Ornithology Lab 6

Passeriformes (part 1) and Piciformes (larger arboreal birds)

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Alaudidae
Small, ground-dwelling songbird with a pale brown back and white underparts. Its face is marked with a yellow wash and bold black markings that include a distinct mask and a black "bib." Males have tiny black feather tufts or "horns" on the head. The tail is black with white edges.

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Corvidae
All-black, medium-large bird with glossy feathers and a thick, straight bill. The tail is rounded when spread, and the wings are broad with rounded tips. It has a confident walk and is known for its loud, cawing vocalizations and social behavior.

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Corvidae
Bright blue upperparts with a white chest and belly, and a bold black necklace across the throat. The crest is prominent and blue, and the wings and tail are barred with black and white. The face is white with a black line that extends from the bill to around the neck.

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Corvidae
This bird has a striking appearance with a black crested head that gradually shifts to deep blue on the back and underparts. The wings and tail are rich blue with black barring. The face may show light blue streaks above the eye, and its tall crest gives it a bold silhouette.

California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Corvidae
Has a vibrant blue head, wings, and tail with a grayish-brown back and a clean white belly. A bold blue necklace arcs across the chest, and the face shows a dark blue mask. Its long tail and sturdy posture are distinctive in open woodlands.

Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Corvidae
A pale gray bird with black wings, white wing patches, and a long, pointed black bill. The tail is short and black with striking white outer feathers. It has a sleek appearance and is often found in high-elevation conifer forests.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Hirundinidae
Has a dark, metallic blue back and crown with a pale, buff-colored rump. The underparts are light and the face features a chestnut forehead and throat. Its square tail and long pointed wings aid in agile flight, and it builds gourd-shaped mud nests on cliffs and buildings.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Hirundinidae
This small bird has glossy blue-green upperparts and clean white underparts. Its wings are long and pointed, and the tail is slightly forked. It has a sleek profile in flight and a smooth, iridescent sheen that stands out in sunlight.

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Tyrannidae
have a pale gray head and chest, bright yellow belly, and black tail with narrow white outer edges. The back is olive-gray, and the bill is short and dark.

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Tyrannidae
A small, drab bird with an olive-gray back, whitish throat, and pale yellowish belly. It has two faint wingbars and a short, wide bill with a pale base.

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Tyrannidae
This slender bird has a pale gray face and throat, a pale yellow belly, and warm brown wings and tail. The crown is slightly peaked, and the wing feathers show rusty edging. Its long tail has rufous highlights, and it often flicks it when perched.

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Tyrannidae
Is a soft-colored bird with a grayish-brown back and head, a cinnamon-orange belly, and a black tail. Its posture is upright, and it often pumps its tail. The wings are dusky brown and unmarked.

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Tyrannidae
This small bird is mostly black with a clean white belly and undertail. The black extends over the head, chest, and back, and the wings and tail are a sooty black. It often perches near water and frequently bobs its tail while hunting insects.

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

A greenish-olive songbird with a white underside, the bird has a bold white eyebrow bordered above by a dark line and a faintly hooked bill. Adults have a red iris. It has a smooth, clean appearance and sings persistently from the canopy.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Bombycillidae
Sleek, brown birds with a crest, black mask, and silky plumage. The wings are gray, the belly is pale yellow, and the tail is tipped with a yellow band. Adults may have red waxy tips on the secondary wing feathers.

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Sturnidae
The compact bird with iridescent black feathers, which can shimmer in green and purple hues. Its wings are pointed and the bill is sharp and yellow.

Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Troglodytidae
This small bird has a white throat and chest, with a brown back and barred wings and tail. Its head is a soft brown, with a slight eyebrow stripe, and its tail is often cocked upward. It’s known for its cheerful and persistent songs.

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Troglodytidae
Tiny, brown birds with a plain, streaky back and a pale belly. Their tail is short and often held upright, and they have a distinctive, energetic foraging behavior.

Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Troglodytidae
A small bird with a brown, streaky back and a pale, grayish-white belly. Its face features a faint dark line through the eye, and its tail is long, often held cocked upward. It is commonly found hopping among rocks and shrubs.

Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Troglodytidae
The largest of the (REDACTED), the bird has a striking white eyebrow and spotted brown-and-white back. Its wings and tail are streaked, and the belly is pale with a slight yellowish tinge.

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Cinclidae
This plump, dark gray bird has a short tail and strong legs, often bobbing while perched. It has a pale eyelid that’s noticeable when it blinks, and it is typically found in fast-moving streams. Its habitat and habits give it a unique, almost aquatic appearance.

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Mimidae
A large bird with a long, curved bill, this bird has a grayish-brown back and a pale, creamy-colored belly. The throat is marked with dark streaks, and the face has a slightly darker tone. Its tail is long, often held downward, and the bird has a striking, swift posture.

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Mimidae
Have a gray-brown back with white wing patches and a white belly. Their long tail shows prominent white feathers along the edges. The bird is known for its wide variety of songs and mimicry, often perched in prominent locations.

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Paridae
This small bird has a black cap, a white face with a black "bib" and dark eyes. Its back is a soft gray, and the belly is white. The tail is short and square, and the bird’s cheerful behavior is typical in high-elevation forests.

Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Paridae
Grayish bird with a prominent crest on its head. Its face is pale with a faint darker line along the eye, and the back is also gray, blending into the light-colored belly.

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Aegithalidae
The bird is an incredibly small bird with a round body and long tail. It has soft gray plumage, with darker wings and a white throat. Its tiny, beady eyes and active behavior make it a frequent sight in dense shrubs, often in flocks.

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Sittidae
A tiny, active bird with a pale blue-gray back and a light, almost white belly. Its face is a darker gray with a white throat, and its eyes are large in comparison to its size. It often forages in flocks, climbing up and down tree trunks.

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Order: Passeriformes | Family: Sittidae
This bird has a striking black-and-white coloration, with a black cap and dark blue-gray back. The face is white with a bold black line running through the eyes. It is often seen climbing tree trunks headfirst, its short tail and stout bill perfect for foraging.

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Picidae
Has a distinctive appearance with a black body, white wing patches, and a bold red crown. Its face is white, with a black mask around the eyes. Known for storing acorns in trees, it has a white belly and strong, drumming calls.

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Picidae
This bird has a unique, colorful appearance, with a deep pink-red belly, greenish back, and dark wings. Its face and throat are a soft gray, and the crown is dark with a red patch on the nape.

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Picidae
Tan body with black spots on the belly and wings, and a characteristic black crescent across the chest. Their head is a soft brown with a red patch on the nape. The tail has a noticeable white patch, and they are often seen on the ground searching for ants and beetles.

Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Picidae
This medium-sized bird has a bright red head and throat, with a white stripe extending down the back. The chest is a pale, creamy color with a reddish hue on the breast. It has a dark back with black and white striped wings and tail, and it often drills rows of holes in trees to feed on sap.

Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Ramphastidae
Has a bright yellow belly, black wings, and a distinctive black-and-red collar around its neck. Its face is dark with a colorful, large bill that has a yellow tip. It’s a striking bird with a combination of bold colors and a long tail.

Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus)

Order: Piciformes | Family: Ramphastidae
The bird is instantly recognizable for its massive, brightly colored bill, which is mostly yellow with green, blue, and red patches. Its body is mostly black, with a vibrant yellow belly and a white throat. The bird’s large, colorful bill contrasts sharply with its sleek black body.