Ornithology Unit Bird List

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii; Orange chest and white wings with bright red eyes. Kills prey by squeezing them with its talons.

Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis; Black head, white chest, and red eyes. Water bird known for diving.

Wood Duck

Aix sponsa; Marbled body, green head on males, brown wings. One of the most colorful waterfowl in North America.

Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos; Brown body, males have bright green heads, females have purple feathers on their wings. Commonly found in water.

Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias; Grayish blue body with white and black head. Found in water and marshes.

Canadian Goose

Branta canadensis; White and beige body with a black head. Most common bird in North America.

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus; Striped brown body, tufted feathers tohelp amplify sound.

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola; White head and wings, iridescent back and cheeks. Smallest diving duck in North America.

Red Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis; Brown bodied raptor with a distinct red tail. Makes a high screeching noise.

Anna's Hummingbird

Calypte anna; One of the smallest birds in North America. Shiny green; Males have pink heads.

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura; V-shaped wings. Often soaring.

Killdeer

Charadriiformes Charadriidae; Brown back and white bellie with black stripes. Found on rocks by water.

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus; Species of woodpecker. Red stripe, brown body, black spots.

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos; Large, all black bird in North America. Caws with a hoarse voice.

Common Raven

Corvus corax; Large and black. Thick beak for croaking.

Steller's Jay

Cyanocitta stelleri; Blue body and black "Mohawk". Common for mocking birds.

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus; Red cap, black body and white stripe. Chitters.

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus; White underbody and black wings and eyeliner to block the sun. Fastest animal in the world.

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalus; White head and tail. National bird.

Dark Eyed Junco

Junco hyemalis; AKA "Snowbirds". Ground eaters found in North America.

Song Sparrow

Melospiza melodia; Spotted brown and white chest. Known for its song.

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus; Brown wings, white body, and distinct black "eyeliner". Sea raptor that catches fish with its talons.

House Sparrow

Passer domesticus; Gray body and head, brown wings, white cheeks, and a black stripe. Common in domestic areas.

Cedar Waxwing

Passeriformes Bombycillidae; Brown and gray gradient with red tips on their wings. Fruit eater.

Brown Creeper

Passeriformes Certhiidae; Tiny brown and white speckled bird. Makes a peeping noise and climbs up trees.

California Scrub Jay

Passeriformes Corvidae; Blue body and white belly, black stripe on eye. Large feeder bird.

House Finch

Passeriformes Fringillidae; Red chest and beige body. Common feeder bird.

Purple Finch

Passeriformes Fringillidae; Redish body and brown wings. Common seed eater.

Evening Grosbeak

Passeriformes Fringillidae; Yellow body with white and black wings. Thick beak for eating seeds.

Red Breasted Nuthatch

Passeriformes Sittidae; Commonly found on trees. Gray back and red front with a black and white crown.

Downy Woodpecker

Picoides pubescens; White belly, black wings with white specks. Red head on males.

Rufous Sided Towhee

Pipilo erythrophthalmus; Black back, orange sides, and white belly and spots. Less spotted than Spotted Towhees.

Spotted Towhee

Pipilo maculatus; Red eyes, black body, white spotted wings, and a red side. AKA Oregon Towhee.

Black Capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus; Black bib and cap with white cheeks. Nonmigratory in North America.

Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus; tiny birds that fly in large groups. Found on feeders commonly.

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus; Tiny territorial bird. Mostly orange and copper.

Barred Owl

Strix varia; Striped white and brown. They eat small mammals.

American Robin

Turdus migratorius; Brown back with orange belly. Common ground eating bird.

Barn Owl

Tyto alba; White body and brown wings. Makes a screeching noise.

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura; Gray body, and white ring on eyes. Commonly found on wires cooing.