Birds
The San Diego River is home to a wide variety of birds that use the river and surrounding habitats to hunt, breed and build their nests. Each of these birds thrives off of a unique diet and nesting habit. This panel provides a few examples of birds commonly found throughout the San Diego River and estuary.
KUMEYAAY CONNECTION
Bird songs are one of the many song cycles the Kumeyaay people have, also known as Takuuk (small bird who narrates life lessons). Used in ceremonies and celebrations, the stories in the songs have meaning and purpose with multiple teachings and philosophies. Men sing the songs while women dance to mimic the graceful movement of birds.
Below are the names for the flora and fauna in English, Spanish and Kumeyaay, as well as its scientific name.
Great Blue Heron / Garza Morena
Ardea herodias
Wingspan: up to 79 inches
Diet: fish, amphibians, small mammals, small birds
Nest: typically 20-60’ high built by female from materials gathered by the male
Annual offspring: 3-7
Red-Tailed Hawk / Aguililla Cola Roja
Buteo jamaicensis
Wingspan: up to 52 inches
Diet: reptiles, small mammals, other birds
Nest: built by both parents in tall trees or cliff edges
Annual offspring: 2-3
California Scrub-Jay / Chara Californiana
Aphelocoma californica
Wingspan: up to 15 inches
Diet: seasonal omnivore
Nest: built by both parents in trees and shrubs
Annual offspring: 3-5
California Quail / Codorniz Californiana
Callipepla californica
Wingspan: up to 9 inches
Diet: berries, insects
Nest: built by female typically on a tree branch
Annual offspring: 3-5
Anna's Hummingbird / Colibrí Cabeza Roja
Calypte anna
Wingspan: up to 4.7 inches
Diet: nectar, insects
Nest: built by female on branches or vines
Annual offspring: 2
Great Horned Owl / Búho Cornudo
Bubo virginianus
Wingspan: up to 55 inches
Diet: small mammals, birds, amphibians
Nest: repurposes old nests from other large birds generally 20-60’ off the ground
Annual offspring: 2-5
American Coot / Gallareta Americana
Fulica americana
Wingspan: up to 25 inches
Diet: aquatic plants, small animals
Nest: built by both parents as a floating platform or platforms
Annual offspring: 6-11
