Ornithology 2B Summary
If you miss a class, please check this page and study the listed topics in your field guide. Click here
for last year's calendar.
May 25
We completed and reviewed the loons on page 22.
Please preregister after July 1st
if you plan to enroll in the Fall. Click here for
details.
May 11
We completed and reviewed the loons on page 20. Click here
for a photo of an albino Pacific Loon at Half Moon Bay.
May 4
We completed and reviewed the weavers, etc. on page 456 and finished the book!
April 27
We completed and reviewed the finches on page 454. Click here
for photos of a Hoary Redpoll in Washington state. The taxonomic status of the redpolls is disputed. A study
of skeletal features by Troy supported the idea of one highly variable species, but a study of captive birds
in Scandinavia suggested that the intermediate birds were immature Hoary Redpolls and that the two forms were distinct
species. At this time the matter is unresolved. Click here
for more information.
April 20
We completed and reviewed the siskin and goldfinches on page 452. American Goldfinches have distinct summer and
winter plumages while Lessers stay the same in both seasons. Look for the white undertail coverts in American.
Lessers have yellow undertail coverts and often show streaks on the back and a small white chevron at the base
of the primaries. Voices of all goldfinches are quite distinct. Click here
for photos and brief discussion of female American Goldfinch vs. female Lawrence's Goldfinch.
April 13
We completed and reviewed the crossbills and Pine Grosbeak on page 450. An audio-visual guide to Red Crossbill
incipient species is here. Click here
for a photo of a lowland record of Pine Grosbeak in Kern County.
April 6
We completed and reviewed the finches on pages 446 & 448. Click here
for a photo of the large endemic race of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch from the Pribilof Islands. Click here
for photos and discussion of Purple Finch identification.
March 23
We completed and reviewed the orioles on page 444. Photos, video and discussion of the Black-backed Oriole at Imperial
Beach, California are here. Photos and discussion of immature
male Audubon's and Bullock's orioles are here.
Note: This was the last class for Part A. Please register as soon as possible for Part
B which starts April 6th. You can register online, or mail or fax this registration
form.
March 16
We completed and reviewed the orioles on page 442. Photos and discussion of the Middle Lake Orchard Orioles are
here. A photo and discussion of a controversial oriole
from Kansas is here. I called it Orchard in class, but it might
be a Baltimore/Bullock's hybrid. A photo and discussion of an immature male Hooded Oriole is here.
Photos of a controversial Hooded/Orchard Oriole at Point Reyes are here.
A photo and discussion of an immature male Bullock's Oriole is here.
March 9
We completed and reviewed the blackbirds and cowbirds on page 440. Photos of Rusty Blackbirds in California are
here and here.
Note that the February 23rd entry has updates on identification and biology.
March 2
We completed and reviewed the gracles on page 438. Click here
for photos and description of a Common Grackle at Guerneville; and here
for my notes on Common Grackles in Long Beach.. Click here
(scroll down) for photo and discussion of a dark-eyed female Great-tailed Grackle. Click here
for photos and discussion of the Santa Maria mystery grackle (probably Great-tailed Grackle X Brewer's Blackbird
hybrid).
February 23
We completed and reviewed the blackbirds on page 436. Click here
and here for discussion of the identification
of a female Red-winged (bicolord) Blackbird. A summary of research on the function of the Red-winged Blackbird's
red "shoulder" patch is here.
February 16
We completed and reviewed the Bobolink and meadowlarks on page 434 and began the blackbirds on page 436.
February 9
We completed and reviewed the buntings on page 432 and began the blackbirds on page 434. Click here
for a photo of a Painted Bunting at Arcata last December. A controversial femal Indigo/Lazuli Bunting from Santa
Barbara is discussed here.