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Solano Co. (CA) 2004-2010 (published!)

Species Info

Species Information

currently sorted by: species, taxonomic

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Species Alpha Code* Safe date start** Safe date end Habitat
ORDER: ANSERIFORMES
FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
  Cackling Goose  CACG / /  
  Canada Goose  CANG3 / 20 7 / 1Nests near fresh water or brackish marshes, meadows or reservoirs. 
  Mute Swan  MUSW / /  
  Wood Duck  WODU4 / 15 7 / 15In cavity or large tree near pond or slow-moving water. Use nest boxes at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area and Lake Solano (GIWA). 
  Blue-winged Teal  BWTE5 / 15 7 / 15Similar to Mallard and Cinnamon Teal. 
  Cinnamon Teal  CITE4 / 15 7 / 1Dense cover 12-15 inches high near water. 
  Northern Shoveler  NSHO5 / 20 7 / 15In short grass around boggy edges of marshes and ponds, in a lined depression on ground. 
  Gadwall  GADW5 / 1 7 / 15In tall dense vegetation, frequently on an island in a marsh or lake. 
  American Wigeon  AMWI / /  
  Mallard  MALL3 / 1 9 / 1Well concealed in dense vegetation in depression on ground, lined with duck down, usually within half mile of water. 
  Northern Pintail  NOPI4 / 15 7 / 15In vegetation lined depression on ground in open area with sparse vegetation, usually near a marsh or pond. 
  Green-winged Teal  GWTE4 / 15 7 / 1Similar habitat to Mallard; female covers eggs when off nest. 
  Redhead  REDH / /  
  Common Goldeneye  COGO / /  
  Common Merganser  COME / /  
  Ruddy Duck  RUDU5 / 10 8 / 15Nest attached to tall reeds, 7-8 inches above water. 
  Mandarin Duck  MNDU4 / 1 7 / 15Secluded lakes, streams and rivers; hole in tree or nestbox at Lake Solano Collinsville. 
ORDER: GALLIFORMES
FAMILY: Odontophoridae (New World Quails)
  Mountain Quail  MOUQ4 / 15 7 / 15Overgrown clearings and burns in forested mountains, chaparral and juniper usually above 2000 feet. Depression in ground under brush or limb. 
  California Quail  CAQU4 / 1 9 / 1On ground, under brush or in rock cranny in covered depression lined with dead leaves, grass. 
FAMILY: Phasianidae (Partidges, Grouse, Turkey, and Old World Quail)
  Wild Turkey  WITU4 / 15 8 / 15In a scooped out hollow on the ground in a dry place. May be lined with dry grass. 
  Ring-necked Pheasant  RNEP4 / 15 7 / 1Near marshes and in over-grown fields. Nest on ground and hard to find. 
ORDER: PODICIPEDIFORMES
FAMILY: Podicipedidae (Grebes)
  Pied-billed Grebe  PBGR5 / 1 8 / 1On floating vegetation slightly above fresh water deeper than one foot. Hard to see. Adult slips away from nest when disturbed. 
  Western Grebe  WEGR5 / 1 9 / 1Nest is a floating platform of fresh and decayed vegetation usually on or anchored to live vegetation in shallow water. Colonial. 
  Clark's Grebe  CLGR5 / 1 9 / 1Nest is a floating platform of fresh and decayed vegetation usually on or anchored to live vegetation in shallow water. Colonial. 
ORDER: PELECANIFORMES
FAMILY: Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
  Double-crested Cormorant  DCCO4 / 15 8 / 1Bulky stick nest on ground or in dead or living tree at any height, always near water. Colonial. 
FAMILY: Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
  American White Pelican  AWPE5 / 1 8 / 1Predator free islands in inland rivers and bays. Colonial, often among Double-crested Cormorants. 
ORDER: CICONIIFORMES
FAMILY: Ardeidae (Herons, Bitterns, and allies)
  American Bittern  AMBI5 / 1 7 / 31Very well hidden on mound among marsh plants, cattails in fresh water preferred. 
  Great Blue Heron  GBHE3 / 1 8 / 1Solitary or colonial, on bulky stick nests high in trees, easily seen. 
  Great Egret  GREG5 / 15 8 / 1Solitary or colonial nesting, sometimes with other species, in trees or shrubs usually more than ten feet above ground. 
  Snowy Egret  SNEG5 / 1 8 / 1Same as Great Egret except this species occasionally nests in marsh vegetation instead of trees.  
  Cattle Egret  CAEG5 / 1 7 / 31Nest of reeds, twigs, sticks and vines in wet pastures, plowed fields, marshes and lawns. Male collects, female builds. Highly colonial. 
  Green Heron  GRHE4 / 15 7 / 15Usually solitary, colonial occasionally, in tree, bush or on the ground. Check small riparian creeks. 
  Black-crowned Night-Heron  BCNH5 / 1 8 / 1Usually colonial, in sites that range from low marsh vegetation to tall trees. 
FAMILY: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
  White-faced Ibis  WFIB5 / 10 7 / 15Usually in freshwater ponds, marshes, swamps and rivers. Nest is usually on ground; occasionally in shrub or low tree over water. Colonial. 
FAMILY: Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
  Turkey Vulture  TUVU5 / 1 7 / 15No nest. Eggs laid on bare ground or gravel on cliff ledge or in cave, sometimes in hollow stump or tree. 
ORDER: FALCONIFORMES
FAMILY: Accipitridae (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies)
  Osprey  OSPR5 / 1 7 / 15Near fresh or salt water, bulky conspicuous stick nest on ground or most commonly on top of a tree or man-made structure on Mare Island and Vallejo. 
  White-tailed Kite  WTKI3 / 15 7 / 1Savannah, marsh, streamside areas and orchards. Bulky twig and grass nest in tree. 
  Golden Eagle  GOEA3 / 15 7 / 15On rocky ledge or treetop. Stick nest; new material added each year. Frequently alternates between two nesting sites. 
  Northern Harrier  NOHA4 / 15 7 / 10In marshes or brushy fields, bulky stick nest on or near ground, hidden by brush or tall grass. 
  Sharp-shinned Hawk  SSHA5 / 1 7 / 15Woodlands, mountainous coniferous/deciduous forest Nest by trunk, broad, flat, of sticks, twigs; lined with smaller twigs, grass, conifer needles 
  Cooper's Hawk  COHA4 / 15 7 / 15In riparian groves and mountain canyons, in stick nest in tree 20 to forty feet high. 
  Red-shouldered Hawk  RSHA3 / 15 7 / 15Riparian, usually near stream, suburban large trees; nest halfway up near the main trunk. Nest smaller than Red-Tailed Hawk. 
  Swainson's Hawk  SWHA4 / 15 7 / 15Agricultural land with scattered trees, savanna, open conifer/oak woodland, prairie. 
  Red-tailed Hawk  RTHA3 / 15 7 / 15Woodland and open country with scattered trees. Bulky nest of sticks and twigs in crotch of large tree or on rocky cliff. 
FAMILY: Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
  American Kestrel  AMKE4 / 15 7 / 15Natural tree cavity, old woodpecker hole, nest box or in crannies in eaves of building. Rarely in open. Little or no nesting material added to cavity. 
  Peregrine Falcon  PEFA4 / 1 7 / 15Cliffs, tall structures like bridges and buildings in open areas.  
  Prairie Falcon  PRFA4 / 1 7 / 10Cliffs. 
ORDER: GRUIFORMES
FAMILY: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
  Clapper Rail  CLRA4 / 15 7 / 15In tidal marshes, nest attached to several reed stems above water level at high tide. 
  Virginia Rail  VIRA4 / 15 7 / 1Usually in freshwater marshes, but occasionally in upper reaches of saltwater marshes in sedges or cattails just above water. 
  Sora  SORA5 / 15 7 / 15Freshwater marshes, wet meadows, usually over deeper water than Virginia Rail. Nest indistinguishable from Virginia Rail. 
  Common Gallinule  COGA4 / 15 7 / 15Floating platform on fresh-water marshes, channels and ponds, usually where water is covered with duck-weed, but sometimes in shrub near water. 
  American Coot  AMCO5 / 1 8 / 15Nest, a floating platform anchored to plants in freshwater marsh, and near cattails in reservoirs. 
  Yellow Rail  YERA6 / 1 8 / 1 
  Black Rail  BLRA5 / 1 7 / 1Deep cup of loosely woven grass in depression under arch of matted dead marsh grass. Found in salicornia. 
ORDER: CHARADRIIFORMES
FAMILY: Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
  Black-necked Stilt  BNST5 / 1 7 / 1Colonial on dike or mound near water. Very aggressive with intruders; uses both broken leg and broken wing distraction display.  
  American Avocet  AMAV5 / 15 7 / 5Loosely colonial near ponds, marshes estuaries, mud flats. Nest among tufts of vegetation on gravel, sand, mud below brush. 
FAMILY: Charadriidae (Lapwings and Plovers)
  Killdeer  KILL4 / 10 7 / 1Depression in bare ground, gravel or pebbles in dry river bed, railway bed, dry area near pond or lake and even on gravel roof, usually unlined. 
  Snowy Plover  SNPL / /  
FAMILY: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies)
  Long-billed Curlew  LBCU / /  
  Spotted Sandpiper  SPSA6 / 1 7 / 15Wide variety of habitats: semi-open vegetation near water. Nest, a scrape in grass, moss, forbs, tangles, among rocks, etc., usually 2-4 eggs.  
  Greater Yellowlegs  GRYE / /  
  Wilson's Phalarope  WIPH6 / 10 7 / 15Nest a scrape made by male is open or well concealed in sparse vegetation on damp ground in fresh water marsh, slough, wet meadow, or island. 
FAMILY: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
  Western Gull  WEGU4 / 1 8 / 1Colonial on predator free islands or rocky islets, rotten piers, rotted pilings, flat roofs. 
  Least Tern  LETE5 / 1 8 / 1Open, flat beaches, river and lake margins, usually near shallow water. Nest shallow depression, usually unlined. 
  Caspian Tern  CATE5 / 1 8 / 1Colonial on levees, islands. 
  Forster's Tern  FOTE5 / 1 8 / 15Colonial, fresh or saltwater marshes and marshy borders of reservoirs, islands in sloughs. 
ORDER: COLUMBIFORMES
FAMILY: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
  Rock Pigeon  ROPI3 / 1 8 / 15Singly or colonial, on ledges, natural or man-made near human habitation, in barns and abandoned buildings. 
  Band-tailed Pigeon  BTPI2 / 1 7 / 15Oak woodland or coniferous forest, usually 15-40’ high on horizontal limb close to trunk. 
  Eurasian Collared-Dove  EUCD / /  
  Mourning Dove  MODO3 / 15 8 / 15In tree 10-100’ high, occasionally on ground, in flimsy nest of twigs and rootlets. 
ORDER: CUCULIFORMES
FAMILY: Cuculidae (Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis)
  Greater Roadrunner  GRRO4 / 1 7 / 15Desert scrub, chaparral, edge of cultivated land, arid open areas with scattered brush, pine-oak woodland. 
ORDER: STRIGIFORMES
FAMILY: Tytonidae (Barn Owls)
  Barn Owl  BANO3 / 15 8 / 1In cavities, caves, buildings and nest boxes. Look for pellets under eucalyptus, oak and date palm trees. 
FAMILY: Strigidae (Typical Owls)
  Western Screech-Owl  WESO3 / 15 7 / 15Oak & riparian woodlands, scrub, orchards, woodlots in old woodpecker holes or natural cavities, man-made crevices or nest box. 
  Great Horned Owl  GHOW1 / 1 7 / 1In old nest of large bird, i.e., Red-tailed Hawk, and in tree cavities, caves. 
  Northern Pygmy-Owl  NOPO5 / 1 7 / 10Open coniferous or mixed woods, wooded canyons, in abandoned woodpecker hole or natural cavity. 
  Burrowing Owl  BUOW4 / 15 7 / 15Grasslands, prairie, levee, open area near golf course or airport. In burrows of ground squirrels, or man-made burrow-like structures. 
  Short-eared Owl  SEOW4 / 10 7 / 1On ground in marsh, usually hidden in low vegetation. 
  Northern Saw-whet Owl  NSWO4 / 1 7 / 15Dense coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forest, wooded swamps, bogs; nest in woodpecker holes and natural cavities. 
ORDER: CAPRIMULGIFORMES
FAMILY: Caprimulgidae (Nighthawks and Allies)
  Common Poorwill  COPO4 / 1 8 / 31Rough chaparral slopes, rocky outcrops and tablelands, usually arid or semi-arid. On bare ground, often under bush. 
ORDER: APODIFORMES
FAMILY: Apodidae (Swifts)
  White-throated Swift  WTSW4 / 20 7 / 1In crevice in cliff, building, bridge, or overpass in drain pipe. 
FAMILY: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
  Black-chinned Hummingbird  BCHU5 / 1 7 / 1Open and riparian woodlands, chaparral, suburban parks and residential gardens in drier areas of county. 
  Anna's Hummingbird  ANHU1 / 15 7 / 15Nest, almost anywhere, made of plant down and spider silk; thick walls built up after eggs laid; lichen added to exterior. 
  Allen's Hummingbird  ALHU2 / 15 6 / 1Primarily in moist areas, canyons in chaparral, thickets, brushy slopes, open coniferous forest, riparian, eucalyptus groves and residential areas. 
ORDER: CORACIIFORMES
FAMILY: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
  Belted Kingfisher  BEKI5 / 1 7 / 15Usually along a stream, in a burrow in an earth bank, usually 1-3 feet from top; entrance floor has grooves on either side. 
ORDER: PICIFORMES
FAMILY: Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies)
  Acorn Woodpecker  ACWO4 / 15 8 / 1Colonial, usually in deciduous snag, especially dead or dying oaks, also utility poles.  
  Downy Woodpecker  DOWO4 / 15 8 / 1Riparian woods and residential areas; deciduous woodlands, especially willows; mixed oak-deciduous woodlands in excavated cavity in dead wood. 
  Nuttall's Woodpecker  NUWO4 / 15 7 / 15Usually in excavated cavity in dead oak or riparian deciduous tree. Male does most of incubation, including all nocturnal incubation and brooding. 
  Hairy Woodpecker  HAWO5 / 1 7 / 31Mixed deciduous & coniferous woodlands & forests; pure coniferous stands; rarely lowland riparian areas. 
  (unid. Red/Yellow Shafted) Northern Flicker  UNFL4 / 15 7 / 1Usually in woodland or forest, but also in parks, gardens, orchards. Cavity nest, often perennial. 
  Pileated Woodpecker  PIWO4 / 15 7 / 15Deciduous/coniferous forests and open woodlands; nest hole usually in dead wood, often oval or triangular, narrower at top.  
ORDER: PASSERIFORMES
FAMILY: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
  Ash-throated Flycatcher  ATFL4 / 25 7 / 15In scrub, chaparral, open and riparian woodlands, especially oaks and junipers; in natural cavity or woodpecker hole, usually less than 20 feet high. 
  Cassin's Kingbird  CAKI5 / 1 7 / 15 
  Western Kingbird  WEKI4 / 15 8 / 1Dry, open country, agricultural lands, riparian woodlands, in tall tree or power pole. 
  Olive-sided Flycatcher  OSFL6 / 1 7 / 15Open coniferous/deciduous forest with lots of dead trees. Preference for Douglas Fir in canyon. 
  Western Wood-Pewee  WEWP5 / 1 8 / 1Oak or riparian woodlands, Cup nest usually 15-40 feet high on horizontal Y of branch. 
  Willow Flycatcher  WIFL / /  
  Pacific-slope Flycatcher  PSFL4 / 15 7 / 10Deciduous and coniferous woodlands, especially near streams, even gardens. Nest on ground or to 30 feet high in notch or crotch, behind loose bark. 
  Black Phoebe  BLPH4 / 1 7 / 15Over or near water, in woodland, canyon, suburb, farmland, under bridges over water, on or under structures. 
  Say's Phoebe  SAPH4 / 15 7 / 1 
FAMILY: Vireonidae (Vireos)
  Hutton's Vireo  HUVI2 / 1 7 / 1Usually in a live oak, but also in other trees and shrubs, 7-25 feet high. 
  Cassin's Vireo  CAVI5 / 1 7 / 15Densely wooded canyons, oaks and riparian areas. Suspended cup nest in tree fork, 3-30 feet up. 
  Warbling Vireo  WAVI4 / 15 7 / 20Riparian and mixed woodlands. Basketlike deep cup nest suspended in fork of small branch, below 30 feet. 
FAMILY: Laniidae (Shrikes)
  Loggerhead Shrike  LOSH2 / 10 7 / 1Open country with occasional trees or shrubs. Stick nest well concealed in dense foliage. 
FAMILY: Corvidae (Crows and Jays)
  Steller's Jay  STJA3 / 15 7 / 10Coniferous and mixed oak-pine forest, oak-madrone canyons; 8-40 feet high, usually in conifer, sometimes in shrub. 
  unid. California Scrub-Jay / Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay  WESJ3 / 10 7 / 10Chaparral, stream bottoms and in suburbs especially if live oaks present. Very dense foliage around nest. 
  Yellow-billed Magpie  YBMA4 / 15 7 / 15Common in open woodland forming small loose colonies. Nest is a conspicuous large mass of sticks, domed, with side entrance. 
  American Crow  AMCR3 / 15 7 / 1Open country with scattered trees; towns. Large bundle of stick in tree crotch near trunk or on utility pole, or tower. 
  Common Raven  CORA3 / 15 7 / 1Mainly on cliff ledges, tall conifers, nest of large sticks. Look for fallen nest material at base of cliff, whitewash just below nest site. 
FAMILY: Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice)
  Chestnut-backed Chickadee  CBCH4 / 1 7 / 15Solano county habitat usually riparian or live oak groves. In natural or excavated cavity, usually below 10 feet. 
  Oak Titmouse  OATI3 / 1 6 / 15Juniper and oak woodland, in natural or excavated cavity up to 30 feet above ground. May do minor excavation of hole. Will use nest box. 
FAMILY: Alaudidae (Larks)
  Horned Lark  HOLA4 / 15 8 / 1Dry grasslands or plowed fields. Nest, in depression in ground, partly under a clod or clump of grass, made of dried grass. Nest search futile. 
FAMILY: Hirundinidae (Swallows)
  Bank Swallow  BANS4 / 20 7 / 15Nest in dense colonies in burrows in banks of rivers, road cuts, lakes, creeks, and gravel pits. 
  Tree Swallow  TRES4 / 10 7 / 1Widespread and common in foothill, riparian woodland near water. Nest in woodpecker hole, natural cavity or nest box.. 
  Violet-green Swallow  VGSW4 / 10 7 / 1Tree cavities, woodpecker holes and crevices in cliffs, mainly at higher elevations; also in wooded lowlands. 
  Northern Rough-winged Swallow  NRWS4 / 20 7 / 1Open country, especially near running water, in burrow or crevice, either natural or man-made, e.g., kingfisher burrow & highway overpass drain holes. 
