Fairy and Miner Bees California Fairy Bee Perdita californica April - June, timed to blooming of Mariposa Lily Read More California Poppy Fairy Bee Perdita interrupta April - June, timed to blooming of California Poppy Read More Andrena Miner Bee Andrena January - Fall (but primarily January - April) Read More Panurginus Miner Bee Panurginus Early Spring Read More

Sweat Bees Lasioglossum Lasioglossum Early Spring – Fall Read More Red-tailed Micro-Shortface Bee Micralictoides ruficaudus April and May Read More Tripartite Sweat Bee Halictus tripartitus March - November Read More

Bees A-Z Filter by Bee Type Select Bee Type January - Fall (but primarily January - April) Andrena Miner Bee Andrena Andrena are small to medium-sized, often metallic bees, recognizable by their elongate abdomens, facial foveae in females, hairy-faced males, and banded abdomen tips. Read More Summer Ashmeadiella Ashmeadiella Small (6 mm), burly, non-metallic bees with black head/thorax, pale-striped or red abdomens, a sharply ridged smooth-to-pitted thorax, and—unlike Megachile—an arolium pad between tarsal claws. Read More April to June Bindweed Turret Bee Diadasia bituberculata Diadasia bituberculata specializes on bindweed and morning glory flowers, with long mouthparts and females bearing long, widely-spaced pollen hairs on their hind legs. Read More January - July (rarely as early as December) Black-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus Bombus melanopygus is a stout, mid-sized bumble bee with pale yellow hair and black wing-base bands; northern populations show red-orange abdominal segments, black at Mount Diablo. Read More February - September California Bumble Bee Bombus californicus Bombus californicus is a mostly black, mid-to-large bumble bee with yellow hair in front of the wings, a black band between wing bases, and an always-yellow 4th abdominal tergum. Read More February - May; there may be a Fall generation too California Digger Bee Anthophora californicus Anthophora californica is black with non-hairy ivory bands on each abdominal segment; females have green eyes and hind-leg scopae, males have spiny red hind tibiae. Read More June - August California Digger-cuckoo Bee Brachymelecta californica Brachymelecta californica is a cuckoo bee of Anthophora nests, with broken white hair stripes on the abdomen, gray-white thorax/head hair, and (formerly Xeromelecta) females lacking leg scopae. Read More April - June, timed to blooming of Mariposa Lily California Fairy Bee Perdita californica Perdita californica is a small (6 mm), colorful bee with a gold/red abdomen, two submarginal cells, and a large wing stigma. Read More February - early June California Mountain Digger Bee Habropoda depressa Habropoda depressa is a stout gray bee with brownish appressed abdominal hair, white outer hind-leg scopae, a broad flat head, and a first recurrent vein reaching near the second submarginal cell's apex (vs. Anthophora). Read More April - June, timed to blooming of California Poppy California Poppy Fairy Bee Perdita interrupta Perdita interrupta is a tiny (4-5 mm), metallic blue bee with incomplete ivory abdominal bands, an ivory-white face, and a short, abruptly-ending wing cell. Read More April - June California Resin-Leafcutter Bee Trachusa perdita Trachusa perdita is a black, pale-striped bee with grayish hair; males have a white clypeus, and females show a pollen scopa under the abdomen. Read More May - August California Rotund-Resin Bee Anthidiellum notatum robertsonii Anthidiellum notatum robertsonii is a compact yellow-and-black bee with an overlapping head shelf and extended scutellum over the propodeum, unlike Dianthidium. Read More April - June Chelostoma californicum Scissor Bee Chelostoma californicum Chelostoma californicum is a medium (8-9 mm), cylindrical black bee with white abdominal hair bands, an elongated scutellum, and scissor-like mandibles in females. Read More March - Fall Colletes Cellophane Bees Colletes Colletes are medium, fuzzy bees with a triangular hairy face, a hair-striped tapered abdomen, long hind-leg scopae, and an S-shaped second recurrent vein. Read More April - June Dark Bees Stelis Stelis are cuckoo bees, mostly metallic black to blue-green, lightly haired with incomplete pale markings, no leg scopae, and 2 spines on the middle tibia. Read More Late May - August Dianthidium Dianthidium Dianthidium are yellow-and-black, mostly hairless bees with 2 submarginal cells, paper-thin pronotal lobes, and yellow running along the inner eye margins. Read More Earlier Spring (starting late-February/early March) Edwards Digger Bee Anthophora edwardsii