Chaparral Species
Chaparral Habitat - Home to Tough Plants and Feisty, Territorial Animals
Many animal species in the chaparral, especially birds, are highly territorial - meaning they establish a home/breeding location and defend it from competitors (for resources and mates).
For example, the little Wrentit, shown in the image above, defends its 1 to 1 1/2-acre territory throughout its lifespan (up to 10 years or more). The species forms a pair bond for life. The definitive, and wonderfully written description of the Wrentit's energetic life is Mary Erickson's, Territory, Annual Cycle, and Numbers in a Population of Wren-tits (Chamaea fasciata), written in 1938.
For example, the little Wrentit, shown in the image above, defends its 1 to 1 1/2-acre territory throughout its lifespan (up to 10 years or more). The species forms a pair bond for life. The definitive, and wonderfully written description of the Wrentit's energetic life is Mary Erickson's, Territory, Annual Cycle, and Numbers in a Population of Wren-tits (Chamaea fasciata), written in 1938.
Chaparral Birds - the 5 Essentials
1. Wrentit (observed mostly by call)
2. Spotted Towhee
3. Western Scrub-Jay
Famous Chaparral Birds
The essential paper on the Wrentit by Mary Erickson is a wonderful read. The conclusion to her paper is available here.
The California Thrasher is famous in the world of ecology because it was the species studied by Joseph Grinnell in 1917 to develop the niche concept. The original paper is available here.
4. California Towhee
5. California Thrasher
More Chaparral Birds
1. Bushtit
2. Canyon Wren
3. Bewick's Wren
4. Greater Roadrunner
5. Anna's Hummingbird
6. Fox sparrow (winter)
7. Hermit Thrush (winter)
8. Golden-crowned Sparrow (winter)
9. Lark Sparrow
10. Allen's Hummingbird
Greater Roadrunner
Birds especially common in chaparral for several years after a fire
1. Costa's Hummingbird (especially spring and summer)
2. Rufous-crowned Sparrow
3. Lazuli Bunting (April through September)
4. Lawrence's Goldfinch
5. Black-chinned sparrow (April through summer months)
Excellent information on how fire impacts bird populations from the San Diego Natural History Museum (post 2003 Cedar Fire study) can be found here.
Costa's Hummingbird
Burrowing Owl
We have a soft spot in our hearts for the little Burrowing Owl, even though it is not a chaparral species. They can live in open sage scrub habitat, so we will let that count. We successfully went to court to save a colony of these birds in the open scrubland of Otay Mesa in San Diego County. Please visit our special owl page on these very special creatures.
Notable Chaparral Arthropods
In order to survive drought and fire, insects have evolved an amazing assortment of adaptations.
Here are a few amazing chaparral species.
One of the most beautiful moths on earth lives in the chaparral. The ceanothus silk moth (Hyalophora euryalus). Photo: Kirby Wolfe.
The spittle bug adult (Aphrophora species) emerges from its pupa. This is the little creature that forms a protective foamy mass around itself as it sucks on a plant's fluids. Often found on California sagebrush (Artemisia Californica). Photo: Cristina Sandoval.
The tarantula hawk wasp (Pepsis species) hunts down a tarantula to stun and carry down its burrow to feed its larval young.Photo: Bill Howell.
The velvet ant (Dasymutilla species), usually seen scurrying along the ground in search of prey, is actually a female wasp without wings. The male is the flyer, and much smaller at that. The female also has a powerful sting. Comes in yellow and red as well!
Notable Chaparral Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians)
Horned lizard. Photo: Jake Halsey.
Red diamond rattlesnake.
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Spadefoot toad (in vernal pools).Photo: Bill Howell.
Notable Chaparral Mammals
It is uncommon to see most of the mammals that call the chaparral home. The largest, and most characteristic chaparral mammal is now extinct, the California grizzly bear. However, whenever you are out and about on the trail, you can be sure, you are seen.
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The ubiquitous wood rat.
Photo: Scott Tremor.
The cougar.
Photo: Mike McCain.
The now extinct, California grizzly bear.
California State Flag.
CHAPARRAL CANINES?
The coyote (left) has become one of the most successful wild animals since the arrival of humans in North America. The wolf, not so much, but it is coming back thanks to restoration efforts. Please see our wolf page for more details.
