File: <audubon.htm> <Home>

[For educational purposes only]

CALIFORNIA BIRD SPECIES PAINTED BY

John James Audubon

The color photos and illustrations contained herein emphasize the adult male bird in breeding season but may also show females and immatures. Their coloration may be duller or absent at different times of the year. Measurements are the average length from bill to tip of tail. (see AUDUBON PORTRAIT)

Please CLICK on Scientific Name to view picture or on File Number for specific data:

[ to search for Subject Matter, depress Ctrl/F ]

-------------------------------------------------

WATERBIRDS (primarily Inshore Waters)

WADING BIRDS (Coastal & Inshore Waters)

SHORE & OFFSHORE BIRDS (Ocean &/or Inshore Waters)

PREDATORY & SCAVENGER BIRDS

GAME & GROUND BIRDS (terrestrial)

WOODPECKER GROUP

HUMMINGBIRDS

PERCHING BIRDS (incl. Swifts, Swallows & Nighthawks)

======================================

WATERBIRDS (primarily Inshore Waters)

Coots

American Coot, Fulica americana <#148>

Dippers

American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus <#204 >

Ducks, Teals & Wigeons

American Wigeon, Anas (Mayeca) americana <#207>

Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors <#228>

Bufflehead Duck, Bucephala albeola <#248>

Canvasback Duck, Aythya valisineria <#187>

Common Goldeneye Duck, Bucephala clangula <#190>

Common Merganser Duck, Mergus merganser <#203 >

Gadwall Duck, Anas strepera <#657 >

Green-winged Teal, Anas carolinensis <#220>

Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus <#149 >

Hooded Merganser Duck, Lophodytes cucullatus <#668>

Lesser Scaup Duck, Aythya affinis <#247 >

Mallard Duck, Anas platyrhynchos <#159>

Northern Pintail or Pintail Duck, Anas acuta <#686>

Oldsquaw Duck, Clangula hyemalis <#689 >

Red-breasted Merganser Duck, Mergus serrator <#202>

Redhead Duck, Aythya americana <#699>

Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris <#191>

Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis <#714>

Steller’s Eider Duck, Polysticta stelleri <#156>

Surf Scoter Duck, Melanitta perspicillata <#725> .

White-winged Scoter Duck, Melanitta fusca (deglandi) <#737>

Wood Duck, Aix sponsa <#739>

Gallinules

Common Gallinule or Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus <#646>

Geese

Blue Goose, Chen caerulescens <#636>

Brant Goose, Branta bernicla <#640 >

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis <#138 >

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis <#144 >

Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons <#662>

Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens <#717 >

Grebes

Eared Grebe, Podiceps nigricollis <#652>

Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus <#669>

Pie-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps <#221>

Kingfishers

Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle (Megaceryle) alcyon <#193>

Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle (Megaceryle) alcyon <#653>

Loons

Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata <#702>

Pelicans

American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchus <#814>

Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis <#226>

Swans

Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator <#721>

WADING BIRDS (Coastal & Inshore Waters)

Avocets

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana <#199>

Bitterns

American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus <#237>

Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis <#815>

Cranes

Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis <#711>

Curlews

Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus <#677>

Dowitchers

Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus <#716>

Dunlins & Knots

Dunlin, Calidris alpina <#651>

Red Knot or Knot, Calidris canutus <#696>

Egrets

Snowy Egret, Leucophoyx thula <#130>

Godwits

Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa <#679>

Herons

Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax <#629>

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias <#222>

Green or Green-backed Heron, Butorides striatus <#665>

Louisiana Heron, Hydranassa tricolor <#143>

Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax (Nyctanassa) violaceus <#743>

Killdeers

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus <#157>

Rails

Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris <#644>

Sora, Porzana carolina <#719 >

Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola <#733>

Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveborracensis <#745>

Sanderlings

Sanderling, Calidris (Crocethia) alba <#224>

Snipes

Common Snipe, Capella gallinago <#133>

Stilts

Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus <#139>

Storks

Wood Stork or Ibis, Mycteria americana <#741>

Turnstones

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres <#710>

Willets

Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus <#177>

Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca <#663 >

Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa falvipes <#674 >

SHORE & OFFSHORE BIRDS (Ocean &/or Inshore Waters)

Albatrosses

Light-mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata <#163 >

Auks

Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis (extinct) <#164 >

Rhinoceros Auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata <#703>

Boobies

Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster <#642 >

Cormorants

Brandt’s Cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus <#195 >

Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus <#162>

Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus <#194 >

Frigate Birds

Magnificent Frigatebird, Fregata magnificens <#793 >

Fulmars

Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis <#682 >

Gulls

Bonaparte’s Gull, Larus philadelphia <#128>

Glaucous-winged Gull, Larus glaucescens <#658 >

Herring Gull, Larus argentatus <#161 >

Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla <#672 >

Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis <#704 >

Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus <#769 >

Kittiwakes

Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla <#631 >

Murrelets

Ancient Murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus <#625 >

Marbled Murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus <#178>

Murres

Common or Thin-billed Murre, Uria aalge <#649 >

Oystercatchers

Black Oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani <#166>

Petrels

Storm Petrel, Hydrobaetes pelagicus <#724 >

Phalaropes

Red Phalarope, Phalaropus fulicaria <#700 >

Wilson’s Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor <#165>

Puffins

Horned Puffin, Fratercula corniculata <#670 >

Tufted Puffin, Lunda cirrhata <#722>

Sandpipers

Least Sandpiper, Calidris (Erolia) minutilla <#146>

Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris (Erolia) melanotos <#691>

Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria <#770>

Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia <#225>

Skimmers

Black Skimmer, Rynchops niger <#633>

Surfbird

Surfbird, Aphriza virgata <#151>

Terns

Black Tern, Chilidonias niger <#635>

Common Tern, Sterna hirundo <#650>

Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri <#655>

Least Tern, Sterna antillarum (albifrons) <#673>

Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus <#257>

Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus <#734>

PREDATORY & SCAVENGER BIRDS

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus <#140>

Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus <#185>

Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos <#659>

Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus <#666>

Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus <#667>

Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus <#218>

American Kestrel or Sparrow Hawk, Falco sparverius <#170>

Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus <#641>

Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis <#683>

Northern Harrier or Marsh Hawk, Circus cyaneus <#684>

Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus <#701>

Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus <#705>

Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis <#136>

Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus <#708>

Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus <#709>

Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus <#205>

Swainson’s Hawk, Buteo swainsoni <#229>

Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis <#799>

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus <#690>

Barn Owl, Tyto alba <#141>

Burrowing Owl, Athene ( Speotyto) cunicularia <#245>

Eastern or Common Screech Owl, Otus asio <#712>

Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa <#664>

Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus <#249>

Long-eared Owl, Asio otus <#678>

Northern Pygmy Owl, Glaucidium gnoma <#500>

Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus <#687>

Short-eared Owl, Asio falmmeus <#246>

California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus <#214>

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura <#137>

GAME & GROUND BIRDS (Terrestrial)

Common Ground Dove, Columbina passerina <#647>

Mourning Dove, Zenaida (Zenaidura) macroura <#160>

White-tailed Ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus <#771>

Grouse

Blue Grouse, Dendragapus obscurus <#241>

Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus <#715>

Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus <#244>

Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata <#154>

Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (extinct) <#126>

Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta <#729>

Water Pipit, Anthus spinoletta <#730> -- Audubo

California Quail, Callipepla (Lophortyx) californica <#153>

Mountain Quail, Oreortyx pictus <#142>

Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo <#731>

WOODPECKER GROUP

Northern or Yellow-shafted Flicker, Colaptes auratus <#197>

Woodpeckers

Black-backed or Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus <#627>

Downy Woodpecker, Picoides (Dendrocopos) pubescens <#217>

Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis (extinct) <#167>

Lewis’ Woodpecker, Melanerpes (Asyndesmus) lewis <#675>

Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus <#692>

HUMMINGBIRDS

Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte (Archilochus) anna <#254>

Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus <#127>

PERCHING BIRDS (incl. Swifts, Swallows & Nighthawks)

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus <#200>

Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus <#789>

Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor <#201>

Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides <#173>

Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana <#397>

ellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus <#198>

Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus <#638>

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea <#780>

Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys <#801>

Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena <#235>

Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus <#135>

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis (Richmondena) cardinalis <#243>

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens <#742>

Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens (petechia) <#758> -- J. J. Audubon

