Our first Bird of the Week is one you might recognize from our gorgeous logo (designed by Mason Avelar) – the Western Tanager! This fiery little songbird resides in evergreen forests along the western coast of the United States, including here in Southern California.

Males of this species, like the one pictured above, have a gorgeous red pigment brushed across their faces. This red coloration is common within the Cardinalidae family. Usually, birds obtain this red color by consuming plant material containing carotenoids. However, the Western Tanager gets its color from a rare pigment called rhodoxanthin! Rhodoxanthin is found in conifer buds, and Western Tanagers ingest it when consuming insects that feed on these conifers.

While Western Tanagers may enjoy the sunny SoCal coast year-round, these birds do quite a bit of traveling, migrating farther north than any other tanager species, up to 60° in latitude along Canada’s west coast! (That’s all the way up by the Gulf of Alaska!)

The gentle coos of the Mourning Dove have acted as the soundtrack to early mornings for centuries across the country. These soft brown and gray birds live nearly everywhere, perching on telephone wires or foraging through patches of open ground. And while these birds may be known for their calming call, they are also recognizable for the whistling noise that their wings make when they take flight. As air passes through a Mourning Dove’s wings, the tips of its flight feathers vibrate, creating a distinct whistling.

The Rock Pigeon, also known as the Rock Dove, is perhaps not as beloved as its Mourning Dove cousin. Often considered to be a pest or nuisance, pigeons seem to overcrowd city streets and skylines. But these spectacular gray birds were not always pushed to the curb – they were originally domesticated by humans over 5,000 years ago! Their incredible ability to return home from far-away locations was soon harnessed into “pigeon posts” all across the globe. The Romans, Genghis Khan, and soldiers in World War I and World War II used pigeon posts to deliver mail across their vast empires.

With its signature blue plumage, the California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) is a delightful bird to spot along the Pacific coast. The California Scrub-Jay was only recently defined as a distinct species of jay. In 2016, the American Ornithologist’s Union split the Western Scrub-Jay into two new species – the California Scrub-Jay and its very similar-looking cousin, the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii). The decision was made in part due to the birds’ different distributions, beak adaptations, and the results of genetic analysis.

While this bright blue bird may seem hard to miss, you may hear a California Scrub-Jay before you spot it! Like other Corvids (the family that includes crows, ravens, and other jays), California Scrub-Jays are very vocal and considered to be quite intelligent as well. They communicate in both songs and calls, with close, courting pairs known to sing a melody for up to 5 minutes! There are at least 20 known distinct calls in the California Scrub-Jay vocabulary, with calls to scold predators! Their intelligence is not only demonstrated through their communication skills, but also through their incredible memory, which comes in handy when storing food. California Scrub-Jays feast on insects in the warmer months, but during fall and winter they feed on nuts and seeds. California Scrub-Jays often bury acorns, saving them to eat later on when food is scarce. Not all of these acorns are eaten, resulting in the replanting of oak trees. Next time you’re enjoying the shade of an oak tree, thank the jay who may have planted it!

House Sparrows are found in neighborhoods, urban areas, farms, and other places close to people. They are often found at backyard bird feeders, or eating other grains, seeds, or discarded food. However, in the summer, to feed their young House Sparrows will hunt insects, grabbing them in the air or hunting by light sources at dusk!

Male House Sparrows will use their calls to attract a mate or announce that they have a nest. Female House Sparrows will typically only use this call if they have lost their mate and need to attract a new one. House Sparrows are common study species for science. Due to their common occurrence and proximity to humans, House Sparrows are considered a model organism for avian studies, with over 5,000 studies published on House Sparrows to date!

In contrast to their House Sparrow cousins, Song Sparrows do not live in such close proximity to humans. Although Song Sparrows can be found in suburbs, you will also find them in open habitats like marshes, agricultural fields, and woodlands. Song Sparrows feast on insects in the summer months, and snack on fruits and seeds year-round.

A male Song Sparrow will attempt to attract a mate using a song, like many other songbirds. Female Song Sparrows are not only attracted to the song, but also to how it demonstrates the males’ ability to learn! The song of the Song Sparrow is also used to defend their territory against encroaching males.

The Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) is a species of flycatcher that resides along the Pacific coast of California, down through the Western United States, Mexico, and into South America. More social than other flycatchers, Black Phoebes can be found visiting backyards to hunt for their favorite food, flying insects. Black Phoebes will perch on low branches and dart out to catch dragonflies, bees, beetles, grasshoppers, and other bugs in mid-air!

Black Phoebes are excellent house hunters and builders. (Seriously, they could have their own HGTV show!) A male Black Phoebe will hover over a potential nesting spot for 5 to 10 seconds, waiting for his mate’s approval – the female decides what’s prime real estate. Black Phoebes need to nest nearby a water or mud source, as females use mud to construct their cup-shaped nests along walls, bridges, and cliffs. Phoebes then line their nests with plant fibers, feathers, and furs to keep chicks warm. Both male and female Black Phoebes participate in feeding their young after they hatch.

As you may have guessed from its name, the European Starling is not native to North America. Starlings were brought to New York in the 1890s by Shakespeare enthusiasts, who wanted America to have all the birds that Shakespeare ever mentioned, including the starling featured in Henry IV. (Fun fact: The starling is only one of 64 bird species that are mentioned throughout 606 of Shakespeare’s works – check out a full list here!)

One hundred of these starlings were subsequently released, and today, there are over 200 million European Starlings across the continent. Given such a short period of time (on an evolutionary scale) since their release, starlings in North America have low genetic diversity. This means that the DNA of starlings on the East Coast of the United States is almost indistinguishable from starlings on the West Coast, a rare phenomenon for isolated groups of the same species.

From a distance, European Starlings appear to be simple, black birds. But up close, their green and purple iridescent feathers shine in the summer and are replaced by brown feathers and white spots in the winter months. You can find starlings in urban environments and in the countryside near human-made structures; they are often perched on wires and buildings and feed on the ground in fields and lawns, or at bird feeders.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are one of the most common hummingbirds along the Pacific Coast. Their range has significantly expanded from their original breeding ranges in Baja and southern California, largely due to the planting of flowering trees and provision of hummingbird feeders that have increased supply of nectar. Today, communities across California can take delight in these stunning birds, hovering from flower to flower, or diving in the air to court a mate.

Allen’s Hummingbirds (above) inhabit a narrow strip along the Pacific Coast. Some populations migrate to Mexico for the winter months, but others stay in California year round. Allen’s Hummingbirds have declined significantly over the past 50 years, likely due to increased development of their coastal habitats.

The Bushtit, a tiny gray and brown bird, is a common songbird that spans the western United States and Mexico. It is the only member of its family (Aegithalidae) that resides in North America – the rest of the Aegithalidae family, consisting of seven other species, are found across Eurasia. These social birds are found in flocks of between 10 and 40 birds, typically in open woodlands, chaparral, and suburbs. Their diet consists of small insects and spiders, but some Bushtits have also been observed eating willow seeds and olives!

Bushtits use spiderwebs and plant fibers to construct soft, elaborate, hanging nests. This process can take up to a month to complete! The nest is camouflaged with feathers, fur, and other soft pieces of plants. Unlike most other bird species, breeding pairs of Bushtits are often assisted in raising their nestlings by other adult birds. This behavior is made even more unusual by the fact that the majority of these helpers are adult males.

It’s a car alarm… it’s a jay… it’s actually the Northern Mockingbird! These gray and white birds, common across the continental United States and Mexico, are famous for their ability to mimic sounds in their environment, including other birds (such as jays and hawks), other animals (like frogs), and (unfortunately) car alarms. Both male and female mockingbirds sing, but you may hear male mockingbirds more, as they sing year round and will even sing during the night – especially during a full moon!

Male mockingbirds can learn hundreds of songs throughout their lives and continually add new songs to their repertoire. Bird species that demonstrate lifelong learning are referred to as open-ended learners. Some bird species know what songs to sing to communicate with their species innately from birth, but for birds that learn their song, it’s clear that the first year of life is critically important. (European Starlings, a past Bird of the Week, are also open-ended learners!)

So, what kinds of sounds are mockingbirds most likely to mimic? Research has shown that mockingbirds mimic bird sounds that are similar to their own calls in rhythm and pitch. This explains why mockingbirds don’t imitate the slow coos of a Mourning Dove or the fast-paced chirps of the Chipping Sparrow.

Interested in learning more about vocal learning in songbirds? Check out this new paper, out today in Science, showing that birds that learn more complex songs are also better at problem solving. (Maybe the birds are telling us to whistle while we work!)

This small bird makes a big impression! With its long tail and striking white “eyebrows”, the Bewick’s Wren is a treat for any birder to spot. These little songbirds have a diverse repertoire of songs that are used to defend their territory and attract mates – raspy notes are used to “scold” intruders on their territory! Male Bewick’s Wrens build their unique song vocabulary in the first and second months of their life, adapting notes and syllables from their father’s signature song.

Bewick’s Wrens make their homes in brushes and scrubs in open woodlands, chaparral, and suburban plantings across the western United States. A monogamous breeding pair will build their nest on a ledge or in a cavity. The nest is usually constructed over a week or two. Plant fibers are used to construct the base, and spider egg casings, feathers, wool, and snakeskin are used to create a soft interior lining.

Bewick’s Wrens enjoy snacking on all life stages of insects, feasting on eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. They can be found hanging upside down on trees to grab their prey. Their diet in the winter expands to include fruits, seeds, and other plant matter, and adult wrens will sometimes consume mud or small pebbles, either for nutrients or to help digest their food.

The Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most common hawks in North America. Their cry is also one you’ve likely heard before, as their screech is commonly used in lieu of a Bald Eagle cry in movies. Red-tailed Hawks are easily recognizable as they soar through the sky – look for their rounded wings, short tail, and reddish tail feathers.

Male Red-tailed Hawks court females by catching prey and passing it to a female midair or by performing swooping dives. Sometimes, a pair will interlock their talons and spiral together towards the ground. A mated pair will typically stay together for life, and both will work to build nests using dry sticks, bark strips, fresh foliage, and other dry vegetation. In open habitats, such as deserts, scrublands, woodlands, and tropical rainforests, Red-tailed Hawks build their nests in tall trees, but in urban settings you can find their nests on the tops of buildings.

Red-tailed Hawks hunt small mammals, birds, and a wide range of other small animals! They prey upon voles, mice, squirrels, pheasants, blackbirds, and even snakes. They can be aggressive toward other bird species infringing on their territory, chasing off other hawks, eagles, and Great Horned Owls.

Many Red-tailed Hawks breed up north in Alaska and Canada and return to the lower United States and Mexico in the winter, so keep an eye out as the weather gets cooler!

The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is one of the most common birds found in North America. These small, migratory sparrows span across the entire continent and vary widely in color. Their color variations come in five palettes: gray-headed, pink-sided, slate-colored, white-winged, and Oregon – the color variation we’re most used to seeing here in California.

Dark-eyed Juncos love to feast on seeds of plants like chickweed, buckwheat, and sorrel year round. When they forage, juncos hop along the ground, sifting through the soil and pecking at leaf litter. During their breeding season, Dark-eyed Juncos expand their diet to include insects like flies, caterpillars, moths, and beetles. They can be seen agilely darting up from the ground to catch insects along tree trunks.

Male Dark-eyed Juncos court females by fanning open their wings and tail feathers to show off the bright white plumage in their tails. Females build nests using various plant materials in their environment, including ferns, twigs, and rootlets.

Don’t let its name fool you – the Lesser Goldfinch is anything but that! The use of “lesser” in its name is used to identify that it is the smallest of all North American finches. (Lesser Goldfinches average around four inches in length). Its small stature also earns the Lesser Goldfinch the title of smallest mimic in all of North America! During mating season, a male’s call will integrate song excerpts from other birds, including American Kestrels, California Scrub-jays, House Finches, and more. Interspersed in these songs, you’ll hear trills, wheezes, and stutters. Despite this wide variety of song, Lesser Goldfinches are still recognizable their by the tell-tale “tee-yeer” starting notes.

The Lesser Goldfinch is found primarily in California and Texas, but their range extends north into Oregon and south into Mexico, with some populations found in Central America. Along the West Coast, Lesser Goldfinches sport a black cap and greenish back, but in the eastern and lower southern regions of their range, most Lesser Goldfinches will have a black back.

Lesser Goldfinches make their homes in chaparral, open woodlands, and urban green spaces throughout the western U.S. They primarily enjoy seeds from the sunflower family, but will also eat elderberry and madrone fruit, as well as willow and oak buds.

Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are highly recognizable thanks to their fashionable plumage – classic black and white stripes that cover their whole body. Males of this species sport an eye-catching red crest on top of their black caps. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are named after English botanist and ornithologist, Thomas Nuttall, who wrote A Manual of the Ornithology of the United States and of Canada in the 1830s.

These woodpeckers are found primarily in California’s oak woodlands, although they can venture into wooded suburban areas and woodlands near streams. Despite their range being confined to oak woodlands, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers do not eat acorns! They prefer to dine on insects, like beetles, beetle larvae, and termites found inside trees and on tree bark. To access the insects inside trees, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers rapidly drive their beaks into the bark, creating their iconic drumming sound. They will occasionally enjoy fruits from poison oak and elderberry shrubs, as well as blackberry bushes.

Not only do they use trees to hunt for their food, but Nuttall’s Woodpeckers also use oaks, cottonwoods, willows, and sycamores as their homes. A bonded pair of woodpeckers will build their nest in the cavity of a dead tree trunk or branch. Nests are approximately 11 inches deep, with wood chips on the bottom to cushion their eggs. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers will guard their territory against encroaching woodpeckers, flaring their crests and flicking their wings.

American Crows are commonly found across the lower 48 states. They are often observed roosting in large numbers and, yes, a group of crows is known as a “murder” – scary! American Crows are known for their intelligence: they will follow other birds to find their nests, steal food, and even use tools! Crows also have some extraordinary behaviors, even gathering around their dead. Click here to read more about Dr. Swift’s studies of crow funerals.

American Crows and Common Ravens are perhaps the most iconic birds in the Corvid family. These all-black birds are both commonly featured in decorations for Halloween – the “caws” of crows are used in media in creepy soundscapes, and ravens are perhaps best known for their starring role in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven.

Because these birds look similar, it can be tricky at first to tell them apart, so we’ve gathered some advice from corvid expert Dr. Kaeli Swift to help distinguish these species.

• Size: Ravens are much larger than crows. Dr. Swift writes, “If you’re at higher elevation or in a more rural or coastal area and find yourself thinking, ‘that’s the biggest #$%^&*# crow I’ve ever seen!’, you’re probably looking at a raven.”

• Sound: Ravens have throaty-deep croaks, but crows have higher-pitched caws.

• Tail Shape: Ravens have diamond-shaped tails, visible when they fly, Crow tails are square-shaped.

Common Ravens are found in the western U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Similar to American Crows, they are also incredibly intelligent – for example, they have been observed working in pairs, one distracting an incubating bird while the other raids the nest. Ravens have a similar diet to American Crows. They eat a wide range of foods, including grains, berries, and nestlings. Ravens are also very playful and can be seen performing aerial aerobatics – diving, rolling, and dropping and catching objects are just some of the antics you might observe!

The California Towhee is a large sparrow, and its plumage ranges from a light grayish brown to a dark brown, with rust-colored feathers on its face and under its tail. These birds are found in chaparrals in the foothills of Oregon and the coastline of California. They also frequently visit gardens and backyards in suburban areas.

If you catch a California Towhee staring at its reflection, it’s not being vain – it may actually think it’s seeing another bird! Due to this confusion, California Towhees will sometimes attack their own reflection, flying and knocking at windows or car mirrors.

This isn’t the only strange habit of California Towhees – they also build their nests in quite the uncomfortable shrub - poison oak! California Towhees also use poison oak as an all-you-can-eat buffet, feasting on its fruits, along with the berries from elderberry and coffeeberry plants, grass seeds, and insects. You can often see them foraging for their food by doing a “double-scratch” maneuver, jumping forward, and then quickly hopping backward to clear leaf litter from the floor.