a Picture A Week, sort of
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Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
This week the Avian Portrait Studio* was visited by a wave of neotropical migrants, passing through en route to summer homes in the Sierra Nevada. This particular bird is a male Western Tanager, a member of the Cardinal family, Cardinalidae. Most birds migrate at night, spending their days resting and refueling for the following night's travels. Bird migrations depend to a large degree on wind and weather; forecasts can be found at birdcast.info.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, light tripod. 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Western Tanager, Sacramento County California 13 May 2025
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
California's Sierra Valley east of the Sierra Nevada crest has a spring-fed marshland where numerous species spend the summer, among them the American Avocet. The rust-colored head and neck is the alternate (breeding) plumage vs. winter's gray-ish white plumage. Females like this bird tend to have more pronounced curvature in the bill.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC, big Gitzo tripod & comfortable ground-level chair. 1/1600 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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American Avocet #23, Plumas County California 07 May 2025
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
Tiny, vocal and active are good adjectives for this marsh dweller. At various times of the year it can be found in Mexico, the lower 48 states and Canada's western provinces and Great Lakes region. Despite its abundance this bird can be difficult to spot because of the thick marsh vegetation. Males mate with multiple females and build several dummy nests for each active nest.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC & Leitz 14188 shoulder stock. 1/1600 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Marsh Wren #04, Yolo County California 28 April 2015
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
The Black-headed Grosbeak is a widespread summer bird of the western North American forests, primarily south of the US/Canada border. Despite its abundance it has been a rare visitor to my yard so I was delighted to find one so willing to come within camera range on its own. This particular bird is a female; males have more extensive black on the head and generally brighter colors.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & light tripod at the Avian Portrait Studio*. 1/640 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Black-headed Grosbeak #09, Sacramento County California 25 April 2025
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
The Common Yellowthroat lives in marshy areas over much of North America but can be difficult to find because of it secretive nature and inhospitable habitat. This one was at a shoreline reserve where a few trails have been placed in the marsh.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC & Leitz 14188 shoulder stock. 1/2,500 sec @ f/8, ISO 2000. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Common Yellowthroat #03, Contra Costa County California 17 April 2025
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
A pair of Red-tailed Hawks has built a nest near the top of an enormous redwood tree in my front yard. I'm not sure if this is the male or female, they look nearly identical. In most raptor species the female is larger so if I see them side-by-side I can make a guess. This one has more ragged plumage than the other, note the missing secondary wing feather and the battered ends of the tail feathers.
Red-tailed Hawks are the most common raptor in most of California. The usual advice when identifying a raptor in the state is to assume it's a Red-tailed Hawk unless proven otherwise. This species has a wide range of plumage variation including no red on the tail. Key identifying field marks: a soaring hawk with broad wings & relatively short tail, dark leading edge of the wings' underside and a band of streaks across the belly. Some individuals are much lighter (more typical of birds in eastern North America) and some are nearly black. On a perched bird viewed from the back the scapular feathers are lighter colored than the back & upper wing coverts, forming a "V".
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/6400 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 1250. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop. Because the bird and its nest were well above the horizon the tripod was extended above my eye level so that I was able to look into the camera's viewfinder without contortions.
more Red-tailed Hawk photographs
Red-tailed Hawk #35, Sacramento County California 06 April 2025
A county park in the flood plain of Sacramento County's American River has always been a target-rich environment for the male of this species but the hens have been elusive until this bird chose to pose for me.
Wild Turkeys are native to North America but not to California. Wild birds from Texas were introduced in the 1950s and 1960s and successfully established populations in at least 54 of California's 58 counties, with a current estimated population of roughly a quarter-million birds.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, Leitz 14188 shoulder stock, 1/125 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop. The shoulder stock not only helps steady the camera for sharp photos at slow shutter speeds, it also makes keeping the camera on target much more reliable.
