Description:

Named after the Scottish-American ornithologist and artist Alexander Wilson (1766-1813), this bird is a common migrant through California. This bird primarily feed on insects, but may also feed on berries.


Appearance:

Olive-green colored upperparts. Yellow supercilium and underparts. Male has a round, black crown cap. Thin, pinkish, pointed bill. Pinkish legs. No wingbars or other distinctive marks. Female lacks black cap. 4.5 to 5 inches in length.


Habitat:

Woodland edges and thickets. Often found near water and willows.


Nesting:

4-5 white eggs with small reddish-brown spots and a 12-13 day incubation period. Nestlings fledge in 8-11 days. The nest is a bulky open cup made from leaves, moss, and rootlets. The nest is lined with hair and other soft plant materials. It is built on the ground and concealed in a clump of weeds or sedge.


Observed Locations:

• Bird and Butterfly Garden, Tijuana River Valley
• Agua Caliente Campground, Anza Borrego State Park
• Mission Trails, San Diego
• "The Drip", Cabrillo National Monument, Point Loma