Category: Become a Birdwatcher

Have you ever woken up really early in the morning and heard the birds just going crazy? That’s happened to me several times over the past few months and, while I am not a morning person, I cannot help but enjoy the beautiful chaos of all those birds calling out at once. It’s like a cafeteria or an auditorium with everyone talking at once. Or like the instruments tuning up before the concert begins, going through their practice runs when no one is really listening. I love it!

It’s amazing that most of us have so many wild birds living all around us that we don’t even notice. So maybe it’s time to take notice. One way to start doing that is to bring them to your backyard. And if they’re in your backyard already, bring them out of the …

Many birds call the unique vegetation of Southern California home, but it is those with a flash of yellow that often catch the eye. Here’s a quick guide to help hikers and other casual observers identify one yellow bird from another.

Wilson’s Warbler

Look for this bird especially in the spring and fall. It has a yellow belly and breast and an olive-colored back and wings. The long tail, yellow face and black cap make this small (less than five inches) Southern California bird easy to identify.

Pacific-Slope Flycatcher

About the same size as the Wilson’s warbler, this bird is most commonly seen in the summer in Orange County. Its yellow belly and chest are not as bright at the Wilson’s warbler, and its back is more olive-brown in color. Look for the distinctive white eye ring, orange lower bill …