Small Bird Portraits

Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria).
A small songbird found in the Americas found as far south as the Peruvian Andies. They primarily eat seeds from plants in the sunflower family and can be found in scrubby oak, cottonwood, and willow habitats.

White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys

The White-crowned Sparrow is native to North America and can be found year-round in California. This species is marked by a grey face and black and white striping on the wings. White-crowned Sparrows eat mainly seeds of weeds and grasses, plus considerable numbers of caterpillars, wasps, beetles, and other insects during the summer. They also eat grains such as oats, wheat, barley, and corn, and fruit including elderberries and blackberries.

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

The Cedar Waxwing is a medium-sized, mostly brown, gray, and yellow passerine bird that is named for its wax-like wing tips. Its diet consists mostly of berries and small fruits. They will also eat insects during the summer months and drink oozing sap.

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Bluebirds are a brilliant royal blue on the back and head, and a warm red-brown on the breast. Eastern Bluebirds live in open country around trees, but with little understory and sparse ground cover. Insects caught on the ground are a bluebird’s main food for much of the year.