24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - CROWNED WOOD NYMPH (Thalurania colombica) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Crowned Woodnymph, known scientifically as Thalurania colombica, is a dazzling species of hummingbird belonging to the emeralds tribe, Trochilini. This avian jewel exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males adorned in violet and green, while females wear a more subdued palette of greens and grays.

Male Crowned Woodnymphs measure between 9.5 to 11.5 cm in length and weigh a mere 4 to 5.5 grams. They boast a violet forehead, crown, upper back, and belly, with a dark bronzy green nape and a bluish green lower back and rump. Their throat and chest shimmer in glittering green, and they possess a deeply forked, blue-black tail. Females, slightly smaller at 8.5 to 9.2 cm and weighing 3.5 to 4.2 grams, have bright green upperparts and a pale gray underbelly, with their tails featuring blue-black with white-tipped outer feathers.

These birds favor the interiors, edges, and clearings of humid primary and mature secondary forests. They are also found in semi-open landscapes such as coffee and cacao plantations and gardens, but avoid open scrublands.

The Crowned Woodnymph is found from Belize and Guatemala to far-northern Peru, with seven recognized subspecies distributed across this range.

This species exhibits altitudinal movement post-breeding in Costa Rica and local movements to follow flowering events. Both sexes defend rich nectar sources, with females showing more aggression in territory defense.

The presumed song of the Crowned Woodnymph is a monotonous, plaintive squeaky chip, "ksit…ksit…ksit..", and it also produces short dry chips that can form a trill or chatter.

Breeding seasons vary geographically, with nests being cups of treefern scales and plant down, adorned with lichen and moss, and typically placed under a leaf on a horizontal twig. The clutch size is two eggs, though incubation and fledging periods are not well documented.

The Mexican Woodnymph was once considered a subspecies of the Crowned Woodnymph but is now treated as a separate species.

The Crowned Woodnymph feeds on nectar from various flowering plants, preferring to forage in covered or semi-open areas. It also consumes small arthropods, capturing them by hawking from a perch or gleaning from foliage.

The IUCN has classified the Crowned Woodnymph as Least Concern. Despite a very large range and adaptability to fragmented forests, the population is believed to be decreasing, though no immediate threats have been identified.

24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - RUFOUS TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia tzacatl) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The rufous-tailed hummingbird, Amazilia tzacatl, is a medium-sized member of the hummingbird family, Trochilidae, known for its distinctive chestnut-brown tail. This avian jewel measures between 9 to 11 cm in length and weighs around 5 grams, with males and females exhibiting slight variations in plumage.

Adult males of the nominate subspecies boast a green crown and upperparts, save for the chestnut-brown lores and uppertail coverts. The tail is predominantly chestnut-brown with bronze-green tips. The throat and upper breast shimmer with green, and the lower breast transitions to gray, leading to a white belly and chestnut-brown undertail coverts. Females have a paler gray lower breast and more pronounced scalloping on the throat. Juveniles display a cinnamon wash on the lower breast and sides, with cinnamon-tipped lower back and rump feathers. The bill is a striking combination of black and red, with the outer half of the maxilla black and the inner half red, while the mandible is red with a black tip.

This species thrives in open landscapes such as clearings, gardens, and forest edges, as well as in low, brushy secondary forests. It is also a frequent visitor to feeders.

The rufous-tailed hummingbird is found from east-central Mexico through Central America and Colombia, extending into Ecuador and Venezuela. It occupies a range of elevations from sea level up to 2,500 meters in Ecuador, though such high altitudes may be seasonal or local.

Renowned for its territorial nature, the rufous-tailed hummingbird is a fierce defender of feeding territories, including flower patches and feeders, where it will chase away other hummingbirds and large insects.

The species' vocalizations include a high, thin, and squeaky song composed of chirps and tsi sounds, as well as hard, smacking calls and dry chips that can merge into a rattling sound.

The rufous-tailed hummingbird is polygynous and may nest in loose colonies. The female single-handedly constructs a cup nest from plant fibers, leaves, and spiderwebs, adorned with lichens and mosses. She lays two white eggs, which she incubates for 15 to 19 days, with fledglings leaving the nest after another 18 to 22 days.

