Distinctive with its ability to walk head first down tree trunks and undersides of branches, the White-breasted Nuthatch is more frequently found in broad-leafed forests and at lower elevations than other smaller species of nuthatches. It feeds on insects and spiders gleaned from bark, but during the winter it also savors nuts, acorns and seeds. A regular participant in mixed species feeding flocks, this species is one of the most obvious members. The nest is in a small tree cavity or abandoned woodpecker hole.
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Seen only rarely during the daytime when it hides camouflaged against the leaf litter or a tree branch, this nocturnal bird is also hard to see at night time. Only its continuously repeated song lets you know how common it is. The nest is a scrape in the leaf litter in a forest opening. The diet is insects, especially moths, which are caught in mid air as the Whip-poor-will swoops low over forest clearings. The population in the west is considered a separate species by some experts, the Mexican Whip-poor-will.
Conspicuously sitting on the tip of an open branch or the top of a dead tree, this flycatcher is an integral part of riparian habitats and open pine-oak woodlands throughout the west. It catches insects in flight. The nest is a deep cup placed toward the tip of a high branch, and it is made of lichens and plant fibers tied together with spider webbing. This species winters in northwestern South America.
In migration and the winter, this sandpiper is almost always found in small to large flocks in shallow water or on sand and mud flats. It forages by probing for invertebrates in the mud. During the short breeding season on the tundra of western Alaska, the Western Sandpiper places a grassy nest in low shrubs, often in tight colonies of 100s of pairs.
Found nesting in mature broad-leafed and coniferous mixed forests as well as riparian forest in drier areas, this vireo gleans for insects and occasional fruits from mid to high levels in the trees. Its nest is a deep cup made of bark strips, grass and leaves and suspended in the fork of a high branch.
Arid, bushy hillsides with scattered trees is the preferred habitat of the Virginia\s Warbler. A peculiar habit of wagging its tail up and down is a good identification clue. Its food is exclusively insects gleaned from leaves or occasionally hawked from the air. The nest is hidden at the base of a low bush and made of grass and bark strips.'
Confined to marshy vegetation, the Virginia Rail seldom ventures out into the open except early in the morning. Then it walks and runs boldly across floating aquatic vegetation with its tail cocked up. This rail feeds on aquatic invertebrates, earthworms and some fish. The nest is a layered island of vegetation piled in a dense clump, often on floating vegetation.
An obvious and beautiful occupant of open yucca and juniper grasslands, this oriole will also enter riparian forest. It eats insects and fruit, but it also fond of flower nectar. Thus it is relatively easy to attract to hummingbird feeders. The nest is a long hanging structure woven from yucca fibers and grass. It is usually placed high in an isolated tree or palm.
Wintering regularly but sparsely in low open brushland and agricultural areas, this species feeds on berries and seeds on or near the ground. In the summer it breeds in open sagebrush areas and feeds largely on insects. The bulky nest is constructed of small twigs and placed near the ground or low in a sagebrush. Its deep blue eggs make it easy for the parents to recognize the white and speckled brown cowbird eggs and remove the intruder\s eggs.'
This non-native species was introduced to North America 100s of years ago. It is only found around human habitation as it apparently cannot find food or shelter elsewhere. It is a prolific breeder with four to five broods a year. The flat nest of stems and leaves is placed on a ledge, under eaves or bridges. It occurs together in often large flocks, and in some cities is the staple diet of Peregrine Falcons. Its natural color is grayish, but a wide variety of colors from white to black can be seen.