Birds observed on a trip to California 24 October till 4 November 1999

by Erkki Mäkelä and Tapani Salminen

101 total species, including 3 introduced species (Rock Dove, European Starling, House Sparrow)

Special thanks to Alexander Cruz for hospitality, kindness, and help in locating and identifying most of the birds

Bird-watching schedule

Monday 25 October 1999 Marina, San Francisco
Friday 29 October 1999 East Bay area
Friday 29 October 1999 Monterey
Saturday 30 October 1999 Monterey and the surrounding area
Sunday 31 October 1999 Monterey and the surrounding area
Tuesday 2 November 1999 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Wednesday 3 November 1999 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Gaviiformes Gaviidae Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata)
Common Loon (Gavia immer)
Podicipediformes Podicipedidae Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii)
Pelecaniformes Pelecanidae American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Phalacrocoracidae Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
Ciconiiformes Ardeidae Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Cathartidae Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Anseriformes Anatidae Anserinae Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Anatinae American Wigeon (Anas americana)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Falconiformes Accipitridae Accipitrinae White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)
Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
Sharp-shinned / Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter striatus / cooperii)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Falconidae Falconinae American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Merlin (Falco columbarius)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Galliformes Odontophoridae California Quail (Callipepla californica)
Gruiformes Rallidae American Coot (Fulica americana)
Charadriiformes Charadriidae Charadriinae Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Haematopodidae Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
Recurvirostridae Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
Scolopacidae Scolopacinae Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)
Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
Surfbird (Aphriza virgata)
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
Dowitcher sp. (Limnodromus sp.)
Laridae Larinae Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)
Mew Gull (Larus canus)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Sterninae Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Columbiformes Columbidae Rock Dove (Columba livia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Apodiformes Trochilidae Trochilinae Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
Piciformes Picidae Picinae Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Nuttall's Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Passeriformes Tyrannidae Fluvicolinae Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Laniidae Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae Hutton's Vireo (Vireo huttoni)
Corvidae Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae Hirundininae Swallow sp. (Hirundinidae sp.)
Paridae Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Parus rufescens)
Plain Titmouse (Parus inornatus)
Aegithalidae Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae Sittinae Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
Troglodytidae Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Regulidae Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Parulidae Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)
Townsend's Warbler (Dendroica townsendi)
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Emberizidae Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis)
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Icteridae Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Fringillidae Carduelinae Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Passeridae House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)