Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow on the Mallard Slough Trail at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Alviso (San Jose)

The Song Sparrow is a very common sparrow in North America and are seen in people’s backyards. Their colors are often russet-and-gray with bold streaks down its white chest but in California they have a more darker tone. The Song Sparrow’s length is from 5.8 to 7.5 inches. You can see the bird living in fields or near water. They eat mostly insects or seeds and forage on the ground. One of the oldest known Song Sparrow was 11 years old.

Amtrak #532

amtrak

 

 

Capitol Corridor: Northbound from San Jose-Oakland-Emeryville/SF-Sacramento-Auburn

 

 

From the horizon

 

 

amtrak # 532

 

 

passes by

 

Black-necked Stilt

black necked stilt

Photograph taken at the Alviso Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge

 

A Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) of one the most colorful of shorebirds with pink legs, long thin black bill, and black and white plumage. They live in salt marshes, flooded fields, or salt pans. Their diet consists of insects and crustaceans. You can regularly see them at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge.