Observations by malibuaudiotour

The killdeer is a type of shorebird though it’s often found far from water. It gets its name from its shrill cry: ”killdeah, killdeah, killdeah!” Well camouflaged, speckled eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on the ground and parents are known for their “broken-wing act” that lures predators from the nest. Fluffy chicks are foraging for insects and seeds shortly after hatching.
Other shorebirds that utilize the park are: Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Wimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe

This chunky black bird with its white bill is very common at ponds and wetlands. Coots dive beneath the water’s surface to feed on vegetation and aquatic invertebrates. They will also graze on land. Coots do not have webbed feet like ducks, but rather long, lobed toes. Their nests are usually floating platforms amongst cattails, sedges and rushes.
Similar birds in this wetland include: Sora Rail and Pied-billed Grebe.

A medium-sized duck, that feeds by filtering small invertebrates through comb-like structures on its large bill. The male has a striking metallic green head, white breast and cinnamon colored sides. The female is heavily mottled shades of brown.
Wetlands such as this are vital for these and other migratory waterfowl that feed and rest in the park, including: Gadwall, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, and the occasional Snow Goose. Mallards are found here year-round.

Easily identified, this tall white heron stalks the wetlands and grassy areas in search of fish, reptiles and amphibians. The egrets you see at Legacy Park probably nest in the tall ficus trees at Malibu Country Mart.
The smaller, delicate Snowy Egret also feeds in the stream and pond of the park.
Other herons you may encounter are: Great Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron and the Green Heron.

A medium-sized, black and white flycatcher that is nearly always found near water. Look for the Phoebe on conspicuous perches from which it darts to capture flying insects, then returns to its perch. Song is a repeated “tee-hee, tee- ho.”
Other flycatchers you may see include:
Say’s Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird.

This medium sized warbler is a year-round resident of Legacy Park. The male of this species has a black mask and a brilliant yellow throat and breast while the female lacks a mask and is an overall greenish yellow. They are usually found in thickets near water. Listen for the song (“witchity-witchity-witchity”) as this bird is more often heard than seen.
Some of the other songbirds that may be found in the park are:
Song Sparrow, California Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, Wrentit, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lesser Goldfinch, Hooded Oriole, Great-tailed Grackle, and a variety of migratory warblers and sparrows.