Birding

The Silicon Valley offers many amazing spots for viewing birds.

Side by side photos of a great egret (left) and American white pelican (right).

Birds in Flight: Great Egret Versus American White Pelican

Caitlin Dempsey

Learn how to tell the difference between a great egret and an American white pelican in flight by examining their size, beaks, wings, and flight patterns.

How to Tell Scrub Jays from Steller’s Jays

Caitlin Dempsey

Scrub jays or Steller’s jays? Learn how to identify these birds along Silicon Valley’s trails by sight, habitat, and calls.

A spotted towhee picks up seeds near a bush.

Towhees

Caitlin Dempsey

The California and spotted towhees are sparrow-like birds found in Silicon Valley’s open spaces.

A black and white bird with a black bill and pink legs near the shore.

Black and White Birds in Silicon Valley

Caitlin Dempsey

Here are some common birds with black and white plumage found in the Silicon Valley area.

A group of northern shovelers in a feeding circle.

Cooperative Feeding Among Birds Along the SF Bay Trail

Caitlin Dempsey

Learn about cooperative feeding among shorebirds along the San Francisco Bay Trail.

A white-tailed kite hovering in the air at Coyote Hills. Photo: Caitlin Demp

Watching Raptors at Coyote Hills Regional Park

Caitlin Dempsey

Spot raptors like hawks and kestrels while exploring the trails, marshlands, and hills of Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont.

A California thrasher sings from the top of a bush at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in San Jose.

Birds with Curved Bills in Silicon Valley

Caitlin Dempsey

Curved-bill birds in Silicon Valley include the California thrasher, long-billed curlew, and American avocet.

A woodpecker with a bright red cap in a tree.

Acorn Woodpeckers at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park

Caitlin Dempsey

Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in San Jose offers trails through oak savanna and woodland, making it an excellent spot to observe acorn woodpeckers.

A brown and orange bird on a log in a forest.

Varied Thrush – A winter Visitor to the Santa Cruz Mountains

Caitlin Dempsey

In the Silicon Valley area, the varied thrush is a winter visitor typically found in dense forests.

Two black oystercatchers rest on the bluff.

Black Oystercatchers on the Bluffs of Wilder Ranch

Caitlin Dempsey

Black oystercatchers, with their black plumage and bright orange-red-bills, can be founding the coastal ecosystems near Santa Cruz.

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