24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA (Psarocolius montezuma) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Montezuma Oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma ) is a New World tropical icterid bird. It is a resident breeder in the Caribbean coastal lowlands from southeastern Mexico to central Panama, but is absent from El Salvador and southern Guatemala. It also occurs on the Pacific slope of Nicaragua and Honduras and northwestern and southwestern Costa Rica. It is among the oropendola species sometimes separated in the genus Gymnostinops. The English and scientific names of this species commemorate the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II.

The sexes are very different in size; the male is 50 cm (20 in) long and weighs 520 g (18 oz); the smaller female is 38 cm (15 in) long and weighs 230 g (8.1 oz). In total body mass, the males are 100% bigger than the females, which is a 2:1 body-to-mass ratio and makes the Montezuma oropendola one of the most sexually-dimorphic birds in the world. Webster et al. says that the size difference in males and females is probably directly related to differences in foraging habits. The females often forage on thin branches, eating insects out of curled up leaves, while the males often perch on thick branches and forage in epiphytes and bromeliads.

24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - BROWN JAY (Psilorhinus morio) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The brown jay (Psilorhinus morio ) is a large American jay which has the habitus of a magpie, but is slightly smaller and with a shorter tail, though the bill is larger.

It occurs from Mexico south into Central America on the Gulf slope. The northernmost extent of the bird is in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Brown jays vary in plumage geographically: there are two main groups. Northern birds are almost completely dark brown, with lighter brown on the underparts. Southern birds are white-bellied and have bright white tips to the outer tail feathers. The intergrade zone is in Veracruz, Mexico.

23-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, 21 cm (8.3 in) long, with an average weight of 85 g (3.0 oz).

The adult acorn woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly and rump. The eyes are initially dark in fledglings, turning to white within a few months. There is a small part on the small of their backs where there are some greenish feathers. In most subspecies, adult males have a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and drop a foot or so. White circles on their wings are visible when in flight. Acorn woodpeckers have a call that sounds almost like they are laughing.

The acorn woodpecker's habitat is forested areas with oaks in the coastal areas and foothills of Oregon, California, and the southwestern United States, south through Central America to Colombia. This species may occur at low elevations in the north of its range, but rarely below 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Central America, and it breeds up to the timberline. Nests are excavated in a cavity in a dead tree or a dead part of a tree.

Acorn woodpeckers, as their name implies, depend heavily on acorns for food. Acorns are such an important resource to the California populations that acorn woodpeckers may nest in the fall to take advantage of the fall acorn crop, a rare behavior in birds. Acorns are stored in small holes drilled especially for this purpose in "granaries" or "storage trees"--usually snags, dead branches, utility poles, or wooden buildings. Storage holes--always in dead tissue such as bark or dead limbs--are used year after year, and granaries can consist of thousands of holes, each of which may be filled by an acorn in the autumn. Access to acorn crops influences the composition of acorn woodpecker communities. In one study in New Mexico, there were about 90% of non-breeding adults per social unit in 1976, a year of a poor acorn crop. The following year, 1977, there was a significant increase in acorn production and a correlating decrease in non-breeding adults per unit. 

Although acorns are an important back-up food resource, acorn woodpeckers primarily feed on insects, sap, and fruit. They can be seen sallying from tree limbs to catch insects, eating fruit and seeds, and drilling holes to drink sap.

The woodpeckers then collect acorns and find a hole that is just the right size for the acorn. As acorns dry out, they are moved to smaller holes and granary maintenance requires a significant amount of the bird's time. The acorns are visible, and a group defends its granary against potential cache robbers like Steller's jays and western scrub-jays.

In some more tropical parts of its range the acorn woodpecker does not construct a "granary tree", but instead stores acorns in natural holes and cracks in bark. If the acorn crop is poor and birds cannot find enough to store, the woodpeckers will move to other areas over the winter.

