As a raptor, red tailed hawks eat meat, including small rodents like squirrels, chipmunks and even snakes.  They have a sharp hooked beak which helps tear flesh from their prey and their claws (called talons) help capture the meal and hold the prey in place while they eat.   To help capture the prey their feet have three forward facing toes and one backward facing toe that assist the hawk in grabbing or clamping down on the prey.  Though they prefer grasslands to help spot their prey, they are also found in deserts and forests as well. Amazingly, the red tailed hawks vision is eight times as powerful as a humans vision!

 Red tailed hawks are very common throughout the State Park and have adapted well to the urban edge also.  They are the birds that you may see sitting on a light pole along the road or on a freeway entrance ramp.  They are in search of their next meal!  Red tailed hawks are about 22 inches long and weigh in around two to four pounds.  These birds of prey are found throughout North America and do not migrate for the winter season.  Instead they make minimal adjustments in their range to meet their dietary requirements... in other words, they go where the food is most abundant.

Golden eagles eat anything from ground squirrels to snakes to even house cats!  They are well adept hunters and sometimes migrate to other lands when the food gets sparse. They breed with the same partner for life and tend to stay in their nesting territory permanently.  Females lay a clutch of one to three eggs each year.  Interestingly, both male and female golden eagles share in the rearing of the chicks.  

This bird species is protected throughout the United States through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  In fact it is a felony to possess a golden eagle feather and can be punishable up to 10 years in prison or $10,000.  Native Americans are able to possess their feathers as it is a recognized part of their culture.  Though not seen often in the Park there are golden eagles that hunt there on occasion.

Red-winged black birds are fiercely defensive of their nests and will try to fend off any harassing hawk, crow or even humans.  They will hover close and make an aggressive vocal attempt to get get the intruder out.  These birds, known for their solid black body and bright red wing, reach about 9.5 to 10.5 inches in length.  They are unmistakable in the field... you can't miss the red wing against the black feathers!

This bird is likely to be seen perched on a branch during breeding season.  Each nesting pair of birds will use twigs and grasses to build a cup shaped nest to hold their brood. Three to five pale blue spotted eggs will be laid by the female.  Their diet consists mainly of insects, dragonflies, beetles, butterflies and spiders.  Their predators include the coyote, raccoon, owls, red foxes and crows.  They play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling the insect population. 

Adult burrowing owls have brown feathers with white speckles.  They also have distinctly long legs and big yellow eyes.  Their bellies are brown with white bars across it.  They are not much bigger than a robin -- reaching about 10 inches long, with a wingspan of 21 inches.  Burrowing owls weigh in at only four pounds.   They eat small mammals, frogs, lizards, insects and even scorpions.  They have been known to catch their food by air and by foot, the latter of which is not a common habit among owls.

This species has suffered greatly from human activity throughout its entire range.  The owl utilizes burrows of other species, such as prairie dogs.  For areas where cattle were located, such as the State Park, cows often broke their legs in the burrows and the cattle grazing operation suffered.  Consequently an eradication program was begun to kill off the ground dwelling animals..  Unfortunately not only did the burrowing creatures die, but the burrowing owls did too.  This decline in the species has prompted its listing as a Species of Special Concern throughout its range.   The last burrowing owl to be spotted in Chino Hills State Park was in the 1980s.

Their diet consists of worms, seeds, insects and berries.  You may see them scratching at the soil.  This helps them find food and literally dig it up.  The California quail are also sometimes found along the roadways in the Park.  When startled they either take off in flight or their preferred method of escape is to run on foot.  They gather in flocks called coveys and one habit they've taken to is a dust baths.

It is thought that some quail populations are suffering due to loss of habitat, while others think they do well on the urban-wildland interface.

These year round residents do not migrate and their call is very easy to identify.  The "mew mew" sounds just like a baby kitten and if your quiet you can probably hear them the coastal sage. (Please note: it is considered harassment to mimic the call of the California gnatcatcher).  They average in size from about 4-4.5 inches and are slate gray in color, with a lighter colored stomach.  They also have a black cap on their heads.

This species was listed by California as a Species of Special Concern, but the United States Fish and Wildlife Service took it one step further and listed it as an Endangered Species.  This listing was done, in part, because 70-90% of its habitat has been converted to urban uses.  Roads have also played a major role in the decline of this species.  The little birds are not very good long distance flyers, so a two-lane road presents a giant obstacle to them.  In addition, increased fire frequency is another major problem as fires burn their preferred habitat and convert it to grasslands.

Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association · 4717 Sapphire Road, Chino Hills, CA 91709 · webmaster@ChinoHillsStatePark.org