Black-capped Chickadee, Parus atricapillus <#628>

Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Parus rufescens <#134>

Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater <#132>

Brown Creeper, Certhia americana <#643>

Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra <#698>

Crows & Ravens

American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos <#150>

American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos <#623>

Common or Northern Raven, Corvus corax <#147>

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus <#744>

American Goldfinch, Carduelis (Spinus) tristis <#181>

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (arctoa) <#707>

House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus <#208>

Lesser Goldfinch, Carduelis (Spinus) psaltria <#169>

Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus <#694>

Flycatchers

Alder or Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax (trailii) alnorum <#786 >

Olive-sided Flycatcher,Contopus (Nuttallornis) borealis <#239>

Olive-sided Flycatcher,Contopus (Nuttallornis) borealis <#654>

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus (Muscivora) forficata <#211>

Boat-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major (rare) <#796>

Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus <#630>

Blue Grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea <#637>

Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes (Hesperiphona) vespertinus <#182 >

Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator <#693>

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus <#822>

Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis <#661>

Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens <#250>

Steller’s Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri <#251>

Dark-eyed or Slate-colored Junco, Junco hyemalis <#212 >

Oregon Junco, Junco oreganus (N. Calif. ?) <#255>

Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis <#210 >

Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa <#186 >

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula <#713>

Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris <#152>

Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius cornatus <#231>

Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus <#671>

Black-billed Magpie, Pica pica <#158 >

Yellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli <#252>

Mockingbirds

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos <#129>

Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor <#227 >

Nutcrackers

Clark’s Nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana <#253>

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea <#695>

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis <#697>

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis <#238>

Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullockii <#168>

Northern or Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula <#685>

Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus <#230>

Carolina Parakeet, Conurupsis carolinensis (extinct) <#183>

Phainopepla

Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens <#595> -- J. Farrand, Jr.

Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans <#632>

Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya <#209>

Mountain Plover, Charadrius (Eupoda) montanus <#179>

American Robin, Turdus migratorius <#131>

Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus <#184> -- Audubo

Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor <#778>

Pine Siskin, Carduelis pinus <#206>

American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea <#624>

Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina <#258>

Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida <#803>

Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca <#656>

Golden-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla <#233>

Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum <#660>

Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus <#234>

Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii <#676>

Rufous-sided or Spotted Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus <#232>

Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis <#189>

Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia <#192>

Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia <#213>

Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus <#727>

White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis <#736>

Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia <#800>

Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica <#145>

Cliff Swallow, Hirundo pyrrhonota <#645>

Purple Martin, Progne subis <#777>

Tree Swallow, Tachycineta (Iridoprocne) bicolor <#242>

Violet-green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina <#180>

Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea <#791>

Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra <#720>

Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra <#749 > -- A. Menaboni

Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana <#236 >

Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum longicauda <#797 >

Sage Thrasher or Mountain Mockingbird, Oreoscoptes montanus <#219 >

Solitary Vireo, Vireo solitarius <#718>

Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus <#728>

Warblers & Thrushes

American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla <#783>

Audubon’s Warbler, Dendroica auduboni <#172>

Black & White Warbler, Mniotilta varia <#795>

Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca <#794>

Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca <#804>

Blackpoll Warbler, Dendroica striata <#634>

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Dendroica nigrescens <#174>

Cerulean Warbler, Dendroica cerulea <#792>

Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas <#782>

Hermit Thrush, Catharus (Hylocichla) guttatus <#215>

Hermit Warbler, Dendroica occidentalis <#175>

MacGillivray’s Warbler, Oporornis tolmiei <#223>

Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia <#805 >

Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia <#790 >

Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla <#680 >

Northern Parula or Parula Warbler, Parula americana <#781 >

Northern Waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis <#802 >

Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata <#176>

Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina <#723>

Townsend’s Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi <#216>

Townsend’s Warbler, Dendroica townsendi <#171>

Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius <#726>

Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius <#732>

Wilson’s Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla <#738>

Yellow-rumped or Myrtle Warbler, Dendroica coronata <#746>

Yellow-throated Warbler, Dendroica dominica <#125>

Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia <#155>

Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia <#196>

Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia <#240>

Waxwings

Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus <#639>

Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum <#124>

Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii <#626>

House Wren, Troglodytes aedon <#123>

House Wren, Troglodytes aedon <#256>

Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus <#706>

Winter Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes <#740>

=====================================