Native Species

American Bittern Species: Botaurus lentiginosus Size: 25in / 63cm Wingspan: 45in / 1.14m What to look for: Head pointing up, obvious stripes. Female: Same. Where to find it: In rushes at lake edge. Seldom seen. When: Not in summer.

Yellow-rumped Warbler Species: Dendroica coronata Size: 4.75in / 12cm What to look for: Fairly dark, but yellow rump, yellow side patches, narrow yellow crown. Female: Drabber. Where to find it: Usually in shrubs near water. When: Year-round, but commonest in April and May.

Violet-green Swallow Species: Tachycineta thalassina Size: 4.75in / 12cm What to look for: Violet-green back, dark wings, very white belly. Face shows white behind and above eye. Shows white rump when turning. Female: May be drab, but not necessarily. Where to find it: On the wing. When: Common March through August, a few in September.

Tree Swallow Species: Tachycineta bicolor Size: 5in / 12.5cm What to look for: Iridescent blue back, blue cap straight across below eye, whitebelow. Female: Same, except may have brownish forehead. Where to find it: On the wing, erratic flight catching insects. When: Occasional April through June, Common July and August.

Spotted Towhee Species: Pipilo maculates Size: 7.5in / 18cm What to look for: Black cape, rufous sides, white belly. black back with white spots. Female: Same except fewer spots. Where to find it: Often on ground, but up singing in spring. When: Year-round.

Red-winged Blackbird Species: Agelaius phoeniceus Size: 7.25in / 18.5cm What to look for: All black, red wing-patch, lower edge yellow (not always visible). Female: Brown, streaked breast, light eyebrow. Where to find it: Rushes and shrubs, sometimes high on exposed branches. Feeding on the boardwalk. When: Year-round.

Red-breasted Nuthatch Species: Sitta canadensis Size: 4.5in / 12cm What to look for: Gray back, black cap, white face with black eyeline, rusty below. Female: Gray cap, underparts less vivid. Where to find it: On trunks and large branches, always goes down. When: Uncommon May through September, not here rest of year.

Osprey Species: Pandion haliaetus Size: 22in / 55cm Wingspan: 54in / 138cm What to look for: Mostly white below, dark above. Dark eye-stripe and white cap are distinctive. Conspicuous crook in wings, black patch at ‘elbows’. Flaps more than glides, except at altitude. Where to find it: On the wing. Occasionally hunts for fish. When: Occasional, but not in midwinter.

Marsh Wren Species: Cistothorus palustris Size: 5in / 13cm What to look for: Mostly brown, extremely cocked tail. Loud scolding chatter. Female: Same. Where to find it: In rushes or close by. Globe-shaped nests about six inches high, with bullrush fluff on exterior. When: Fairly common year round, but secretive except in breeding season.

Mallard Species: Anas platyrynchus Size: 24in / 61cm What to look for: Most of the year, green head, green-yellow bill, chestnut breast. Midsummer to early fall, plumage like female, bill yellow-green. Female: Brown-streaked, whitish tail, bill orange on sides. Where to find it: On lake and boardwalk, very tame. When: Year round, from a few to several dozen. Ducklings from March through May.

House Finch Species: Carpodacus mexicanus Size: 6in / 15cm What to look for: Bright red crown and breast, brown back, brown striped belly. Female: Gray-brown, with striped breast. Where to find it: Feeds on ground and feeders, perches in shrubs and on tree tops. When: Common year round.

Hooded Merganser (male) Species: Lophdytes cucullatus Size: 13in / 33cm What to look for: Dark back, neck and face, very small bill. Large white cockade, which will be lowered when diving, reddish side, but black stripe on white near neck. Female: Brown and gray, large brown crest. Where to find it: On lake. When: Fairly common most of year, but less in May and June.

Hooded Merganser (female) Species: Lophdytes cucullatus Size: 13in / 33cm What to look for: Dark back, neck and face, very small bill. Large white cockade, which will be lowered when diving, reddish side, but black stripe on white near neck. Female: Brown and gray, large brown crest. Where to find it: On lake. When: Fairly common most of year, but less in May and June.

