28-3-2017 CARARA NAT PARK, COSTA RICA - CENTRAL AMERICAN AGOUTI (Dasyprocta punctata)

The Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata ) is a species of agouti from the family Dasyproctidae. The main portion of its range is from Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula (southern Mexico), through Central America, to northwestern Ecuador, Colombia and far western Venezuela. A highly disjunct population is found in southeastern Peru, far southwestern Brazil, Bolivia, western Paraguay and far northwestern Argentina. The disjunct population has been treated as a separate species, the brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata ), but a major review of the geographic variation is necessary. The Central American agouti has also been introduced to Cuba and the Cayman Islands.

Though some populations are reduced due to hunting and deforestation, large populations remain and it is not considered threatened.

The Central American agouti is a large South American rodent. It is typically reddish, orange, or yellowish grizzled with black. Populations that live in northern Colombia, western Venezuela, and on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica and Panama have brownish or blackish grizzled with tawny or olivaceous foreparts; their mid-body is orange, and the rump is black or cream. In western Colombia and Ecuador, some have tawny foreparts and yellowish to the rump. Agoutis from the disjunct southern population (Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina) are grizzled brown, yellowish, and black, or grizzled black and orange.

Central American agoutis occur from Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula (southern Mexico), through Central America, to northwestern Ecuador, Colombia, and far western Venezuela. A highly disjunct population is found in southeastern Peru, far southwestern Brazil, Bolivia, western Paraguay, and far northwestern Argentina. Central American agoutis live in tropical moist forests and cultivated areas such as plantations and rural gardens.

In the wild, Central American agoutis are shy animals. They live in pairs and are active during the day. Each pair occupies territory with fruiting trees usually near water. Males defend their territory and drive off intruders through fighting, aggressive displays, or vocally emitting dog-like barks. Agoutis conceal themselves at night in hollow tree trunks or in burrows among roots. Active and graceful in their movements, their pace is either a kind of trot or a series of springs following one another so rapidly as to look like a gallop. They also take readily to water, in which they swim well. When feeding, agoutis sit on their hind legs and hold food between their fore paws. They frequently hoard fruits and seeds in small, buried stores for later consumption or when food is scarce. If threatened, they typically stay motionless although they are very fast animals and can move with remarkable speed and agility.

28-3-2017 CARARA NAT PARK, COSTA RICA - GREAT KISKADEE (Pitangus sulphuratus)

The Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) is a noisy perching bird, a member of the tyrant flycatcher family. It lives in the Americas and was described and illustrated in 1648 by the German naturalist Georg Marcgrave. The part of its scientific name is Latin and means 'sulphur', describing the yellow color of the underparts of the bird.

The adult Great kiskadee is one of the largest of the tyrant flycatchers. The head is black with a strong white supercilium and a concealed yellow crown stripe. The upperparts are brown, and the wings and tail are brown with usually strong rufous fringes. The bill is short, thick, and black in color.

Great kiskadees occur from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas south through Central America to southern Argentina. They do not occur in Chile. These birds live in a wide range of habitats, from open grassland with scattered trees to urban areas. They like to breed in open woodland with some tall trees, including cultivation, and around human habitation.

Great kiskadees are diurnal and noisy birds. They hunt like a shrike or flycatcher, waiting on an open perch high in a tree to sally out and catch insects in flight or to pounce upon rodents and similar small vertebrates. They will also glean and jump for seeds and fruit from vegetation or ripping it off in mid-hover; they can also occasionally dive for prey in shallow water, making it one of the few fishing passerines. Kiskadees like to hunt on their own or in pairs, and they do not join mixed-species feeding flocks very often. When they do, they hunt in a similar manner. Kiskadees are alert and aggressive and have a strong and maneuverable flight, which they use to good effect when they feel annoyed by raptors. They can attack even much larger birds, usually by diving down or zooming straight at them while they are in mid-air. Harsh calls are also often given during these attacks, alerting all potential prey in the area of the predator's presence.

Great kiskadees are monogamous; they form strong pair bonds that defend their territory. Both partners build a large domed nest that has a side entrance. It is composed of grasses and small twigs but can also incorporate lichen, string, and plastic. The birds can even steal material from other nests. The nest is placed in a wide range of sites, often in an exposed position high up in a tree or on man-made structures. Occasionally the nest is placed in a cavity. The female then lays a clutch of 3-4 eggs and incubates them alone; the male guards the nest while she leaves the nest to feed. The eggs hatch after 16-17 days. The chicks are blind and helpless when they hatch. They are fed by both parents and fledge at the age of 17-18 days.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - CHESTNUT MANDIBLED TOUCAN (Ramphastos ambiguus ssp. swainsonii)

The chestnut-mandibled toucan or Swainson's toucan (Ramphastos ambiguus swainsonii) is a subspecies of the yellow-throated toucan which breeds from eastern Honduras to northern Colombia to western Ecuador.

The scientific and alternative English names commemorate the English ornithologist and artist William Swainson. Since 2009, the chestnut-mandibled toucan has been considered a subspecies of the yellow-throated toucan.

Like other toucans, the chestnut-mandibled is brightly marked and has a large bill. The male is 56 cm long, while the smaller female is typically 52 cm long. Weight ranges from 599 to 746 grams (1.3–1.6 lbs).

The sexes are alike in appearance, mainly black with maroon hints to the head, upper back and lower breast. The face and upper breast are bright yellow, with narrow white and broader red lines forming a lower border. The upper tail is white and the lower abdomen is red. The legs are blue. The body plumage is similar to that of the smaller keel-billed toucan, but the bill pattern is quite different. The chestnut-mandibled toucan's bill is diagonally divided into bright yellow on top and maroon on bottom.

Juvenile birds are sooty-black, and have duller plumage, particularly with respect to the bib, red border, and lower mandible. They are fed by the parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - THICK BILLED SEED FINCH (FEMALE) (Oryzoborus funereus)

The thick-billed seed finch, Sporophila funerea, presents a striking sexual dimorphism. The male is cloaked in an almost uniform black plumage, save for a small, conspicuous white patch on the wing. In contrast, the female is adorned in a rich, uniform brown. Both sexes boast a robust bill, notable for its size and straight culmen, which sets them apart from their avian kin.

When identifying the thick-billed seed finch, look for the male's black plumage with a white wing patch and the female's all-over brown coloration. The species is characterized by a large bill with a straight upper edge, or culmen. They are relatively small birds, measuring approximately 11.5 cm in length and weighing around 13.5 g.

This bird favors shrubby and grassy areas, where it can be found flitting about or perched conspicuously on a stem.

The thick-billed seed finch has a wide range, extending from southern Mexico through Central America and reaching into the Chocó region of Colombia and Ecuador.

Observations of the thick-billed seed finch reveal a bird that is at home in its grassy domain, actively foraging and interacting with its environment.The thick-billed seed finch is often confused with the all-black Caribbean slope form of the variable seedeater. However, the finch's larger bill with a straight culmen is a distinguishing feature.

As its name suggests, the thick-billed seed finch has a diet that primarily consists of seeds, which it adeptly handles with its robust bill.

The IUCN Red List currently classifies the thick-billed seed finch as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face immediate threats to its survival.

30-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGANVILLEA,COSTA RICA - RUFOUS COLLARED SPARROW (Zonotrichia capensis)

The Rufous-collared Sparrow, also known as the Andean Sparrow, is a small, charming bird measuring 13.5–15 cm in length and weighing between 20–25 grams. Adults are recognized by their stubby grey bills and a distinctive grey head marked with broad black stripes on the crown sides, and thinner stripes through the eye and below the cheeks. A notable rufous nape and breast sides complement their black-streaked buff-brown upperparts, and they exhibit two white wing bars. Their throats are white, transitioning to off-white underparts that become brown on the flanks, highlighted by a black breast patch. Juveniles present a more subdued appearance with duller, indistinct head patterns and streaked underparts, lacking the adult's rufous collar.

When identifying this species, look for the rufous collar around the nape and the black stripes on the head. The two white wing bars are also key features. The largest subspecies, found on the tepuis, has grey underparts and a more extensive rufous collar that appears as a band of black freckles across the breast.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow thrives in a variety of open or semi-open habitats, including cultivated lands, gardens, parks, grasslands, and scrubby second growth or cerrado. It is well-adapted to urban and suburban environments but is notably absent from dense Amazonian forests.

This adaptable bird ranges from the extreme south-east of Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, and on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. In the northern and western parts of its range, it is typically found at altitudes of 600–4,000 meters, while in the southern and eastern parts, it is commonly found down to near sea level.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is often seen in pairs or small flocks, holding small territories. It is known for its tame and approachable nature, making it a familiar sight across its extensive range.

The male's song is a delightful mix of slurred whistles and trills, varying geographically. Calls include a sharp "tsip." Listen for songs that may include tee-teeooo, e’e’e’e’e, or teeooo, teeeee, often delivered from a low perch.

Breeding is influenced by food availability and rainfall. Nests are open cups of plant material lined with fine grasses, placed in vegetation on the ground or low in a tree or bush. Females lay two or three pale greenish-blue eggs with reddish-brown blotches, which are incubated for 12–14 days. Males assist in feeding the chicks, which fledge after about two weeks. Brood parasitism by species such as the shiny cowbird may occur.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow can be confused with other sparrows, but its rufous collar and distinctive head stripes are key differentiators.

This sparrow forages on the ground for seeds, fallen grain, insects, and spiders. It may join mixed-species feeding flocks and has been observed picking termites from spider webs.

The Rufous-collared Sparrow is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, thanks to its widespread distribution and adaptability to human-altered environments.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - SPECTACLED OWL (Pulsatrix perspicillata)

The Spectacled Owl, Pulsatrix perspicillata, is a large, tropical owl with a commanding presence. It boasts blackish-brown upperparts, a head and upper breast of similar hue, and striking white facial markings. The underparts range from whitish to yellowish-ochre, providing a stark contrast to the darker tones above. This species is the only Pulsatrix with yellow eyes, and it has a pale beak. Juveniles are predominantly white, save for a chocolate brown facial disc, making them quite distinctive.

Adult Spectacled Owls are unmistakable within their range, save for confusion with other Pulsatrix species. They exhibit a size range of 41 to 52.3 cm in length, with males weighing between 453 to 1,075 g and females slightly heavier at 680 to 1,250 g. The subspecies can be differentiated by variations in the darkness of their plumage and the composition of the breast band.

This species is primarily associated with tropical rainforests, thriving in dense, old-growth areas. They are also known to venture into secondary habitats, such as forest edges, and occasionally into dry forests, treed savanna plains, plantations, and semi-open areas with trees.

The Spectacled Owl's range extends from southern Mexico and Trinidad, through Central America, down to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and northwestern Argentina. It is a resident breeder throughout this extensive neotropical range.

Nocturnal and solitary, the Spectacled Owl is a dominant predator, often hunting from a perch and pouncing on unsuspecting prey. It feeds on a variety of mammals, insects, and other small animals, with a particular fondness for nocturnally active creatures.

The vocal repertoire of the Spectacled Owl includes guttural knocking or tapping sounds that decrease in pitch but increase in pace. Males primarily vocalize to proclaim territory, while females also sing with a higher pitch. Duets between pairs are not uncommon. Additionally, females emit a hawk-like scream, and young owls have a distinctive begging call.

Breeding season in Costa Rica occurs during the dry season or at the onset of the wet season. Spectacled Owls typically nest in tree cavities, laying 1-2 eggs that are incubated for about 5 weeks. Chicks are dependent on their parents for several months post-fledging.

