Vancouver Area Birds

This small owl is now rare but can be seen and heard in woodlands around the city. It can even be found in quite populated areas provided there are enough large trees for cover and nesting. At night, its call—a series of short, low notes that accelerate toward the end—gives away its presence. These calls are most frequent during the breeding season from February to May, when it nests in tree cavities and crevices—often old wood- pecker holes or nest boxes are used. The Western Screech-Owl feeds on a wide variety of prey, including insects, amphibians, fish, worms, small mam- mals and birds. On occasion, it will even catch and kill prey larger than itself. Like many owls, it uses hearing to help it locate and catch food, but its prominent "ear" tufts have nothing to do with hearing—its real ears are on the sides of its head.

The Great Horned Owl is the most widespread owl in North America. Nonetheless, it is rarely seen, except possibly in a fleeting glimpse as it flies across a highway at night. It is an effective hunter that preys on a variety of birds and small mammals. It swallows all but its larger prey items whole—the bones, fur and feathers are then regurgitated in the form of pellets. Look for Great Horned Owls in woodlands or isolated clumps of coniferous or deciduous trees. The best places to find them are the Pacific Spirit Regional Park, the North Shore mountains, Burnaby Lake and pockets of mixed woodlands in the Fraser River delta. They nest in abandoned hawk, crow, heron or eagle nests and lay two eggs in late February. Pellets on the ground may be a sign of a nest tree or roost site.

Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all? are the eternal questions asked by Barred Owls in the hunting hours between twilight and dawn. During the height of Barred Owl courtship in March and April, these owls may add to their strange nocturnal queries an escalating duet of laughs, hoots and gargling howls that reinforce the pair bond and can be heard night or day. Barred Owls nest in tree hollows or aban- doned hawk or crow nests. The Barred Owl is a rela- tively recent inhabitant of the Vancouver area; it was first observed in Surrey in 1966. Today, it is relatively common.

An owl seen flying over open, grassy areas or along the edges of a marsh during the day is most likely a Short-eared Owl. In winter, it is especially noticeable around hedgerows. It feeds almost entirely on field mice or voles, and it is most active at dawn and dusk but can be seen at any time of day. It relies on both sight and sound to find its prey, and you may see it come to a quick pause in mid-air to check out some movement it has spotted in the grass. The Short-eared Owl is present throughout the year around the outskirts of the city. It is most abun- dant in winter when small flocks of 10 to 20 birds may be found roosting communally on the shel- tered side of dikes on Sea and Iona islands. Similar Species: Northern Harrier (p. 53): female and immature have white rump and small head. Barn Owl (p. 87): unstreaked underparts; white, heart- shaped facial disk. Long-eared Owl:

The Northern Saw-whet Owl emits a series of whistled notes, sometimes repeated about 100 times per minute, that sound like a large mill saw being sharpened or "whet." As with most owls, this species is most easily located when pairs issue their courtship calls at night, from mid- winter well into early spring. Streamside woodlands and thickets, orchards and city parks with a good mix of decidu- ous and coniferous trees provide essential habitat for this opportunis- tic hunter of insects, small rodents, birds and amphibians. It may hunt at any time but is most active at dawn and dusk. The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Stanley Park, Burnaby Lake and Capilano Canyon Regional Park are among the many good places to find Northern Saw- whet Owls year-round.

The Common Nighthawk is mild-mannered by day as it rests on the ground or on a horizontal tree branch, its colour and shape blending perfectly with its arboreal envi- ronment. At dusk, however, this bird leaves its perch to become a dazzling and erratic flier, catching insects in flight. The male nighthawk's courtship display is particularly impressive. He flies to a great height over an open area before engaging in a swift nose- dive. As he strains to pull out of this death-defying dive, he thrusts his wings forward to slow himself down, producing a deep, hollow vroom sound with the feathers of his wings.