Golden-crowned Kinglet Species: Regulus satrapa Size: 3.5in / 9cm What to look for: Tiny, very active. Dark above, light gray below, dark wings with two wingbars. White eyebrow, gold crown with red. Female: Same, but no red. Where to find it: Usually in conifers and less often in tall shrubs. When: Common November through March. less common in shoulder seasons, none June, July and August.

Double-crested Cormorant Species: Phalacrocorax auritus Size: 33in / 84cm What to look for: Mature, all black with orange throat pouch. Sits erectly or with wings spread. Neck crooked in flight This is the only cormorant that comes inland. Immature, black with pale belly. Female: Same. Where to find it: On water, edges and raft. Swims partly submerged. When: Common year round, but less so in May.

Cooper’s Hawk Species: Accipter cooperii Size: 16in / 41cm (Great size range, female can be 30% larger than male.) What to look for: Sits quite upright. Hooked bill. Dark head and back, banded narrow tail, rounded end. In flight, several flaps and a glide, unless soaring. Female: Same. Where to find it: Perched almost anywhere. Most often on the wing. When: All year, November through April, common. Uncommon rest of year.

Common Merganser Species: Mergus merganser Size: 18in / 40cm Wingspan: 37in / 86cm What to look for: Very dark head and back, white sides, long slim bill. Female: Brown head, dark grey back, lighter sides. Where to find it: On lake. When: October through March, most common December and January.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee Species: Poecile rufescens Size: 4.25in / 11cm What to look for: Black cap, white cheeks, Chestnut back and sides, white below. Female: Same. Where to find it: Almost anywhere except rushes. When: Year round. Nests here in tree cavities.

Cedar Waxwing Species: Bombycilla cedrorum Size: 5.75in / 15cm What to look for: Dark back, yellowish belly, raccoon mask, pointed crest. Sits very erect Female: Same. Where to find it: Often perched in groups on bare trees. Forest and tall shrubs. When: May through Sept. Rare otherwise. Some nesting here.

Bushtit Species: Psaltriparus minimus Size: 3.5in / 9cm What to look for: Tiny brown -grey bird, round body and long tail. Often lands on twigs upside-down. Female: Light eye. Where to find it: Anywhere. Straggling flocks most of the year. When: Year-round. Nests visible as 8 inch hanging socks, April onward. Pairs of birds active around nests if you stay 6 metres away.

Bewick’s Wren Species: Thryomanes bewickii Size: 5.5in / 14cm What to look for: Very active, brown, cocked tail, white eyebrow, long bill. Female: Same. Where to find it: Almost anywhere. When: Nests here.

Barred Owl Species: Strix varia Size: 17in / 43cm Wingspan 44in / 1.1m What to look for: Large plump and brown. Brown stripes on belly, with bars across below face. Brown eyes. Female: Same. Where to find it: In thick woods, both deciduous and evergreen. Sits close to trunk. Usually 3 to 6 metres up. When: Early fall to late spring.

Anna’s Hummingbird Species: Calypte anna Size: 4in / 10cm What to look for: Bright green back. Very long bill. Male black throat that flashes iridescent red. Quick darting flight, also hovers to feed. Males perch on exposed branches, Feb to May and again in Oct. Female: Green back, speckled throat with small red patch. Where to find it: Mainly near Nature House, but almost anywhere. When: Year round – Nest here.

Anna’s Hummingbird Photograph © Ted Ardley Species: Calypte anna Size: 4in / 10cm What to look for: Bright green back. Very long bill. Male black throat that flashes iridescent red. Quick darting flight, also hovers to feed. Males perch on exposed branches, Feb to May and again in Oct. Female: Green back, speckled throat with small red patch. Where to find it: Mainly near Nature House, but almost anywhere. When: Year round – Nest here.