Thursday, 2 January 2020
Wednesday, 1 January 2020
23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - RED CROWNED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes rubricapillus)
The red-crowned woodpecker, Melanerpes rubricapillus, is a vibrant member of the woodpecker family, Picidae. This species exhibits a striking plumage, with both sexes adorned in a similar fashion, save for subtle differences in their head patterns. Adults typically measure between 16 to 18.5 cm in length and weigh between 40 to 65 grams.
To identify the red-crowned woodpecker, look for the adult male's bright red crown and orange-red nape, contrasted with a pale yellow to whitish forehead. The female, while sharing the pale forehead, features a more subdued crown of pale gray-buff to whitish tones, with a reddish to orange-red nape. Both sexes have grayish-buff cheeks, chin, and throat, with a barred black and white mantle and back. Their underparts are generally buffish-gray with a reddish to orange-red central belly patch.
This species thrives in a variety of environments, from the interiors of mature deciduous forests to secondary forests, coastal scrublands, mangroves, and even human-altered landscapes such as plantations and gardens.
The red-crowned woodpecker is found across a broad range, from southwestern Costa Rica through Panama, into northern and central Colombia, the northern half of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Tobago.
As year-round residents, these woodpeckers are often observed foraging alone or in pairs, utilizing a combination of probing, gleaning, and hammering to extract their insect prey, as well as reaching for fruits which they skillfully pierce or peck open.
The red-crowned woodpecker is known for its distinctive calls, which include a wavering "churr, churr, krr-r-r-r," a display "wícka, wícka," and various chattering sounds. Both sexes engage in drumming, particularly during the breeding season, and also produce softer taps near their nest holes.
Breeding seasons vary by location, with nests typically constructed in large tree trunks, branches, or cacti. Clutch sizes are usually three to four eggs, but often only two young successfully fledge. Both parents share in the incubation over a 10-day period and continue to care for the nestlings and fledglings post-hatching.
While there are no specific similar species mentioned, it is important to note the differences among the subspecies, such as the slightly smaller M. r. subfusculus with darker underparts, or M. r. paraguanae with a paler yellow forehead and wider white bars on its upperside.
The diet of the red-crowned woodpecker is diverse, including a significant amount of fruits and berries, insects, spiders, and nectar from flowers. They are known to frequent feeders and can be considered a nuisance in plantations and gardens due to their fruit-eating habits.
The IUCN has classified the red-crowned woodpecker as Least Concern, with a stable population estimated to be over half a million mature individuals. It is common throughout most of its range and even abundant in some areas, potentially benefiting from forest clearance that creates more open woodland habitats.
Tuesday, 31 December 2019
24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BAY HEADED TANAGER (Tangara gyrola)
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The bay-headed tanager (Tangara gyrola) is a medium-sized passerine bird. This tanager is a resident breeder in Costa Rica, Panama, South America south to Ecuador, Bolivia and north-western Brazil, and on Trinidad.
It occurs in forests, particularly in wetter areas. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree and the normal clutch is two brown-blotched white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 13–14 days to hatching, with another 15–16 days before the chicks fledge.
These are social birds which eat mainly fruit, usually swallowed whole. Insects are also taken, mainly from the underside of branches.
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This tanager favors forested environments, showing a preference for the more humid regions. It is adept at making its home in these lush habitats, where it constructs a bulky cup nest within the trees.
The Bay-headed Tanager is a resident breeder with a wide range extending from Costa Rica and Panama through South America to Ecuador, Bolivia, and northwestern Brazil. It is also found on the island of Trinidad.
Bay-headed Tanagers are sociable creatures, often seen in groups. They primarily feed on fruit, which they typically consume whole. Insects also form part of their diet, with a particular penchant for those found on the underside of branches.
The song of the Bay-headed Tanager is a melodious sequence of slow 'seee, seee, seee, tsou, tsooy' notes, which can be heard resonating through their forested habitats.
The species constructs a robust cup-shaped nest in trees to lay their clutch, typically consisting of two white eggs adorned with brown blotches. The female takes on the responsibility of incubating the eggs for a period of 13 to 14 days until they hatch. The fledging period for the chicks lasts an additional 15 to 16 days.
31-12-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - PEA BLUE BUTTERFLY (Lampides boeticus)
The pea blue butterfly, also known as the Long-tailed Pea Blue, is a widely distributed species with a wingspan of about 2.5–3.0 cm. It is known for the male's purplish-blue upper wings and the female's brown wings with a blueish tinge. A key feature is the "false head" created by two black spots and fine, tail-like filaments on the hindwings, which helps confuse predators.
Appearance and identification
Males: Have a vivid purplish-blue upper side with dark brown margins.
Females: Have a more muted appearance, with brown upper wings that have a blue-purple wash, especially on the forewings.
Underside: Both sexes share a light brown underside with white, linear markings and a pronounced white band near the outer edge.
"False head": The hindwings have two small black spots on the outer margin, with a sky-blue or metallic green rim, and a fine, tail-like appendage that mimics an antenna.
Size: The wingspan is typically between 2.5 and 3.0 cm.
Habitat and distribution
Widespread: Found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in parts of Australia and New Zealand.
Adaptable: Lives in a variety of habitats, including suburban gardens.
Migratory: This species is a strong and active migrant.
