References
— Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. Frank C. Bellrose. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1976. 2nd edition.
— A Field Guide to the Natural History of the San Francisco Peninsula. John C. Williams and Howard C. Monroe. Berkeley: MrCutrchan Publishing, 1967.
— Honker: A Discussion of the Habits and Needs of the Largest of Our Canada Geese. Cecil S. Williams. Princeton, N.J.: D. Van Nostrand, 1967.
— National Audubon Society, Field Guide to California. Peter Alden et al. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.

Photos copyright © 2010-2012 Kat Avila
Camera: Canon SD780 IS
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).
mallards
2010.4.23		 mallards
2010.4.23		 mallards
2010.4.23		 mallards
2011.1.28		 mallards
scratching its face
2011.2.4
mallards
blue secondaries
with white borders
2011.2.4		 mallards
alert to danger
2011.2.25		 mallards
2011.2.25		 mallards
2011.3.7		 mallards
2011.3.15
mallard
2011.4.18		 mallard
The misty morning makes this
photo look like a watercolor.
2011.10.11		 mallard
2011.10.11		 mallard
hen flapping wings
during preening
2011.10.11		 mallard
drake preening
2011.10.11
mallard
drake preening
2011.10.11		 mallard
2011.11.23, 10:15 a.m.		 flying mallards
2012.4.17		 flying mallards
2012.4.18		 flying mallards
2012.4.18
flying mallards
keeping an eye on
the photographer
2012.4.17		 flying mallards
He was noisily quacking
earlier to warn its mate.
2012.4.17		 flying mallards
getting out of the water
to look for its mate
2012.4.17		 flying mallards
She was on the
other side of the path.
2012.4.17		 flying mallards
2012.4.17
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura): The hooting of the mourning dove can be mistaken for an owl. The presence of the dove can also be easily detected by the distinctive whistle of its wings as it takes flight.
mourning dove
This dove was unusually tame,
probably looking for a handout.
2010.5.26		 mourning dove
2010.5.26		 mourning dove
blinking
2010.5.26		 mourning dove
"Aren't you going to feed me?"
2010.5.26		 mourning dove
dorsal view
2010.5.26
mourning dove
They're camouflaged
very well.
2011.2.23		 mourning dove
2011.2.23		 mourning dove
There were three!
2011.2.23		 mourning dove
Their light gray coloring
& black spots help them
blend into most backgrounds.
2011.3.17
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata): The length of its promiment bill ranges from 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 inches (Bellrose, p. 293).
northern shoveler
2011.1.27		 northern shoveler
2011.1.27		 northern shoveler
2011.2.9		 northern shoveler
2011.3.11
northern shoveler
2011.11.23		 northern shoveler
cinnamon teal in foreground
2011.11.23
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
osprey
2011.2.9		 osprey
2011.2.23		 osprey
2011.2.23
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus): It sounded like a young man was idly whistling, until I saw the source of the sound — a tree full of blackbirds.
red-winged blackbirds
2011.1.28		 red-winged blackbirds
2011.1.28		 red-winged blackbirds
Only the male (bottom)
has the red-and-yellow
shoulder patch.
2011.1.28
red-winged blackbirds
2011.3.3		 red-winged blackbirds
2011.3.3		 red-winged blackbirds
"Tweet!"
2011.3.3
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
ruddy duck
2011.11.23
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula): While these herons often patiently wait for an opportunity to snatch food, I've also watched them kicking through silt to scare it up.
snowy egret
standing on one leg
2010.7.9		 snowy egret
standing on one leg
2010.7.9		 snowy egret
2010.7.9		 snowy egret
2010.7.9		 snowy egret
2010.7.9
snowy egret
"Hmm, any food here?"
2011.1.27		 snowy egret
"Let's check this side."
2011.1.27		 snowy egret
"Nothing."
2011.1.27		 snowy egret
"I'm not giving up yet."
2011.1.27		 snowy egret
"Gotcha!"
2011.1.27
snowy egret
alert and
stretched to full height
2011.1.28		 snowy egret
looking for food
2011.1.28		 snowy egret
flapping down to water
2011.1.28		 snowy egret
elegant curve of body
2011.1.28		 snowy egret
plumes drip off the
trough of its long neck
2011.1.28
snowy egret
bowlegged stance
2011.3.15		 snowy egret
2011.3.15		 snowy egret
suave
2011.3.15
snowy egret
"Gotta preen before
going to bed."
2011.3.17		 snowy egret
2011.3.17		 snowy egret
2011.3.17		 snowy egret
2011.3.17		 snowy egret
"Almost done."
2011.3.17
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia): "Tu-tu-tu-(quick clattering)-tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet-tooo," and variations.
song sparrow
dark brown spot
on chest
2011.3.10		 song sparrow
"I betcha
you can't sing."
2011.3.10		 song sparrow
"Listen to this!"
2011.3.10		 song sparrow
"Pretty good huh."
2011.3.10
song sparrow
2012.4.18		 song sparrow
2012.4.18
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor): Their topmost feathers are an eye-catching shiny metallic blue. I like to watch as they gracefully swoop overhead to catch flying insects.
tree swallow
looks a little dejected
2010.4.26		 tree swallow
2010.4.26		 tree swallow
2010.4.26		 tree swallows
2010.4.26		 tree swallows
2010.4.26
tree swallows
2010.4.26		 tree swallows
rubbing beaks
2010.4.26		 tree swallows
2010.4.26		 birdhouse and swallow
birdhouse and swallow
2010.7.12
tree swallows
flying to birdhouse
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
group roost
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
group roost
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
2011.3.15
tree swallows
"Incoming!"
2011.3.15		 tree swallow
close-up
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
2011.3.15		 tree swallow
close-up
2011.3.15
tree swallows
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
(I wonder what they're
chirping about.)
2011.3.15		 tree swallows
"I sing only for you." ♫
2011.3.15		 tree swallow
2011.3.15		 tree swallow
"I get the feeling
someone's watching me."
2011.3.15
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
turkey vulture
2010.7.9		 turkey vulture
2012.1.27
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
Western grebe
2011.11.23
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
white-crowned sparrow
2011.11.23		 white-crowned sparrow
2011.11.23		 white-crowned sparrow2
2011.11.23