23-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - BLACK FACED SOLITAIRE (Myadestes melanops) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Black-faced Solitaire, Myadestes melanops, is a member of the thrush family, Turdidae, notable for its slate gray plumage and distinctive facial markings. The adult bird's visage is adorned with a black mask that extends over its face and chin, providing a stark contrast to its broad orange bill. The wings and tail are edged with slate-black, and when in flight, the silvery-white underwing coverts are conspicuously displayed. The legs of this bird are a striking orange, and the average weight is a mere 33 grams.

When identifying the Black-faced Solitaire, look for its slim build, measuring between 16 and 18.5 centimeters in length. The juvenile can be recognized by buff streaks on the head and upper parts, and a mottling of buff and brown on the underparts. Observers should also note the bird's unique flight pattern, where the silvery-white underwing coverts are particularly visible.

This species thrives in the dense undergrowth and bamboo clumps of wet mountain forests, typically found at altitudes ranging from 750 to 3,000 meters.

Endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama, the Black-faced Solitaire may disperse to lower altitudes of around 400 meters during the wet season.

22-3-2017 TROGON LODGE, COSTA RICA - RUBY THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (FEMALE) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, is a diminutive jewel, measuring a mere 7 to 9 cm in length with a wingspan stretching from 8 to 11 cm. These birds are a marvel of iridescence; the males boast a fiery ruby red throat patch, or gorget, which can appear black when not caught in the right light. Females, on the other hand, are more demure with white throats and a notched tail featuring a mosaic of green, black, and white.

To identify the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, look for the metallic green upperparts and the grayish white underparts. The male's unmistakable ruby-red gorget is bordered with black, while the female's throat may show faint streaks or spots. Their wings are near-black, and they possess a long, slender bill perfect for sipping nectar.

These birds favor deciduous and pine forests, forest edges, orchards, and gardens. They are adept at making their homes in a variety of environments, as long as there is a rich supply of nectar-bearing flowers.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird breeds across eastern North America, from Canada down to Florida, and spends winters in Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies. They are known for their impressive migratory journey, which includes a nonstop flight across the Gulf of Mexico.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - FLAME COLOURED TANAGER (FEMALE) (Piranga bidentata) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Flame-colored Tanager, Piranga bidentata, is a medium-sized songbird of vibrant plumage. Males are adorned with a striking red-orange hue, while females exhibit a more subdued yellowish-orange. This species, once known as the stripe-backed tanager, belongs to the family Cardinalidae.

Adult males are characterized by their red-orange head and underparts, transitioning to a yellower tone near the vent. A distinctive brown patch is present below the eye, extending from the bill to behind the eye. The mantle and back are dusky orange with an olive tint, and the rump is paler with minimal streaking. Females share a similar pattern but with a yellow head and underparts, and an olive back marked with black streaks.

The Flame-colored Tanager is typically found in the canopy of humid montane forests, as well as in large trees within non-forested areas such as pastures, coffee plantations, and gardens. It also frequents open oak and pine-oak woodlands and is generally a bird of the mountains, although it can be found at sea level in Guatemala.

This species ranges from Mexico through Central America to northern Panama. It is occasionally sighted in the United States, with rare nesting occurrences. The four recognized subspecies have distinct geographical distributions within this range.

The Flame-colored Tanager is largely resident, though it may move to lower elevations during winter. It typically forages alone or in pairs and may join mixed-species flocks. It is known to sally out for flying insects and descend to the ground for fruit.

The song of the Flame-colored Tanager resembles that of a vireo, described as a rich, musical series of notes. Its call is noted as "per-dick" or "chi-dick".

Nesting occurs in dense foliage or isolated trees and shrubs in more open areas. The nest is an open cup made of coarse material lined with fine grass. Breeding has been documented in the spring months.

The diet consists of small arthropods and various berries. This tanager has been observed ambushing swarms of army ants to feed on the insects they carry.

The IUCN has classified the Flame-colored Tanager as Least Concern. It is found in several protected areas and is less sensitive to environmental disturbance compared to many other species.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - VARIEGATED SQUIRREL (Sciurus variegatoides) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The variegated squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides ) is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama. Fifteen subspecies are recognised. It is a common squirrel and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated it a "least-concern species". Variegated squirrels kept as pets in Germany have been implicated in the transmission of a bornavirus to humans from which three people have died.

