in the spring and again in the fall. There are subspecies of the Yellow Warbler that have geographical differences and plumage color variation. This article will focus on the one subspecies that is migratory and is seen in the Sacramento Valley. The other two subspecies are non-migratory and are not present in our region.

What do Yellow Warblers look like?

Yellow Warblers are around 5 inches in length and are rounded in shape. Male adults have brilliant yellow heads and chests. Females are not as brightly colored and can have more green on the upper parts. On adult male birds especially, there can be reddish perpendicular streaking on the chests and abdomens. This streaking may also be present on females but is much less pronounced. Yellow Warblers have yellow-olive green backs, straight and thick bills, fairly short tails that are slightly notched, and dark eyes. Their dark eyes strongly contrast with their plain yellow face. This is something to look for when trying to make an identification. Sometimes a white or light yellow eye ring is noticeable, especially on females and immatures. The wings of Yellow Warblers are yellow-olive green with yellow wing bars and edging. Underneath, there is yellow to the tip of their tails which is a characteristic only seen on Yellow Warblers. This yellow coloration under the tail is present even on drab individuals. Young females in the fall can be very dull. Immature birds vary in color from pale yellow, brownish, or grayish. Hatchlings are helpless and have light gray down (soft feathers of a young bird) and have reddish skin.

Yellow Warbler, adult female, Image by Daniel Lee Brown
Notice the slight eye-ring and drabber color of this female.

Where do Yellow Warblers live?

Yellow Warblers migrate north in the spring to nest. They nest as far north as the Arctic Circle and become a widespread species in North America until they migrate south again. Yellow Warblers are frequently seen near various willow species. They are found in brushy habitat near water that can include field edges, forests, canyons, savannas, stream sides, tundra, and orchards. In the fall, most return to their wintering habitats in southern Mexico, Central America, and South America. There’s also a population of wintering Yellow Warblers that spend the winter in southern California and Arizona. Individual birds are very independent when on their wintering grounds. They “go it alone” when finding shelter, food, and protecting their winter territory.

Female Yellow Warblers build sturdy cup-shaped nests in shrubs or immature trees (or saplings). They use strips of bark, plant fibers, plant down, deer hair, feathers, grasses, and spiderwebs to build nests. The nest height is usually around 10 feet, but is sometimes as high as 40 feet. While the female builds the nest, incubates the eggs, and keeps the hatchlings warm, males guard the nesting territory and brings food to the female. Males perch on tree tops and often sings to notify other birds that this particular nesting territory has been claimed. Males may repeat their song up to ten times per minute and will chase away other warblers, as well as many other kinds of birds. Both parents help to feed the young. The young fledge or leave the nest between 9 and 12 days old. They usually follow one of their parents at this time and remain near their parents for 2-3 more weeks.

There is an interesting fact to share about Yellow Warblers. The Brown-headed Cowbird female hides her eggs in other species nests and subsequently makes other species raise their chicks. They do not make nests of their own and frequently chose warbler or blackbird nests for their egg placement. However, Yellow Warbler females can sense when a foreign egg has been deposited in their nests! Female Yellow Warblers will simply make another nest on top of their previous clutch (or group of eggs). Females ignore clutches that had foreign eggs inside. This process may be repeated again and again when necessary.

What do Yellow Warblers eat?

Yellow Warblers usually forage (or search for food) on twigs or the underside of leaves on small branches. They will sometimes catch flying insects in short flight or may hover to reach leaves when they look for food. Their diet consists of caterpillars of various kinds which make up a large part of their diet. In addition, they will eat spiders, moths, beetles, mosquitos, damselflies, leafhoppers and other bugs, and wasps. They will also eat some wild fruit, especially in the wintertime.

Yellow Warbler, Image by Dana J. Miller-Blair

What do Yellow Warblers sound like?

The Yellow Warbler’s song has been described as sounding sweet. It has clear but sometimes variable notes. It is a fast, “bright”, and musical “sweet- sweet- sweet, sweeter than sweet”. Their flight call is described as a high clear trill. Their call is a sweet, rich, or sharp “chip”. The Yellow Warbler’s “seet” alarm call is actually a specific call used to warn about of the presence of a Brown-headed Cowbird! As discussed earlier, Brown-headed Cowbirds are frequent “nest parasites” for both warblers and blackbirds.

These sounds of the Yellow Warbler are from xeno-canto. More Yellow Warbler vocalizations can be found at: https://xeno-canto.org/species/Setophaga-aestiva

California Biodiversity Day for Kids

From the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

September 7th is California Biodiversity Day, a time to inspire discovery and connection to the nature of California. There are over 180 virtual and in-person events happening between September 7th - 15th, 2024! Please visit their website to learn more and find a local event near you, such as guided nature walks, art and family-friendly games, cultural demonstrations, restoration efforts, bioblitzes, and more.

Connect kids to their local nature

Kids of all ages love learning about animals, plants and the nature around them that they can touch, smell, and see. Parents and educators have the power to foster the next generation of environmental stewards by bringing the wonders of the outdoors into their homes and schools and sparking curiosity and experiential learning.

Celebrate California’s biodiversity with your students

We have curated a list of resources to help make it easy for classroom teachers and parents to foster connectivity with nature in fun, simple ways. All of these activities are rooted in STEAM principles and don’t require purchasing of any supplies. These activities can easily be scaled to accommodate various learning abilities and grade levels. Check out our educator’s resource folder and keep reading below to find an activity:

Nature Journaling
Go outside with notebooks and pencils, find a comfy place to sit, and watch the magic happen! Setting aside a dedicated period of time to slow down and tune in with the natural world around you, even in urban areas, can have many lasting benefits to physical and mental health while fostering written communication and art skills. Use this Nature Journaling Guide to discover the nature around you with your students.

Check out this short video with tips on how to facilitate a nature journaling session at your school or local greenspace(Credit: John Muir Laws and Kate Rutter).

Nature Exploration Activity Guide
This Student Activity Guide  contains printable activities to enjoy with kids and guide them through fun nature exploration lessons on the school yard. Credit: Ian Bernstein, California State Parks

Lead a nature scavenger hunt or formal bioblitz on your school yard
A bioblitz is a fun event where people are asked to document as many species that they can find in a certain period of time, in a certain location. Consider a schoolyard bioblitz event to encourage students to take a closer look at nature around their schools, neighborhoods, or nearby green spaces. Document your observations, tally your findings, and display them for all to see and wonder!

