NorCalSierraOutdoor ReportPacific Flyway
Relative bird numbers in the Sacramento Valley.
Dabbler
Drake: green head, white ring, chestnut breast. Hen: mottled brown, orange bill.
In flight: Steady wingbeats, blue speculum bordered white
Peak: O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Purple-blue speculum bordered white on BOTH sides.
Dabbler
Long neck, drake has chocolate head with white stripe and long pin tail.
In flight: Slender, fast, swept-back look
Peak: S O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Bronze-green speculum, buff front border, white trailing edge.
Dabbler
Tiny duck; drake chestnut head with green eye patch, vertical white bar.
In flight: Fast erratic tight flocks
Peak: O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Bright emerald speculum with a buff leading bar.
Dabbler
Huge spoon bill; drake green head, white chest, rusty sides.
In flight: Wings set far back, pale blue forewing
Peak: O N D J F
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Powder-blue forewing — the giveaway in flight.
Dabbler
Drake white crown, green eye stripe, pinkish body. Whistling call.
In flight: White forewing patch on drakes
Peak: O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Big white shoulder patch on drakes, green speculum.
Dabbler
Gray-brown drake with black rump; white speculum.
In flight: White square on trailing wing
Peak: O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Only dabbler with a WHITE speculum (square patch).
Dabbler
Drake ornate crested green head, red eye, white chin strap.
In flight: Long squared tail, head bobbing
Peak: S O N
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Blue-purple speculum with white trailing edge; long square tail.
Diver
Sloped wedge-shaped head and bill; drake rusty head, white back.
In flight: Very fast, long neck stretched
Peak: N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Pale gray wing, no bright speculum; white body flashes.
Diver
Peaked head, white ring on bill; drake black back, gray sides.
In flight: Gray secondaries, quick
Peak: N D J F
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Gray secondaries (no white wing stripe like scaup).
Goose
White body, black wingtips, pink bill with 'grin patch'.
In flight: Huge noisy wavering flocks
Peak: N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
All-white wing with black primaries.
Goose
Gray-brown, white face band at bill, orange legs. 'Specklebelly'.
In flight: Laughing yodel call, V lines
Peak: S O N D J
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Gray-brown wing with pale trailing edge; barred belly below.
Goose
Black neck and head, white chinstrap; cackler is small, stubby bill.
In flight: Honking V formations
Peak: O N D J F
Color palette
Wing pattern (upper wing)
Uniform brown wing, dark primaries, white U on rump.