A beautiful fly, a flower pollinator as an adult, and an aphid predator in its juvenile (larval) stage. They don't bite or sting. 

Social birds with their kin, often in groups of 3-4. Eats insects in summer, nuts and acorns in winter. Makes funny calls. 

Its numerous sounds in its songs (males only) are very exciting to hear as they mimic many of our urban sounds. 

Southwestern species with hairy juvenile stages found in the bottom of stagnant pools of freshwater.