Birds of Foothill College

Nuttall's woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) is a small barred black and white woodpecker with no barring on the upper back. Males have a black forehead with red on the rear crown and upper nape. Females have a black forehead, corwn and nape with some white streaking. Nuttall's Woodpeckers are more are less endemic to California although some are found in Baja California.

Sounds can be heard here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/sounds

Similar Species:

Downy Woodpecker has pure white in the middle of the back, pure white underparts, no white streaking on crown, and the black eye and malar stripes are unjoined.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker is paler, more white on back, has a white face with black stripes, (not a black face with white stripes like Nuttall's), barring rather than spots on outer tail feathers, and more extensive red on the head of the male, extending up to the forehead. less ↑

The Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, are solid black above, a streaked breast and have a red cap, white face, and black patch around the bill. Females have less red on the crown than males. These are the most common woodpeckers seen on campus and are very loud and gregarious with a laugh-like call.

You can hear examples of their calls here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Acorn_Woodpecker/sounds less ↑

The Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. In California we have the "Red-shafted" Flicker (the "yellow-shafted" form occurs east of the Rockies). These woodpeckers have a brown crown and gray face, the male has a red stripe, In flight, you will see red flashes under the wings and a white rump.

You can hear examples of their calls here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/northern_flicker/sounds less ↑

The Rock Dove (Columba livia) or Rock Pigeon is usually referred to as the "pigeon" and is highly variable in color due to a history of selective breeding, but most birds are bluish gray with two black bands on the wing and a black tip to the tail ("blue bar" wild type) and an iridescent throat. Other common color morphs include a “red bar” version (similarly marked, but with rusty red replacing bluish gray); “checker” (birds that have spots on the wings); “spread” (all black or all gray); “pied” (birds of any color that are splotched with white); and mostly red or mostly white forms. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rock_pigeon/lifehistory). To learn more about the history of pigeon breeding: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/Birdscope/Summer2008/bird_paradox.html.

Similar Species

Band-tailed Pigeons are grayish overall, with yellow legs and bill and a white collar on the back of the neck. These are also much larger birds and would probably only be flying over, not resident on campus.

Mourning Doves are gray-brown with black spots on the wings; they're more slender and have a long, pointed tail. less ↑

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is medium-sized dove, most easily identified by its grayish-tan body, speckled back, black “ear” patch behind the eye, and long pointed tail. Male and female Mourning Doves are similar to one another in all seasons.

To hear examples of their calls and sounds go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds less ↑

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a medium-sized hummingbird native to the west coast of North America. Anna’s Hummingbirds are mostly green and gray. The male's head and throat are covered in iridescent reddish-pink feathers that can look dull brown or gray without direct sunlight. Females lack the pink/red feathers covering the head but do have a small spot of pink/red feathers on the throat. Anna's Hummingbirds are the only common and resident hummingbirds on campus, though we may also have other migrants occasionally pass through.

To hear an example of sounds made by Anna's Hummingbirds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/sounds less ↑

The California Quail (Callipepla californica) is the state bird of California. California Quail are plump, short-necked game birds with a small head and bill and short, broad wings. Males are gray and brown with a black face outlined with white. Females are plainer brown and lack facial marks. Both sexes have a comma-shaped topknot of feathers projecting forward from the forehead, longer in males than females. Adult males are rich gray and brown all over except they have white and chestnut scales on the belly. , with a black face outlined with bold white stripes. Females are a plainer brown above and lack the facial markings of the males.

They are usually found in groups called coveys.

To hear sounds made by California Quail: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Quail/sounds less ↑

The Killdeer Charadrius vociferus is a medium sized plover most easily identified by its size (9-11 inches), brown back, two black breast bands, and orange-brown rump. They also have gray-green legs, black bill, and red eye ring. Male and female Killdeers are similar to one another.

They have a very distinctive call that indicates their presence, even when you cannot see them. To hear their sounds go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Killdeer/sounds less ↑

Great Egrets (Ardea alba are large (3-4 feet tall) white wading birds with yellow bills and black legs that are occasionally found on campus hunting in drainage ditches and creeks near perimeter road. Male and female Great Egrets are similar in appearance.

Similar species:

The Snowy Egret (not known from Foothill campus, but common in the wetlands around the SF Bay) is much smaller than a Great Egret, and has a more slender black bill and black legs with bright-yellow feet.