It is difficult to confuse the colourful Red-breasted Sapsucker with any other bird that occurs around the city. It can be seen in woodlands at any time of year, and the neat rows of holes that it makes in tree bark is a good indication of its presence. Like other woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sap- suckers nest in holes that they excavate in decaying tree trunks. Sapsuckers have developed an inter- esting food-gathering technique. Instead of boring into wood for insects and their larvae, they make shallow, almost square holes in the soft bark of trees and feed on the oozing sap and any insects attracted to it. Their short tongues have brush-like bristles at the end and are different from those of other woodpeckers, which are long with barbs at the end to help them spear prey.

The smallest and most common of the woodpeckers that you are likely to see in Vancouver, the Downy Woodpecker is about the size of a sparrow. It has a rapid, whinnying call, and during the breeding season males drum on dead branches or power poles, producing a sound like a fast and pro- longed drum roll. Drumming is a way of adver- tising territory, much like singing in songbirds. On their territory, a pair will choose a nest site and will then proceed to excavate a nest cavity, an oper- ation that usually takes two to three weeks. Later in the season, individuals also excavate cavities to roost in over winter. If you want to attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard, try hanging suet from a small branch. They are tolerant of people and are quite approachable while feeding. Similar Species: Hairy Woodpecker: larger; larger bill; clean, white outer tail feathers.

Most woodpeckers spend almost all of their time in trees, but the Northern Flicker is often seen on the ground foraging for insects. For a long time, the "Red-shafted Flicker" (found west of the Rocky Moun- tains) and the "Yellow-shafted Flicker" (found east of the Rocky Mountains) were considered dif- ferent species, but now they are recognized as subspecies of the Northern Flicker. In the early morning, you may hear this woodpecker advertise its territory by drumming On the noisiest thing it can find—a metal drain- pipe, for example. The Northern Flicker will excavate a nest cavity in any suitable object, such as a dead tree or a fence post. In subsequent breeding seasons, many other animals such as birds of prey, owls, songbirds and even squir- rels adopt cavities abandoned by Northern Flickers.

Anna's Hummingbird is a relatively new inhabitant of the Vancouver area. The male is distinctive with his rose-red head and neck. Unlike the familiar Rufous Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird is found in the Vancouver area year-round, so it is important to maintain your feeder over winter. Hummingbirds are only found in the New World. Of the 16 species known to occur with some regularity in North America, only four are common to British Columbia. Hummingbirds have remarkable control over their position in the air, and have been compared to helicopters because of their ability to move up, down, forwards or back- wards or to remain stationary. They can do this because they move their wings not only up and down, but also forward and backward in a figure eight kind of motion.

Most Rufous Hummingbirds migrate south to Mexico in the Winter and return in the spring to breed in western Canada. They are a treat to observe and are easily attracted to feeders filled with sugarwater. One half cup of white sugar dissolved in enough hot water to make one full cup of solution will keep them coming back The colour of the feeder solution is unimportant. Hummingbird nests are wonderful structures measuring less than 4 centimetres in diameter and composed of moss, lichen, plant down and spider webs. IWo white eggs, which are quite large in proportion to body size, are laid between mid-May and mid- June.

The Black Swift is the largest North American swift, and it also outsizes all swallows in the Vancouver area. One of the positive aspects of approaching summer storms in Vancouver is that the low pressure systems force this bird low over the city where it catches flying insects. During warm, clear days, it is a challenging bird to locate because it forages at such a height that it appears as a mere speck against the blue sky. This bird breeds in B.C. but because it nests on remote, moist, rocky crevices only a few nesting sites have been confirmed. Black Swifts appear to time nesting so that their young can take advantage of the abundance of flying ants available in August and early September.

The Vaux's Swift spends most Of its time in the air, flying gracefully over lakes and for- est tree tops in search of insects. Often visible only as a speck in the sky, this bird feeds, drinks, bathes and even mates on the wing—only brief cliff-clinging rest peri- ods and nesting duties keep it out of the air. Swifts are small, fast-flying birds with long wings, small bills, wide mouth gapes and sleek bodies. Look for their distinctive flight pattern: a rapid series of strokes interspersed with short glides. The smallest of British Columbia's three swift species, the Vaux's Swift often nests in coniferous snags on the North Shore mountains. In autumn, it travels to warmer des- tinations in South America.

The Violet-green Swallow is one of our earliest migrants, sometimes arriving as early as late February. It frequents the downtown core and inner harbour, flying erratically as it feeds above trees and buildings or congregating over water to feed on emerging insects. During the nesting season, this swallow will take advantage of any appropriate hole or cavity, such as an old woodpecker hole or a crevice high on a cliff or a building. It is pos- Sible to attract Violet-green Swallows to your garden with suitable nesting boxes. They generally nest in loose colonies, so you may want to put up several boxes a few metrß apart. Should a pair choose to nest in your yard, you can toss feathers in the air whfle they are nest building—the birds will grab the feathers from mid-air and use them to line their nest. Similar Species: Tree Swallow: male lacks white face and white saddle patches. Most other swallows: lack the combination of a dark green back and white underparts.

As its name suggests, the Barn Swallow is more than willing to associate with humans and their structures. Its preference for building its mud and grass nests on buildings, beneath bridges and under the eaves of houses makes it a common sight around the city. If a pair starts to build a nest on your property, try providing a wet patch from which they can collect mud—it is fascinating to watch them at close range. The Barn Swallov/s deeply forked tail contributes to its impressive manoeuverability—an invaluable attribute when catching insects on the wing.

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of British Columbia's provincial bird is the large, dark crest on its head that it raises and lowers at will. Within Canada, the range of the Steller's Jay is almost completely confined to our province. Around Vancouver, this bird is common in the mountains on the north side of the city where there are plenty of coniferous trees. Like many other corvids, Steller's Jays adapt quickly to humans, and often visit urban backyards looking for scraps. In late autumn and winter, they drift from one feeding station to the next with a noisy shack-shack-shack. The Steller's Jay builds a substantial, if somewhat untidy, twig nest lined with mud, grass and roots in a conifer tree. It aggressively defends its nest, loudly driving off all but the most persistent intruders.

The Common Raven is featured as "the trickster" in stories and traditional art Of West Coast native peoples. It is very clever, always on the move and has rnany nating social traits. The wide variety of calls it produces include a hoarse crenk nd sounds that arc strangely unlike bird calls, almost bell-like. Not quite as bold around people as crows are, the Common Raven is still often seen around the city. particu- larly near shorelines. Ca»mrnon Ravens are found throughout most of Canada and the United State the northern regions of Europe and Asia. Although they nest on the ground in situations, in Vancouver they nest in very tall trees and on bridges.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee prefers mixed forests but is a common sight in any wooded park or backyard in the city. It is particularly fond of sunflower seeds and suet, and tamer birds in Stanley Park will take peanuts from an outstretched hand. Chestnut-backed Chickadees nest in tree cavities. If they cannot find a suitable existing cavity, they will excavate their own in soft wood. They also use backyard bird- houses if they are available. To ensure that your birdhouse is adopted by chickadees, and not taken over by sparrows, make sure the opening is 32 millimetres in diameter (sparrows need 38 millimetres). Commercial birdhouses may be adapted by gluing pieces of wood with the correctly sized opening over the existing hole.

It is said that the character of the home reflects the quality of the occupant, and the tiny grey Bush tit sets a fine example. This little bird masterfully weaves spider webs, grass, moss and lichen into what one might mistake for an old, grey sock hanging from a bush. A 3 centimetre entrance hole is set high on one side, allowing both par- ents access while concealing the five or six tiny, white eggs. Bushtits typically hang upside down or sideways from branches in search Of insect eggs and larvae. Because their drab bodies and grey-brown heads blend in well with the shrubbery, it is their soft, lisping seeps and twitters that help to keep flocks of 30 or so birds together. Beef suet is popular with Bushtits—they mob the fat like a swarm of bees. To avoid having the suet taken by crows and starlings, hang it from a flimsy branch.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch has a very dis- tinctive shape. Individuals are found high up in trees in coniferous forests or mixed woodlands, and they have the strange habit of moving headfirst down trees as they forage from top to bottom. This feeding strategy may allow them to find food that other birds have missed. Red-breasted Nuthatches are common at birdfeeders and are particularly attracted to suet and , sunflower seed. Natural cavities or old woodpecker holes may be used as nest sites or these birds may excavate their own holes. In any case, Red-breasted Nuthatches have the unique habit of smearing pitch, or mud, around the entrances of their nest holes. N,'Vhy they smear mud is uncertain, but it may serve to reinforce the entrance against predators, Such as squirrels and starlings.

The Bewick's Wren is the most common backyard wren of the Vancouver area, and like most wrens, it cocks its tail over its back, displaying bold brown-and-white bar- ring. It utters a series of clear, sharp notes, often preceded by a buzzy rasp. If there is an intruder nearby, the Bewick's Wren will alert other birds by boldly approaching the stranger and scolding noisily. An effective way of attracting this songbird, and many others, is by "squeaking" with a kissing or "pishing» sound to simulate a bird in dis- tress. Once you have perfected your technique, you may occasionally find yourself surrounded by large numbers of curious and agitated birds, many of which you had no idea were nearby. Nest sites selected by this insect-eater can be bizarre and imaginative. Old jars or bas- kets tucked away at the back of a shed, electrical fuse boxes and even abandoned wasps' nests may be used to raise young. Most often, though, a natural cavity in a tree o...

One of the most evocative sounds of nature is the song of the Varied Thrush. Its call is a series Of unhurried single notes, each note slightly higher or lower in pitch than its predecessor—like a human humming and whistling at the same time. The Varied Thrush usually sings from deep cover or high in a tree, and its song is the best indi- cator of its presence because it is a very shy bird that is not always easy to spot. The Varied Thrush is a bird of the forest, and it is found throughout most of B.C., wherever there is suitable cover. The best time to see it is during the rare cold spells in winter when snow blankets the surrounding hills and the birds leave the forest to forage in any suitable area, including residential gardens and city parks. In April and May you must venture into the rainforests of the local mountains if you want to find these elusive birds.

The Orange-crowned Warbler can be distinguished from other yellow songbirds by its relative lack of field marks. The male's dusky orange crown is almost impossible to see unless the bird is handled or seen at close range in good light. In addition, its call is a single, slightly descending trill that is somewhat indistinct until you have heard it a few times. While foraging for insects, the Orange-crowned Warbler stays low in shrubs and trees. It nests in open, deciduous woodlands, along rivers and wetlands and along woodland edges in the city. Although it is primarily a migrant, this bird can be found in small numbers in the winter months, when it is attracted to suet and peanut but- ter at birdfeeders.

Yellow Warbler males start singing their sweet-sweet-sweet-so-sweet calls soon after they arrive in May to establish their breeding territories. It is at this time, before the trees leaf out, that these birds are most likely to be seen. Later in the season they are much more difficult to spot despite their bright plumage because they are less vocal and are often hidden by leafy vegetation as they forage for insects. Yellow Warbler nests are constructed from grass and lined with hair and may be built wherever there are shrubby trees and bushes, especially in riparian habitats. Four or five brown-speckled eggs are laid in late May or early June.

For many years, the "Myrtle Warbler" of the East and the "Audubon's Warbler" of the West were treated as separate species, but today they are known to be subspecies of the Yellow-rumped Warbler, Canada's most common warbler. Both subspecies can be seen in the city during migration, although the "Audubon's" race is the form that most commonly nests here. The most simple way to distinguish between the two races is to look at the throat—the "Audubon's" race has a yellow throat in all plumages, and the "Myrtle" race has a white throat in all plumages. Unlike most of our warblers, the Yellow-rumped Warbler overwinters here in small numbers, particularly around moist shoreline areas. During the summer months, it feeds on small insects; in winter, it eats small berries.

Male Common Yellowthroats are striking, and they are easily identified by the broad black "robber's mask" that extends well behind their eyes. Females lack this black mask and are duller in colour. Yellowthroats are rarely seen during the breeding season because their nests are built deep within the thick vegetation surrounding marshes, swamps and sloughs. These insectivores inhabit shrubby areas near water and are most commonly found around cattail beds, which are their preferred nesting sites. In April, they start to arrive from their winter homes in South America and the southern United States. They can be found throughout the Fraser River delta, in Stanley Park, at Burnaby Lake and in marshy city parks, such as Jericho Beach. Listen for their distinctive witchety-witchety-witchety call.

