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Line 119: Line 119:
!Time of Year seen
!Time of Year seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Preferred habitat
|-
|-
|Brown Pelican
|Brown Pelican
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|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|sandy coastal beaches
|-
|-
|Double-Crested Cormorant
|Double-Crested Cormorant
Line 131: Line 133:
|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|coasts, lakes, rivers, swamps
|-
|-
|Brandt's Cormorant
|Brandt's Cormorant
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|Year round
|Year round
|Casual
|Casual
|rocky coastal shores
|-
|-
|Pelagic Cormorant
|Pelagic Cormorant
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|Year round
|Year round
|Casual
|Casual
|off shore and in shore waters
|}
|}


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!Time of Year seen
!Time of Year seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Preferred habitat
|-
|-
|American Bittern
|American Bittern
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|Year round
|Year round
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|freash water wetlands
|-
|-
|Least Bittern
|Least Bittern
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|Summer
|Summer
|Accidental
|Accidental
|dense marshlands
|-
|-
|Great Blue Heron
|Great Blue Heron
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|Year round
|Year round
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|lakes, rivers, marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Great Egret
|Great Egret
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|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|salt and freashwater marshes, marshy ponds
|-
|-
|Snowy Egret
|Snowy Egret
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|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|marshes, ponds, mudflats
|-
|-
|Cattle Egret
|Cattle Egret
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|Year round
|Year round
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Green Heron
|Green Heron
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|Spring, Winter and Summer
|Spring, Winter and Summer
|Rare
|Rare
|along oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds
|-
|-
|Black-crowned Night Heron
|Black-crowned Night Heron
Line 202: Line 215:
|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|edges of lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, streams
|-
|-
|White-faced Ibis
|White-faced Ibis
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|Fall and Spring
|Fall and Spring
|Accidental
|Accidental
|salt and freashwater marshes
|}
|}


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!Time of Year seen
!Time of Year seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Possibility of being seen
!Preferred habitat
|-
|-
|White-fronted Goose
|White-fronted Goose
Line 225: Line 241:
|Fall
|Fall
|Casual
|Casual
|bays, marshes
|-
|-
|Snow Goose
|Snow Goose
Line 231: Line 248:
|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Casual
|Casual
|coastal bays, salt and freashwater marshes
|-
|-
|Ross's Goose
|Ross's Goose
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|Fall and winter
|Fall and winter
|Casual
|Casual
|salt and freashwater marshes
|-
|-
|Black Brant
|Black Brant
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|lakes, rivers
|-
|-
|Canada Goose
|Canada Goose
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|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|lakes, bays, rivers, marshes
|-
|-
|Wood Duck
|Wood Duck
Line 255: Line 276:
|Year round
|Year round
|Rare
|Rare
|freashwater marshes, wooded swamps
|-
|-
|Green-winged Teal
|Green-winged Teal
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Abundant
|Abundant
|marshy lakes, marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Mallard
|Mallard
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|Year round
|Year round
|Common
|Common
|lakes, bays, riverbeds, marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Pintail
|Pintail
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|marshes
|-
|-
|Blue-winged Teal
|Blue-winged Teal
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|lakes, ponds, marshes, shallow wetlands
|-
|-
|Cinnamon Teal
|Cinnamon Teal
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|Winter, Spring and Summer
|Winter, Spring and Summer
|Common
|Common
|shallow marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Northern Shoveler
|Northern Shoveler
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|17-20"
|17-20"
|Year round
|Year round
|lakes, marshes, ponds
|Common
|Common
|-
|-
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|Spring and Summer
|Spring and Summer
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|shallow lakes, marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|European Wigeon
|European Wigeon
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|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Casual
|Casual
|lakes, bays, marshes
|-
|-
|American Wigeon
|American Wigeon
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|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Common
|Common
|shallow lakes, marshes, ponds
|-
|-
|Canvasback
|Canvasback
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|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Rare
|Rare
|lakes, bays, marshes
|-
|-
|Redhead
|Redhead
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|lakes, bays
|-
|-
|Ring-necked Duck
|Ring-necked Duck
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|wooded lakes, rivers, ponds
|-
|-
|Tufted Duck
|Tufted Duck
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|Year round
|Year round
|Casual
|Casual
|lakes, bays
|-
|-
|Greater Scaup
|Greater Scaup
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Common
|Common
|lakes, marshes, pond
|-
|-
|Lesser Scaup
|Lesser Scaup
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Common
|Common
|lakes, rivers, ponds
|-
|-
|Oldsquaw
|Oldsquaw
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|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Casual
|Casual
|lakes, rivers
|-
|-
|Black Scoter
|Black Scoter
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|Fall, Winter
|Fall, Winter
|Casual
|Casual
|ocean, saltwater bays, ponds
|-
|-
|Surf Scoter
|Surf Scoter
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Uncommon
|Uncommon
|ocean, coastal bays
|-
|-
|White-winged Scoter
|White-winged Scoter
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|Fall and Winter
|Fall and Winter
|Casual
|Casual
|ocean, lakes, coastal bays
|-
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|Common Goldeneye
|Common Goldeneye
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|coastal bays, wooded lakes and ponds
|-
|-
|Bufflehead
|Bufflehead
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Common
|Common
|lakes, saltwater bays, ponds
|-
|-
|Hooded Merganser
|Hooded Merganser
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|swamps, millponds, small forest pools
|-
|-
|Common Merganser
|Common Merganser
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|Spring
|Spring
|Casual
|Casual
|lakes, rivers
|-
|-
|Red-breasted Merganser
|Red-breasted Merganser
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Rare
|Rare
|wooded lakes, tundra ponds
|-
|-
|Ruddy Duck
|Ruddy Duck
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|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Fall, Winter and Spring
|Casual
|Casual
|shallow coastal bays, marshes
|}
|}