Great Blue Herons, which also visit campus to hunt in the grassy areas and drainage ditches are bluish gray in color and have a white head with a black stripe over the eye. They are also larger than Great Egrets less ↑

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird (between 3 and 5 feet tall) that are mostly blue-grey, with brown thighs, and a white cap over a black eye stripe that merges into long, black plumes. The sexes are similar in coloration but the female is normally around ten percent smaller than the male, while juveniles are duller and lack the long plumes of the adults (EOL).

Similar species

Great Egret is another tall wading bird sometimes seen on campus, but as the name suggest, is all white in coloration. less ↑

Mallards are the most common ducks in the world!!! Male Mallards have a dark, iridescent-green head and bright yellow bill. The gray body is sandwiched between a brown breast and black rear. Females and juveniles are mottled brown with orange-and-brown bills. Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue “speculum” patch in the wing (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/id).

Male mallards do not quack, females do! To hear the typical quack of a mallard: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/sounds less ↑

The Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) is a medium-sized hawk that is blue-gray above and streaked rusty-red below with long banded tails, yellow legs, and small, hooked beaks. Like most species of raptors, females are larger than males. While they are generally silent, they do make alarm calls. You can hear examples here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/coopers_hawk/sounds

Similar species

Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawks have a squared-off tail (the Cooper’s Hawk has a rounded tail), and is slightly smaller.

Red-Shouldered Hawk Superficially may look alike but the red-shouldered hawk is larger and as a buteo, has longer wings and a shorter, more fan-shaped tail. less ↑

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)is a large (19-25 inches) hawk, the Red-tailed Hawk is most easily identified by its dark brown back, pale underparts, and rusty-red tail. Male and female Red-tailed Hawks are similarly plumaged in all seasons; however, like most species of raptors, females are larger than males.

Red-tailed hawks have the most recognizable call because Hollywood uses their call to represent any raptor in the world. You can hear an example here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/sounds less ↑

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) is relatively large (17-24 inches) hawk with a brown back, barred white-and-black wings, broad black tail banded and large rust-colored shoulder patches visible from above or while perching. The chest is also rust colored. Like most species of raptors, females are larger than males.

They have a distinctive call that you can listen to here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/sounds

Similar species

Cooper's Hawk (and Sharp-shinned Hawk) - the Red-shouldered Hawk is larger, chunkier, has a much shorter, fan shaped tail. Cooper's hawks are accipiters and have lankier bodies and shorter wings, with long tails.

Red-tailed Hawks are larger than Red-shouldered Hawks, with broader wings, and slower wingbeats. Adult Red-tails usually show a reddish top of the tail, a dark-streaked “belly band,” and pale wings with a dark bar at the leading edge. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id). less ↑

The Black- shouldered Kite (also known as the white tailed kite) (Elanus caeruleus) has long, narrow, pointed gray wings a long white tail and gray back with white underside. They have a black spot on inner portion of wings and red eyes. These birds are probably most noticed when hovering over prey. They have the ability to hold a stationary position in the air without flapping by facing into the wind.

You can hear examples of their sounds here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-tailed_Kite/sounds less ↑

The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is a large (26-32 inches) dark raptor, The Turkey Vulture is most easily identified by its dark brown body, featherless red head, and huge wingspan (up to 70 inches!). Male and female Turkey Vultures are similar to one another in all seasons. They have a distinctive soaring shape of a dihedral (v-shape) and tip from side to side while in flight. less ↑

Cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) are a medium-sized (5-6 inches) swallow, with dark metallic blue wings and back, pale breast, and buff-brown rump. They also have a reddish brown throat/face and a white patch on the forehead and a squared-off tail. Male and female Cliff Swallows are similar to one another in all seasons.

You can here examples of their calls here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cliff_Swallow/sounds

Similar Species

Barn Swallow Barn Swallows are lighter blue and have a large forked tail and lack the white patch on the forehead. less ↑

Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) have cobalt blue bodies with buff to rufous chests and cinnamon colored faces and throats. They have long forked tails that are easily seen both when the birds are perching and when they are in flight. Males have bolder coloration than females.

Similar Species

Cliff Swallows are much darker in color, have a white forehead and a square tail. less ↑

Brewer’s Blackbirds (Euphagus cyanocephalus): males are glossy black with iridescent blue tinge the heads and iridescent green tinge on backs and a bright yellow eye. Females are brown with darker wings and tail and a dark eye.

Similar Species

European Starlings Are iridescent black with white spots, yellow bills and dark colored eyes.

Brown-headed Cowbird lack the iridescence and have a black body with a brown head and dark colored eyes. less ↑

The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is named for the male's distinctive brown head, which contrasts with his metallic green-black body. Females are plain brown with lighter heads and streaking on the belly. Brown-headed Cowbirds are nest parasites and lay their eggs in other species' nests.

To hear an example of brown-headed cowbird calls: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown-headed_Cowbird/sounds

Similar Species

Brewer's Blackbird Lack the brown head and have a yellow eye.

European Starling Have white spots on the body, with a yellow bill and a dark eye. less ↑

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens, is a small perching bird with a black and white head and chestnut back and gray flanks. They have a small beak and long tail.

To hear sounds of chestnut-backed chickadees: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Chestnut-backed_Chickadee/sounds less ↑

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a small common sparrow worldwide. Both sexes have a brown back streaked with black. Males and females are easily distinguished; males have a black bib, a grey crown with chestnut sides, and white cheeks. Females and juveniles have a duskier appearance, and lack the black bib seen in males. Outside of the breeding season, they form large noisy flocks

To hear sounds of House Sparrows:http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_sparrow/sounds less ↑

White-breasted nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) are small birds that can often be spotted climbing up and down the trunks of trees. Their long bills make them easy to identify. Their bills are nearly as long as their heads and are curved slightly upward. White-breasted nuthatches have black crowns on their heads, with white cheeks and white undersides. Their bellies have a slightly pinkish region towards the tail. A nuthatch's back is bluish-gray. Their wings and tails are a mixture of white, black, and bluish-gray. Males tend to be slightly more brightly colored than females, with the dark parts of their plumage being very dark and contrasting with their light plumage. Females are more grayish overall.

Outside of the breeding season, they form mixed-species flocks with oak titmice, oregon juncos, and chestnut-backed chickadees.

To hear sounds of white-breasted nuthatches: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-breasted_Nuthatch/sounds less ↑

The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), also known as the European Starling is a medium-sized glossy black bird which is speckled with white at some times of year. The legs are pink and the bill is black in winter and yellow in summer; young birds have browner plumage than the adults. Some sexual dimorphism exists. Males have elongate breast feathers and a bluish spot at the base of the beak whereas females have short breast plumage and a reddish pink speck at the base of the beak. Juveniles have more rounded wing tips and brownish-black bills (EOL).

Starlings often form large flocks. less ↑

The Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) is medium-sized wren, is identified by its plain brown back, pale breast, long tail (often held up at an angle), long curved bill, and conspicuous white eye-stripes. Male and female Bewick’s Wrens are similar to one another in all seasons.

Hear examples of their songs and calls here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bewicks_Wren/sounds

Similar Species

The House Wren is smaller small size, shorter tail and has a fainter eye-ring and is uniformly brown. less ↑

The American Robin (Turdus migratorius), also known as the robin, is a migratory songbird of the thrush family. Both males and females are medium-sized birds with gray bodies, brown-orange breasts, black heads and a white eye ring, thought the females' heads are slightly lighter than the males. American robins have a lovely and distinct song that can be hear here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds

Similar Species
The spotted towhee is similar in appearance, but has a white belly and white spots on their wings and back. less ↑

The Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) is a small thrush. Males have bright blue backs and wings and rust-colored breast and back. Females tend to be paler gray on their bodies and pale orange on their chests.

Similar Species
Western Scrub Jay - much larger bird with longer tails and no rust/orange coloration
Steller's Jay- also much larger bird, with longer tails, no rust/orange coloration and also has a tufted head. less ↑

The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a small flycatcher with a black body and white belly. They have a small crest at the back of their heads. Males and females are identical in appearance.

To hear sounds of the Black Phoebe go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Phoebe/sounds less ↑

Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni) is a small songbird dull olive-gray above and below. It has a faint white eye ring and faint white wing bars. There are no differences between males and females.

To hear sounds of Hutton's Vireo: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Huttons_Vireo/sounds

Similar species:

Ruby-crowned Kinglet , but has a thinner bill, bolder eye ring and is slightly smaller in size. less ↑

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) is a very small perching bird with olive-green plumage with two white wing bars and a white eye-ring. Males have a red crown patch, which is usually concealed. The sexes are identical (apart from the crown), and juveniles are similar in plumage to adults. It is one of the smallest songbirds in North America.

