• Read more about Snowy Egret

The black bill, black legs and golden feet distinguish this white egret from other similar species. It is always associated with water in marshes, lakes, ponds and coastal estuaries. Often feeds in water by scaring invertebrates and fish with movements of its bright feet. Bulky stick nest is placed in colonies of other herons, cormorants and ibis, usually in tall shrubs and small trees near water. Roosts communally in isolated tree groves with other herons during the winter.

• Read more about Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

This gnatcatcher occurs in a wide variety of habitats but is most common in tall forest and riparian areas at mid elevations. It hunts actively and conspicuously for insects on the leaves and vegetation of trees and tall bushes with its tail constantly moving up and down and to the side. During the winter it descends to lower elevations and frequently forages in mixed species flocks that include other species of gnatcatchers in the west. Its small cup nest is balanced on top of a large branch and consists of lichens, plant down and spider webbing.

• Read more about Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Pairs of Black-tailed Gnatcatchers are a common sight in open desert scrub where they are constantly flitting through the low vegetation moving their long tails up and down and side to side. They catch small insects and spiders on leaves and often fly up to hover and snatch insects off more inaccessible vegetation. The small cup-shaped nest is placed low in a fork of a small bush or tree. It is constructed of downy plant material and spider webbing. The male has a blackish cap during the breeding season but loses it in the winter.