Revision as of 09:39, 29 October 2008

Template:115inprogress

Figure 1. This is a family of Canada geese at the Arcata marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, just an example of some of the birds that come to breed here. The image was taken by Dustin Poppendieck

Introduction

The Arcata marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary is home to about 200 species of birds that visit the marsh each year.[1] Most of these birds that come to the Arcata marsh Wildlife Sanctuary are seasonal, because most of them use the marsh only as a breeding site, as seen in Figure 1, or as a place to rest during their biyearly migration. The Arcata marsh also acts as a refuge and home for other year round birds that also stay there. One of the benefits the birds have at the Arcata marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is to help maintain a balanced ecosystem. The birds do this by consuming the varieties of marine life, such as fish, shellfish, and vegetation. Vegetation such as duck moss would other wise over populate and clog the waters of the marsh.

Another thing that the Arcata marsh offers is as a place where people can come to monitor and watch the variety of birds that come to visit. The reason it is important to monitor the birds at the Arcata marsh is that some of the birds that visit are rare or endangered. This also allows the opportunity for several bird watchers to come and see the several birds that visit each year.

What Type of Birds to Expect

Over 200 species of birds are possible to see at the Arcata marsh.[2] Listed below are some of the most common birds that can be seen throughout the year. The types of birds are grouped together based on type of bird. Under each group name is a small description of what the group is like. Below that is a list of the birds common name, scientific name, size, time of year they are at the Arcata marsh, as well as the possibility they will be seen at that time.

This list of links below will help you to get to the bird groups faster:

[3] [4]

Loons & Grebes

Loons and grebes are small duck-like birds that have pointed-beaks and are usually found in water.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen Preferred habitat
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata 24-27" Fall,Winter Rare tundra lake, arctic coast
Common Loon Gavia immer 28-36" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon lakes, rivers
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 12-15" Fall, Winter and Spring Common marshes, ponds
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus 12-15" Fall, Winter and Spring Common marshes, ponds
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 18-22" Winter Casual coast, bay, lakes, ponds
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 12-14" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon marshy lakes, ponds
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis 22-29" Fall, Spring and Winter Uncommon lakes, coastal bays