If you follow the hearty chatter of the Wilson's Warbler to its source, you will find this small, brightly coloured bird bouncing from one perch to another like an overwound wind-up toy. It feeds energetically on caterpillars and other insects from branches that are low to the ground and often near water. Its namesake, Alexander Wilson, has been termed "the father of American ornithology" because in the early 19th century he dedicated his life to writing and illustrating the first comprehensive guide to the birds of North America. While migrating, the Wilson's Warbler can be found almost anywhere, even in back- yards. During the breeding season, however, it is most common around ponds, bogs and streambanks with fairly thick vegetation where it cautiously conceals its nest site.

The male Western Tanager is splashed with red, yellow and black and sings robin-like songs high in the forest canopy. Tracing this easily learned song and pit-a-tik call to its source is the best way to discover the Western Tanager because the male often remains surprisingly inconspicuous in his summer habitat. This tropically dressed bird is found in many of the woodlands around the city, as well as in larger parks with an abundance of mature trees. It generally nests in conifers, forming untidy structures made from twigs and grass. Fledglings look very much like the female.

The Horned Lark has two small tufts of black feathers on its head that look like horns and can be raised and lowered at will. Its population numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year, but it can usually be found in open places south of the city, such as cul- tivated fields, beaches, airports and sand dunes. Outside of the breeding season, it is often found in small flocks. This bird spends most of its time on the ground feeding, and it often resembles a large secretive sparrow because it runs or walks, rather than hops. It nests on the ground in open, grassy areas, usually in small depressions. Like most ground-nesting birds, it has very well camouflaged eggs.

The The European Starling was first introduced to New York in 1890. A very adaptable bird, it quickly expanded its range and is now common over most of North America. The starling is a wonderful mimic, and it will readily incorporate not only parts of other birds' songs, but also city noises, such as dog whistles and squeaky garage doors, into its own repertoire of vocalizations. This bird prefers to forage for insects in the well-cut grass of backyards, golf courses and city parks and often chooses to build its nest under the eaves of a house, in a lamp post or on a telephone pole. Starlings that overwinter in the Vancouver area roost together at night in immense flocks on city buildings, under bridges and among boulevard trees, and they are sometimes seen huddling over chimneys to keep warm.  was first introduced to New York in 1890. A very adaptable bird, it quickly expanded its range and is now common over most of North America. The starling is a wonderful mimic, an...

Vancouver is the only place in North America where this member of the starling family can be found. The Crested Myna was introduced to the city from its native Southeast Asia in 1897, and its popula- tions peaked in the late 1920s at about 20,000 birds. Since then, its numbers have been decreasing steadily, partly because of competition with its rel- ative, the European Starling. Today less than 100 Crested Mynas can be found around Vancouver. Look for a black, robin-sized bird with a small crest on its forehead. On urban lawns and around fast- food drive-in restaurants are good places to look. In winter, some mynas still roost each evening on bridges, such as the Burrard and Cambie Street bridges. In spring, nests may be built in any suitable cavity: a bird box, a drain pipe, a lamp post or even a loose brick in a building.

The first indication of this bird's presence is likely to be either its loud, bubbly song or a blur of grey as it flies past on its way up or down a river. It is fascinating to watch an American Dipper forage. It wades and dives into the water and then bobs under- neath, where it may remain for some time before popping up again. While underwa- ter, it collects small fish and aquatic invertebrates from rocks and logs on the riverbed. The best place to look for this bird is along rushing mountain rivers. It is found only near clean, fast-flowing streams, so it usually isn't found near the centre of the city, but the occasional pair will visit the small streams and lake shores of Stanley Park.

Woodland edges, shrubby fields and dense, shrubby areas in gardens are favourite haunts of this colourful ground-dweller. A stroll through Stanley Park or along the bushy edges of a woodland will invariably evoke the Spotted Towhee's distinctive call: a nasal, up-slurred, questioning Wheer? Its song (heard mostly during the breeding season when it is actively defending a territory) is a series of repeated phrases, often ending with a sharp trill. Nests are well hidden in vegetation on the ground. Grubs and insects make up most of the young birds' diet during summer and autumn, but seeds are important in the win- ter months. Spotted Towhees are more often seen feeding on seeds spilled to the ground around birdfeeders than at the birdfeeders themselves.

