"The condor is a significant bird to many Californian Native American groups and plays an important role in several of their traditional myths. The California condor was described by English naturalist George Shaw in 1797 as ""Vultur californianus""; Archibald Menzies collected the type specimen ""from the coast of California"" during the Vancouver expedition. It was originally classified in the same genus as the Andean condor (""V. gryphus""), but, due to the Andean condor's slightly different markings, slightly longer wings, and tendency to kill small animals to eat, the California condor has now been placed in its own monotypic genus. The"
"California toad The California toad (""Anaxyrus boreas halophilus"") is a subspecies of the western toad, along with the boreal toad. The California toad lives throughout the State of California, with the exception of south-eastern desert regions. Like the boreal toad, it feeds on a wide variety of insects and invertebrates. Its diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and mosquitos. The scientific name is ""Anaxyrus boreas halophilus"". Boreas is from the Greek word ""boreas"" which means “north wind” or “northern”, ""halophilus"" from the Greek ""halos"" meaning “sea” or “salt”, and ""philos"" meaning “having affinity for”. The California toad is less blotched (reduced"
"large enough to sustain it at a Least Concern status. Andean cock-of-the-rock The Andean cock-of-the-rock (""Rupicola peruvianus""), also known as tunki (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. It has four subspecies and its closest relative is the Guianan cock-of-the-rock. The Andean cock-of-the-rock exhibits marked sexual dimorphism; the male has a large disk-like crest and scarlet or brilliant orange plumage, while the female is significantly darker and browner. Gatherings of males compete for breeding females with each male displaying"
"including cranes, vultures, hawks, jays and geese. The Andes is quite rich in bird diversity. The Andean condor, the largest bird of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, occurs throughout much of the Andes but generally in very low densities; species of tinamous (notably members of the genus ""Nothoprocta""), Andean goose, giant coot, Andean flicker, diademed sandpiper-plover, miners, sierra-finches and diuca-finches are also found in the highlands. Evidence for adaptation is best investigated among the Andean birds. The water fowls and cinnamon teal (""Anas cyanoptera"") are found to have undergone significant molecular modifications. It is now known that the α-hemoglobin"
"Andean cock-of-the-rock The Andean cock-of-the-rock (""Rupicola peruvianus""), also known as tunki (Quechua), is a large passerine bird of the cotinga family native to Andean cloud forests in South America. It is widely regarded as the national bird of Peru. It has four subspecies and its closest relative is the Guianan cock-of-the-rock. The Andean cock-of-the-rock exhibits marked sexual dimorphism; the male has a large disk-like crest and scarlet or brilliant orange plumage, while the female is significantly darker and browner. Gatherings of males compete for breeding females with each male displaying its colourful plumage, bobbing and hopping, and making a variety"
"over 16,000 per female and are laid in strings in shallow water. California toad The California toad (""Anaxyrus boreas halophilus"") is a subspecies of the western toad, along with the boreal toad. The California toad lives throughout the State of California, with the exception of south-eastern desert regions. Like the boreal toad, it feeds on a wide variety of insects and invertebrates. Its diet includes grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and mosquitos. The scientific name is ""Anaxyrus boreas halophilus"". Boreas is from the Greek word ""boreas"" which means “north wind” or “northern”, ""halophilus"" from the Greek ""halos"" meaning “sea” or “salt”, and"
"of Environment, the following ecoregions have the highest percentage of endemic species: Over 1800 species of birds have been described in Colombia, (more than the number of existent bird species in North America and Europe combined). Some of the bird species in Colombia are: The Andean condor inhabits the Andes mountain range. Although it is primarily a scavenger, feeding on carrion, this species belongs to the New World vulture family Cathartidae. The condor is one of the largest birds on earth with a wingspan ranging from 274–310 cm (108–122 in) and weighing up to 11–15 kg (24–33 lb) for males"
"California condor The California condor (""Gymnogyps californianus"") is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. This condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 (all remaining wild individuals were captured), but the species has since been reintroduced to northern Arizona and southern Utah (including the Grand Canyon area and Zion National Park), the coastal mountains of central and southern California, and northern Baja California. Although other fossil members are known, it is the only surviving member of the genus ""Gymnogyps"". The species is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered. The plumage is black with patches of"
