The_Arboretum: Birds

Walks: The Arboretum

Birds

In the Eucalyptus stands look for:

A

Vultures/Birds of Prey

..... Red-shouldered
..... Hawk

Resident virtually throughout campus, foraging for small vertebrates in fields and occasionally on lawns. The number of breeding pairs is only 5-10 due to large territory size and the paucity of trees large enough for nesting. Most pairs of this highly vocal raptor nest in eucalyptus trees, which provide sturdy support for nests and protection from predators (see Red-tailed Hawk).

A

..... Red-tailed Hawk

A few pairs are resident on campus, foraging for California ground squirrels and smaller rodents in fields, ruderal habitats, and occasionally on lawns. Abundance is limited by territory size and availability of large trees for nesting. Competes to some extent with the Red-shouldered Hawk for nest sites, although generally prefers larger, sturdier platforms for nest support and more open canopies than the Red-shouldered Hawk.

A

..... Merlin

Uncommon migrant and winter visitor virtually throughout campus. During winter, often seen perched conspicuously at the tops of tall redwoods and eucalyptus trees or in rapid pursuit of Mourning Doves, House Finches, and other birds.

A

New World Quail

..... California Quail

Uncommon and rapidly declining on campus, this species is now present primarily in southern portions of campus, where it forages in grassy habitats or under oaks and uses dense brush and ornamental plantings for cover. Historically common throughout but now extirpated from many areas, probably due to predation by cats. As recently as the early 1990s, coveys of quail could be found in the Arboretum and around the Oval, but these birds have mostly disappeared.

A

Pigeons/Doves

..... Band-tailed Pigeon

Irregular visitor to campus, most often seen (occasionally in flocks) feeding in eucalyptus or olive trees in the Arboretum or the faculty housing areas. The erratic nature of this species' movements, nesting periods, and abundance are evident on campus, where it can range from virtually absent to fairly common at any time of year.

A

Owls

..... Great Horned Owl

Several pairs are resident on campus. Nests in tall trees (such as eucalyptus), often in old Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk nests. A pair usually nests in the arboretum.

A

Hummingbirds

A

..... Allen's Hummingbird

Uncommon spring migrant, seldom seen in summer or fall. Breeds in the adjacent foothills and possibly on campus, although nesting has not been recorded here. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.

A

..... Rufous Hummingbird

Uncommon spring migrant, rarely seen in fall. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.

A

Woodpeckers

..... Red-breasted
..... Sapsucker

Uncommon migrant and winter resident throughout campus. Excavates wells in eucalyptus, coast live oaks, cedars, and other trees, feeding on extruded sap and entangled insects. In fall and winter, a few can be found fairly easily in the Arboretum by looking for recently excavated wells.

A

Warblers

..... Yellow-rumped
..... Warbler

Common migrant and winter resident in various habitat types throughout campus. Densities may be quite high at flowering eucalyptus trees.

A

Sparrows

..... White-crowned
..... Sparrow

Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brush or dense weedy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with Golden-crowned Sparrows, but is less closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation and more likely to occur in or near tall grasses and forbs (without nearby brush) than the Golden-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.

A

..... Golden-crowned
..... Sparrow

Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brushy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with White-crowned Sparrows, although it is more closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation, and less likely to occur in tall grasses and forbs away from brush, than is the White-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.

A

Orioles

..... Bullock's Oriole

Uncommon migrant and summer resident virtually throughout campus, more widespread than the Hooded Oriole. Often seen in oaks and eucalyptus in the Arboretum and in woodlands near the Dish.

A

Among the century-old exotics look for:

A

Flycatchers

..... Pacific-slope
..... Flycatcher

Uncommon migrant and summer resident in more heavily vegetated areas; most abundant during migration. Few pairs breed on campus, though one or two pairs can usually be found near the Mausoleum in summer.

A

Waxwings

..... Cedar Waxwing

Fairly common to common migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus, feeding on fruits and seeds of a number of tree and shrub species. Often occurs in flocks. Some birds linger into early June each year, but no evidence of nesting has been observed on campus or in the vicinity.

A

Orioles

..... Hooded Oriole..... .....

Uncommon and local migrant and summer resident, nesting almost exclusively in fan palms. Often observed near such palms inside the Main Quad and in the faculty housing area (e.g., Frenchman's Road).

A

Within the native species woodland look for:

Orioles

..... Bullock's Oriole

Uncommon migrant and summer resident virtually throughout campus, more widespread than the Hooded Oriole. Often seen in oaks and eucalyptus in the Arboretum and in woodlands near the Dish.

A

Sparrows

A

..... White-crowned
..... Sparrow

Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brush or dense weedy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with Golden-crowned Sparrows,but is less closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation and more likely to occur in or near tall grasses and forbs (without nearby brush) than the Golden-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.