Variegated squirrels are medium-sized tree squirrels. The are several subspecies recognised which differ in appearance. There is even often a considerable variation between the appearances of individuals in the same population. The dorsal colouration varies between dark brown to yellowish grey. The neck tends to be darker than other parts and there is often a paler patch behind the ears. The underparts are usually some shade of cinnamon. The tail is long and densely bushy; in Mexico it is black, sometimes with white tips to the hairs giving it a frosted appearance. In Nicaragua and Costa Rica, some individuals have pale underparts and tails.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - SUN BITTERN (Eurypyga helias) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The sunbittern (Eurypyga helias) is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus Eurypyga. It is found in Central and South America, and has three subspecies. The sunbittern shows both morphological and molecular similarities with the kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus) of New Caledonia, indicating a Gondwanan origin, both species being placed in the clade Eurypygiformes.

The sunbittern's range extends from Guatemala to Brazil. The nominate race, E. h. helias, is found east of the Andes in lowland tropical South America, from the Orinoco basin, through the Amazon basin and Pantanal. The subspecies E. h. meridionalis, has a more restricted distribution, being found along the East Andean slope in south-central Peru, in the lower subtropical zone at altitudes of 800–1,830 m (2,620–6,000 ft). The final subspecies, E. h. major, is found at various altitudes ranging from southern Guatemala, through Central America and the Chocó to western Ecuador. This subspecies may also be present in southern Mexico. It has been traditionally reported from the Atlantic slope of Chiapas, but no specimens are known and there have been no recent records.

The species is found in the humid Neotropical forests, generally with an open understorey and near rivers, streams, ponds or lagoons.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - INCA DOVE (Columbina inca) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Inca dove, also known as the Mexican dove, is a small and slender New World dove with a length ranging from 16.5 to 23 cm and a weight between 30 to 58 grams. Its gray-brown plumage is adorned with a unique scaled pattern, and it possesses a long, square tail with white-edged feathers that may become more prominent during flight. Notably, the underwings exhibit a reddish hue, characteristic of ground doves.

When observing the Inca dove, look for its scaled feather pattern and the white edges on its square tail. In flight, the reddish underwings are a distinguishing feature. Additionally, listen for the soft rattling noise produced by its wings upon takeoff.

The Inca dove is a terrestrial bird that forms flocks in deserts, scrublands, cultivated areas, and even urban environments. It is well-adapted to living in close proximity to human settlements, where it often takes advantage of readily available water sources.

This species is found from Costa Rica in the south to the American Southwest in the north. Its range has been expanding in recent decades, although it is not native to the historical lands of the Inca Empire. In the United States, the Inca dove has been observed in Florida, although it is unclear if a self-sustaining population exists there.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus, is a robust member of the tyrant flycatcher family. This avian species is characterized by its pale gray head adorned with a darker eye mask and an orange crown stripe. It boasts a heavy gray bill, a grayish-green back, and brown wings and forked tail. The underparts are a vibrant yellow, transitioning from a pale gray throat to an olive breast. Both sexes share a similar plumage, while juveniles can be distinguished by pale buff edges on their wing coverts.

Adults measure approximately 22 cm in length, weigh around 39 g, and have a wingspan ranging from 38 to 41 cm. Observers should look for the distinctive orange crown stripe and the bird's habit of perching openly, often high in trees.

The Tropical Kingbird favors semi-open areas with an abundance of trees and shrubs. It thrives in gardens, along roadsides, and in other areas where it can find a prominent perch to survey its domain.

This species has a broad range, breeding from southern Arizona and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas through Central and South America to central Argentina and eastern Peru. It is also found on Trinidad and Tobago. Birds from the extreme northern and southern parts of their breeding range migrate to warmer areas after the breeding season.

The Tropical Kingbird is known for its acrobatic flights to catch insects mid-air, a behavior known as hawking. It may also hover to glean food from vegetation. These birds are fiercely territorial, defending their space against intruders of all sizes, from frigatebirds to hawks.

The call of the Tropical Kingbird is a high-pitched, twittering trill, described as "tree-e-e-e-e-e-e." Males sing a more complex version of this call at dawn.