Observations can also be collected digitally using the free iNaturalist OR “Seek” by iNaturalist apps. Please read more to learn about when and how to use iNaturalist with students: Educators Guide to using iNaturalist.

Coloring books of marine life
These were designed by California State Park Interpreters to teach about wildlife and outdoor recreation in an exciting, interactive way for students! Download any of these free coloring books by the Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network. https://www.mpacollaborative.org/kids/

Continue discovering!

  • Discover native pollinators around your school and neighborhood! Find your region and download these colorful and fun handouts about the pollinators local to your area

  • Discover California’s Native Marine Wildlife!  This website includes colorful scientific illustrations and fun facts about hundreds of ocean dwelling species! Use as inspiration for art lessons or as a digital database tool to empower students to discover and learn more about these fascinating marine species. (Credit: CA Dept Fish and Wildlife Marine Region)

  • Explore Nature in and around your home with this guide by the iNaturalist and California Academy of Sciences teams!

  • Take a virtual adventure through California with the State Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) program. Check out the PORTScasts Calendar to tune into a virtual program during California Biodiversity Week (Sept 7 - 15).

  • Visit the California Environmental Literacy Initiative. Learn how you can continue to increase access to impactful environmental-based learning for all of California’s TK - 12 students.

  • Becomeacommunityscientist!Learnhowtocollectnatureobservations onto platforms like iNaturalist and eBird and contribute to our collective knowledge of nature for California Biodiversity Day.

With your help, this year's statewide events will continue to connect people of all ages to the nature of California.

Please visit our website to learn more!

Questions? Please contact: californiabiodiversityday@wildlife.ca.gov

Discover Your Family’s Next Nature Adventure

Birds and bugs, creeks and streams, what will your family discover on their next nature adventure? Here is a list of great places, organizations, and websites to help you discover that next adventure.

Outside Adventures

  • California Raptor Center is an educational and research center affiliate of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and authorized by The Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the US Fish and Wildlife Services to rehabilitate injured and orphaned birds of prey (raptors). Its museum, open to the public weekdays and Saturdays, houses a permanent collection of living, non-releasable raptors.

  • Cosumnes River Preserve is located just south of Elk Grove and a great place for family walks along accessible trails and boardwalks. Once a month “Nature Walks,” seasonal “Ducks in Scopes,” fall and winter Sandhill Crane viewing trips, and a very informative Visitor Center provide great nature-related experiences for all ages. 

  • Effie Yeaw Nature Center is an award-winning environmental education center located in the American River Parkway in Carmichael, CA. Situated in 100 acres of riparian woodlands the nature center offers weekend programs and events for children and their families.

  • Nimbus Fish Hatchery is located in eastern Sacramento County, the hatchery raises Chinook Salmon and Steelhead for release to the American River. Visitor Center offers fun and educational activities for children and adults. On-site nature trail along the American River to view wildlife. Check website for hours, tour reservations.

  • Koobs Nature Area is a nearly 4.7 acre parcel of native trees and plants from a diverse ecosystem, with a creek, three ponds, a bird sanctuary, butterfly gardens and walking trails. Located at 5325 Engle Road in Carmichael, it is open to the public one Saturday each month, March through October, with activities for kids.

  • Sacramento Splash while primarily working with local elementary schools, Sacramento Splash offers several public vernal pool tours every spring in addition to providing self-guided tours and loads of information on their website.

  • Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is located between Elk Grove and Cosumnes River Preserve. With wide, level cement trails, this area is suitable for families with children as well as those with disabilities. In the large marshy area and surrounding fields a variety of bird species can be spotted, including Sand Hill Cranes in the winter. A native plant garden and interpretive kiosks along the trailways add to any visit.

  • Yolo Basin Foundation hosts bat tours in the summer, public tours at the Davis Wetlands and the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and the CA Duck Days in February and other fun activities.

  • Maidu Regional Park is located east of Roseville on Maidu Drive. This is 152-acre park off Rocky Ridge Drive. The park complex includes a museum, rose garden, walking trails, picnic area, historic site, and sports fields.

Inside Adventures

  • The Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC) opened in late 2021 and has interactive hands-on exhibits and programming that explores the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math.

  • Bohart Museum of Entomology at UC Davis has the seventh largest insect collection in North America, with many California insects on view.

At Home Adventures

  • Project Wild and Flying Wild are online resources designed primarily for educators, with on-line and printable resources for kids and their parents.

  • ColorBird.org The world of birds is diverse and colorful. At ColorBird.org you can download bird illustrations to color, crosswords to do, and more! These activities were created by Michael Erb, an Arizona birder who wanted to combine the wonder of birds with his love of science and learning. Just click on a page that you like, print it, and get coloring.

At ColorBird.org you can download bird illustrations to color, crosswords to do, and more.

Forrest is a Great Horned Owl, one of the animal ambassadors at the California Raptor Center.

Bohart Museum of Entomology has the seventh largest insect collection in North America, Varigated Mothhawk, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Wild Turkey are often seen strutting around the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Image be Daniel Lee Brown

Meet the Black-chinned Hummingbird

Black-chinned Hummingbird, adult male, Image by Ray Rozema

This month let’s learn about the Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) which is found in the Sacramento area from April through September. Only a few other species of hummingbird species are commonly seen here: the Anna's Hummingbird which lives here year-round and the Rufous Hummingbird that is seen briefly during migration in both spring and fall. 

Black-chinned Hummingbirds are migratory birds that nest in the western United States, southern British Columbia, and northern Mexico. Most Black-chinned Hummingbirds spend their winters in western Mexico. Some birds pass through the southeastern United States and winter along the Gulf Coast.

If you compare Black-chinned Hummingbirds to humans, they have an extremely fast heart rate (480 beats per minute at rest) and a fast respiration or breathing rate (245 breaths per minute at rest). In flight, their wingbeats are 15-80 times per second! Thankfully, in cold weather, hummingbirds enter a state called torpor where their metabolism is much slower. During torpor, their heart rate lowers to 45-180, their breathing is slow and sporadic, and they get their energy from stored fat which keeps them warm enough to survive.

What do Black-chinned Hummingbirds look like?

