As seen at the Point Pinos Lighthouse

Common Sparrow The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is a medium-sized New World sparrow. Among the native sparrows in North America, it is easily one of the most abundant, variable and adaptable species.

House Finch The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is native to western North America and has been introduced to the eastern half of the continent and Hawaii. This species and the other "American rosefinches" are placed in the genus Haemorhous.

Turkey Vulture The turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), also known in some North American regions as the turkey buzzard (or just buzzard), and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John crow or carrion crow, is the most widespread of the New World vultures. One of three species in the genus Cathartes of the family Cathartidae, the turkey vulture ranges from southern Canada to the southernmost tip of South America. It inhabits a variety of open and semi-open areas, including subtropical forests, shrublands, pastures, and deserts. Often seen at mountain lion kills (deer and seals).

Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) is a medium-sized bird species of the family Trochilidae. It was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli. It is native to western coastal regions of North America. In the early 20th century, Anna's hummingbirds bred only in northern Baja California and southern California. The transplanting of exotic ornamental plants in residential areas throughout the Pacific coast and inland deserts provided expanded nectar and nesting sites, allowing the species to expand its breeding range. Year-round residence of Anna's hummingbirds in the Pacific Northwest is an example of ecological release dependent on acclimation to colder winter temperatures, introduced plants, and human provision of nectar feeders during winter.

Red-Shouldered Hawk The red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) is a medium-sized hawk. Its breeding range spans eastern North America and along the coast of California and northern to northeastern-central Mexico. It is a permanent resident throughout most of its range, though northern birds do migrate, mostly to central Mexico. The main conservation threat to the widespread species is deforestation.

We have a nesting pair that has returned this year after successfully fledging young last year.

Canada Goose The Canada goose (Branta canadensis), or Canadian goose, is a large wild goose with a black head and neck, white cheeks, white under its chin, and a brown body. It is native to the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and it is occasionally found during migration across the Atlantic in northern Europe. It has been introduced to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand, Japan, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Like most geese, the Canada goose is primarily herbivorous and normally migratory; it tends to be found on or close to fresh water.

Our resident geese no longer migrate, but are here year-round. Each adult size goose puts out a pound of 'poo' a day that creates quite a slippery safety hazard, especially when in 'flock' numbers.

Great Blue Heron The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North America and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to coastal Spain, the Azores, and areas of far southern Europe. An all-white population found in south Florida and the Florida Keys is known as the great white heron. Debate exists about whether this represents a white color morph of the great blue heron, a subspecies of it, or an entirely separate species. The status of white individuals known to occur elsewhere in the Caribbean, and their existence is rarely found elsewhere besides in eastern North America.

California Thrasher The California thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum) is a large member of family mimidae found primarily in chaparral habitat in California and Baja California. It is the only species of Toxostoma throughout most of its range

Also seen at Point Pinos Lighthouse, but not imaged yet: Common Starling, Acorn Woodpecker*, Dark-eyed Junco, California Scrub-jay*, Steller's Jay*, American Crow*, Great Egret, Black Phoebe, Western Gull*, Western Tanager summer for breeding, Townsend's warbler summer for breeding

The Monterey Peninsula is on the major migratory path for a many bird species. One of the best places to see shore birds.

* These local birds will learn to beg from you. DO NOT FEED. They are wild birds that need to remain wild to play their part in our local eco system.