Birds Seen Near Our Home

Note: Each entry indicates the species' common name (in boldface), followed in parentheses by its biological name (in italics) and the page number where it is listed in Baron & Acorn (1997), followed by notes regarding the location(s) and time(s) it was observed.

  1. Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator, p. 62): on the pond since mid-January 2002
  2. Canada goose (Branta canadensis, p. 65): flying overhead or swimming on the pond, almost daily
  3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, p. 67): on the pond behind the house, daily
  4. Ring-necked duck (Aythya fuligula, p.79): on the pond behind the house, April 28
  5. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias, p. 90): perched near the pond or flying overhead, almost daily
  6. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus, p. 117): male, 2800 Northwest Bay Road, February 23
  7. California quail (Callipepla californica, p. 121): near the lookout; on Schirra Drive; 2700-block Northwest Bay Road
  8. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura, p. 122): soaring over the forest behind our house, almost daily since April 28
  9. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis, p. 126): flying over the neighbourhood, occasionally
  10. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus, p. 128): flying overhead, daily
  11. Belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon, p. 141): around the beaver pond behind the house, daily
  12. Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus, p. 145): males at our feeder daily since late March; females since April 28
  13. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna, p. 146): female only, since April 28
  14. Cliff swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota, p. 149): in the sky above our house since April 17
  15. Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens, p. 153): male, at our feeder April 14; female, at our feeder April 23
  16. Red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber, p. 154): in the bushes around our feeder, May 26
  17. Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus, p. 155): male, 1900 Stewart Road, March 15
  18. Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus, p. 157): in the trees around our house, daily
  19. Northwestern crow (Corvus caurinus, p. 176): in our neighbourhood daily
  20. Common raven (Corvus corax, p. 177): in the forest behind our house, almost daily
  21. Stellar's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri, p. 179): at our feeder, October through January; visited again March 3, 16; daily since March 20
  22. Chestnut-backed chickadee (Parus rufescens, p. 183): at our feeder, daily
  23. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis, p. 184): at our feeder, daily
  24. American robin (Turdus migratorius, 186): male and female, on lawn, fence and trees around the house, since March 2
  25. Varied thrush (Ixoreus naevius, p. 187): below our feeder, daily; on the morning of April 7, one struck our patio window in full flight, broke its neck and died instantly
  26. White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla, p. 208): under our feeder, April 29
  27. Golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla, p. 209): below our feeder, daily since April 18
  28. Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca, p. 210): below our feeder since mid-January 2002
  29. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia, p. 211): below our feeder, daily
  30. Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis, p. 213): at and below our feeder, daily
  31. Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus, p. 215): males, at and below our feeder, daily
  32. House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus, p. 216): at and below our feeder, daily since March 4 (male), female and additional male since March 6
  33. Purple finch (Carpodacus purpureus, p. 217): male only, at our feeder May 5 and 6
  34. Pine siskin (Carduelis pinus, p. 218): at and below our feeder, since March 14
  35. American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis, p. 219): male, at our feeder May 12, June 2
  36. Black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus, p. 222): male, in the bushes around our feeder June 2
  37. Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator, p. 223): male only, perched on high cedar bough, February 18