Pairs of Tropical Kingbirds are monogamous and often remain together throughout the year. They nest high in trees, sometimes near water, constructing a bulky nest of vines, rootlets, and twigs. The female incubates a clutch of two to four eggs for about 16 days, with the young fledging after another 18 to 19 days.

Their diet consists mainly of insects such as beetles, bees, wasps, and dragonflies. They also consume berries and fruits from various plant species, including common guava and gumbo-limbo.

The IUCN lists the Tropical Kingbird as Least Concern, with a population trend that is increasing. Estimates suggest a global breeding population of around 200 million, and the species is considered to have a low conservation concern.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - CLAY COLOURED THRUSH (Turdus grayi) COURTESY OF MRS VALERIE FISHER

The Clay-colored Thrush, Turdus grayi, is a bird of modest plumage, its feathers a subtle palette of brown hues, lighter on the flanks and faintly streaked on the throat. This bird, similar in size to the American Robin, measures approximately 23 to 27 centimeters in length and weighs between 74 to 76 grams. The young are distinguished by a faint mottling on their backs and underparts. Notable identification features include a greenish-yellow bill with a dark base, pinkish or flesh-colored legs, and reddish irises.

When identifying the Clay-colored Thrush, look for its brownish plumage, which is lighter below and lightest on the flanks. The throat bears faint streaks, and the bird's bill is greenish-yellow with a dark base. The legs are pinkish or flesh-colored, and the irises are a distinctive reddish color. Juveniles may exhibit faint mottling on their back and underparts.

The Clay-colored Thrush is a familiar sight in yards and gardens, much like its relatives the American Robin, the Eurasian Blackbird, and the Song Thrush. It thrives in a variety of habitats, from South Texas to northern Colombia, often found in human-altered landscapes where fruiting trees are present.

This bird's range extends from South Texas, where it is expanding its territory, to northern Colombia. It is predominantly found on the Atlantic slope west and north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with an isolated population around Oaxaca City, Mexico.

21-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA, COSTA RICA - BALTIMORE ORIOLE (MALE) (Icterus galbula) COURTESY OF VALERIE FISHER

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird, a migratory breeding bird common in eastern North America. The male's vibrant orange and black plumage is reminiscent of the coat-of-arms of the 17th-century Lord Baltimore, hence the name. This medium-sized passerine typically measures 17–22 cm in length with a wingspan of 23–32 cm. Adults are characterized by white bars on the wings, with males boasting a more pronounced orange hue on the underparts, shoulder patch, and rump, while females and juveniles display a more subdued yellow-brown and dull orange-yellow coloration.

Males are distinguished by their black head and back with bright orange to yellow-orange underparts and a solid black tail. Females and juveniles are less boldly colored, with a mix of brown and orange hues. All adults have distinctive white wing bars, which are useful for identification from a distance or in flight.

Baltimore orioles favor open woodland, forest edges, and partially wooded wetlands. They are also found in orchards, farmland, urban parks, and suburban areas with woodlots. During winter, they inhabit flowering canopy trees, often over shade coffee plantations.

The Baltimore oriole breeds from the Canadian Prairies and eastern Montana eastward through southern Canada and the eastern United States, migrating to winter in Central America and northern South America. They are rare vagrants to Western Europe.

Outside of mating season, Baltimore orioles are solitary. They are monogamous, though extra-pair copulation is not uncommon. Males establish territories in the spring and perform various displays to attract females. After mating, the female weaves a remarkable hanging nest where she lays her eggs.

The male's song is a series of sweet whistles, while calls include a nasal "veeer" and a low chatter. Females also sing, especially when defending their nests. Both sexes emit specific warning calls during confrontations.

Baltimore orioles are generally monogamous and solitary outside the breeding season. The female constructs a hanging, pouch-like nest at the end of a branch, where she lays 3-7 eggs. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after about two weeks.

Orioles primarily feed on insects, berries, and nectar. They are adept at foraging in trees and shrubs and are known to sip at hummingbird feeders. They play an important ecological role by consuming pests such as the forest tent caterpillar moth.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - BOAT BILLED HERON (Cochlearius cochlearius)

The boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius ), colloquially known as the boatbill, is an atypical member of the heron family, and was formerly placed in a monotypic family, the Cochleariidae. It lives in mangrove swamps from Mexico south to Peru and Brazil. It is a nocturnal bird, and breeds semicolonially in mangrove trees, laying two to four bluish-white eggs in a twig nest.

The boat-billed heron grows to about 54 cm (21 in) long. Adults are pale grey to white in color, with chestnut-colored abdomens and black flanks. The massive, broad, scoop-like bill, which gives rise to this species' name, is mainly black. This bird is also adorned with a crest which is thought to be used in mate attraction as it is larger in males. The sexes are similar in appearance, the main differences being that females are slightly smaller, grayer in appearance, and have shorter crests than males. Newly hatched nestlings have green-yellow skin, with their upperparts covered in gray down feathers. Their upper bill is black and they have green-yellow legs. Juveniles are darker in color than adults and lack a crest.

Boat-billed herons feed on shrimp and small fish such as Dormitator latifrons, a species of sleeper goby. They tend to forage in vegetative streams, shallow water, and lagoons. When foraging in streams, they use low-hanging branches and mangrove roots to stand over the water. In ponds they will walk slowly through the water up to 10 cm (4 in) deep or will forage near the water's edge. In order to capture prey they will lunge at fish or scoop the surface of the water with their bills which are uniquely shaped for this method of capture. Additionally, they have been observed using two different feeding techniques; standing and slowly stalking prey, or disturbing the water and chasing prey.Boat-billed herons will forage nocturnally, and have been seen leaving the roost 30 minutes after sundown to feed. It has been observed that they do not feed when a light source is present such as daylight, moonlight, or artificial light. One study hypothesized that in order to forage for food in the dark and in shallow, muddy water, their bills are sensitive to touch which helps them feel for their prey.

Boat-billed herons breed during the rainy season and have been recorded as producing two clutches during this time, laying their first clutch in February during the end of the dry season. Their clutch sizes range from two to four eggs, with more eggs being laid during the first nesting period than the second. They usually nest in colonies, but have been observed nesting solitarily. Human disturbance can lead to a decrease in reproductive success, as herons tend to avoid human contact and will abandon nests if necessary.

Boat-billed herons range from Mexico to Peru, Brazil, and northeastern Argentina. They are nonmigratory birds that tend to live in seasonal lagoons and estuaries, and nest in mangroves.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - BARE THROATED TIGER HERON (Tigrisoma mexicanum)

The bare-throated tiger heron (Tigrisoma mexicanum) is a wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, found from Mexico to northwestern Colombia, with one recorded sighting from the United States in Hidalgo County, Texas. It is 80 cm (31 in) in length and weighs 1,200 g (42 oz).

This large species is found in more open habitats than other Tigrisoma herons, such as river and lake banks. It waits often motionless for suitable prey such as fish, frogs or crabs to come within reach of its long bill.

This is a solitary breeder, not normally found in heron colonies. The nest is a small flattish stick platform in a tree into which 2–3 green-tinged white eggs are laid.

The throat is bare and is greenish-yellow to orange in all plumages. The adult has black crown and light grey sides of the head, the sides of the neck and the upperparts otherwise blackish narrowly barred buff. The median stripe down the fore-neck is white-bordered with black; the remaining underparts are dull cinnamon brown. The juvenile is buff coarsely barred with black, more mottled and vermiculated on wings; the throat, median underparts, and belly are whitish.

The flight is heavy, and the call is a hoarse howk-howk-howk. Males also give a booming hrrrowwr! call, especially at sunset. During emission of the call, the beak opens wide and undulations can be seen along the course of the throat from mid-thorax caudally.

A large but short-legged primitive-looking heron of mangroves and freshwater wetlands in tropical lowlands. Usually found in wooded areas, but also in lagoons in open wetlands. It has a bare yellow throat in all plumages (not always visible) and greenish legs. The adult has grey cheeks, finely barred plumage and rusty brown thighs. The immature has very conspicuous blackish and bright brown barring (hence the name Tiger Heron).