Black-chinned Hummingbird, adult male, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

It is extremely difficult to follow a Black-chinned Hummingbird with your eyes because they dart and weave through an environment so quickly. They are small, slender birds that weigh only about three grams. Black-chinned Hummingbirds have long black bills that curve slightly downwards. This type of bill is called a decurved bill. Adult males have bronze-green iridescent backs. Iridescence is defined as luminous coloration that appears to change when movement alters the angle of light. Males also have black and purple throats, light green flanks (or sides), grayish-white chests, and dark heads, wings, and tails. Male Black-chinned Hummingbirds also have white collars that wrap around their necks. It is often much easier to see this white collar than the purple band above. Adult females and juvenile birds have green iridescent backs as well. In contrast to males, females and juveniles have white throats with faint dots or streaking, greenish-gray heads, and white tips on the outer tail feathers. Juvenile male Black-chinned Hummingbirds may have a few tiny iridescent and colorful spots visible on their throat area or throat patch.

The throat patch on a hummingbird is called a gorget. This area can be quite colorful and iridescent on male birds. The male Black-chinned Hummingbird’s gorget is black on top with a purple lower band. Their gorgets can appear solid black especially in low-light conditions.

Black-chinned Hummingbirds have been noted to flick or pump their tails more often than some other hummingbird species. They flip and spread their tails often while hovering. Some other helpful identification points for Black-chinned Hummingbirds is that they have slightly a longer bill and a somewhat thinner body shape and necks than do other species in our area.

Although female hummingbirds do not have brightly colored gorgets like males, the females of some species sometimes have a small area of colorful, iridescent gorget feathers. Since hummingbird females tend to look the same, it can be quite difficult to tell which species they are.

Where do Black-chinned Hummingbirds live and nest?

Black-chinned Hummingbird, adult male, Image by Chris Conard

Black-chinned Hummingbirds are highly adaptable and live in a variety of habitats including arid canyons, high mountains, scrublands, forests and woodlands, and along rivers (riparian habitat). In addition, they will eagerly nest in urban and suburban habitat if they are offered tall trees and flowering shrubs and vines. As far as nesting, it’s the female that does all the work. The male is usually not involved.

Black-chinned Hummingbird females build their nests at various heights. Their nests are often fairly low (4-8 feet from the ground) but can be as high as 30 feet. Black-chinned Hummingbird nests are frequently constructed on horizontal, exposed, and bare tree branches.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, female with nestling on nest, Image by Paul Miller

They also build nests on human structures. The nest is a small compact cup that can stretch lengthwise as the babies grow. Nest materials include spider webs, grasses, plant fibers, insect cocoon fibers, and plant down (plant material that is fluffy or fuzzy in nature) which is used for the lining. Some reports state that females use their whole body to powerfully mould the nest as if it were clay. The nest is often camouflaged with lichen or leaves. Females lay a clutch (or group) of eggs 1-3 times per nesting season. There are usually only two eggs per clutch, each being the size of a coffee bean. Only the females incubate the eggs (sit on eggs to keep them warm) and feed the young. They stick their long bills deep into the nestlings mouths to feed them partially digested food. The young first fly at about 20 days after hatching. Female Black-chinned Hummingbirds will often use the same perch out in the open to keep watch over the nest and easily chase away predators when necessary. Females have been known to nest near several other Black-chinned Hummingbird nests.

What do Black-chinned Hummingbirds eat?

Black-chinned Hummingbirds obtain nectar from flowers putting their long bills deep inside tubular flowers. They eat small insects, spiders, and sugar water in feeders. In cold weather, Black-chinned Hummingbirds may consume up to three times their body weight in nectar per day. They can survive without nectar when there is an ample supply of insects. Black-chinned Hummingbirds catch small insects in flight (such as in a swarm of gnats) or will hover and pluck insects from leaves, etc. Spiders sometimes suspend themselves on fine threads that flow in the air. Hummingbirds will readily catch and eat them. Black-chinned Hummingbirds will also take insects that have been trapped in spider webs.

It is good to have native plants in your yard that are known to be used by hummingbirds for obtaining nectar. When there are mature native plants around, there is less of a reason to put up sugar water feeders. If you do offer sugar water feeders, please clean your feeders often (every one to two days) and do not add food coloring. Molds can grow quickly on feeders in both cold and warm temperatures. Molds can cause hummingbirds’ tongues to swell making it impossible for them to drink. In hot weather, sugar water ferments and becomes toxic to hummingbirds. For more information on feeding hummingbirds check out these Frequently Asked Questions from National Audubon Society.

What do Black-chinned Hummingbirds sound like?

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to identify a Black-chinned Hummingbird is with their sounds. Their calls and distinctive sounds that their wingbeats and tails produce are heard often. There have only been two reports made of a male Black-chinned Hummingbird singing. The song was described as “warbling” and “high-pitched”. You can listen to some sounds of the Black-chinned Hummingbird now.

These sounds of the Black-chinned Hummingbird are from xeno-canto. More Black-chinned Hummingbird vocalizations can be found at https://xeno-canto.org/species/Archilochus-alexandri

Compiled by Jane Van Kessel

Sources include Cornell’s All About Birds and Birds of the World, National Audubon Society Field Guide, Travis Audubon, Pajarito Environmental Education Center

Meet the American Robin

American Robin, adult male, Image by Larry Hickey

This month, let’s learn about a familiar and very admired songbird called the American Robin (Turdus migratorius). American Robins are in the thrush family and are fairly widespread throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala. Some populations are migratory while others remain in the same area year-round. Migration is necessary for some nesting populations where food sources are not as plentiful in the winter. The Sacramento area has a population of American Robins that stay here year-round. These birds remain because they are able to find ample food year-round. Transient (or short-term) populations of American Robins pass through the Sacramento area during migration. Therefore, because migrating flocks stop for a brief visit, you may occasionally notice a greater number of these beautiful birds in your yard than usual!

What do American Robins look like?

American Robin, adult female, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

American Robins are eye-catching birds that are approximately 8-11 inches long. They have gray-brown backs and wings, dark heads and tails, yellow beaks, black and white streaked throats, long legs, and deep rust or reddish-orange chests. There is white on their lower abdomens, upper under-tail areas, and their eyes are outlined with a white, broken eye ring. Female and immature birds look similar to males; but their colors are usually less pronounced. During flight, an orange under-wing area is visible; but their very noticeable white undertail area is often a helpful identification tool. Juveniles have chests that are heavily spotted with brown, their backs are mottled gray, and orange or light rust color on their sides. Orange may be faintly present on their abdomens and chests as well. 

American Robin, adult male, Image by Susan Goodrich

American Robin, immature, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Where do American Robins live?

American Robins are found in many habitats. They were at one time a species specific to forests; but have adapted to living in manicured landscapes near humans. American Robins can be found on lawns around homes in cities or towns, on golf courses, in parks, in farmlands, in open grassy areas with shrubs, in the Alaskan tundra, and also in dense woodlands. For some populations, spring migration is a necessity because they need a nesting habitat that has both trees and ample soil moisture. American Robins need moist soil where they can find earthworms to eat and have mud available for building their nests. One report noted that American Robins will probably be seen less around homes as more lawn-free, drought-tolerant landscapes are created.

American Robins, Image by Paul Miller

Nesting pairs are very protective of their nesting area and become agitated when other birds come near. Their nests are usually constructed in trees or shrubs. American Robins are not cavity nesters but will sometimes build nests on (or inside) man-made structures such as gutters, eaves, ledges, barns, bridges, etc. In western prairies, American Robins may nest close to the ground. In Alaska, they may nest in cliff sides. 

American Robin, fledgling, Image by Ed Harper

Female American Robins choose nest sites and also construct the nests. They use their wings to press the materials into a cup-shaped nest. Dead grass, paper, feathers, rootlets, moss, and twigs are some of the materials used to make nests. After the nest structure is formed, the female will smear on mud which acts to strengthen it. A fine dry grass is used to line the nest. Females lay three to five blue eggs in early spring and will usually lay eggs two times (or sometimes three times) per season. Both parents take part in feeding the young. Young birds are fed the parents’ regurgitated (partially digested) food, which is often earthworms and beetle larvae. Fledglings learn to be excellent flyers about two weeks after they fledge (leave the nest and begin to develop flight feathers). The time period that’s right after fledging, when young birds drop down from their nest and hide in low plants, can be dangerous until they learn to fly. Males will often care for the first fledglings while the female incubates (or sits on) her next clutch (group) of eggs. Males often lead their young to roost (to rest or sleep) in trees with other males doing the same. Females will join the flock after all the fledglings have learned to fly. In fall and winter, American Robins are often seen in roaming flocks that search for food and roost in trees. Therefore, in winter months they are more social birds, whereas in spring and summer, they pair off and become quite territorial.

What do American Robins eat?

American Robin, adult male, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

American Robins are often seen searching for food on the ground, especially in the spring and summer. They primarily eat earthworms when available and can be seen running, walking, or hopping on lawns to find them. Many perching birds that remain in trees most of the time simply hop from branch to branch. But hopping consumes more energy than running or walking. American Robins can do all three! Their strong legs help them pull worms out of the ground. They also eat insects (such as beetle grubs and caterpillars), berries, and other fruits. In some areas, it has been reported that American Robins will eat worms and insects in the morning and fruit in the afternoon. When insects become less plentiful in the fall and winter, American Robins gather in flocks in search of berries in wooded areas. Because they spend more time in trees in the wintertime, they are not seen as often as they are in the warmer months.

Researchers have found that American Robins have an “expandable” esophagus (the tubular area between the mouth and the stomach). This capability allows these birds to store food. The extra stored food may give robins more energy so that they can make it through cold nights. 

American Robin, Image by Ed Harper

What do American Robins sound like? 


The song of the American Robins has a beautiful melody having a series of slow whistling phrases. Their singing is heard before and after sunrise to attract mates or defend their territory. American Robins will also sing in the early evening. Their calls are used to communicate with each other. Their songs/calls have been described as a thrilled “whinny”, a “tup”, or a “cheerup cheerio cheerup” or a chuckling tuh-tuh-tuh-tuh sound. Listen to the American Robin now.

These songs and calls of the American Robin are from xeno-canto. More American Robin vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Turdus-migratorius.

Meet the Purple Martin

Adult Male Purple Martin, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month, let’s talk about a fascinating bird called the Purple Martin (Progne subis). Purple Martins are the largest swallow found in North America. They are long-distance migrants, skilled and acrobatic flyers, and can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Along with other swallow species, Purple Martins share a flight pattern that is a combination of short glides and rapid flapping. 

There are three subspecies of Purple Martin that can be found in the United States: an eastern subspecies (Progne subis subis), a western subspecies (Progne subis arboricola), and a subspecies found in certain desert regions of the southwest (Progne subis hesperia).

Sadly, the Purple Martin is a species of special concern across the United States. In California’s Central Valley, there has been a drastic decline. According to research by Dan Ariola, “the Sacramento population declined by 88% between 2004 and 2019.” What has caused their decline? Increased competition for nesting sites and the increased use of pesticides are two theories. The non-native European Starling and the House Sparrow have taken over the nest sites of many native species including those of Purple Martin. The invaders not only took over Purple Martin nest sites in dead trees, but also their nest sites in tile roofs of urban buildings. The increased use of pesticides is believed to have caused additional declines by decreasing the available food supply for Purple Martins. Researchers have found that specific pesticides developed in the 1990’s, called neonicotinoids, are extremely detrimental to Purple Martins. Neonicotinoids kill the flying insects that Purple Martin rely on for food.

What do Purple Martins look like?

Adult Male and Female/Immature Male Purple Martins, Image by Chris Conard

Purple Martins have notched tails, broad chests, slightly hooked bills, and long pointed wings that almost reach to the end of their tails. Adult Female and male Purple Martins are different in coloration. Males have stunning dark blue feathers on their backs, abdomens, and heads. They have brownish-black wings and tails. Females have dark blue backs, areas of blue and whitish-gray on their heads, gray necks, grayish-white chests and abdomens, and dark brownish-gray undertail feathers. Purple Martins have an iridescent sheen (luminous colors that appear to change when viewed from different angles) which can appear as navy blue, green, or dark purple. First year males have blotchy purple blue heads, necks, and sometimes chests. First year females are similar to adult females; but the colors are less pronounced. Juvenile birds do not get their full adult plumage for two years. They are a dull brownish-gray, have stubby tails, and have yellow color inside their beaks. Hatchlings (or newborns that recently emerged from eggs) are featherless, have eyes shut, are pink-skinned, and totally dependent on their parents.

Where do Purple Martins live?

Male Purple Martin, Image by Rich Howard

After spending winters in South America (in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, or Ecuador), Purple Martins annually begin northerly journeys to their nesting sites in Mexico, the United States, or Canada. They usually return to their previous nesting locations year after year. Often, Purple Martins will nest in groups or colonies. However, sometimes nesting locations will only have a small number of birds. Occasionally, a single nesting pair will nest alone.