  Purple Martin  PUMA4 / 15 8 / 1Open country, savanna, rural areas, especially near water in tree hole, cliff niche, or other cavity. 
  Barn Swallow  BARS4 / 10 8 / 31Usually nest near water under bridge or eaves of building. Nest, of mud and straw plastered to vertical surface, has open top. 
  Cliff Swallow  CLSW3 / 20 7 / 15Plaster mud, gourd-shaped nests with small side entrance under eaves of buildings and bridges, natural cliffs, even trees. Close to source of mud. 
FAMILY: Aegithalidae (Bushtits and Long-tailed Tits)
  Bushtit  BUSH3 / 10 7 / 1Woodlands, scrub, chaparral, and adjacent suburbs. Gourd-shaped, pendulous nest, conspicuous, 6-35 feet up in tree. 
FAMILY: Timaliidae (Babblers)
  Wrentit  WREN4 / 15 8 / 1In chaparral bush, 1 ½ -2 feet off ground. Three nests found in ’04 averaged ~4.5’ high. 
FAMILY: Ptilogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
  Phainopepla  PHAI5 / 1 8 / 1Scrub oak and foothill riparian woodland with mistletoe. Male builds nest and shares incubation. Nest is shallow cup, small for size of bird. 
FAMILY: Sittidae (Nuthatches)
  White-breasted Nuthatch  WBNU3 / 15 7 / 15In oaks and conifers in canyons, in cavity 15-50 feet high. May excavate own cavity. 
FAMILY: Certhiidae (Creepers)
  Brown Creeper  BRCR3 / 15 7 / 1Coniferous forest, oaks, riparian areas. Nest behind loose bark. 
FAMILY: Sylviidae (Gnatcatchers and Old World Warblers)
  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  BGGN4 / 20 7 / 20Chaparral slopes and oak woodland in dry canyons. Nest height 4-25 feet. 
FAMILY: Troglodytidae (Wrens)
  Rock Wren  ROWR4 / 15 7 / 15Variety of rocky & gravelly habitats, including quarries, in crevice or beneath overhang. 
  Canyon Wren  CANW5 / 1 7 / 15In steep-sided canyons, rocky streams, occasionally in arid areas in crevice in rock monolith. 
  Bewick's Wren  BEWR4 / 1 8 / 1Chaparral, mixed brush & oak, riparian, in cavity or crevice usually near ground also in woodpecker hole. 
  House Wren  HOWR4 / 1 8 / 15Nest sites in more wooded areas than Bewick’s. In natural cavity, crevice or in structures, female completes one of the male’s dummy nests. 
  Marsh Wren  MAWR5 / 1 7 / 15Fresh & brackish marshes with abundant reeds. Nest attached to several reed stems. Two to 4 dummy nests.  
FAMILY: Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
  California Thrasher  CATH2 / 15 7 / 10Chaparral, riparian with dense ground cover, brush along stream, suburbs with abundant planting. Nest hidden in shrub or low tree. 
  Northern Mockingbird  NOMO3 / 15 8 / 1Open woodland or scrubland, parks, gardens. Nest in dense bush or tree, 1-40 feet high. 
FAMILY: Sturnidae (Starlings)
  European Starling  EUST4 / 1 8 / 1Colonies occur where suitable cavities/crevices abound in tree/building. Drives away primary and secondary cavity nesters. 
FAMILY: Turdidae (Thrushes)
  Western Bluebird  WEBL4 / 1 8 / 1In open woodlands, in natural cavity, woodpecker hole, nest box. 
  Swainson's Thrush  SWTH6 / 1 8 / 1Shaded riparian woodlands of canyons and lowlands, prefers dense willow-alder stands. Nest on horizontal branch 2-20 feet high. 
  American Robin  AMRO4 / 1 8 / 15Open woodlands, suburbs, farmyards 
FAMILY: Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
  House Sparrow  HOSP4 / 1 8 / 15Found wherever there people or domestic livestock. Nests in any kind of cavity or crevice.  
FAMILY: Fringillidae (Fringilline and Cardueline Finches)
  House Finch  HOFI3 / 15 8 / 1Nest loosely woven of dried grass; outside of nest splashed with feces. 
  Purple Finch  PUFI4 / 1 7 / 1Wooded canyons with oaks or mixed oaks and conifers. On horizontal branch, usually at fork, 5-60 feet high. 
  Lesser Goldfinch  LEGO4 / 15 7 / 15Riparian areas with bushes, but only scattered trees, chaparral, oaks, suburban gardens. Nest in tree or bush, 2-30 feet high. 
  Lawrence's Goldfinch  LAGO4 / 15 7 / 15Chaparral, oak woodland, riparian thickets, in tree or shrub, 2-30 feet high. Needs nearby grasslands and water. Sometimes semi-colonial. 
  American Goldfinch  AMGO5 / 1 8 / 1Overgrown fields with scattered trees; forest openings. Nest in fork of tree or bush where about four limbs rise nearly vertically, 4-14 feet high.  
FAMILY: Emberizidae (Emberizids)
  Grasshopper Sparrow  GRSP4 / 15 7 / 1Grassland, cultivated and abandoned fields, prairie, open savanna. 
  Lark Sparrow  LASP4 / 10 7 / 15Open oak woodlands mixed with grasslands or pasture. Nest usually on bare or eroded ground, shaded by plant clump.  
  Chipping Sparrow  CHSP5 / 1 8 / 1Open woodlands with grassy understory. Occasionally in orchard or vineyard. Nest usually 3-10 feet high in tree. 
  Black-chinned Sparrow  BCSP5 / 1 8 / 1The most arid chaparral covered slopes. Nest in a shrub often sage. 
  (unid. race) Dark-eyed Junco  UDEJ3 / 10 8 / 1Coniferous and deciduous forest and edge, open woodland, bogs. Dense ground vegetation is required. 
  unid. Sagebrush Sparrow / Bell's Sparrow  USBS4 / 15 8 / 1Low dense chaparral, in bush 3 feet or higher. 
  Savannah Sparrow  SAVS5 / 1 7 / 1Grasslands, salicornia (pickleweed) marshes bordering coastal estuary. 
  California Towhee  CALT4 / 1 8 / 1Chaparral, or riparian shrubs, parks, suburban gardens. Nest in dense bush, hard to find. 
  Rufous-crowned Sparrow  RCSP5 / 1 7 / 15Steep rock chaparral slopes where shrubs intermix with small grass areas. Usually on ground under shrub or grass clump. 
  Spotted Towhee  SPTO4 / 15 8 / 1In dense chaparral, riparian thickets, forest edge or woodland. Nest on ground or dense bush, hard to find. 
FAMILY: Parulidae (Wood-warblers)
  Yellow-breasted Chat  YBCH5 / 15 8 / 1Dense riparian thickets, in the lowlands. Nest in brush or thicket, 2-6 feet high. 
FAMILY: Icteridae (Blackbirds and Orioles)
  Western Meadowlark  WEME4 / 1 8 / 1Grassland, savannah, pasture, cultivated fields. 
  Hooded Oriole  HOOR5 / 1 6 / 30Riparian woodland, palm trees, deciduous woodland, around human habitation. 
  Bullock's Oriole  BUOR4 / 10 8 / 1Open and riparian woodland, deciduous forest edge, open areas with scattered trees such as orchards, around human habitation. 
  Red-winged Blackbird  RWBL4 / 1 7 / 1Freshwater and brackish marshes, riparian habitats, fields. 
  Tricolored Blackbird  TRBL5 / 1 7 / 15Near or over water, also in agicultural crops. Woven of sedges, grass, forbs, lined with fine grass. Built in 4 days. 
  Brown-headed Cowbird  BHCO4 / 15 7 / 15Woodland, deciduous forest, forest edge, grassland.  
  Brewer's Blackbird  BRBL3 / 15 7 / 10Shrubby, brushy areas especially near water, riparian woodland, cultivated lands, marshes, around human habitation. 
  Great-tailed Grackle  GTGR5 / 1 8 / 1Oft near water; large, bulky, rim woven to supports, built with twigs, forbs rushes, sedges, mud. Lined with fine grass, rootlets, trash. 
FAMILY: Parulidae (Wood-warblers)
  Orange-crowned Warbler  OCWA4 / 1 7 / 10Brushlands, willow thickets, oak woodlands & taller chaparral. Nest on hill slope, often on steep bank on ground or less than 3 feet high in shrub. 
  Common Yellowthroat  COYE5 / 10 8 / 1Female builds near fresh, brackish or saltwater marsh, in marsh plants or nearby shrub. Nest near ground. 
  Yellow Warbler  YEWA4 / 15 8 / 1Tall riparian stands of willows, alders, etc. In upright crotch of tree or shrub, 2-12 feet high. 
  (unid. Myrtle/Audubon's) Yellow-rumped Warbler  UYRW6 / 1 7 / 15Typically on horizontal branch of conifer, often near truck, 4-50 feet above ground. Occasionally in hardwoods. 
  Black-throated Gray Warbler  BTYW5 / 10 8 / 1Arid coniferous-oak woodlands. On horizontal branch of tree, 3-10 feet (rarely up to 50 feet) high, 4-10 feet from trunk. 
  Townsend's Warbler  TOWA / /  
  Wilson's Warbler  WIWA4 / 15 8 / 1In canyons and low dense thickets of willows & other shrubs in well-watered locations, on steep slopes. In depression on or near ground in dense veg. 
FAMILY: Thraupidae (Tanagers)
  Western Tanager  WETA5 / 15 7 / 15Coniferous forests and oak woodlands, especially likely near a spring; in fork of horizontal branch, well out from trunk, greater than 15 feet high. 
FAMILY: Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Saltators, and Allies)
  Black-headed Grosbeak  BHGR4 / 15 8 / 1Dense oak woodland and orchards. Green Valley, Mix and Gates Canyons. 
  Blue Grosbeak  BLGR5 / 1 8 / 1Riparian thickets, woodlands, orchards, hedgerows in nest of twigs, hair, leaves, grass. 
  Lazuli Bunting  LAZB5 / 10 8 / 1Chaparral, especially recently burned areas, brushy, dry borders of lakes and streams. Nest in fork of tree or bush, 2-4 feet high. 
FAMILY: Emberizidae (Emberizids)
  Song Sparrow (M.m.maxillaris)  SSMA3 / 1 7 / 1Dense vegetation along watercourses and coasts, marshes, in nest of grass, forbs, leaves, beneath grass tuft, shrub, brush pile on ground to 3 feet. 
  Song Sparrow (M.m.samuelis)  SSSA3 / 1 7 / 1Dense vegetation along watercourses and coasts, marshes, in nest of grass, forbs, leaves, beneath grass tuft, shrub, brush pile on ground to 3 feet. 
  Song Sparrow (M.m.gouldii)  SSGO3 / 15 8 / 1Dense vegetation along watercourses and coasts, marshes, in nest of grass, forbs, leaves, beneath grass tuft, shrub, brush pile on ground to 3 feet. 
 
* Alpha Codes are also known as 'banding codes' (not AOU codes, which are numeric)
** Safe dates represent a window when a singing male is assumed not to be in migration, and therefore on territory. Some atlases do not use safe dates, because they prefer (given present knowledge) not to assume migration or territorial status of all individuals. Safe dates generally apply to the Possible breeding category only when used.
Back to: Solano Co. (CA) 2004-2010 (published!)
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Last updated: Site - May 2014; Content - various, depending on atlas.
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