Dennis Niebuhr & Gwyneth Ragosine of the Rogue Valley Audubon Society Richard Cronberg Brandon Goldman John Ward December 2009

What is a habitat? A habitat is the home of a living thing. Animals and plants live in different ways in different habitats. To survive in different environments, their bodies are different shapes, they eat different food, and behave different ways.

Photo by Brandon Goldman

 Riparian or stream side habitats  Mountain habitats with fir and pine forests  Oak woodland habitats  Fields and meadows In any habitat there will be many different species of birds.

Riparian or streamside habitats are often wetter and more shady than the land farther away from the stream. Usually, tall trees and thick underbrush grow right up to the water’s edge. Photo by John Ward

One of the first migrant birds to be seen in our region during the breeding season of March – August, this insect eating bird nests in tree cavities or nest boxes. Tree Swallow

Look for: Fast wheeling flight, often feeding and flying over water Shiny blue back (brownish in females) White underparts

Western Wood Pewee Male and female look alike. Like other flycatchers, the Pewee flies out to catch insects and returns to the same perch

Yellow-rumped Warbler Warblers are small quick insect eaters. They are often seen feeding while hopping on tree branches. Look for the yellow under the chin, on the shoulders, and on the rump.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler – With a distinctive black cap and large dark eye, this small bird is yellow overall. This bird prefers to feed in dense brushy vegetation near water.

Yellow Warbler Breeding Male Breeding Female Riparian areas have tall and diverse vegetation with many insects and can support many insect eating bird species. All warblers are migrants in our region. The Yellow Warbler is here from May – August.

Downy Woodpecker – This small woodpecker prefers riparian areas and searches dead wood for insects. Woodpeckers carve cavities in trees to nest in that are often used later by other birds who cannot peck as well.

Bullock’s Oriole  Winters Western Mexico. In Rogue Valley for breeding March – July.  Breeds Western United States as far north as the Canadian Border  Mature males arrive first, followed by females and first-year males.

Bullock’s Oriole Female These riparian dwellers build hanging nests. The female lays 3-6 eggs. Young fledge in four weeks tended by both parents Male becomes solitary and start to head south in mid-August

Great Blue Heron – This fishing bird uses a spear-like bill to catch its meal. A large bird, herons will be often seen standing still waiting for prey or flying along the Bear Creek corridor.

Mallard Duck - The male has the green head, the female is a mottled brown. These wild ducks are adaptable to many different wet habitats.

Some of the other habitats in the watershed include:  Mountain habitats with fir and pine forests  Oak woodland habitats  Fields and meadows  Brushy areas How do birds live differently in these habitats?

Look for Red-tailed Hawks on fence posts and telephone poles, anywhere they can get a good view of possible prey.

Northern Flicker – A woodpecker with a white rump and a distinctive orange under its tail and wings. The males have an orange moustache as well. These birds will often be seen feeding on the ground in a variety of habitats.

Western Scrub Jay – A member of the crow family, these birds prefer dry brushy areas but are adaptable and can breed in suburban areas.

Song Sparrow: common in brushy areas and often near water. This sparrow has a streaked breast and a striped head. Sparrows are primarily seed eaters.

Dark-eyed Junco: prefer conifers and mixed woods with open areas where they can feed on the ground. Males and females have a dark hood. The male’s hood is darker than the female’s. This bird is a year round resident and winters in flocks.

Spotted Towhee: Larger than a sparrow, this bird favors brushy areas and feeds on the ground by scratching leaf litter for seeds and insects.

Black-headed Grosbeak  This bird prefers habitats with conifers which provide the seeds it likes to eat with its large stout bill.  Winters in Mexico. In the Rogue Valley for breeding May – September.

In migration, older males arrive first, females a week later First year males do not mate

Lazuli Bunting Western Tanager

Take time to observe the birds of the Bear Creek watershed.