KNOW YOUR CLIMATE WATCH TARGET SPECIES Bluebirds ern Blueb tern Blueb ast ird Description Habitat as ird E 7” (17cm). Bright blue above, Open country with scattered E

reddish brown on throat and trees; farms, roadsides.

chest, belly white. Female Breeds in many kinds of semi

paler, duller than male. Ju- open habitats, including cut

venile is heavily spotted, has over or burned areas, forest

telltale traces of blue above. clearings, farm country, Songs and Calls open pine woods; locally Call a liquid and musical in suburbs where there are turee or queedle. Song a soft extensive lawns and good melodious warble. nest sites. Wanders to other Similar Species habitats in winter. Townsend’s Solitaire, North- ern Wheatear, Mountain Neutral Bluebird, Western Bluebird, Climate Vulnerability Indigo Bunting Juvenile rn B rn B este lueb este lueb W ird Description Similar Species W ird

6-7” (15-18 cm). Male deep Townsend’s Solitaire, North-

purplish blue on upperparts ern Wheatear, Mountain

and throat, reddish brown Bluebird, Eastern Bluebird

on chest and sometimes Habitat

center of back; belly gray. Scattered trees, open conifer

Blue throat and gray belly forests, farms; in winter, are distinctions from Eastern semi-open terrain, brush, Bluebird. Female much dull- deserts. Breeds in semi- er and grayer than male, with open areas including pine solid gray throat. Juvenile is woods, oak woods, stream- spotted. side groves, ranch country, Songs and Calls sometimes in pinyon-juniper Soft calls sound likephew woods, but avoiding hot dry and chuck. Song is a short, regions. Winters in many High subdued cheer, cheer-lee, kinds of open or semi-open churr. habitats. Climate Vulnerability Juvenile in B ain Bl nta lue Description Habitat nt ueb ou bir ou ir d 7” (18 cm). Sky-blue male is Open country with some M d M almost unmistakable; other trees; in winter, also treeless

all-blue birds, like Indigo terrain. Often in more open

Bunting, are much darker. areas than other bluebirds.

Female gray-blue to gray Breeding habitats not

with blue tinges; gray flanks always in mountains; found contrast with white belly; in lowland prairies and longer wings and tail than sagebrush flats as well as other bluebirds. alpine zones above treeline. Songs and Calls In winter, most common in Soft warbling notes. pinyon-juniper woods but Similar Species also in open grassland, des- Townsend’s Solitaire, ert, farmland, even barren Northern Wheatear, Western plowed fields. High Bluebird, Eastern Bluebird, Climate Vulnerability Juvenile Blue Grosbeak Nuthatches reasted N reasted N -b uth -b uth te a Description Similar Species te a i tc 5-6” (13-15 cm). Chunky Red-breasted Nuthatch, i tc h h h h W and short-tailed, with thin, Brown-headed Nuthatch, W

upturned bill. Beady black Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown

eye is conspicuous against Creeper

white face and chest, set off Habitat

by narrow dark crown stripe Forests, woodlots, groves, (black on males, often gray shade trees. Typically in on females). Can show much mature deciduous forest, orange-brown on lower also in mixed forest with belly. some conifers; rarely found Songs and Calls in pure coniferous forest. A nasal yank-yank. Song a Often favors woodland edge, series of low whistled notes along rivers, roads, clearings; all on one pitch. may be in suburbs or parks Low as long as large trees are Climate Vulnerability present. Juvenile y Nut gm hat Py ch

Description Habitat

3 3/4-4 1/2” (10-11 cm). Yellow pines, other pines, “Peep, peep, peep”

Gray-brown cap down to Douglas fir. Yellow pine (the

eye, pale below, gray back, commercial name for pon-

white spot on nape. derosa and Jeffrey pines) Songs and Calls is main habitat element “Peep, peep, peep” A monotonous peep, peep- throughout mountains of peep. west; also occurs in Monte- Similar Species rey pine on California coast. Red-breasted Nuthatch, In some places extends into White-breasted Nut- pinyon-juniper woodland Juvenile hatch, Brown Creeper. In and redwood canyons. On southeast, replaced by rare visits to lowlands, likely High Brown-headed Nuthatch. to be in planted conifers. Climate Vulnerability ted ted reas Nut reas Nut -b ha -b ha d tc Description Habitat d tc e h 4 1/2 -4 3/4” (11-12 cm). Conifer forests; in winter, e h R R Typical head-down nuthatch also other trees. Nesting

behavior, black eye stripe, habitat almost always has

white eyebrow. Buffy orange many conifers, such as

below, blue-gray back. spruce, fir, hemlock, either

Females paler on top. in pure stands or mixed with Songs and Calls deciduous trees. Mature A tinny yank-yank, higher forest preferred, perhaps pitched and more nasal because old decaying wood than the White-breasted needed for nest sites. In Nuthatch migration and winter may Similar Species appear in any wooded White-breasted Nuthatch, habitat, but conifers always Brown-headed Nuthatch, chosen if available. Moderate Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Climate Vulnerability Creeper Juvenile ed head Nut n- ha This bird will w tc o h Description Habitat sometimes use r 4 1/4” (11 cm). Brown cap Open pine woods. Pine species B pieces of bark as a tool down to eye, pale below, gray (such as loblolly, longleaf,

back, white nape spot. Almost slash, and pond pines) virtually to pry up other bark

identical to Pygmy Nuthatch, always present in habitat; also

best identified by range. other conifers including bald to find a tasty snack.

Songs and Calls cypress and Atlantic white ce- A rare behavior for an A series of high-pitched piping dar. Often in pine woods mixed notes, unlike the calls of other with deciduous trees such as animal! eastern nuthatches. sweetgum, oak, hickory, or Similar Species sycamore. In range: Red-breasted Nut- hatch, White-breasted Nut- High hatch, Brown Creeper. Pygmy Climate Vulnerability Nuthatch in the West. Juvenile

Sparrows To tern Towhe Description Similar Species tern whe as e 7-8 1/2” (17-22 cm). Dark American Robin, Spotted as e E E hood and rusty sides set off Towhee, Rose-breasted

by white stripe down center Grosbeak, Black-headed

of belly. Upperparts mostly Grosbeak, Orchard Oriole.

black (male) or choco- Habitat

late-brown (female). Tail has Open woods, undergrowth,

big white corners. Compare brushy edges. Habitat varies to American Robin. Eyes with region, but always in usually red; white-eyed form brushy areas. In the North- occurs in Florida. east, typically in understory Songs and Calls of open woods. The song varies, often with a few introductory notes and usually ending with a long trill, such as drink-your-tee- High aaa or to-wheeeee. Call is Climate Vulnerability an inquisitive meewww? Juvenile “cheweeeeeee” “meewww?” ted Towh d Tow ot ee tte hee p Description Similar Species po S S 8 1/4” (21 cm). Rusty and American Robin, Eastern

white below, dark on hood Towhee, Black-headed Gros-

and back, with bold white beak, Orchard Oriole.

spots on back, wings, and Habitat

tail corners. Some popu- Open woods, undergrowth,

lations have less spotting brushy edges. In the varied above; compare to Eastern terrain of the West, this Towhee. Upperparts and towhee often lives in chap- hood are black on males arral, mountain manzanita and may be black or gray on thickets, scrub oaks, or females. pinyon-juniper woods with Songs and Calls dense understory. The song varies, long, buzzy Moderate cheweeeee. Call is an Climate Vulnerability inquisitive meewww? Juvenile Goldfinches & Other Birds ican Gold ican Gold er fiin Description Similar Species er fiin m c 4 1/2-5” (11-13 cm). Summer Yellow Warbler, Western Tan- m c A h A h male bright yellow with black ager, Lawrence’s Goldfinch,

wings, tail, and forehead. Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch,

Summer female duller yel- Evening Grosbeak

low-green. Winter birds vary Habitat

from yellowish brown to gray; Patches of thistles and

note bold wing-bars (white weeds, roadsides, open or buff) on black wings, white woods, edges. Found at all tail spots. seasons in semi-open areas Songs and Calls having open weedy ground Bright per-chick-o-ree, also and some trees and bushes rendered as potato-chips, de- for shelter, especially areas of livered in flight and coincid- second growth, streamsides, ing with each undulation. roadsides, woodland edges, Moderate orchards, suburban areas. In winter also in some very Climate Vulnerability Juvenile open fields farther from trees. er Goldfi ser Goldfii ess inc Description Similar Species es nc L h L h 3 1/2-4” (9-10 cm). Very small, Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Pine with white patches in wings Siskin, American Goldfinch,

and tail. From Colorado to Evening Grosbeak

Texas, most males have black Habitat

backs; farther west, most Open brushy country, open

have green backs. Female is woods, wooded streams,

plainer; smaller than Ameri- gardens. Generally in semi- can Goldfinch, with undertail open areas, where there are coverts yellow, not white. thickets and trees close to Songs and Calls open weedy fields, from low Song a rapid medley of twit- valleys to high in mountains. tering notes. Calls include a In dry country, usually found plaintive tee-yee? or cheeo? close to water. In the tropics, Neutral found in semi-open terrain, Climate Vulnerability woodland edges. Juvenile ed Bun ed Bun int ting int ting a Description Similar Species a P P 5 1/2” (14 cm). Adult male Summer Tanager, Blue

unmistakable with blue Grosbeak

head, red throat and chest, Habitat

bright green back. Female Woodland edges, roadsides,

plain green, with no mark- brush, towns, gardens.

ings. Other small greenish Favors semi-open areas birds have thinner bills, or with dense low growth at show marks such as wing- all seasons. Breeds around bars. Juveniles are much thickets, hedgerows, wood- grayer than adult females land clearings and edges, at first. and undergrowth of open Songs and Calls woods. Winters in similar Loud, clear, and variable habitats in Florida, plus Neutral song consisting of a series of areas of scrub and second Climate Vulnerability high-pitched musical notes. growth in the tropics. Call is a sharp, metallic tsick. Juvenile You can join us in the fight against climate change by observing birds in your area, using our specific pro- tocol, and helping us learn about how birds are responding to the changing climate. The following guide will help you to successfully identify and survey twelve of Audubon’s climate watch target species. For more information and to sign up visit audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch Photos: Page 1 from top: Eastern Bluebird (male), photo: Eric Nie/Audubon Photography Awards; Eastern bluebird (female), photo: Keri Fisher/Great Backyard Bird Count; Eastern Bluebird (juvenile), photo Linda Hecknell/Audubon Photography Awards;Western Bluebird (male), photo: Eleanor Bruccetti/Audubon Photogra- phy Awards; Western bluebird (female), photo: Peter E Hart/Flickr; Western Bluebird (juvenile), photo: Tom Grey/PBase; Mountain Bluebird (male), photo: John Pizniur/Audubon Photography Awards; Mountain bluebird (female), photo: John Pizniur/Great Backyard Bird Count; Mountain Bluebird (juvenile), photo: John Pizniur/Great Backyard Bird Count.

Page 2 from top: White-breasted Nuthatch (male), photo: Susan Buttrick/Audubon Photography Awards; White-breasted Nuthatch (female), photo: Joseph Mahoney/Audubon Photography Awards; White-breasted Nuthatch(juvenile), photo: Larry Reis/Flickr; Pygmy Nuthatch (adult), photo: Danny Hancock/ Audubon Photography Awards; Pygmy(juvenile), photo: Kim Menzel/Flickr; Red-breasted Nuthatch (male), photo: John Pizniur/Audubon Photography Awards; Red-breasted Nuthatch (female), photo: Blalonde/Creative Commons; Red-breasted Nuthatch(juvenile), photo: Mason Maron;

Page 3 from top: Brown-headed Nuthatch (male), photo: Denise Massie/Audubon Photography Awards; Brown-headed Nuthatch(juvenile), photo: Vicki Deloach/Flickr; Spotted Towhee (male), photo: Georgy Semenov/Audubon Photography Awards; Spotted Towhee (female), photo: Judith Roasn/Audubon Photography Awards; Spotted Towhee(juvenile), photo: Robert Hamilton; Eastern Towhee (male), photo: Jesse Gordon/Audubon Photography Awards; East- ern Towhee (female), photo: Bob Howdeshell/Great Backyard Bird Count; Eastern Towhee(juvenile), photo: Mary Alm/Great Backyard Bird Count;

Page 4 from top: American Goldfinch (male), photo: Will Stuart; American Goldfinch (female), photo: Nina Hackanson/Audubon Photography Awards; Amer- ican Goldfinch(juvenile), photo: Dana G. Clarke/Flickr; Lesser Goldfinch (male), photo: Gil Ekrich/Audubon Photography Awards; Lesser Goldfinch (female), photo: Brad Fields/Audubon Photography Awards; Lesser Goldfinch (juvenile), photo: Bettina Arrigoni/Flickr; Painted Bunting (male), photo: Jack Rogers/ Audubon Photography Awards; Painted Bunting (female), photo: Duncraft; Painted Bunting (juvenile), photo: Salman Photography;