The Spectacled Owl can be confused with the Band-bellied Owl and the Tawny-browed Owl, but can be distinguished by size, eye color, and plumage details. Each species also has a unique song.

A versatile predator, the Spectacled Owl's diet includes a wide range of mammals, invertebrates, and occasionally other birds. It is known to take prey that is nocturnally active, including rodents, bats, and even small monkeys.

The Spectacled Owl is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, thanks to its large range and continued presence in much of its habitat. However, it is susceptible to declines in areas where human activities reduce prey populations and degrade habitats.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - GREEN KINGFISHER (Chloroceryle americana)

The green kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) is a species of "water kingfisher" in the subfamily Cerylinae of the family Alcedinidae. It is found from southern Texas in the United States south through Central America, in every mainland South American country except Chile and Trinidad and Tobago.

The green kingfisher inhabits wooded shorelines of streams and freshwater ponds and lakes. It favors still or slow-moving water, and though it requires low vegetation for hunting perches it generally prefers relatively open habitat rather than dense forest. It is a year-round resident throughout its range but roams a territory that may be as much as 1 km (0.6 mi) or more of river.

The Green kingfisher usually hunts from a perch from which it dives into water for its prey. The perch is typically about 1 to 1.5 m (3 to 5 ft) high; it may be directly over water or within a few meters of its edge. In a study in Amazonia about half of the perches were bare snags and the rest were a mix of leafless and leafy trees and bushes. It usually shifts perches after each foray. Occasionally it hovers before diving, sometimes from as high as 6 m (20 ft). Pairs often defend feeding territories from other green kingfishers but seldom from other kingfisher species.

The prey is mostly small fish but includes crustaceans such as shrimp and also adult and nymph aquatic and terrestrial insects. The size of the fish taken varies, apparently with availability and the presence of other species of kingfishers. Studies have published sizes as 8 to 80 mm (0.31 to 3.1 in), as averages of 19.4 mm (0.76 in) and 41.1 mm (1.6 in) at different sites, and as "seldom exceeding a length of two inches".

The green kingfisher's breeding season varies geographically. In Central America it is during the dry season of spring and early summer. In Suriname and Guyana, it usually extends to August and occasionally to December or beyond. Breeding dates further south have not been documented. Both members of a pair excavate a nest burrow, almost always in an earthen bank of a stream or river. It is up to 1 m (3 ft) long with a small nest chamber at the end. The clutch size varies from two to six. The incubation period is 19 to 21 days; usually the female incubates at night and the parents alternate during the day. The young fledge 26 to 27 days after hatching and the parents chase juveniles from their territory about 29 days after fledging.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - FIERY BILLED ARACARI (Pteroglossus frantzii)

The fiery-billed aracari or fiery-billed araçari (Pteroglossus frantzii ) is a toucan, a near-passerine bird. It breeds only on the Pacific slopes of southern Costa Rica and western Panama. The binomial commemorates the German naturalist Alexander von Frantzius.

Small flocks, usually consisting of up to 10 birds, move through the forest with a rapid direct flight. This species is primarily an arboreal fruit-eater, but will also take insects, lizards, eggs, and other small prey.

The fiery-billed aracari is a common resident breeder in lowland forests and clearings. The two white eggs are laid in an old woodpecker nest, 6–30 m high in a tree. Both sexes incubate the eggs for about 16 days, and the toucan chicks remain in the nest after hatching. They are blind and naked at birth, and have short bills and specialised pads on their heels to protect them from the rough floor of the nest. They are fed by both parents, assisted by up to three other adults, probably from a previous brood, and fledge after about 6 weeks, with feeding by the adults continuing for several weeks after leaving the nest.

The aracaris are unusual for toucans in that they roost socially throughout the year, up to five adults and fledged young of this species sleeping in the same hole with their tails folded over their backs.

The fiery-billed aracari is a common resident breeder in lowland forests and clearings. The two white eggs are laid in an old woodpecker nest, 6–30 m high in a tree. Both sexes incubate the eggs for about 16 days, and the toucan chicks remain in the nest after hatching.

30-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGAINVILLEA,COSTA RICA - TIGER LONGWING BUTTERFLY (Heliconius hecale)

Heliconius hecale, the tiger longwing, Hecale longwing, golden longwing or golden heliconian, is a heliconiid butterfly that occurs from Mexico to the Peruvian Amazon.[1] Hecale, was an old woman who gave shelter to Theseus on his way to capture the Marathonian Bull.

Newborn humans take years to become adults - but for butterflies, the miraculous process takes just a few weeks.

Growing up doesn't take long when you're a butterfly. Going from egg to caterpillar to mature adult can be the work of a month, over in the blink of an eye.

The life of a butterfly is a brief but beautiful one. And the whole process can be seen in the Museum's Sensational Butterflies tropical house.

This year, the grandchildren of the first tiger longwings to arrive are about to unfurl their wings and take flight. It has been roughly three months since the first butterflies arrived in the house.

Vivid orange and black, tiger longwings are masterful copycats, using their bright colours to survive.

Butterflies display a remarkable diversity of wing patterns, caused by evolution, interbreeding and the mixing of genes.

Tiger longwings (Heliconius hecale), can be found in Central America and further south in the Amazon. They are part of the most important tropical butterfly group for the study of diversity and genetics.

There are around 40 species in the Heliconius group, and they all have long wings with a variety of simple, striking patterns, often with a black background.

Longwings copy the patterns of more poisonous butterflies.

Each wing pattern has been tweaked by evolution to help the creature survive. Many of the longwings copy the patterns of related butterflies.

All the species thrive in the same range of environments and geographical areas. And the tiger longwings protect themselves from predators by mimicking the patterns of other, poisonous species very closely.

This mimicry changes depending on geographical area, but the tiger longwings are known to copy the ithomiine butterfly (Tithorea tarricina). Another black and orange species, it carries alkaloids in its body that make it distasteful to predators.

Birds end up avoiding both species because they are unable to spot the differences between them.

30-3-2017 HOTEL BOUGAINVILLEA,COSTA RICA - MEXICAN FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY (Euptoieta hegesia)

Euptoieta hegesia, the Mexican fritillary, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.

The upperside of the wings is bright orange with the basal part of the hindwing unmarked. There is a row of submarginal black spots on both the forewing and the hindwing. The underside of the wings is yellow orange with no submarginal black spots. It has a wingspan of 2.5 to 3 inches.

The only similar species in the Mexican fritillary's range is the variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia). The variegated fritillary has black median lines on the upperside of the hindwing, and on the underside of the hindwing it has a pale postmedian band.

The Mexican fritillary may be seen from mid-June to November in Arizona, from July to December in Texas and year-round in Mexico.

This species may be encountered in a wide range of open habitats and gardens.

The larva is shiny red, with middorsal silver spots edged with black. It has a subdorsal row of white spots ringed with black, a spiracular silver line with black edges, and six rows of black spines. The red head has two long black spines with clubbed ends. The chrysalis is dark brown or rarely tan, with gold eyes and short gold lateral and subdorsal cones. On the wing cases, it has a black marking shaped like a "T". It has one to three broods per year.

Here is a list of host plants used by the Mexican fritillary:

Foetid passionflower, Passiflora foetida

Yellow alder, Turnera ulmifolia (used in Mexico and in the Antilles)

Ipomoea maritima (used in Brazil)

Damiana, Turnera diffusa

17-4-2017 BARCELONA CITY, SPAIN - EURASIAN MAGPIE (Pica pica)

The Eurasian magpie or common magpie (Pica pica) is a resident breeding bird throughout the northern part of the Eurasian continent. It is one of several birds in the crow family (corvids) designated magpies, and belongs to the Holarctic radiation of "monochrome" magpies. In Europe, "magpie" is used by English speakers as a synonym for the Eurasian magpie: the only other magpie in Europe is the Iberian magpie (Cyanopica cooki), which is limited to the Iberian Peninsula. Despite having a shared name and similar colouration, it is not closely related to the Australian Magpie.

