Tag Archives: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Siegfried Matull photographed a juvenile Western Scrub Jay all "puffed up." He caught the bird molting - growing in its new feathers. For instance, the gray feathers on its head are being replaced with blue ones.

Jays completely molt once a year, an activity that takes place in times of low stress - after nesting and before migration. Other birds that have a complete molt are Chickadees, Flycatchers, Hawks, Hummingbirds, Owls, Swallows, Thrushes, Vireos and Woodpeckers. It's an amazing phenomenon, don't you think? To completely replace each and every feather, that is a lot of energy expended.

To learn more about molting and much, much more about birds, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: cornell lab of ornithology

Thanks to Siegfried for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Robert Scarola photographed a Cedar Waxwing recently. This bird loves to eat berries and, when berries aren't available, it can be seen hunting insects, especially over water.

They leave our area and head north for the summer, north to Humboldt County and Canada, if they are breeding. To hear their call, here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id/ac

Thanks to Robert for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Mark Hancock caught a beautiful photo of a Red-tailed Hawk resting in a tree with the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

This is our most common Hawk. I love their call. You can hear it for yourself at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site using this link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-tailed_Hawk/id/ac

Thanks to Mark for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

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Even though it's winter, we've been hearing birdsong on the Mendonoma Coast. Craig Tooley photographed this White-crowned Sparrow and is kindly allowing me to share his photo with you here. This Sparrow looks like he's quite a singer!

To see more of Craig's wonderful nature photos, here's the link to his web site: http://ruffimage.com/
And to hear the sound of this bird, here the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/white-crowned_sparrow/sounds/ac

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Jim Garlock photographed a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus, sitting on a tree branch on The Sea Ranch recently. This Hawk lives in forests near water in California and the East. They eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and crayfish. Perhaps Jim's hawk is looking for a nice fat mouse.

Here's a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to hear what this hawk sounds like: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-shouldered_hawk/sounds/ac
Thanks to Jim for allowing me to share his photo with you here.