Pelicans & Cormorants

Pelicans & Cormorants are fishing birds. Pelicans catch their fish by using their bill-pouch as a fishing net. Cormorants catch their fish by diving into the water and using their strong wings to propel them through the water.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen Preferred habitat
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 45-54" Year round Common sandy coastal beaches
Double-Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus 30-36" Year round Common coasts, lakes, rivers, swamps
Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus 33-35" Year round Casual rocky coastal shores
Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus 25-30" Year round Casual off shore and in shore waters

Bitterns, Herons & Egrets

These long-legged and long-beaked birds are usually seen at the waters edge, staying still while fishing for fish at the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen Preferred habitat
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus 23-34" Year round Uncommon freash water wetlands
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis 11-14" Summer Accidental dense marshlands
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 42-52" Year round Uncommon lakes, rivers, marshes, ponds
Great Egret Casmerodius albus 37-41" Year round Common salt and freashwater marshes, marshy ponds
Snowy Egret Egretta thula 20-27" Year round Common marshes, ponds, mudflats
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 20" Year round Uncommon marshes, ponds
Green Heron Butorides striatus 16-22" Spring, Winter and Summer Rare along oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 23-28" Year round Common edges of lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, streams
White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi 19-26" Fall and Spring Accidental salt and freashwater marshes

Geese & Ducks

Webbed feet and flat bills characterize geese and ducks. They are seen in the water most of the time, or are seen flying in a V-formation to or from the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen Preferred habitat
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons 26-34" Fall Casual bays, marshes
Snow Goose Chen caerulescents 25-31" Fall and Winter Casual coastal bays, salt and freashwater marshes
Ross's Goose Chen rossii 21-25" Fall and winter Casual salt and freashwater marshes
Black Brant Branta bernicla 23-26" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare lakes, rivers
Canada Goose Branta canadensis 22-45" Year round Common lakes, bays, rivers, marshes
Wood Duck Aix sponsa 17-20" Year round Rare freashwater marshes, wooded swamps
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca 12-15" Fall, Winter and Spring Abundant marshy lakes, marshes, ponds
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 20-28" Year round Common lakes, bays, riverbeds, marshes, ponds
Pintail Anas acuta 25-29" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare marshes
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 14-16" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare lakes, ponds, marshes, shallow wetlands
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera 14-17" Winter, Spring and Summer Common shallow marshes, ponds
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata 17-20" Year round lakes, marshes, ponds Common
Gadwell Anas strepera 18-23" Spring and Summer Uncommon shallow lakes, marshes, ponds
European Wigeon Anas penelope 16-20" Fall and Winter Casual lakes, bays, marshes
American Wigeon Anas americana 18-23" Fall and Winter Common shallow lakes, marshes, ponds
Canvasback Aythya valisineria 19-24" Fall and Winter Rare lakes, bays, marshes
Redhead Aythya americana 18-22" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare lakes, bays
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 14-18" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon wooded lakes, rivers, ponds
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 17" Year round Casual lakes, bays
Greater Scaup Aythya marila 15-20" Fall, Winter and Spring Common lakes, marshes, pond
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis 15-18" Fall, Winter and Spring Common lakes, rivers, ponds
Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis 19-22" Fall and Winter Casual lakes, rivers
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra 17-20" Fall, Winter Casual ocean, saltwater bays, ponds
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata 17-21" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon ocean, coastal bays
White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi 19-23" Fall and Winter Casual ocean, lakes, coastal bays
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula 16-20" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare coastal bays, wooded lakes and ponds
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola 13-15" Fall, Winter and Spring Common lakes, saltwater bays, ponds
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 16-19" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare swamps, millponds, small forest pools
Common Merganser Mergus merganser 22-27" Spring Casual lakes, rivers
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 19-26" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare wooded lakes, tundra ponds
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis 14-16" Fall, Winter and Spring Casual shallow coastal bays, marshes

Vultures, Hawks, & Falcons

These flesh eating birds are usually seen soaring overhead or perched upon a telephone poll or tall tree looking for prey.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 26-32" Year round Common
Osprey Pandion haliaetus 21-24" Spring, Summer and Fall Common
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus 15-17" Year round Uncommon
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 10-14" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 17-24" Year round Common
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 19-25" Year round Common
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni 19-22" Spring Accidental
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus 19-24" Fall and Winter Rare
American Kestrel Falco sparverius 9-12" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Merlin Falco columbarius 10-13" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 15-21" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus 17-20" Fall, Winter and Spring Casual

Quail

These small game birds are usually found in shrubs and have a characteristic crest on their head that looks like a backwards ponytail on their head.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
California Quail Lophortyx californicus 9-11" Year round Common

Rails

These long billed small-bodied birds are usually seen around the marsh edge feeing on the vegetation.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola 8-10" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Sora Porzana carolina 8-9" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
American Coot Fulica americana 13-16" Year round Common

Plovers

These small shorebirds are usually seen during low tide feeding on shellfish.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola 10-13" Year round Common
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica 9-11" Fall Accidental
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus 6-8" Year round Uncommon
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 6-7" Year round Common
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 9-11" Year round Uncommon

Stilts & Shorebirds

These birds are usually seen by the shores edge feeding off shellfish and are sometime characterized by their long bills and long legs.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Black-necked Stilt Himantopus 13-16" Year round Causal
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana 15-20" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 12-15" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes 9-11" Year round Rare
Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 14-17" Year round Common
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 7-8" Year round Rare
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus 20-26" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa 16-20" Fall, Winter and Spring Abundant
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 8-10" Fall, Winter and spring Rare
Red Knot Calidris canutus 10-11" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri 6-7" Year round Abundant
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla 5-6" Year round Common
Dunlin Calidris alpina 8-9" Fall, Winter and Spring Abundant
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus 10-12" Spring, Summer and Fall Common
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus 11-12" Fall and Winter Common
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 7-9" Fall, Winter and Spring Casual

Jaegers, Gulls & Terns

These birds are usually seen flying over the waters of the marsh looking for fish.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus 16-21" Summer and Fall Casual
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus 20-23" Fall Casual
Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni 18-21" Summer Common
Mew Gull Larus canus 16-18" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis 18-21" Year round Common
California Gull Larus californicus 20-23" Year round Uncommon
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 22-26" Year round Rare
Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri 22-25" Year round Rare
Western Gull Larus occidentalis 24-27" Year round Common
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens 24-27" Year round Common
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 13-16" Fall and Spring Casual
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri 14-16" Year round Rare

Auks

This penguin-like bird is usually found near the rocks of the bay and usually seen diving for fish.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Common Murre Uria aalge 16-17" Fall, Winter and Spring Casual

Doves

These Pigeon-like birds are usually seen near the grassy areas of the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Rock Dove Columba livia 13" Year round Uncommon
Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata 14-15" Spring Casual
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 11-13" Year round Uncommon

Owls & Goatsuckers

These big-eyed birds are usually only seen at night time, hunting small animals such as mice.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Barn Owl Tyto alba 14-20" Year round Uncommon
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca 20-27" Fall Accidental
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia 9-11" Winter Casual
Long-eared Owl Asio otus 13-16" Winter Casual
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus 13-17" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 18-25" Year round Rare
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 8-10" Summer Rare

Swifts & Hummingbirds

Swifts are usually seen gliding in the air catching insects while the humming birds are seen feeding of nectar from the flowers at the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Vaux's Swift Chaetura Vauxi 4" Sping, Summer and Fall Common
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna 3-4" Year round Common
Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin 3" Spring, Summer and Fall Uncommon
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus 3-4" Spring Uncommon

Kingfishers & Woodpeckers

Kingfishers are usually seen catching small fish while the Woodpeckers are seen eating and storing food in the bark of trees.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon 11-14" Year round Common
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 8-10" Year round Casual
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens 6-7" Year round Rare

Flycatchers

These birds are usually seen in the trees or in the sky eating insects.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Western Wood Pewee Contopus sordidulus 6" Fall and Spring Rare
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 5-6" Spring, Summer and Fall Uncommon
Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 6-7" Year round Common
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 8-9" Spring Rare

Larks & Swallows

These birds are seen gliding around the Marsh eating insects.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Horned Lark Eremophia alpestris 7-8" Fall, Winter and Spring Casual
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 5-6" Spring, Summer and Fall Common
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 5-7" Spring, Summmer and Fall

Jays, Crows & Ravens

These scavenger birds are usually seen looking for food wherever it may be found.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 12-13" Year round Rare
Common Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 17-21" Year round Common
Common Raven Corvus corax 21-27" Year round Common

Chickadees & Bushtits

These small birds are usually seen hanging out in bushes or trees.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Black-capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus 4-5" Year round Common
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Parus rufescens 4-5" Year round Uncommon
Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 3-4" Year round Casual

Nuthatchers, Creepers & Wrens

These birds are usually found in the trees of the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis 4" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes 4" Winter Rare
Long-billed Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 4-5" Year round Common
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus 5-6" Fall Accidental

Kinglets

The Kinglets can be seen in the trees searching for insects.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 3-4" Winter Rare
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula 3-4" Fall, Winter and Spring Common

Thrushes & Mockingbirds

These birds are usually seen in the trees or around the marsh feeding off of insects.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus 6-7" Spring, Summer and Fall Rare
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus 6-8" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
American Robin Turdus migratorius 9-11" Year round Common
Mockingbird Minus polyglottos 9-11" Winter Casual

Waxwings

These birds are usually seen eatting the berries around the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Cedar Waxwings Bombycilla cedrorum 6-8" Spring, Summer and Fall Common

Shrikes & Starlings

These birds are seen in the trees and flying around the marsh feeding off of insects.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor 9-10" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Starling Sturnus vulgaris 7-8" Year round Abundant

Vireos

These birds are seen on the canopies of the trees at the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni 4" Year round Rare

Warblers

These birds are usually found in the canopies of the trees at the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata 4-5" Spring, Summer and Fall Common
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla 4-5" Spring and Fall Rare
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia 4-5" Fall and Spring Commmon
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 5-6" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 4-5" Spring, Summer and Fall Common
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla 4" Spring, Summer and Fall Common

Tanagers

These small yellow birds are seen in the brush or in the trees of the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 6-7" Spring, Summer and Fall Rare

Grosbeaks, Sparrows & Buntings

These song birds can be seen flying around the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 6-7" Spring, Summer and Fall Casual
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida 5" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus 5-6" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 4-5" Year round Common
Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca 6-7" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 5-7" Year round Common
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla 6-7" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 5-7" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albiocollis 6-7" Fall, Winter and Spring Rare
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 5-6" Fall, Winter and Spring Uncommon

Meadowlarks, Blackbirds & Orioles

These song birds are seen in the trees and around the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 7-9" Year round Uncommon
Western Meadolark Sturnella neglecta 8-11" Fall, Winter and Spring Common
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus 8-10" Year round Common
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 6-8" Spring and Summer Common

Finches

These small birds are seen in the trees or flying around the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 5" Year round Common
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus 4-5" Year round Common
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis 4-5" Year round Common

Weaver Finches

These small finch-like birds are brown in color and seen usually in the trees or hiding in the several bushes at the marsh.

Bird Name Scientific Name Size Time of Year seen Possibility of being seen
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 5-6" Year round Common

Landscape

File:Art3img2.jpg
Figure 2. This is an image of the Arcata marsh from and aerial view

The Arcata marsh and wildlife center is a perfect location for bird watching and for birds to breed and prosper. The Arcata marsh is close to many different types of bodies of water. It has an ocean, a saltwater bay, a lake, a pond, freshwater and saltwater marshes, mudflats, streams, and foothills. The land throughout the sanctuary also varies widely and has many different types of land. This setting in Northern California is an idealistic place for birds it provides such a vast variety of bodies of water that is attracts many different species of bird. The Arcata marsh has become one of the best places for birds to live and people to watch them.

Links

References

  1. ↑ Bulger,Suzie."The Beginners Guide to Birding At the Arcata Marsh" FOAM 1996
  2. ↑ Bulger,Suzie."The Beginners Guide to Birding At the Arcata Marsh" FOAM 1996
  3. ↑ Birds of the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary, List compiled by Kristina K Van Wert, April 1995, updated by Elias Elias in January 2006
  4. ↑ The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds,Chanticleer Press Inc., Newyork, 1977
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