The Fox Sparrow can be heard singing only in spring, just before it leaves Vancouver to nest in higher elevation forests. It has a short, musical song made up of a series of two or three slurred notes followed by a series of shorter, quicker notes. In urban areas, it can be found on land that has been cleared and has a dense cover of shrubs and brambles. Away from the city, it spends most of its time in thickets and scrubby woodland. This sparrow often finds its way into backyards in winter, particularly if there is a suitably neglected area and a birdfeeder full of seeds. The Fox Sparrow has many different races and plumages throughout Canada. The name "Fox Sparrow" is less suitable for the darker subspecies found here along the West Coast than it is for the red-brown subspecies after which it was named.

The Song Sparrow has a very pleasant song that begins with a series of two or three loud notes, followed by a buzzy call and a trill. Listen for its song in the spring and early summer. This sparrow inhabits bushy shrubbery on the edges of woodlands and along irrigation ditches, streams, lakes and beaches, usually away from heavily urbanized areas of the inner city. It is also frequently found in gardens that have thick shrubbery or in a neglected corner of a yard and it may use hedges as nesting sites. It has a relatively long breeding season here because of Vancouver's mild climate. A birdfeeder containing mixed seeds will attract Song Sparrows over the winter.

Until about 25 years ago, the "Oregon Junco" and the "Slate-colored Junco" were con- sidered two of a number of species of junco; today, they are both recognized as sub- species of the Dark-eyed Junco. The "Oregon" race is perhaps the most attractive and is the one most commonly found around Vancouver. In spring, a well-treed backyard can make a good substitute for the edges of conifer- ous woodland where these birds usually breed. Nests are concealed in holes and hol- lows near the ground, in rockeries, hanging baskets or on the ground itself.

It is well worth looking for this attractive bird, even though it is seldom seen around human habitation. In winter, the Snow Bunting is found in open, sandy country on the outskirts of the city, such as the airport on Sea Island and the sewage lagoons on Iona Island. Small flocks of Snow Buntings feed together on the ground as they rush around looking for small seeds. Every few minutes a flock briefly takes to the air, showing off their striking plumage. The black-and-white breeding plumage some- times seen in spring and early autumn is soon lost to paler winter attire.

The distinctive onk-aa-ree-a call of the male Red- winged Blackbird in the early spring announces the change of season in wetlands around Vancouver. Population numbers swell as birds arrive from southern wintering grounds to augment Vancouver's res- ident population. Look for these birds in wet marshes, along the banks of slow-moving rivers and beside ponds and lakes. At Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park, some birds will even feed from an outstretched hand if it is filled with grain. Successful males often have the largest and brightest wing patches and know how to use them during courtship dis- plays to attract females to their territories. Rough-grass nests are built over water in early May

The rich, fluty song of the male Bullock's Oriole gives its presence away long before it is sighted. Both sexes are generally difficult to spot because they spend a good deal of time foraging high in the tree canopy. They are unusual in their liking for hairy cater- pillars, an item that most birds avoid. Bullock's Orioles use a variety of plant materials to construct very strong and durable hanging nests, which they suspend from the tips of branches. Nests are most often built in black cottonwood trees or other deciduous trees, where they are visible the fol- lowing winter when leaves fall, and they may remain for several years.

Roger Tory Peterson said it best when he described the male Purple Finch as "a spar- row dipped in raspberry juice." In winter, when they are best seen, finches visit bird- feeders on the outskirts of the city in small flocks to shell small seeds with their large bills. Their dry pik! calls help to keep flocks together. During the breeding season, these birds establish themselves in open areas on the edges of coniferous woodlands. Their nests are usually placed in coniferous trees, but occasionally a nest may be built in a suitably dense hedge in a garden. The female incubates four to five eggs for about 13 days. Similar Species: House Finch  male has obvious brown streaks on belly and less red on nape, back and wings; female lacks distinct cheek patch; squared tail in flight. Black-headed Grosbeak female is larger and has white wing bars.

House Finches are present year-round in Vancouver, and they sing their warbling melodies from backyards, parks, ivy vines and telephone lines. They are common vis- itors to backyard birdfeeders and will even feed on sugarwater from hummingbird feeders. House Finches are usually found in flocks, except during the breeding season when they pair off to raise young. These birds build their nests in city parks and gardens, often in creeping vines on buildings. During courtship and incubation, the male feeds the female. Once the young have hatched, both parents feed them regurgitated seeds. Similar Species: Purple Finch male has more red on nape, back and wings and lacks obvious brown streaks on belly; female has brown cheek and white eye- brow; tail slightly forked in flight.

Jip-jip calls and the cracking of cones are sounds that indicate that Red Crossbills are nearby. These birds' bills seem awkward until you see how efficiently they can extract the seeds of conifer cones, which these birds eat almost exclusively. In some years, Red Crossbills are very common in coniferous woodlands around the city. If it is a poor year for cone production, however, these birds move elsewhere to forage and are hardly seen. Crossbills are so dependent upon their fluctuating food source that when they breed is related to food availability and not to season—these birds can breed at any time of year. Similar Species: White-winged Crossbill: obvious, white wing bars; unusual around Vancouver. Other birds: lack unique crossbill.

The most acrobatic of the finches, Pine Siskins will feed while upside down on an alder or fir twig. They are predominantly seed eaters, but they also forage for small insects hidden in tree crevices. Their distinctive call, a slightly harsh zwee-e-e-e-e-t?, is given frequently in small groups or large flocks. Pine Siskins are often found in moist conifer stands, but occasionally they descend into weedy fields and shrubby areas, where they use their pointed bills to extract the seeds of birch trees, red alders and thistles in autumn. They readily visit hanging bird- feeders stocked with niger seed. Feeders should be kept filled all year as Pine Siskin can show up at any time.

In spring, the American Goldfinch swings over fields with its distinctive, undulating flight and fills the air with jubilant po-ta-to chip! calls. It prefers open areas with shrubs nearby. If you know the location of a large patch of thistles, you will almost surely see American Goldfinches there in the summer, perched on the tops of the seed heads, extraCting the minute thistle seeds. The female American Goldfinch builds a cup-shaped nest in a shrub, into which she lays four to six pale blue eggs. Nesting is delayed until June or July to ensure that a depend- able source of insects, thistles and dandelion seeds are available to feed the young.

The Evening Grosbeak's piercing calls help to keep flocks together in the spring, when the birds ate to birdfeeders well stocked with sunflower seeds. Their heavy bills extremely strong and can exert an incredible force per unit area. These noisy birds also feed on moth larvae and other arboreal insects and the previous year's berries and seeds. They usually spend their summers in the mountains, where they raise their young. It was once thought that the Evening Grosbeak sang only in the evening, a fact that is reflected in both its common and scientific names (vespertinus is Latin for "of the evening").

Black-headed Grosbeaks spend most of their time in bushes beside lakes, in older mixed forests and alongside streams and sloughs. Look for them around Burnaby Lake, Burnaby Mountain, Stanley Park and the Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Black- headed Grosbeaks nest in trees or bushes, and they build untidy and seemingly badly made nests. Males are responsible for incubating the eggs and often sing while they are on the nest. Their song is similar to that of the American Robin  but is more clipped and harsh.

The House Sparrow was first introduced to North America in the 1850s to help control insect pests. Now it is common over much of our continent south of the 60th parallel. It thrives in urban environments, and is now such a common sight in cities that it is often overlooked. Its noisy song, a series of monotonous chirrups, is memorable only for the enthusiasm with which it is delivered. An adaptable cavity-nesting bird, the House Sparrow has learned to make good use of buildings and is very fond of birdhouses. In fact, this sparrow often moves into birdhouses intended for other, more attractive bird species. If nest box entrances are 38 millimetres in diameter or less, they cannot squeeze their round bodies into the nest site. House Sparrows are a major part of the winter diet for many hawks