The Eurasian magpie is one of the most intelligent birds, and it is believed to be one of the most intelligent of all non-human animals. The expansion of its nidopallium is approximately the same in its relative size as the brain of chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and humans. It is the only bird known to pass the mirror test, along with very few other non-avian species.

28-3-2017 VILLA LAPAS, COSTA RICA - BLACK SPINY TAILED IGUANA (Ctenosaura similis) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

Ctenosaura similis, commonly known as the black iguana or black spiny-tailed iguana, is a lizard native to Mexico, Central America, and some Colombian islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. It has been introduced to the United States in the state of Florida. It is the largest species in the genus Ctenosaura.

Black spiny-tailed iguanas are large lizards native to Mexico and Central America. They have distinctively black, keeled scales on their long tails, which gives them their common name. They have a crest of long spines that extends down the center of the back. Although coloration varies extremely among individuals of the same population, adults usually have a whitish-gray or tan ground color with a series of 4-12 well-defined dark dorsal bands that extend nearly to the ventral scales. Males also develop an orange color around the head and throat during breeding season with highlights of blue and peach on their jowls.

Black spiny-tailed iguanas range from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Mexico) to northeastern Nicaragua and western Panama on the respective Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They are commonly found throughout Costa Rica, Honduras and have been reported in Colombia. These iguanas live in dry and moist forests and also occur in open terrains such as savanna, grassland, and shrubland. They can also be found on sandy beaches, in coastal lagoons, marshes, and near urban areas.

Black spiny-tailed iguanas are social and territorial animals that live in colonies. They are active during the day. Although mainly terrestrial, these iguanas are excellent climbers, and prefer rocky areas with plenty of crevices to hide in, rocks to bask on, and nearby trees to climb. They are fast-moving creatures that employ their speed to escape predators but will lash with their tails and bite if cornered.Black spiny-tailed iguanas generally breed in spring. Males show dominance and interest by head bobbing and may chase the female until they can catch her. Within 8 to 10 weeks, the female will dig a nest and lay a clutch of up to 30 eggs. The eggs hatch 90 days later and the hatchlings dig their way out of the sand. The young are typically green in color with brown markings, although all brown hatchlings have been recorded as well.

26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - NORTHERN JACANA (Jacana spinosa) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The northern jacana or northern jaçana (Jacana spinosa ) is a wader which is known as a resident breeder from coastal Mexico to western Panama, and on Cuba, Jamaica and Hispaniola in the Caribbean. It sometimes known to breed in Texas, United States, and has also been recorded on several occasions as a vagrant in Arizona. The jacanas are a group of wetland birds, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws, which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. In Jamaica, this bird is also known as the 'Jesus bird', as it appears to walk on water. Jacana is Linnæus' scientific Latin spelling of the Brazilian Portuguese jaçanã, pronounced, from the Tupi name of the bird. See jacana for pronunciations.

The northern jacana has a dark brown body with a black head and neck. In addition its bill has yellow patches and its forehead has a yellow wattle. Its bill has a white base. When a jacana is in flight, its yellowish-green primary and secondary feathers are visible. Also visible are yellow bony spurs on the leading edge of the wings, which it can use to defend itself and its young. The greenish colour of the wing feathers is produced by a pigment, rather rare in birds, called zooprasinin, a copper containing organic compound.

17-4-2017 BARCELONA CITY, SPAIN - EURASIAN BLACKBIRD (MALE) (Turdus merula)

The Common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush. It is also called the Eurasian blackbird (especially in North America, to distinguish it from the unrelated New World blackbirds), or simply the blackbird where this does not lead to confusion with a similar-looking local species. This common and conspicuous species has given rise to a number of literary and cultural references, frequently related to its song.

The adult male has glossy black plumage, blackish-brown legs, a yellow eye ring, and an orange-yellow bill. The bill darkens somewhat in winter. The adult female is sooty-brown with a dull yellowish-brownish bill, a brownish-white throat, and some weak mottling on the breast. The juvenile is similar to the female but has pale spots on the upperparts, and the very young juvenile also has a speckled breast. Young birds vary in the shade of brown, with darker birds presumably males. The first-year male resembles the adult male but has a dark bill and weaker eye ring, and its folded wing is brown, rather than black like the body plumage.

26-3-2017 CATIE CENTER, COSTA RICA - GREEN BASILISK (Basiliscus plumifrons) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons ), also called the green basilisk, double crested basilisk, or Jesus Christ lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Corytophanidae. The species is native to Central America.

The plumed basilisk's native range spans southern Mexico and northern Colombia. B. plumifrons inhabits hot, humid rainforests that contain streams, rivers or other water bodies.

The physical appearance of the plumed basilisk is striking: it sports a bright green color along its body with black and white streaks along its neck and back. Their physical appearance differs by sex, as they are sexually dimorphic; males have a distinct crest on the back and tail and large plumes on top of their heads, while females typically only have a singular, much smaller, crest on their head.

The green crested or plumed lizard is unique in its ability to run across water with speed and the method it employs to do this. It displays the behaviour as a threat response, when fleeing predators. High speed is maintained in order to prevent sinking.

This lizard is extraordinarily territorial and is known for its aggressive behaviour to the extent that multiple male lizards cannot be maintained within the same enclosure. However, they do exist in the wild in large groups that allow for multiple males.

The Plumed basilisk is a species of lizard native to Central America. Adults are brilliant green in color, with bright yellow eyes, and small bluish spots along the dorsal ridge. Males have three crests: one on the head, one on the back, and one on the tail, while females only have the head crest. Juveniles are less conspicuously colored and lack the characteristic crests.

24-3-2017 RANCHO NATURALISTA, COSTA RICA - WHITE NECKED JACOBIN (Florisuga mellivora) COURTESY MRS VALERIE FISHER

The white-necked jacobin (Florisuga mellivora) is a medium-size hummingbird that ranges from Mexico south through Central America and northern South America into Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. It is also found in Trinidad & Tobago.

Other common names are great jacobin and collared hummingbird.

The nominate subspecies of white-necked jacobin, F. m. mellivora, is found from southern Veracruz and northern Oaxaca, Mexico, through southern Belize, northern Guatemala, eastern Honduras and Nicaragua, eastern and western Costa Rica, and Panama into South America. In that continent it is found in much of Colombia and Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, most of Venezuela, the Guianas, the northwestern half of Brazil, and the island of Trinidad. F. m. flabellifera is found only on the island of Tobago. The nominate has been recorded as a vagrant in Argentina and on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao.

The white-necked jacobin inhabits the canopy and edges of humid forest and also semi-open landscapes such as tall secondary forest, gallery forest, and coffee and cacao plantations. It is usually seen high in trees but comes lower at edges and in clearings. In elevation it usually ranges from sea level to about 900 m (3,000 ft) but has also rarely been seen as high as 1,500 m (4,900 ft).

The white-necked jacobin feeds on nectar at the flowers of tall trees, epiphytes, shrubs, and Heliconia plants. Several may feed in one tree and are aggressive to each other, but they are otherwise seldom territorial. Both sexes hawk small insects, mostly by hovering, darting, or sallying from perches.

The white-necked jacobin breeds in the dry to early wet seasons, which vary across their range. The nest is a shallow cup of plant down and cobweb placed on the upper surface of a leaf where another leaf provides a "roof". It is typically 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) above ground and sometimes near a stream. Males display and chase in the canopy and along edges during the breeding season. Females use a fluttering flight to distract predators.

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.