The Birds of Bidwell Park

Book excerpt: Unlike any other group of organisms, birds have official common English names and by custom, the names are capitalized. So we have the American Robin, Oak Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, and Downy Woodpecker. The local jay is often mistakenly called a blue jay, but even though it is blue and is a jay, it is a Western Scrub Jay. The real Blue Jay lives mostly east of the Mississippi River. Author Roger Lederer and illustrator Carol Burr identify these characteristics for birdwatchers visiting Bidwell Park in Chico to observe over 100 species living there.