Similar Species

Golden-crowned Kinglet by that species’ pale face, black eye-stripe, and yellow on the head. less ↑

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is t a small sparrow with a black head and breast, chestnut back, gray wings and white belly. They flash their white tails in flight. Females are slightly lighter/duller in color and smaller than males.

To hear examples of Dark-eyed Junco sounds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/dark-eyed_junco/sounds less ↑

The Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) is a large American sparrow with a short stout bill and a long tail. Golden-crowned Sparrows are streaked brown on their backs and wings and gray on their chest and bellies. As ours are only winter visitors, their crowns are dark brown with a yellow forehead (in breeding, the crown is black).

For an example of their sounds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Golden-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

Similar species

Song Sparrows are smaller, reddish-brown and gray overall, with dark-streaked underparts.

White-crowned Sparrow have a white patch on their head and more contrast in their head markings. Their bill is orange - pink rather than dull gray. less ↑

The White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a medium-sized sparrow with a pink/orange bill, gray body with a brown and gray streaked back and distinct black and white stripes on its crown.

You can hear the sounds of the White-crowned Sparrow here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-crowned_Sparrow/sounds

Similar Species

Golden-crowned Sparrow have no white on the head (dull yellow instead)

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The Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) is a large sparrow with a black head, chest and back with white spots on the wings and back, rust colored flanks and a white belly. Females are similar except that they are brown instead of black.

To hear an example of Spotted Towhee sounds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spotted_Towhee/sounds less ↑

The California Towhee (Melozone crissalis) native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California Sur in Mexico.

To hear examples of sounds from California Towhee: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/california_towhee/sounds less ↑

The American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) is a very small round brown and gray bird with a long tail and short stubby bills. Males and females are similar, but females have pale eyes and males have dark eyes.

Bushtits often travel in mixed species flocks with chickadees, kinglets, wrens, and other small songbirds. Pairs begin to separate from flocks in January-February.

Similar Species

Oak titmouse are slightly larger body, crest on head. less ↑

The Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) is a medium sized, with a light brown body and crest, yellow flanks, black face mask, and red waxy-tipped feathers on the wings. Male and female Cedar Waxwings are similar at all seasons.

To hear examples of sounds from Cedar Waxwings: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/sounds less ↑

The Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica), is a large species jay(with three subspecies) with a long tail and are blue and gray above with a pale gray throat, chest and belly and a blue band across the chest. They have a white eyebrow above the eye. Males and females are similar in appearance.

Similar Species

Western Bluebird Western Bluebirds are smaller in size and have chestnut coloration on their breast, sides and back. They also have a short tail.

Steller's Jay Steller's Jays have a black head, breast and back and distinctive crest. They are also blue on their belly, wings and tail. less ↑

The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a large black bird of with a short square tail. They are frequently seen in large flocks on all parts of the campus. Sexes are similar in appearance though the males may be slightly larger than females. Their call is very nasal

Similar Species

Common Raven Common Ravens are much larger birds. They have thicker, longer bills and in flight, their tail has a wedge or diamond shape.

Brewer's Blackbird Are much smaller than crows, also have a glossier color and a yellow eye. less ↑

The Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is a large bird with a distinct crested black head and blue body, wings and tail. Males and females are similar in appearance.

Steller's Jays are masters of mimicry and make a wide variety of songs and calls. To hear examples of their calls go here: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/sounds

Similar Species

Scrub Jays have no crest and have a lot more gray on their bodies. less ↑

The Lesser Goldfinch or (Spinus psaltria) is a very small songbird with a short bill and short notched tail. The males are black or green on their backs and black cap and are bright yellow underneath. They have white spots on their wings and white corners on their tails. Females are more olive colored on their backs and are duller yellow below.

To hear sounds of the Lesser Goldfinch: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Lesser_Goldfinch/sounds

Similar Species

American Goldfinch Are yellow on their backs and fronts and have bold black and white patterns on their wings. less ↑

The American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), , is a small finch that is yellow with a black cap and boldly colored black and white wings and white patches above and below the tail. Female American Goldfinches are duller yellow overall , and lack black on the head.

To hear examples of sounds of the American Goldfinch: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Goldfinch/sounds

Similar Species

Lesser Goldfinch Are greenish on their backs with a black cap. less ↑

The House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a small finch with a large beak. Males are streaky brown with a conspicuous red, orange or yellowish head and a red rump,. The coloration of the head is dependent upon their diet. Females are streaky gray and brown.

To hear sounds of the House Finch: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_Finch/sounds less ↑