A

Within the grassy areas look for:

Herons/Egrets

..... Great Egret

Uncommon visitor to Lagunita when water is present; has been seen feeding on California tiger salamanders there. May forage year-round for small mammals in grassy habitats, though less frequently than the Great Blue Heron.

A

..... Great Blue Heron

Uncommon visitor throughout the year. Occasionally forages at Lagunita, and for voles and pocket gophers in grassy areas throughout campus &endash; including the median along Campus Drive.

AA

New World Quail

..... California Quail

Uncommon and rapidly declining on campus, this species is now present primarily in southern portions of campus, where it forages in grassy habitats or under oaks and uses dense brush and ornamental plantings for cover. Historically common throughout but now extirpated from many areas, probably due to predation by cats. As recently as the early 1990s, coveys of quail could be found in the Arboretum and around the Oval, but these birds have mostly disappeared.

A

Species commonly seen throughout the campus, and also seen here include:

A

Vultures / Birds of Prey

.....Sharp-shinned Hawk

Fairly common visitor throughout campus from fall through spring, preying on small birds in virtually any habitat type.

Pigeons / Doves

..... Mourning Dove

Common to abundant resident throughout campus.

Hummingbirds

..... Anna's Hummingbird

Abundant throughout campus, nesting in virtually any type of tree or tall shrub, even in areas with heavy human activity.

Woodpeckers

..... Acorn Woodpecker

Common resident virtually wherever there are mature oaks, tending acorn caches in the limbs and trunks of oaks, palms, eucalyptus

Jays / Crows / Ravens

..... Western Scrub-Jay

Common to abundant resident throughout campus, especially in oak-dominated habitats, where it feeds on acorns. Also eats a variety of fruits (including those of the eucalyptus), preys upon insects and small vertebrates, and scavenges

Thrushes

..... American Robin

Common resident throughout campus.

Starlings

..... European Starling

Abundant resident which first bred at Stanford in 1963; found in a variety of habitat types throughout campus.

Towhees

..... California Towhee

Common resident in a variety of habitat types virtually throughout campus.

Juncos

..... Dark-eyed Junco

Uncommon and local summer resident, fairly common and more widespread during migration and in winter

Blackbirds

..... Brewer's Blackbird

Common to abundant resident in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus.

..... Brown-headed
..... Cowbird

Fairly common breeder in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus, less common during the nonbreeding season.

Finches

..... House Finch

Abundant resident in various habitats throughout campus.

..... Lesser Goldfinch

Common resident in various habitats virtually throughout campus.

Old World Sparrows

..... House Sparrow

Common resident around artificial structures throughout campus.

A

Species not commonly seen throughout the campus, but may be seen here include:

A

Warbler

..... Orange-crowned
..... Warbler

Uncommon migrant in various habitat types throughout campus.

Finches

..... Purple Finch

Uncommon and irregular migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus. Occasionally seen at feeders or foraging on fruits and seeds in the Arboretum.

A

BACK

Vultures/Birds of Prey
..... Red-shouldered ..... Hawk	Resident virtually throughout campus, foraging for small vertebrates in fields and occasionally on lawns. The number of breeding pairs is only 5-10 due to large territory size and the paucity of trees large enough for nesting. Most pairs of this highly vocal raptor nest in eucalyptus trees, which provide sturdy support for nests and protection from predators (see Red-tailed Hawk).
	A
..... Red-tailed Hawk	A few pairs are resident on campus, foraging for California ground squirrels and smaller rodents in fields, ruderal habitats, and occasionally on lawns. Abundance is limited by territory size and availability of large trees for nesting. Competes to some extent with the Red-shouldered Hawk for nest sites, although generally prefers larger, sturdier platforms for nest support and more open canopies than the Red-shouldered Hawk.
	A
..... Merlin	Uncommon migrant and winter visitor virtually throughout campus. During winter, often seen perched conspicuously at the tops of tall redwoods and eucalyptus trees or in rapid pursuit of Mourning Doves, House Finches, and other birds.
	A
New World Quail
..... California Quail	Uncommon and rapidly declining on campus, this species is now present primarily in southern portions of campus, where it forages in grassy habitats or under oaks and uses dense brush and ornamental plantings for cover. Historically common throughout but now extirpated from many areas, probably due to predation by cats. As recently as the early 1990s, coveys of quail could be found in the Arboretum and around the Oval, but these birds have mostly disappeared.
	A
Pigeons/Doves
..... Band-tailed Pigeon	Irregular visitor to campus, most often seen (occasionally in flocks) feeding in eucalyptus or olive trees in the Arboretum or the faculty housing areas. The erratic nature of this species' movements, nesting periods, and abundance are evident on campus, where it can range from virtually absent to fairly common at any time of year.
	A
Owls
..... Great Horned Owl	Several pairs are resident on campus. Nests in tall trees (such as eucalyptus), often in old Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk nests. A pair usually nests in the arboretum.
	A
Hummingbirds	A
..... Allen's Hummingbird	Uncommon spring migrant, seldom seen in summer or fall. Breeds in the adjacent foothills and possibly on campus, although nesting has not been recorded here. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.
	A
..... Rufous Hummingbird	Uncommon spring migrant, rarely seen in fall. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.
	A
Woodpeckers
..... Red-breasted ..... Sapsucker	Uncommon migrant and winter resident throughout campus. Excavates wells in eucalyptus, coast live oaks, cedars, and other trees, feeding on extruded sap and entangled insects. In fall and winter, a few can be found fairly easily in the Arboretum by looking for recently excavated wells.
	A
Warblers
..... Yellow-rumped ..... Warbler	Common migrant and winter resident in various habitat types throughout campus. Densities may be quite high at flowering eucalyptus trees.
	A
Sparrows
..... White-crowned ..... Sparrow	Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brush or dense weedy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with Golden-crowned Sparrows, but is less closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation and more likely to occur in or near tall grasses and forbs (without nearby brush) than the Golden-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.
	A
..... Golden-crowned ..... Sparrow	Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brushy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with White-crowned Sparrows, although it is more closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation, and less likely to occur in tall grasses and forbs away from brush, than is the White-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.
	A
Orioles
..... Bullock's Oriole	Uncommon migrant and summer resident virtually throughout campus, more widespread than the Hooded Oriole. Often seen in oaks and eucalyptus in the Arboretum and in woodlands near the Dish.
	A

Flycatchers
..... Pacific-slope ..... Flycatcher	Uncommon migrant and summer resident in more heavily vegetated areas; most abundant during migration. Few pairs breed on campus, though one or two pairs can usually be found near the Mausoleum in summer.
	A
Waxwings
..... Cedar Waxwing	Fairly common to common migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus, feeding on fruits and seeds of a number of tree and shrub species. Often occurs in flocks. Some birds linger into early June each year, but no evidence of nesting has been observed on campus or in the vicinity.
	A
Orioles
..... Hooded Oriole..... .....	Uncommon and local migrant and summer resident, nesting almost exclusively in fan palms. Often observed near such palms inside the Main Quad and in the faculty housing area (e.g., Frenchman's Road).
	A

Herons/Egrets
..... Great Egret	Uncommon visitor to Lagunita when water is present; has been seen feeding on California tiger salamanders there. May forage year-round for small mammals in grassy habitats, though less frequently than the Great Blue Heron.
	A
..... Great Blue Heron	Uncommon visitor throughout the year. Occasionally forages at Lagunita, and for voles and pocket gophers in grassy areas throughout campus &endash; including the median along Campus Drive.
	AA
New World Quail
..... California Quail	Uncommon and rapidly declining on campus, this species is now present primarily in southern portions of campus, where it forages in grassy habitats or under oaks and uses dense brush and ornamental plantings for cover. Historically common throughout but now extirpated from many areas, probably due to predation by cats. As recently as the early 1990s, coveys of quail could be found in the Arboretum and around the Oval, but these birds have mostly disappeared.
	A

Vultures / Birds of Prey
.....Sharp-shinned Hawk	Fairly common visitor throughout campus from fall through spring, preying on small birds in virtually any habitat type.
Pigeons / Doves
..... Mourning Dove	Common to abundant resident throughout campus.
Hummingbirds
..... Anna's Hummingbird	Abundant throughout campus, nesting in virtually any type of tree or tall shrub, even in areas with heavy human activity.
Woodpeckers
..... Acorn Woodpecker	Common resident virtually wherever there are mature oaks, tending acorn caches in the limbs and trunks of oaks, palms, eucalyptus
Jays / Crows / Ravens
..... Western Scrub-Jay	Common to abundant resident throughout campus, especially in oak-dominated habitats, where it feeds on acorns. Also eats a variety of fruits (including those of the eucalyptus), preys upon insects and small vertebrates, and scavenges
Thrushes
..... American Robin	Common resident throughout campus.
Starlings
..... European Starling	Abundant resident which first bred at Stanford in 1963; found in a variety of habitat types throughout campus.
Towhees
..... California Towhee	Common resident in a variety of habitat types virtually throughout campus.
Juncos
..... Dark-eyed Junco	Uncommon and local summer resident, fairly common and more widespread during migration and in winter
Blackbirds
..... Brewer's Blackbird	Common to abundant resident in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus.
..... Brown-headed ..... Cowbird	Fairly common breeder in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus, less common during the nonbreeding season.
Finches
..... House Finch	Abundant resident in various habitats throughout campus.
..... Lesser Goldfinch	Common resident in various habitats virtually throughout campus.
Old World Sparrows
..... House Sparrow	Common resident around artificial structures throughout campus.
	A

Warbler
..... Orange-crowned ..... Warbler	Uncommon migrant in various habitat types throughout campus.
Finches
..... Purple Finch	Uncommon and irregular migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus. Occasionally seen at feeders or foraging on fruits and seeds in the Arboretum.
	A