A Grandfather’s Guide to BIRDS OF NIA HOUSE

1. Crow

2. Mourning Dove

3. Eurasion Collared Dove

4. California Towhee

5. House Finch

6. House Sparrow

7. Anna’s Hummingbird

8. Lesser Goldfinch

9. Oak Titmouse

10. White-Crowned Sparrow

11. Golden-Crowned Sparrow

12. Bewick’s Wren

13. Bushtit

14. Chestnut-Backed Chickadee

15. Red-tailed Hawk

16. Gull

Thank you, Michael, Grandfather to Max + Sierra, for inspiring Nia House to notice the beautiful birds around us. 

What follows are Michael’s birding notes. 

The species are listed according to Micheal’s guess as to which may most easily be seen/identified by sight or sound.

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Here we go:

1. Crow - easy!

2. Mourning Dove - likes wires + horizontal branches

3. Eurasion Collared dove - same as #2, different song!

4. California Towhee - seen on ground a lot

5. House Finch - good singer

6. House Sparrow - too many everywhere

7. Anna’s Hummingbird - about the only likely species

8. Lesser Goldfinch - brighter feathers coming later in season

9. Oak Titmouse - pointy crown

10.  White-Crowned Sparrow - nice markings

11. Golden-Crowned Sparrow - part of the birding tradition (ha ha) of naming a bird after its least prominent feature.

12. Bewick’s Wren - more likely to be heard than seen…

13. Bushtit - in the bushes, usually in groups

14. Chestnut-Backed Chickadee - listen for the distinctive song

15. Red-tailed Hawk- sometimes seen soaring over

16. Gulls- hard to differentiate from each other… but, yeah, gulls!

For pictures, songs, and fun facts download free apps from:

1. Cornell (Merlin)

2. National Audubon

3. Sibley