Laguna resident Judith Lomax has spotted several...

Laguna resident Judith Lomax has spotted several birds around her

home at Top of the World. Since July 19 she has seen lesser gold

finches, mourning doves, house finches and crows every day. She has

also seen the rufous-sided towhee on July 20 to 22, 24, and 26 to 28;

the California towhee on July 23, 25, 26 and 28; Anna’s hummingbird

on July 19, 22, 23, 25 and 29; scrub jays on July 19, and 24 to 29;

and a northern mockingbird on July 23.

The Coastline Pilot is seeking bird sightings from novice and

veteran birders. Let us know about your bird sightings each week.

Write us at P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652, e-mail us at

coastlinepilot@ latimes.com or fax us at 494-8979. Give your name,

city of residence, the description of the bird and when it was

spotted.

The following is a list of some of the birds that can be found in

the Laguna area throughout the year:

California Towhee -- A medium sized brownish-gray bird with a

rusty patch under its tail. It moves by hopping, feeds on the ground,

and has a sharp metallic chink call, which it utters frequently.

Northern Mockingbird -- A medium sized gray bird with a long dark

tail and white patches on its wings which flash when its flying.

Mockingbirds aggressively protect their young after they’ve fledged

from the nest by swooping on any cats, which happen to be nearby.

They also sing all night long to keep other birds from encroaching on

their nesting territory.

House Finch -- A smallish brown bird with a beautiful warbley

song. The male has a reddish head and bib; the female has no red.

Both have streaked underparts. They often nest close to people’s

houses.

Mourning Dove -- A medium sized gray bird with a small head, plump

body, and long pointed tail. It has a rosy wash on its underparts and

black spots on its wings. It feeds on the ground and is slow to take

off. Its song is a mournful Oowoo-woo-woo-woo. It often nests in

planter boxes.

Anna’s Hummingbird -- A tiny bird with a long thin beak, shiny

green back, and a brilliant crimson head and throat. The female has

little or no red. It sips nectar from brightly colored flowers and

has a very squeaky song.

Bushtit -- A small grayish brown bird with a long tail. It feeds

on insects, often on the underside of leaves, moving through the

shrubbery in flocks of 30 or more.

Black Phoebe -- This medium sized bird has a black head, breast,

back and tail, and white belly. It is a flycatcher. Phoebes often sit

on a low perch and swoop down to the ground to catch insects,

returning to the same perch. When it calls Phee-bee, his tail bobs.

American Crow -- Large glossy black bird. Often walks around on

the ground. Makes a loud raucous Caw-Caw. Found in groups of three to

50. Very intelligent. Will eat most anything. Not afraid of people.

House Sparrow -- Small brownish bird with nonstreaked breast; male

has black bib and white patch on side of head. Gregarious. Fees on

the ground. Quick to find food in picnic areas.

Lesser Goldfinch -- Small yellowish bird with black and white or

gray back; male has black crown. Gregarious. Has plaintive Tee-yee

call.

Wrentit -- A perky little brown bird with long tail that is often

cocked, and a light eye, found singly or in a pair. Lives on the

hillsides and in the canyons. Secretive. Has song like a bouncing

ball. Eats small berries and insects. Mates for life.

Other Birds Commonly Seen

in Laguna Beach

Spotted Towhee -- This striking medium-sized bird lives in canyons

and on brush-covered hillsides. It has a dark hood, back and tail

with chestnut sides, white belly, white spots and streaks on the back

and a red eye.

Allen’s Hummingbird -- Like its more common relative, the Anna’s

Hummingbird, this tiny bird has a long thin beak and greenish back.

Unlike the Anna’s, the Allen’s has a brilliant iridescent coppery-red

throat and part of its back, sides and tail are cinnamon brown.

Western Scrub-Jay -- This bold, medium-sized bird has blue upper

parts and a white breast and belly. When perched, his long tail hangs

down. Unlike the eastern species, he has no crest. He’s found in

brushy areas.

American Kestrel -- If you’re lucky, you will spot a kestrel

perched high in a tree or on a phone line. These beautiful little

falcons have a reddish-brown back and tail and two black stripes on

each side of its neck. They’re most often seen on the slopes and

hilltops above Laguna or in the canyon. They feed on insects, small

reptiles and rodents and can sometimes be seen hovering above the

ground before swooping down to catch their prey.

Brewer’s Blackbird -- A medium-sized dark bird found in flocks

near grassy areas. The male has an iridescent purple/black head and

greenish/black back with a yellow eye; females are brown with no

streaking and a brown eye. They feed on the ground and walk instead

of hop.

European Starling -- Another flocking, medium-sized bird that also

walks on the ground. Starlings have sharp pointed yellow beaks and

short tails. In the spring and summer they are iridescent

greenish/black; in fall and winter they develop a speckled

appearance. Starlings make all sorts of strange noises including

squeaks, warbles, chirps and whistles. In the winter they’re often

seen in huge flocks on telephone wires.

Rock Dove (also known as domestic pigeon) -- These medium-sized

plump birds are often seen walking around on sidewalks or perched on

roof tops. They make a soft cooing sound and are can be found in

large flocks in city parks as well as downtown areas. Their plumage

is highly variable from white to gray, brown, or multicolored.

Red-tailed Hawk -- This is one of the largest of our birds of prey

here in Orange County. These hawks can often be seen on the hilltops

and in Laguna Canyon; they don’t usually inhabit places where there

are a lot of people and they need lots of open space in which to

search for food. These are the hawks one often sees perched on the

top of a telephone pole or street light above the freeway. Red-tails

eat small mammals such as rabbits and squirrels. These majestic birds

have a brown back, a reddish brown tail (if they are adult), and a

light belly and breast which is often speckled with brown. They have

a wingspan of up to 50 inches.