Historically, Purple Martin nested in old woodpecker holes inside dead trees or in holes in cliffs near wetlands, swamps, and waterfronts in natural riparian locations. However, use of man-made housing by Purple Martin’s began long-ago. Prior to European settlers coming to North America, a few Native Americans tribes routinely hollowed out and hung up gourds so that Purple Martins would nest in their villages.

While some Purple Martins still nest in dead tree snags in Oregon, populations in the eastern United States, Washington state, and British Columbia use human-made nest boxes (or multi-chambered structures for several pairs) almost exclusively. In the City of Sacramento, Purple Martins are unique. They nest in weep holes under freeway bridges.

Adult Purple Martins are feeding a nestling that hangs from the bottom of a weep hole underneath Highway 50 in Sacramento. Image by Rich Howard

Both parents typically share in both nest building and caring for their young. Pairs make nests out of twigs, mud, plant stems, and grass. They line their nests with fresh leaves for the eggs to lie on. Females incubate the eggs (sitting on eggs to keep them warm) for the majority of time. Males also help with incubation. The fledglings leave the nest 26 -32 days after hatching. Even after leaving the nest, the parents will continue to care for the young birds for around one month.

Frequently, in late summer after the young birds fledge (or leave the nests), both young and adult Purple Martins will gather in colonial roosts (places that groups of birds go to rest and sleep). They will continue to stay in flocks after returning to their wintering grounds. 

If you’d liked to try to find Purple Martins in our area Sacramento Audubon recommends two locations. Please be aware that both locations are occasionally occupied by homeless encampments and use your best judgement when visiting these locations.

Purple Martins can generally be found in the following locations in and near downtown Sacramento:

Directions and more information can be found at www.sacramentoaudubon.org/city-of-sacramento/#sac-specialty.

What do Purple Martins eat?

Adult Male and Female/Immature Male Purple Martin, Image by Chris Conard

Purple Martins for the most part eat winged or aerial insects. They hunt for food over open habitat, often doing so in flocks or pairs. Because Purple Martins catch and eat flying insects when in flight, it saves a great deal of time when they are migrating to and from South America. Purple Martins eat flies, dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, wasps, and bees, moths, beetles, fire ants, leafhoppers, cicadas, grasshoppers, crickets, and mayflies. Unseasonably harsh weather (cold temperatures or rain) lasting 3-4 days or more make it impossible for Purple Martins to find adequate food.

It has been reported that Purple Martins also eat spiders, However, only rarely do they come down to the ground to eat insects. They will come down to the ground occasionally to ingest a small amount of gritty matter or gravel which helps them digest the hard shells or exoskeletons that cover insects. Purple Martins drink water in flight by skimming the surface of lakes, ponds, and streams with their lower bills.

What do Purple Martins sound like?

Purple Martins are quite vocal and are frequently heard at dawn when they are flying. Their sounds are described as musical, chirps, buzzes, trills, rattles, gurgling, and whistles. 

These songs and calls of the Purple Martin are from xeno-canto. More Purple Martin vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Progne-subis.

Works Referenced

Meet the Ash-throated Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month let’s learn about a bird in the flycatcher family called the Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). This species is common and widespread in the western regions of the United States. In the spring, Ash-throated Flycatchers migrate to find nesting sites in the western United States and in northern and central Mexico. In late summer or early fall, they migrate to western and eastern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. There are populations of Ash-throated Flycatchers that remain in specific locations year-round in southern California, Baja California, and Mexico. In the Sacramento area we see Ash-throated Flycatchers primarily in the summer. They migrate to our area in late April, nest, raise their young, and leave the area beginning in early September.

Ash-throated Flycatchers typically have an erect posture when perched on twigs or low branches and remain fairly still when perched. When they take flight, there is often a burst of cinnamon color seen on their wings and tails. The same subtle colors of the Ash-throated Flycatcher’s plumage (or feathers) are often seen in nature. This enables Ash-throated Flycatchers to be well camouflaged.

What do Ash-throated Flycatchers look like?

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Image by Mary Forrestal

Male and female Ash-throated Flycatchers look the same and are around 7.5 to 8.6 inches in length. Male Ash-throated Flycatchers are usually slightly larger than females. Ash-throated Flycatchers have olive-brown backs, dark brown heads, sometimes a light gray neck collar, brown wings with white wing bars, rust-colored wing edges, whitish-gray throats and chests, narrow bills, black feet, long tails, pale yellow bellies, and the area on the belly (near where the tail begins) is also a pale yellow. The tails of Ash-throated Flycatchers have streaks of rust and brown feathers. They have a slightly peaked crests (a group of projecting feathers) near the back of their crowns (or heads). Juveniles are similar to adults. They are somewhat paler except for their tails. The tails of juvenile birds have a greater amount of bold rust color compared to the tails of adults.

Where do Ash-throated Flycatchers live?

Ash-throated flycatcher, Image by Larry Hickey

Ash-throated Flycatchers are found in a wide variety of habitats. They are most often found in dry, open habitats such as lightly wooded forests along rivers or streams, dry scrubby deserts, and chaparrals. Ash-throated Flycatchers will sometimes nest in grassland areas if nesting sites are available. However, they usually will avoid mountains and dense forests. Ash-throated Flycatchers do not need to drink water because they are able to get ample water in the foods they eat. This is the reason they can survive in very dry regions with high summer temperatures. In the Sacramento Valley, they are found in foothill locations and in oak woodlands.

Because they are cavity (or hole) nesters, Ash-throated Flycatchers seek habitats that have standing dead trees. Because they do not make new cavities, they need to find pre-existing ones. Ash-throated Flycatchers will nest in abandoned woodpecker holes and occasionally cactus holes. Because it can be difficult to find nest sites in dead trees (or other natural sources), they will also nest in artificial structures such as nest boxes, pipes, mailboxes, metal frames, fence posts, hanging articles of clothing, and ledges under eaves. Both the male and female help with nest construction. Ash-throated Flycatchers make the cup-shaped nests from strips of bark, grasses, twigs, weeds, and small roots. The nests are lined with mammal hair and soft feathers. The female Ash-throated Flycatcher usually lays eggs soon after the nest is completed, often in May. She incubates the eggs (keeps the eggs warm by sitting on them) for approximately 15 days. In the meantime, the male defends the nesting territory, brings food to the female, and provides extra materials for inside the nest. When the chicks hatch, their eyes are closed and they are bare-skinned. Both parents care for the nestlings. The young will leave the nest about 14-17 days after hatching. Usually, an Ash-throated Flycatcher pair will raise one brood (or group of young) in a nesting season. Pairs located in the more southern areas of the nesting range may raise two broods. An Ash-throated Flycatcher’s nest is usually found no more than 20 feet off the ground, however some nests have been found as high up as 70 feet. Pairs will sometimes reuse the same cavity for the following season. 

What do Ash-throated Flycatchers eat?

Ash-throated Flycatcher, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Ash-throated Flycatchers mainly eat insects and spiders. They help the environment by controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds. Ash-throated Flycatchers eat flies, larvae, bees, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, dragonflies, wasps, bugs, and sometimes cicadas. They will also eat fruit and berries, especially in winter. Rarely, they will eat small mammals and reptiles. 

When foraging (hunting for food), Ash-throated Flycatchers fly for short distances to grab insects or spiders on the ground or on leaves in the lower parts of trees and bushes. Unlike many other flycatcher species, they don’t usually return to the same perch after flying to catch food nor do they usually catch insects in mid-air. 

What do Ash-throated Flycatchers sound like?

The call of Ash-throated Flycatchers can be a useful identifier or clue to its presence. It is thought that one particular call sounds similar to an old-fashioned policeman’s whistle. Ash-throated Flycatcher calls have been described as sounding like: “ka-brick”, “burr”, “wheer”, “prrrt”, “pip”, and “zheep”. The song is a continuous but variable combination of their calls. You can listen now to Ash-throated Flycatcher calls and songs.

These songs and calls of the Ash-throated Flycatcher are from xeno-canto. More Ash-throated Flycatcher vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Myiarchus-cinerascens.

Meet the California Towhee

Adult California Towhee, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month, let’s talk about a fairly common bird that is seen year-round in the Sacramento Valley, the California Towhee (Melozone crissalis). California Towhees are in the sparrow family. They are large, bulky, and non-migratory. In some regions, however, California Towhees will move from their low-land nesting areas to nearby foothill locations in late summer or fall. They are frequently spotted on the ground along roadsides or trails but are also seen in trees or on fences. California Towhees live in a variety of habitats and have adapted well to rural development and urbanization. Therefore, they are not only found in secluded natural habitats but also in urban and suburban yards. California Towhees are typically seen year-round in pairs due to their strong pair bond. The name towhee came about because its pronunciation is similar to that of a call made by another towhee species, the Eastern Towhee. Names created like this one are termed onomatopoeic (or imitative) names.

What do California Towhees look like?

California Towhee, Image by Craig Swolgaard

California Towhees are slightly smaller than American Robins. Male and female birds look alike; however the males are somewhat larger. California Towhees are mainly brown (or grayish-brown) overall, have thick bills, long tails, short wings, tiny dark spots in a broken ring pattern circling around their necks. They also have the characteristic orange-brown patches around their bills, under-tail feathers, and sometimes the face. The chests and abdomens of California Towhees are lighter in color and are mostly free of streaking. Juvenile birds look similar; but have faint wing bars and blurry, faint streaking on their chests.

Where do California Towhees live? 

California Towhees are found in southern Oregon, western and central California, and western Mexico. Occasionally they are seen in eastern California. Their habitats vary and can be fairly dry or moist regions. California Towhees live in areas with streamside thickets (dense bushes), shady underbrush, in riparian areas (areas along rivers), parks, brushy patches in open woodlands, chaparral regions (habitat having mainly tangled shrubs and thorny bushes), coastal sage scrub, and canyon bottoms. 

California Towhees build cup-shaped nests fairly low in bushes, vines, or small trees, typically 4-12 feet above the ground. The female builds the nest while the male watches over their territory. Poison oak is often used for nest sites. For the outside of their nests, female California Towhees weave together twigs, strips of bark, weeds, grass, dried flowers, and sometimes trash, such as plastic ribbons. Then the nest is lined with fine grass, rootlets, and animal hair. Female California Towhees lay 1–3 clutches (or groups of eggs) per year. While only the female incubates the eggs (sits on the eggs to keep them warm), both parents feed the nestlings. The young usually fledge (or leave) the nest about 8 days after hatching. Since the new fledglings are unable to fly, young birds will stay near their parents for several weeks. They begin to forage for food by themselves at 3 to 4 weeks old.

Because California Towhees are extremely protective of their nesting and food location sites, conflicts can happen with other pairs living close by. In addition, a California Towhee may endlessly peck or attack a reflection of themselves in a mirror or window thinking it is an actual rival. Covering the area may be the only way to get them to stop this behavior. 

What do California Towhees eat?

California Towhee, Image by Larry Hickey

Seventy percent of the food eaten by California Towhees is found on the ground. California Towhees eat a variety of both weed and grass seeds. Their thick beaks make it easy to crack seeds. They also sometimes eat waste grain. They eat the berries of native plants including those of coffeeberry, elderberry, and poison oak. California Towhees will also eat edibles from the home garden such as stone fruits, lettuce, and peas. During the nesting season, California Towhees will eat live foods such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, and snails. Parents feed their young mainly insects. When foraging for food (looking for food) under leaves on the ground, they often use a double-scratching technique where they jump forward and then quickly jump backward. Edible morsels that pop up after this disturbance are quickly caught and consumed. When eating grass seeds, California Towhees hold onto a stem and strip the seeds off all at once with their beaks. In some parts of California they depend on native berries and/or cattle troughs for sources of water during the hot summer months.

What do California Towhees sound like?

California Towhees make a variety of sounds. One of their more distinctive calls has been described as a bright chip, a sharp ringing note, a loud metallic chip, a seet or seek, a tsip, a tink, and a chink. They also have a call that has been described as a thin tseeee. 

The song of the California Towhee has been described as “a series of high-pitched notes” or “squeaky chips followed by an accelerating trill”. Pairs often call to each other (in duets) using a series of squealing sounds. Song patterns vary as to geographical area. You can listen to the California Towhee below.

These songs and calls of the California Towhee are from xeno-canto. More California Towhee vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Melozone-crissalis.

Meet the Snow Goose

Adult Snow Goose, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

This month let’s learn about another fascinating bird called the Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens). Snow Geese are one of the most abundant waterfowl in North America. They begin nesting in late spring or summer in the arctic tundra (the extreme northern regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia) where it can be icy cold in winter and trees never grow due to environmental conditions. In the fall, Snow Geese migrate south to the United States using one of the four major North American flyways (or bird migration routes). They travel as far south as Mexico. Snow Geese, like many other species of birds, migrate to where there is more food in the winter. Although the Snow Goose population is extremely large in the United States in the winter, Snow Geese only gather in specific habitats in each region. Some of the best places to see Snow Geese in our area are the National Wildlife Refuges: Gray Lodge, Colusa, and Sacramento.

Snow Geese usually walk on the ground (or wade in shallow water) for several hours a day to search for food. They sleep sitting on land, standing on one leg, or even while swimming.

Around March, Snow Geese head north again for spring migration. They usually fly in groups of at least two dozen birds; but often gather into flocks of several hundred thousand birds! Snow Geese flocks fly in a U pattern or a “messy” line formation. Traveling in flocks offers birds greater protection from predators and increases their success rate for finding food sources. During migration, Snow Geese travel for long distances and will fly over the same routes and stop in the same places they have used historically.

Snow Geese are divided into two subspecies: greater and lesser. In fall, the lesser subspecies (A. c. caerulescens) migrate to several regions in the United States. In contrast, Greater Snow Geese (A. c. atlantica) only migrate to areas close to the eastern U.S. coastline. In the Sacramento Valley, the Lesser Snow Goose is the subspecies that’s usually seen.

What do Snow Geese look like?

Adult Snow Goose, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Male and female Snow Geese look alike; but females are often smaller than males. Lesser Snow Geese have variations in plumage (or feather) color. The color pattern seen most often in the Sacramento Valley is the light- or white-morph. Light-morph Snow Geese are mostly white, have thick long necks, pink legs, pink feet, and pinkish-orange bills. The Snow Goose’s bill has a horizontal black streak running along the bottom half which is referred to as the grin patch. The ‘grin patch’ is a very helpful tool used to identify this species. Snow Geese also have black wingtips (a group of wing feathers called primaries). Their black primaries tend to be more noticeable in flight. Frequently Snow Geese will have orange-stained faces and heads caused by iron in the soil where they forage (or search) for food. Juvenile white-morph Snow Geese are partially white. They have black primaries, dark bills, and grayish-brown smudges on their heads, necks, and wings.

Adult Snow Geese: blue-morph on left, and white-morph on right, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

The second color form of the Lesser Snow Goose is the dark- or blue-morph. These darker birds are seen less often in the Sacramento Valley. The blue-morph Lesser Snow Geese have dark-brown or dark slate-gray bodies, white heads, and a variable amount of gray and white on the underside. Birds with this darker coloration also have the characteristic ‘grin patch’. Juvenile “blue morphs” have an overall dark-brown plumage and have dark bills and legs.

The Greater Snow Geese subspecies, found along the eastern coast of the United States, rarely has any color variations like lesser Snow Geese do.

Where do Snow Geese live?

Adult Snow Geese: a blue-morph along with several white-morph, Image by Mary Forrestal

Usually around late May or June, Snow Geese build their nests in the arctic tundra along shallow rivers, on small islands with surrounding shallow lakes, in low grasses, or among Arctic willows. They often nest in colonies (groups of animals or plants living close together). Pairs generally will remain together for life and begin to nest when they reach 3 years old. Female Snow Geese lay eggs once per year and choose the nest sites. Female birds also build nests in a shallow depressions on the ground among grasses, rocks, shrubs. They use grasses, leaves, twigs, or seaweed to make the base of the nest. Then the nest is lined with the females’ own down feathers. Some sources say male feathers are also used. Female Snow Geese tend to choose sites which are slightly elevated so there is better visibility to spot potential predators. Males stand guard while the females spend most of their time incubating the eggs (keeping eggs warm by sitting on them). Females incubate their eggs for 22 to 25 days and don't consume much food during this period. A few hours after hatching, the goslings (or baby geese) will quickly leave the nest. They immediately start feeding themselves while their parents watch over them. Family groups can walk for hours searching for food. The young will start to fly in about 40-50 days; but often remain near the family until they are about 2-3 years old.

When they migrate south in the fall, Snow Geese are found in wetlands or agricultural fields, such as plowed cornfields. They can also be found in or near lakes, bays, ponds, and coastal salt marshes.

What do Snow Geese eat?

Adult Snow Goose, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Snow Geese are mainly vegetarians and eat grass, water plants, shrubs, seeds, stems, horsetails, and willows. Because their diet consists mainly of plant life and they are fairly large birds, Snow Geese must spend a long time each day foraging for food in order to eat enough to survive. They dig up roots, shoots, and tubers in muddy fields and marshes and will consume nearly any part of a plant. Snow Geese have serrated (having a saw-like or jagged edge) bills and tongues that help them cut and tear the strong marsh plants. In the winter, Snow Geese will eat the waste grains found in plowed agricultural fields. Goslings may eat flowers, fruits, plant shoots, and insect larvae.

What do Snow Geese sound like?

Snow Geese are extremely vocal and can be heard about a mile away. Their call has been described as hoarse, nasal, or honking. Researchers think that the continuous calling of geese flocks in flight helps to maintain the organized pattern or formation of the flock. You can listen to Snow Geese now. 

These calls of the Snow Goose are from xeno-canto. More Snow Goose vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Anser-caerulescens.

Great Backyard Bird Count for Kids

Sacramento Audubon Society is partnering with State Parks and Effie Yeaw to host a Great Backyard Bird Count for Kids on February 17th and 18th. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an opportunity for people all over the world to contribute to our scientific understanding of bird populations by recording the birds found in their neighborhood. On Saturday, February 17th, we will contribute to the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Folsom Powerhouse State Historic Park, located on the shores of Lake Natoma in historic Folsom. On Sunday, February 18th, our count will move to Effie Yeaw Nature Center, farther downstream along the American River.

Dates and locations:

  • February 17th at Folsom Powerhouse SHP (9980 Greenback Ln, Folsom, CA)

  • February 18th at Effie Yeaw Nature Center (2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, CA)

Time: 9am - 1pm  (volunteers are asked to arrive at 8:30)

Ages: 7+ (children must be accompanied by an adult the whole count)

Please bring: Your kids or borrow someone else's, warm layers in case of chilly weather or rain, sturdy shoes, binoculars if you have them (or borrow some from us), a bagged lunch, and your observational skills for spotting birds!

What to Expect: Start the count day by borrowing a pair of binoculars and learning how to use them during a binocular boot camp. We will then have a quick chat about why it's important to count birds, before splitting into small groups and exploring along the trail. Adults are expected to bird alongside their kids and each group will have an experienced bird leader to help identify what we find. After counting, we will gather back together for lunch and short presentations from each group to share their findings. 

Young birders over the age of 7 and their beginner or experienced level adults are all welcome to join. Parking at the Folsom Powerhouse SHP is $10 for the day or covered with an annual State Parks pass. Parking at Effie Yeaw is $7 per car, payable at the entrance. Both locations have easily accessible options for flat, paved trails, as well as ADA parking. Please let us know of any accessibility requirements when you register.

Registration: Registration is required. Please complete a separate registration for each child that wishes to attend. Registration is limited to the first 20 children registered for each location. If your child is one of the first 20 registered you will receive a confirmation email from folsomlake@ports-ca.us. All others will receive an email informing them they have been added to the waitlist. Click the button below to register.

Register

for the Great Backyard Bird Count for Kids

Interested in volunteering?  Email Nicole.

For more information about the GBBC and other ways to participate, visit birdcount.org.

An Acorn Woodpecker is one of the birds we hope to see and add to our counts. Image by Ray Rozema.

Meet the Red-breasted Sapsucker

Adult Red-breasted Sapsucker, Image by Kevin Thomas

This month let’s learn about a colorful woodpecker called the Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber). Why are some woodpeckers named ‘sapsuckers’? It’s because sap is an important food source for sapsuckers; while other woodpeckers don't eat sap. Red-breasted Sapsuckers are closely related to both the Red-naped and the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. They were all considered to be the same species prior to 1983.

While some populations of Red-breasted Sapsuckers live in the same location year-round, others migrate (or change locations depending on the availability of food or the season). They will move to lower elevations or coastal regions to locate edible food when temperatures drop cold enough to freeze the sap.

In the Sacramento area, Red-breasted Sapsuckers are seen from late September through March. Look for these birds as they cling against tree trunks in their quest for food. Like other woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers use a flight style that is referred to as undulating which is a combination of flapping and gliding. One source describes this type of flight as: “alternating a burst of wing flaps that make the birds rise, followed by a gentle descent with their wings tucked close to their bodies.” In the spring, the Red-breasted Sapsuckers wintering in the Sacramento Valley will migrate to their nesting region outside our local area.

What do Red-breasted Sapsuckers look like? 

Adult Red-breasted Sapsucker, Image by Daniel Lee Brown

Red-breasted Sapsuckers are similar in size to an American Robin. Adult birds have completely red heads and chests. They have chisel-shaped bills, white rumps, black backs with lightly-colored spots, black tails with white barring, and black wings with a white patch running lengthwise. The area that is between the nostril and the eye, called the lore, is also bright white. Red-breasted Sapsuckers have white or light-yellow bellies with dark streaks on the sides. Female and male birds look similar; but some sources say that females have less red and more white. Juvenile Red-breasted Sapsuckers either have no red or very little red. Their head and chest are brown and have brownish-black backs and wings. Their wings have white patches similar to adult birds. 

Where do Red-breasted Sapsuckers live?

Adult Red-breasted Sapsucker, Image by Kevin Thomas

Red-breasted Sapsuckers are found in the western regions of Canada, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and the western tip of Mexico. They nest in the far western portions of Canada, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, and northeastern California.

Red-breasted Sapsuckers are cavity nesters which means they nest inside tree holes. They frequently nest in mixed forests with both coniferous and deciduous trees. Red-breasted Sapsuckers seek dead tree snags (sharp, jagged projections) to drill nest cavities in. The cavities are often 50-60 feet high. Red-breasted Sapsucker pairs will drill out several cavities each nesting season. Afterwards, they pick one of these cavities to be their nest site. Whereas their nest cavity may be in the same tree as the previous year, Red-breasted Sapsuckers will not reuse old cavities. They usually only nest once per year. The entrance holes of their cavities are just large enough for the parent birds. This prevents most predators from entering. Red-breasted Sapsuckers can be quite territorial (or protective) of the area around their nest and are extremely dedicated parents. Both parents are active in the incubation of eggs (keeping the eggs warm by sitting on the eggs) and help raise and feed their young. The nestlings are fed every seven minutes for six days after hatching! Other nearby Red-breasted Sapsucker adults without nestlings of their own may help to feed the young. The nestlings are fed spiders, caterpillars, flies, sap, and fruit. The young leave the nest 23-28 days after hatching and their parents continue to feed them for about 10 days. Young birds are shown by the adults how to obtain and consume sap.

Horizontally-patterned tree wells made by a Red-breasted Sucker, Image by Jane Van Kessel

What do Red-breasted Sapsuckers eat?

As previously mentioned, the Red-breasted Sapsucker’s primary diet is tree sap. They consume a certain type of sap called phloem which has a high sugar and amino acid content. In search of sap, Red-breasted Sapsuckers drill shallow holes or wells in the trunks of a variety of tree species, such as aspen, cedar, pine, birch, or maple. They return to the same wells periodically to feed on the sap as it slowly oozes out. It is interesting to note that sapsuckers in general do not suck the sap out of tree wells, like their name implies. They simply lick or collect sap with their brush-like tongues. Red-breasted Sapsuckers will also conveniently eat insects that are attracted to the sap. Their entire bodies cling to tree trunks while they drill for sap or look to find insects in tree crevices (or narrow openings). Red-breasted Sapsuckers have stiff tail feathers that help brace their bodies close to tree trunks. They can also securely hold onto surfaces because their feet have strong claws, with two toes facing forward and two toes facing backwards. Besides sap, Red-breasted Sapsuckers eat spiders, caterpillars, berries, fruits, and tree cambium (the slender plant membrane located under the bark of a woody tree or plant). They sometimes will also catch insects in mid-air. Mammals, insects, and other birds benefit by feasting on the sap and trapped insects that are inside the tree wells made by sapsuckers. 

What do Red-breasted Sapsuckers sound like?

Red-breasted Sapsucker calls have been described as a ‘mew’, ‘cheer’, ‘weep weep', ‘waa', or a ‘nasal squealing’ sound. One additional call is a chatter-like sound. Their bill-drumming sound has an irregular cadence (or beat) and has slower beats toward the end.

Like most bird species, Red-breasted Sapsuckers use their calls to establish territory or to find a mate. All species of sapsuckers tend to be quieter in the winter.

You can listen to the calls of Red-breasted Sapsuckers now. 

These calls of the Red-breasted Sapsucker are from xeno-canto. More Red-breasted Sapsucker vocalizations can be found at xeno-canto.org/species/Sphyrapicus-ruber.