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Julian is in a migratory flyway for birds. Between Ramona and Julian we probably have more bird species then anywhere in the US. If you include the coast of San Diego there's even more. Locals go through stages of Bird interaction. The first stage is asking your neighbor, "what kind of bird is that?" The second stage is buying a bird feeder and a field guide for bird identification. The finally stage is wondering if you can deduct all the expense for bird seed and peanuts on your taxes.
Year Around Freeloaders:
Scrub Jays: Medium sized bird with blue feathers. They have a v shaped pattern on their chest. These are noisy demanding birds. Known to yell at your husband and throw acorns at him if you run out of their peanuts for too many days.
Stellar's Jays: Cousin to the Scrub Jays, they are just as noisy and demanding. They are all blue with dark blue on the top half but the most noticable is a v shaped top hat. Blue jays prefer all pine trees while scrub jays like mixed oak and pine. Blue jays also have the talent of swallowing a peanut, shell and all, then grabbing another peanut before leaving the feeder.
Acorn woodpecker: Black wings with white spots. Red spot on top of head. The woodpecker is king of the bird feeder. Everyone leaves when he arrives and does come back until he leaves. Evidently a beak that can drill a hole in a oak tree makes quite a weapon. We also have red shafted flickers in the area but you don't usually see them.
Turkeys: Turkeys have been reintroduced into the area a few years ago and are now plentiful. They can be seen in family groups crossing the roads and in fields.
California and Mountain Quail: Found running through the bushes in large family groups. California Quail has a plume on its head that curves forward. Mountain Quail has a plume on its head that sticks straight up.
Ring-necked pheasant: Beautifully colored bird with green head, splashes of gold, and rust feathers and a long tail.
House Finch: A brown bird with a red blush.
Rufus sided towhee: Black wings with white stripes. Rusty colored sides.
Ravens and crows: Groups of black birds. Ravens are larger the crows and are found in smaller groups. Crows are a recent arrival to our area.
Red Tailed Hawk. When seeing a hawk circling in the air you are fairly safe in saying it is a red tailed hawk. They are a brown bird with the top of the tail rust colored.
Band-tailed pigeon: Gray bird with a square tail.
Morning dove: Gray bird with a pointed tail.
American Coot: a black bird with white beek found swimming in our ponds.
Anna's Hummingbird.
Rufous Hummingbird.