- Chaparral Plants - The Six Characteristic Chaparral Shrubs
Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). The most common shrub in the chaparral and California, west of the Sierra Nevada.
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos species). In this case, Refugio manzanita (Arctostaphylos refugioensis).
Ceanothus species. This is Ramona lilac (Ceanothus tomentosus).
Scrub oak species. Here is the coastal version, Nuttall's scrub oak (Quercus dumosa).
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).
Lemonadeberry (Rhus integrifolia).
The Essential 64 Plants and Animals of Southern California Chaparral
The Essential 64 Plants and Animals of the Southern California Chaparral Biome is a list from our book Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California which includes color photographs for each. The 64 species on this list are the most likely species you will see most of the time while taking a walk through the chaparral. Download, print, and check 'em off!
Other Plant Identifiction Guides There are several excellent online plant ID sources for California native plants found in the chaparral. Here are a few: 1. The San Diego Plant Atlas has an incredible amount of information. 2. Las Pilitas Nursery photo ID of many natives. 3. Calflora. Photos and locations of every native plant in California. 4. A more general identification guide for much of Southern California is James Lightner's excellent 2011 edition of San Diego County Native Plants. Using Plant Lists By Tom Chester "If you are interested in identifying plants of Southern California, one has to be very careful about websites or guidebooks created outside the region, since the species are very likely to be different, even though they look the same. For example, this webpage is a wonderful site for identifying the common yellow wildflowers in the San Francisco Bay area, but can easily lead one astray for identifying the ones in Southern California. If you try to identify one of our several yellow Mariposa lilies in Southern California using that webpage, you’d erroneously think the identification was Calochortus luteus, which is confined to northern California and the northern Channel Islands.Another example is the five species of "purple nightshade" in California, whose flowers all look very similar. In the Santa Monica Mountains area, the species is Solanum xanti. At the Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside County, and in San Diego County, the species is Solanum parishii, Parish's purple nightshade. The latter example shows that even plant guides created within Southern California can lead you astray if you don’t use one local to your subarea. For example, you cannot reliably identify most species at the Santa Rosa Plateau by using a plant list or flower book from somewhere else, such as the Santa Monica Mountains. The "look-alike" species such as the purple nightshades will give you incorrect identifications. Only a small number of species are in common between two places. Of course, those may be among the commonest species in each place, so using a picture book from elsewhere may help to identify the most common species. The closer the other area, the more matches there will be." Tom's Plants of Southern California: California Plant Pictures and Databases.
Other Plant Identifiction Guides There are several excellent online plant ID sources for California native plants found in the chaparral. Here are a few: 1. The San Diego Plant Atlas has an incredible amount of information. 2. Las Pilitas Nursery photo ID of many natives. 3. Calflora. Photos and locations of every native plant in California. 4. A more general identification guide for much of Southern California is James Lightner's excellent 2011 edition of San Diego County Native Plants. Using Plant Lists By Tom Chester "If you are interested in identifying plants of Southern California, one has to be very careful about websites or guidebooks created outside the region, since the species are very likely to be different, even though they look the same. For example, this webpage is a wonderful site for identifying the common yellow wildflowers in the San Francisco Bay area, but can easily lead one astray for identifying the ones in Southern California. If you try to identify one of our several yellow Mariposa lilies in Southern California using that webpage, you’d erroneously think the identification was Calochortus luteus, which is confined to northern California and the northern Channel Islands.Another example is the five species of "purple nightshade" in California, whose flowers all look very similar. In the Santa Monica Mountains area, the species is Solanum xanti. At the Santa Rosa Plateau in Riverside County, and in San Diego County, the species is Solanum parishii, Parish's purple nightshade. The latter example shows that even plant guides created within Southern California can lead you astray if you don’t use one local to your subarea. For example, you cannot reliably identify most species at the Santa Rosa Plateau by using a plant list or flower book from somewhere else, such as the Santa Monica Mountains. The "look-alike" species such as the purple nightshades will give you incorrect identifications. Only a small number of species are in common between two places. Of course, those may be among the commonest species in each place, so using a picture book from elsewhere may help to identify the most common species. The closer the other area, the more matches there will be." Tom's Plants of Southern California: California Plant Pictures and Databases.