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•Dennis Niebuhr & Gwyneth Ragosine of the Rogue Valley Audubon Society•Richard Cronberg•Brandon Goldman•John Ward
December 2009
What is a habitat? A habitat is the home of a living thing.
Animals and plants live in different ways in different habitats.
To survive in different environments , their bodies are different shapes , they eat different food, and behave different ways.
Photo by Brandon Goldman
Riparian or stream side habitats Mountain habitats with fir and pine forests Oak woodland habitats Fields and meadows
In any habitat there will be many different species of birds.
Riparian or streamside
habitats are often wetter
and more shady than the
land farther away from
the stream. Usually, tall
trees and thick
underbrush grow right up
to the water’s edge.
Photo by John Ward
One of the first migrant birds to be seen in our region during the breeding season of March – August, this insect eating bird nests in tree cavities or nest boxes.
Tree Swallow
Look for:Fast wheeling flight, often feeding and flying over
waterShiny blue back (brownish in females)White underparts
Western Wood Pewee
Male and female look alike.
Like other flycatchers, the Pewee flies out to catch insects and returns to the same perch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Warblers are small quick insect eaters. They are often seen feeding while hopping on tree branches.
Look for the yellow under the chin, on the shoulders, and on the rump.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Breeding Male Breeding Female
Riparian areas have tall and diverse vegetation with many insects and can support many insect eating bird species.
All warblers are migrants in our region. The Yellow Warbler is here from May – August.
Downy Woodpecker – This small woodpecker prefers riparian areas and searches dead wood for insects. Woodpeckers carve cavities in trees to nest in that are often used later by other birds who cannot peck as well.
Bullock’s Oriole
Winters Western Mexico. In Rogue Valley for breeding March – July.
Breeds Western United States as far north as the Canadian Border
Mature males arrive first, followed by females and first-year males.
Bullock’s Oriole Female These riparian dwellers build
hanging nests.
The female lays 3-6 eggs. Young fledge in four weeks tended by both parents
Male becomes solitary and start to head south in mid-August
Great Blue Heron – This fishing bird uses a spear-like bill to catch its meal. A large bird, herons will be often seen standing still waiting for prey or flying along the Bear Creek corridor.
Mallard Duck - The male has the green head, the female is a mottled brown. These wild ducks are adaptable to many different wet habitats.
Some of the other habitats in the watershed include: Mountain habitats with fir and pine forests Oak woodland habitats Fields and meadows Brushy areas
How do birds live differently in these habitats?
Look for Red-tailed Hawks on fence posts and telephone poles, anywhere they can get a good view of possible prey.
Northern Flicker – A woodpecker with a white rump and a distinctive orange under its tail and wings. The males have an orange moustache as well. These birds will often be seen feeding on the ground in a variety of habitats.
Western Scrub Jay – A member of the crow family, these birds prefer dry brushy areas but are adaptable and can breed in suburban areas.
Song Sparrow: common in brushy areas and often near water. This sparrow has a streaked breast and a striped head.
Sparrows are primarily seed eaters.
Dark-eyed Junco: prefer conifers and mixed woods with open areas where they can feed on the ground. Males and females have a dark hood. The male’s hood is darker than the female’s. This bird is a year round resident and winters in flocks.
Spotted Towhee: Larger than a sparrow, this bird favors brushy areas and feeds on the ground by
scratching leaf litter for seeds and insects.
This bird prefers habitats with conifers which provide the seeds it likes to eat with its large stout bill.
Winters in Mexico. In the Rogue Valley for breeding May – September.
In migration, older males arrive first, females a week later
First year males do not mate
Lazuli Bunting
Western Tanager
Take time to observe the birds of the Bear Creek watershed.