Vertebrates

Browse our Q&A about birds, eggs, nests, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the Central Coast and Channel Islands.

“Please identify the attached pictures as I am uncertain of their names. Thanks, Lewis Rubin”
Lewis Rubin, Santa Barbara - September 19, 2020

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“Good afternoon. Would you be so kind to please help me identify the bone of the images attached to this question. My brother found it on a beach in the western part of my country, El Salvador, Central...”
Ana Luisa Roque Valdovinos, San Salvador, El Salvador, Central America - August 8, 2020

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“I found this skeleton in our backyard woods.  We frequently see skunks, racoons and opossums on our trail cam, but this looks smaller than a racoon or opossum and larger than a skunk.  The skull and j...”
Jeff Lawton, Santa Barbara, Mesa area - August 8, 2020

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“Earlier this spring a Cliff Swallow built a nest under our eaves. Knowing that they are protected, I let them be and tried to just clean up the mess regularly. I have two questions if someone at the...”
Patrick, Santa Barbara - July 20, 2020

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“We have been noticing a Hummingbird at our feeder that has markings that are different from the usual Hummingbirds ( Mostly Anna's and a Rufus).    We think it is a Ruby Throated Hummingbird.   Howeve...”
John Boyd, Santa Barbara - July 10, 2020

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“Hi Curator,  With binoculars I saw only the back of this lone bright bird sitting on the top branch of a euc in Mission Canyon near the cul de sac of Windsor Way. Orange head, black neck, yellow body...”
Dwight Gregory, Mission Canyon - April 18, 2020

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“Hello, we have a small mammal digging tunnels and popping up in our back yard. We want to know more about it but don’t know it’s name. Can you help? ”
Julie, Montecito - April 8, 2020

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“I recently bought this bone. I bought another as well at the same time. I was told it was mammoth, but i knew better, i think its some type of bison sacrum, but i was hoping you could tell me what ty...”
Savanna, Quincy, IL - January 26, 2020

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“I encountered this snake in my backyard on the Mesa. Could any of the naturalists at the SBMNH identify it, and more importantly, tell me whether or not it is venomous? We have wild rabbits in our bac...”
Anthony, Santa Barbara - June 3, 2019

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“I have a nest that blew out of a tree in the recent storms.  I’m pretty sure it is a squirrel’s nest   Online I read that it is possible to get certain diseases from squirrels.  Does this apply to the...”
Susan Hopkins, Goleta - February 4, 2019

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