Wings Over Water:
Birds Who Visit the Bay

California Least Tern

Look for... 

• tiny, (less than 10 inches) quick tern

• black cap and white forehead

• black wingtips, and white underbody

• black-tipped yellow bill

• a short, forked tail

• buoyant, fluttery flight

Habitat:

These terns like nesting on open gravel/sand and they usually feeds over calm Bay water.
 They can be seen feeding and scavenging for small, slender fish.

Where: Summer only (Apr–Aug). You can view them from outside the fenced Alameda Point nesting colony and at the adjacent Seaplane Lagoon/ferry. They can be seen along the Pacific cost all the way from San Pablo Bay to San Jose del Cabo.

Double-crested Cormorants

Look for...

• dark and long-necked geese-like waterbirds

• thin hook-tipped bills

• orange striking skin near their beak

• a white crest along eyes          

• low, floating flight

Habitat: 

These birds are most commonly seen in freshwater, the coast, and inland lakes.

Where: All year round. Roosting and fishing around Seaplane Lagoon, near South Shore, and near Bay Farm/Harbor Bay ferry channel. They can be seen perching near islands and high regions. 

Brown Pelican

Look for...

• huge birds with thin necks and extremely long, tucked bills

• wide orange throat pouches

• broad and long wingspan            

• bowed gliding pattern

• grey-brown birds with pale yellow head and white necks

• dark brown neck (breeding)  

• chestnut/white head (non-breeding)

Habitat: 

These pelicans can be seen in the open Bay and harbor edges. They are rarely seen inland (unless you're in Salton Sea!).

Where: Peak in fall or summer. Often in the Ballena Bay and Encinal breakwaters. You can also see many of them in Seaplane Lagoon. I've personally seen many of them plunge-diving during lunch time at the green bridge connecting Bay Farm and the main Alameda island.


Red-shouldered Hawk

Look for...

• rufous chest/belly

• heavily black-and-white banded tail

• loud “kee-yah” call          

• brown and cream underbelly

Habitat: 

These hawks can be seen in woody or leafy neighborhoods and parks near water.

Where: Year-round. You can spot them in tall trees at Washington Park, Lincoln Park, Krusi Park, Crab Cove, and other shoreline parks. They can also be seen along greenbelts in Bay Farm and other quiet tree-lined areas like  Jean Sweeney Park and Corica Park's golf course edges.

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Look for...

• small black-and-white woodpeckers

• “ladder-backed” bird

• males have a small red nape spot, and females have a black nape spot instead

Habitat: 

These woodpeckers usually nest around oaks  and mature ornamental trees.

Where: You can hear them before you see them! Listen for dry tapping sounds in  Washington, Lincoln, Krusi, and Jean Sweeney Parks. Especially look out for older tree-lined streets where oaks and sycamores are planted!

Black Phoebe

Look for...

• small sooty black flycatcher with a clean white belly

• tail-wags (in an up and down motion) from low perches

• a shrill chirping call

Habitat: 

These flycatchers can be found most often near water: ponds, lagoons, and shorelines. They can also be found down low to the ground in branches or rocks.

Where: You can find Black Phoebes around the South Shore lagoons, Crab Cove/Crown Beach, and Seaplane Lagoon. They can also be found near the edges of  storm-water ponds at Alameda Point, and Bay Farm lagoons.

Snowy Egrets

Look for...

• slim white heron with long pointed black bill

• bright yellow (adult) or dull green feet

• a patch of yellow along their eye to their bill

• active, dancy feeding style
   

Habitat: 

You can find these herons along tidal flats, marsh edges, and shallow lagoons or bodies of water.
 

Where: These herons can be found in Crab Cove, Crown Memorial Beach, Elsie Roemer Bird Sanctuary, Bay Farm shoreline/lagoon edges, and Ballena Bay mudflats during low tide. I've also seen one perched along the residential areas connected to the water in Bay Farm!

Ruby-crowned kinglets

Look for... 

• tiny olive colored songbird

• quick constantly flicking white banded wings

• males show a hidden ruby crown when excitedly singing in spring or summer
   

Habitat: 

This kinglet likes flitting through shrubs and trees. They can be seen mainly during the fall-spring or winter Alameda.
 

Where: You can see them in trees and roadside shrubberies in the Washington, Lincoln, Krusi, Chochenyo, and Jean Sweeney parks. You can also see them in Bay Farm greenbelts, and leafy residential yards.