Guide to selected species of: Mill Creek Redwood Preserve  BirdsButterfliesFishesMammalsReptiles/AmphibiansSeashellsTreesWildflowers     show all familiesAmerican VulturesAuks, Murres, PuffinsBarn OwlsBlackbirds and OriolesBushtitsCardinalsChickadees and TitmiceCormorantsCreepersCrows, Magpies, JaysCuckoos, Roadrunners, AnisDippersDucks and GeeseFalconsFinchesGrebesGulls and TernsHawks and EaglesHerons, Egrets, BitternsHummingbirdsIbises and SpoonbillsKingfishersKingletsLarksLoonsMockingbirds and ThrashersNew World QuailNew World SparrowsNightjarsNuthatchesOld World SparrowsOld World Warblers and GnatcatchersOwlsOystercatchersPelicansPheasants and GrousePigeons and DovesPloversRails, Gallinules, CootsSandpipersShearwaters and PetrelsShrikesSilky FlycatchersStarlings and MynasStilts and AvocetsStorm-PetrelsSwallowsSwiftsTanagersThrushesTyrant FlycatchersVireosWagtails and PipitsWaxwingsWood WarblersWoodpeckersWrensWrentits    36 Birds field check-list  |  1 2 3 4   © Jack Dermid Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 25-32" (64-81 cm). W. 6' (1.8 m). Eagle-sized blackish bird, In flight, wings held upward in a wide, shallow V; rolls, sways from side to side. Flight feathers silvery below. Tail long; head small, bare, reddish; gray in immatures. © Arthur Morris Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 14-20" (36-51 cm). W. 28" (71 cm). Long tail, short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, with dark cap, and finely rust-barred below. Immature brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Tail tip rounded, not squared-off. © Hugh P. Smith, Jr. Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 10-14" (25-36 cm). W. 21" (53 cm). Long, narrow, square-tipped tail, short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, pale below, with fine rust-colored barring. Immature, brown above with whitish spots, creamy white below with streaks on breast, barring on flanks. © Hugh P. Smith, Jr. California Quail Callipepla californica 9-11" (23-28 cm). Similar to Gambel's Quail, but crown brown, not chestnut; forehead buff, not black; and belly scaled, lacking black patch in center. Female less boldly marked than male. © Hugh P. Smith, Jr. Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata 14-15 1/2" (36-39 cm). Larger than Rock Dove. Dark gray above; pale gray terminal band on tail. Head and underparts purplish plum, whitening toward extreme lower belly. Adults have narrow white semi-collar on nape. Yellow bill tipped with black; yellow legs. © Ron Austing Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus 7" (18 cm). A very small, earless, yellow-eyed owl; brown above, with white streaks on forehead, dark bill, and short tail. Juveniles are chocolate-brown above, buff below, with white triangle on forehead extending between eyes. See Boreal Owl. © E. R. Degginger Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 25" (64 cm). W. 4' 7" (1.4 m). A large owl, varying in color from nearly white (in Arctic) to dark brown and gray. Mottled and streaked below, setting off the white throat; prominent, widely spaced ear tufts; yellow eyes. © Jeffrey Rich Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis 16 1/2 -19" (42-48 cm). A medium-sized owl without ear tufts. Upperparts dark brown with white spots; underparts white, heavily barred with brown; eyes dark. Barred Owl is paler and grayer, with streaks (not bars) on breast and belly. © Hugh P. Smith, Jr. Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna 3 1/2-4" (9-10 cm). Both sexes metallic green above; male has dark rose-red crown, gorget, grayish chest. Female has spotted throat with central patch of red spots, grayish-white underparts, white-tipped outer tail feathers.    1 through 9 of 36 field check-list  |  Page 1 of 4 >