The rufescent tiger heron is found in wetlands from Central America through much of South America. It generally occurs below 500 m (1,600 ft), though it has been recorded as high as 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in Colombia.

28-3-2017 TARCOLES RIVER COSTA RICA - ANHINGA (FEMALE) (Anhinga anhinga)

The Anhinga, sometimes known as the snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a distinctive water bird inhabiting the warmer parts of the Americas. Its name, derived from the Brazilian Tupi language, translates to "devil bird" or "snake bird," a nod to its serpentine swimming style where only its neck protrudes above the water's surface. The Anhinga is part of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is a close relative to its Indian, African, and Australian counterparts. It is a large bird, with a length of about 89 cm and a wingspan of 1.14 meters, and it is known for its sharp, slender beak used for spearing fish.

The male Anhinga boasts a glossy black-green plumage with wings and tail of a glossy black-blue, and a distinctive white tail tip. The back of its head and neck feature elongated feathers that are gray or light purple-white, with the upper back and wings adorned with white spots or streaks. The female, on the other hand, has a pale gray-buff to light brown head, neck, and upper chest, with a chestnut lower chest or breast and a back that is browner than the male's. Juveniles are mostly brown until their first breeding season.

Anhingas are typically found in warm, shallow waters, where they can be seen swimming with only their necks visible above the surface.

The species is widespread, with the American Anhinga divided into two subspecies: A. a. anhinga, found mainly east of the Andes, and A. a. leucogaster, located in the southern United States, Mexico, and some Caribbean islands. Migration patterns are influenced by temperature and sunlight, with birds moving towards the equator during winter.

Anhingas are adept swimmers, using their webbed feet to pursue prey underwater. They spear fish with their sharp beaks and are known for their unique drying behavior, where they spread their wings to dry their non-waterproof feathers and absorb heat, often standing in a posture that resembles a male turkey.

The Anhinga is often mistaken for the double-crested cormorant due to its size and shape. However, it can be distinguished by its longer and wider tail and sharply pointed bill, as opposed to the cormorant's shorter tail and hook-tipped bill.

Anhingas feed on a variety of aquatic prey, including fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and insects. They are skilled hunters, stalking fish underwater and spearing them with their beaks. Larger fish are repeatedly stabbed and then released, while smaller catches are brought to the surface and swallowed head-first.

The Anhinga is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States. With a vast global range and frequent occurrence, the species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

28-3-2017 CARARA NAT PARK, COSTA RICA - WHITE WHISKERED PUFFBIRD (Malacoptila panamensis)

The white-whiskered puffbird (Malacoptila panamensis ), also called the white-whiskered soft-wing or brown puffbird, is a near-passerine bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds, nunlets, and nunbirds. It is found from southeastern Mexico through Central America (except El Salvador), Colombia, and Ecuador into Peru.

The white-whiskered puffbird is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long with an average weight of about 43 g (1.5 oz). Unlike most puffbirds, the male and female have different plumages. Both sexes have bristles around the base of the large bill, and white "whiskers", which are actually tufts of feathers. The nominate adult male's upperparts are brown to chestnut brown. The forecrown has narrow buff or tawny streaks and most of the rest of the upperparts have buff or tawny spots. The tail is chesnut brown. Its lores, supercilium, cheeks, and the sides of the neck are tawny. The throat and upper breast are tawny to tawny buff and the rest of the underparts are buffy white with darker streaks on the breast and flanks. The adult female has less of a chesnut cast; its crown is grayer and its upperparts olive to brown. Most of the underparts are buff to cinnamon-buff with darker streaks; the abdomen is white. Juveniles are like the female but with heavier streaking on the underparts. The subspecies are all similar to the nominate, differing mainly in the shades of gray, brown, and rufous and in the density of the streaking.

1-4-2017 MIAMI, FLORIDA - RED WINGED BLACKBIRD (FEMALE) (Agelaius phoeniceus)

The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a striking and abundant passerine bird, belonging to the family Icteridae. Exhibiting pronounced sexual dimorphism, the male is resplendent with glossy black plumage, accented by a vibrant red shoulder patch edged with a yellow border. The female, in contrast, is cloaked in more subdued hues of brown, adeptly blending into her surroundings.

Males are easily identified by their jet-black feathers and the scarlet and yellow "epaulets" on their wings. Females are more cryptic, with a mottled brown appearance, often with streaks or lighter undersides. Both sexes possess a pointed bill and a medium-length, rounded tail.

Red-winged Blackbirds are versatile in their choice of habitat, though they show a strong affinity for wetlands. They are commonly found in freshwater and saltwater marshes, particularly where cattails are present. They also inhabit dry upland areas such as meadows and prairies.

This species is widespread across North America, from Alaska and Newfoundland, extending south to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and parts of Central America. They are also found in isolated regions of El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica.

Red-winged Blackbirds are known for their territorial nature, especially during the breeding season. Males can be seen perched conspicuously, singing and displaying their shoulder patches, while females are more secretive, often foraging within dense vegetation.

The male's song is a distinctive, scratchy "oak-a-lee," while the female's vocalizations include a chattering "chit chit cheer teer teer." Their calls serve as important communication signals within their social structure.

Nesting in loose colonies, the female constructs a basket-like nest attached to marsh vegetation or shrubs. Clutches typically consist of three to four eggs, which are incubated solely by the female. Red-winged Blackbirds are polygynous, with males defending territories that may contain multiple females.

The Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) can be confused with the Red-winged Blackbird, but males of the former have darker red epaulets edged with white, not yellow.

An omnivorous bird, the Red-winged Blackbird's diet includes seeds, grains, insects, and small animals. They exhibit foraging flexibility, adapting their diet seasonally and based on availability.

The Red-winged Blackbird is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Despite its abundance, habitat destruction and changes in agricultural practices have led to population declines in some areas. However, the species' adaptability has allowed it to persist in a variety of environments.

23-3-2017 SAN GERARDO DE DOTA COSTA RICA - THICK BILLED EUPHONIA (Euphonia laniirostris)

The thick-billed euphonia (Euphonia laniirostris ) is a species of bird in the family Fringillidae, formerly placed in the Thraupidae.

Small, compact, short-tailed finch-like bird. Usually yellow below and blue-black above with a thick bill. To identify male euphonias, focus on the crown and throat: in Thick-billed, the crown is entirely yellow and the throat is also yellow. Females are extremely difficult to separate from other euphonias, especially Yellow-crowned, but are often seen in pairs or small groups with the more distinctive males. They frequent open woodland habitats, edges and gardens. They may form foraging flocks with other species such as warblers and tanagers.

This euphonia measures 10 cm (3.9 in). The male has entirely yellow underparts from throat to vent save for a small terminal patch of white on the undertail. Upperparts are a dark blue-black except for the yellow crown patch which extends from the bill over the head to just past the eye. The female, like many euphonias, is dull olive above and yellow below.

It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and heavily degraded former forest.

13-4-2017 HUELVA, SPAIN - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (Larus michahellis)

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of either the Caspian gull L. cachinnans, or more broadly as a subspecies of the herring gull L. argentatus.The genus name is from Latin Larus which appears to have referred to a gull or other large seabird, and the species name honours the German zoologist Karl Michahelles.

The yellow-legged gull is a large gull, though the size does vary, with the smallest females being scarcely larger than a common gull and the largest males being roughly the size of a great black-backed gull. They range in length from 52 to 68 cm (20 to 27 in) in total length, from 120 to 155 cm (47 to 61 in) in wingspan and from 550 to 1,600 g (1.21 to 3.53 lb) in weight. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 40.8 to 47.2 cm (16.1 to 18.6 in), the bill is 4.6 to 6 cm (1.8 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus is 5.6 to 7.5 cm (2.2 to 3.0 in). Adults are externally similar to herring gulls but have yellow legs. They have a grey back, slightly darker than herring gulls but lighter than lesser black-backed gulls. They are much whiter-headed in autumn, and have more extensively black wing tips with few white spots, just as lesser black-backed. They have a red spot on the bill as adults, like the entire complex. There is a red ring around the eye like in the lesser black-backed gull but unlike in the herring gull which has a dark yellow ring.