Cedar waxwings are common in California.
Birds that live in Northern California include golden drowned kinglets, mountain chickadees, cedar waxwings, California quail and the California towhee. While all of these birds reside in northern California, they can be found in various environments and display different habits. However, if you know where to look it is almost guaranteed you will be able to spot any of them on a birdwatching adventure.
Golden Crowned Kinglets
Golden crowned kinglets are tiny birds that can be spotted by their constant wing flicking. They are olive colored with whitish undersides, black bars on their wings and a black stripe over their eye area. As their name suggests, golden crowned kinglets have bright yellow feathers on the top of their head. Male birds will have a center of orange feathers inside the yellow. They also have a slightly more olive coloration to their feathers. Female kinglets look more brown-yellow than olive. These differences in coloration are the only physical distinctions between the sexes in kinglets. Both male and female birds are equally tiny. While golden crowned kinglets can be found all year in Northern California, they also winter throughout the United States and breed during the summer in Canada.
Mountain Chickadees
Mountain chickadees are tiny birds with white heads featuring black stripes over their eyes. Over this stripe is a white stripe, which separates them from all other chickadees. The rest of their bodies are various shades of gray. When seen in the wild, they can often be found clutching small branches or adroitly clinging to a pine cone. Often, they will be in the company of other small birds, such as nuthatches. Mountain chickadees live in the dry mountain forests of the western half of the United States, including Northern California. They are found most often among the evergreens.
Cedar Waxwings
Cedar waxwings are beautiful, multicolored birds that can be spotted year round in Northern California. They are medium-sized with brown bodies, gray tails, yellow legs and black-striped brown heads. They also have a backward drooping crest. On the tip of each wing is a red dot that resembles a drop of red wax, hence the "waxwing" in their name. Cedar waxwings travel in flocks and can be seen in fruiting trees or along water searching for insects. They can be found in environments ranging from woodlands and orchards to suburban gardens.
California Quail
California quails are short and round with attractive plumage. While their breast and back are gray, the quail's bellies have a brown scaled pattern on them. The male's faces are black with white stripes, while female's faces are plain brown. Both sexes have a forward drooping plume on top of their heads. California quails can be found in oak woodlands, foothill forests and even the city parks of Northern California. Typically, they can be seen foraging around shrubs or open grounds with nearby cover. When the quails do fly it is for a short period, and they generally restrict their flying to times when they need to escape danger.
California Towhee
California towhees resemble sparrows but are larger and bulkier. Towhees are novel because they are one of the few birds to have uniform coloration on their bodies. Their feathers are a dull brown except for a warmer auburn color on the underside of their tails. There is no difference in the plumage of males and females. California towhees are found only in California, the Mexican peninsula south of California and in part of southern Oregon. They will be seen on foraging on the ground near shrubs and trees. When not feeding, towhees will perch in these trees and shrubs, as well as on rooftops and windowsills. If they are in your yard, you might be alerted to their presence when they tap on your windows, attracted by their reflection.
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