Anthophora edwardsii has a mostly dark abdomen without bold hair bands. There can be a metallic bluish sheen to abdomen. Read More March - early June Edwards Melectum Melecta edwardsii Melecta edwardsii is a medium-large bee with cream-haired thorax, a blue-black hairless abdomen, black under-wing hairs, and distinctive long scutellar spines. Read More March to June Eucera Longhorn Bee Eucera Eucera (subgenus Synhalonia) males have long black antennae and tan clypeus hair; females have a dark clypeus, squared abdomen, and broad, flat-topped head. Read More Later March - June Foothill Carpenter Bee Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex is the smallest local carpenter bee (12-18 mm); females are metallic black with smoky wings, males tan-faced with tan thorax hair. Read More April - early June. Hoplitis Mason Bee Hoplitis Mount Diablo's Hoplitis bees are sleek, elongate, black or metallic green, with abdominal pollen scopa and an arolium pad on front tarsal claws (unlike Megachile). Read More April - September Hylaeus Masked Bees Hylaeus Hylaeus are tiny (3-8 mm), slender, wasp-like black bees with yellow face and leg markings, little hair, and no female scopae; males show more facial yellow. Read More Early Spring – Fall Lasioglossum Lasioglossum Lasioglossum are variable, often shiny bees (2-8 mm) with an arched basal wing vein, 2-3 submarginal cells, and hair bands at segment bases (unlike Halictus). Read More March - May Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Melecta separata callura is a medium-large (~15 mm) cuckoo bee of Anthophora nests, black with white patching on abdomen and legs, and females lacking scopae. Read More Summer Megachile Leafcutter Bee Megachile Megachile are mostly medium, black or gray, whitish-striped bees, often hairy with facial bumps; females have abdominal scopae, males blunt abdomen tips. Read More Late Summer to Fall Melissodes Longhorn Bee Melissodes Melissodes are medium-large bees (13-15 mm) with males' long, bicolored antennae, medial abdominal hair bands, plumose scopae (vs. Eucera), and a large marginal cell. Read More February - June Nomad Bees Nomada Nomada are wasp-like cuckoo bees of Andrena nests, nearly hairless, red/yellow/black, 2-12 mm (usually medium), with females lacking leg scopae. Read More Primarily April - June, but Osmia ribifloris biedermanniiappears from January. Osmia Mason Bee Osmia Osmia are compact, metallic bees (blue, purple, green, or black), with abdominal pollen scopa and a front-leg arolium pad, unlike Megachile. Read More February and March - not common. Pacific Digger Bee Anthophora pacifica Anthophora pacifica females are all dark with white hind scopae and a bluish abdomen; males have white mid-tarsal fringes, white terga 1-2, and yellow facial patches. Read More Early Spring Panurginus Miner Bee Panurginus These small (5-8 mm) early-season, community-nesting bees are mostly hairless and black, with a yellow clypeus, a truncated wing marginal cell, and 2 submarginal cells. Read More April - August Prong-faced Slender-Mason Bee Protosmia rubifloris Protosmia rubifloris is a small-medium black bee (~7.5 mm) with white abdominal hair bands; females have slender forward mandibles and a spatula-like clypeal process. Read More April and May Red-tailed Micro-Shortface Bee Micralictoides ruficaudus The Red-tailed Micro-Shortface Bee is a tiny (4-6 mm) Rophitinae sweat bee with low-set antennae, orange-red terga 1-3, a dark head, and 2 submarginal wing cells. Read More March - July Small Carpenter Bee Ceratina Ceratina are small, metallic gunmetal green/black carpenter bees, nearly hairless, females with a yellow clypeal mark, males a white anchor-shaped facial patch. Read More March - November Tripartite Sweat Bee Halictus tripartitus Halictus tripartitus is a small (5-6 mm) bee with a dull green metallic thorax, apical abdominal hair bands, an arched basal wing vein, and a broad, toothless head. Read More Late Spring - Early Fall Urbane Digger Bee Anthophora urbana Anthophora urbana has white bands at the tergal segment tips, well-developed hind-leg scopae, and bluish eyes. Read More March – September (Uncommon on Mount Diablo) Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina Xylocopa sonorina is a very large bee (18-26 mm) with an inflated abdomen; females are dark and shiny with purplish-coppery wings, males blonde-haired with green eyes. Read More January - September Yellow-faced Bumble Bee Bombus vosnesenskii Bombus vosnesenskii is a stout, large, mostly black bumble bee with yellow hair in front of the wing bases and on its square face and head top. Read More

Birds A-Z Prev 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Next Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus An oak woodland specialist with bright eyes, a white face, reddish crown, and pied black-and-white wings. Social; nests in tree cavities; eats insects, sap, fruit. Read More Allen's Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin Found in residential areas, riparian zones, oak woodlands, and chaparral. Male shows rufous sides/tail with green back; female resembles female Rufous Hummingbird. Read More American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Found in open forests and woodlands, or open country with scattered trees. Black, smaller-billed than Common Raven, with rectangular tail and steady wing beats. Read More American Kestrel Falco sparverius Found in open areas and semi-forested habitats. Orangish tail; male has bluish wings, female orangish-brown. Smallest North American falcon; often hovers while hunting. Read More American Pipit Anthus rubescens Frequents grassy fields and wet meadows. Buffy, streaked breast; dark tail with white outer feathers. Pumps tail while walking; sometimes forms flocks. Read More American Robin Turdus migratorius Found in woodlands and edges; visits fruit-bearing trees in winter. Yellowish bill, red-orange breast, white lower belly. Male's head darker than female's. Read More Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Found in open woodlands to brushy chaparral. Greenish upperparts, dusky white below. Male has red throat and crown. Nests in trees; feeds on nectar and insects. Read More Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Found in open woodlands to brushy chaparral. Greenish upperparts, dusky white below. Male has red throat and crown. Nests in trees; feeds on nectar and insects. Read More Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Plump dove of woodlands, often in groups. Broad pale band on tail tip, white band on hind neck, yellow feet, yellow black-tipped bill. Read More Barn Owl Tyto alba White heart-shaped face and dark eyes are distinctive. No ear tufts Read More Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Found in open areas near water. Deeply forked tail, reddish-orange throat, buffy orange underparts. Nests on buildings or under bridges; eats insects in flight. Read More Bell's Sparrow Artemisiospiza belli Chaparral sparrow with distinct breast spot, dark whiskers, white eye-ring. Gray head contrasts with browner back. Runs on ground with tail held high. Read More Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii Found in brushy, scrubby, and riparian habitats. Brown/grayish-brown upperparts, white underparts, distinctive eyebrow. Long tail cocked like a wren. Feeds on insects. Read More Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Found in open or wooded habitats near water. Tail-pumping habit, mostly black plumage, white belly and undertail coverts. Nests on cliffs or buildings. Read More Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus Found in open or wooded habitats near water. Tail-pumping habit, mostly black plumage, white belly and undertail coverts. Nests on cliffs or buildings. Read More Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens Found in deciduous, riparian, and pine-oak woodlands. Male: black and cinnamon-orange with white wing markings. Female: large beak, striped head. Sharp 'eek' call. Read More Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea Male has black throat, cheek, and crown separated by white with small yellow lore spot. Female and immature are slate gray with less prominent markings. Read More Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Active insectivore, blue-gray above, whitish below, with a narrow white eye ring. Longish tail mostly white underneath. Read More Brown Creeper Certhia americana Eye color distinguishes sexes: adult male whitish, female dark. Male appears purplish in good light, otherwise black; female is brownish gray. Read More Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Eye color distinguishes sexes: adult male whitish, female dark. Male appears purplish in good light, otherwise black; female is brownish gray. Read More Bullok's Oriole Icterus bullockii Brown-headed adult male is distinctive on this small blackbird. Adult female is grayish-brown with light throat. Juveniles are buffy gray, scaly-backed. Read More Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Found in open or dispersed woodlands. Male: black crown/throat/eye-line, orange face, white wing patch. Female: yellow head/breast, pale gray back. Eats insects, nectar. Read More Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus Found in open or dispersed woodlands. Male: black crown/throat/eye-line, orange face, white wing patch. Female: yellow head/breast, pale gray back. Eats insects, nectar. Read More California Quail Callipepla californica Found in scrub-oak and pine-oak woodlands, chaparral. Tiny, short-billed, grayish; no yellow in face. Sharp twittering call; travels in flocks. Eats small insects. Read More California Scrub Jay Aphelocoma californica California's state bird; found in chaparral, foothills, and urban parks. Forward-curving black head plume; male gray-blue chest, scaled belly. Social, forms coveys of 10-20; forages on ground for seeds and insects. Read More Prev 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Next

articles about plants wildlife spiders mammals insects Articles Filter by Category Select Category Pepsis Tarantula Hawk Has Found Its Prey While most of us “Mount Diablo-philes” have a great love for our local tarantulas, I am also enamored with Tarantula Hawks – those large, magnetic blue-black wasps with the orange wings! July 5, 2025 More Hoverflies Hoverflies are Flies in Disguise June 24, 2025 More Jeweled Spider Flies One of my favorite insects is quite uncommon ... June 20, 2025 More Pollen Wasp It isn’t a pest or a predator - this Pollen Wasp behaves more like a bee... June 20, 2025 More Crab Spider Crab Spiders Use Flower Power May 28, 2025 More Acorn Woodpecker A bird that's nut for acorns! May 21, 2025 More Coyote The barking dog May 21, 2025 More Dragonfly Oh my! What big eyes you have! May 21, 2025 More 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 11

Diggers, Bumbles, Longhorn, and Nomad Bees Black-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus January - July (rarely as early as December) Read More California Bumble Bee Bombus californicus February - September Read More Yellow-faced Bumble Bee Bombus vosnesenskii January - September Read More Foothill Carpenter Bee Xylocopa tabaniformis orpifex Later March - June Read More Small Carpenter Bee Ceratina March - July Read More Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina March – September (Uncommon on Mount Diablo) Read More California Digger-cuckoo Bee Brachymelecta californica June - August Read More Edwards Melectum Melecta edwardsii March - early June Read More Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura March - May Read More Nomad Bees Nomada February - June Read More California Digger Bee Anthophora californicus February - May; there may be a Fall generation too Read More California Mountain Digger Bee Habropoda depressa February - early June Read More Edwards Digger Bee Anthophora edwardsii Earlier Spring (starting late-February/early March) Read More Pacific Digger Bee Anthophora pacifica February and March - not common. Read More Urbane Digger Bee Anthophora urbana Late Spring - Early Fall Read More Eucera Longhorn Bee Eucera March to June Read More Melissodes Longhorn Bee Melissodes Late Summer to Fall Read More Bindweed Turret Bee Diadasia bituberculata April to June Read More

Wildflower Mount Diablo Hospital Canyon Larkspur Scientific Name: Delphinium californicum ssp. interius Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) Blooms: May - Jun Color: White Perennial herb Native, endemic to California California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere ). This plant is rare in Mount Diablo State Park. See full list Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Wildflower Mount Diablo Valley Tassels, Narrow Leaved Owl's Clover Scientific Name: Castilleja attenuata Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family) Blooms: Mar - May Color: White Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty

Ruby-crowned Kinglet by Dan Sandri January 1, 2024 Dan Sandri Hey! What’s that small, seemingly-restless bird, on the move through the tree branches, making rapid chipping sounds and flicking its wings? It’s there… but then it isn’t… It may be one of our most active Mount Diablo Winter residents: a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula). A Ruby-crowned Kinglet is an olive-green and golden-colored bird, with a prominent white eye ring, white wingbar and very small, thin bill. This wingbar contrasts with a black bar on the wing, which helps differentiate it from the similar-looking, but a bit larger, Hutton’s Vireo (Hutton’s Vireos also have a more-conical bill). The “ruby crown” possesed by the male is only occasionally visible, when the bird is agitated or excited, especially in Spring. In Summer, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets have migrated to the north or northeast and are common in conifer and mixed forests in the northwestern United States and across Canada. Ruby-Crowned Kinglets nest high in trees, and therefore in this season prefer taller, older trees. During migration and in Winter, they are common in woods and thickets across most of the continent. Ruby-Crowned Kinglets prey on spiders and many types of insects, foraging in tree foliage, flitting about, hovering and pecking in in their search for food. These birds also eat a small amount of seeds and fruit, including poison-oak berries. So keep an eye out for this Kinglet – or an ear for their chatter, as they are often heard first. Tis the season! Bird Guide: https://www.mdia.org/birds-1-1/ruby-crowned-kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)1 Dan Sandri.jpeg BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Blue field gilia, Bluehead gilia Scientific Name: Gilia capitata Family: Polemoniaceae Blooms: Feb - Apr Color: Blue-Purple Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Wildflower Mount Diablo Yellow Woolly Paintbrush, Woolly Painted Cup Scientific Name: Castilleja foliolosa var. flava Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family) Blooms: Mar - Apr Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Red form is more common. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Stephen Smith Ruth Ann Kishi

Wildflower Mount Diablo Fourspot Clarkia Scientific Name: Clarkia purpurea Family: Onagraceae (Evening Primrose Family) Blooms: Apr-Jul Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald