THE CREAGRUS
CALIFORNIA LIST
A personal
portfolio
all photos & text by Don Roberson
all photos taken in California
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH Sitta canadensis
 |
24 Oct 1979 in Pacific Grove MTY |
The RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH is a widespread resident of coniferous
forests throughout montane California with a few sometimes breeding in
conifers in the coastal lowlands. This species stages erratic "invasion
winters" when montane birds flood the lowlands in huge numbers, sometimes
as early as September but more often much later in the fall. These wintering
birds can linger well into spring following major flights. Even in non-flight
years a smattering of individuals winter throughout the lowlands.
In Monterey County we documented the first proven
nesters in the mountains during the Breeding Bird Atlas project of 1988-1992
but they have proven to be regular breeders each summer in the Cone Peak
vicinity.
The only California records are listed below are (1) my personal "state
bird" and (2) those with unusual dates or locales. All my other observations
are well within normal status & distributional limits. I have a lot
of records from MTY documenting the arrival & departures of "invasion
years" in my yard, and the occasional summer individual on the coast where
no nesting is known, but I haven't listed them here.
3/17/68 Alpine Meadows ski resort PLA
this was my state bird
9/3/77 Furnace Creek INY scarce
here & early
9/3/77 Oasis MNO obviously some
early fall movement downslope
.... more records like this not included
See the family page for county abbreviations. All photos & text ©
2001 Don Roberson; all rights reserved.
Readers may use this material for their own private enjoyment,
study, or research but none of the photos or text herein may be used commercially
nor may they be reposted on other web sites without written permission.
All material is copyrighted. The posting of photos and text on this private
web site is not a submission to review organizations but blanket permission
for use of descriptions by
North American Birds editors in their
research is granted, and serious researchers in general are granted permission
to use the records cited herein.
TOP
TO CA TITS
TO CREEPERS PAGE
TO HOME PAGE
TO CREAGRUS
CALIFORNIA LIST PORTAL PAGE
TO BIRD FAMILIES
OF THE WORLD
Page created 16 Sep 2001