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ダグラスリス、森の小鳥たち / Douglas Squirrel and Small Birds of the Forest

Birds

While taking an evening walk in the forest for exercise, I unexpectedly encountered quite a few wildlife. The photos didn’t turn out great, but I’d still like to introduce them.

Acorn woodpecker.
A varied thrush with vibrant orange markings. It prefers dark forests, and so far, I’ve only seen it from a distance.
Douglas squirrel.

Squirrels are common in this area, but this particular one caught my attention due to its unfamiliar coloration. After some research, it appeared to be a Douglas squirrel. However, the range maps I found suggest that they only inhabit areas north of the San Francisco Bay Area. Since chipmunk identification is notoriously difficult, there might be a closely related species south of San Francisco that looks very similar.

Oak titmouse. It’s a very plain-looking bird, but field guides often add notes like “but it’s cute”—you can feel the affection from the authors. Its lack of distinct features seems to be its defining trait.
Its small crest of feathers is a charming feature.
Chestnut-backed chickadee, which often comes close without much fear. Both its behavior and appearance resemble the Japanese varied tit.
A Hutton’s vireo hopping actively between branches.

This was my first sighting of this species, but it looked remarkably similar to the ruby-crowned kinglet I had seen before. As I reviewed the identification points and looked back at my photos from the day, I noticed something that seemed slightly different.

At some point, the Hutton’s vireo I was watching turned into a ruby-crowned kinglet. They behave the same way in the same places—too confusing! Some key identification points: the ruby-crowned kinglet has a thinner bill, no black gap between the two white wing bars, and slightly yellowish legs. Indeed, they are different.

For just a casual walk, I ended up making quite a few interesting observations.

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