Birds

Birds commonly seen include:

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Vultures/ Birds of Prey
..Turkey Vulture	Common visitor seen soaring above campus year-round, occasionally feeding on dead animals along roads or in freshly disked areas.
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..White-tailed Kite	More common in adjacent foothills, but a few pairs are present in the southern portions of campus. At least one pair has nested regularly in the faculty housing area.
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..Sharp-shinned Hawk	Fairly common visitor throughout campus from fall through spring, preying on small birds in virtually any habitat type. Unlike its larger congener the Cooper's Hawk, this species does not breed on campus.
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..Cooper's Hawk	Fairly common throughout campus year-round, foraging on birds (often Western Scrub-Jays, Mourning Doves, and House Finches) in virtually any habitat type. A few pairs breed on campus; one pair has nested for several years in coast live oaks near the mausoleum, another near the Cabrillo-Mirada intersection.
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..Red-shouldered Hawk	Resident virtually throughout campus, foraging for small vertebrates in fields and occasionally on lawns. The number of breeding pairs is only 5-10 due to large territory size and the paucity of trees large enough for nesting. Most pairs of this highly vocal raptor nest in eucalyptus trees, which provide sturdy support for nests and protection from predators (see Red-tailed Hawk).
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..Red-tailed Hawk	A few pairs are resident on campus, foraging for California ground squirrels and smaller rodents in fields, ruderal habitats, and occasionally on lawns. Abundance is limited by territory size and availability of large trees for nesting. Competes to some extent with the Red-shouldered Hawk for nest sites, although generally prefers larger, sturdier platforms for nest support and more open canopies than the Red-shouldered Hawk.
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Pigeons/Doves
..Rock Dove	This exotic species is a fairly common breeder throughout main campus, nesting exclusively on buildings and other artificial structures.
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..Mourning Dove	Common to abundant resident throughout campus. Highly flexible in its use of nesting substrates; nests in a variety of trees and shrubs but also uses planters, artificial ledges, the eaves of buildings, and even old nests of other species.
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Owls
..Barn Owl	Several pairs are resident on campus. Nests on artificial ledges and cavities on several buildings, and (probably) natural tree cavities and within the dense crowns of palms. Often seen day-roosting in palms near the mausoleum or seen (and heard) flying over the main campus at night.
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..Great Horned Owl	Several pairs are resident on campus. Nests in tall trees (such as eucalyptus), often in old Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawk nests. A pair usually nests in the arboretum.
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Swifts
..White-throated Swift	A number of pairs nest in crevices and cavities under roof tiles and within the eaves of buildings on main campus. Communal roosts begin to form in late summer, and by winter, a flock of 50-100 roosts in or near the Main Quad. These birds forage widely (and high) during the day, but on a winter evening, they can be easily seen circling over the Quad before descending to their roost.
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Hummingbirds
..Anna's Hummingbird	Abundant throughout campus, nesting in virtually any type of tree or tall shrub, even in areas with heavy human activity. Nesting occurs throughout the winter, spring, and summer, peaking in late winter and spring. Concentrations may be present at flowering trees, such as eucalyptus.
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Flycatchers / Woodpecker	s
..Acorn Woodpecker	Common resident virtually wherever there are mature oaks. Social groups establish territories in which they collect acorns and cache them in the limbs and trunks of oaks, palms, eucalyptus, and occasionally the eaves of buildings. These caches are defended against Western Scrub-Jays and other groups of Acorn Woodpeckers. Although populations have declined in surrounding urban areas, those on campus should persist if mature oaks remain available.
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..Nuttall's Woodpecker	Fairly common resident, breeding in a number of areas on campus, especially around oaks. One pair nested in a large century plant in the old cactus garden, another in the oak near the Faculty Club patio.
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..Downy Woodpecker	Fairly common resident, breeding in a number of areas on campus.
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Jays / Crows / Ravens
.. Western Scrub-Jay	Common to abundant resident throughout campus, especially in oak-dominated habitats, where it feeds on acorns. Also eats a variety of fruits (including those of the eucalyptus), preys upon insects and small vertebrates, and scavenges discarded food items at Tresidder Union. Scrub-jays on campus have been seen killing and eating fully-grown juvenile European Starlings.
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Swallows
.. Cliff Swallow	Common resident from spring through fall, foraging aerially throughout campus. Large colonies in the Main Quad comprise most of the campus's breeding population, although a few pairs build their mud nests on residences and other structures. Nests are occasionally appropriated by House Sparrows.
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.. Barn Swallow	Common migrant and summer resident throughout campus, attaching its mud nests to walls and the eaves of buildings.
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Titmice / Chickadees
.. Oak Titmouse	Common resident throughout campus, nesting in natural cavities and old woodpecker holes. Territories often adjoin those of the Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Oak titmice are usually found in or near oak-dominated areas, being more strictly tied to oaks than the Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
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.. Chestnut-backed .... Chickadee	Common resident throughout campus, nesting in natural cavities and old woodpecker holes in a variety of trees and habitat types. Territories often adjoin those of the Oak Titmouse, with which the chickadee competes for nest sites and, to some extent, food -- though chickadees tend to forage more often on finer foliage than titmice, which forage more frequently on branches.
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Bushtits
.. Bushtit	Common to abundant resident throughout campus in a wide variety of habitat types. Often found in large flocks, occasionally exceeding 50-75 individuals, throughout most of the year (except early in the nesting season).
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Nuthatches
.. White-breasted .. .. Nuthatch	Common resident in oak-dominated areas throughout campus, only occasionally occurring away from oaks. Nests in natural cavities and old woodpecker holes.
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Kinglets
.. Ruby-crowned .. .. Kinglet	Fairly common migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus.
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Thrushes
.. American Robin	Common resident throughout campus, nesting in a variety of trees and tall shrubs and on artificial substrates, such as planters and the eaves of buildings. Occasionally seen in flocks from fall through spring.
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Mockingbirds / Thrashers
.. Northern Mockingbird	Common to abundant resident throughout campus, nesting and foraging in a variety of habitat types. Did not occur on campus historically, but populations from southern California expanded northward throughout this century. One on campus in 1893 may have been the first record from the San Francisco Bay area.
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Starlings
.. European Starling	Abundant resident which first bred at Stanford in 1963; found in a variety of habitat types throughout campus. Nests in a variety of artificial cavities and crevices but also uses natural cavities, including woodpecker holes. Stanford-area studies of interactions between starlings and Acorn Woodpeckers suggest that appropriation of woodpecker cavities by starlings may not have a significant impact on Acorn Woodpecker populations.
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Waxwings
.. Cedar Waxwing	Fairly common to common migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus, feeding on fruits and seeds of a number of tree and shrub species. Often occurs in flocks. Some birds linger into early June each year, but no evidence of nesting has been observed on campus or in the vicinity.
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Wood-Warblers
.. Yellow-rumped Warbler	Common migrant and winter resident in various habitat types throughout campus. Densities may be quite high at flowering eucalyptus trees.
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..California Towhee	Common resident in a variety of habitat types virtually throughout campus. More common and widespread than the Spotted Towhee, foraging more frequently in open habitats and farther from cover than the Spotted. Probably the species most frequently parasitized by the Brown-headed Cowbird on campus.
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..Spotted Towhee	Fairly common resident virtually throughout campus, primarily in dense patches of brushy vegetation. Distributed fairly sparsely on most of main campus but more common and widespread in woodland and scrub habitats near the Dish and around faculty housing. Less common and widespread than the California Towhee, and generally restricted to dense vegetation, unlike the California.
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Sparrows
..Savannah Sparrow	Fairly common migrant and winter resident in areas having broad expanses of short vegetation. Occurs primarily in the dry bed of Lagunita in fall and in short grassland near the Dish, but may visit playfields and the Oval.
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.. White-crowned .... Sparrow	Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brush or dense weedy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with Golden-crowned Sparrows, but is less closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation and more likely to occur in or near tall grasses and forbs (without nearby brush) than the Golden-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.
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.. Golden-crowned .... Sparrow	Common migrant and winter resident virtually throughout campus, occurring in a variety of habitat types but usually found in close proximity to the cover of brushy vegetation. Often occurs in flocks with White-crowned Sparrows, although it is more closely tied to shrubs and brushy vegetation, and less likely to occur in tall grasses and forbs away from brush, than is the White-crowned. Forages primarily on or near the ground, although in spring flocks forage in the crowns of flowering oaks and eucalyptus.
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Blackbirds
.. Red-winged Blackbird	Common breeder in mustard and other herbaceous vegetation on the hills near the Dish and near Lagunita, fairly rare as a breeder elsewhere on campus. A few pairs may nest in the wetland area south of Campus Drive between Lomita Drive and Palm Drive. During the nonbreeding season, small numbers (and occasionally flocks) may forage throughout campus.
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.. Brewer's Blackbird	Common to abundant resident in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus.
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.. Brown-headed Cowbird	Fairly common breeder in a variety of habitats virtually throughout campus, less common during the nonbreeding season. Laying its eggs in the nests of other species, the Brown-headed Cowbird has been observed parasitizing the California Towhee (the most frequent cowbird host) and [OBSERVERS ADD OTHER SPECIES] on campus.
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Finches
.. House Finch	Abundant resident in various habitats throughout campus. Frequently nests on artificial substrates, such as planters and the eaves of buildings.
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.. American Goldfinch	Fairly common migrant and winter resident in various habitats virtually throughout campus. Often forages in flocks (occasionally at feeders) during the nonbreeding season.
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.. Lesser Goldfinch	Common resident in various habitats virtually throughout campus. May forage in flocks during the nonbreeding season.
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Old World Sparrows
.. House Sparrow	Common resident around artificial structures throughout campus. This species nests in artificial crevices and cavities in buildings and other structures, and occasionally in bluebird nest boxes. Although it often forages on seeds in weedy and brushy habitats, the House Sparrow most frequently feeds on human leftovers.
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Birds not often seen include:

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Vultures/ Birds of Prey
..American Kestrel	Uncommon resident on campus, nesting in natural tree cavities, Acorn Woodpecker holes, and occasionally in buildings and foraging in field habitats. One pair nested inside the old chemistry building on Lomita Drive, entering through a broken window!
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..Merlin	Uncommon migrant and winter visitor virtually throughout campus. During winter, often seen perched conspicuously at the tops of tall redwoods and eucalyptus trees or in rapid pursuit of Mourning Doves, House Finches, and other birds.
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New World Quail
..California Quail	Uncommon and rapidly declining on campus, this species is now present primarily in southern portions of campus, where it forages in grassy habitats or under oaks and uses dense brush and ornamental plantings for cover. Historically common throughout but now extirpated from many areas, probably due to predation by cats. As recently as the early 1990s, coveys of quail could be found in the Arboretum and around the Oval, but these birds have mostly disappeared.
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Marsh Birds/Shorebirds
..Killdeer	Uncommon resident in areas providing broad expanses of bare ground or short vegetation. Often seen around Lagunita (even when dry if vegetation has been mown), this species also forages on lawns, including playfields and the Oval. Probably breeds on campus.
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Gulls/Terns
..Ring-billed Gull	Generally an uncommon visitor to campus from fall through spring. Usually seen foraging on playfields or at the Oval, where it may be locally common at times (especially when feeding on earthworms after rains). Also forages and bathes at Lagunita.
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..California Gull	Generally an uncommon visitor to campus from fall through spring. Usually seen foraging on playfields or at the Oval, where it may be locally common at times (especially when feeding on earthworms after rains). Also forages and bathes at Lagunita.
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Pigeons/Doves
..Band-tailed Pigeon	Irregular visitor to campus, most often seen (occasionally in flocks) feeding in eucalyptus or olive trees in the Arboretum or the faculty housing areas. The erratic nature of this species' movements, nesting periods, and abundance are evident on campus, where it can range from virtually absent to fairly common at any time of year.
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Swifts
..Vaux's Swift	Uncommon and irregular migrant on campus, occasionally seen foraging overhead, often with swallows or White-throated Swifts.
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Hummingbirds
..Rufous Hummingbird	Uncommon spring migrant, rarely seen in fall. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.
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..Allen's Hummingbird	Uncommon spring migrant, seldom seen in summer or fall. Breeds in the adjacent foothills and possibly on campus, although nesting has not been recorded here. Most often observed foraging at feeders or flowering trees, especially eucalyptus.
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Woodpeckers
.. Northern Flicker	The "Red-shafted" form is an uncommon to fairly common migrant and winter resident throughout campus. Less common in summer, though a few pairs likely breed on campus. Often forages in mature trees, but forages on the ground (usually on ants) more often than any other woodpecker. "Yellow-shafted" Flickers and intergrades between Red-shafted and Yellow-shafted are fairly rare on campus, occurring occasionally in fall and winter.
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..Red-breasted Sapsucker	Uncommon migrant and winter resident throughout campus. Excavates wells in eucalyptus, coast live oaks, cedars, and other trees, feeding on extruded sap and entangled insects. In fall and winter, a few can be found fairly easily in the Arboretum by looking for recently excavated wells.
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Vireos
..Hutton's Vireo	Uncommon resident in habitats dominated by coast live oaks. Few pairs breed on campus, although a pair or two can usually be found near the Mausoleum at any time of year.
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..Warbling Vireo	Uncommon migrant throughout campus. A fairly common breeder in riparian and foothill areas nearby, but not known to breed on campus.
Flycatchers	A
...Black Phoebe	Uncommon to fairly common resident throughout campus, being somewhat more common fall through spring than during summer. Nests of mud are attached to eaves or the sides of buildings, occasionally built on ledges.
Jays / Crows / Ravens
.. American Crow	Uncommon resident throughout campus, foraging on a wide variety of food items (fruits, small animals, and human refuse). Populations have increased in the Stanford area over the past few decades.
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.. Common Raven	Increasingly common visitor to campus. Most often seen in fall and winter, when flocks flying between bayside foraging areas and foothill roost sites can be seen flying over campus. This species' local populations have increased dramatically in recent years, and nesting on campus occurred for the first time in 1999, when a pair nested on Green Library.
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Swallows
.. Tree Swallow	Uncommon forager around campus from spring through fall, often with flocks of Violet-green and other swallows. Often breeds near water, and perhaps could nest near Lagunita some years, although breeding has not been confirmed on campus [ANY BREEDING RECORDS?].
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.. Violet-green Swallow	Uncommon to fairly common migrant and summer resident. Large flocks of migrants or post-breeding individuals occasionally forage or roost on campus. Small numbers nest in natural cavities and woodpecker holes (especially near the Dish), and occasionally in crevices and cavities in buildings on campus.
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.. N. Rough-winged .... Swallow	Uncommon forager on campus from spring through fall, often seen foraging over Lagunita in spring. Not known to breed on campus.
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Creepers
.. Brown Creeper	Fairly rare to uncommon migrant and winter resident in a variety of habitats throughout campus. Not known to breed on campus.
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Nuthatches
.. Red-breasted Nuthatch	Fairly rare and irregular migrant and winter visitor, usually found foraging in redwoods, pines, and cedars. Abundance increases every few years when irruptions occur.
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Wrens
.. Bewick's Wren	Uncommon to locally common resident virtually throughout campus, occurring primarily in dense patches of brushy vegetation. Distributed fairly sparsely on most of main campus but more common and widespread in woodland and scrub habitats near the Dish and around faculty housing.
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Thrushes
.. Swainson's Thrush	Uncommon migrant, being most abundant in spring. Typically found in areas providing dense low vegetation.
.. Hermit Thrush	Uncommon migrant and winter resident, foraging on fruits and invertebrates in areas providing dense low vegetation.
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.. Varied Thrush	Fairly rare to uncommon resident from fall through spring. Occurs in a number of areas on campus, usually in more heavily vegetated areas than those used by the similar American Robin, although it is often found in flocks of robins. A few can be found near the Mausoleum in winter.
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Mockingbirds / Thrashers	A
.. California Thrasher	Resident where dense, brushy vegetation provides cover and nesting habitat, although may forage in the open and sing from high, exposed perches. Sparsely distributed on main campus, but one or two pairs are usually present near the Oval. More common and widespread in scrub near the Dish and around faculty housing.
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Pipits
.. American Pipit	Uncommon to fairly rare migrant and winter resident in areas having broad expanses of short vegetation. Occurs primarily in the dry bed of Lagunita in fall and in short grassland near the Dish, although may occasionally visit playfields and the Oval.
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.. Orange-crowned .... Warbler	Uncommon migrant in various habitat types throughout campus. May breed in woodland and scrub near the Dish.
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..Townsend's Warbler	Uncommon migrant and winter resident in various habitat types throughout campus. A few can be found in oaks and eucalyptus trees near the Mausoleum in fall and winter.
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..Yellow Warbler	Uncommon migrant in various habitat types throughout campus. Breeds in the Stanford vicinity, but no suitable breeding habitat (riparian vegetation dominated by cottonwoods, willows, and alders) is present on main campus.
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Sparrows
..Fox Sparrow	Uncommon migrant and winter resident in dense patches of brushy vegetation, sparsely on most of main campus but more common in woodland and scrub habitats near the Dish and around faculty housing.
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..Song Sparrow	Uncommon resident in weedy or brushy vegetation near water, as at Lagunita and in the wetland area south of Campus Drive between Lomita Drive and Palm Drive. Small numbers nest in these areas. During the nonbreeding season, some (possibly migrants) are occasionally found in brush, scrub, and dense weedy vegetation away from water.
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Juncos
..Dark-eyed Junco	Uncommon and local summer resident, fairly common and more widespread during migration and in winter. Breeding birds on main campus nest almost exclusively in dense mats of ivy and other vines planted around buildings and courtyards, although the choice of nesting cover may be more diverse in woodland and scrub habitats near the Dish and in the faculty housing area. From fall through spring, flocks (sometimes fairly large in the Arboretum) occur virtually throughout campus.
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Cardinals
.. Black-headed .... Grosbeak	Uncommon migrant in various habitats throughout campus, most common near the Dish where it breeds in small numbers in wooded areas.
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Orioles
.. Hooded Oriole	Uncommon and local migrant and summer resident, nesting almost exclusively in fan palms. Often observed near such palms inside the Main Quad and in the faculty housing area (e.g., Frenchman's Road).
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.. Bullock's Oriole	Uncommon migrant and summer resident virtually throughout campus, more widespread than the Hooded Oriole. Often seen in oaks and eucalyptus in the Arboretum and in woodlands near the Dish.
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Finches
.. Purple Finch	Uncommon and irregular migrant and winter resident in various habitats throughout campus. Occasionally seen at feeders or foraging on fruits and seeds in the Arboretum.
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.. Pine Siskin	Irregularly uncommon to fairly rare migrant and winter resident throughout campus. Virtually absent in some winters but present in flocks (often at feeders or on conifers) in others.
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