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Wild Turkey #43, Sacramento County California 27 March 2025
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
This bird is a common migrant and breeder in the oak woodlands of California's foothills and in similar habitat across much of North America. This bird makes up for its drab brown appearance with song that is so long and loud it's hard to believe that such a tiny bird is its source. In addition to scrublands and woodlands, the wren is also at home in suburban yards.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, 1/400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Northern House Wren #22, Sacramento County California 20 March 2025
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
Lesser Goldfinches are regular winter visitors to the Avian Portrait Studio*. The winter rains have turned the field behind the Avian Portrait Studio* into a lush green; later in the season the grasses will dry and will be mowed to reduce wildfire risk.
This individual with its black forehead and dark back is a male. Females are a nondescript yellow-green. The Avian Portrait Studio also attracts the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) which in winter plumage appears very similar to the female Lesser Goldfinch. The American Goldfinch is identified by brighter white wing bars and white undertail covert feathers.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, light tripod. 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
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Lesser Goldfinch #41, Sacramento County California 06 March 2025
White-crowned x Golden-crowned Sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys x atricapilla) hybrid
Golden-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla) and White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are both regular winter visitors at my Avian Portrait Studio*, but I didn't expect to see both in one bird! The pattern of stripes on the bird's head and the color of its bill are typical of the White-crowned Sparrow while the gold color on its crown is from its Golden-crowned Sparrow parent.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, light tripod. 1/500 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Golden-crowned x White-crowned Sparrow photographs
White-crowned x Golden-crowned Sparrow #02, Sacramento County California 15 February 2025
California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)
The California Thrasher is a bird of the west coast's hilly chaparral brush from northern Baja California to the Oregon border. In prime habitat it can be difficult to spot because... chaparral! This brush is so thick and dense it would seem only a squirrel could get through, yet it's home to bobcat, coyote and mountain lion.
This bird is heard more often than seen. Thrashers are in the same family as mockingbirds and share the remarkable ability to mimic other birds' calls. I had travelled many miles and spent numerous hours hiking in rough terrain looking for a California Thrasher that was willing to pose for a photo, only to find a cooperative pair at a city park complete with playground and ball field just a few minutes from home.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more California Thrasher photographs
California Thrasher #04, Placer County California 06 February 2025
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
The Common Goldeneye is a regular winter visitor on Sacramento County's American River but as it prefers large open water getting close enough for photographs can be challenging. Bringing a camera in a kayak on flat water is risky enough, a river with patches of white water adds another dimension to the risk so I chose to stick to terra firma.
I found an inlet at a county park which was large enough that the birds felt comfortable yet they occasionally wandered within camera range. Finding a spot with suitable light and backgrounds I planted myself in a ground-level chair, covered myself with camo-print netting and waited.. and waited... and waited.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 2x TC, ultralight tripod. 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Common Goldeneye photographs
Common Goldeneye #31, Sacramento County California 27 January 2025
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
One might guess from this bird's name that this is not the only sandpiper with yellow legs; if you did, you'd be correct. The Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is larger with a proportionally longer bill that lives in very similar habitat. These two species are easiest to identify when they're feeding side-by-side.
The Cosumnes River Preserve in southern Sacramento County where I found this bird is a seasonal wetland with a wide variety of wildlife habitats.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 600mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/8000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Lesser Yellowlegs photographs
Lesser Yellowlegs #09, Sacramento County California 15 January 2025
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
The year started with a vagrant Vermilion Flycatcher in the next county. This bird is common in the desert southwest but it is uncommon to find one as far north as Yolo County, this one at a pond at the edge of a golf course.
This bird is an immature male whose scarlet plumage will grow as it matures. Being uncomfortable with the carbon emissions of excess travel I don't ordinarily chase vagrant birds but this one was too close and too cooperative to pass up.
Technical notes: Sony a1, Sony 300mm GMaster, 1.4x TC & a very large tripod. 1/800 sec @ f/8, ISO 800. Processed with Adobe Camera Raw & Photoshop.
more Vermilion Flycatcher photographs
Vermilion Flycatcher #09, Yolo County California 01 January 2025
* the Avian Portrait Studio is a cobbled-together set of bird bribes including a birdbath & feeding station in my back yard where I've set up a semi-permanent blind and photogenic perching sticks positioned for lighting & backgrounds.
all photographs Copyright © Douglas Herr
last updated 17 May 2025