The Black-headed Grosbeak is a large russet-toned songbird with a massive egg-shaped head and a gargantuan triangular bill ideally suited to cracking nuts and seeds. The body is thick, tubular and robust with a fairly short tail for its chunky size. Breeding males have a burnt-orange body, blackened head, wings, and tail with bright slashes [...]

The Great Egret is the iconic symbol of the National Audubon Society and the American conservation movement, representing the successful fight against the 19th-century feather trade. Nearly hunted to extinction for their billowing, glossy white breeding feathers used in the fashion millinery trade, their plight spurred major conservation legislation resulting in landmark bird protection laws [...]

Double-crested Cormorants are a common sight on California’s coast and waterways, often seen flying in a V-formation or swimming with only their necks and heads visible. They are often seen standing with wings spread out to dry, because they have evolved to have feathers that become easily waterlogged, allowing them to dive deeper without air bubbles getting [...]