American Kestrel - Falco sparverius

American Kestrels are not difficult to find in Southern California. We saw them in the different parks and nature reserves. For a raptor it has a beautiful coloring, especially that of a male. They are the smallest members of the Falcon family in North America although their range extends all the way to South America. It's diet consists of grasshoppers, lizards, mice and an occasional small bird like a sparrow.

American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
Peck Road Water Conservation Park, Arcadia, California
December 3, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X (420mm)
ISO-200, f/8, 1/500, handheld

Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin

Sycamore Canyon is a small park in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Whittier, California. Despite its proximity to urban areas and to the freeway, it harbors a number of bird species.  One of these is the Allen's Hummingbird.

Allen's Hummingbirds always pose an identification problem because of its similarity with the Rufous Hummingbird which shares its range and habitat. Both have the striking rufous coloring and bright red gorget. However, Allen's have green feathers on its head, upper back and rump. They also have a more limited range in the western USA and Mexico. It is not unusual to find these colorful birds in urban areas. Next to the very common Anna's, Allen's are probably the other hummingbird one can easily find in southern California.

Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin
Sycamore Canyon, Whittier, California
April 30, 2005

Canon 20D, 300mm+1.4X, handheld
ISO-100, f7.1, 1/400

Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivora

Acorn Woodpeckers are the most common woodpeckers in California. They were so named because of their habit of storing acorns in crevices and holes of trees, most of which they themselves drill. These birds are quite noisy with their parrot-like croaking. Another peculiar habit of Acorn Woodpeckers is their communal nesting. Several females lay eggs in a single nest and the whole community - including the males and juveniles - take turns in raising the chicks.

Acorn Woodpeckers live year-round in oak and pine-oak woodlands of western and southwestern USA all the way down to Central America.

Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivora
Irvine Regional Park, California
February 9, 2008

Canon 20D, 300mm lens, handheld
ISO-400, f8, 1/1000