Falconiformes to Gruiformes

Falconiformes to Gruiformes Falconiformes Galliformes Gruiformes

Falconiformes: Hawks and Allies • Field Marks: • Range from medium-sized to very large birds • Hooked beaks for tearing flesh • Strong legs and sharp talons for grasping, holding, and killing prey • Plumage mostly cryptic, with browns, grays, or blacks • Life History: • Predatory • Eyesight is four to eight times better than that of humans • Distribution: • Up to 311 species in 4 families • Found worldwide, in most terrestrial habitats

Accipitridae: Kites, Hawks and Eagles • Field Marks: • Range from medium-sized to very large • Can be divided into six fairly well-defined groups: Buteos (called “buzzards” in Europe), Accipiters (“sparrowhawks”), Harriers, Kites, Eagles, and Osprey • Sex: Females larger than males • Habitat: Most terrestrial habitats • Life History: • Eat mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates • Occasionally will eat carrion • Typically capture prey in flight with talons, often after a dive • Territorial, and most are monogamous, often for life • Some species highly migratory • Among oldest on record: 38 yrs • Distribution: • 235 species in 66 genera worldwide, except high Arctic and Antarctic • 24 species in 14 genera in North America

Falconidae: Falcons and Caracaras • Field Marks: • Range from small to large • Fast-flying with long, pointed wings • Most recognized by dark moustachial stripes • Hooked, toothed beaks • Sex: Females larger than males • Habitat: Most terrestrial habitats • Life History: • Eat birds, and sometimes mammals and insects • Typically capture prey in flight or on ground after aerial dive • Territorial, and most are monogamous, often for many years • Northern populations migratory • Among oldest on record: 22 yrs • Distribution: • 64 species in 11 genera worldwide, except Antarctica • 7 species in 2 genera in North America

Cathartidae: New World Vultures • Field Marks: • Very large, with wingspans up to 9 feet • Mostly dark plumage • Bare, often brightly colored heads • Relatively short neck and legs • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Wherever there is a supply of carrion • Life History: • Eat primarily carrion located visually or by smell • Soar long distances searching for carrion • When perched, often spread wings like a cormorant • Northern populations migratory • Solitary nesters, but social away from nests • Among oldest on record: 45 yrs • Distribution: • 7 species in 5 genera throughout Americas • 3 species in 3 genera in North America

Galliformes: Upland Game Birds • Field Marks: • Range from medium-sized to very large birds • Short, stout bill with decurved culmen that overlaps mandible • Short, rounded wings with 10 stiff, curved primaries • Strong legs and feet • Plumage mostly cryptic • Life History: • Eat seeds, plant materials, and occasionally insects • Spend most of their time foraging on the ground • Weak, short-distance fliers • Distribution: • Up to 268 species in 5 families • Found worldwide

Phasianidae: Grouse, Turkeys, and Allies • Field Marks: • Range from small, round, and plump to large, tall, and sleek birds • Legs well-developed for walking, with three long toes for scratching at earth, and one small hind toe • Many also have rear spurs above the hind toe, used in fights • Fly in sudden bursts, but usually not for very long • Short, blunt-tipped bills • Sex: Dimorphic • Habitat: Most terrestrial habitats • Life History: • Primarily, but not entirely, herbivorous • Vary from monogamous to highly polygynous • Usually territorial, but some species form leks • Mostly nonmigratory • Among oldest on record: 13 yrs 6 mos • Distribution: • 183 species in 48 genera worldwide, except S. America and Antarctica • 12 species in 7 genera native to North America • At least 7 introduced species may occur in North America

Odontophoridae: New World Quail • Field Marks: • Range from small to medium-sized • Stout, decurved, sharply pointed bill, with tiny serrations near tip • Most have an erectile crest on the crown (topknot or plume) • Short, rounded wings allow rapid bursts of flight • Legs well-developed for walking and running, with three long toes for scratching at earth, small hind toe, but no rear spurs • Sex: Dimorphic • Habitat: Most terrestrial habitats • Life History: • Eat mainly plant foods, especially seeds, but also insects • Peck food off ground and vegetation • Usually considered monogamous, but polygyny and polyandry increasingly reported • Generally nonmigratory • Among oldest on record: 6 yrs 11 mos • Distribution: • 31 species in 9 genera worldwide; native to New World only, but have been introduced elsewhere • 6 species in 4 genera in North America

Gruiformes: Cranes, Rails, and Allies • Field Marks: • Range from small to very large birds • Structurally diverse • Many with bill longer than head, slender and acute, or compressed • Wings usually rounded • Life History: Omnivorous • Distribution: • Up to 213 species in 11 families • Found worldwide

Rallidae: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots • Field Marks: • Range from small to medium-sized • Short-tailed and stubby-winged • Rails have laterally compressed bodies, while coots, moorhens, and gallinules are plumper • Bills range from relatively long to short and triangular • Feet range from lobed to long and slender toes • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Primarily marshes • Life History: • Omnivorous, eating a wide variety of plant and animal matter, obtained by probing or pecking • Generally monogamous, but some polygynous or polyandrous • Highly territorial • Among oldest on record: 22 yrs 4 mos • Distribution: • 143 species in 34 genera worldwide, except Arctic and Antarctic • 9 species in 7 genera breed in North America

Gruidae: Cranes • Field Marks: • Large and elegant, with long necks and legs • Most predominantly pale gray or white, with patches of red on face • Long, straight, stout bill • Curved tertials that form a “bustle” • Bare facial skin • Sex: Dimorphic • Habitat: Freshwater wetlands and uplands • Life History: • Omnivorous, eating a wide variety of plant material and small animals, picked off ground or dug up with bill • Territorial and monogamous, for life • All perform “dancing” displays • Temperate zone species migratory • Among oldest on record: 23 yrs • Distribution: • 15 species in 2 genera worldwide, except Antarctica and S. America • 2 species in 1 genus in North America

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Turkey VultureCathartes aura • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Cathartidae • Field Marks: • Blackish-brown overall • Underside of flight feathers appear silvery, contrasting with dark coverts • Head red, and largely unfeathered • Bill short, hooked, and ivory colored • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Generalist, preferring mixed forest and agricultural land • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA, but northern populations migratory • Soars with wings held in a “V” shape, unsteady and rocking flight • Almost exclusively a scavenger; will kill small animals or invertebrates • Highly developed sense of smell allows it to find carrion in forests • The main avian species causing damage and fatalities in military aircraft collisions in the United States

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Very large • Distinctive white head and tail, with dark brown body and wings • Yellow legs and beak • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Nests in forested areas near large bodies of water • Tends to follow major water ways in winter • Life History: • Nests in northern CA, and winters throughout CA • Eats a variety of prey, but generally prefers fish • Takes about 5.5 years to attain full adult plumage • Conservation: • CA Endangered Species; former Federal Endangered Species (delisted as of August 8, 2007) • Threats include DDT poisoning, habitat loss, and nest disturbance

©Photo by Steve Messick ©Photo by Ted Steinke Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Large Buteo hawk, with broad wings and tail • Upperside of tail entirely rusty; may be visible from underside • Dark patagial marks along underside of leading edge of wing (may not be visible in the darkest morphs) • Typically have dark head, pale breast, and dark belly band • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Open areas from deserts to rain forests • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • One of the most widespread and commonly seen birds of prey in North America • Up to 16 subspecies recognized

©Photo by Steve Messick ©Photo by Ted Steinke Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis • Distant-sounding, rasping, scraping scream, • falling in pitch and intensity: • cheeeeeeewv

©Photo by Bob Miller ©Photos by Mike Danzenbaker White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Gray upperparts with large black scapular patch • Black spot on pale underwing • White head and underparts • Long, thin pointed wings, and long tail • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Grasslands and agricultural fields • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Characteristically hovers while foraging • Roosts communally in nonbreeding season • Conservation: • CA Fully Protected Species (old designation that precedes ESA) • Threatened with extinction in early 20th century, but has since recovered

©Photo by Bob Miller ©Photos by Mike Danzenbaker White-tailed KiteElanus leucurus • Whistle/yelp: • high, thin, rising whistle • followed by low,dry harsh notes • Sweee krr krr krr

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette OspreyPandion haliaetus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Chocolate brown upperparts and mostly white underparts • White head with broad dark eye line • Some with dark breast bands • Sex: • Females larger, generally with broader, darker breast bands (but, some overlap with males) • Habitat: Lakes, estuaries, and bays • Life History: • Occurs year-round in various parts of CA • Only raptor that eats almost exclusively live fish • Dive head and feet first into water • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Causes include removal of nesting trees, lake environmental quality, and nest disturbance by boaters

©Photos by Steve Messick Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Very large and dark brown overall • Golden rear crown, nape, and sides of neck • Under tail and upper wing coverts often paler, buffy • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Resident widespread except dense forest. • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Capable of killing large prey, such as cranes, wild ungulates, and domestic livestock, but usually takes smaller prey • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern; Fully Protected Species • Small population size, and loss of grasslands to agriculture make it vulnerable

Female ©Photo by Peter LaTourrette Male ©Photo by Steve Messick American KestrelFalco sparverius • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Falconidae • Field Marks: • Small, with long, pointed wings and long tail • Compact, toothed bill • Vertical black stripes in front of and behind eye • Blue-gray crown and rufous to orange back and rump • Sex: • Male has blue-gray wings, unbanded rufous tail with broad subterminal band; underparts pale with variable amount of spotting • Female has rufous wings and tail barred black; underparts pale with heavy brown streaks • Habitat: Widespread in open to semi-open areas • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Smallest, most numerous, and most widespread N. American falcon • Feeds on arthropods and small vertebrates

Female ©Photo by Peter LaTourrette Male ©Photo by Steve Messick American KestrelFalco sparverius • High-pitched, clear screaming • kli kli kli kli kli kli kli kli • or • killy killy killy

© Photo by Kanae Hirabayashi ©Photo by Kent Keller Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Falconidae • Field Marks: • Relatively large, with long pointed wings and long tail • Bluish-gray upperparts • Blackish head and malar streak, usually with pale cheek patch • Underparts pale with blackish spotting or barring • Underwing and undertail barred with pale gray and black • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Widespread in all habitats; nesting areas usually with cliffs • Life History: • Nests in CA in summer • Some are sedentary, some travel as far South as Argentina and Chile • Conservation: • CA Endangered Species; former Federal Endangered Species (delisted in 1999); threats include pesticide contamination and habitat loss

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Prairie FalconFalco mexicanus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Falconidae • Field Marks: • Relatively large falcon, with long pointed wings and long tail • Pale brown upperparts • Brown malar streak and ear patch, with white between • Underwing and tail overall pale, with dark axillaries and coverts • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Grasslands and shrub-steppe • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Specializes on medium-sized desert mammals and birds • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Threats include pesticide poisoning, and robbing of nests by falconers

Female Male ©Photo by Steve Messick ©Photo by Ted Steinke MerlinFalco columbarius • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Falconidae • Field Marks: • Small, with long pointed wings and long tail • Tail dark with white terminal band, and several other pale bands • Breast streaked rufous to brown • Most lack a distinct malar streak • Sex: • Males have gray-blue upperparts and blacker tails • Females have browner upperparts and tails • Habitat: Open forests and grasslands • Life History: • Occur in CA in winter • Eat primarily small birds • Conervation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Threats include pesticide contamination

©Photo by Richard Stern ©Photo by Carnegie Museum Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Small • Brown to blue-gray upperparts with barred rufous underparts • Short, rounded wing • Long, squarish tail with narrow white terminal band • Sex: Males less than 2/3 the size of females • Habitat: Forests • Life History: • Occurs year-round in parts of CA, but winters throughout CA • Feeds almost entirely on small forest birds • Often seen taking prey at bird feeders • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern, due to small breeding population that appears much smaller than historic levels

©Photo by Tom Grey Cooper’s HawkAccipiter cooperii • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Medium-sized • Brown to blue-gray upperparts with barred rufous underparts • Short, rounded wing • Long, rounded tail with wide white terminal band • Sex: Females about 1/3 larger than males • Habitat: Forests • Life History: Occurs year-round in CA • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Threats include loss of riparian woodland habitat

©Photo by Douglas Herr Northern GoshawkAccipiter gentilis • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Large with brownish-gray to slate upperparts • Black cap and white supercilium • Light gray underparts with fine black vertical streaks • Relatively long, broad wings • Long, rounded tail, dark gray with inconspicuous dark bands • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Forests • Life History: • Occurs year-round in northern CA • Capable of eating tree squirrels, hares, grouse, corvids, woodpeckers, and large passerines • Formerly a favorite of falconers • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern, due to small and vulnerable breeding population in CA

©Photo by Peter LaTourrette ©Photo by Rob Pavey Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Medium-sized Buteo hawk, with broad wings and tail • Relatively long tail, with broad dark and narrow white stripes; white tips • Rufous underwing, with black and white checkerboard wing linings • Translucent crescent-shaped patch near base of primaries • Rusty barred underparts • Lesser coverts rusty red • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Riparian and oak woodlands • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Varied diet, but mostly small mammals, frogs, and snakes

©Photo by Peter LaTourrette ©Photo by Rob Pavey Red-shouldered HawkButeo lineatus • Steadily repeated, high clear, squealing: • keeyuur keeyuur…..

©Photo by Peter LaTourrette ©Photo by Kees Bakker Swainson’s HawkButeo swainsoni • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Slim Buteo, with relatively narrow wings • Dark flight feathers contrast with pale wing lining • Brownish-gray tail with many dark bands and wider subterminal band • Dark head and breast band (“bib”); pale chin and belly • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Grasslands and some agricultural fields • Life History: • Occurs in CA in summer • Forages and migrates in huge flocks • Eats rodents, reptiles, and rabbits in breeding season, but mostly insectivorous when not breeding • Conservation: • CA Threatened Species • Breeding population about 10% of historic levels • Pesticide poisoning caused major die-offs in Argentina

©Photo by Peter LaTourrette ©Photo by Kees Bakker Swainson’s HawkButeo swainsoni • Similar to Red-tailed Hawk, • but higher, clearer, weaker • short cheeeeew • or long, drawn-out kweeaaaaaah

©Photo by Jerry Ligouri ©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Ferruginous HawkButeo regalis • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Very large Buteo • Light morphs white underneath, with rufous-feathered tarsi; upperparts rufous with pale head and gray cheeks • Dark morphs dark brown overall, with white flight feathers underneath • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Grasslands, shrub-steppes, and deserts • Life History: • Occurs in CA in winter • Formerly constructed nests of bison bones and wool • In winter, aggregate near prairie dogs and ground squirrels • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Population declining, possibly due to agricultural development

©Photo by Jerry Ligouri ©Photos by Robert Houde Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Silvery white underwing with broad dark trailing edge • Squarish dark carpal patch • White tail with broad dark subterminal band • Dark morphs have entirely dark underparts, with same wing/tail pattern • Sex: • Females have only a single wide dark subterminal band on tail, and a mottled breast above a very dark belly band; upperparts browner • Males have several other narrower dark bands on tail, and darker breast with paler belly, separated by narrow pale band; upperparts grayish-brown • Habitat: • Open areas, including grasslands and agricultural fields • Life History: • Occurs in CA in winter

Female ©Photos by Bob Steele Male Northern HarrierCircus cyaneus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Accipitridae • Field Marks: • Long, narrow wings and tail, with distinctive white rump patch • Long legs • Owlish facial disks • Sex: • Males gray above, lighter below, with black wing tips (“gray ghost”) • Females brown above and buffy with brown streaks below • Habitat: Grasslands, fresh and saltwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in parts of CA • Forages while flying low over the ground, relying on auditory cues • Eats mainly small mammals and birds • Unusual in that a male may have up to 5 mates in a season, depending on food availability • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Threats include loss of marsh habitat

©Photo by Dave Clendenen/USFWS ©Photo by Noel Snyder/USFWS California CondorGymnogyps californianus • Order: Falconiformes • Family: Cathartidae • Field Marks: • Extremely large, with broad wings and tail • Mostly black plumage with white underwing coverts • Head and neck mostly unfeathered, ranging from grayish to reddish • Neck edged with a “ruff” of dark feathers • Bill long, hooked, and mostly ivory colored • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Formerly a habitat generalist, nesting on cliffs in mountainous areas • Life History: • Currently the largest soaring landbird of North America • Can cover enormous distances, rarely flapping except during take off • Exclusively a carrion feeder • Air sacs in gular and neck regions inflated during displays • Conservation: • CA and Federal Endangered Species • Causes include lead poisoning from ammunition fragments in carcasses • Last wild birds captured for breeding programs in April 1987

Male ©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Female Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopayo • Order: Galliformes • Family: Phasianidae • Field Marks: • Large and heavy, with long neck, powerful legs, and fan-shaped tail • Head and neck mostly bare • Skin of head has a frontal process (snood) • Tuft of course filaments (“beard”) hangs from breast, especially on males • Habitat: Open woodlands • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Endemic to eastern North America; established beyond its pre-Columbian range by game managers • Spends most of day on the ground; roosts in trees at night

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Ring-necked PheasantPhasianus colchicus • Order: Galliformes • Family: Phasianidae • Field Marks: • Medium-sized game bird with long pointed tail • Sex: • Male with red facial skin, iridescent head and neck; broad white neck ring • Female drab buffy brown overall • Habitat: Grasslands and agricultural fields • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Native to Asia

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette American CootFulica americana • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Plump, with blackish-gray plumage overall • White bill and frontal shield, with dusky band near tip and reddish-brown callus near top of frontal shield • Lateral undertail coverts white • Tips of secondaries white (usually seen only in flight) • Lobed toes • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Freshwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Requires long, running start across water to become airborne

© Photo by Giuliano Gerra and Silvio Sommazzi ©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Small-duck sized, with grayish-black plumage overall • Wings and rump brownish • Prominent white flank streak and lateral undertail coverts • Bill and large frontal shield bright red, with yellow bill tip • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Freshwater marshes. • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA

© Photo by Giuliano Gerra and Silvio Sommazzi ©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus • Slowing series of clucks • ending with distinctive long, whining notes • pep pep pep pehr pehr peehr peeehr pehr

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Gruidae • Field Marks: • Large and tall, with long legs, and blue-gray plumage overall • Head with white cheek and featherless red crown • Long, stout bill • Elongated tertials hang over tail, forming a “bustle” • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Open fields, grasslands, and freshwater marshes • Life History: • Nest in northeastern CA, and winter in a few places throughout CA • Conservation: • CA Threatened Species • Causes include loss of wetland habitat and slow reproductive rates

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette SoraPorzana carolina • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Medium-sized, plump, and grayish-brown overall • Greenish legs and long toes • Short, yellow bill with black mask on face and throat • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Primarily freshwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Most abundant and widespread North American rail

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette SoraPorzana carolina • Long, high, squealing whinny, • descending and slowing at end: • ko-WEEeee-e-e-e-e-e, ee, ee • High, clear, sharp, whistled: • kooee • (sounds like Sor – A)

©Photo by Mike Danzenbaker ©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Very small, with pale to blackish-gray plumage overall • Nape and upper back chestnut • Short black bill • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Salt and freshwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in the Bay Area • Smallest rail in North America • Conservation: • CA Threatened Species • Threats include habitat loss and degradation due to water and flood-control projects, livestock grazing, and agricultural development

©Photo by Rob Pavey ©Photo by Jack Binch Virginia RailRallus limicola • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Small and laterally compressed • Rusty body with gray cheeks • Long, slightly decurved bill • Flanks banded black and white • Reddish legs and bill • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: • Primarily freshwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Often escape danger by running, but will dive and swim, using wings to propel themselves underwater

©Photo by Rob Pavey ©Photo by Jack Binch Virginia RailRallus limicola • Male gives a hard, mechanical: • gik gik gik gidik gidik gidik • Wheezy, pig-like grunting series, • descending and usually accelerating: • wep wep wep wepwepwepwepwepppprrr • Female gives sharp, metallic notes • followed by rich churring: • chi chi chi chi treerr

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette Clapper RailRallus longirostrus • Order: Gruiformes • Family: Rallidae • Field Marks: • Large and laterally compressed • Gray-brown to cinnamon plumage • Long, slender, slightly decurved bill • Flanks barred white and dusky • Relatively long legs and toes • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Primarily saltwater marshes • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA • Conservation: • CA and Federal Endangered species • Threats include habitat loss, pollution, invasive plant species, and predation by feral cats and non-native red foxes

©Photos by Peter LaTourrette ChukarAlectoris chukar • Order: Galliformes • Family: Phasianidae • Field Marks: • Grayish brown to olive upperparts with buff underparts • Black line through forehead, eyes, and down neck • Black and chestnut barring on flanks • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Desert scrub and shrub-steppe • Life History: • Occurs year-round in CA (primarily Great Basin area) • Native to the Middle East and Asia, introduced in 1893

©Photos by Isido Jeklin Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus • Order: Galliformes • Family: Phasianidae • Field Marks: • Cryptic pattern of primarily rufous or gray plumage • Bold, dark bars on flanks • Narrow, pale eye line and short erectile crest • Rounded tail with dark subterminal band • Sex: Monomorphic • Habitat: Coniferous forest • Life History: • Occurs year-round in northern CA • Conservation: • CA Species of Special Concern • Local and uncommon species; habitat alteration is primary threat

Falconiformes to Gruiformes