| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): The green-headed male mallard with a dark brown chest is called a drake, and the mostly light-to-medium brown female is called a hen. Mallards are the most commonly found duck in North America (Bellrose, p. 230). | ||||
 drake |
 hen San Diego |
 hen and ducklings San Diego |
 San Diego |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.3.4 |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.9.29 |
 preening alongside a coot Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20, 10:15 a.m. |
 Its coloring is off, especially the head feathers. Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20, 10:26 a.m. |
 doing some stretching Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 "Quack!" Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 turtles and drake Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
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| Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) | ||||
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 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
| Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii) | ||||
 Mason Regional Park 2010.3.5 |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.3.5 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
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| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | ||||
 It was just starting to dive down from the branch. San Diego Creek Bike Trail 2011.2.11 |
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| Peacock | ||||
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 close-up on back Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
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| Pekin Duck (aka domesticated ducks) | ||||
 Mason Regional Park 2010.9.29 |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.9.29 |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.9.29 |
 "Haven't seen you in awhile." Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2012.1.27 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | ||||
 Upper Newport Bay |
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| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | ||||
 "This parking space is taken." |
 "Oh, yeah? I dare you to say it again." |
 A 1st-winter gull has speckled wings in addition to a speckled brown head. |
 1st-winter gull |
 winter adult with only a speckled brown head |
 "Looks clean down there." |
 "My underarm deodorant is not working." |
 "It's in my pocket here somewhere." |
 "S-t-r-e-e-e-t-c-h." |
 "I've got my eye on you." |
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | ||||
 in breeding mode with blue bill Mason Regional Park 2010.3.11 |
 Mason Regional Park 2010.3.11 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
 Mason Regional Park 2011.10.20 |
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula): This heron has a BLACK bill, black legs, and YELLOW feet. | ||||
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 Mason Regional Park |
 A breeze ruffles its feathers. Upper Newport Bay |
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| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | ||||
 Univ. of Calif., Irvine |
 San Diego Creek Bike Trail |
 Upper Newport Bay |
 UCI 2012.3.29 |
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| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura; aka buzzard): No bird is more associated with the Old West than the turkey vulture. It is not unusual to see a solo turkey vulture soaring overhead. If you wait patiently, the vulture will eventually circle directly over you to check things out. Photos of the vultures spreading their wings to dry were taken during a break between winter rainstorms. This unexpected event during a walk was one of the most incredible natural sights I have ever seen in an urban area. They have a maximum wingspread of 6 to 7 feet (Breland, p. 119). | ||||
 communal roost atop a church |
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 "I heard there's another storm coming this way." |
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 a cool fall morning Irvine 2010.11.15 |
 looking backward Irvine 2010.11.15 |
 The one on the right kept beak pecking the one on the left. Mom and child, or mates? Irvine 2010.11.15 |
 looking at photographer Irvine 2010.11.15 |
 still pecking Irvine 2010.11.15 |
 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 2010.11.15 |
| Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica) | ||||
 RSM |
 RSM 2011.1.06 |
 RSM 2011.1.06 |
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| Wood Duck (aka Carolina Duck) (Aix sponsa) | ||||
 hen Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 drake Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 hen dorsal feathers Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
| Other Birds | ||||
 Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa |
 Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura |
 Mute Swan |
 Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos A well-known mimic. |
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 Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata |
 Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus |
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 Rock Dove (aka Rock Pigeon) Columba livia |
 Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus; or Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin |
 Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana |
 pheasant Irvine Regional Park Zoo 2011.5.16 |
 pheasant Irvine Regional Park Zoo 2011.5.16 |
| Unidentified Birds | ||||
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 RSM 2011.2.27 |
 Irvine Regional Park 2011.5.16 |
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