Morning Dove  Zenaida macroura
RESIDENT

This common dove is gray-brown with a black spot on its cheeks.  It has a slim body, small head, pinkish feet, and a long pointed tail. The wings produce a whistling sound as the dove takes flight and the white tips of the outer tail feathers are visible.  Small flocks are often found feeding on the ground or perched on wires or tree branches. Its flight is swift and direct without coasting. Its call is a series of mournful coos.  It lays 2 white eggs in nests in trees, shrubs, or on the ground. 12 inches long.

Anna’s Hummingbird  Calypte anna
RESIDENT

This hummingbird is the largest California hummingbird and is the only one commonly found here during midwinter.  It is dark green above and gray below.  Males have a brilliant red crown and red-spotted throat.  Females often have a few red throat feathers and a white-tipped tail.  Its song, delivered from a perch, is a series of squeaking, rasping notes; its call is a sharp chick.  It lays 2 white eggs in a tiny lichen-covered cup fastened to a branch of a tree or shrub. 3-4 in.

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
RESIDENT

 The black phoebe is a solitary flycatcher that feeds almost entirely on flying insects.  It  perches in the open near water, wagging and spreading its tail. It makes short flights to catch insects, and returns to its perch. The top of its body, including the breast, is black; the belly is white. Its 4-syllable song is a thin, rising pee-wee, followed by a descending pee-wee.  Its calls include a loud tsee and a sharper tsip.  It lays 3-6 white eggs in a cup nest of mud and grass built beneath an overhanging cliff or eave. 6-7 in.
 

Western Scrub Jay Aphelocoma coerulescens
RESIDENT

  The crestless scrub jay has a blue head, wings and tail, a brownish back, white throat,  and a “necklace” of short streaks across the breast.  Its rough rasping shreek often announces the presence of an intruder into its oak woodland habitat.  It lays 3-6 reddish or green spotted eggs in a twiggy bowl located in a bush or low tree.  11-13 in

Chestnut-backed Chickadee  Parus rufescens
RESIDENT

 The chestnut-backed chickadee has a brown cap, white cheeks, and a black bib.  It feeds high in trees, sometimes hanging upside down.  Its call is a hoarse, rapid tseek-a-dee-dee.  It lays 5-7 dotted eggs in a cavity in a tree or stump. 5 in.   

 
Bushtit  Psaltriparus minimus

RESIDENT

 
High thin, fussing notes and constant twittering and fluttering in the trees announce the arrival of a flock of insect-eating bushtits.  They are gray above with brownish cheeks, whitish below, and have a long tail and short bill.  The nest is a long woven sock hung from a branch that usually contains 5-7 white eggs.  4 in. 
 

 
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
RESIDENT

The ruby-crowned kinglet is a tiny, plump, active, nervous bird.  It flicks its wings rapidly while singing a high, thin tsee, or scolding je-dit je-dit.  It is grayish-olive above, with two white wing bars.  The male flashes its red crown patch when upset.

 
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas\
RESIDENT
 

This small wren-like warbler has olive-colored upper parts and yellow underparts.  The male has a black mask, bordered above by white, that wraps across the top of its bill and around the front of the head.  The yellowthroat is often found on or near the ground in dense patches of tules and cattails in marsh habitats.  Its song, witchity, witchity, witchity, witch, is repeated several times.  It lays 3-5 spotted eggs in a loose grass cup.  5 in. 

California Towhee Pipilo fuscus
RESIDENT

The California towhee is dull brown above, paler below, and has a dark-streaked buffy –throat. It has a long tail with rusty orange  undertail coverts.  This common bird hops while feeding on the ground near dense shrubbery.  Its call is a metallic chink. The cup nest is built in a bush or low tree and contains 3-4 spotted eggs.  8 in. 

 
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia

RESIDENT

The song sparrow is brown with a heavily streaked breast and a central dark “stickpin”. Its legs and feet are pinkish.  It pumps its long, rounded tail in flight. It inhabits dense streamside thickets and moist wood margins. Its song is a series of variable musical and buzzy notes: sweet, sweet, sweet.  Its call note is a hollow chimp. It lays 3-5 spotted eggs in a grass cup on the ground or in a bush.  6 in. 

English House Sparrow  Passer domesticus
RESIDENT

This small bird is very friendly and is well known for its adaptation to city environments.  The male is brown and gray with a black face mask.  The female is plain brown.  They were introduced into this area by European settlers who wanted to bring a piece of home with them.  They thrive on insects and occasionally on refuse left by people visiting the area.

Red-Winged Blackbird  Agelaius phoeniceus
RESIDENT

This bird is found in the area year round.  The males have bright red shoulder patches against a black body.  These patches are hidden when feeding or resting and can only be seen when in flight.  The female is brown with dark stripes.  The males and females form separate except during the breeding season.  They feed on plants and insects.

 
Brewers Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
RESIDENT

The Brewers Blackbird male has a black body that in certain light can reflect purple on the head and green on the body.  The eye of the male is whitel  The female is a brown gray color and has brown eyes.  These birds generally occur in pairs even when with a flock.  They feed on insects, seeds, and fruits found in the surrounding area.

Turkey Vulture
 Cathartes aura

Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos

This Mallard is a common duck found in this area.  The males have a green head, white neck ring, and rusty colored breast.  The female is a mottled brown color.  The  Mallards  near Stivers Lagoon are a mix of wild and domestic birds.  The wild birds are smaller and have the ability to fly gracefully from a standstill.  The domesticated birds are  hybrids  due to their varying body weight of the birds they fly as well as the wild birds.  These birds feed on the surface of the water, when searching out food they tip and only their tail feathers will show.

Northern Shoveler  Anas clypeata

A common marsh duck distinguished by it's large spatula shaped bill. The male has a green head, yellow eye, white breast, and brown sides. The female has mainly brown coloring with green speculum on it's wings.  It is 19 inches long.

Canada Goose
Branta canadensis

This goose is found year round in the park area. They are identified by their long black necks and white cheek strap.  They are brown on top and whitish below.  Both male and female look the same in shape size and color.  They feed on the grass that lies in the open fields around the park area.  They fly well and are seen around town flying in the typical "v" formation.

American Coot   
Fulica americana

This chicken-sized bird is slate black with red eyes and a white  bill.  Its feet are lobed to enable efficient walking and swimming. They feed on lake vegetation and also the lawns of the park.
 

Black-Crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax

This 1.5 to 2 foot tall bird is a nocturnal hunter.  Their necks are short and stocky.  They are a gray or white below and have gray wings, a black cap, red eyes, and yellowish legs.  Their primary diet consists of fish found locally in the lake.

Great Egret
Casmerodus albus

This Great Egret is a large, slender, white bird that stands at about three feet tall. It has a long pointed yellow beak used to spear fish, its main food source.  They have black feet and legs.  They wade into fairly deep water to search out food.  When they fly, their necks are pulled back into an "S" curve. 

Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias

The Great Blue  Heron is the largest long-legged wading bird found in our area.  It is nearly four feet tall and its wingspan is almost six feet.  The yellow beak is shaped like a dagger.  They have a whitish head and a blue gray body.  When seen flying they form a loose "S" curve with their neck.  Their diet consists of frogs, fish, crayfish, mice, insects, and occasionally very young waterfowl.