COMMON BIRDS OF THE BALDWIN HILLS
AND BLAIR HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD

INTRODUCTION

Since Blair Hills adjoins some of the more natural parts of the Baldwin Hills and has many mature trees, we are visited by more birds than the average neighborhood in L.A. This web page is devoted to listing and showing some of the most common birds of the Baldwin Hills, many of which are seen or heard in our back yards. This presentation is a sampler, not an encyclopedia.

The information comes from "The Biota of the Baldwin Hills", prepared by the Natural History Museum of L.A. County Foundation in 2001. It describes plants and animals found there, including (unfortunately) non-native species introduced by immigrants from other areas and other countries. The information on birds was compiled by Kimball Garrett, an ornithologist with the museum. He lists about 166 different species of birds, some of which are uncommon or rare. Sightings go back to the 1920s. Some of the common species are present only in certain seasons, not year round, or are transients stopping over during migration.

The following sets of photos show some of the commonest species, mostly year-round residents. Bear in mind that birds often differ in plumage between male and female, between immature and adult birds, in different seasons or when breeding.

LISTEN TO ACTUAL BIRD SONGS

If you have speakers on your computer and appropriate audio software (such as Real Player), you can hear the actual songs of some of the more musical birds. Click on the links that says "listen" beside those photos. You will be taken to the page for each particular bird on the Cornell University Ornithology Lab website. Then click on the link that reads "listen to songs of this species". Another window will open, and the audio file will start downloading and will play automatically. There may be one or more pauses during play for more downloading. Watch the status bar.

If the window opens but nothing happens, you probably don't have audio software that will pay this type of file on your computer, but the window contains a link to download and install Real Player free (10MB) if you so choose.

You can also browse the Cornell web pages for more interesting information.

VIEW THE PHOTOS

Photo set 1
Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Anna's Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, Mourning Dove.

Photo set 2
Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Cassin's Kingbird, Scrub Jay, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Northern Mockingbird, American Robin.

Photo set 3
Bewick's Wren, Bushtit, Common Yellowthroat, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbird, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker.

But wait, there's more! 

Wild foxes in some back yards.

Complete table of common birds in the Baldwin Hills

SOURCES OF PHOTOS AND CREDITS

All photos have been downloaded from the web using Google and are of professional quality. Many are copyrighted, and I have requested permission from the photographers to use them in this context. See below for credits. Some photos, particularly those on websites by public organizations, may not have copyright or contact information. If any photographer thinks his or her work is being used here without proper permission, please contact: .

LINKS TO MORE SUPERB PHOTOS ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: