ANNUAL GRASSLANDS

VEGETATION: 

Annual Grassland habitats are open grasslands composed primarily of annual plant species. Many of these species also occur as understory plants in Valley Oak Woodland (VOW) and other habitats. Structure in Annual Grassland depends largely on weather patterns and livestock grazing. Introduced annual grasses are the dominant plant species in this habitat. These include wild oats, soft chess, ripgut brome, red brome, wild barley, and foxtail fescue. Common forbs include broadleaf filaree, redstem filaree, turkey mullein, true clovers, bur clover, popcorn flower, and many others. California poppy, the State flower, is found in this habitat.

COMMON BIRD SPECIES:

Year-round Residents: Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Western Meadowlark, Brewer’s Blackbird

Winter Visitors: Ferruginous Hawk, Say’s Phoebe, American Pipit, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow.

Summer Visitors: Western Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow