Here's my backyard list from yesterday:
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Mourning Dove
- Allen's Hummingbird
- Anna's Hummingbird
- Nuttall's Woodpecker
- Cassin's Kingbird
- Black Phoebe
- Northern Mockingbird
- Western scrub-jay
- American Crow
- Bewick's Wren
- Bushtit
- Yellow-rumped warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Hermit Thrush
- Cedar Waxwing
- European Starling
- California Towhee
- White-crowned Sparrow
- House Finch
- Lesser Goldfinch
- House Sparrow
Advice
The best time to look for birds is in the morning. Birds are around all day, but they're most active in the morning. On warm days, they'll occasionally get up as early as dawn. However, on cold days, they seem to get up later; much after dawn. For example, the birds in my yard are most active right now at 9:00, a few hours after the sun has risen.
The best kind of weather to look for hawks or other birds of prey is when it's warm and sunny, because they like to rise on the warm air currents to soar around and look for food. Other birds also like warm sunny days, but they're active on cloudy days as well.
On days with a light rain, look for birds on telephone wires or in bushes or trees. Birds enjoy taking a quick shower in the rain. Taking a hose and putting your thumb on the tip to make a mist or shower can attract birds. I've had hummingbirds come right up and take a shower in front of me. Of course, hummingbirds are pretty fearless birds anyway.
This is a photo of a house finch. These birds can be found throughout the United States and are common visitors at bird feeders. This morning I saw about fifty of them in one tree. They have a very nice little song. This one in the picture had come to investigate the 'pst' noises I was making.
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| House Finch |
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