Arcata Marsh birds: Difference between revisions

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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:

• Loons & Grebes
• Pelicans & Cormorants
• Bitterns, Herons & Egrets
• Geese & Ducks
• Vultures, Hawks & Falcons
• Quail
• Rails
• Plovers
• Stilts & Shorebirds
• Jaegers, Gulls & Terns
• Auks
• Doves
• Owls & Goatsuckers
• Swifts & Hummingbirds
• Kingfishers & Woodpeckers
• Flycatchers
• Larks & Swallows
• Jay, Crows & Ravens
• Chickadees & Bushtits
• Nuthatcher, Creepers & Wrens
• Kinglets
• Thrushers & Mockingbirds
• Waxwings
• Shrikes & Starlings
• Vireos
• Warblers
• Tanagers
• Grosbeaks, Sparrows & Buntings
• Meadowlarks, Blackbirds & Orioles
• Finches
• Weaver Finches

^{[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	Common	lakes, marshes, ponds
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	Preferred habitat
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	26-32"	Year round	Common	forest woodlands
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	21-24"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	large bodies of water
White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus	15-17"	Year round	Uncommon	grassy plains, cultivated highlands
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	10-14"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	coniferous and mixed forests
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	17-24"	Year round	Common	lakes
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	19-25"	Year round	Common	minimal tree coverage
Swainson's Hawk	Buteo swainsoni	19-22"	Spring	Accidental	marshes
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus	19-24"	Fall and Winter	Rare	parks, cities, towns
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	9-12"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coniferous forests
Merlin	Falco columbarius	10-13"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Uncommon	coasts
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	15-21"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Uncommon	dry plains
Prairie Falcon	Falco mexicanus	17-20"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Casual	plains

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	Preferred habitat
California Quail	Lophortyx californicus	9-11"	Year round	Common	bushy foothills, suburbs

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	Preferred habitat
Virginia Rail	Rallus limicola	8-10"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	freashwater marshes
Sora	Porzana carolina	8-9"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	freashwater marshes, swamps
American Coot	Fulica americana	13-16"	Year round	Common	coastal bays and inlets

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	Preferred habitat
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	10-13"	Year round	Common	lake shores, marshes
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica	9-11"	Fall	Accidental	shores
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	6-8"	Year round	Uncommon	lakes shores
Snowy Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus	6-7"	Year round	Common	sandy coastal beaches
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	9-11"	Year round	Uncommon	open areas

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	Preferred habitat
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus	13-16"	Year round	Causal	coastal bays, salt and freashwater marshes
American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana	15-20"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	marshy lakes, freashwater marshes
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	12-15"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	lake shores, marshy ground, frequent pools
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	9-11"	Year round	Rare	inland lakes, rivers, ponds, sewage works
Willet	Catoptrophorus semipalmatus	14-17"	Year round	Common	coasts, mudbanks
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularia	7-8"	Year round	Rare	ponds, streams
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus	20-26"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Uncommon	lake, river, salt water marshes, mudflats
Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa	16-20"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Abundant	sea beaches, salt marshes, mudflats
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	8-10"	Fall, Winter and spring	Rare	coasts
Red Knot	Calidris canutus	10-11"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Uncommon	rocky beaches
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	6-7"	Year round	Abundant	shores, mudflats, grassy pools
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	5-6"	Year round	Common	sandy beaches
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	8-9"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Abundant	beaches, lakes, river shores
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus	10-12"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	salt water marshes
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus	11-12"	Fall and Winter	Common	freashwater ponds
Red Phalarope	Phalaropus fulicarius	7-9"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Casual	coast

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	Preferred habitat
Parasitic Jaeger	Stercorarius parasiticus	16-21"	Summer and Fall	Casual	oceans
Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus	20-23"	Fall	Casual	coasts
Heermann's Gull	Larus heermanni	18-21"	Summer	Common	beaches, rocky shoreline
Mew Gull	Larus canus	16-18"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coast, lakes
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	18-21"	Year round	Common	coasts, lakes, rivers
California Gull	Larus californicus	20-23"	Year round	Uncommon	coast, lakes, marshes
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus	22-26"	Year round	Rare	shorelines, lakes, rivers, landfills
Thayer's Gull	Larus thayeri	22-25"	Year round	Rare	beach,coast
Western Gull	Larus occidentalis	24-27"	Year round	Common	ocean, beaches, dumps
Glaucous-winged Gull	Larus glaucescens	24-27"	Year round	Common	shores of lakes, rivers, dumps
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo	13-16"	Fall and Spring	Casual	beaches, inland shores
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	14-16"	Year round	Rare	freashwater marshes

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	Preferred habitat
Common Murre	Uria aalge	16-17"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Casual	rocky coasts

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	Preferred habitat
Rock Dove	Columba livia	13"	Year round	Uncommon	coniferous forest
Band-tailed Pigeon	Columba fasciata	14-15"	Spring	Casual	coniferous and mixed forests
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	11-13"	Year round	Uncommon	fields, parks, lawns

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	Preferred habitat
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	14-20"	Year round	Uncommon	deep forest, open grassland
Snowy Owl	Nyctea scandiaca	20-27"	Fall	Accidental	coast lines, marshes
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia	9-11"	Winter	Casual	open, dry grasslands
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	13-16"	Winter	Casual	dense grasslands, open forests
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	13-17"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	salt water marshes, grasslands
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	18-25"	Year round	Rare	coniferous and mixed forests
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	8-10"	Summer	Rare	gravel roofs

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	Preferred habitat
Vaux's Swift	Chaetura Vauxi	4"	Sping, Summer and Fall	Common	coniferous forests
Anna's Hummingbird	Calypte anna	3-4"	Year round	Common	oak woodlands, gardens
Allen's Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	3"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Uncommon	edges of redwood forests
Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	3-4"	Spring	Uncommon	coast, lowland stream bottoms, forests

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	Preferred habitat
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	11-14"	Year round	Common	lakes, rivers
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	8-10"	Year round	Casual	forests
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	6-7"	Year round	Rare	woodlands, parks, gardens

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	Preferred habitat
Western Wood Pewee	Contopus sordidulus	6"	Fall and Spring	Rare	woodlands
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii	5-6"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Uncommon	wooded lake shores and streams
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans	6-7"	Year round	Common	lakes, ponds, streams
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	8-9"	Spring	Rare	ponds and streams with trees

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	Preferred habitat
Horned Lark	Eremophia alpestris	7-8"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Casual	beaches, fields
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	5-6"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	lakes shores, marshes
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	5-7"	Spring, Summmer and Fall	Unknown	lake shore, marshes, suburban areas

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	Preferred habitat
Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri	12-13"	Year round	Rare	coniferous forest
Common Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	17-21"	Year round	Common	open areas, town
Common Raven	Corvus corax	21-27"	Year round	Common	coniferous forests, rocky coasts

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	Preferred habitat
Black-capped Chickadee	Parus atricapillus	4-5"	Year round	Common	mixed forest, suburban areas
Chestnut-backed Chickadee	Parus rufescens	4-5"	Year round	Uncommon	coniferous forests
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus	3-4"	Year round	Casual	edges of coniferous forests

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	Preferred habitat
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	4"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	coniferous forest
Winter Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	4"	Winter	Rare	coniferous forest
Long-billed Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris	4-5"	Year round	Common	coast, wetland habitat
Rock Wren	Salpinctes obsoletus	5-6"	Fall	Accidental	exposed rocks

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	Preferred habitat
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	3-4"	Winter	Rare	coniferous forest
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	3-4"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coniferous forest

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	Preferred habitat
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	6-7"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Rare	coniferous forest
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	6-8"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	coniferous and mixed forests
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	9-11"	Year round	Common	woodlands, gardens, towns
Mockingbird	Minus polyglottos	9-11"	Winter	Casual	parks, residential areas

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	Preferred habitat
Cedar Waxwings	Bombycilla cedrorum	6-8"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	open woodland, residential areas

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	Preferred habitat
Northern Shrike	Lanius excubitor	9-10"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	edges of forests
Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	7-8"	Year round	Abundant	suburben areas

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	Preferred habitat
Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni	4"	Year round	Rare	mixed forest

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	Preferred habitat
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata	4-5"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	edge of forests
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla	4-5"	Spring and Fall	Rare	mixed forest
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia	4-5"	Fall and Spring	Commmon	edges of marshes, swamps, and forests
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	5-6"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coniferous forest, and edge of forests
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	4-5"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	marshes, streams
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	4"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Common	along streams

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	Preferred habitat
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	6-7"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Rare	coniferous forests

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	Preferred habitat
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus	6-7"	Spring, Summer and Fall	Casual	river bottoms, lake shores, trees, shrubs
Clay-colored Sparrow	Spizella pallida	5"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	brushy grasslands
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	5-6"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	grasslands
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	4-5"	Year round	Common	salt marshes, grasslands
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	6-7"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coniferous forests
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	5-7"	Year round	Common	marshes, edge of forests
Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla	6-7"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	coniferous forests
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	5-7"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	dense brush, open woods and gardens
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albiocollis	6-7"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Rare	gardens, backyards
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	5-6"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Uncommon	edge of coniferous and mixed forests

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	Preferred habitat
Red-Winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	7-9"	Year round	Uncommon	salt and freashwater marshes
Western Meadolark	Sturnella neglecta	8-11"	Fall, Winter and Spring	Common	meadows, plains
Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	8-10"	Year round	Common	fields
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	6-8"	Spring and Summer	Common	edge of woodland, suburban areas

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	Preferred habitat
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus	5"	Year round	Common	suburban areas
Pine Siskin	Carduelis pinus	4-5"	Year round	Common	coniferous forests, woodlands, parks
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis	4-5"	Year round	Common	weedy grasslands, nearby trees

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	Preferred habitat
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	5-6"	Year round	Common	cities, towns

Landscape

File:Art3img2.jpg

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

• http://www.audubon.org/
• http://www.whatbird.com/
• http://forestrecon.aminus3.com/tag/marsh/
• http://realpeoplerealstuff.com/videoad/arcata-marsh-wildlife-sanctuary

References