"Rufous-collared sparrow The rufous-collared sparrow or Andean sparrow (""Zonotrichia capensis"") is an American sparrow found in a wide range of habitats, often near humans, from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on the island of Hispaniola. It is famous for its diverse vocalizations, which have been intensely studied since the 1970s, particularly by Paul Handford and Stephen C. Lougheed (UWO), Fernando Nottebohm (Rockefeller University) and Pablo Luis Tubaro (UBA). Local names for this bird include the Portuguese tico-tico, the Spanish chingolo, chincol and copetón, ""tufted"" in Colombia and comemaíz ""corn eater"" in Costa Rica. The rufous-collared"
"the Andean condor being 5 cm shorter (beak to tail) on average than the northern species, but larger in wingspan. California condors are the largest flying land birds in North America. The Andean condor is second only to the wandering albatross (up to 3.5 m) in terms of wingspan among all living flying birds. The adult plumage is uniformly black, with the exception of a frill of white feathers nearly surrounding the base of the neck which are meticulously kept clean by the bird. As an adaptation for hygiene, the condor's head and neck have few feathers, which exposes the"
"Andean hillstar The Andean hillstar (""Oreotrochilus estella"") is a species of hummingbird in the family Trochilidae. It is found in grassland, scrub and woodland in the Altiplano of southern Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and north-western Argentina. It often includes the green-headed hillstar as a subspecies, but the male of that species has a black (not brown) stripe to the central underparts, and its upperparts are greener. Additionally, the green-headed hillstar is more closely related to the black-breasted hillstar and blue-throated hillstar than the Andean hillstar. The species is unusually well adapted to cold nights in the Andes, which it survives"
"Andean guan The Andean guan (""Penelope montagnii"") is a gamefowl species of the family Cracidae, in which it belongs to the guan subfamily Penelopinae. This bird occurs in the highlands (5,000 ft/1,500 m ASL and higher) of the Andes, from Venezuela and Colombia through Ecuador and Peru south to Bolivia and perhaps northwesternmost Argentina. These are medium-sized birds, measuring about in length and weighing about 500-840 grams (1.1-1.8 lbs). They are long-bodied with thin necks and small heads, and similar in shape to turkeys but more slender and elegant. The plumage is overall brown with whitish edging to the feathers"
"lesser rhea, Andean flicker, diademed sandpiper-plover, miners, sierra-finches and diuca-finches. A few species of hummingbirds, notably some hillstars, can be seen at altitudes above , but far higher diversities can be found at lower altitudes, especially in the humid Andean forests (""cloud forests"") growing on slopes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and far northwestern Argentina. Other birds of humid Andean forests include mountain-toucans, quetzals and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, while mixed species flocks dominated by tanagers and furnariids commonly are seen – in contrast to several vocal but typically cryptic species of wrens, tapaculos and antpittas. A number of species such"
"Andean avocet The Andean avocet (""Recurvirostra andina"") is a large wader in the avocet and stilt bird family, Recurvirostridae. It is resident in the Andes, breeding above 3500 m in northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia, northern Chile and southern Peru. This avocet has a white head, neck, underparts and rump, and dark brown back, wings and tail. It is similar in size to the American avocet, at in length and in weight. The thin, grey legs are not as long as with other avocet species, but the long thin black bill is upturned at the end. The sexes are similar, and"
"in the Cocora valley in Quindío Department and the Quimbaya protected forest in Risaralda Department of Colombia, and the Yanacocha Reserve of Ecuador. Andean guan The Andean guan (""Penelope montagnii"") is a gamefowl species of the family Cracidae, in which it belongs to the guan subfamily Penelopinae. This bird occurs in the highlands (5,000 ft/1,500 m ASL and higher) of the Andes, from Venezuela and Colombia through Ecuador and Peru south to Bolivia and perhaps northwesternmost Argentina. These are medium-sized birds, measuring about in length and weighing about 500-840 grams (1.1-1.8 lbs). They are long-bodied with thin necks and small"
"californianus amplus"". Current opinions are mixed regarding the classification of the form as a chronospecies or a separate species ""Gymnogyps amplus"". ""Gymnogyps amplus"" occurred over much of the bird's historical range – even extending into Florida – but was larger, having about the same weight as the Andean condor. This bird also had a wider bill. As the climate changed during the last ice age, the entire population became smaller until it had evolved into the ""Gymnogyps californianus"" of today, although more recent studies by Syverson query that theory. The adult California condor is a uniform black with the exception"
"Arroyo toad The arroyo toad (""Anaxyrus californicus"") is a species of true toads in the genus ""Anaxyrus"", endemic to California (U.S.) and Baja California state (México). It is currently classified as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of habitat destruction. The arroyo toad is a stocky, blunt-nosed, warty-skinned species of toad, long. It has horizontal pupils, and is greenish, grey or salmon on the dorsum with a light-colored stripe across the head and eyelids. It has light sacral and mid-dorsal patches, large, oval and widely separated parotoid glands, and weak or absent cranial crests."
"the Americas). It is the largest species in the genus ""Chroicocephalus"" and has a dark hood, a pale grey back and a pattern of black and white on its primaries. The Andean gull is known from Chile, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia where it breeds in mountainous areas, usually at elevations of over . In areas with harsh winters it migrates to lower elevations in winter, sometimes as far as the coast. Flocks of these gulls are common on the coast in southern Peru and northern Chile, but It has yet to be established where these particular birds breed."
"arroyo toad has decreased since the time of listing, due in part to implementation of conservation and management actions."" Arroyo toad The arroyo toad (""Anaxyrus californicus"") is a species of true toads in the genus ""Anaxyrus"", endemic to California (U.S.) and Baja California state (México). It is currently classified as an Endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because of habitat destruction. The arroyo toad is a stocky, blunt-nosed, warty-skinned species of toad, long. It has horizontal pupils, and is greenish, grey or salmon on the dorsum with a light-colored stripe across the head and eyelids. It"
"Endemic Bird Area as defined by BirdLife International. There are 12 restricted-range species, of which four are found only in the region. These include the Cauca guan (""Penelope perspicax""), restricted to a few remnants of humid forest at elevations from on both sides of the valley. Other restricted-range or endangered bird species include the brown-banded antpitta (""Grallaria milleri""), moustached antpitta (""Grallaria alleni""), multicoloured tanager (""Chlorochrysa nitidissima"") and golden-plumed parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii). The golden-plumed parakeet and quetzals of genus ""Pharomachrus"" migrate regionally along the Andes slopes. Endangered birds include the black-and-chestnut eagle (""Spizaetus isidori""), Cauca guan (""Penelope perspicax""), chestnut-bellied flowerpiercer (""Diglossa"
"Club-winged manakin The club-winged manakin (""Machaeropterus deliciosus"") is a small passerine bird which is a resident breeding species in the cloud forest on the western slopes of the Andes Mountains of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. The manakins are a family (Pipridae) of small bird species of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. Like several other manakins, the club-winged manakin produces a mechanical sound with its extremely modified secondary remiges, an effect known as sonation. The manakins adapted their wings in this odd way as a result of sexual selection.[2] In manakins, the males have evolved adaptations to suit the"
"crustacean and insect prey. Andean avocet The Andean avocet (""Recurvirostra andina"") is a large wader in the avocet and stilt bird family, Recurvirostridae. It is resident in the Andes, breeding above 3500 m in northwestern Argentina, western Bolivia, northern Chile and southern Peru. This avocet has a white head, neck, underparts and rump, and dark brown back, wings and tail. It is similar in size to the American avocet, at in length and in weight. The thin, grey legs are not as long as with other avocet species, but the long thin black bill is upturned at the end. The"
"California gnatcatcher The California gnatcatcher (""Polioptila californica"") is a small long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. This bird is often solitary, but joins with other birds in winter flocks. The male California Gnatcatcher is dusky gray overall, distinguished only by its black crown and thin black beak. It has a long, thin black tail with narrow white tips and edges on the underside of the tail feathers. However, the male loses its plumage colors by winter, and obtains a plumage"
"Andricus quercuscalifornicus Andricus quercuscalifornicus (occasionally ""Andricus californicus""), or the California gall wasp, is a small wasp species that induces oak apple galls on white oaks, primarily the Valley Oak (""Quercus lobata"") but also other species such as ""Quercus berberidifolia"". It is found from Washington, Oregon, and California to northern regions of Mexico. Often multiple wasps in different life stages occupy the same gall. The adult wasps are small, stout and brown, about 5mm long with clear wings nearly twice the length of the body. The antennae are filiform and about the same length as the legs. Despite their size they"
"always produce fertile offspring, with male hybrids in particular typically being infertile. This may indicate some of the subspecies are in the process of diverging into separate species, and it has even been proposed that the California vole may already represent two different species. California vole The California vole (""Microtus californicus"") is a type of vole which lives throughout much of California and part of southwestern Oregon. It is also known as the California meadow mouse. It averages in length although this length varies greatly between subspecies. The California vole is a medium-sized vole, and a typical member of its"
"Andean flamingo The Andean flamingo (""Phoenicoparrus andinus"") is one of the rarest flamingos in the world. It lives in the Andes mountains of South America. Until 2014, it was classified in genus ""Phoenicopterus"". It is closely related to James's flamingo, and the two make up the genus ""Phoenicoparrus"". The Chilean flamingo, Andean flamingo, and James's flamingo are all sympatric, and all live in colonies (including shared nesting areas). The flamingo has a pale pink body with brighter upperparts, deep vinaceous-pink lower neck, breast, and wing coverts. It is the only flamingo species with yellow legs and three-toed feet. The bill"
"different associated male. They have a variety of vocalizations including the social ""chicago"" call, contact ""pips"" and warning ""pips"". During the breeding season, males utter the agonistic ""squill"" and will often interrupt their social mate's ""chicago"" call with a ""squill,"" a possible form of antiphonal calling. The California quail is the state bird of California. It was established as the state bird in 1932. California quail The California quail (""Callipepla californica""), also known as the California valley quail or valley quail, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. These birds have a curving crest or ""plume"","
"diversities can be found at lower altitudes, especially in the humid Andean forests (""cloud forests"") growing on slopes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and far northwestern Argentina. These forest-types, which includes the Yungas and parts of the Chocó, are very rich in flora and fauna, although few large mammals exist, exceptions being the threatened mountain tapir, spectacled bear and yellow-tailed woolly monkey. Birds of humid Andean forests include mountain-toucans, quetzals and the Andean cock-of-the-rock, while mixed species flocks dominated by tanagers and furnariids commonly are seen – in contrast to several vocal but typically cryptic species of wrens, tapaculos and"
"natural hybrids have been mistaken for new species. A bird, allegedly collected in Bolaños, Mexico, was described and named ""Selasphorus floresii"" (Gould, 1861), or Floresi's hummingbird. Several more specimens were collected in California over a long period, and the species was considered extremely rare. The specimens were the hybrid offspring of an Anna's hummingbird and an Allen's hummingbird. A single bird collected in Santa Barbara, California, was described and named ""Trochilus violajugulum"" (Jeffries, 1888), or violet-throated hummingbird. It was later determined to be a hybrid between an Anna's hummingbird and a black-chinned hummingbird. During hovering flight, Anna's hummingbirds maintain high"
"ongoing efforts to preserve more open land in southern California to help ensure that this species will not disappear from its former range. California gnatcatchers are a focal species in many regional habitat conservation planning efforts. Monogamous pairs care for their brood of 3–5 eggs in cone-shaped nests. Brown-headed cowbirds are parasites that lay eggs in their nests. California gnatcatcher The California gnatcatcher (""Polioptila californica"") is a small long insectivorous bird which frequents dense coastal sage scrub growth. This species was recently split from the similar black-tailed gnatcatcher of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. This bird is often solitary, but"
"Cinereous antshrike The cinereous antshrike (""Thamnomanes caesius"") is an insectivorous bird in the antbird family Thamnophilidae. The term ""cinereous"" describes its colouration. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. The cinereous antshrike was described by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1820 and given the binomial name ""Muscicapa caesius"". It is now placed in the genus ""Thamnomanes"" which was introduced by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis in 1847. The specific epithet ""caesius"" is the Latin for ""bluish gray"". There are five"
"California towhee The California towhee (""Melozone crissalis"") is a bird of the family Passerellidae, native to the coastal regions of western Oregon and California in the United States and Baja California Sur in Mexico. The taxonomy of this species has been debated. At the higher level, some authors place the towhees in the family Fringillidae. Within the group, there has been debate about whether the distinction between this species and the similar canyon towhee (""Melozone fuscus"") should be at the specific or subspecific level. The two populations are quite isolated from each other, and molecular genetics seems to have settled"
"whitish over reddish to brown in the female. In addition to the display calls described in the breeding section below, foraging birds give a loud querulous “tank?” when disturbed or in flight. The Andean cock-of-the-rock is distributed in cloud forests of the Andes. It lives in a large range of about across Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, and Bolivia, mostly in ravines and forested streams in montane areas at elevation. It typically stays in the lower and middle forest levels, but will range higher in fruiting trees and will sometimes enter and cross clearings. It is generally shy and inconspicuous, often"