This bird is one of several members of the "tyrant flycatcher" family in this area. It has a tail-bobbing habit, and its name derives from its call "fee-bee, fee-bee". Diet: both flying and crawling insects. Reportedly, it also occasionally dives into ponds to catch minnows or other tiny fish. It likes to nest around manmade structures.
Photo: Akkana Peck
Another tyrant flycatcher (insect eater). Seen mostly in winter. The range is from northern Alaska through southern Mexico. The pale rusty belly gives it the appearance of a small robin. Also common around humans, it often nests on buildings.
Photo: Robert Shantz
Yet another member of the "tyrant flycatcher" family. As the name suggests, flycatchers eat insects.
Photo: Jim Stasz
Jays belong to the Corvidae family, which includes crows, ravens, and magpies. Like its 'cousins', the western scrub jay exhibits a loud, harsh call. It has an extremely varied diet of insects, seeds, carrion, and fruit. It can also be observed raiding nests of other birds for the eggs and hatchlings. They are bold enough to venture onto our back lawns.
Crows and Ravens (which are bigger than crows) are also common here, but you probably know what they look like.
Photo: Jim Bailey
Cliff Swallows are one of three swallows that spend the summer here. They form colonies and build jug-like mud nests with small openings under the eaves of structures such as bridges or buildings.
Barn swallows (also summer residents) are the only swallows with deeply forked "swallow tails". Their nests have open cup shapes and are often built inside barns.
Photo: Doug Backlund
A very common bird around Blair Hills. Has a wide variety of calls and mimics other birds. Large white patches on wings and tail are conspicuous when flying. Eats fruit and insects.
Photo: Peter May
(You knew that!)
Diet: insects, worms, snails, berries, fruit.
© Photo by Lang Elliott/Nature Sound Studio