Behavior and life cycle
Flight: They have a fast and jerky flight style and often stay close to the ground.
Basking: They often bask with their wings partially open, both in the morning and around midday.
Feeding: Adults feed on nectar and may also be attracted to damp soil to absorb minerals.
Pest status: Can be considered a minor pest in gardens, as the larvae feed on leguminous plants like peas and beans.
Ant association: The larvae are sometimes attended by ants, which protect them from predators.
Monday, 30 December 2019
30-12-2019 RIO SERPIS VILLALONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a statuesque wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae. It is a familiar sight in both rural and urban settings, often seen standing stoically along the water's edge. An adult Grey Heron is a large bird, reaching up to 100 cm in height, with a wingspan between 155 to 195 cm. It weighs between 1 to 2 kg. The plumage is predominantly ashy-grey above, with a greyish-white underbelly and some black on the flanks. A striking feature is the white head and neck adorned with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The beak is pinkish-yellow, long, and sharply pointed, while the legs are a brown hue.
When identifying the Grey Heron, look for the white head with the black supercilium and crest, the long grey neck, and the ashy-grey wings and back. The underparts are lighter, and the legs are long and brown. Juveniles can be distinguished by their duller grey neck and smaller crest. The beak is a useful indicator of age, being brighter in breeding adults.
Grey Herons are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of watery habitats including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, and coastal environments. They require shallow waters for foraging or areas with shelving margins where they can wade.
Native to temperate Europe and Asia, as well as parts of Africa, the Grey Heron has a broad range. Northern populations may migrate southwards in autumn, while others remain resident year-round. Vagrant sightings have occurred in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and parts of North America.
The Grey Heron exhibits a slow, deliberate flight with its neck retracted in an S-shape. It is known for its solitary foraging habits, often standing motionless or stalking prey through shallow waters. It is also a communal rooster, often found in trees or cliffs at night.
The primary call of the Grey Heron is a loud croaking "fraaank." At breeding colonies, a variety of guttural and raucous noises can be heard, including greeting calls between mates and alarm calls when predators are nearby.
Breeding takes place in colonies, or heronries, typically in high trees near water. Nests are reused and added to each year. The breeding season sees a clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs laid, which both parents incubate. Chicks fledge at 7-8 weeks old.
Grey Herons are apex predators within their ecosystem, feeding on a variety of aquatic creatures such as fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects. They have also been known to consume small mammals and juvenile birds.
The Grey Heron is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable and widespread population.
30-12-2019 RIO SERPIS VILLALONGA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)
Mallards are adaptable, medium-sized dabbling ducks found in wetlands across the Northern Hemisphere. Males have a distinctive iridescent green head and yellow bill, while females are mottled brown with an orange bill. Both sexes have a blue-and-white-bordered wing patch and share a diet of seeds, plants, and small animals, with ducklings being mostly insect-eaters.
Diet: Omnivorous, eating seeds, acorns, berries, aquatic plants, insects, and shellfish.
Foraging: Dabble for food in shallow water by tipping their bodies forward, or dive for food if necessary.
Habitat: Found in various wetlands, including marshes, ponds, and rivers, and are also common in urban areas like parks.
Sunday, 29 December 2019
29-12-2019 MARJAL DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - COMMON CHIFFCHAFF (Phylloscopus collybita)
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The Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, is a diminutive and sprightly leaf warbler known for its distinctive, onomatopoeic song. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its greenish-brown upperparts and off-white underparts, with a weight ranging from 6 to 8 grams and a length of 10-12 centimeters.
In the field, look for the Common Chiffchaff's short whitish supercilium, fine dark bill, and dark legs. Its primary projection is short, and the plumage may appear duller and browner as it wears. Juveniles are browner above with yellow-white underparts, but they soon acquire brighter plumage after their first moult.
The Common Chiffchaff breeds in open woodlands with a mix of taller trees and ground cover across northern and temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of north Africa. It prefers woodland with trees at least 5 meters high and an undergrowth of grasses and nettles.
This species has a vast breeding range, extending from Europe to eastern Siberia and northward to about 70 N. It winters in southern and western Europe, southern Asia, and north Africa. The Common Chiffchaff is one of the earliest spring migrants to return to its breeding grounds and one of the last to depart in autumn.
29-12-2019 MARJAL DE GANDIA, VALENCIA - MALLARD HYBRID (MALLARD X MUSCOVY DUCK) (Anas platyrhynchos × Cairina moschatas)
Anas is a genus of dabbling ducks. It includes the pintails, most teals, and the mallard and its close relatives. It formerly included additional species but following the publication of a molecular phylogenetic study in 2009 the genus was split into four separate genera. The genus now contains 31 living species. The name Anas is the Latin for "duck".
The genus Anas was introduced by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. Anas is the Latin word for a duck.
The genus formerly included additional species.
In 2009 a large molecular phylogenetic study was published that compared mitochondrial DNA sequences from ducks, geese and swans in the family Anatidae. The results confirmed some of the conclusions of earlier smaller studies and indicated that the genus as then defined was non-monophyletic. Based on the results of this study, Anas was split into four proposed monophyletic genera with five species including the wigeons transferred to the resurrected genus Mareca, ten species including the shovelers and some teals transferred to the resurrected genus Spatula and the Baikal teal placed in the monotypic genus Sibirionetta.
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