How long is the incubation period for my backyard birds? How long until the young ones leave the nest?
The length of time varies from species to species. PART VI. BIRDS IN THE CITY Q: I see hawks in my neighborhood – is this normal? A: Several species of hawks may be found in urban and suburban areas throughout California. The most numerous is probably the Red-tailed Hawk, a large, broad-winged raptor that is the “default” hawk over much of the U.S. If you live near old groves of trees, you might also see Red-shouldered Hawk, which is often seen perched on light poles along roads, watching for prey in grassy rights-of-way. Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned (winter only) hawks are also seen chasing birds around developed areas, and are frequent lurkers at bird feeders and bird baths. Falcons are present in developed areas, with American Kestrel the most frequently-seen. It is similar in size and shape to a Mourning Dove. Peregrine Falcons are sometimes seen swooping around skyscrapers, hunting for pigeons, and are joined by the much smaller Merlin in the winter. PART VI. CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT
