California is home to a diverse range of bird species, including a variety of beautiful brown birds that can be found throughout the state. These birds add a touch of warmth and earthiness to the natural landscape, offering a delightful sight for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts. From towhees to woodpeckers, there is an array of brown-feathered wonders to discover in the Golden State.
California Towhee
- Scientific Name: Melozone crissalis
- Size: 20-25 cm (8-10 inches)
- Wingspan: 27-30 cm (10.5-12 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The California Towhee is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird with warm brown plumage and a distinct red eye. It is known for its distinctive “chink” call that can be heard throughout the year in California. These birds are often found in chaparral, gardens, and parks, where they forage for seeds and insects.
They are known for their strong scratching abilities, using their feet to uncover food hidden beneath the leaf litter. California Towhees are monogamous and form strong pair bonds that last for multiple breeding seasons.
Did you know? California Towhees are skilled at mimicking other bird species’ calls, often fooling birdwatchers into thinking they are hearing a different bird altogether.
Spotted Towhee
- Scientific Name: Pipilo maculatus
- Size: 18-24 cm (7-9.5 inches)
- Wingspan: 23-30 cm (9-12 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The Spotted Towhee is a striking bird with a black head, back, and tail, offset by its warm brown wings and underparts. It is known for its bold behavior and distinctive “chewink” call. These birds can often be found scratching through leaf litter in woodlands, chaparral, and shrubby areas.
They feed on a variety of seeds, berries, insects, and spiders. During the breeding season, male Spotted Towhees engage in courtship displays, hopping and fluttering to show off their vibrant plumage.
Did you know? The Spotted Towhee is known for its unique foraging behavior, using its strong bill to “throw” leaf litter aside while searching for food.
Gambel’s Quail
- Scientific Name: Callipepla gambelii
- Size: 25-30 cm (10-12 inches)
- Wingspan: 33-38 cm (13-15 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
Gambel’s Quail is a charismatic bird with a greyish body, a striking brown crest, and a scaly pattern on its underparts. These plump birds are known for their distinctive topknots and their amusing “chi-ca-go” call.
They inhabit arid and semi-arid regions, such as deserts, shrublands, and grasslands. Gambel’s Quail feed on a variety of seeds, fruits, and insects. They are gregarious birds that live in coveys, often consisting of a monogamous breeding pair and their offspring.
Did you know? Gambel’s Quail have a unique defense mechanism called “explode in flight.” When startled, they burst into the air with loud wingbeats, aiming to confuse predators and create a distraction.
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
- Scientific Name: Picoides nuttallii
- Size: 16-18 cm (6.5-7 inches)
- Wingspan: 30-33 cm (12-13 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
Nuttall’s Woodpecker is a small and energetic bird with a brown back, creamy underparts, and a vibrant red crown on males. They are known for their distinctive drumming and rapid “peek” call.
These woodpeckers inhabit oak woodlands and riparian areas, where they forage on trees, shrubs, and the ground in search of insects and acorns. They are skilled climbers, using their strong bills to excavate cavities for nesting and foraging.
Did you know? Nuttall’s Woodpeckers have a unique feeding technique called “gleaning,” where they cling to tree trunks and branches to search for hidden insects and larvae.
California Thrasher
- Scientific Name: Toxostoma redivivum
- Size: 28-32 cm (11-12.5 inches)
- Wingspan: 33-37 cm (13-14.5 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The California Thrasher is a large and secretive bird with a long, curved bill, warm brown plumage, and streaked underparts. It is known for its beautiful and intricate song that often resonates through dense shrubby habitats.
These thrashers are found in chaparral, coastal scrub, and woodlands, where they forage on the ground for insects, spiders, and fruits. They are skilled at using their bills to dig for food and create elaborate mounds of leaf litter.
Did you know? California Thrashers are known for their remarkable ability to imitate the songs of other bird species, sometimes incorporating over 50 different songs into their repertoire.
House Finch
- Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus
- Size: 12-15 cm (4.7-6 inches)
- Wingspan: 20-25 cm (8-10 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The House Finch is a small but colorful bird with a brown back, streaked underparts, and vibrant red or orange plumage on males. They are known for their cheerful and melodious songs that can be heard in urban and suburban areas.
House Finches are adaptable birds found in a variety of habitats, including gardens, parks, and woodlands. They feed on a diverse diet of seeds, fruits, and insects. These social birds often gather in flocks and form strong pair bonds during the breeding season.
Did you know? House Finches were introduced to the eastern United States in the early 1940s. They were originally sold illegally in New York City as “Hollywood Finches.”
Rock Wren
- Scientific Name: Salpinctes obsoletus
- Size: 12-15 cm (4.7-6 inches)
- Wingspan: 20-23 cm (8-9 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The Rock Wren is a small and agile bird with a brown back, pale underparts, and distinctive white eyebrows. They are known for their energetic and musical songs that echo through rocky landscapes.
Rock Wrens inhabit rocky slopes, canyons, and desert scrub, where they forage for insects and spiders. They are expert climbers, using their long legs and curved bills to explore crevices and cracks in search of food.
Did you know? Rock Wrens often build multiple nests in their territory, a behavior known as “polygyny.” The male sings near the nests to attract multiple females, who then choose their preferred nest.
California Gnatcatcher
- Scientific Name: Polioptila californica
- Size: 10-11 cm (4-4.5 inches)
- Wingspan: 13-14 cm (5-5.5 inches)
- Conservation Status: Near Threatened (NT)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The California Gnatcatcher is a tiny and nimble bird with a grayish-brown back, whitish underparts, and a distinctive long tail. They are known for their high-pitched calls and insect-like vocalizations. California Gnatcatchers inhabit coastal scrub and chaparral, where they forage for insects and spiders.
They are highly territorial, defending their nesting sites and foraging areas against intruders. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, their populations have declined, leading to their listing as a Near Threatened species.
Did you know? California Gnatcatchers build exquisite nests using spider silk to attach the outer layer, making them more resistant to wind and predators.
Mountain Bluebird
- Scientific Name: Sialia currucoides
- Size: 16-20 cm (6.5-8 inches)
- Wingspan: 28-34 cm (11-13.5 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Winter
The Mountain Bluebird is a stunning bird with a vibrant blue back, warm brown wings, and a pale underbelly. Although primarily known for its blue plumage, the male Mountain Bluebird possesses a brownish tinge during winter. These birds are usually observed in California during the winter months when they migrate to lower elevations in search of food.
Mountain Bluebirds inhabit open grasslands, meadows, and agricultural areas, where they feed on insects and berries. They are cavity-nesters, often utilizing old woodpecker holes or artificial nest boxes for breeding.
Did you know? Mountain Bluebirds are considered symbolically significant by various Native American tribes, representing happiness, hope, and good fortune.
Brown Pelican
- Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis
- Size: 102-152 cm (40-60 inches)
- Wingspan: 198-229 cm (78-90 inches)
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
- Observation Period: Year-round
The Brown Pelican is a large and majestic bird with a brownish-gray body, a long bill, and a wingspan that can exceed six feet. They are known for their impressive plunge-diving technique when hunting for fish. Brown Pelicans inhabit coastal areas, estuaries, and bays, where they can be observed diving from great heights into the water to catch their prey.
These birds are excellent swimmers and are capable of holding up to three gallons of water in their expandable throat pouch before swallowing their catch.
Did you know? Brown Pelicans were once highly endangered due to the use of the pesticide DDT, which caused their eggshells to become thin and fragile. Since the banning of DDT, their populations have made a remarkable recovery.
Final Thoughts
California’s brown birds offer a captivating glimpse into the rich avian diversity found within the state. Whether you encounter the California Towhee scratching through leaf litter or witness the impressive plunge-diving of the Brown Pelican, these birds provide a delightful experience for any nature enthusiast. So, grab your binoculars and venture into the California wilderness to witness these beautiful brown-feathered wonders in action!
